Tested: HIK Micro Falcon FQ50 Pro thermal spotter
youtu.be/fliO-uk1xFc Mark Ripley, known as 260Rips on YouTube, is testing the latest thermal spotter from Scott Country: the HikMicro Falcon FQ50 Pro. He uses it to spot foxes, deer and rabbits, day or night, as part of his pest control duties. Today he’s after rabbits on a farm where they’re causing damage to grazing land. […]
Pulsar launches new Merger LRF XL50 thermal binoculars at 2023 Shot Show
Night vision and thermal imaging specialist Pulsar has launched new top-of-the-range thermal imaging binoculars, the Merger LRF XL50, at the 2023 Shot Show in Las Vegas. The company say the new binoculars are true all-rounders. They feature a wide field of view for scanning and target acquisition, and high image quality and detail across the […]
Moderators get lighter and more efficient
Gone are the days of fitting a huge, heavy moderator on the end of your barrel, making the rifle unbalanced and unwieldy. That’s the view of Robbie Shedden of Cluny Country. His company import the Freyr & Devik range of moderators which are lighter and more efficient than anything that’s gone before. The existing Freyr […]
How to build your own custom PCP airgun
You don’t have to buy a PCP airgun off the shelf. James Head of Crackshot UK explains how you can assemble your ideal gun, picking your preferred barrel and action and then adding a stock, buttplate, scope, moderator and accessories. “The first thing I’d want to know is what you’re going to use the gun […]
Mark Ripley tests the HIK Micro Alpex scope from Scott Country
Mark Ripley, or 260Rips on YouTube, is best known for shooting foxes at long range on the Sussex Downs. Today, though, he’s after rabbits, testing the HIK Micro Alpex day-night scope on an old CZ .22 rimfire. The Alpex sits well on the rifle. It’s the same shape and size as a regular optical scope, […]
Ian Hodge’s 2022 Christmas gift ideas for shooters
Looking for the perfect shooting stocking filler for the fieldsports enthusiast in your life? Ian Hodge of shooting shop Ian Hodge Fieldsports dons the Father Christmas outfit and comes up with some ideas for you. His suggestions start at under a tenner, and include shooting socks, a duck call, electronic hearing protectors, and a Browning […]
Thermal spotters: essential kit for today’s hunter
A thermal spotter has become an essential part of the hunter’s kit, says Warren Broad of ATN Europe. “Whether you’re deerstalking, foxshooting, or just ratting around the farmyard, a pocket-sized thermal monocular is awesome to scan the area, day or night.” He also finds it useful when he has shot an animal, and is looking […]
Three reasons to buy a secondhand PCP airgun
James Head of Crackshot UK says there are plenty of good reasons to buy a secondhand pre-charged pneumatic airgun – and a few traps to watch out for. Let’s start with the positives. Number one: it will be cheaper than buying new. That means you can get more for your budget – a better grade […]
Paul Childerley tests Zeiss SFL 10×40 binoculars
Paul Childerley is a professional deer manager at home in Bedfordshire, so when he went staking red stags in Scotland he knew what he needed from his kit. He chose to carry the Zeiss SFL 10×40 binoculars, for their great performance-to-weight ratio – the SFL stands for SmartFocus Lightweight. “They are really compact and lightweight,” […]
Zeiss V8 2.8-20×56 riflescope tested on the hill in Scotland
When you’re stalking red stags on the hill in Scotland, you want gear that performs impeccably in any conditions, and is light to carry. That’s why professional deer manager Paul Childerley chose to take the Zeiss V8 2.8-20×56 scope on his Sako rifle. “It’s a no-brainer,” he says. “It’s a product that’s been tried and […]
Is it time to switch to a thermal riflescope?
youtu.be/yHqho9Jp9W0 Many shooters have adopted thermal technology for spotting, but still have a night vision or day-night scope on the rifle. With practice, it can be an efficient combination, allowing you to find your quarry easily with the thermal spotter, then take the shot with night vision. In the early days of thermal, when it […]
Best spring-powered air rifles for hunting 2022
youtu.be/PSwh4Gs1iB0 So you’ve got a problem with rats, or rabbits, and you want an airgun. Will a spring-powered air rifle do the job, and how much will it cost? West Country gunshop owner Ian Hodge picks two great value guns off his shelf: the BSA Lightning and the Gamo Black 10 Maxxim. They’re both up […]
ATN X-Sight 4K Pro: a day-night rifle sight that calculates holdover for you
by James Marchington There are a few digital day-night sights available nowadays, giving you the option of shooting from dawn to dusk and through to dawn again. That’s a massive help if you want to use the same rifle set-up, without needing to swap scopes and re-zero, or even buying a whole new rifle and […]
Great value shotguns for clays and game 2022
youtu.be/Cm-q9ucYsiY You want a stylish, well-made shotgun that handles well and looks good – but you don’t want to spend a fortune. What do you buy? Dan Bibb from Shooting Sports UK recommends you take a look at the Zoli range of over-and-unders. “Zoli isn’t a brand that’s as well known in the UK as, […]
Helen Tinner has to take a quick shot on a muntie
youtu.be/UZx6dsMJ5Uc Helen Tinner is in North Norfolk to improve her deerstalking and, if she can, take an animal for the freezer. Gareth Maund of the Le Strange shoot at Hunstanton has asked her along. He teaches her about different shooting positions, and then a muntie takes her by surprise. It’s her first solo stalk – […]
King of the castle – British Open Sporting Champion 2022
youtu.be/utcky0zq10E Who is the top Sporting clay shot in Britain? James Marchington reports from Barbury Shooting School in Wiltshire, where the nation’s top clayshooters are battling to become king of the castle, and win the prestigious British Open English Sporting title. The British Open is a tough one which isn’t won by someone who’s just […]
Fieldsports Britain – Britain’s best sporting shot
youtu.be/BB5kOKDjbDo Who is the top sporting clayshooter in Britain? James Marchington reports from the British Open Sporting Championship at Barbury in Wiltshire, where 1,250 clayshooters compete for the coveted title, in a gruelling three-stage battle. The firearms licensing system is broken, maybe it’s time to scrap it and start again. We look at the options […]
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Best airguns for hunting 2022
You don’t have to spend £1,000 on a pre-charged pneumatic airgun – or PCP for short – in order to hunt rabbits, but it helps! That’s the message from West Country gunshop owner Ian Hodge. He picks two of his most popular PCP airguns off the shelf to explain. There’s a BSA R10 with rubberised […]
Pulsar Merger LRF XP50 thermal binos – on test
youtu.be/dhseNtUWUa0 Professional deer manager Tom Davies of Dartmoor Deer Services has swapped his Pulsar Accolade for the new Pulsar Merger LRF XP50 thermal binoculars – and he’s impressed. “It’s the shape of traditional binoculars which makes it easy to use,” he explains. “It has an automatic standby mode, so when it’s hung round your neck […]
A bespoke game gun for off-the-peg money
Can you really get a custom-built game gun for off-the-shelf money? Absolutely, says Robbie Shedden of Cluny Country, laying out the Chapuis range on the gunshop counter. This French gunmaker is now part of the Beretta group. It offers side-by-sides and over-and-unders at prices from around £2,500 up to £6,500-£7,000 – and just about every […]
What riflescopes do our viewers prefer? Our survey says…
Nearly 700 viewers took part in out centrefire riflescopes survey, out of the massive 3,500 of you who responded to our lockdown surveys in March 2020 – and you reveal that almost all of the scopes you put on your centrefire rifles come from just 16 companies. The survey also shows that you are prepared […]
Clay shooting Champion of Champions 2022
youtu.be/_f9QuQeMlUA More than 20 clay shooting county champions gathered at the 2022 Game Fair and battled it out for the title of CPSA Champion of Champions – and the chance to drive an Isuzu pick-up truck for a year. One of the top contenders is Mike Jones, a farmer and gamekeeper from Shropshire. He made […]
Police want shooters to report mental health issues
by Deborah Hadfield Feeling depressed? A new campaign in Scotland aims to encourage gun owners to report mental health issues and hand in their guns. The message from the Scottish Association of Country Sports (SACS) and others is that public safety is more important than gun ownership. The Scottish Firearms Licensing Practitioners Group is putting […]
Will bird flu cost gamekeepers’ jobs?
www.dailymotion.com/video/x8cuf3y by Deborah Hadfield Nearly 100 gamekeepers may have already lost their jobs as a result of bird shortages caused by bird flu in France, redundancy figures from the National Gamekeepers Organisation suggest. That figure is disputed by Chris Horne of GunOnPegs, however. He has surveyed 700 shoots and says that, while 13 per cent […]
BBC celebrates Amber Hill’s shooting success
The BBC, not noted for its shooting sports coverage, is hailing Amber Hill’s achievement in Changwon, South Korea. The 24-year-old Olympic Skeet shooter won silver in the ISSF World Cup, making her the most successful GB shooter ever in ISSF events. Her 11 World Cup medals puts her one ahead of the previous record holder, […]
Popular North London shooting ground to close
Photo: Franco Capaldo A popular North London shooting ground is closing down after increasing pressure from property development nearby. The A1 Shooting Ground, just inside the M25 near Borehamwood, has a history going back nearly 100 years, and was originally owned by the famous London gunmakers Boss & Co. Claudio and Teresa Capaldo took over […]
Vorn EV45 hunting backpack with rifle quick release
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us7SWBihgkM Fieldsports Channel’s Jason Doyle is a professional deerstalker who needs a good, comfortable backpack for hunting. He’s often stalking in demanding terrain, such as the Wicklow Mountains in his native Ireland. “I’ve used Vorn backpacks for a number of years now, and the comfort with them really is second to none for somebody like […]
Gamekeeper’s gun and ammo choice for clays
youtu.be/XvjVgU8vdTA Essex gamekeeper Geoff Garrod has set up a 60-bird clay shoot on his estate, raising money for the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation. He’s shooting with his trusty pigeon gun, the Browning Maxus, and Eley Select cartridges. He’s using the fibre version because his shoot is fibre wad only, to avoid leaving lots of plastic wads […]
Leupold VX-6HD 3-18×50 riflescope – tested in the field
youtu.be/1BvUZ3XiuU0 Owen Beardsmore of Cervus UK is a professional deer manager and stalking guide, who demands a lot of his kit. He needs a scope that will work flawlessly in all conditions – and he loves his Leupold VX-6 3-18×50 scope which he’s been using for the past year. “The light gathering power of the […]
Leupold BX5 Santiam 10×42 binoculars – review
youtu.be/2_nDCIaMktQ Owen Beardsmore of Cervus UK spends most of his time out in the woods, either hunting professionally or guiding stalkers. “I give my kit a lot of stick,” he says, “and I really rate these Leupold BX5 Santiam binoculars.” “Whether it’s out in the British woodlands, pouring rain out on the hill in Scotland […]
Leupold GR4 12-40×60 spotting scope – review
youtu.be/GL7g_Rwo-kE Owen Beardsmore of Cervus UK demands the best kit in his job as a professional deer manager and stalking guide – and he’s a big fan of Leupold’s GR 12-40×60 spotting scope. “What a piece of kit this is!” he says. “I’ve been using it on the hill in Scotland, and I’ve been very […]
Leupold RX-1600i rangefinder – pro stalker review
youtu.be/sc0V-KSHMMM As a professional deer manager and stalking guide, Owen Beardsmore demands the best kit. He’s been trying out the Leupold range of optics, and is particularly impressed with the RX-1600i rangefinder. “I wasn’t used to using a rangefinder, but this is a lovely bit of kit,” he says. “It’s lightweight, ergonomic, waterproof and rugged […]
Meopta MeoPro Optika6 3-18×56 riflescope
youtu.be/1WamXNj3UAA OIlie Williams talks to former editor of SA Hunter, Johan Van Wyk, about the Meopta Optika6 3-18×50 riflescope. It comes with a 4C reticle and RRP in the UK is £617. The pair agree that this isn’t a scope for African plains game. It’s too big and complicated, when you’ll be carrying your rifle […]
Sir Jackie Stewart Classic – a DTL shoot with a difference
youtu.be/VgTsk2aCtoI by James Marchington Legendary Formula One racing driver Sir Jackie Stewart OBE was a top international clay pigeon champion, sponsored by Eley cartridges, before he took up motor racing. So when he created the Sir Jackie Stewart Challenge, to celebrate his life and raise funds for the charity Race Against Dementia, he insisted on […]
Lead shot ban hits a bump – Fieldsports News, 25 May 2022
youtu.be/vq9ST1Jw670 Here are the links: Lead shot ban hits a bump – FACE challenges ECHA’s consultation: www.face.eu/2022/05/can-we-reach-fair-play-in-the-eus-approach-to-restricting-ammunition/ Guinea pig mystery: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-61521356 Harboro Rocks Clay Shoot: www.harbororocksclayshoot.co.uk/ Wolf’s killing spree in French nature reserve: www.rtl.be/info/regions/liege/17-moutons-tues-par-un-loup-dans-une-reserve-naturelle-a-nassogne-certains-ont-du-mourir-dans-d-atroces-souffrances-deplore-l-eleveuse-1377406.aspx?dt=13:41 [French news site] Dog injured in mountain lion attack: www.outdoorlife.com/survival/dog-fights-mountain-lion-saves-owner/ Schoolboy catches monster carp: www.fieldandstream.com/fishing/boy-catches-giant-carp-france/ Tourist sues safari operator after elephant […]
English Open Sporting Championship 2022
youtu.be/Z8Q0Dh7Niko There’s a surprise winner at High Lodge in Suffolk, where clayshooters gather for the first CPSA Major Sporting Championship of the year, the English Open. Paul Batchelor beat the big names, including George Digweed and Richard Faulds, in a tense shoot-off that went right down to the final pair. James Marchington reports. Full results […]
Rock pigeon hunting with Ollie Williams
youtu.be/NG4QaivC578 Ollie Williams is in South Africa trying out pigeon shooting on a grand scale as he protects sunflower crops from the hordes of rock doves. “They’re like woodpigeons on steroids,” he says – and there are millions of them! For more about pigeon shooting with Kotoko Hunting, visit Kotoko.co.za Thanks to our cameraperson on […]
Best boots for hunting – Fieldtester’s guide
Fieldsports folk do a lot of walking over all kinds of difficult terrain, from rocky mountain slopes to slippery mud and grass. We want a sure footing and dry, comfortable feet all day long – ideally in a boot that will last a season or two of hard use. That’s a big ask, but boot […]
Gold for GB in Junior World Cup
Photo: Karen Norton / Nortonsport The GB Women’s Skeet team won gold at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl. The team of Phoebe Bodley-Scott, Sophie Herrmann and Beth Norton did it in style with a massive 7-1 win over Slovakia in the final on 18 May 2022. Berkshire CPSA posted: “Phoebe and her team […]
Semi-auto shotguns 2022 – best buys for pest control, pigeons, duck or clays
youtu.be/gA8sD_e6DFw Like irregulars in a war film there are gangs of different shooters who rely on semi-automatic shotguns. Wildfowlers love them, gamekeepers, pigeon and crow shooters need them, some clayshooters swear by them (and occasionally at them). Semi-autos have a lot going for them. They handle and point well, and the mechanism soaks up recoil, […]
How to carry your hunting kit – Fieldtester’s guide to bags & rucksacks
What bag do you reach for when you’re going shooting? As a general rule it’s best to carry as little as possible on a long day, but it’s good to have something that makes it as easy as possible to lug your essential gear, and keeps it protected. That might be a range bag, a […]
Sam Green wins the Essex Masters 2022
Browning sponsored shooter Sam Green has won the 2022 Essex Masters – and he’s over the moon. The shoot is widely regarded as ‘the big one’ that kicks off the Sporting clay season in the UK, and as Sam says, “It’s the one everyone wants to win.” It is shot over two courses totalling 200 […]
Amber Hill wins World Cup skeet silver
GB’s Amber Hill has won silver in Olympic Skeet at the ISSF World Cup in Lonato. Amber continued her fantastic form following her gold medal in Cyprus in March – and this time was just one clay off gold medal winner Caitlin Connor from USA, with 36 to Connor’s 37. The duel between Amber and […]
George Digweed is 2022 World Champion
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kq-fnJSsEI Video by Nicolas Berry. George Digweed has won the World English Sporting Championship in USA after a thrilling super final. George was delighted to have made history and said: “To finish up winning it and complete my personal milestone of winning world championship’s in five different decades is something I had always hoped for but […]
GB’s Kirsty Hegarty wins World Cup gold
GB’s Kirsty Hegarty won gold at the ISSF World Cup in Lonato, on a day where all GB’s Tokyo 2020 shotgun shooters reached semi-finals. She held her nerve after being pushed all the way by Puerto Rico’s Augusta Campos-Martyn and Lebanon’s Ray Bassil. The gold medal match finished two shots early as Kirsty’s lead meant […]
Bloxham triumph at Holland & Holland schools shoot
Thirty-two schools travelled to compete amongst 59 teams in the Holland & Holland and School Notices Clay Pigeon Championships on Thursday 17 March 2022. It was a great day of competitive shooting and sportsmanship as prep and senior schools battled it out to win the coveted trophies. Challenging stands, including a flush for the seniors, were […]
Thermal Imaging: the Ultimate Guide
from Fieldsports Channel’s Fieldtester in association with Scott Country It’s been said before, but thermal technology really has transformed stalking and pest control, day or night. Whether you’re looking for foxes in the dark, spotting squirrels in the trees or counting deer, a thermal gives you a massive edge, saving time and allowing you to […]
Denzil Grose selected for Suhl – proud sponsor Ian Hodge reacts
West Country junior Olympic Skeet shooter Denzil Grose is one of five young athletes selected to represent GB in the Junior Men’s Olympic Skeet at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl from 8 to 20 May 2022. Accompanying him will be Mitchell Brooker-Smith, Arran Eccleston, Oliver Harrison and Henry Sperring. Ian Hodge Fieldsports has […]
Ian Hodge charity shoot is back on 23 April 2022
After missing a year due to the Covid pandemic, the Ian Hodge charity shoot returns on 23 April 2022. The shoot is in aid of the Cornwall Federation of Young Farmers, which Ian feels is a worthy cause. “It’s a 40-bird Sporting clay shoot,” says Ian. “Very easy going. We don’t like to put stress […]
