Table of contents for July 2021 in Sporting Gun

No, this isn’t a ‘spot the dog’ competition – it’s the sight of Nick Ridley’s young cocker, Percy, getting his first run in a working test. And the sight of Nick himself, who is more usually on the other side of the lens. The pair headed to Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire for the London Working Spaniel Society working test – which involved retrieving from some rushy sedge reed in woodland. After a long wait, which was a bit of a worry as Percy can ‘get a wiggle on’, he got into his hunting pattern as soon as Nick clicked him off. Read the Adventures of Nick & Ted t o find out how he got on…

It was a surreal sight. A gentleman, dressed in a sun-bleached polo shirt and red shorts, was dusting the snow from his gun slip as he prepared to shoot stand four. Minutes later, competitors in full winter garb were loosening collars and stripping off layers as the sun beat down from a blue, almost cloudless sky. Few were prepared for the fickle weather, and even fewer were ready for Steve Lovatt’s skilfully set targets at this first ESP England Selection Shoot of the year. Paul Batchelor and Miles Machin were untroubled, taking joint high gun with a very respectable 93 ex 100, but much of the rest of the field were left scratching their heads, wondering what on earth went wrong. Steve Lovatt’s Westfield, a Clay Shooting Company ground, is…

As some of you know, there have been changes to the DSC1 and DSC2 qualification requirements. These came into effect 1 April. The updates involve the game and hygiene assessment and a redesigned shooting assessment. Due to COVID restrictions, many courses that had been booked over the past year were postponed. For those who have now been given a reorganised course date and assessment and were booked before 1 April, the only change is the shooting assessment, which is explained below. Game meat and general hygiene written assessment The 40 questions for this assessment are still part of the DSC1 requirement underpinning that the candidate’s knowledge is sound. With course and assessment bookings registered from 1 April, however, the Trained Hunter (TH) qualification will not be awarded until the candidate…

Shooting rabbits with a gun can be rewarding as it is frustrating and testing. But is it effective? It very much depends on the circumstances and the goal that you are aiming to achieve. Rabbit control with a gun requires a pragmatic approach, according to whether you are going out to shoot a few or something a lot more substantial. Safety is paramount and should always be the first consideration for someone wanting to control rabbits with a firearm on any given plot of land. Anyone can pull a trigger but it takes a level head to refuse the shot if the situation is questionable. At all times care should be taken with regard to housing, roads, livestock and, of course, other people. Stony ground is something to beware in…

We continue our work on gun down on suitable targets, going through a routine of picking the right break point, pick-up point and visual pick-up point. We are also building up confidence in the mount and its consistency, which should be done on a selection of targets with plenty of time for the mounting process. The main push for this lesson is learning to deal with more than one target – to begin with on report, then simultaneous (sim) pairs. On sporting clays this will mean having two break points, two gun hold points and two visual pick-up points. This should start with two on report targets that can be shot consistently as singles by the client; for example, a going-away target and a decoy. The process is discussed and…

What to feed your dog? Now that is a thorny question, however, I have a simple answer: whatever they look and do well on. For the past six or seven years I have been feeding the Ridley cocker clan on a pre-prepared raw diet. We are currently feeding them on a food called VOM. Probably not the best marketing name but it comes from Norway and was originally designed as feed for high-performing sled dogs. I have to say our dogs all look really well, and that’s bearing in mind Harry is 13 and Percy two in a couple of months – he has been brought up on it – so it seems to suit all ages. Feeding a dog a diet of raw meat and bones is not a…

Whenever I start a new lesson I am always prepared to take a step back, and although the dog is steady off the lead to a thrown canvas dummy, I begin this exercise with the dog on a lead. I put the homing pigeon in the back pocket of my training vest. As we walk, I gently slip the bird out and throw it in front of the dog and immediately give a tug on the lead and blow the sit whistle. The first time you do this the dog may well respond correctly, but don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. You may need a few sessions.…

I have been given the opportunity to shoot wild boar. Is there a legal minimum calibre for this? David says: No. Boars vary significantly in size according to age and are dense and compact compared to deer, so can take a bit of stopping. In general, .270 is regarded as the minimum but you may do better with something a little more powerful, such as a .300 WinMag. On the Continent, where large numbers of boar are shot – 800,000 annually in France alone – many Guns use an 8mm or 9mm calibre for driven boar.…

What factors do you consider when you set up a pigeon hide? And which one would you say is most important? Peter says: There is no doubt that decoyers invest the woodpigeon with far greater powers than it possesses, arguing that if a woody on its way out to feed spots a square object that is not the same colour as its immediate background, it will make every effort not to fly near it. On that basis, no pigeon would ever cross a busy road or take up residence within town boundaries. As long as we make every effort to keep hidden as pigeons approach our set-up, the colour of the hide makes not the slightest difference. Net manufacturers will try to make you believe that you need a different…

Do you use flocked or unflocked decoys and does it make a difference? Peter says: As decoyers, we all strive to use whatever make, or design, of decoy that we consider to be most realistic in all circumstances. Unfortunately, realism is not the only criteria – practicality is also important, otherwise we would only use real pigeons as decoys. Not everyone has the facility to freeze 20-plus birds to use as decoys on subsequent outings – which is why the artificial decoy started to dominate the market. Everyone has their favourite, but all work if placed in the right place at the right time. Flocked examples work best in bright conditions because they do not shine, but tend to be poorly coloured. In my opinion, the most realistically coloured decoy…

DISCIPLINES English Sporting, FITASC, Compak, six high towers and a grouse butt. ADDITIONAL FACILITIES Sportarm operates the on-site gunroom, gunsmithing, fitting and storage facilities as well as a lifestyle shop. Meeting rooms are available for corporate events. MOBILITY Disabled visitors are able to park on a paved courtyard. Pathways to stands are lightly gravelled. Staff-placed ramps provide access to the clubhouse, where disabled bathroom facilities are available. WHEN IS IT OPEN? Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 4.30pm. PRACTICE ROUNDS ‘Pay and play’ is available across 10 Sporting stands, with clays priced at £0.45. Caddied practice sessions are priced at £75 for individuals, or £60 a person for a shared session. TUITION Lessons are available from £90 an hour for an individual, exclusive of clays and cartridges. Discounts are available for…

Fiocchi, which has more than 140 years’ experience in making ammunition, produces cartridges that are popular with both club and serious competition shooters in the UK and around the world. Reviews of last year’s Fiocchi LiteSpeed cartridges noted that the ongoing development of new clay shooting cartridges shows how vibrant clay shooting sport is. Fiocchi has reinforced this by introducing more new cartridges to its already extensive line-up of clay target cartridges, with the launch of Official Rossa. Offered in 24g for international disciplines and 28g for Sporting and other non-ISSF disciplines, they are keenly priced, too. Official Rossa The cartons for the Official Rossa are sturdy and strikingly attractive – a burst of bright red, blue and gold with the word ‘NEW’ emblazoned on the front. All key information…

CHARLES SMITH-JONES SAYS: “The trigger unit is of a surprisingly high quality for a budget rifle” An affordable, no-nonsense rifle that is popular in its native USA, the Remington Model 783 has never achieved the regard in this country that the flagship Model 700 did. This is surprising as it is solid, shoots exceptionally well and comes with a good reputation for reliability and robust build. In fact, it is a rather better rifle than the Model 770, which it preceded it by about 10 years and upon which it is based. It shoots better, looks attractive without resorting to unnecessary frills and is easy on the pocket. Since its introduction in 2013, a number of variants have been offered in a mixture of synthetic, laminate or walnut stocks, and…

Our Clay Shooting Classic is taking place at Orston Shooting Ground just as we are going to press and we will give you a full round-up of that event in the next issue. This issue of Sporting Gun was lucky enough to be the first magazine to shoot the new Purdey Trigger Plate in 20-bore. At £69,000 plus VAT, I’m not suggesting we all buy one. I like to think I live in the real world and I know most of us will never have that sort of spending power, but it’s exciting to think that great British gunmaking is thriving. The company combines the best of traditional gunmaking with new technology and you can read all about that on page 96. It’s good to showcase the best of British…

Fieldsports groups and rural organisations have called upon the Scottish government to rethink its policy on the control of deer. The Scottish government has announced changes in this regard, not least the removal of a close season for male deer. In an open letter, BASC, the British Deer Society, the Countryside Alliance, NFU Scotland, the Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association and Scottish Land & Estates called upon the Holyrood administration to respect the welfare of deer to the positive benefit of the Scottish economy and its rural workforce. Dr Colin Shedden, BASC Scotland director, said there were significant concerns following the Scottish government’s response to the deer working group report. He said that the working group’s recommendations “have the capacity to harm deer welfare”. He said the removal of a close season…

The CPSA’s board of directors has recently announced that Miles Machin will take on the role of CPSA deputy chairman. Having served as chairman of the highly-regarded Cheshire CPSA committee for a number of years, Miles will be well known to many in the clay-shooting world. Alongside his committee work, Miles is also a qualified CPSA instructor and has helped to promote the sport to a wider audience through the award-winning Ladies Clay Shooting League. His considerable experience, both on and off the stands, will undoubtedly serve him, and the CPSA, well in his new position.…

All shots are now taken on the Deer Management Qualification (DMQ) deer silhouette target. On this new target, the size of the chest kill area has been reduced and relocated to be more representative of where one would normally aim to kill a deer. A smaller kill zone has been added to the head to assess a candidate’s ability to shoot a wounded deer humanely. The zero target requirement has been removed. The assessment is as follows: • Two shots to be taken into at the DMQ silhouette chest target at 100m, either prone or from a simulated high seat • Two shots to be taken at the DMQ silhouette chest target at 70m, either standing, sitting or kneeling • Two shots taken at the target at 10 to 20m.…

Our wild rabbit was introduced to this country and it is commonly accepted that the Normans were responsible. It is thought that they brought them across the Channel as a source of food and fur following the events of 1066. A lack of archaeological proof predating the 11th century backed this up, and the rabbit is not even mentioned in the Domesday Book. However, matters are not clear-cut and a 2005 archaeological dig at Lynford, Norfolk, produced the butchered remains of a rabbit alongside fragments of pots dating from the first or second century AD, proof that the Romans had brought some to these shores. Origins “The rabbit has always been a symbol of fertility and rebirth” The rabbit originated in south-western Europe. At one point the proper name for…

The times they are a-changin’ for game shooting. But what about clays? Lead metal and plastics must disappear from cartridges used for shooting game. The large UK associations involved in the provision of sporting shooting for edible quarry, with feathers or fur, have nailed their colours to the mast. And that requirement will apply to the lead shot pellets in cartridges and lead bullets for shooting deer, hares and rabbits. The principal driving force for the change is that the toxicologists and health experts are now pointing out that even a small quantity of lead in our food or in the human body is probably not good for us; previously there have been recommendations for a small maximum tolerable lead content. So putting lead into a food source on purpose,…

A common scenario with a new game shooter on a medium height sim pair of driven targets is: miss miss, miss miss, miss miss. We stop and talk about what is going on, explain the importance of the focus on just one target. Load the gun with just one cartridge and send the pair again. This usually results in a good break, as the concentration is only on one target as they only have one cartridge and the second shot isn’t considered. This is repeated a few times, usually with the same result. Next, two cartridges are loaded but still only one of the pair is to be taken, which normally keeps the consistency with the targets breaking well. Then one of two things happen: once the first target is…

Another negative I have heard voiced about feeding a raw diet is that the dogs can lack stamina during a day’s shooting, but I have not found this to be true. During a normal shooting season my dogs will work at least twice a week and often more; I have never found them lacking in stamina or drive. One real advantage of feeding a ‘natural’ diet is that they spend less time and energy digesting the food because while dry food stays in a dog’s stomach for seven to nine hours, raw food only takes between one and two hours to digest. Another old wives’ tale is that if you feed a gundog a raw diet it will be prone to eating any game that you send it out to…

The next stage of the exercise needs good timing on your behalf and will begin to draw on all of the previous lessons. Get your dog hunting on some suitable ground and once it is into its quartering pattern slip the pigeon out of your vest and this is where your timing will come in, as the dog casts across you throw the pigeon out in front and immediately blow the sit whistle. You want to position yourself between the dog and the flying pigeon, so if needs be you can block the dog from running in.…

Letter of the month Sound of silence In the May issue there was an article featuring Tom Sykes and he was pictured with a moderated shotgun. Which make of moderator is it and has part of the shotgun rib been removed? Edward Smith, via email Tom says: Thank you for your question. I had a 24in spare barrel for my Benelli Nova and made the decision to have it modified by The Saddlery and Gunroom. The Hushpower moderator is built into the barrel, and although it can be removed the barrel has been drilled to let the gasses escape into the baffles of the moderator, rendering it unusable without the moderator attached. There are plenty of Hushpower guns available to buy ready customised. They are often used on Mossberg pump…

I have heard it said that you should only use your ferret when there is an ‘r’ in the month. Is this true and, if so, where did the saying originate? Ed says: If you use ferrets for sporting purposes I understand this, however, they can be used all year round for pest control. Vegetation makes it more problematic in the summer but success is still possible. Some say ferrets go to sleep when they catch and eat young rabbits but I’ve yet to see this, and regularly work ferrets throughout the year. Is it fun to do it in the summer? Less so, but it’s my work not a pastime.…

The immaculate grounds of E J Churchill in West Wycombe are famed for excellent target presentations and world-class events. Rob Fenwick, the managing director, and his team are determined to recreate the Buckinghamshire ground’s success in his home county of North Yorkshire. “Truthfully,” says Rob of the decision to open E J Churchill at the Swinton Estate, “I got tired of fellow northerners asking me when a ground like West Wycombe would open up north. “We searched for years to find the perfect location before discovering Warren Gill shooting ground on the Swinton Estate, though that was just the beginning. I could write a book about the struggles we had bringing everything up to standard. “As soon as we took over the ground in 2019, we began upgrading the site.…

Spartan Javelin Lite bipod Some hunters thought the original Spartan bipod was too expensive. The Spartan team has reacted by introducing a new version, the Javelin Lite bipod. At £129 it has a much more competitive price tag for a bipod. The lower price means slightly less carbon fibre compared with other models (but it still only weighs 130g), and the legs aren’t adjustable. The Javelin Lite comes in three sizes – mini, standard or long. The mini provides 5.1in of ground clearance, while the long provides 7.5in. So, for the same price as a Harris bipod you lose the ability to adjust the height of the legs, but you do save 238g. Adapter Spartan bipods attach to your rifle using its patented system: a small adapter that permanently attaches…

James Purdey & Sons is to shotguns what Stradivarius is to violins and Rolls-Royce is to luxury cars. Even if you know nothing about shooting you will have heard of Purdey, such is its reputation. You couldn’t be blamed for thinking this quintessential gunmaker would rest on its laurels and be thoroughly traditional. I certainly did, but in recent years the London gunmaker has brought out various innovative shotguns, such as the Trigger Plate over-and-under. Traditionalists might have thought Purdey would be more at home with sideplate side-by-side game guns, but no, this well-established gunmaker is still at the forefront of shooting technology. So can the latest version of the Trigger Plate – tested here for the first time in 20-bore – live up to my expectations? Prototype I was…

The release of pheasants and red-legged partridges within European protected sites became subject to specific licence conditions in England from the end of May. The Government announced an interim licensing scheme for such releases following a consultation that garnered more than 2,000 responses from stakeholders. For the time being, gamebirds released within the protected sites and a 500m buffer zone from their boundaries, including Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) will fall under the remit of conditions outlined in the licence GL43. It does not apply to land that is designated only as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The general licence approach announced by Defra was developed in response to a judicial review brought by Wild Justice against the Government over such releases, on…

Agreement on Olympic COVID ‘playbook’ Strict new rules for Olympic clay shooting participants stipulate that, among other restrictions, they must undergo a series of COVID tests, must only attend events listed on their ‘activity plans’ and they aren’t allowed to use public transport or dine outside of regulated facilities. Countryside call for lantern ban Countryside groups have called upon the Government to outlaw sky lanterns. A coalition of 18 rural, environmental and fire organisations have written to Rebecca Pow, the Environment Minister, saying the lack of regulation on this is now “significantly out of date” and needs amending. Tim Bonner, the chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said the lanterns were incredibly dangerous and “once released, there is no way of knowing where they will end up”. The lanterns have…

The Game Fair is back and in rude health. That’s the upbeat message from James Gower, the fair’s managing director. He said that Europe’s largest outdoor countryside festival will be better than ever when it returns to Ragley Hall in Warwickshire over the weekend of Friday 23 to Sunday 25 July. Mr Gower said that ticket sales were 400% ahead of schedule and that following the cancellation of last year’s show because of the coronavirus pandemic there was a pent-up demand and passion for the fair, which he said was “gearing up to be a once-in-a-generation event”. Certainly the 120,000 visitors expected at Ragley over the weekend are in for a treat, with myriad attractions provided by more than 230 new exhibitors. To whet your appetite there is the Shooting…

Do working dogs take after their owner? Some reckon they do but if the pair curled asleep at my feet are anything to go by, I’d have to disagree. Suppose it were true. If so, it would be Sam the labrador that comes closest to mirroring my temperament: patient, steady, relaxed, quiet and trusting. Or so I like to think. And he too enjoys having his ears tickled. Doogie, on the other hand, brings a number of less than endearing characteristics to the mix. He’s a lovable little ruffle nut but the lad’s an attention seeker, demanding, destructive and, worst of all, noisy. Very noisy. Decibels Of course all dogs bark. But not in the way a wire-haired teckel goes about it. When this little hound fires up his high-pitched…

Apart from organised roost shooting, pigeon shooting is widely regarded as a solitary sport, one man pitting his skills against our most wily of quarry species. I, on the other hand, have usually shared my days out with another decoyer, so in this article I will explain the benefits, and the pitfalls, of that. It is not as easy as you might think to find someone who shares your passion for the art of decoying, but also the experience to help you maximise the potential of a day’s shooting. First and foremost it should go without saying that if someone is going to sit in a hide next to you with a loaded shotgun, they must be 100% safe at all times. Coincidence In a coincidence of circumstances I met…

DISTRIBUTION: Originally native to the Iberian peninsula of Portugal, Spain and south-west France, but introduced to many countries worldwide. UKDISTRIBUTION: Widespread across Britain and Ireland, with the exceptions of some islands. IUCN RED-LIST STATUS: Endangered, with decreasing populations within its natural range (if not elsewhere). FOOD: A wide variety of herbage, particularly grasses. Also eats fruits and root vegetables and strips tree bark, especially when food is short in winter. HABITAT: Prefers short grasslands adjacent to burrows or refuge areas such as hedgerows, woodland or thick ground foliage. Burrow systems reflect the quality of the soil that they are dug in: the firmer the soil type, the larger and more interconnected burrows tend to be. Warren in sandy areas tend to be smaller. BREEDING: Does are sexually mature at between…

STICKS: I’ve customised my sticks to a certain extent. I’ve added a short extension to add a bit of height as having the rest at the right height is critical to consistent accuracy. This is especially useful when there’s a dip in the ground in the wrong place. The legs have foam wrapped around them to minimise unwanted clanging. Since the lower slider catches can get entangled in long grass and pulled open, they are taped over to protect against unexpected collapse. After a yoke fell off one night without warning, I now use a strong thread-locking compound to keep it tight. All the shiny bits have camo tape over them. Vanguard Quest T62U tripod sticks: vanguardworld.co.uk CARTRIDGE HOLDER: Since I couldn’t find a pouch for .204 Ruger rounds, I…

There could be dispensations for clay grounds that clear up their spent lead shot. That would incur some cost but some of that could be offset by the recycled lead value. And for disciplines conducted on set ‘compact’ ranges, such as Skeet, Down the Line (DTL) and Sportrap, it would, in many cases, be possible to skim-off the metal for recycling. The lead shot fallout area is reasonably well defined. But could smaller clay clubs that shoot these disciplines afford to recover lead? In the disciplines such as English Sporting, and particularly FITASC, the whole ethos of the competition is to be as close a copy of the game shooting environment as can be simulated. The chance of economically clearing up on a scattered clay layout in woodland and on…

Before we get into the pigeon shooting, there’s news on the steel/lead shot debate that I want to highlight. We already know there is a five-year plan to move away from lead shot and the National Game Dealers’ Association recently announced that it would only accept fur and feather shot with non-lead shot from 1 June 2022. That will mean the majority of game dealers will insist on non-lead shot game and I’m sure the rest will follow. We know this change is coming, so perhaps it’s time we all embraced this change and tried alternatives. I’ve already written about the Eley VIP steel shot with its eco wad, which works really well, and I’m sure it won’t be long before there are many similar offerings from other manufacturers. I…

Fran Ardley looks at how to deal with temptation as you train your dog to be steady to the flush. Last month we looked at getting your dog steady to shot, whistle and the artificial flush of a dummy being thrown while your dog is hunting. The next step needs very careful planning and consideration. If you plan to use your dog in the shooting field, it will need to be steady to both ground and winged game. In an earlier article (Sporting GunOctober 2020) I covered the use of a rabbit pen to get a dog hunting and stopping to the flush of a bolting rabbit. This aspect of a gundog’s training can also be artificially simulated by using remote lure machines or elasticated bolting rabbits, but it is…

Ian Coley Sporting DISCIPLINES English Sporting, DTL, three high towers and a grouse butt. ADDITIONAL FACILITIES A gunroom, a country shop and a sporting agency. MOBILITY Hardstanding gravel car park with tarmacked disabled spaces. Accessibility ramp and paved pathway lead to the clubhouse, which contains disabled bathroom facilities. Wide, flat, gravel pathways to most stands. WHEN IS IT OPEN? Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm PRACTICE ROUNDS Experienced licence holders can make use of the Promatic automated systems. Clays are set at £0.40 each. TUITION Individual lessons start from £90 an hour, exclusive of clays and cartridges. Juniors, or those booking a course of six or more lessons, benefit from reduced rates. DESCRIPTION If Cheltenham is the heart of the Cotswolds, then Ian Coley Sporting, just 15 minutes from the…

DISCIPLINES English Sporting and simulated game. ADDITIONAL FACILITIES On-site café and seasonal game shooting. MOBILITY Hardstanding parking is available as are disabled bathroom facilities. WHEN IS IT OPEN? Thursday to Saturday, 10am-6pm Sunday and bank holidays, 10am to 2pm PRACTICE ROUNDS Experienced shooters can enjoy more than a dozen stands solo thanks to a delayed buttoning system. Clays are priced at £0.38. TUITION Lessons are tailored to suit each group or client – contact Widdington Shoot to discuss your needs. DESCRIPTION Widdington Farm, on Salisbury Plain, has long been famed for its shooting. For decades, the rolling hills and gently sloping valleys of the local landscape have lent themselves perfectly to the sport of English partridge shooting. n Twelve years ago, Jeremy Horton, who oversees both the farming and shooting…

CHARLES SMITH-JONES SAYS: “It is priced to attract those seeking a better quality gun without paying too much” Blaser first produced drilling rifles for the continental hunting market after it was established in 1957. However, the German firearms manufacturer moved on to produce the innovative and hugely successful straight-pull bolt action R93 and R8 hunting rifles, the first guns that tend to leap to mind when its name is mentioned. Today, the Blaser catalogue holds a limited number of models and the company philosophy appears to be to offer only a small number of production guns, albeit built to exacting standards and with the option of personal configuration. There is no doubt that Blaser caters for a higher end of the market and there was considerable excitement when its new…