Shotguns for wildfowling under £1000 The legal restrictions on lead require wildfowlers to use guns capable of taking steel, bismuth, tungsten and heavy loads. In the 1970s we used to…
Mike George
Reading proof marks on guns, serial numbers and how to re-proof a gun
A frequently asked question received by Sporting Gun magazine is about proof marks on guns. Gun owners ask “how old is my gun or can I date my gun from…
Explaining shotgun bore
Despite modern techniques, the archaic system for setting bore sizes is still in evidence today. Lewis Potter traces the evolution of shotgun measurement
What’s the right shotgun bore for you?
What should you do if you want to buy a shotgun which will be used mainly for vermin control (pigeons, crows, magpies and rats), together with rough shooting and the…
Have you got an old air rifle from the 80s and 90s tucked away? It could be worth more than you expect!
One of the fastest increasing markets is in quality air rifles from the 80s and 90s – so think twice before dumping an old air rifle or passing it on.…
Can I buy a Purdey or Holland & Holland on a budget?
Is it possible to buy a Purdey or Holland & Holland side-by-side on a budget of between £2,000 to £3,000? If so, would it be reliable for gameshooting all the…
How should you deal with a cartridge misfire?
I occasionally join a few friends for an informal clay shoot on a farm, and last time out one of my cartridges failed to fire after I pulled the trigger.
Will gun cleaning affect the accuracy of my .22 rimfire?
Gun cleaning: I have been told that if I clean my .22 rimfire it will lose its accuracy. Is this true?
A close look at the Perazzi MX8 – a blast from the past
If you want to make money out of gun ownership, then go for a new “London Best” (preferably a Purdey, Holland & Holland or Boss), don’t shoot much — or…
Still going strong – the AYA No. 1
AYA is based in the Basque Country of Northern Spain – an area that has been producing guns for hundreds of years. It makes many different guns – side-by-sides and…
Is my shotgun a Baikal?
I've inherited one of those Baikal shotguns with a selective trigger, but I'm darned if I can get it to work!
Three secondhand lightweight 12-bores
“I have turned 70 and, although I can still walk fair distances, the 8lb Sporter I use for all of my shooting has become rather too heavy. I am therefore…
Secondhand Browning – three of the best for an all-rounder
“I have always wanted to own a Browning, and now I believe some models may fall within my budget. I shoot pigeons and game, and I am also a member…
Second-hand small-bore shotguns – what to buy?
A second-hand 28-bore or a .410? With more than £1,000 to spend on a small-bore shotgun, either a 28-bore or a .410, our reader has plenty of scope. In fact,…
The best second-hand semi-autos for under £850
“I wish to buy a semi-auto, mainly for clays but also for a little pigeon shooting. I don’t really want to spend more than £850, and I want one made…
Is the rimfire .22 long rifle cartridge the top seller in the UK?
However an intelligent guess is that the rimfire .22 Long Rifle is leading the way. And, to do a bit more guessing, subsonic variations on the Long Rifle theme must…
Three of the best second-hand clayshooting guns for beginners
Buyer’s brief: “I have been shooting clays for the past six months with guns hired from the shooting ground. Most of these have been various versions of Beretta Silver Pigeons,…
“I’m looking for an elegant second-hand boxlock – please help”
Buyer’s brief: “I am a clay and walked-up game shooter, and I am looking for a really elegant gun to replace my ageing Browning B125. I could spend a little…
Which are the best prestigious English guns to choose when buying second-hand?
Frankly, even if I won several million I don’t think I would buy a new Purdey, Boss or Holland & Holland. It’s not that I don’t hugely admire the finest…
How to choose a second-hand gun for £1000
Mike George’s buying advice for a second-hand gun for £1,000 The most common request I get from readers is advice on buying a first gun. It’s also one of the…