Our verdict Every now and then a rifle is developed that really is something different. Judging by the huge demand for its new Sako S20 Hunter rifle, manufacturer Sako has…
Bruce Potts
Here’s what you need to know about laser rangefinders for shooting
People who hunt with air rifles often seem to talk about carrying laser rangefinders for shooting . Are they really an essential item of kit? Are laser rangefinders for shooting…
Sauer 404 Synchro XT £3,648
Our Verdict The Sauer 404 Synchro XT is everything you’d expect from a brand with a reputation for elegant, highly accurate, ultra-smooth-operating bolt-action hunting rifles. The modular system on the…
Are pump-action rifles really a valid vermin tool?
Q: I see quite a lot of classic .22 rimfire pump-action rifles at auctions. Are they really a valid vermin tool? (Read move to ban pump action shotguns fails.) A:…
Hatsan Escort .22LR rifle
For some years now, Hatsan has been known as a value-for-money Turkish shotgun manufacturer, but it is also starting to make its mark in the world of rifles. This new…
Cartridges and calibres for pest control
Wondering what is the best calibre for foxes? Rabbits? There are so many different species of pests – you can’t band together a rabbit and a fox – that you…
Bergara Premier Highlander .308 Win rifle – a slimline workhorse
For stalkers looking for a light slimline workhorse, the Bergara Highlander rifle could be just the thing
Tikka T1X .17 HMR
Tikka’s entry into the rimfire market a couple of years ago was both a surprise and a welcome addition. Since then, its T1X bolt action rimfire Sporter rifle has been…
Shooting crows with rifles
Crow shooting isn't just for those who possess a shotgun. Bruce Potts investigates the relative merits of centrefires and rimfires for a safe and humane despatch
How to wash, size, weigh and lubricate your airgun pellets (to make them more accurate)
Frustrated by your performance with an air rifle? Wondering how to improve things? Well, washing airgun pellets could be a start. As could lubricating, sizing and sorting air rifle pellets.…
Remington 700 McMillan Sporter
Remington Arms Company has been instrumental in pushing forward rifle design, not only in bolt actions but also semi-automatics, pumps and all its shotgun range. It remains one of the…
Tips for shooting rabbits
Go out into the field shooting rabbits and you will improve your hunting and shooting skills, learning about how animals avoid humans and predators. The rabbit ranks as some of…
Sako Finnlight 2
The new Sako Finnlight 2 — based on the hugely popular Sako 85 action — is a leap towards stalking rifle perfection. There is still the well-proportioned synthetic stock, stainless…
All about sound moderators
Sound moderators – or suppressors – are used to reduce the amount of noise and visible muzzle flash your firearm or air rifle generates when firing. Moderators are sometimes referred to…
Things that affect rifle accuracy (and how to correct them)
Problems with rifle accuracy frequently frustrates rifle shooters. It’s not surprising really. A rifle is a fine precision instrument. Everything within it needs to work correctly. Many things can affect…
Merkel RX Helix Alpinist rifle – a classic example of German precision engineering
The Merkel Helix rifle is made in Germany, with Viking Arms as the sole UK importer. Viking has done a good job promoting these rifles and you see more and…
How tight must the stock and scope screws on my gun be?
I have finally, after much grunting and cursing, succeeded in loosening and removing the stock bolt from my Miroku 6000. When I re-assemble the gun after cleaning the action, must…
Subsonic .22LR ammunition – what’s the best type for your rifle?
Six types of .22LR rimfire subsonic ammunition from varying manufacturers are tested to ascertain accuracy and stopping power at normal vermin ranges
Tikka T3X Cerakote
The Tikka T3X has to be one of the most widely accepted stalking rifles in Britain today. It comes from the old firm of Tikkakoski, Finnish for ‘woodpecker’, hence the…
CZ 457 Royal .17 HMR
The CZ range of rimfire and centrefire rifles has served the UK sporting fraternity very well for decades now, and still provides exceptionally reassuring quality at a fair price. The…