Fieldtester looks deeper, so you choose smarter

Fieldtester

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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FORM Rifle Stocks – factory film

youtu.be/pTpz9Fx5j80 How does FORM Rifle Stocks make its custom stocks and grips for rifles, airguns and handguns? Peter McGregor, who founded the Devon-based company in 2017, explains the process, and talks about what FORM can do to make a great gun better. More from FORM Rifle Stocks here:

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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

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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

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Pulsar Krypton FXG50 thermal imaging attachment – review

youtu.be/5CoRrGEKIwg The Pulsar Krypton FXG50 thermal imaging attachment attaches to the front of your scope and gives you useable thermal vision out to 200 metres/yards. In this video, Dartmoor foxshooter Tom Davies recommends it and says why.  Click here for more about the Pulsar Krypton FXG50    The thermal scope

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Batch testing ammo – how it works

youtu.be/5JSzxN3FpBY How do ammunition companies make sure their cartridges pass the quality control test? James Marchington joins RUAG ammo at Bisley for a day of batch testing. For more from RWS in the UK, go to RUAG.co.uk For the NSRA, visit NSRA.co.uk This item appears in Fieldtester, episode 12 Fcha.nl/fieldtester12

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Stalker reviews the Emberleaf knife

youtu.be/4PNAEAqe3Lw Nathan Whitehead has used many different knives in his work as a stalker and deer manager, but he has no intention of changing now he has an Emberleaf knife. “It was gifted to me by two good friends,” he explains. “This one must have done getting on for 150

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Foxshooter explains why he prefers Norma V-Max ammo

youtu.be/bgJKA9BbggY Foxshooter Doug Pocklington uses Norma V-Max 58 grain factory ammo in his .243 Tikka rifle. He likes it because it’s accurate and effective, and the bullet breaks up instantly when it hits anything. That eliminates any problems with ricochets, even on some of the stony fields where he operates.

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Why foxshooter Doug shoots a Tikka T3X Lite

youtu.be/WMyNejO_u-c Foxshooter Doug Pocklington loves his .243 Tikka T3X Lite rifle. “They’re a good all-rounder,” he says. “They’re reasonably priced, accurate and reliable.” Doug says he depends on the Tikka’s accuracy for 200-300 rounds, until he decides it could do with a good clean. “It’s scary accurate, but if I

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New Bergara BMR Steel rimfire rifle – review

RUAG have introduced two new rimfire models to the UK – the Bergara BMR. This one is the steel action model; there’s also a Carbon model. The price is very competitive, with the Steel version selling for £560. It comes in three calibres: .22LR, .17HMR and .22WMR. This one is

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New Bergara BMR Carbon rimfire rifle – review

youtu.be/k7m2W2ugfi4 RUAG have introduced two new rimfire models to the UK – the Bergara BMR. This one is the Carbon model; there’s also a Steel model. This rifle is very lightweight, at just 5 lbs with the 18-inch barrel. It’s competitively priced too, at £640 retail. It comes in three

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Jack Pyke wellington boots – review

Wellies are essential in the countryside, but you want different types of welly boot for different situations. Fieldsports Channel’s Jason Doyle runs through the Jack Pyke range of wellies and explains what’s what. “For a formal occasion like a driven shoot, the Ashcombe Zipped Wellington is ideal,” he says. “The

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Jack Pyke Hybrid Jacket – review

youtu.be/ACGvk1SRLhc The Jack Pyke Hybrid Jacket is a lightweight quilted jacket that’s ideal for general use outdoors, either as part of a layering system or as an outer jacket in milder weather. Instagrammer Dan Thor finds it very versatile. “Sometimes I’ll pop it on when I go feeding the birds

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Jack Pyke Hunter’s Boots – review

youtu.be/UCmqafPmj1Y Farmer and pigeonshooter Andy Crow loves his Jack Pyke boots. “I wear them every day of the year,” he says. “They’re so comfortable, I’d rather wear these than a pair of trainers. You don’t even know you’ve got them on. It’s the soft leather.” Andy wears the shorter Fieldsman

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Jack Pyke Rifle Rucksack – review

youtu.be/ku-u6kY9YOQ The Jack Pyke Rifle Rucksack is purpose-designed for the stalker who wants a simple, practical way to carry everything you need for a day’s stalking. It’s day-bag sized, at 22 litres capacity, and provides a covered compartment for a scoped rifle as well, so there’s no need to carry

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Jack Pyke new Digicam camouflage clothing – review

youtu.be/iRBD3XuvqE0 Jack Pyke are continually researching and developing new products and designs, and their English Oak camouflage pattern, designed specifically for the British countryside, has proved popular with UK shooters and effective in the field. Their latest camo pattern is Digicam, a computer-generated, pixellated blend of earth tones that helps

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Jack Pyke Ashcombe Technical Fleece Jacket – review

youtu.be/dfGCxjFeEBY The Jack Pyke Ashcombe Technical Fleece Jacket is a very versatile garment. It’s thin enough to wear under a jacket or smock, but it’s also an ideal top layer when the weather allows. Fieldsports Channel’s Jason Doyle says “It’s smart enough for casual wear, but it’s also excellent as

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Jack Pyke Pro-Lite Hunters Jacket – review

youtu.be/zVsdRUvpOvs When you’re outdoors all day, you need a jacket that won’t let you down, whatever the weather. Fieldsports Channel’s Jason Doyle is a big fan of the Jack Pyke Pro-Lite Hunters Jacket. “This is Jack Pyke’s most technical and lightweight jacket. I use it every day.” “It’s a super

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Jack Pyke Weardale knitted jacket – review

youtu.be/t22LlR84VJQ Jack Pyke’s Weardale is a stylish knitted jacket that’s ideal for casual wear or in the field. The combination of softshell contrast panels and finely knitted fleece gives the jacket a smart look and a comfortable feel. It features a full-length front zip, two lower zipped pockets and a

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Jack Pyke LLCS Concealment Suit – review

When you need to remain totally unseen, you need 3D camouflage – just look at the intricate ghillie suits used by police and military snipers. This LLCS Concealment Suit from Jack Pyke uses the same principle. It’s covered with cut-out leaf shapes, in Jack Pyke’s English Oak Evolution pattern to

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Jack Pyke Countryman fleece gilet – review

youtu.be/2Q-U8pO9C3Y The fleece gilet has become a country classic – it’s a versatile piece of clothing that’s at home in the field, out shopping or at the pub. “It’s pretty much the standard uniform for going to the Game Fair,” says Fieldsports Channel’s Jason Doyle. “It’s so versatile and practical,

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The Roesafe – review

www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4blYkHd_5U The £79.99 Roesafe is a handy pop-up tent for carcases. You can hang it from a tree, and it will protect your deer from flies and vermin. Shoot one animal, pop it in the Roesafe, then go on and shoot another. Geoff Wickett from Chiltern Venison reckons it’s a

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Leupold VX-5HD 3-15×56 riflescope reviewed by Jason Doyle

Jason Doyle has been using this Leupold VX-5 scope for two years, so he’s had plenty of time to give it a really thorough test – and he loves it. “Every now and then something comes along that suits you down to the ground. The VX-5 does everything I want

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CZ 600 new bolt-action centrefire rifles

CZ has launched a new generation of bolt-action centrefire rifles, the CZ 600 range, with a unique modular design that offers improved reliability, durability, ergonomics, safety and accuracy. The new CZ 600 models replace the previous centrefire rifles in the company’s range. The new guns were well received by shooting

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Zeiss launches latest generation V8 rifle scopes

Zeiss has launched its latest generation of V8 rifle scopes, with outstanding optical performance and featuring the world’s finest illuminated red dot which covers less than 3.5mm on a target at 100m. They are scheduled to reach UK dealers at the beginning of December 2021. There are four new models

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Thermal / night vision event: Pulsar Digex C50 + Leica Calonox

youtu.be/zr3IxByMZuI Leica and Pulsar head to Braces of Bristol’s rifle range to talk about their new night vision and thermal scopes and spotters. Mark Karn from Leica shows off his new Calonox spotter and scope attachment, and Tom Gosbell from Thomas Jacks talks through the new Digex C50 scope. Click

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