Cluny Guns: Best hunting rifles for under £1,500
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qgOYSAydME You want to buy a rifle and you’ve got a budget of £1,500. There’s plenty to choose from in that price range, so some expert advice is good – and who better to ask than Cluny Country Guns in Fife? They’re keen shooters themselves, stock a huge range of rifles, and are always happy […]
How to choose the best airgun pellet
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M_wS6ZIZXI What’s the best pellet to use in your airgun? Johnny Muston from R&K Stockcraft says it’s all about accuracy, and that means there are three main things to consider. “What rifle you’ve got, what calibre it is, and what you’re going to use it for.” Once he knows the answers to those three, Johnny […]
Ian Hodge: Best shotguns under £5,000
So you’ve got £5,000 to spend on a new shotgun – lucky you! What are you going to choose? Obviously you’ll want your new gun to be future proofed, so it’ll need to be proofed for steel shot. An over-and-under is the most popular choice, for good reason. But that still leaves a big range […]
Why Mike Robinson uses these Hornady bullets
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTwPP8DTlMY Ammunition choice is critical to Mike Robinson. He’s a deer manager, and wants to achieve reliable, quick, humane, one-shot kills on the deer he shoots. But he’s also a chef and restauranteur, so it’s important to minimise any wastage of meat or carcass contamination. That’s why he uses just two Hornady rounds in both […]
Mike Robinson’s stalking knife – review
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK8305bQnTU After your rifle, scope and binoculars, one of the stalker’s most important pieces of equipment is a knife. There are hundreds to choose from, ranging from high-end brands down to the cheap ’n cheerful knives. They all get the job done – but that wasn’t enough for professional stalker and game chef Mike Robinson. […]
Best fox shooting set-up under £1,200
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlGyx1WExB0 You don’t need to spend a fortune to get set up for fox shooting, but it helps to have a bit of expert advice. Ian Hodge of Ian Hodge Fieldsports is just the chap to turn to. He’s helped hundreds of customers kit themselves out with great value gear from his shop near Wadebridge […]
Biggest-selling semi-auto shotguns
Semi-auto shotguns have a lot going for them. They offer great value, along with smooth shooting and minimal recoil. A semi-auto is great for wildfowling or in a pigeon hide, but they’re also popular with rough shooters and gamekeepers – and they’re favoured by a good few clay shooters too. But with such a variety […]
Deer Act shake-up horror for Scottish sporting estates
Stalking deer for sport in Scotland could be very different in a couple of years time: you may need a licence, you may be able to use a shotgun and night vision as well as a rifle, there could be yet another massive reduction in deer numbers and, if you are a landowner, you may […]
English government plans lead cartridge ban
England’s government is considering a lead ban. That’s despite a voluntary phase-out by 2025 promised by shooting and countryside organisations last year. According to The Daily Telegraph, the Environment Agency doesn’t think the phase-out is moving quickly enough. According to a media release, the agency and the Health and Safety Executive will spend the next […]
Buddhists try to shut down rifle range
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k__0IrxvxUs by Ben O’Rourke “Change is possible for every single one of us,” says a quote on the Facebook page of Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche, abbot of Kagyu Samye Ling Monastery in Eskdalemuir. The compound has been there since the 1960s, just before the CIA stopped backing the Dalai Lama and America’s China strategy turned […]
Roe, rifles and reloading
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMjfbicpoaQ Mark Singlehurst spent lockdown opening a gunshop after covid pressed the pause button on his catering business. It has already had a run of successes holding reloading courses and has become a magnet for rifleshooters – both deerstalkers and foxshooters – in the Vale of Belvoir where it is located and beyond. He talks […]
Venison from field to fork
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNu4Zp-vbwg Do you fancy a culinary outing after Chinese water deer? They are said to be one of the best venisons available. Chef Pascal thinks so, and that’s why is out stalking one with Paul Childerley – and then cooking it afterwards. The menu For more from Chef Pascal, go to ChefPascal.co.ukFind Paul on Instagram.com/paulchilderley […]
Fieldsports Britain – top chef’s hunt-and-feast
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Hd-FhXt8Nc We’re after deer with a carving knife in this week’s episode. Chef Pascal wants to shoot and cook a Chinese water deer, and he goes out with deer manager Paul Childerley to do just that. Meanwhile, Fieldsports Nation member Mark Singlehurst has had to pause his catering business during lockdown and, instead, has opened […]
Scottish deer law shake-up – Fieldsports News, 24 March 2021
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrWObH-BTXo Here are the links: Scottish government review plans Deer Act reforms – Fieldsports News English government plans lead cartridge ban – Fieldsports News Packham accuses gamekeepers of ‘hare genocide’ – Fieldsports News Huntsmen cleared of illegal fox chase charges – Devon Live Cops seize dozens of dogs from suspected pet thieves in Suffolk – […]
GRS Hunter Light rifle stock – review
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUgvh-_rF7E GRS have forged a great reputation among rifle shooters worldwide for their CNC machined, hand finished rifle stocks. GRS stocks are renowned for their design and ergonomics. As GRS’s Oscar Haugen puts it, “We make people shoot more accurately because the rifles fit them better.” Ryan Charlton, from GRS UK distributor Highland Outdoors, is […]
MDT XRS Chassis crossover rifle stock – review
www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8EidVeyC_A A modern precision rifle chassis system offers the ultimate in accuracy, but it might be a step too far for the traditionally minded rifle shooter who wants the fit and feel of a ‘proper’ rifle stock. That’s where the MDT XRS Chassis System fits in. It’s a hybrid system that’s got all the features […]
Why do shotgun barrels wear out?
It’s a surprisingly common problem for shotgun shooters. They look down the barrels and see wear and pitting, and assume they have worn the barrels out with the number of shots they’ve fired. Maybe they even blame steel shot for causing the wear. But they’re wrong. Matt Simpson, of Simpson Brothers Gun Shop near Peterborough, […]
Government calls for lead ban – Fieldsports Extra #161
Click here for more about the Peltor LEP-200 ear plugs Roetex slings are at Roetex.com or watch our film below – and Geoff’s website is ChilternVenison.co.uk Mark Crudgington’s quick guide to complaining about three lead shot government ‘facts’: ‘50,000- 100,000 Wildfowl die each year due to ingesting pellets lead from used pellets’: the problem with this […]
Why pay more than necessary for a rifle scope?
You can spend a large sum of money on a high end scope, but will it actually put more meat in the freezer? Of course a top end scope may give you a few more minutes’ shooting at dawn and dusk, but Dan Pool of Braces of Bristol thinks there’s a law of diminishing returns […]
Merkel Helix Speedster rifle – review
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpvof0aELQw “This isn’t just the fastest gun in the west – this is the fastest gun in the world!” says Andy Norris from Merkel distributors Viking Arms. He’s shooting the Merkel Helix Speedster – and he’s loving it. Originally developed for wild boar hunting, the Speedster is now the most popular of all the Merkel […]
GPO Rangeguide 2800 10×50 rangefinding binoculars – review
www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2iTcSYZTr4 Every deerstalker needs a good pair of binoculars, but until you’ve tried rangefinding binoculars you might not know just how useful they can be. It’s not just about measuring the range before taking a shot; rangefinders can help you plan your stalk, as Richard Ryan from GPO’s UK distributor Raytrade explains. First, though, he […]
Gamekeepers committing ‘hare genocide’, claims Packham
BBC celebrity Chris Packham is accusing gamekeepers of “ruthlessly killing” hares on estates across the UK. The TV presenter made the comment in an article in The Telegraph about the English government considering a partial ban on hare shooting. The newspaper quotes a DEFRA source who insists ‘people kill hundreds of thousands of hares a year during […]
Woox Furiosa rifle chassis – review
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXRXpZOelJc When you take accuracy seriously, only the best will do – and the Furiosa chassis from Woox is reckoned to be one of the best-crafted precision shooting chassis in the world. Designed in the USA and made in Italy, the Furiosa is a drop-in system that requires no extra pillars or extra bedding. Your […]
FORM rifle stock – review
Many people have turned their hand to making rifle stocks over the years, but few have got it right, and been able to produce them in sufficient quantity. Peter McGregor, the owner of FORM Stocks, is one of those few. “I first met Peter several years ago, and he was producing absolutely fantastic rifle stocks, […]
Remington 700 Sporter rifle – review
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoaywkd6hvA The Remington Model 700 rifle is legendary. First produced in 1962, nearly 60 years later it’s still in production, with an unparalleled reputation for dependability and out-of-the-box accuracy, relied on by elite military units and law enforcement around the world. Richard Ryan, of Remington’s UK distributors Raytrade UK, is a massive fan. “The Remington […]
Huntstand vs MyHunt/MyFieldsports: battle of the hunting apps
If you are thinking of a hunting app, the two market leaders are Huntstand and MyFieldsports (called MyHunt outside the UK). Huntstand from the USA has an American heritage steeped in hunts for whitetail deer. MyFieldsports is the UK version of MyHunt, and can’t escape its Germanic heritage. There’s a definite whiff of wild boar […]
Red deer in the year of the pandemic
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAsl8Z-0O3U Niall Rowantree tours the Highlands to find out how deer and deerstalkers have fared during the year of the pandemic. The answer is not well, and thank goodness for gamekeepers and deerstalkers. Scottish government agencies and wildlife charities abandoned the Highlands in 2020, a year that saw people who don’t often visit the countryside […]
Fieldsports Britain – Highland horror stories: what Scotland is doing to its moors and mountains
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEzejz03oFM What’s happened to Scotland’s wild places and its wild deer? Deerstalker Niall Rowantree takes a tour of the Highlands to find out. He visits Ardgay Game, he talks to deer scientist Dr Cathy Mayne and he stalks a red hind in an area earmarked for new trees. He meets locals to find out how […]
Stag shot in water – social media storm
youtu.be/0OCXaIjt0B8 It’s taken four months, but the police have at last agreed that they will bring no charges against the deerstalkers in the Stag-in-Watergate scandal. The film shocked some deerstalkers but, maybe more shocking, is that some of them complained to the police about the video, which shows a stag shot in water on the […]
How to save eagle falconry in Scotland
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf0TiK2QBjM As Scotland bans eagles from catching hares, is there hope for the ancient sport of falconry? Eagle falconer Roy Lupton says he hopes so. A new petition to the Scottish Parliament could exempt falconers from the law brought in by animal rights extremists in the Scottish government. Sign the petition: Parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/retainfalconersrights More films about […]
Gamekeepers save the ozone layer – Fieldsports News, 17 March 2021
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_p9sibWHeY Here are the links:Cut carbon: go grouse shooting – Moorland AssociationPackham didn’t fake death threat letter, cops claim – The TimesAngling Trust challenges government over anti-angling report – Angling Trust [PDF]Anglers and divers who created ‘fish nursery’ banned from the area – Facebook and YouTubePheasant formula is the new dog’s dinner – Hoddys.co.ukCase against […]
Win a £700 Peltor earplugs – Fieldsports Extra #160
▶ For more about Jonathan Macintyre of JM Clean Cut Tailoring JMCleanCutTailoring.com▶ Click here for the Peltor LEP-200 ear plugs▶ Fieldsports Channel shop: Peltor baseball cap Peltor beanie Peltor flat cap Please bear in mind that these hats are small. Don’t buy if you have a big head ▶ Fayre Game Pursuits FayreGamePursuits.com▶ Vale Guns & Ammo Vale-Guns-and-Ammo.business.site ▶ […]
Shot deer stress
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wbq6eVJQXE Tim Pilbeam’s buddy Tristan wants to find out how animals react to being shot. Tristan is measuring cortisol, to see whether different bullets cause different levels of stress.
Best of British: bespoke shooting jackets
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-RxcKlLigI Top military tailor Jonathan Macintyre has a shop in Wellington Barracks, SW1 and, as well as making military uniforms, he makes shooting shooting suits. Here’s how he does it. For more about Jonathan, visit JMCleanCutTailoring.comClick here for Jonathan’s views on shooting clothing sizing.
Guns are latest victim of Brexit border brawls
www.youtube.com/watch?v=INTg99oyVKE Predictions of doom and gloom have been hitting the headlines since the UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016. How many of them have come true? For the gun trade at least, there have been mixed results since the actual break up at the start of 2021. One of the initial issues […]
Fieldsports Britain – hunted deer get stressy
It’s the science behind hunting and shooting this week, as we look at stress in deer plus we have a barney over whether lead shot is actually bad for you. Tim Pilbeam and his mate Tristan are out stalking, because Tristan is measuring stress levels in hunted deer. He explains his research. Meanwhile, Mark Crudgington […]
Yorkshire buzzard: was it shot? – Fieldsports News, 10 March 2021
www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8ESYdtbpu4 Here are the links:Police drop charges over ‘buzzard’ shoot – Yorkshire PostNational Trust slammed for deer cull – National TrustSGA seeks signatures for online campaign – Fieldsports NewsAnglers take government to court over river pollution – Fieldsports NewsWelfare of fish ‘needs protecting’ says group linked to PM’s fiancée – Fieldsports NewsKent police issue warning […]
Anglers fight back against ‘hopeless’ DEFRA
Fish Legal and the Angling Trust are taking DEFRA and the Environment Agency to court over river pollution for a second time. Together with the WWF, the anglers accuse the government of dragging its feet in tackling agricultural pollution of England’s rivers, streams and lakes. In a statement on its website, the trust says the […]
Win a tailored shooting jacket – Fieldsports Extra #159
▶ For more about the Ridgeline Monsoon jacket, go to Fcha.nl/ridgelinemonsoon▶ Jonathan Macintyre of JM Clean Cut Tailoring www.jmcleancuttailoring.com/▶ Fieldsports Channel ladies gilets fieldsports.shop/product/fieldsports-channel-gilet/ ▶ How to enter Fieldsports Nation competitions: for members on YouTube, Patreon and Facebook simply comment with your answer in the description below the film. For those of you who joined […]
How to understand your Google Analytics
How to understand your Google Analytics What’s the really good thing about the web? You can put up a website – a brochure for your products, brands or services – and the whole world can beat a path to your door. As it turns out, putting up the website is the easy bit. Getting […]
International Women’s Day 2021: Q&A with Sam MacArthur, Managing Director, Viking Arms.
On International Women’s Day, FSC4B catches up with Sam MacArthur, MD of the UK’s only wholly female owned and managed arms and ammunition company. Sam MacArthur, MD Viking Arms by Meredyth Grant What led you into the arms and ammunition industry? Viking Arms is a family business that was set up by my mother […]
Bergara Premier Ridgeback rifle – review
youtu.be/6ZyTpZLMLaEWhen you’re serious about your shooting, you need a special kind of rifle – and that’s what you get with the Bergara Premier Ridgeback, says James Fowler from the importer RUAG, who is also a competition target shooter. It aims to provide near custom performance from an off-the-shelf rifle at an affordable price. Every Bergara Premier series […]
Ridgeline Ascent soft shell jacket – review
youtu.be/jDQJY6IQQH8 Soft shell is a great fabric for hunting – it’s light, comfortable to wear, and it’s quiet, so there’s no noise as you brush against trees and undergrowth. That’s why Ridgeline use soft shell for their Ascent jacket as Nigel Winkle, from UK distributors Highland Outdoors, explains: “Soft shell is brilliant. I wore it […]
Ridgeline Evolution smock – review
youtu.be/UIyXSYCXyGw When you’re out in all weathers, you need something that will keep you warm and dry, but is also breathable so you aren’t soaked with sweat going up the hills. Better still if it’s easy to dry out at the end of the day, so you’re ready to face the elements next day. Enter […]
Ridgeline Torrent III jacket
youtu.be/rJgc6BkdPcQ Nigel Winkle from distributor Highland Outdoors explains why he sells the Ridgeline Torrent III smock. This hunting jacket is part of the classic range. It’s well established and has been part of brand Ridgeline UK since the company came to market in this country in 2007. Why is this a great piece of hunting […]
Ridgeline Grizzly III jacket – review
youtu.be/9oTy0_cL0Yw If you go deerstalking, or just spend time out in the woods, the new Ridgeline Grizzly II jacket could be your ideal outer layer. It’s windproof, light and breathable, has a useful selection of pockets for your gear, and whilst it’s not fully waterproof it will fend off all but the heaviest rain. The […]
Ridgeline Pintail Explorer II smock – review
youtu.be/xvU4ICBX6uM Ridgeline’s Pintail Explorer smock became a firm favourite with stalkers and bushcrafters. It’s light and warm, very quiet to wear, and you can stuff it in your rucksack until you need it. Now Ridgeline have updated and improved the design to create the Pintail Explorer II. Nigel Winkle from distributor Highland Outdoors explains “We’ve […]
Kahles Helia 3.5-18x50i – review
youtu.be/X3Bz3wsUMdg If you’re looking for a top quality scope without paying for all the bells and whistles, Fieldtester’s Tim Pilbeam reckons you should look at the Kahles Helia 3.5-18x50i. When it comes to optics, Kahles know their stuff. They’re one of the oldest manufacturers of scopes in the world, going back more than 120 years, […]
SGA protest: how the Scottish Government is failing Scotland’s countryside
youtu.be/Kck6o9YSg-Q It’s been more than 20 years since the Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association took to the streets of Edinburgh for a protest. The march in 2000, the same year Alex Hogg became chairman, came after MSP Mike Watson put forward a private member’s bill to ban hunting with dogs. “It would affect our terriers, which was […]
Fieldsports Britain – how to blow a pigeon
Here’s a skill you never knew you needed. Tim Pilbeam shoots the feral doves – his mate Roy sexes them by blowing on their breast feathers. Find out what he is looking for in this week’s show. Plus Andrew Venables stops banging on about copper and tells the story of zinc bullets instead. And Scottish […]
