British Open Sporting 2021 bookings open
If you want to make sure of your place at the British Open, you’d better get cracking – bookings opened at one minute past midnight on Saturday 1 May 2021. The event typically attracts well over 1,000 entries, and the more popular squad times are quickly snapped up. The historic CPSA British Open English Sporting […]
Robert Bucknell’s fox shooting rifle and scope
youtu.be/hocd42pb8t4 Legendary fox shooter Robert Bucknell has spent years refining his go-to foxing rifle set-up – and he reckons he’s got it just about perfect. He’s been using his current rifle for a couple of years – it’s based around a CAM action set in a carbon fibre stock. “It’s solid steel all the way […]
Baku World Cup cancelled
The planned ISSF World Cup in Baku has been cancelled due to the covid situation in Azerbaijan. The news is a blow to Team GB’s shooting Olympians, Kirsty Hegarty, Aaron Heading (pictured above), Matt Coward-Holley and Amber Hill, who were all due to compete at the event from 21 June to 2 July as part […]
Faulds and Doughty shine on a busy weekend of Sporting clay shooting
After months of lockdown closures, clay shooters are eagerly getting back to their sport. Shoots up and down the country saw strong entries over the weekend of 24-25 April 2021 – and the top shots have got straight back into their stride, posting excellent scores despite the enforced layoff. Richard Faulds (pictured above) took the […]
Want to try clay shooting? Your questions answered
Thinking of having a go at clay shooting? Great idea! It’s a fun and sociable sport that’s accessible to all – and easier to get into than you might imagine. You’ve probably got a few questions, maybe even concerns – so here’s our FAQ guide where we answer the questions most often asked by newcomers […]
Lucky 13 young shots receive £25K sponsorship boost
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB79QCWBUYg Thirteen eager young shooters have shared in a fantastic £25,000 sponsorship package organised by top sporting shot Ben Husthwaite. The youngsters and their parents gathered at Kibworth Shooting Ground on 17 April 2021 to receive their new Webley & Scott guns as well as sponsored goodies from FullBoreUK, Highland Outdoors, Laporte and Shooting Sports […]
Abbey Ling is shooting for a place at the Tokyo Olympics
Top British trap shooter Abbey Ling is making one final push to win a place competing for Team GB at the Tokyo Olympics this summer. She’s heading out to Italy to shoot the ISSF World Cup at the beginning of May, then to Croatia for the European Championships at the end of the month, where […]
Leupold VX5 HD 2-10×42 rifle scope – review by Mike Robinson
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3doV6bq3fw The Leupold VX5 HD 2-10×42 would make a great rifle scope on a centrefire for stalking – but deer manager and restauranteur Mike Robinson has fitted it to his .17HMR. “This is a cracking scope which I’d happily use on my main deer rifle. It goes up to 10x magnification, it’s got awesome glass, […]
Haenel Jaeger 10 Pro hunting rifle – review
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPt8CfysjPI The Haenel Jaeger 10 series are classic bolt-action hunting rifles from the Merkel factory in Suhl, Germany. Viking Arms import two models – this is the more modern looking version, the Pro, with an adjustable synthetic stock. “This one is designed for the professional stalker who’s out in extreme conditions,” says Viking’s Andy Norris. […]
Haenel Jaeger 10 Traditional hunting rifle – review
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ_IFsJ12iI The Haenel Jaeger 10 series are classic bolt-action hunting rifles from the Merkel factory in Suhl, Germany. Viking Arms import two models – the adjustable synthetic stocked Pro, and the Heritage range you see here, with Grade 4 wood stock. “It’s a great working bit of kit with a bit of classic style as […]
100 days to go: Tokyo Olympics ‘certainly will happen,’ says IOC
The Tokyo Olympics will definitely go ahead on 23 July confirms John Coates, chair of the IOC Coordination Commission. He was speaking as the countdown reached 100 days to go before the opening ceremony. “I have no hesitation in saying that the Games will take place and they’ll be the safest Games possible,” Coates said. […]
Shoot with the best at British Shooting’s Shotgun Series
Want to shoot alongside Britain’s top athletes in the Olympic disciplines of Trap and Skeet? Maybe you fancy your chances of being selected to shoot for Team GB, or even becoming British Champion? British Shooting have just opened entries for their 2021 Shotgun Series. It’s a series of three rounds and an end-of-season Grand Final […]
Mike Robinson on the Savage 110 Ultralite rifle
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLiDlPygFJQ Mike Robinson is a big fan of Savage rifles. As a professional deer manager and game chef he uses them daily, and values their accuracy, smooth operation and ruggedness. He’s excited about his latest acquisition, a Savage 110 Ultralite in 6.5mm Creedmoor. “Not only is it incredibly light, it’s delightful to put in your […]
Why Mike Robinson shoots the Savage 110 High Country rifle
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBrT0sktCAE Mike Robinson’s rifles are the tools of his trade. As a professional deer manager and game chef he uses them daily, and demands faultless performance in all conditions. His go-to deer rifle is the Savage 110 High Country. “I love proper old fashioned bolt-action rifles, and what I love about the Savage is it’s […]
Merkel traditional double hunting rifle – not just for safaris
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdnwOgM0_1c The double rifle is a classic design, the pride and joy of any manufacturer’s product range – and this Merkel really is a beauty. “The only way really to make a double rifle is the traditional way, with craftsmen – and in the Merkel factory in Suhl they still retain the craftsmen and the […]
Seeland Hawker Advance jacket and trousers – review
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9H1xhbW4xc Cornish deerstalker Ollie Williams has been testing the Seeland Hawker Advance set of jacket and trousers – and he’s impressed. The Hawker Advance jacket is a technical shell jacket designed to withstand any weather conditions while being light weight and low noise. It has a windproof and waterproof Seetex membrane and taped seams. The […]
Leupold Alumina flip back rifle scope caps – review
Scope caps are a small thing, but they can make all the difference to a day’s deer stalking, as professional deer manager Mike Robinson explains. “I spent ten hours on the hill in Scotland, in driving rain all day long. At the end of the day, when I finally came to shoot the hind and […]
Swarovski Z8i – the best all-round rifle scope for hunting?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=itN2Tftq2SE If you had to pick one rifle scope for every type of hunting, from driven boar to alpine chamois and everything in-between, what would you choose? For Fieldtester’s Tim Pilbeam, it would have to be the Swarovski 3.5-28×50 P. Why? “This scope does the lot,” he says. He’s been using it on a Merkel […]
Leupold VX6 HD 4-24×52 rifle scope – review
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qrp9gwp5sSk A good quality rifle scope is important to Mike Robinson in his role as a professional deer manager – and he’s more than happy with his Leupold VX6 HD 4-24×52. In fact he has two, one on each of his 6.5mm Creedmoor chambered rifles. “Particularly when deer are under pressure, I’m shooting in the […]
Breda 930i semi auto competition shotgun – review
One glance at the Breda 930i will tell you it’s a top of the range semi-automatic shotgun made for competition clay shooting. Its distinctive looks set it apart from other guns on the market, with its stylish Italian lines, polished receiver and blue or red anodised parts including the trigger guard, bolt handle and fore-end […]
Cluny Guns: Best hunting rifles for under £1,500
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qgOYSAydME You want to buy a rifle and you’ve got a budget of £1,500. There’s plenty to choose from in that price range, so some expert advice is good – and who better to ask than Cluny Country Guns in Fife? They’re keen shooters themselves, stock a huge range of rifles, and are always happy […]
How to choose the best airgun pellet
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M_wS6ZIZXI What’s the best pellet to use in your airgun? Johnny Muston from R&K Stockcraft says it’s all about accuracy, and that means there are three main things to consider. “What rifle you’ve got, what calibre it is, and what you’re going to use it for.” Once he knows the answers to those three, Johnny […]
Ian Hodge: Best shotguns under £5,000
So you’ve got £5,000 to spend on a new shotgun – lucky you! What are you going to choose? Obviously you’ll want your new gun to be future proofed, so it’ll need to be proofed for steel shot. An over-and-under is the most popular choice, for good reason. But that still leaves a big range […]
Why Mike Robinson uses these Hornady bullets
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTwPP8DTlMY Ammunition choice is critical to Mike Robinson. He’s a deer manager, and wants to achieve reliable, quick, humane, one-shot kills on the deer he shoots. But he’s also a chef and restauranteur, so it’s important to minimise any wastage of meat or carcass contamination. That’s why he uses just two Hornady rounds in both […]
Mike Robinson’s stalking knife – review
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK8305bQnTU After your rifle, scope and binoculars, one of the stalker’s most important pieces of equipment is a knife. There are hundreds to choose from, ranging from high-end brands down to the cheap ’n cheerful knives. They all get the job done – but that wasn’t enough for professional stalker and game chef Mike Robinson. […]
Best fox shooting set-up under £1,200
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlGyx1WExB0 You don’t need to spend a fortune to get set up for fox shooting, but it helps to have a bit of expert advice. Ian Hodge of Ian Hodge Fieldsports is just the chap to turn to. He’s helped hundreds of customers kit themselves out with great value gear from his shop near Wadebridge […]
Biggest-selling semi-auto shotguns
Semi-auto shotguns have a lot going for them. They offer great value, along with smooth shooting and minimal recoil. A semi-auto is great for wildfowling or in a pigeon hide, but they’re also popular with rough shooters and gamekeepers – and they’re favoured by a good few clay shooters too. But with such a variety […]
GRS Hunter Light rifle stock – review
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUgvh-_rF7E GRS have forged a great reputation among rifle shooters worldwide for their CNC machined, hand finished rifle stocks. GRS stocks are renowned for their design and ergonomics. As GRS’s Oscar Haugen puts it, “We make people shoot more accurately because the rifles fit them better.” Ryan Charlton, from GRS UK distributor Highland Outdoors, is […]
MDT XRS Chassis crossover rifle stock – review
www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8EidVeyC_A A modern precision rifle chassis system offers the ultimate in accuracy, but it might be a step too far for the traditionally minded rifle shooter who wants the fit and feel of a ‘proper’ rifle stock. That’s where the MDT XRS Chassis System fits in. It’s a hybrid system that’s got all the features […]
Why do shotgun barrels wear out?
It’s a surprisingly common problem for shotgun shooters. They look down the barrels and see wear and pitting, and assume they have worn the barrels out with the number of shots they’ve fired. Maybe they even blame steel shot for causing the wear. But they’re wrong. Matt Simpson, of Simpson Brothers Gun Shop near Peterborough, […]
Why pay more than necessary for a rifle scope?
You can spend a large sum of money on a high end scope, but will it actually put more meat in the freezer? Of course a top end scope may give you a few more minutes’ shooting at dawn and dusk, but Dan Pool of Braces of Bristol thinks there’s a law of diminishing returns […]
Merkel Helix Speedster rifle – review
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpvof0aELQw “This isn’t just the fastest gun in the west – this is the fastest gun in the world!” says Andy Norris from Merkel distributors Viking Arms. He’s shooting the Merkel Helix Speedster – and he’s loving it. Originally developed for wild boar hunting, the Speedster is now the most popular of all the Merkel […]
GPO Rangeguide 2800 10×50 rangefinding binoculars – review
www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2iTcSYZTr4 Every deerstalker needs a good pair of binoculars, but until you’ve tried rangefinding binoculars you might not know just how useful they can be. It’s not just about measuring the range before taking a shot; rangefinders can help you plan your stalk, as Richard Ryan from GPO’s UK distributor Raytrade explains. First, though, he […]
Woox Furiosa rifle chassis – review
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXRXpZOelJc When you take accuracy seriously, only the best will do – and the Furiosa chassis from Woox is reckoned to be one of the best-crafted precision shooting chassis in the world. Designed in the USA and made in Italy, the Furiosa is a drop-in system that requires no extra pillars or extra bedding. Your […]
FORM rifle stock – review
Many people have turned their hand to making rifle stocks over the years, but few have got it right, and been able to produce them in sufficient quantity. Peter McGregor, the owner of FORM Stocks, is one of those few. “I first met Peter several years ago, and he was producing absolutely fantastic rifle stocks, […]
Remington 700 Sporter rifle – review
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoaywkd6hvA The Remington Model 700 rifle is legendary. First produced in 1962, nearly 60 years later it’s still in production, with an unparalleled reputation for dependability and out-of-the-box accuracy, relied on by elite military units and law enforcement around the world. Richard Ryan, of Remington’s UK distributors Raytrade UK, is a massive fan. “The Remington […]
