Lewis Potter looks at the inner workings of a shotgun to explain and illustrate how a shotgun works
Lewis Potter
Beretta 690 Field I shotgun reviewed by Shooting Times
When a gunmaker is established with a strong following, there still arises from time to time the need to bring something new to the market. There are three possible routes.…
AYA Premium 20-bore
I started reviewing shotguns for Shooting Times in 2006, but now I feel the time has come to hand over to another, younger enthusiast. The years seem to have flown by and have been interesting…
Lincoln Vogue over-and-under 20-bore
Is appearance important? Of course it is, especially when it is your shotgun, your pride and joy, whether family heirloom, sought-after second-hand model or brand new “just out of the box”. But beauty is always…
Martini rook and rabbit rifle
Fans of the film Zulu will be familiar with the Martini-Henry rifle used by British troops at that period. The Martini-Henry got its name from the combination of the Martini action mated to Alexander…
Fausti Dea British double-barrelled side-by-side 20-bore
Fausti is a name probably not that familiar to many shooters but I would predict that is about to change. The company was formed in 1948 by the Honourable Stefano Fausti and is now run…
Newnham double-trigger 12-bore
George Newnham is listed as setting up in the gun trade in 1866 and by 1905 the name, as on this gun, had changed to Newnham Limited, though still at 29 Commercial Road, Landport,…
Mossberg 930 Duck Commander on test
The products of O. F. Mossberg & Sons, always known simply as Mossberg, have, since their founding in 1919, gained a reputation for practical designs where simplicity and reliability are outstanding features. While much of the…
The first Anson & Deeley Boxlock
The Anson & Deeley (A&D) boxlock was a revolution in design that changed forever the world of the side-by-side shotgun. Simple and sturdy with a minimum of parts, it is still in production today by…
Chiappa 1887 lever-action 12-bore
The 1950s, when I was growing up, were probably the heyday of cheap Western films and many lads then dreamt of what it must have been like to be “home on the range”. The rearms…
A “sleeper” by John Blanch and Son
The John Blanch shotgun is that ultra-rare item, a shotgun that has lain unused for most of its existence; what is called, in the trade, a “sleeper”. In more general terms “barely shop-soiled” would…
ATA Venza Semi-Auto
ATA Arms is a Turkish manufacturer and, while new to the UK, the company has been in existence for some 60 years. The distributor is Ireland-based Wildhunter and a chain of retail outlets has been set…
Our latest round-up of cartridges for clayshooting
Clay pigeon or competition cartridges are a manufacturer’s delight because they are the big seller, more so than dedicated pigeon or game cartridges. They can represent, on average, as much as…
Midland Gun Company Single-Barrel .410
The Midland Gun Company was formed in 1889, making it in some ways a relative newcomer to the Birmingham gun scene. It grew to become quite a large business and…
F.A.I.R. Iside Deluxe 28-bore side-by-side
There is always something attractive about small-bore guns that is difficult to define. Whether it is the small bore size that accentuates the slimness, the lightweight, dainty action size, ultra-fast…
Six of the best shotguns
Lewis Potter rounds up the best shotguns he has tested in recent years from hammergun to semi-auto and ranging from the affordable £500 price mark up to the high end…
How to find bargain British side-by-side shotguns
It is not surprising that even those shooters brought up on the modern imported over-and-under sometimes cast an appreciative eye at British side-by-side shotguns, because they are fine and distinctly…
Lee Enfield No. 4 Skeleton (SKN)
Many of those who did military service will be acquainted with the skeleton Lee Enfield No. 4 bolt-action rifle action used as a training and demonstration aid. I first saw one…
Miquelet 8-bore muzzle-loader
For those who still inhabit the world of muzzle-loading, there is always a keen interest in something different. The stranger it is, the more interest it generates and the Miquelet…
Zoli Game Standard 20-Bore
Zoli is a make of shotgun that crops up from time to time, but is not as well known in the UK as perhaps it ought to be. Having said…