Paying more for a pre-charged airgun with a magazine-fed firing cycle is probably justified if you intend to use it for hunting. When a fast second shot is required to…
Mat Manning
What happens when you use an imitation owl to lure crows and magpies?
Corvid control with an air rifle can be unpredictable. There are days when the quiet stealth of a moderated airgun can be a real asset, enabling you to pick off…
How to improve the accuracy of your air rifle
Most shooters want to be able to shoot more accurately and there are lots of things you can do to improve the precision of the average airgun. Serious geeks take…
Hawke Sidewinder FFP
It wasn’t very long ago that first focal plane (FFP) scopes were regarded as something of a niche product. There has been a shift over the years as more shooters…
Dealing with rats in the hen house
Having an air rifle in the house often proves handy for impromptu backyard pest control. My airguns are called into action in the garden to deal with marauding grey squirrels,…
FAC airgun accuracy – how can you improve it?
Q: I have recently switched from a sub-12ft/lb air rifle to an FAC-rated pre-charged model producing muzzle energy of around 40ft/lb and my results have so far been very disappointing.…
Air rifles – does more power mean greater range?
When set up properly, legal-limit air rifles are extremely accurate tools, and that precision can more than compensate for their modest power when coupled with a sound knowledge of fieldcraft.…
Gloves for airgunners – what’s suitable?
Q: I’m struggling to find a pair of gloves that are suitable for airgun shooting. Like many airgun shooters, I like to set my trigger fairly light and that can…
Hawke Vantage Scope 3-12×44 SF
Not everyone can afford top-end optics, and even those who can may still struggle to justify shelling out big money for a scope that’s seldom used or that’s going to…
Shooting rats in broad daylight
The vast majority of my winter rat shooting is done during the hours of darkness. My usual routine is to arrive an hour or so before dusk so I can…
Why airgunning is the most noble of shooting sports
Setting up airgunning as the noblest of shooting sports probably sounds like a tall order to many — it certainly does to me. Airgun shooters wear funny clothes, we get…
This is the start of the ratting season for airgunners
Most farming units harbour a few resident rats throughout the year — especially if pigs or poultry are present — but numbers usually increase as autumn arrives. Many of these…
FAC air rifles – why you should still focus on fieldcraft
Of all the many questions I get asked about airguns and airgun shooting, a huge number relate to high-powered airguns. Most people who wish to know more about the subject…
Recipe for squirrel nuggets with wild garlic mayonnaise
Few things irritate me more than wastefulness and I get a great deal of pleasure from making the most of what I shoot. It just so happens that the meat…
What if I load airgun pellets backwards?
Q: I’ve heard that loading airgun pellets backwards is a great way to achieve a dum-dum e ffect when controlling pests such as rats. Does it work and could it damage…
A sloe gin recipe for a cold winter day in the field
There are few things more satisfying than being able to make the most of what you bring home after a productive day in the field, and sloe gin is one of my favourite foraged treats.…
Boots or wellies for airgunning?
A: The snug fit of lace-ups does tend to mean that they lend themselves well to stalking, and I sometimes appreciate the extra ankle support when covering long distances, but I don’t regard them…
What are the advantages of plastic stocks for airguns?
A reader asked: I’m planning to buy an air rifle for my 14-year-old son to use in the garden under my supervision. I would like him to have a gun with a…
How big a garden do I need for shooting with an airgun?
A: Apart from in Scotland, where it now looks as though police officers will need to visit households to carry out an inspection to judge suitability for plinking, to comply with what appears to be…
Introducing youngsters to airgun shooting – safely
A good way to introduce children to guns