Discovering the best gun slips While shooting in the field I often change my kit around, trying out new gadgets and gizmos. Yet, perhaps the most consistent and long-standing item, and one I am reluctant to change, is my old leather gun slip. It’s been with me for years and,…
Safety
Shooting glasses: how to choose them and why you should wear them
Most clay shooters adopted shooting glasses as an essential piece of kit many years ago, and they’re now mandatory at many clubs and competitions. However, they’re still far less popular in other forms of shooting, which is a shame because they have many benefits to offer. So, even if clays…
Security cabinets – concealment is the thing
I am becoming a security addict. How else can I explain a predilection for reading BS 7558? That’s the British standard for gun cabinets. And then there is the 51-page Firearms Security Handbook, produced by the Firearms and Explosives Licensing Working Group. A riveting bedtime read. (Read our list of…
Best dog buoyancy aids
Dog buoyancy aids are a key bit of safety kit. Whilst you may feel confident that your dog is a good swimmer, accidents can happen. Dogs can lose their footing on a boat or on a slippery river bank. A puppy may get over excited and go for a dive.…
Shotgun cartridge safety rules
Every responsible shooter should be aware of the all-important cartridge safety rules. You must NEVER mix cartridges of different calibres. To do so is exceptionally dangerous, and could result in serious injury or even death, not to say the needless destruction of your gun. If you are going to have…
Ground game: should we be allowed to shoot it on driven days?
The morning briefings on the driven shoots to which I get invited tend to follow the same pattern. “Shoot what gives you pleasure, but be sparing with the hens — they are our breeding stock. Leave woodcock and grey partridges and no ground game.” It’s not a difficult set of…
Gun safety catch – should it be automatic on all guns?
Intercepting safety sears on the tumbler of a gun are supposed to stop accidental discharges if the gun is dropped, or jarred, by accident.
Guntrader website hacked
Guntrader, the UK’s largest online marketplace for guns, has been hacked and its users’ personal data including postal and email addresses and phone numbers has been offered for a token fee on a hacking forum. According to experts who have seen the data which was stolen, the hackers have records…
Why do we use gun slips and cases?
Gun cases that catch the wind Are we overly protective of our rifles? Are we over-using padded slips out in the field? Rifles are designed to be used outdoors, in the wind and the rain. So why do we see hill stalkers struggling up slopes with their guest’s rifle cosseted…
The 10 shooting safety rules that every shooter must follow
The first rule of good shooting is always safety
Can you go clayshooting during pregnancy?
The Clay Pigeon Shooting Association says that we can go back onto the clay grounds from 29th March 2021. We can’t wait to get back out in the fresh air again. But what if you’re expecting a baby? Can you go clayshooting during pregnancy? Is it safe? Could the noise…
Airgunning in the cold
It might be cold out there but many of the pest species we can control with airguns are much easier to pinpoint during the winter – so airgunning in the cold will probably bring the results you are looking for. Dress warmly, take the right kit and you’ll have a…
Husband and wife gun cabinets – do we really need one each?
We all know that as responsible shooters we need to store our firearms securely. But what’s the deal if two partners sharing a home both have guns? Does each individual need their own gun cabinet? And what about the gun cabinet keys – should each partner know where the others…
What you need to know about coronavirus and going out into the field in England from 13th May 2020
On Wednesday 13th May coronavirus guidance for shooters in England changed. You can now undertake both live quarry shooting and deer stalking in England, following the usual legal process. (The law is different in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.) Clay grounds are also permitted to reopen. The situation in England…
6 of the best ear defenders from just £15
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…
A guide to shooting in bad weather
Richard Brigham's beginner's guide to shooting in bad weather explains how our varied climate can make or break a shooter's day