There’s no excuse not to protect your hearing when you’re out in the field, particularly when we’ve found some of the best ear defenders which come in at under £40. Ear defenders are comfortable to wear and a crucial bit of kit. We’ve all met people in the field with…
Accessories
What’s best for shooters? Ear plugs or ear muffs?
Hearing loss is a serious issue for anyone who shoots. It can be temporary or permanent, it can build up slowly over years or be caused by a single incident. Constant exposure to loud noise can make the experience of being in noisy environments less unpleasant, but the human ear…
Five of the best binoculars
What size of binoculars would you recommend for deer stalking? Is there a good compromise that can be used for both woodland and open hill work?
10 of the best gun slips
When you’re out in the field or on a shooting ground your gun should be broken at all times (unless of course you are aiming at a target). Make sure guns are unloaded and carried in gun slips whenever possible. This way everyone knows they’re safe. 1. Beretta Light Transformer…
Taking a closer look at shot cameras and a ShotKam
I thought I would take a closer look at gun cameras and explain why I love having my ShotKam strapped to my musket. As many readers will be aware, I have been using ShotKams for the past few years. I started with the previous camera and, last year advanced to…
Five of the best electronic ear defenders
Ear protection is one of the key shooting safety rules. Numerous shooters complain of deafness, and, possibly the worse affliction, tinnitus – a constant ringing sound. The old ear defenders, which meant that you were cut off from the world, are no longer inflicted on us. Today sudden loud or sharp noises, whether from your own…
Primos Trigger Sticks Gen 3 – reviewed by Sporting Gun
Now in its third generation, the Primos trigger sticks have become a “don’t leave home without it” essential for many serious shooters. Though Primos offers monopod and bipod options, by far its most effective and popular variant is the tripod. The question is does the latest Gen 3 offering warrant…
Which is the best night vision scope for the money?
Pulsar’s N550 digital night-vision rifle scope was a game- changer in the world of late-night pest control and subsequent updates have continually evolved. The closely associated Yukon brand has run in parallel, offering similar technology with fewer “toys” included. Which is the best night vision scope of the two? I was…
A step-by-step guide to fitting scope mounts
Most airgun shooters put plenty of time and thought into the selection of a new gun or scope, but the significance of choosing the right mounts and ensuring that they are properly fitted is frequently overlooked. Mounts provide the vital link between your airgun and optics, and making the wrong choice will usually compromise accuracy. Quality pays It is…
Five of the best rifle scopes
Bruce Potts rounds up the five best rifle scopes on the market at the moment ranging from a budget friendly £549.99 to a more high end price at £2,740. Kahles Helia 5 2.4-12x56mm Kahles, established in 1898, is the oldest scope manufacturer in the world. Its new range carries the…
How to stop midges spoiling your season
When the dark cloud descends, it’s not usually a rain cloud that ruins your day of shooting, but a swarm of midges biting your exposed flesh. We have rounded up the best midge proof clothing to keep the bugs at bay and to ensure your day in the countryside isn’t…
Focus, aimpoint, shoot
Optics on the market today are complex both in construction and use. One sight, however, is proud of its simplicity on both fronts: Aimpoint. These small, robust optics are an increasingly common sight on our gunshop shelves. The company is still family owned, and the original Aimpoint sight was invented in 1975…
Five rifle scopes for under £600
Every month there seems to be a new addition to the long line of optics available to the rifle shooter. Be it vermin, foxes, or deer, every aspect, style, model and technological gizmo for rifle scopes has made its way into gunshops to entice shooters. I love scopes — well, anything optical really, but…
Getting a clear shot with prescription shooting glasses
I had been shooting for five years and had already won a number of competitions, including the English Open Down-the-Line and English Open Skeet Championship when, at the age of 17, it became apparent to me that I could not see clearly what I was shooting at. This coincided with my learning to…
Why you should never fire a gun without wearing ear defenders
This tale of ringing in the ears, light-headedness, mild nausea and headaches will have you reaching for the ear protection every time you shoot
Stick to it
Marc Cotterill used to be a mechanic, working on lorries, but three years ago he turned his hand to stick making. “My grandfather had always made sticks and carved the heads, but only as a hobby,” Marc told me. “He taught me to carve the wood and how to make up…
Ten of the best .17HMR moderators
Silence is golden where pest control is concerned, so after testing full-bore and .22 rimfire moderators Bruce Potts turns his attention to the increasingly popular .17HMR calibre
Christmas gifts for shooters – from £10 to a generous £800+
Stockists: Magazines Direct Fulham Interiors Hunter Alan Paine Kaye Parmenter Purdey Merlin Unwin (Jose Souto) John Field
Christmas gift guide
With less than a month to go until Christmas, Shooting Times offers a selection of this year's top seasonal gift choices
Perhaps it’s time to get a moderator…
Want to shoot more accurately, bag more quarry and disturb the environment less? Perhaps it's time to get a moderator, suggests Charles Smith-Jones