Table of contents for April 2021 in Sporting Gun

Northern Shooting Show cancelled The Northern Shooting Show has been cancelled for the second year running as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt country sports. The organisers of the Harrogate show issued a statement saying that the current landscape was “far too uncertain” for it to take place. The show, which had been scheduled for the weekend of 8-9 May, has been postponed until the same weekend in 2022, 7-8 May. The organisers said tickets bought for this year will be valid for next. BGA expands membership The British Game Alliance has announced the introduction of a new ‘Associate Membership’, widening access to BGA membership to smaller shoots. The move comes amid growing recognition of the value of self-assurance to protect the future of shooting. Previously many small shoots felt…

We shooters get bad press and are often portrayed as a bunch of bloodthirsty toffs in tweed, or as psychotic weirdos creeping around woods in camo. In this article I want to redress the balance and show that shooters have achieved great things in the arts, conservation and medicine. Great Scot If it wasn’t for shooting, our first dead famous shooter probably would not have drifted into the field which was to make his name and benefit humanity so much. After excelling in his medical studies, Alexander Fleming was about to leave St Mary’s Hospital Medical School to become a surgeon. The head of the school’s rifle team knew Fleming was a good shot and needed to keep him in the team, so he persuaded Fleming to join him in…

At last, the pigeon are beginning to return to Paul’s and my permissions here in south Essex. They disappeared around the middle of November. This is not unusual in a big acorn year; I often used to witness huge flocks of pigeon flying over the farm, heading west during this month. I always presumed they were following the path of the Thames towards the massive oak and beech woods of Kent and Surrey. I was always sceptical that these birds ended up in France, as many people insist they do. Granted, migration experts have witnessed huge flocks heading across the Channel, but I have never heard of anyone seeing them arrive on the other side. Perhaps they have, but I have not seen it reported. Mystery “The undeniable fact is…

At the time of writing, we’re still in lockdown and it looks very likely that we will still be when you read this in February. So I will go through some of the problems this poses for pigeon shooters and the work they do. As with the majority of things related to shooting, applying common sense will cover most situations, along with reading the invaluable advice given by the shooting lobby groups. I see many social media pigeon forums, and it alarms me what is said by people who clearly haven’t read up on the restrictions we’re currently under. Interpretation There are many grey areas in the Government’s wording about how and when we’re allowed to go out and shoot pigeons during the pandemic. It seems that these grey areas…

The other critical components in our armouries are our sticks. I love my tripod-style Vanguard Quest T62U, although I have had to machine a riser to make it a bit taller. Paul uses the taller Vanguard Pro T68. Joe usually uses Gen2 trigger sticks by Primos. Olly has gone for a high-end set called the Wicked Lights Rekon Pig Saddle tripod system, sold by Scott Country (scottcountry.co.uk). Like the Primos they can be used hands-free as they have a quick release mount that locks the rifle in place, so you can leave the whole set up standing on its own. Made of carbon fibre, they are light and can be adjusted for height anywhere from prone to standing.…

“My springer spaniel had a couple of fits a while ago and now needs twice daily treatment. Do you think that I will ever be able to work him again? I have read little or nothing about this condition.” ARTHUR ASHMORE, DERBYSHIRE Vet’s advice Neil McIntosh SG’s gundog health expert There is a reason that you have read so little on this subject, Arthur: it is so bloomin’ complicated. Epilepsy is almost more of a symptom than a disease. It is defined as chronic, recurring seizures, for which there can be many causes. Idiopathic (or primary) epilepsy, which is a relatively common diagnosis in about 0.5% of dogs, occurs when there is no detectable abnormality and it is presumed to be a genetic or inherited disease. Symptomatic (or secondary) epilepsy…

Some breeders like to get the bitch scanned so they have an idea of how many puppies she may be carrying. This can be useful for a number of reasons, such as making sure you have enough potential homes lined up, or when she is giving birth you will have an idea of how many puppies to expect. However, a word of caution — it can be really difficult for the person doing the scanning to be completely accurate, so I suggest you take any number given as a rough estimate rather than a fixed amount. Around this time, I will start to get the whelping area ready. I use a professionally made whelping box, but you can either make you own or you buy disposable boxes. Whatever type you…

Different rules for Northern Ireland I have been an avid reader of Sporting Gunfor the past 10 years. I love your competitions and looked forward to entering the recent Stoney Creek clothing one. I collected all three tokens and sent them in hoping that I just might win. It was only later when I read the small print that I noticed the competition was not open to residents in Northern Ireland. Why is this? It is a downright disgrace, if not discrimination. What do other readers think? Roy Mahon, County Down, Northern Ireland Ed – I looked into this some time ago, Roy, because like you I thought not allowing readers from Northern Ireland to take part in magazine competitions was unfair. I am told by our legal department that…

We have to declare relevant medical conditions on our application form. Does that mean that if I suffer from one of them I won’t get a certificate? David says: That will depend on the condition and the extent to which it is controlled by medication. Talk to your GP before you apply and make sure he is ‘onside’, in possession of the full facts and willing to write in support of your application. Licensing staff have no proper medical training and may well make the wrong decision without informed medical advice.…

Last season my two-year-old labrador was working well but all of a sudden started chasing flying birds. She is steady to thrown dummies and cold game. What would you advise I do? Fran says: I’m unsure whether you mean your dog is chasing birds around your garden or chasing flying gamebirds in the shooting field. Chasing flying game is the more serious of the two. Both are linked, though. A dog that has given chase to and caught a wounded flying bird will often pursue flying game, particularly if it senses the bird is injured. The reward the dog gets from the chase, coupled with the possibility of catching the bird, outweighs the effort. Most experienced dogs will know that chasing a healthy bird is futile, but will give chase…

I have a Webley & Scott single-barrel semi-hammer, no 43747, which I know were made in large numbers. The spring for the cocking hammer has broken and I am at a loss to find someone to repair it. Can you help? Ian says: Based on the age of the gun, it is unlikely that you would find someone who could provide a ready-made drop-in part. We make springs for all manner of guns. However, due to these being made by hand there are costs involved which may make it uneconomical, depending on the value of your gun.…

I know you shoot pigeon with a shotgun, but are there any circumstances where you would use an airgun? Peter says: There have been many situations where I wished I was using a gun that made no noise, but I have never considered employing an airgun as an alternative to a shotgun. A friend of mine hunts pigeon with an air rifle, and is constantly frustrated by the fact it is difficult to persuade woodies to land for long enough to get a shot off. His best chance of success comes when he can set up near a dead tree, but how often can we manufacture a situation like that?…

Verney-Carron ProHunt Sika trousers and Sika jacket I have been testing a pair of Verney-Carron ProHunt Sika trousers and jacket and my first impressions of the kit are good. These are shooting and stalking clothes packed with useful features and, when the competitive price is taken into account, these are even more impressive. First, the trousers. They are lined, waterproof with plenty of usable pockets and are tailored to allow good movement at the knee; all pretty standard features these days for this kind of clothing. However, an additional standout feature is the elasticated adjustable foot straps. I wish all my trousers had them — an end to the irritating rucking up around the top of your boot when you slip your feet into your wellies. It’s a small addition…

I used an RPA rifle in .223 Rem and with my chosen reload the corresponding ASV turret number 2 closely mimicked its trajectory. Zeroed at 100m, I had a drop of -3.8cm at 200 and -23.1cm at 300m, which the ASV No 2 ring equated to -4.0cm and -24.0cm respectively. So, all I had to do was laser range, find the target, adjust the ASV to that range setting and I was bang on. Simple. Now for internal adjustment precision. Shooting ‘the box’ and zoom test tests repeatable internal linear adjustments. Zeroed at 100m with three shots I then adjusted 8cm up, that is 16 clicks, and shot three more, then clicked 8cm right, three shots, 8cm down and another three shots, then 8cm left and the last three shots…

This month’s shotgun may well sit outside the ‘affordable’ category for many of us, but what a beauty it is. It carries the name of EJ Churchill, which has produced handmade shotguns since 1891 and is the largest British-owned gunmaker in the UK today. While side-by-sides seem to be falling out of fashion in some quarters, it is good to see that they remain in production. And it’s not just the traditionalist that they appeal to. Many prefer the relatively lighter weight, comfortable carriage, quick handling and aesthetics of a side-by-side, and on a busy drive there is no doubt that the wider gape of the breech can permit faster reloading compared with the average over-and-under. This one has the added attraction of bags of personality and comes with a…

Country of origin Germany In production 2010 to present Action Bolt Stock options Walnut and synthetic versions available Barrel length 22in standard, or 24in for magnum calibres Magazine Detachable; three-round capacity Left-hand version No Weight (bare) 6lb 10oz Available in calibres .223 Rem, .243 Win, .270 Win, .30-06, .308 Win, 6.5x55 SE, 7x64, 8x57 IS, 9.3x62, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Cost new RRP £1,260 ( Jaeger 10 Varmint) Cost used From around £600 for an earlier example…

FOR SALE GUN TYPE: SHOTGUN Make and Model Browning B25 B1 Sporter Trap Calibre 12-bore Barrel 30in Choke fixed Price £1,200 CONTACT DETAILS Name John Tel 07814958077 County Stoke-on-Trent GUN TYPE: SHOTGUN Make and Model Browning B25 C3 Trap Calibre 12-bore Barrel 30in Choke Teague chokes Price £4,000 CONTACT DETAILS John (as above) GUN TYPE: SHOTGUN Make and Model Fabarm Grey Hunter Calibre 12-bore Barrel 28in Choke multichoke Price £700 CONTACT DETAILS Name Stan Allison Tel 07597172641 County Notts GUN TYPE: SHOTGUN Make and Model Hushpower Over-and-under Calibre 20-bore Barrel 28in Choke N/A Price £500 CONTACT DETAILS Name Brian Tel 07956546799 County Fife GUN TYPE: RIFLE Make and Model Remington Speedmaster Calibre .22 Rimfire Barrel screw cut with Parker Hale moderator fitted; scope 4 x 32 model 10 original Price…

Getting a pup is a big decision for anybody. Buying a working dog adds a complication to the mix as you want to be sure of its qualities. You may opt to pay a premium for a trained or partially trained dog. Both are expensive, with prices for spaniel pups currently topping the £2k mark. Finding a reputable breeder is also hard work. Most of us only search for a new dog once every 10 to 14 years and a lot changes in that time. Word of mouth is usually the best way to go because, with the decline of small ads in the shooting press, many people are at the mercy of the internet with such vagaries as ‘POA’, where you can assume the breeder wants to make as…

Talking to Alex Keeble you get the sense that the future of the countryside is in good hands. For starters, he has accumulated a wealth of experience at a relatively young age and betrays a stolid wisdom. I spoke to Alex on the day a survey instigated by BASC was published, which highlighted the increasing difficulties gamekeepers face going about their job and the harassment and abuse they suffer. He mentioned that he had given feedback to the survey and was unsurprised by its findings, though phlegmatic about them. George Eustice, the Environment Secretary, said in response to the survey that: “Gamekeepers do vital work as custodians of the land. They play an important role in the shooting industry, which delivers significant benefits to rural economies.” You don’t need to…

We have covered rifle shooters, wildfowlers and rough shooters, but airgunners seem to be missing from our shooting hall of fame. I have saved the best to last because one of the most famous composers of all time loved a bit of plinking. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Austria in 1756. He was a prolific composer of music in several genres including opera and symphony. His music echoes down the centuries with works such as The Marriage of Figaro and the Jupiter symphony being among his best known. I always found Mozart intimidating, especially as he composed his first piece of music around the age of five. However, I began to warm to him when I found out that he had a puerile sense of humour (like me) and…

The gun being used for the lesson should be a calibre that the client can control and manoeuvre efficiently and it must fit. It should be mounted in the shoulder pocket and head placed onto the stock. Adjust the length of pull so the client’s nose is about 2in–3in away from the base of the thumb holding the grip. This can be adjusted by using a stock extender or selecting a short-stocked gun. The comb height is another important factor. It is unlikely it will be too high but if it is too low, comb raisers should be used. The eye should sit above the rib so the pupil and the iris are visible when looking from the front of the gun. This should be checked by an instructor once…

To mate or not to mate? As a generalisation most bitches come in season twice a year and I prefer to plan my bitch’s matings in the spring. I do this for a number of reasons, the main one being that if I were to breed later in the year it could mean that I would lose the bitch for most of the shooting season. I also find it is easier to rear and train any puppies I keep back during the warmer weather. Like most young creatures, they seem to do better with some sun on their backs. “Anyone considering breeding from their bitch should be aiming to improve the breed” As a professional trainer I am always planning my future shooting and trialling offspring; usually looking at least…

Age 60 months I am quite sure a lot of you are feeling the same way as I am at the moment: we are still in lockdown and it seems like it has been raining for the past six months. Our washing machine has certainly been working non-stop; the joys of living with dogs and horses. However, it is not all downbeat in the Ridley household and the work with Percy and Ted continues. Especially with the former. In the film Forrest Gump, the eponymous character, played by Tom Hanks, quotes his mother: “My momma always said life was like a box of chocolates: you never know what you’re gonna get.” I reckon that quote relates perfectly to gundogs. You could pick any pup from a litter, they all have…

FRAN ARDLEY GUNDOGS Owner of Tarncrag Gundog Training, with more than 10 years’ experience. NEIL MCINTOSH VETERINARY A keen shooter and a practising vet in Scotland. TONY BRACCI TUITION Bisley Shooting Ground’s deputy shooting manager and master gunfitter. DAVID FROST LEGAL SG’s legal expert and author of Sporting Shooting and the Law. PETER THEOBALD PIGEON Pigeon-shooting expert; author of Woodpigeon: The Ultimate Quarry. ROBERT MORGAN ANTIQUES Arms and armour valuer at Holts Auctioneers. ED COOK RABBITS Professional rabbit catcher working over 30,000 acres. TOM SYKES PEST CONTROL & WILDFOWLING Sporting photographer, wildfowler and pest controller. MARC BULL COVER CROPS Marc is our plant expert and is the Midlands and Eastern adviser at Bright Seeds. IAN SWEETMAN GUNSMITHING Ian Sweetman is the owner of I S Sweetman Gun & Rifle Makers…

I haven’t shot for ages. What can I do to help in my first competition when we can shoot again? Tony says: My first suggestion would be to get out and have a practice, or at least get your gun out and have a few practice mounts and swings. Once at the shoot, it is important not to get disheartened if you miss targets that you would normally hit. Once a target is missed, other than an assessment of why you missed it, let it go and concentrate on the next one. Manage your expectations on how you are going to perform, bearing in mind you haven’t shot for a while, and be happy to be out shooting again after a long break.…

A lot of my friends feed their working cockers raw food. Do you feed your dogs raw food? Ed says: These days people see the benefits of feeding their dogs what they were designed to eat, me included. Much of what I feed my dogs is unprocessed and will have fur or feathers on it. I also give them fish, fruit and vegetables. I don’t get too scientific about it and give them scraps but they get a pretty mixed diet, which along with their busy lifestyle seems to keep them in good stead.…

I am finding it hard to mount my gun and often get a bruised shoulder and face. Why is this? Tony says: After these long periods of lockdown where we haven’t been able to shoot so regularly, you may be out of practice. Over lockdown I have been regularly getting my gun out and practising my mount. The other possibility is that the stock on your gun is too long, making it hard to mount consistently. Not mounting correctly will cause you to bruise your shoulder and face. Once the gun is mounted your nose should be 2in to 3in away from your thumb on the hand holding the grip. The elbow joint of the shoulder that the gun is mounted on should be at approximately 90 degrees. If the…

Another wildfowler who was an illustrator, writer and naturalist was Denys Watkins-Pitchford, more commonly known as BB. His pen name came from the shot size and he was a regular contributor to our sister title, Shooting Times. His written work spanned many years and varied from shooting books, such as The Shooting Man’s Bedside Book, to children’s classics such as Little Grey Men and my favourite Brendon Chase. Brought up in Lamport, Northamptonshire, he was educated at home. He attended Northampton School of Art followed by the Royal College of Art and in 1930 became assistant art master at Rugby School. It was during his time there that he came into his own as an illustrator and writer. BB loved rough shooting, fishing and wildfowling. He was said only to…

Ingredients ● 1lb venison mince ● 1 onion, chopped ● 1 clove garlic, crushed ● 1 tin chopped tomatoes ● 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (or to taste) ● Oil ● 4 ready-made Yorkshire puddings (or make your own) Method Heat the oil in a casserole dish, add the onions and cook on top of the oven until softened. Add the mince and garlic and brown, stirring occasionally so it cooks evenly and doesn’t stick. Pour in the tomatoes. Put a little water in the tin to swill out any remaining juice and add to the dish along with a splash of Worcestershire sauce. Heat the oven to 200°C, cover the dish with a lid and cook for about an hour. Cook the Yorkshire puddings to the manufacturer’s instructions. When ready,…

I often opt to shoot my side-by-side around buildings as it doesn’t eject empties in every direction like being in a machine-gun bunker. I have had to chase pigs around the yard that have tried to run off with my empty shells that have fallen outside of the hide. I find that my AYA Yeoman non-ejector SXS gun, 2¾ inch chamber, is a cracking gun for this type of shooting. It was one of the best investments I made as it cost next to nothing but seems to shoot a dream. It may not look like much, but it holds the record for giving me the highest shot-to-kill ratios over the years. We have even bagged the local wildfowler’s side-by-side trophy every year since we first entered. I love the…

DISTRIBUTION: Widespread and common across much of Europe and as far west as China. Also introduced with varying success in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. UK DISTRIBUTION: Most commonly found in lowland arable areas of England and eastern Scotland, primarily the chalklands of southern England, East Anglia, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. Small populations elsewhere but largely absent in much of Wales and Northern Ireland. IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Least concern, but numbers are still decreasing. HABITAT: Originally a bird of temperate steppe grasslands, the grey partridge has adapted readily to arable landscapes as well as lowland moors and heaths. FOOD: Seeds, leaves and small invertebrates. For the first few weeks of life the chicks feed almost exclusively on insects to get their essential proteins. BREEDING: Family coveys…

• If you are considering buying any of the main items we’ve discussed here, be it rifle, night vision, thermal spotter or sticks, my suggestion would be to take your time and make sure they are appropriate to your physical specifics and particular needs. In other words, that the optical devices work with your visual capabilities (everyone’s eyes are different); that the sticks are the right height; and that the type of rifle suits its intended use. Varmint guns, for example, are built very heavily. While they’re ideal for shooting off the back of a 4x4, they’re not recommended if you’re going to have to carry them very far.…

The way a client stands when they shoot can have a big impact on performance. They need to be stable and have the required movement in their body to produce the perfect shot. To find the right stance, stand normally then take half a step forward with your leading foot. For a right-hander, this is your left foot; for a left-hander, your right. This lead foot should be pointing roughly to where the shot is going to be taken. Adjust the back foot until you feel stable. This will give you the movement to take the shot and follow through. The weight should be biased towards the lead foot and the client should be leaning into the gun slightly. At no time should the client lean back to compensate for…

Why did you breed from your bitch? Many owners will want to breed from their own bitch to continue their own lines, or they like the qualities that the dog has shown in the shooting field. I would consider it a good sign if they plan to keep a pup back for themselves. How did you choose the stud dog? There could be a number of replies to this question. They may have simply chosen the most ‘fashionable’ field trial champion. They could have chosen the dog because of its colour, or simply because it was convenient. Ideally, some research should have gone into the suitability of the mating and consideration should have been given to such matters as the coefficient of inbreeding (COI), which measures and calculates the degree…

For people who only ever mate their bitch once, the most important factor is to make sure you have prepared the dog beforehand. For the uninitiated it can be quite daunting. For starters, you should have done the necessary health tests to ensure that no genetic diseases will be passed on — also check the stud dog. You also need to make sure the bitch is up to date with her vaccinations and she has been wormed and de-flead. You want her to be as healthy and as fit as possible, as rearing a belly full of puppies takes a lot out of a dog. There are two main clinical ways of testing for the optimal time to mate your bitch. Both look for an increase in the hormone progesterone…

Time to rev things up I have been shooting for more than 50 years and been a reader of Sporting Gun for almost as long. As such, I would like to offer some constructive feedback. On a recent syndicate day the conversation turned to who reads what magazines. A few of our members agreed with me that the free ads in your magazine are basic and lacked detailed information. Almost every shooting person I know has a vehicle compatible with their shooting way of life, yet Sporting Gun gives less coverage to motoring than some of its competitors, though admittedly they often feature crazy 4x4s or unsuitable high-performance cars that cost what most of us would pay for a house. But I am sure there would be interest in cars…

What piece of kit, other than your gun, do you think no one should be without? Peter says: If I were only allowed to take one other piece of kit, it would be a rotary machine. I could manage without camo nets and poles, as I could construct a hide from materials found on site. Provided I had a whirly and two dead birds, I could get started, adding shot birds to create a pattern. Static decoys do not attract the attention of passing pigeon as effectively as a spinner, which, since its invention about 20 years ago, has become an essential tool in our armoury. They might not be 100% effective in all situations, but they generally trump static layouts every time.…

I have for some years been loading shotgun ammunition for friends. One of them has asked if I can load rifle ammunition for him as well. Am I allowed to do this? David says: Maybe, but it depends on your firearms certificate (FAC). If the calibre he wants loaded is one on your FAC there is no problem, provided you don’t exceed the maximum amount you are allowed to possess at any one time. If the calibre isn’t on your FAC you can’t reload for him. Remember, unlike shotgun ammunition, the transfer of rifle ammunition must be properly recorded on certificates.…

Eley Hawk Pigeon HV The Pigeon HV is loaded in 32g No 6 shot in a new 70mm case. A specialist powder extends range and ensures a consistent velocity . It is also environmentally friendly, Price: £263 per 1,000 eleyhawkltd.com Blaser Carbon Shooting Stick 2.0 The new version is more comfortable to handle. The rifle rest has a new safety slide and a printed scale on the legs to allow them to be adjusted more easily. Price: £280 blaser.de Streamlight Wedge This rechargeable flashlight is made in a slim compact design so that it can be carried easily in the pocket. It delivers up to 1,000 lumens and is both water and impact-resistant. Price: £110; streamlight.com Blaser Ultimate Knife With a gutting blade as well as a main blade made…

Fausti’s Magnificent Field will divide opinion in the UK. For some it will just be too Italian, but others will love this distinctive and beautiful gun with a real Italian pedigree. The first thing you notice is how ‘chunky’ the gun feels, similar to Browning and Miroku shotguns. This isn’t a bad thing because many people I know prefer a chunky shotgun to one that feels too dainty, and I’m sure Fausti probably had the American market in mind when it designed this shotgun. The Magnificent may not be for everyone, but it’s a gun worthy of its name. SCORES ON THE DOORS Build quality 24/25 Handling 22/25 Styling 23/25 Value for money 23/25 Total: 92/100…