Table of contents for January 2023 in Sporting Gun

Bird flu has continued to spread across the UK and wreak havoc on both farmed and wild birds. At the time of writing there had been 111 confirmed cases since the beginning of October and 245 cases since October 2021. Since 7 November there has been a mandatory housing order for all captive birds and poultry in England. The countrywide order followed previous mandatory housing orders in the disease hotspots of Suffolk, Norfolk and parts of Essex. The orders in turn followed on from the implementation by Defra of an avian influenza prevention zone in England, Wales and Scotland, which we reported in the last issue of Sporting Gun. Christine Middlemiss, chief veterinary officer in the UK, said the decision to impose a mandatory housing order in England was not…

10–11 December Bill Bailey Memorial Young Shots Intro to Wildfowling Weekend, Purleigh Barns, Essex 16 December Year Ending 100 ESP Registered Shoot, Atkin Grant & Lang Shooting Ground, Herts 17 December The Shotgun & Chelsea Bun Club Christmas Shoot and Social, Orston Shooting Ground, Notts 18 December Dartford’s Christmas Sporting Shoot, Dartford Clay Shooting Club, Kent 21 December Expert fitting session with Nigel Teague, Ian Coley Sporting, Glos 22 December Winter SuperSport competition, E J Churchill at The West Wycombe Estate, Bucks 9 January 2023 The Churchill Challenge begins, E J Churchill shooting grounds…

I never thought I’d see the day when some cartridges would end up costing around £2 a shot. How wrong I was. The proof is in front of me. There, in a corner of the kitchen, are a couple of slabs of freshly arrived shells loaded with bismuth just waiting to be fired. I’m not going to moan about the price. It’s my fault. Had I bought pre-Covid I could have had them for half that. And the same goes for steel shot game loads; the new selection I’ve bought to replace those I’ve been trying are twice the price too. I wasn’t at all enamoured by the way the earlier stuff performed, but friends tell me these replacement jobbies actually do a decent job on middling to good driven…

Wildfowling During the winter months I carry a variety of gear with me that I believe will help me in the success of an expedition. Here I describe some of my bedrock equipment and why I use it. Hopefully other wildfowlers out there will find the tips useful. I have also highlighted a more exhaustive list of other items you may want to consider for any trips to the marshes. The rucksack I have used a lot of different bags for carrying gear and decoys onto the foreshore. The old faithful that I return to more often than not is the ex-Army Bergen. These rucksacks are built to withstand the punishment of the battlefield and have outlived most other bags I have used on the foreshore. A primary advantage is…

Hunting with birds of prey is something that has interested me for a long time. I’ve flown a few different types over the years, from Harris hawks to red-tails and goshawks. They are as different as chalk and cheese, but all have their place. They each have their own style of hunting when used in ferreting, and all can be effective in a particular scenario. Adding a dog to the equation to go ‘on point’ to indicate an inhabited warren makes life easier. One can then enter a ferret to bolt the rabbit, which subsequently enables the bird to pursue and make a catch. In many circumstances, the combination of each team member’s skills complement each other nicely, and when it goes to plan, to my mind, it can’t be…

Lady’s Wood Shooting School’s honey-stoned, ivy-draped clubhouse suits its Cotswold surroundings perfectly. For millennia this quiet corner of England has been home to the finest hunting lodges and offered a place for country sports enthusiasts to indulge. However, this school is far more than a pretty façade of times past. Through recent renovations it has firmly entrenched itself in the 21st century. As general manager Chris Hanks explains, “The school was established by top English shooter Michael Pinker in the early 1980s. Then, in 2013 Ernie Hemmings took the reins and since then we’ve all been working hard to create the facilities you see today.” One of the most popular recent additions is the pay-and-play course. “Our 100-target course sympathetically divides our simulated game and Sporting clay areas,” says Chris.…

Letter of the month Sound advice As anyone knows, the way to the perfect boiled egg is to cover the egg in cold water, bring the water up to the boil and let it simmer for four minutes – no more, no less. I know there are people with different opinions on this, but we can put them aside with the flat-Earthers. Anyway, this morning, having set the oven timer to the requisite four minutes, I went into the living room, leaving the kitchen door open. I sat in silence, checking some things on my phone. My wife came in through the door from the hall, flustered, to ask “You haven’t put your hearing aids in yet have you?” After my customary (and hilarious) “Pardon?”, followed by an exaggerated laugh…

Fairfax & Favor Westminster hip flask Perfect for elevenses, this 5oz crocodile-print leather and stainless steel flask with a hinged screw-lid top makes a stylish addition to any shoot-day kit bag. Price: £50 fairfaxandfavor.com Salient Thames leather belt Gorgeous 1.5in wide, 3.5mm thick vegetable tan leather belt, with a brass buckle. Can be worn alone or with a matching leather knife sheath. Sizes: S/M/L Price: £140 salientknives.co.uk Richter Optik Trigger lamp With a three-hour run time, 115mm diameter head size, red clip-on filter and 2,000 lumens LED spot beam, this waterproof lamp is tough, small and powerful. Price: £74.95 bisley-uk.com Waring Brooke personalised monogram pattern scarf Handmade in the UK using extra-fine merino wool, this 200cm by 24cm scarf can have up to two initials across the pattern. Price: £65…

I have fond memories of Eley Olympic Blues. The name has a long history since they originally launched as Eley’s premium Olympic Trap cartridge. I recall meeting Jackie Stewart (now Sir Jackie) in the early 1980s when he was an ambassador for Eley clay cartridges and used them in serious competition. I met him at the Sealand Shooting Ground during the Rolex Grand Prix, which he was instrumental in promoting way back when 1⅛oz (32g) shot loads were used for Olympic Trap competitions. Jackie, wearing his signature cap, was also featured on Eley clay cartridge cartons and promotional material. They were called the Olympic Trap Blue in promotional material, with ‘Blue’ reflecting the case colour. The word ‘Blue’ was printed on the cartridges, but with the word ‘Trap’ removed. This…

SNAPSHOTS I always like to think of this edition as the perfect antidote to Christmas. The festive season can be a bit intense and it is nice to take some time out and read about our sport to while away the days when we can’t get out in the field. In this issue you will see we have our famous free wallplanner, which will enable you to plan your shooting for next year. Let’s hope that next season is less beset by the troubles we have had to face over the past couple of years. For one reason or another I have not been able to get out with my gun or beating as much as I would like at the moment, and I’m missing it. However, there are other…

Ryan Cockbill and Keith White are the pride of British shooting after winning medals at the recent World Shooting Para Sports (WSPS) Championships in Abu Dhabi. Ryan was the first on to the podium, scoring a bronze medal in the mixed 10m air rifle standing SH2 event, with a score of 232.5. South Korea’s Huntae Seo took silver with 253.2 and Tanguy De La Forest of France claimed gold with his 253.6. Keith followed up two days later, winning bronze in the PT1 para Trap event. He ended the grand final on 26ex40. Iran’s Abdolreza Tavasolikhah and Italy’s Oreste Lai would continue to battle it out, ending on 32ex50 and 39ex50 for silver and gold respectively. The 2020 WSPS Championships can be watched online on World Shooting Para Sport’s Facebook…

The Country Food Trust (CFT) has launched the Wild Venison Project. The initiative aims to help feed those in food poverty by managing the UK’s wild deer population and tackle an environmental problem. Demand at food banks has never been greater and will most likely increase significantly this winter due to the economic squeeze. There is also a surplus of wild deer in the UK and with it the damage to woodland and crops this brings. There are more deer in the country than at any time since the Norman Conquest, and the current population is estimated to be in the region of two million. The Wild Venison Project aims to combat both these issues by increasing demand for venison in the hospitality industry, which will, in turn, ultimately mean…

I don’t know why, but for some reason or other sister Selina has signed up to some sort of environmental study here in the north of England. Maybe it’s because she’s done such a massive amount of conservation work on her farm over the years and is simply interested in finding out what gains have been made. Or more probably it’s to discover what else needs doing to help the wildlife here thrive. She has planted trees and hedgerows, created wildflower meadows and dug a lake. The place buzzes with insects and birds. There are curlew, lapwing, oystercatcher, skylark and yellowhammer. When she took the place on 20 years ago, a bird count revealed 27 or so species of birds. Today, sightings of resident and migratory birds have reached 97.…

Everyone who shoots regularly enough will sooner or later experience an unexplained miss, no matter what species they’re aiming at. We can usually tell if we pause for a moment whether there was something that might have accounted for it. This might have been a sudden gust of wind or maybe your rest unexpectedly settled. If you’re a night shooter like me, it may not be the time or place to suspend your hunting while you set up a target and check your zero, and this may well eat into your confidence, making it more likely that your next shot will go astray, too. As I’ve said many times before, confidence is everything, and if you lose that things can go to pot very quickly. The moment you think matters…

Meet the team 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. IAN SWEETMAN GUNSMITHING Owner of I S Sweetman Gun & Rifle Makers and former gunsmith at Purdey. RICHARD ATKINS TECHNICAL Expert on the technical aspects of ballistics and shotgun performance. WILDFOWLING Morning…

Barbour Kingsbury knit A Fair Isle knit is a wardrobe essential at this time of year. The beautiful Kingsbury Knit from Barbour provides effortlessly tasteful winter style, crafted from a rich wool blend with a high neckline and raglan sleeves for a comfortably relaxed fit. Complete with chunky ribbed detailing around the collar, cuffs and hem, and a geometric Fair Isle design of silhouetted stags… or could they be festive reindeer? Price: £99.95 barbour.com Penelope Chilvers Oscar leather boot Add a touch of sparkle to your footwear with the fabulous Penelope Chilvers Oscar leather boots in caramel/bronze, featuring a beautiful combination of rich oiled leather with warm metallic detailing. These classic Chelsea boots are crafted from sustainably sourced Spanish leather with a durable rubber Goodyear welt tread sole, making them…

A stalking rifle on a budget: Sako M591, Weatherby Vanguard or RWS Titan? A newcomer to deer stalking, you have finally received your firearm certificate and are ready for a trip to your local gun shop to choose your first rifle. Before you filled in the application you had to do some homework and consulted a group of experienced stalkers about what to apply for. They were unanimous that you should go for a bolt action. Although other configurations are available, all agreed that this was by far the best option for general stalking, providing a proven system with quick reloading from a ready reservoir of cartridges. The calibre was slightly more difficult to decide upon as it’s often said that, if you put a group of stalkers around a…

Grouse proposals announced The Scottish government has outlined proposals to license grouse shoots. Under the proposals, which form part of the Wildlife Management (Grouse) Bill, licences would be issued on an annual basis to shoot grouse on a specified area of land. NatureScot will administer and issue the licences. The proposals are now out for consultation. Team GB selection British Shooting (BS) has announced its latest selection policy. Seniors must have either achieved a consideration score at a BS-recognised international major, domestic or international GP event twice in the past 12 months. Or, have achieved a consideration score once plus a medal at a BS-recognised international major or international GP event, or a gold medal at a BS-recognised domestic event in the past 12 months. NGO raps charity The RSPB’s…

How do we get more shooters on to the stands, ranges and podium steps? It’s a question that’s often on the mind of Sporting shooters and industry professionals alike. It’s a question that’s been on 25-year-old Ruth Mwandumba’s mind since she was a young Army cadet, shooting for the very first time. Now, as a championship-winning, British Shooting-endorsed top Shot, Ruth is answering that question for herself through the #TargetChange initiative. “Shooting, aged 13, with the cadets was my first experience on a range, but I didn’t start shooting competitively until later in life,” says Ruth. “In fact, I didn’t get into the sport seriously until 2017, when I finished studying in London and moved back to my hometown, Liverpool. “I decided I’d like to get more involved with competitive…

Willow Farm Shooting Ground DISCIPLINES Sporting, Skeet, DTL and Compak. ADDITIONAL FACILITIES Refreshments and light snacks are available at the weekend. MOBILITY A hardstanding car park leads to wide, solid pathways to all stands. However, disabled bathroom facilities are not available onsite. WHEN IS IT OPEN? Summer: Wednesday-Friday, 9am-5pmSaturday, 9am-4pmSunday, 10am-2pm Winter: Wednesday-Friday, 9am-4pmSaturday, 9am-3pmSunday, 10am-2pm PRACTICE ROUNDS Experienced shooters can enjoy all targets solo, thanks to a modernised clay launching system. Clays are priced in packages, starting at £30.50 for 80 clays. TUITION Novice lessons start from £15 for a 10-clay experience. Bespoke lessons for more experienced shooters are fully customisable and priced accordingly. DESCRIPTION For more than 30 years Willow Farm Shooting Ground has offered a wide variety of target presentations spread across a beautifully managed 29-acre estate…

A few months back I wrote an article about my relationship with that British motoring icon the Land Rover. I recently had to make the difficult decision to sell my pride and joy that was my 1968 Series 2A, which was better known to the Ridley family as Dave. The current cost of living squeeze meant I couldn’t justify running three vehicles, so it was time to find Dave a new custodian. We made some good memories in Dave, who will be greatly missed. We also decided to sell our Shogun and look for a new cocker container. To cut a long story short I eventually found what I was looking for, and then I set about thinking about the possibility of getting a bigger dog box with a set…

Straight-pull rifles that require no pivoting movement of the bolt to operate have always been popular in Europe due to their speed, which is beneficial for the continental style of driven game. Why is it, then, that straight pulls are becoming more widespread, with more manufacturers turning to this type of system and a number showing up more regularly in British gunshops? Most shooters don’t like change but many think they need that fast action for a second shot or simply like something a bit different. Beretta has ventured into the rifle market with its own linear design with the BRX1. The gun has some really interesting features, such as the interchangeable barrel system for calibre exchange out in the field, reversible linear bolt handle, pre-set three trigger weight options,…