Fieldtester looks deeper, so you choose smarter
youtu.be/zo6NqxrAQmQ Mark from Rowland Watson Gunmakers says he’s been using steel shot in his own English gun, built in 1903, for many years with no ill effects at all. If you want to do the same, just follow his simple advice. “Take it to a competent gunsmith who can check
youtu.be/IaOcEC9e4o4 Now here’s something unusual – an ‘expensive’ pair of ‘cheap’ Chinese binoculars. The Hyperion EDs are at the top end of the range from Chinese brand Eyeskey, selling for around £250 here in the UK. Charlie Jacoby is impressed from the moment he opens the box. “These are the
youtu.be/8ss1pqcv4Lg We’ve been impressed with the quality of inexpensive binoculars coming out of China these days – and these Eyeskey Captor ED 12x50s are no exception. “The build quality feels good, nice and strong. I think they’d take a bit of a beating in the field,” says James Marchington. He
youtu.be/xJM4SONfeUc The big thing about these binoculars is they’re Chinese – which means they’re very cheap, says Charlie Jacoby. These are the Eyeskey Sky Trek 12x50s, which sell for a remarkable £136.95. “That’s less than a quarter the price of a good quality pair of second-hand Zeiss binoculars for instance.”
youtu.be/iJqQAWsXHT4 What would you expect to pay for a decent pair of 10×42 binoculars? You could easily pay close to a grand for something from one of the big names in optics. But these Chinese-made binoculars from Eyeskey cost well under £100 – and their performance is nothing short of
The Browning Maxus semi-auto has become a firmly established favourite, particularly with pigeon shooters, wildfowlers and gamekeepers. It handles well, shoots smoothly, and cycles reliably with just about any cartridge. Now in 2021 Browning have launched a new improved model, the Maxus II, claimed to be the softest shooting semi-auto
A machete is a gamekeeping tool for Paul Childerley, for clearing rides and cutting back brambles. With the help of two of Gerber’s machetes, he explains how to use a machete. It’s an art. The Gerber Gator Paul uses costs £33 from Bit.ly/gerbermachete
youtu.be/3mHbARmHnZQ There’s a lot to carry when you set out to decoy pigeons, what with hide poles, netting, ammo, and the decoys themselves. A decent rucksack can make it much easier to lug everything to your chosen hide position. Pigeon shooter and farmer Andy Crow is a huge fan of
youtu.be/r-OPsRdP1ic In the UK we have to cope with some pretty unpredictable weather. You can set off in glorious sunshine for a day on the moors, or shooting partridges on stubbles – and a few hours later it could be tipping it down with rain. That’s where the Härkila Orton
youtu.be/SL2d2d0E8a8 Keepers need clothing that’s versatile says David Whitby. “We’re usually in the beating line, or behind the guns picking up – but we also want something that’s smart enough if we’re lucky enough to be standing on a peg,” he says. The Seeland Woodcock Advanced jacket and trousers tick
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJcJXrGbkBs Swarovski binoculars are going visionary. The new Swarovski EL Range TA binos with Tracking Assistant allow you to ‘paint’ the deer you spot. The binos then share its location with your phone. It helps you reach distant deer and get into position for a shot, and it allows you
youtu.be/dn-33ULbbvs Tough, rugged, waterproof protection for your legs is essential for beaters, stalkers, keepers and others working in the countryside. And if there’s one thing about Seeland’s Buckthorn range, it’s tough, says gamekeeper and deer manager David Whitby. “We expect our beaters to go through cover, whatever that might be
youtu.be/R8wnnc8dgTc Any gamekeeper or stalker demands a lot from his everyday clothing. It needs to be hardwearing, and keep you warm and dry, but still be comfortable when you’re walking uphill or filling pheasant feeders. Gamekeeper and deer manager David Whitby is a big fan of the Seeland Hawker jacket
youtu.be/rCybKrQBARA Härkila is highly regarded by hunters who rely on the clothing to keep them dry and comfortable in the toughest conditions – and as Härkila’s Simon Esnouf explains, the magic is in the membranes that they use. “We use a mixture,” he says. “Some of our garments use Gore-Tex,
youtu.be/MFFT9F3OchE If you ever struggle getting your shotgun chokes out or your worried about over tightening then Richard Pinch has the product for you. For the full range of ChokeDemon products go to ChokeDemon.co.uk Use as part of your routine maintenance or for extracting stubborn or difficult to remove chokes.
youtu.be/Nl1DLfzOzk8 While we were filming our steel vs barrels challenge at Orston Shooting Ground we asked professional clay coach and top competitor Nick Hendrick if he could see how far he could smash a CCI eco-clay with an Eley Eco Wad Cartridge. Let’s just say we started at 100 metres…
youtu.be/MHToJcQx9nw CCI has produced a toxin free clay pigeon that performs as well as the pitch and coal tar traditional clays we all know and shoot. After spending lots of £££s, Johnny Goodhart’s company has created the perfect recipe of chalk and resin and a secret ingredient. But does it
Wayne Martin attempts to set a new world catapult shooting distance record by hitting a clay with a steel ball at over 100m. Wayne’s kit: Catty Shack’s “Evo Field Pro” Catapult His own custom 1mm CattyShack Great White bands
Sergio Couto gives his boots a hard time. As a professional stalking guide, he’s out day after day in all weathers – and he’s very impressed with the Gateway 1 Pheasant Game wellies, a Danish brand that’s made in China. “They’re tough, really tough,” he says, “Comfortable too.” He explains
youtu.be/7190vX1FS-M A good thermal spotter is pretty much essential for any gamekeeper or pest controller nowadays. The iRay E3 and E6 series covers most requirements, with four models in the range, all offering excellent performance in a convenient shape that fits neatly in the palm of your hand. The basic
youtu.be/iC8P-UXEWCM The iRay FH25R could be the perfect tool for deer stalkers, fox shooters, and anyone else who needs to spot quarry and measure the range – all in one pocket-sized, robust, hand-held monocular. The FH25R fits neatly in the palm of your hand and offers tremendous performance from a
youtu.be/5cPDDghFbt0 The Merkel K series isn’t the gun for everyone; it’s a top-lever break-barrel single-shot rifle that you wouldn’t choose for a big deer culling job or pest control. But the K3 and now the K5 have a loyal following among hunting purists who are all about the one perfect
youtu.be/Djt9MrQ1dqM This Ruger Hawkeye Hunter is an intriguing mixture of traditional and modern – a hunting rifle with the time-tested Mauser style bolt-action and walnut stock, combined with Cerakote coated stainless steel and a 22 inch barrel threaded for a moderator. It’s available in the UK in a limited edition
youtu.be/LfHUuOj9f1w The iRay Clip CH50 is a thermal device you can clip on the front of a regular daytime rifle scope to turn it into a thermal scope – ideal for switching from daytime hunting to night-time pest control, without the need to change scopes and re-zero. As well as
youtu.be/Bx8E3eUZCzg When you’re serious about pest control, only the best will do – and iRay’s flagship Rico RH50 riflescope offers outstanding quality. “I’ve used just about every unit that’s available, and this is the best image I’ve seen on a thermal riflescope so far,” says Ryan Charlton from distributors Highland
youtu.be/x0EJjq02hOU iRay UK offer a range of thermal spotters and scopes – their E3n featured here is an entry level spotter, priced at £1,169.95. It’s pocket sized with a compact and handy design, and offers serious performance with a typical battery life of around seven hours. “This model has a
youtu.be/YE7ZtKUx3Dk The iRay TL35 might look and handle like a regular daylight rifle scope – but inside is cutting edge thermal technology, allowing you to shoot day or night even in bad weather conditions such as heavy fog and rain. “It’s super simple, lightweight and easy handling,” says Ryan Charlton
youtu.be/yhSUwgxHjV8 The Mossberg MVP LC is a great little compact rifle that would be ideal for a gamekeeper working out of a pick-up truck. A bolt-action, it borrows some of the features of a tactical AR type rifle, such as the extending stock which can be shortened in an instant
youtu.be/MPNcd9Rk1DU The Mossberg Patriot is a good honest rifle built to get the job done. “It’s what I’d class as a gamekeeper’s gun,” says Andy Norris from distributors Viking Arms. “It does what it says on the tin, and for a terrific price of under £600.” This is the Patriot
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAiOyY–OzM If you’re after a basic, working rifle with no frills, the Ruger American Ranch could be exactly what you’re looking for. “It’s a Ruger – so it’s rugged, it’s reliable, and it does what it’s supposed to do,” says Andy Norris of distributors Viking Arms. “It’s a great little
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zjs69fmY5A8 Following on from the huge success of Ruger’s Precision Centrefire rifle, the gunmaker has produced a Rimfire version – and that’s gone down a storm too. The Ruger Precision Rimfire is a faithfully downsized version of the centrefire rifle, and comes in .22LR, .22WMR and .17HMR. Conceived as a
youtu.be/NqZ1DH6Ymi8 Italian gunmaker Breda has made some cracking semi-autos over the past 100 years or so. More recently they’ve turned their skills to making over-and-unders – and the Zenith is going down well with clay and game shooters alike. This one is the game model, the Zenith L. It’s steel
youtu.be/Cc-bV_-f4h4 Jason Gibson of Vario Hearables travels many miles to shoots up and down the country, so he needs to keep his guns and cartridges secure in his vehicle. He’s fitted a TransK9 Translock storage drawer in his BMW X5. “I absolutely love it,” he says, “and it gets a
youtu.be/bmfc7LrYynA Becky McKenzie is one of Britain’s top lady Sporting shots, and a clay shooting coach – so who better to run through the essential kit you should carry in your bag when you go to a competition? Skeet vest – “Mine’s by Clayclo, it’s a fairly new clothing company
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQAZzp1AjiM The Mossberg Model 500 pump-action .410 needs little introduction, at least to British gamekeepers and pest controllers. For them it’s an invaluable working tool, especially when fitted with the Hushpower moderator, which cuts the sound of the little .410 cartridge down to a mere pop. “This gun is just
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o8iPrTORkk For years serious clay shooters have chosen between the two Bs, Beretta and Browning. Now there’s a third B to consider: Breda – and their Zenith Sporter is certainly attracting attention. The Zenith Sporter is a brand new design from this Italian manufacturer which has been making guns for
youtu.be/hocd42pb8t4 Legendary fox shooter Robert Bucknell has spent years refining his go-to foxing rifle set-up – and he reckons he’s got it just about perfect. He’s been using his current rifle for a couple of years – it’s based around a CAM action set in a carbon fibre stock. “It’s
Tom Davies from Dartmoor Deer Services compares the Pulsar Accolade 2 LRF XP50 with his trusty old Pulsar Helion XQ50, and says what the differences are. For more, visit ThomasJacks.co.uk
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3doV6bq3fw The Leupold VX5 HD 2-10×42 would make a great rifle scope on a centrefire for stalking – but deer manager and restauranteur Mike Robinson has fitted it to his .17HMR. “This is a cracking scope which I’d happily use on my main deer rifle. It goes up to 10x
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPt8CfysjPI The Haenel Jaeger 10 series are classic bolt-action hunting rifles from the Merkel factory in Suhl, Germany. Viking Arms import two models – this is the more modern looking version, the Pro, with an adjustable synthetic stock. “This one is designed for the professional stalker who’s out in extreme
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ_IFsJ12iI The Haenel Jaeger 10 series are classic bolt-action hunting rifles from the Merkel factory in Suhl, Germany. Viking Arms import two models – the adjustable synthetic stocked Pro, and the Heritage range you see here, with Grade 4 wood stock. “It’s a great working bit of kit with a
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLiDlPygFJQ Mike Robinson is a big fan of Savage rifles. As a professional deer manager and game chef he uses them daily, and values their accuracy, smooth operation and ruggedness. He’s excited about his latest acquisition, a Savage 110 Ultralite in 6.5mm Creedmoor. “Not only is it incredibly light, it’s
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBrT0sktCAE Mike Robinson’s rifles are the tools of his trade. As a professional deer manager and game chef he uses them daily, and demands faultless performance in all conditions. His go-to deer rifle is the Savage 110 High Country. “I love proper old fashioned bolt-action rifles, and what I love
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdnwOgM0_1c The double rifle is a classic design, the pride and joy of any manufacturer’s product range – and this Merkel really is a beauty. “The only way really to make a double rifle is the traditional way, with craftsmen – and in the Merkel factory in Suhl they still
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9H1xhbW4xc Cornish deerstalker Ollie Williams has been testing the Seeland Hawker Advance set of jacket and trousers – and he’s impressed. The Hawker Advance jacket is a technical shell jacket designed to withstand any weather conditions while being light weight and low noise. It has a windproof and waterproof Seetex
Scope caps are a small thing, but they can make all the difference to a day’s deer stalking, as professional deer manager Mike Robinson explains. “I spent ten hours on the hill in Scotland, in driving rain all day long. At the end of the day, when I finally came
www.youtube.com/watch?v=itN2Tftq2SE If you had to pick one rifle scope for every type of hunting, from driven boar to alpine chamois and everything in-between, what would you choose? For Fieldtester’s Tim Pilbeam, it would have to be the Swarovski 3.5-28×50 P. Why? “This scope does the lot,” he says. He’s been
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qrp9gwp5sSk A good quality rifle scope is important to Mike Robinson in his role as a professional deer manager – and he’s more than happy with his Leupold VX6 HD 4-24×52. In fact he has two, one on each of his 6.5mm Creedmoor chambered rifles. “Particularly when deer are under
One glance at the Breda 930i will tell you it’s a top of the range semi-automatic shotgun made for competition clay shooting. Its distinctive looks set it apart from other guns on the market, with its stylish Italian lines, polished receiver and blue or red anodised parts including the trigger
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
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