What I am looking for in a beginner is preferably a calm personality, but in keeping with all shooters, they need to have a good understanding of timing, which is vital. They also need to be able to process information without any panic or haste. It is my job as…
Shooting
I’d like to start gameshooting but I’m a student on a budget …
Q: I am in my mid-40s and have never shot before, but I would love to have a go at gameshooting and possibly get my shotgun licence if I then discover I enjoy it. I am a mature full-time student so don’t have much money to play with. Is there…
Tips to improve your rifle shooting and markmanship
As we drift towards the summer, most game seasons have closed. Your stalking kit has been cleaned and stowed away, and you’ll likely see more venison on the barbecue than under a cross-hair for the next few months. Shooting is a perishable skill We all have a responsibility to be…
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…
Chokes for gameshooting and clays – what’s best
I have a Lanber 30-inch multichoke, and wonder what the best choke is for all-round shooting. I am constantly chopping and changing when clay shooting!
Shooting pigeons with an airgun and placing decoys
While I can’t deny that the shotgun is the most effective tool for keeping woodpigeon at bay when they are hammering crops, it is possible to make decent bags with the air rifle. Not everyone has a shotgun and, with a little forethought and lots of fieldcraft, airgunners can enjoy…
English and Welsh roe review 2017 and other species
The CIC’s trophy measuring system has had another good year. Newly qualified UK measurers got into their stride throughout 2017 at home and at shows around the country. And senior members of the UK Trophy Evaluation Board (TEB) attended the International TEB in Budapest last September to assess, along with…
Scottish roe review 2017
With a score of 175.93, K. Mehl’s Aberdeenshire trophy took top honours for Scotland in 2017, maintaining that county’s place as one of the country’s great roe hunting territories. However, this year it was eclipsed, numerically at least, in the top 10 heads by its principal competitors, Angus, Fife and…
What to expect from a good shotgun coach
“If I book a lesson or two with a coach, what am I going to learn and how do I know the information and instruction is of high quality?”. It’s an enquiry I’ve come to expect. Here’s what a good shotgun coach should cover Safety The safe handling of the…
What did we learn from Langholm?
(More background on Rob Yorke here). There is a chunk of moorland in Scotland that has been subject to a 24-year project involving upland land uses, habitat, nature conservation designations, biodiversity, fieldsports and rural economics. It all started with the Joint Raptor Study (JRS), funded by major conservation organisations, on…
What can Guns do about plastic?
I’m talking rubbish again. After my account in Shooting Times of wildfowlers organising a litter-picking day at Lindisfarne , a reader pointed me to an item in the Daily Telegraph. The report starts: “Organisers of marathons and other outdoor events have been urged to do more to clear up the thousands…
Which are the most popular gloves for shooting?
Some Guns wear shooting gloves, others don’t. But they’re certainly useful in very cold weather and for protecting your hands against hot barrels. We asked around to see what people use for the different disciplines, from airgunning, clayshooting, gameshooting and stalking … Patrick Galbraith, Editor of Shooting Times replied: “I’m…
22 important points you should know BEFORE organising a charity clay day
With thanks to the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (CPSA) for its help in compiling this key advice. Get a Section 11(6) permission under the 1968 Firearms Act from your local police firearms department. This allows non-certificate holders to be in possession of ammunition and a shotgun under supervision. Most police…
Gloves for airgunners – what’s suitable?
Q: I’m struggling to find a pair of gloves that are suitable for airgun shooting. Like many airgun shooters, I like to set my trigger fairly light and that can make for tricky shooting with gloved hands. Is there anything that combines warmth with good trigger feel? Camouflage and comfort…
Should deer stalkers have to be qualified?
Soon after I accepted my first invitation to shoot in Germany, a small package arrived. Inside were the instructions and forms required before I would be allowed to join the shoot. These included letters proving insurance, in both English and German, passport photos, copies of a firearms licence and a…
Why you should try to keep both eyes open when shooting
I recently wrote about how an average Shot can improve out of season. We established that Patrick, the pupil, mounts his gun reasonably well and can kill birds consistently when he closes his left eye. However, he had been experimenting with shooting with both eyes open and is “now in…
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…
Which .22 rifle should I choose for rabbit shooting?
Rabbit shooting: I have been shooting air rifles and shotguns since I was 10 and now have my first firearms certificate after getting permission to shoot on a large farm with a rabbit problem.
Roe deer hunting – the five minute cull
We are in the thick of the doe season as I write and trying to catch up the numbers on one estate. Parts of this ground can be quite disturbed with walkers and people enjoying time in the woodland. It also has two good shoots that run from November to…
What to wear clay pigeon shooting
Most serious clay shooters tend to wear the same garments each time they go out, so that everything feels familiar. There’s no official etiquette or dress code but wearing non-restrictive clothing that allows you to move is key. You should also make sure you dress for the weather – whether…