Where do I start with this stunning, 100% English-made beauty, the Longthorne Valhalla? My full-time job, as a lot of you know, is being a shooting coach and my part-time job is reviewing guns. How lucky am I? The gun I tested here is a Longthorne 12-bore, 32in barrelled, sidelock.…
Sporting Gun
Winchester Diamond Grade trap gun: quality, reputation and desirability
Origins of the Winchester Diamond Grade trap gun The 101 Winchester Game gun is an example of one of many models produced by the prolific Winchester Repeating Arms Company. The wide range of guns based on the Winchester 101 frame was produced in the Olin-Kodensha factory in Japan. Reputation Production…
CZ 452: Pick whichever variant you want, they’re all good
Birth of the CZ 452 Some time ago, Blast from the Past looked at the venerable Brno Model 2, a real workhorse of a small-bore rifle that started production in the 1950s. Rugged, unpretentious and dependable, the Model 2 changed its name and was updated when Brno rebranded to CZ.…
The future of lead shot: the threats that lie ahead
Many thought that by leaving the European Union the UK would be freed from the shackles of mega-state bureaucracy and win back the ability to set its own laws. In short, paddle our own canoe again. Well … Yes, small gains have been made since we cast adrift from the…
Lintran – Richard Faulks meets the founder of the dog transit box company
It would be very hard to arrive at any shoot day in the UK and not see one of Lintran’s dog transit boxes being used by one or more of the Guns, beaters or pickers-up. Their popularity seems to be ubiquitous. There is a good reason for this: they’re well-designed,…
Win £2,500 to spend on Stoney Creek gear
This is your chance to get a £2,500 credit to spend on any bit of Stoney Creek gear you like. The clothes you buy don’t have to be for you; you can spend it on kit for your friends and family, too. What’s more, you don’t have to spend the…
How to stop foxes spreading tapeworms
When I first started foxing it was for a very good reason: there were a number of vulpines causing serious problems for the local sheep farmer by ripping the tails off his lambs. It transpired that when the youngsters had tail docking rings fitted – to prevent medical issues arising…
Zoli Z-Sport MR – the Zoli Mid Rib tested out by Becky McKenzie
The Zoli Z-Sport MR Mid Rib is what I would class as the Zoli Z-Sport step rib because this actually has a step-rib style of top rib. Having shot a Zoli for many years, I pretty well know its range of guns inside out. For those who don’t, I suggest…
We asked BASC some tricky questions about lead shot and the proposed ban. Here are the answers.
Why would BASC challenge the UK REACH proposals when it seems to have accepted that steel shot is the way forward? A voluntary move away from lead shot for live quarry shooting, with steel shot as one of the alternatives, does not mean we should not fight restrictions being imposed…
Shooting gun up. What are the pros and cons?
Shooting with your gun ready at the shoulder - also known as 'gun up' - is a sensible option. But it's not appropriate for all targets
Is it true that woodpigeon migrate?
A myth about woodpigeon First, let’s get rid of a pigeon shooting myth. It is not so long ago that many country people believed that each autumn woodpigeon flocked into the UK by their million to devour oilseed and other brassica crops. Many farmers and pigeon shooters, including my father,…
How will deer populations adapt to climate change?
A colleague recently sent me some extensive research on deer and hunting. It made for interesting reading, though, to quote Basil Fawlty, parts did seem to be “another MA in the blindingly obvious”. The research was carried out over a 10-year period and involved 65,000 monitored hunting days. When dealing…
What are the implications of rewilding?
Rewilding. The word leads to unending controversy and polarised views. Let’s explore why. As a sportsman, what is there not to like? Cleaner rivers, more wildlife to pursue, more wild places to enjoy. However, the rewilding idea is perceived as part of an environmental, ‘Packhamite’ agenda, and one that your…
How to compensate for heat mirage when rifle shooting
We’re in the throes of a heatwave at the moment so it’s timely to offer some advice on dealing with the heat mirage that occurs when rifle shooting. Heat mirage – what causes it? When rifle shooting, heat mirage caused by heat rising from the ground or coming off a…
When deer stalking what’s the collective term for roe?
My deer stalking partner recently queried the collective name for a group of roe. Personally, I would just apply the term ‘herd’.
What is the best roe rifle?
As the roebuck season is underway, George Wallace considers his favourite short-barelled roe rifles for off-hand woodland shooting
How to spot the signs of the roe rut
The roe rut is different from that of other deer species. Here’s how to spot the signs
Can I call roe deer at anytime of the year?
Deer stalking: My deer stalking friend tells me it’s possible to ‘call’ Roe deer. Is this only possible at certain times of the year or can they be called anytime?
Budget clay cartridges on test: how did they perform?
Budget clay cartridges from Gamebore We thought we’d investigate some budget clay cartridges from Gamebore. In today’s tough economic climate, there are more shooters seeking to trim their shooting expenditure. It’s a logical step to seek a less expensive cartridge – something all cartridge makers are aware of. Even brands…
CZ 457 Long Range Precision: will it help you to shoot your best ever?
Background to the CZ 457 Long Range Precision The CZ is the go-to rimfire for many UK pest controllers. Despite tough competition from the likes of Anschütz, Sako, Bergara and Tikka, CZ’s rifles continue to evolve and surprise in their abilities. Some of the top models are far from the…