Fieldtester looks deeper, so you choose smarter
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhKNwWxKzxU Who makes zinc bullets? What are they used for and how long have they been around? Firearms expert Andrew Venables answers these questions and more. History of bullet development by Andrew Venables Why do we cling to the pre-1900 lead bullet design when the 20th and even 21st centuries
youtu.be/8TRwLlcmS-8 When you buy a ‘large’ jacket from one clothing company and it’s the same as a ‘2XL’ from another, and both of them seem to be about the same as a ‘medium’ from ten years ago, what’s going on? We talk to a top tailor about how much of
youtu.be/tti1KoezIZ0 What’s the trajectory difference between a .22 and a .177 airgun pellet? Johnny Muston fron R&K Stockcraft tries them side by side on different targets at different ranges and ‘maps’ the trajectories, so you can see the difference in holdover. For more from R&K Stockcraft, visit RKStockcraft.co.uk
youtu.be/k5MDEWv-q44 Many stalkers and wildfowlers choose a Ridgeline smock for the excellent protection it gives, but what if you prefer a jacket that you can open all the way down the front? The Ridgeline Monsoon jacket promises the best of both worlds: the convenience of a conventional jacket, with the
The most expensive knives in the world are – disappointingly – there to look at, not to use. However, there is a new strand in British knifemaking that makes utilitarian knives which are also custommade for users to use. They are designed around what people want to do. We have
A good rest will transform your accuracy with a rifle, and most shooters will use a bipod or sticks depending on their type of shooting. Traditional rests can be fiddly and clumsy to carry and use, but Spartan has transformed all that with a modern range of modular supports that
youtu.be/oMN9Zkgf_XYRyan Charlton of distributor Highland Outdoors has used the 4-16×44 scope he sells with half mil-dot reticle on his own rimfire. He says he has had hits out to 300 yards using a combination of dialling in holdover and using the reticle as his aim point. There are plenty of precision
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT-2N0W_Fs4 Roy has a new toy. Mr Lupton has his hands on the new Leica thermal unit, the Calonox View, and he has an invitation to stalk fallow deer in Sussex. It’s a good chance to put the spotter through its paces, and to bring home a beast for the
youtu.be/yF7oJwvzfac How good are these pellets at killing?– H&N Baracuda Green– Webley Velocipell– Webley Mosquito Express– Webley VMX PellAirgun expert Johnny Muston from R&K Stockcraft puts them through their paces on ballistic gel to find out. For more from R&K Stockcraft, visit RKStockcraft.co.uk
Gun fit is a big issue in shotgun shooting, but people forget it’s important for rifle shooting too. Your cheek needs to be resting nicely on the comb, so your head is always in the same place in relation to the scope for the best accuracy and consistent groups. That’s
youtu.be/OM0o97qkwiE We test six copper rounds for accuracy. This is part of a project run by Tim Pilbeam where 13 deerstalkers keep diaries of how copper bullets perform for them. Stalkers include Steve Goodwin, Steve Bull, Alison Otway of OtwaysMeatandGame.co.uk, gamekeeper Rob Beeney and David Sadler set about finding out
youtu.be/R98moTyIQKU Leica has a new entry-level riflescope. Of course, entry level to a top-end name such as Leica does not mean it is under £1,000. However, Tim Pilbeam says that for the money – £1,400 – you get all the Leica quality most of us could want. Tim tried out
youtu.be/qF1X_xOi_TQ Airgun expert Johnny Muston from R&K Stockcraft explains how to clear your airgun barrel – and tells a few horror stories about barrels that are past saving. For more from R&K Stockcraft, visit RKStockcraft.co.uk
Why buy a gun at auction? how? and what gun? If those are your questions, this is the right page for you. Our gun experts Diggory Hadoke from VintageGuns.co.uk, Bill Harriman from BASC and the BBC Antiques Roadshow, and others offer the answers. Below you will find the stories of indvidual
Can the shape of your airgun pellets really make a difference to stopping power? There’s only one way to find out, and that’s to carry out a ballistic wax test. The results will reveal how far a pellet penetrates, as well as the size and shape of the channel it
by Charlie Jacoby The Swarovski dS scope is growing up. The technical marvel that is the gen II dS has a slimmer look, though the same 40mm tube, a choice of six reticles, and more customisable features such as the ability to switch off the wind bars. It comes with an
by Charlie Jacoby All the expensive optics manufacturers have the same problem: should they launch cheaper models? If they do, it opens them to the charge of going downmarket. Also, they may have to cut costs in the manufacturing process, which could bring with it a quality issue. All of
So: you’ve got your Firearms Certificate, you’ve got permission to shoot rabbits on a local farm, and you’re itching to go shooting. There’s just one hurdle left: you need a rifle and scope that are up to the job. So what’s the best rimfire rifle package for a reasonable price,
Is there such a thing as the all-round shotgun that will do everything and still look the part, from knocking over vermin around the farm to bringing down rocketing driven pheasants or bagging the silverware at a major clay shooting championship? There’s no-one better to ask than Sam Green,
Why buy a Savage B17? Half of the Fieldsports Channel audience (who own a rimfire) own the Czech-made CZ/Brno rimfires – check out our rimfire research. However, drill down those numbers and you find that the Czech rifles are getting elderly in the hands of our viewers (the average age
A new stock could transform your trusty air rifle, improving accuracy and ease of use and giving it a whole new lease of life, not to mention a stunning modern look. If that’s your aim, look no further than this pistol grip style thumbhole FORM Chieftain air rifle stock,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeVqLp-iYAQ In this month’s Fieldtester show, our kit gurus Roy Lupton, Johnny Muston and Tim Pilbeam come together with host David Wright to discuss the evolution of the airgun. That’s not all. Johnny Muston from R&J Stockcraft says how to choose the perfect airgun pellet, and shows off his shooting
This is the Fieldtester survey where we asked you to tell us about your kit back in 2020, and you responded: 3,500 completed surveys came back to us, 10% of which are about PCPs, 10% of you told us about your airgun pellets, only 5% are about spring-loaded air rifles,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RhcXPwLtA0 Just what do you buy a shooter? It’s a question Ian Ho-Ho-Hodge gets asked many times a day as the festive season approaches. He runs Ian Hodge Field Sports – a physical and online shop based in Cornwall – so he’s put together a list of the ideal stocking
Thermal imaging has become an essential tool for gamekeepers, pest controllers and deer managers. From almost none a couple of years ago, there are now a huge variety of products to choose from. The old man of traditional optics, Zeiss, planned a grand launch for its first entry into the
Out of 3,500 responses to our 2020 kit survey, 600 Fieldsports Channel viewers got back to us about binos. It is clear from the results that Leupold is a well-loved brand, if not widely purchased. Only 3% of viewers own Leupold binos. In Fieldsports Channel’s research, Leupold binos score
Purists look at foxshooting doyen Robert Bucknell’s set-up and are appalled. Until recently, he had a CAM rifle, which is in ‘practical rifle’ territory and not the usual foxshooter’s choice of heavy barrel with bipod. And, to make it a more comfortable fit, he built up the cheek pad with
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