Fieldtester looks deeper, so you choose smarter
You’ve got a budget of £800 to buy a shotgun; should you buy new, or pick a nice secondhand example? We asked Dan Bibb of Shooting Sports UK to show us the options. He has two very different guns in stock that fit the bill: a secondhand Browning 425, and
James Head from airgun shop Crackshot compares two of his bestselling PCPs: the Air Arms S510 and the Weihrauch HW100. For more from Crackshot, go to Crackshot.uk More on airguns from Fieldtester:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVIetvzYgVk Ian Hodge discusses options for the pro pest controller, who is buying a sub 12-ft/lb PCP airgun. He looks at two of his top sellers, the FX Crown and the BSA R12, and discusses why people buy them, plus what scopes and moderators they put on them. The airguns
Game shooters often prefer a lighter weight shotgun, especially for walked-up shooting where you may be carrying the gun for some distance, along with all your other kit and cartridges. Robbie Shedden of Cluny Country reckons the Yildiz is a good choice. It has a lightweight alloy action, coming in
Is this what hunting will look like in the future? Tim Pilbeam is sitting back in his comfy seat, spying for deer with the very latest multi-spectral thermal imaging binoculars from Infiray, his rifle loaded with a prototype non-toxic bullet created by a mad inventor who visits Tim’s range to
Night vision optics are a game changer for airgun hunting. With a day-night scope you can target rats and rabbits at night, and make the most of low light at dawn and dusk, when a lot of quarry is most likely to present an opportunity for a shot. But with
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUpP54Be5BU For more from Ian Hodge, go to IanHodgeFieldsports.co.uk More Ian Hodge films here:
If you’re looking for a riflescope with excellent performance at a reasonable price, you should definitely take a look at the GPO Spectra 1 7.5x50i. This scope is lightweight and compact, with fixed magnification and parallax, excellent optical performance and an illuminated G4i reticle. Ryan Charlton of Highland Outdoors runs
The .410 is a great first shotgun for a youngster – and modern .410s are good quality, scaled-down versions of a full-sized over-and-under. Ian Hodge looks at two popular modern .410s: the KOFS and Webley & Scott game guns. He sells lots of these from his Cornwall and online gun
You can buy a basic knife that will do the job for around £15, but what if you want something a little more refined? You don’t have to spend hundreds to get a good quality, stylish gralloching knife, says Dan Bibb of Shooting Sports UK. He highlights the Spyderco Bow
Crispi boots are a favourite with hill stalkers and others who want dry, comfortable feet after a hard day’s walking in all kinds of terrain and undergrowth. Jane Keen of Cluny Country Store explains why the boots are proving so popular. “We stock the Crispi Hunter boots, which have been
Yes, that’s Nigel Farage. An evening with the Blacker family in Cornwall sees local shooters (and Nigel) bring in their guns for assessment. Bill Blacker and his sons Jim and Matt are among the foremost gunmakers and gunsmiths in the UK, and they advise on how to save your old
If you want the very latest in thermal viewers and riflescopes at a sensible price, then HIKMicro’s latest products are worth a look – the Condor monoculars and the revolutionary Thunder, the first thermal riflescope with optical zoom. Join Dan Chart from Fieldsports Channel as he teams up with Hikmicro’s
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijVFb_JJqf0 Ryan Charlton from GRS’s UK distributor Highland Outdoors talks through the new Fenris adjustable rifle stock, designed for hunting. Click here for more about the GRS Fenris
‘Circle, red dot, kill’ – that’s what you want a scope to do for you, says Tim Pilbeam, and the Swarovski Z8i+ does it. He is out on his range in Sussex with local deerstalkers and a gunsmith to put the scope through its paces and see what the advantages
Sako rifles have always been known for their quality. Robin Shedden of Cluny Country Guns fondly remembers his Sako 75, which would put bullets into a thumbnail sized group at 180 yards every time. “That’s what you’re getting with Sako: quality,” he says. Since then we’ve seen the Sako 85
What do you have to spend on a new shotgun for serious clay competition? £2,000? £2,500? That was the entry level price, but now there’s a contender at little more than half the cost, and with a good solid British name to boot: the Webley & Scott Pro Comp. Dan
You are left-handed, so you need a left-handed gun, right? Not necessarily, says Robin Shedden of Cluny Country Guns. Several of the big shotgun manufacturers offer their guns in left-handed versions, but those aren’t always fully left-handed, he explains. The left-handed Berettas and the Blaser F16 are built on right-handed
Tier One are renowned for their precision Monomount scope mounts – but what if you want to swap your scope to another rifle? Their new quick-detach mount is the answer. “It’s got all the bnefits of the Monomount,” explains Ryan Charlton of distributors Highland Outdoors. “It’s made from a single
Thermal gear has come a long way, and prices have dropped to the point where it’s a realistic choice for many airgunners and fox shooters. So what do you get for your money, and which is the best deal for you? Ian Hodge of Ian Hodge Fieldsports runs through the
Everyone loves the little .410 – and why wouldn’t you? The guns are quirky and fun to shoot, and they’re cheap as chips. OK the ammo costs a little more than a 12 bore, but who’s counting when you’re smashing clays or controlling pests with a gun that’s so satisfying
A big heavy rifle is fine for the range, but what if you’re walking the hills all day and still need to take a precise long shot when the opportunity presents itself? That’s where the Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT really shines. It’s a lightweight, precision bolt-action rifle, available in a
youtu.be/slekeV41hbY There’s enough to carry when you’re out stalking or doing vermin control – so anything that can do two jobs at once is a bonus. That’s the idea with the Vorn SR10 hip pack. It’s a practical 10-litre waist pack with plenty of space for all your gear. Plus
Click here for 10% discount offer for Fieldsports Channel viewers – use the code FSTV at checkout by James Marchington Ryan Charlton from Highland Outdoors, which imports the new RS4 5-30×56 scope from Maven Optics in Wyoming, USA, says why he likes it. “The company’s philosophy is founded on no-compromise
youtu.be/bfEA-6_QZGU To get the best out of your air rifle, you need to find the pellet that works best in your gun. Some air rifles seem to ‘like’ some pellets – and not like others. James Head, from Devon-based airgun shop Crackshot, heads to the range above the shop to
As a keen rifle shooter and deer stalker, Ryan Charlton of Highland Outdoors has used a lot of binoculars, and he’s particularly impressed with the latest offering from German Precision Optics: the GPO Passion ED 8×32. The first thing that catches his eye is the packaging. “It’s all recyclable, which
What’s the best scope to put on your airgun for hunting, and maybe a bit of HFT competition? James Head, from Newton Abbot, Devon, and online airgun specialists Crackshot UK, says that two models stand out as the most popular in 2023: the £279 Hawke Airmax, and the £295 MTC
If you’re serious about clay shooting competition, you need a proper clay gun – it really will make a difference to your scores, says West Country gunshop owner Ian Hodge. You don’t need to spend a fortune though. He picks out two guns that are more than up to the
youtu.be/GP_uJAlAFPI Fancy a new Tikka? Staffordshire and online gunshop Shooting Sports UK is offering a saving of £750 on a complete stalking package that includes a Tikka Superlite rifle in your choice of calibre, mounts, Steiner scope, Stalon moderator, carbon fibre bipod, shooting sticks, and an Outdoor Edge knife, all
youtu.be/A8DChKhmu58 They are the mid-priced BMW and Audi of shotguns – solid, reliable, good value, and they’ll go on for ever. The Beretta Silver Pigeon and Browning 525 are the biggest selling shotguns in Ian Hodge’s gunshop in the West Country. But which one is right for you? There’s just
Deer stalker Ollie Williams is a sponsored Steiner user, and he’s been using the Steiner Ranger 8 4-32×56 riflescope. He acknowledges that it’s probably more scope than he needs. “I rarely shoot anything over 100 yards,” he says. “I zeroed it once, maybe six months ago, and never had to
Steiner is the brand of binoculars that the UK government chooses for the British Army. That says a lot about their quality and ruggedness. But are they suitable for hunting? Deer manager and sporting agent Ollie Williams reckons they are. He’s a sponsored Steiner binoculars user, and uses Steiner’s Ranger
youtu.be/QUxYU5bz4AE It’s the age-old question. Which airgun calibre is best, .22 or .177? South-west of England Field Target Association champion James Head, of Crackshot UK, says it’s largely a matter of personal preference. “The two calibres are equally accurate. There’s no reason why they shouldn’t be,” he explains. “The difference
Rimfire rifles are still as popular as ever, says Ian Hodge of West Country gunshop and online retailer Ian Hodge Fieldsports – and his two best sellers are the semi-auto Ruger 10-22 and the Browning T-Bolt. The Ruger is in .22 calibre, while he picks a T-Bolt in .17HMR. Both
They’re two of the finest spring-powered air rifles ever made – but which is the best, the Air Arms TX200 or the Weihrauch HW97? James Head of Crackshot UK, the Devon and online airgun centre, is in no doubt. “There’s pros and cons for both and in the end it
Thinking of upgrading to a pre-charged pneumatic airgun? Good choice – but won’t that cost you something north of £1,000? Not necessarily, says Matt Clay at Shooting Sports UK, the Staffordshire and online gun shop. He’s offering a complete PCP outfit for under £500. It’s built around the Stoeger XM1,
Browning has unveiled the latest version of its hugely successful Browning Automatic Rifle, the BAR 4X, which promises improved accuracy and a modular sighting system so you can personalise the rifle to your needs. It comes in four grades of finish, with a choice of engraving, stock shapes and wood,
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
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
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
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
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
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
Want to know how to choose an LPVO rifle scope mount? Wondering why it will be the right choice? Keep reading to learn about the best LPVO scopes for 2022.
youtu.be/1RDybiYIi9g Fresh from hunting with the new Sako 100 in .375H&H in Mozambique, professional deer manager Paul Childerley learns how to removed and swap the barrel. Sako product manager Taneli Pokkinen recommends a switch-calibre platform for cross-season hunting. The Sako 100 is a versatile, future-proof platform designed for an advanced
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
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
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
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
