Pursuing good-value driven shooting doesn't mean you need to skip on quality, as Ian Grindy discovers
Shooting
Women in the field – some advice on what to wear
It’s key to know what to wear shooting. Not only from a sartorial point of view, because you’ll want to have the confidence of knowing you’re looking your best, but also from a comfort point of view. You need to be able to swing your gun freely, stay dry, warm…
How to choose the right camouflage for deer stalking
Guests preparing for deer stalking often ask what kit they need, especially clothing. They ask whether they can wear camouflage. Usually the answer is yes, however some of the ground we stalk is on estates where the manager prefers us not to wear camouflage. (Read more on what to wear…
Rough shooting jacket – what are the best options?
Many shooters are introduced to the sport through either rough shooting or walked-up shooting, and it is often the starting point for the best Shots, as it is a perfect way to get fresh air, be out in nature, and get plenty of exercise, as you’ll likely spend a while…
Shooting suits made to measure: where to go for bespoke tweeds
Inheriting a pair of Purdeys or a grouse moor? That would certainly delight most keen Shots. But most Shots would rather wear shooting suits made to measure, created from personally chosen cloth than inherit great-grandfather’s old tweeds (think moth-eaten, ripped linings, mysterious stains). Shooting suits made to measure If you’re…
What are the legal calibres for foxes and rabbits?
After many years shotgun shooting my partner and I have been looking into culling foxes and rabbits by rifle at the various farms where we shoot.
Camouflage jackets – our top picks
The type of camouflage jackets you are going to need can differ depending on the time of year, location or quarry you are hunting (check out our advice on how to choose the right camouflage). The basics will always apply: pick a camouflage jacket that will help you to blend…
How to improve your clay shooting scores
Practice makes perfect and if you could spend all day on the clay ground practising your shooting there is no doubt that you would improve your clay shooting scores. However life has a habit of getting in the way and so there’s only so much time in the week you…
What you need to know BEFORE replying to a shooting invitation
A shooting invitation is a highlight in any gameshooter’s calendar but don’t rush into a reply. Whilst you should reply promptly you should consider the following before making a decision. Receiving a shooting invitation When the host invites a guest to shoot it’s likely to be done in one of…
Best clay shooting vests
What are clay shooters looking for in the best clay shooting vests? (Here’s our advice on what to wear clay shooting.) Clay shooter and Sporting Gun contributor Rhys Plum advises: “The vest is a piece of uniform that unites all us clay shooters. But it is also a great way…
Are these the best gundog friendly hotels in the UK?
Looking for a hotel to stay in where they will welcome your gundog? We’ve compiled this list of gundog friendly hotels with shooting facilities nearby or on the premises. If there are any you think we should add to the list, please let us know. If you’re looking for a…
Improve your driven shooting – here are 10 reasons why you might be missing
Driven shooting: Understanding why you miss will improve your driven shooting.
Deer stalking clothing: this is what to wear
One of the things I most enjoy about deer stalking is working with newcomers. Often these are people who have done a fair bit of game shooting or fishing but have decided it’s time to get into stalking properly. Inevitably, if you’re deciding to take up stalking or you’re keen…
The shooting kit that we’d all love to have
There are various pieces of shooting kit that are essential to trips out in the field. We’ve picked some top picks and some that are on the wish list. 1. The jacket Harkila Stornoway Tweed Shooting Jacket £369.95 This recently came out top in our list of best tweed shooting…
How Guns can earn a gamekeeper’s respect
Over the years I have read a number of articles on the topic of what constitutes a good beater, a good shoot and a good picker-up. But I don’t recall any pieces on how a Gun can earn a gamekeeper’s respect. (Read our piece on whether beaters and pickers-up get…
The best clay shooting jackets
You can be very exposed to the wind and rain on a clay ground and that’s when layers come into their own. So we’ve picked out a selection of the best clay shooting jackets around which would work well in a layering system. Whilst we’re on the subject of layers,…
Pheasant shooting must-reads
There’s an early morning nip in the air and the pheasant shooting season has begun. So here are some useful pheasant shooting must-reads covering everything from guns and ammunition to what to wear shooting. 1. What’s the best cartridge load for driven pheasants? Instructor Adam Calvert offers the benefit of…
How NOT to be asked shooting again
It’s said that good manners cost nothing. It’s also true that bad manners in the field will cost you a future shooting invitation. So here is a guide to what you should avoid. Being late Lateness is a serious sin. Mark you, earliness can be quite embarrassing if you stride…
Tips to make you better at walked-up pheasant shooting
Have you been invited walked-up pheasant shooting for the first time? If so, congratulations because it’s a sought-after invitation. However it can be a daunting prospect for the beginner. On a walked-up shoot you don’t have total control of the birds and you don’t know how they will be presented,…
Get better at game on clays
It’s that time of year when an invitation to shoot rolls into the inbox and stings the average game Shot into confronting the fact they haven’t picked up a gun in something approaching a year. In the age of COVID-19, that might even be two years for some of us,…