Table of contents for May 2022 in Sporting Gun

Die hard Many readers will know that Geoff Garrod is an avid pigeon shot. In fact, he is one of the best in the business. This month, he explains how he gave up fowling when the lead ammunition ban was introduced to that part of our sport many years ago. Now, he has had to reappraise steel shot through his work with the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation and because many game dealers will only accept birds shot with steel. He urges us to try these new non-toxic cartridges and thinks we will be pleasantly surprised. Find out more on Page 48…

M&S agrees to stock lead-free game Marks & Spencer will begin selling British Game Assurance certified, lead-free game. Liam Stokes, the BGA’s CEO, said: “M&S has told the shooting world that they want to be the front runner in sourcing sustainable British game. We as a shooting community now need to rise to that challenge.” Nominations open for new award The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation and Marsden Game Feeds have launched the Conservation Champions Awards. These awards aim to highlight shoots, estates and gamekeepers who “celebrate conservation and biodiversity in the game industry”. Nominations are open to all. Once received, nominees will be reviewed by a team of gamekeepers, vets and industry professionals before the winners are announced at The British Shooting Show 2023. To get involved, visit conservationchampions.org Lord Botham’s…

As long as you’re not the sort who counts kills-to-cartridges, a stiffish breeze adds spice to a day’s shooting. Even a fairly bumpy blow can help. Too much of the stuff, though, is almost always counter-productive. By ‘too much’ I mean winds of severe gale and storm force level – the likes of which we suffered through much of January and February. Gamebirds very definitely prefer finding shelter and keeping their heads down until things blow over. Even duck, unless those forced to move by a rising tide or hunger, will often sit tight rather than waste energy battling the elements at flight time. Storms The recent storms, starting with Arwen back in November, were bad enough, but they didn’t match the severity of the great storm of 15/16 October…

Which would you rather hear: some friendly chat down the pub? Mellifluous birdsong? The soothing voice of a loved-one? Or the incessant squeal of tinnitus? I know which one ranks bottom of my list. Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t just competitive shots feeding high volumes of lead through their barrels who need ear protection. Unless we choose to do something about it, hearing loss isn’t a risk but a reality, even for those who shoot infrequently. How loud is too loud? Firearms are incredibly loud. Shotguns will typically register in the region of 150 decibels (dB) or more, while full-bore rifles are louder still. For context, let’s look at some comparison figures published by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID). Zero dB is the quietest sound a…

“If pigeons ignore your set-up you can be sure that you are in the wrong place” We’ve all been there. Our days of reconnaissance have suggested a field will produce a bumper bag. We constructed the ‘perfect’ hide and the decoys are out, and we await what will be the first of many arrivals. What could go wrong? Within minutes, the first pigeon appears on the flightline heading in our direction. Without a glance, it carries on past our setup. When this happens, most decoyers leave the hide to check nothing is wrong with the pattern they set out, even though this is the last thing causing the problem. At this point it is worth considering the reaction of flighting pigeons to your layout. If you are sure that the…

We still have a tower felled by the recent storms to re-erect. Three seats need replacing and in one wood we still can’t get to two seats because of storm debris. To take an optimistic view, we have been lucky because the damage to our kit could have been much worse. With the buck season in full swing this is the time to get on the ground and cull some of the young bucks before they get chased off by the bigger lads. You should leave the big boys until you can clearly see their standard. If you are there to protect the trees, which is the main objective, leave the mature boys. They look after a lot of territory and in doing so protect the trees on their ground…

Lotte likes her comforts. She is always using the sofa, my chair whenever I get out of it. Even lying across the top of my chair which makes a very comfortable and warm pillow. She has been known to sneak up to bed. I usually wake to find a very warm comforter lying under the duvet. She is certainly a determined character. To gain attention, if nothing else works, she will drag her bed into the living room and start thrashing it around, knowing full well that we will take notice. If we don’t then the room needs a good tidy up from all of the lining liberally scattered around the room. Thankfully all of this behaviour does not affect her behaviour in the field. As soon as the harness…

Some 150 years ago, the shotguns that were putting a partridge or two in the pot for supper were using black powder explosive. It powered everything from the highwayman’s pistol to the Navy’s cannon. The flintlock-spark ignition system, with a cloud of smoke right in front of your face, was disappearing in favour of an explosive percussion cap that was much more reliable and didn’t pack up in the rain. Some shooters were still using muzzle-loading guns, where everything was stuffed down the barrel at the ‘dangerous end’ using the loading rod. The days of the modern cartridge were some way off. Open the gun, pop in a cartridge, close the gun and pull the trigger was for the future. So if our enthusiastic shooter wanted to practise, what did…

I looked at the subject of calling foxes last summer, but as there’s only so much you can say in one article, I thought it worthy of further examination. In essence, when you’re luring foxes aurally you can either use a prey-distress sound or that of another fox. It is the latter that I’ll look at here. Since they like to interact socially, I base my efforts on creating a convincing vulpine audio song list to try to bring them within range. Observation Before I start calling, however, I want to know if there are any foxes nearby. I begin by getting as good a vantage point as I can, such as from the top of a high bank or wall. If I’m with the truck, my roof-observation platform works…

Over the past four years I have been running gundog training classes and have been taken aback about how confused people get with their verbal commands. And if the handler is confused and inconsistent, it is unsurprising that their dogs also become confused and are inconsistent in what they do. Over the years I have been lucky enough to witness some of the best handlers in the country work their gundogs. My overriding observation is how consistent they are with their verbal commands and how persistent they are that the dogs obey that request. Novice handlers can be confused as to which commands to use for a particular behaviour. A common fault is the constant use of a dog’s name. The dog’s name is just that – its name. It…

Vet’s advice Neil McIntosh SG’s gundog health expert Bloat is a slight misnomer, as it makes one think simply of a swollen stomach. The syndrome is far more complicated and better referred to as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), for reasons I shall try to explain. What is it? “Gastric dilatation-volvulus is an acute, life-threatening, painful and distressing condition” GDV is an acute, life-threatening, painful and distressing condition, which can result in severe effects on multiple body systems. It is more common in older, larger, deep-chested individuals. Breeds commonly affected include great danes, German shepherds, St Bernards, dobermanns and, yes, Irish and Gordon setters. One study involving 492 affected dogs that attended emergency clinics showed that only 49.7% survived, although nearly 80% of cases that were operated on were able to be…

RABBITS Whippets v lurchers I have a three-year -old whippet and he is great at catching rabbits. Why do you use lurchers instead of whippets as your working dogs? Ed says: I’ve owned and worked with two whippets over the years and both performed to a high standard, but I felt they didn’t have enough to be ‘at it’ daily. If I were a ferreter or wanting a lamping dog for weekends, they would be a great choice. The lurcher family I work with is heavily diluted with collie blood and doesn’t have the take-off speed of a whippet. However, the dogs will take knocks and have a better concentration span, both of which recommend them for me. That said, I had a lot of fun and caught a wide…

Browning B525 Sporter Reduced Stock Getting a gun to fit off the shelf can sometimes be a tricky business, especially if you are a youngster, or a female shooter, so Browning has developed the reduced stock version of its famous B525. The gun comes with a selection of recoil pads for a perfect fit and to adapt the gun to someone still growing. A selection of chokes is included and it is proofed for steel shot. Price: £1,879 en.browning.eu Webley & Scott Imperial side-by-side shotgun With a nod to its past, Webley & Scott has produced a stunning side-by-side combining the best of the old with the best of the new. Traditional in appearance, with sideplates and colour case hardening, it also has a rib, single trigger, steel proof and…

“We’ve been here before” is a depressing phrase. I must confess that this is what came to my mind as we face the looming lead shot ban for game shooting. Years ago lead shot was banned for shooting wildfowl and as Geoff Garrod reminds us in his article “Testing the metal” the steel shot cartridges at that time were not really up to the job. Because of this Geoff moved away from fowling and recently, with the way things are going, I was thinking about moving away from shooting to take up a less controversial sport like golf. I commissioned Geoff to write about using steel shot in the field. Geoff is a senior member of the National Gamekeepers Organisation, one of the signatories to the phasing out of lead…

As luck would have it, my last day’s shooting for the season (a walk around at home) fell on Friday 28 January. Come Saturday, Storm Malik was lifting tiles off the barn roof and howling through the trees. Like those woodpigeon mentioned below, I kept my head down and let things blow over before opening the door again. Would I have gone out had I been booked on a let day? Probably not. The last place you want to be in a gale, let alone a storm, is close to or among trees. You can’t expect beaters and pickers-up to risk all and work in such conditions. An exception might be if cover crops, not woods, were being walked through. One noted shoot near me did go ahead in spite…

I am straying into Andrea’s territory. During the butchery courses I suggest how to use certain cuts. A carcass doesn’t have to be butchered into the standard haunch, chops and shoulder. Most of you will be aware of cuts such as haunch or fillet of haunch (bone removed), loin fillet and the true fillet. On a roe deer, the true fillet is very small, just bigger than a finger. The way I love to eat these is to fold cling film over the fillet, leaving room for the meat to expand and use a rolling pin to flatten it. This is not really to tenderise it, as it is tender to start with, but to spread the meat into an escalope. It shapes it into a larger, though thinner piece…

Rabbits have provided me with gainful employment for the past 22 years. It is scary to think how quickly these years have gone by but it has been an adventure. And some. Over the years I have met others who professed to carry out rabbit control as their line of work. Some were believable, others less so. And some verged on the comical. One that sticks out above all others for me and is my friend Mick Mansbridge, a true country character. I met Mick many years ago when I was a teenager. I grew up on the Roundwood Estate in Hampshire where my father keepered. Mick worked on a neighbouring estate, employed as a rabbit controller. He utilised ferrets and nets, shooting, and a variety of other means. Chase…

Thimbleby Shooting Ground SIMULATED QUARRY OFFERED Pheasant, partridge and grouse. ESTATES USED Thimbleby Estate, North Yorkshire MOBILITY Wheelchair users can be catered for and are advised to contact the estate to discuss their requirements. PARTY NUMBER Between 10-15 guns for private days. Solo shooters can join other singles and small groups on syndication days. SIM DAY AVAILABILITY Simulated game shooting days are available all year round, with one to two days offered each week up to a total of 60 days per year. CATERING Guests enjoy a tasty breakfast, elevenses after the first two drives, and lunch after the third or fourth drive. All the food is cooked by Thimbleby’s team of chefs and served in the recently renovated clubhouse. It and drinks are all included in the price of…

My gun history is by definition a personal journey, so I ask you not to judge me too harshly. They were the right choices for me at the time. I will try to remember as accurately as possible and explain the circumstances around my purchases over nearly 40 years of shooting. My first shooting experience was aged 10 with a bolt-action .410, shooting a Coca-Cola can swinging on a piece of string from a tree. As a family, we had moved to Scotland and I was befriended by a boy called Scott. Scott’s father was a butcher and keen game Shot. He was also eager for Scott to enjoy shooting and to join him in the family business. In exchange for helping out in the shop, shooting trips were provided…

• If you don’t have any luck, it’s important to reassure yourself that fox calling is an imprecise art. What works one night may not work the next. • Sometimes the sounds of foxes can frighten timid individuals away. These might be young animals that are fed up of being bullied, or it might be super-nervous pregnant vixens. In this case, prey distress calls, such as those of mice, rats or gamebirds, may well prove to be more effective. • Daylight is a good time to find the best vantage points. Not only can you search out the best vistas, but also you can check for hazards that you may well not see in the dark, such as discarded barbed wire, rabbit holes or sudden drops. While you’re there, it’s good…

There are some breed and indeed trainer/ handler variations, but there are common commands that are used across the gundog-training community. These can be set out in two separate groups: basic (behaviour) commands; and hunting/ retrieving commands. SIT/HUP This is probably the most common and one that is trained from an early age. Obviously, this instruction simply means that the dog has to sit. STAY/WAIT This means the dog has to stay where you have put it until given another command. Interestingly, in some dog training quarters, stay and wait mean different things. The ‘stay’ command means stay in a place as the handler is going back to the dog, whereas ‘wait’ means stay in a place as the handler is going to recall the dog. Gundog trainers tend to…

Glaze & Gordon 4x4 needlepoint belt Created exclusively for Glaze & Gordon by US-based Smathers & Branson, this Italian leather belt is sure to catch attention. Available in seven sizes. Price £160; glazeandgordon.com ISOtunes Sport CALIBER headphones Lightweight Bluetooth hearing protection that reduces the sound of gunshots but amplifies natural sound. Battery of up to 13 hours. Dust, sweat and waterproof. Price £169.99; uk.isotunessport.com Ariat Kelmarsh wellington boot The fully waterproof and lightweight Kelmarsh keeps your feet free of moisture and odour, as well as comfortable on rough terrain. Available in heather grey and navy. Price £95; ariat.com Contigo Matterhorn water bottle A leak proof Thermalock vacuum-insulated stainless steel bottle that keeps drinks hot for 10 hours and iced drinks cold for a full day. Available in nine colours. Perfect…

• Fully waterproof even in heavy rain • Drip strip to prevent water rising up the lining from the bottom of the coat • Taped seams • Storm cuffs to prevent rain running down your sleeves, which is particularly useful when raising your arms to mount your gun. • Eyelet drainage holes in cartridge pockets to prevent soggy cartridges • Action back for freedom of movement • Adjustable waist for the perfect fit • Cosy fleece-lined handwarmer pockets • Faux suede collar • Secure inner pockets • Machine washable…

Having already done a couple of Blaser F3 reviews I thought it was high time to try out the F16. The Blaser F16 could be called the little brother of the F3. It is similar to look at, but prices are somewhat cheaper. Not that I am saying this is a cheap gun, or that it is in any way made cheaply, because it isn’t. The F16 Sporting receiver has a rather basic design with a plain gun metal grey colour to it and a red F16 logo on the side of the action. It also has an adjustable trigger with a reasonably crisp 3lb 10oz trigger pull. The F16 also has a barrel selector, this is not unusual these days, but rather than being placed conventionally on the back…

Don’t reward failure in fees review, says BASC Firearms licensing fees are up for review for the first time in eight years. Since 2014 some voices in the police and campaigners have called for changes to be made, including the full cost borne by the applicant, which would mean a steep rise in the fees if implemented. BASC has cautioned against a pro forma rise as it said it would “reward failure”, which it highlights as the inconsistent service across the UK’s 45 territorial police forces, including the national forces in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Home Office has launched the review and set up a fees working group to facilitate this. The group’s first meeting is scheduled for April and will include representatives from BASC and the British Shooting…

Shooting crows to control the numbers is vital for ongoing conservation management in the UK. My local crow numbers have always been high and need to be controlled, providing some tremendous sporting opportunities in the process. However, you should never underestimate the intelligence of corvids. A sharp intellect, combined with excellent eyesight and a slow flight speed, can result in a problematic quarry to decoy successfully. Through readers’ questions I often hear that newcomers to crow shooting don’t know where to start when trying to decoy. This led me to think that it would be a great subject to explore for an overview of the basics, which, hopefully, even experienced vermin shooters can benefit from. Behaviour Studying the behaviour of any quarry you intend to shoot is key to success.…

At first glance the jackdaw may seem undistinguished, but it is subtly handsome. The smallest native species of crow has a superficially black plumage and distinctly purple sheen to the black cap, while the cheeks, nape and neck are a greyish-silver. What really stand out are the silvery white irises of the eyes, and with the strutting, upright gait of a bird on the ground the effect could be described as piratical. In the air the jerky wing beats of the jackdaw might make it appear clumsy, but it is an agile flyer, manoeuvring with skill as well as tumbling and gliding. They often seem to play in the wind, capable of a wide variety of aerial acrobatics and far stronger on the wing than the similarly-sized jay. Wherever you…

EJ Churchill’s Buckinghamshire Shooting Ground is one of the best-known venues in the clay shooting world, and it’s easy to see why. This is a ground built to impress: every small detail has been noted, checked and improved upon throughout the estate’s history. The ground features a wealth of clay disciplines, a well-stocked gunroom and a country store. There’s also an excellent café and everything is presided over by knowledgeable staff with a passion for the sport. What’s more, this shooting ground’s offerings extend far beyond its well-manicured stands and out into the wilds, where simulated game targets fly high and far over the heads of an ever-growing cohort of game and clay Shots alike. Rob Fenwick knows more than most when it comes to blending clay and game shooting.…

STANBURY’S VENISON KEBABS WITH YOGHURT AND CUCUMBER MARINADE PREPARATION TIME: 2 HOURS – 1 DAY COOKING TIME: 30 MINUTES MAKES TWO Ingredients 450g venison steak, cut into 1in cubes For the marinade 2.5cm (1in ) piece of fresh ginger 2 cloves of garlic ½ tsp ground turmeric ½ tsp ground cumin ¼ tsp chilli flakes ¼ tsp ground cinnamon 6 black peppercorns, crushed 2 cloves 1 small tub (250ml) plain yoghurt 2 tbsp olive oil For the sauce ½ cucumber 275ml (½ pint) plain yoghurt ¼ tsp ground cumin Lemon juice Mint leaves Salt & pepper to taste To serve Cooked rice Fresh green salad Method 1 Blitz all marinade ingredients, except oil and yoghurt, in a food processor, or chop very finely. 2 Stir in the oil and yoghurt,…

Shotgun cartridge performance is something that has interested me since my youth and still does. Some may not understand why this is so but therein is the key: the more testing you carry out, the more differences you will spot. You must then ponder why some cartridges perform differently from others. This still is what makes the topic much more interesting than it might at first appear. It is definitely a case of the more you discover the more you come to realise that there is always more to learn. That’s primarily how and why my interest is retained after many years of testing, more than 40 of them as part of my job. The test procedure is fairly straightforward. However, to make the results you achieve meaningful, especially if…

I have tested a few guns for Ruger recently and this one epitomises a trend for making more affordable rifles without skimping on accuracy or reliability. This is welcome news for shooters who use a rifle as a tool as part of their job, such as keepers. Ruger’s new American model, which is different from its Hawkeye range, is gaining popularity. This Hunter model has a more practical finish with matt bluing to metal surfaces to help reduce reflection. Similarly, the synthetic stock is grey/black in colour. There is a carbine length 20in barrel and large muzzle break combined with the improved Magpul stock, a pleasing alternative to the usual basic American Sporter stock. The lowdown The action has had some thought put into it with regards delivering a smooth…

It’s a sobering thought that the Beretta 682 has been around for 40 years. It is a regular feature on the clay lines and has won more competitions than any other Beretta gun. In fact, probably more than any other marque. Renowned shooters such as George Digweed and Barry Simpson have used it to achieve many of their victories. The 682 changed little since its launch, although there was a redesign in 1994. While earlier models were built on a wider frame, the new ones benefited from narrower receivers, improved chokes and lighter barrels and came in a 3in chambering. In many cases they shared the same or at least interchangeable parts. The slimmed down action is similar to that of the later 686 and 687 models and is a…

CHARLES SMITH-JONES SAYS: “With the right ammunition it is reasonable to expect clover leaf groups” Sako has long held a reputation for producing high quality rifles since it was formed in 1921. Its origins were in producing military firearms, but it eventually moved on to the creation of other hunting and competition models. The development of ‘a dream rifle for devoted riflemen’ began in 1993, and the M75 was eventually introduced three years later, with the name chosen in order to mark the 75th anniversary of the Finnish company. Although similar to earlier Sako models, the new rifle had a different construction, including a manual ejector and three symmetrical locking lugs. It was marked by its detachable magazine, as previous Sako models (with the exception of the L46) featured internal…