Airguns

Terry Doe’s Airgun Academy

Terry Doe is the acknowledged master of airgun shooting, and in this new series he is passing on the skills, tips and techniques developed over a lifetime of hunting and competing.

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For details of Webley and RTI air rifles, and GPO scopes, go to www.highlandoutdoors.co.uk/
Terry’s rules for shooting safely


Safety is fundamental to every aspect of airgun shooting – so much so that, rather than mention it in passing in each episode, Terry has produced this separate video on safety, which applies to any time you are handling or using any airgun.

For more advice on airgun safety, you can download the BASC guide by clicking the link on this page basc.org.uk/airgunning/advice/

The series so far...

Episode 1 – a solid grounding

Terry is coaching Nicole Moore, ‘Shooting Girl with an Afro’ on Instagram. She’s an experienced pigeon shooter, game shot and deer stalker, but new to airgunning, so Terry starts by teaching the basics of a rock-steady seated shooting position for ultimate accuracy in the field.

It’s a chance to build Nicole’s confidence in the RTI Arms airgun, and her own ability, before moving on to techniques for breathing and trigger control in future episodes.
Episode 2 – shooting standing
In Episode 1 Terry showed Nicole his world-beating sitting position, for super-accurate shooting with no need for bench, sticks or supports. But most airgun hunters take their shots standing up, making it much harder to be accurate. In Episode 2, Terry shows Nicole the secrets of taking a quick and accurate shot from a standing position, drawing from techniques used by the top Olympic target shooters. Nicole is impressed, learns a lot, and along the way the two of them have a right old laugh.
Episode 3 – follow-through
In part 3 of Terry Doe’s Airgun Academy, he’s back coaching the enthusiastic Nicole Moore, building on earlier lessons by explaining the importance of good trigger technique and follow-through – holding focus on the target until the pellet has reached its destination. Terry likens it to the job of postman: you’re still on duty until the letter goes through the letterbox.
Episode 4 – breathing control

In part 4 of Terry Doe’s Airgun Academy series, he emphasises the importance of controlling your breathing, and shows Nicole Moore how breathing affects the movement of the gun.

It simply isn’t possible to hold the gun perfectly still, especially when you’re shooting standing, but by using your breathing you can control that movement and make it your friend rather than your enemy.
Episode 5 – shooting off sticks

Shotgun shooter Dan Thor wants to use an air rifle for farmyard pest control. Our airgun guru Terry Doe watched Dan’s earlier film, and reckons he can transform Dan’s performance with a few simple lessons. In this first session with Dan, Terry explains the importance of shooting sticks, and how to use them to best effect in the field, with a few bonus tips about trigger technique, follow-through and the best clothing to wear.
Episode 6 – a youngster’s first session
An airgun is a great introduction for a youngster, and their first session is critical. Terry Doe is teaching 12-year-old Reece, who is under doctor’s orders to avoid active sport. He shows how to make a first lesson not just safe, but fun and rewarding, in the hope Reece will be inspired to take the sport further.
Episode 7 – shooting up at an angle
Dan Thor is learning airgun skills from the master, Terry Doe. In this episode Terry explains how to shoot up at an angle, as Dan was doing in his video about shooting feral pigeons, when the birds were up in the rafters and on the roof of the barn. Dan learns whether to aim high or low, and by how much, and what else is important when you’re taking a shot at a steep upward angle.
Episode 8 – how to get the right head position on the stock
Terry Doe is back at Bisley with young Reece. In this session, Terry is looking at Reece’s head position on the stock. By moving the scope forward, it allows Reece to get comfortably behind the sight with the correct eye relief, and his cheek resting gently on the comb. It makes for more consistent and accurate shooting.
Episode 9 – how to hit a rat at 4 yards

When a rat appears at 4 yards, it seems like you can’t miss – but it’s one of the hardest shots you’ll ever take. Close-range shooting requires some serious aiming-off. Get it wrong and you can miss by 6 inches. Terry Doe shows Dan Thor how to put your pellet where it counts when rats get up close and personal.
Episode 10 – teaching a youngster trigger technique
Young Reece Chart is back at Bisley for another airgun lesson from the master, Terry Doe. Reece is proving to be a natural, and now that Terry has got the scope set up right, he is teaching Reece some advanced trigger techniques and how to improve his accuracy by following through after the shot.
Episode 11 – should you keep both eyes open?
In his final session with Dan Thor, Terry Doe emphasises some of the finer points of shooting technique, such as why you should shoot with both eyes open, why to use the highest scope magnification possible, and how to adopt a ‘no compromise’ approach to every shot.
Episode 12 – super stable sitting position
Reece Chart is back at Bisley with Terry Doe for another Airgun Academy session. He has made good progress shooting off a bench; now it’s time to learn the classic sitting position, shooting off his knees to get a good, steady rest for accurate shooting in the field.
Episode 13 – old dog new tricks
Terry Doe has taught people of all ages and experience to shoot airguns. Now he is taking on the challenge of teaching an old dog new tricks. James Marchington has been shooting since he was a boy, but that doesn’t mean he can’t learn a thing or two from Terry. In their first session, James asks Terry’s advice on how to deal with quarry that won’t sit still.
Episode 14 – adjusting the trigger
Old dog James Marchington is back learning new tricks from Terry Doe. This time, Terry explains how to adjust the trigger on your hunting airgun so you can release the shot without disturbing your aim, while ensuring it’s not so light the gun could go off unexpectedly when you are carrying and using it in the field.
Episode 15 – think like a hunter

In this episode, seasoned hunters James Marchington and Terry Doe discuss the hunter’s mind-set. Plinking and target shooting are one thing, but when you are shooting live quarry only the best will do. That means doing everything possible to ensure your shot will result in a quick, clean kill – or holding back and letting your quarry walk away.
Episode 16 – shooting off trigger sticks

James Marchington is back with Terry Doe, improving his shooting technique for hunting. This time Terry shares a valuable trick to help James shoot more accurately off sticks.
Episode 17 – picking the perfect hunting pellet
Airgun legend Terry Doe is back, this time teaching Wayne Martin of Cattyshack fame. Wayne is an experienced shot, but he wants to squeeze the last few percent of performance out of his Webley Eagle air rifle – and his first question for Terry is: How do I pick the perfect pellet for hunting?
Episode 18 – proper pellet preparation

Most airgun hunters use pellets straight from the tin, but Terry explains to Wayne that if you want ultimate performance you need to spend a little time preparing your pellets, with the aid of a pickle jar, washing-up liquid and some kitchen towel.
Episode 19 – should you clean the barrel?

Wayne Martin wants to get the best possible accuracy for hunting with his Webley air rifle. Terry Doe explains when you should clean your airgun’s barrel, what method you should use – and a few you definitely shouldn’t.
Episode 20 – the best mounts for your scope

You’ve got a great rifle and scope – don’t spoil it by using poor quality mounts. Terry explains to Wayne what makes good scope mounts, and how to fit them for the best possible accuracy and consistency.
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