Sporting Rifle

One thing that never ceases to amaze me is the instant bond between hunting strangers. This bond crosses international boundaries, politics, religion, and most other causes of prejudice. In the past 30 years or so that I have been pursuing game, whet

The free trade agreement between the UK and EU will not bind the UK to European laws that limit the use of lead on and around wetlands. And in more good news, environmental regulations that have been used to attack shooting will come under the full c

Rough shooting and deer stalking can continue in England after the government provided greater clarity on the new lockdown measures introduced in response to surging cases of Covid-19. The emergence of a more contagious strain of the coronavirus forc

A film on deer management in the Scottish Highlands has won its second prestigious award. The Cull, which explores the tensions between traditional deer management and rewilding in Scotland, has now won ‘Best Film’ in the mountain environment and nat

Proudly supported by Future Field Sports are proud to announce the third annual Great British Shooting Awards. The aim of the prestigious awards is to give recognition to the products, organisations and people that make this industry tick. From rifle

Each month, the best letter wins a bottle of King’s Ginger – the ideal drink to enjoy after a cold stalk. For more details visit www.thekingsginger.com WIN! STAR LETTER Dear Sporting Rifle, As a professional hunter in South Africa and as an avid hunt

This month I wanted to cover one of my trips down South which has been a regular feature in Sporting Rifle for a number of years. It is always nice to stalk in different surroundings, meet up with some good friends and compare notes – and, of course,

WORTH £499 For over a decade, the Sidewinder has been a byword for performance and reliability. Created with almost every conceivable option, the Sidewinder is seen as a multi-discipline optic with a wide range of uses. The result: Hawke’s most popul

Many years have elapsed since my best and most memorable encounter with deer. I was roe stalking in the high summer rut in a location greatly favoured by this species. I had walked in before first light and climbed a low oak tree in which was a natur

When you have a country upbringing, as I did, you very soon learn that conservation comes before shooting. Examples of predator damage provided lessons in this. A hen pheasant was sitting on a dozen eggs in the garden. The nest was attacked and destr

The first time I realised how dependent I had become on thermal scanners was over a year ago when I accidentally left mine at home on a cold December evening. The first week I got my scanner I had started taking it with me when I walked my dogs at ni

With the colder weather and shorter days, the winter months can be a difficult time to be out foxing. Boggy fields and the prospect of long hours in freezing conditions can be enough to keep even the keenest of us in front of the fire, enjoying the T

It’s always good to see a young chap getting into fox shooting, so I’ve enjoyed watching the progress of John, a keeper’s son. A landscape gardener by profession, he’s always had a passion for shooting of one sort or another, and he developed the fox

On the face of it shooting from static positions could be termed the lazy man’s way of shooting, however, over time I’ve learned that in many instances it is the most efficacious way of coming to terms with certain foxes. As I’ve said before, it’s ra

First Ascent is a mountaineering term given to the first successful, documented attainment of the top of a mountain, or the first to follow a particular climbing route. In this article I want to share with you my experience of the new tripod from Spa

The Hampshire-based firm of Raytrade, importers of Remington rifles, have put together a rather nice package built around a Remington Model 783. This model followed on from the Model 770, I vaguely remember being a little disappointed with that Remy

Leica’s visually distinctive Geovid binoculars have received their latest update with Bluetooth connectivity for your smartphone or tablet. After five years of superb performance from their high-tech electronic rangefinding and ballistic solving capa

Pulsar’s latest update of the market leading Accolade thermal Binoculars has now received a sensor update to keep it electronically, as well as ergonomically, at the cutting edge of thermal imaging technology. The new sensor shows sub 40MK NETD with

Long heralded as one of the most universally useful cartridges, today the 6.5x54 is a distant memory. The versatile 6.5mm range of cartridges is not only familiar around the globe but is enjoying a rise in popularity. While old faithfuls like the 6.5

The sika stag is first seen as a black spot against the autumnyellow grass far up the hillside. It has emerged in an open field in the immature forest above junior hunter Mads Thorup. As the stalker sends out another whistling call over the forest, h

Although we don’t feature reviews of footwear as often as we would like, it is important to remember that they are an essential part of any stalking set up. While big ticket products, such as thermal imagers, currently hog the headlines, the humble w

The Sabre is the popular ICOtec Nightstalker’s little brother. It features a large, clear speaker, user-friendly remote with day and night settings and is fully programmable so you can add MP3 and WAV files – and also have access to ICOtec’s free sou

Shoot In Scotland is your annual guide to the mystery and magic of shotgun and rifle sport north of the border, and it’s packed with the best collection of knowledge, kit and tales from the field. In their introduction to the guide, Scottish Country

Chinese water deer and muntjac specialist. We manage over 30,000 acres of land in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. We can offer 1:1 guided stalking to all capabilities and training for beginners. We have a zeroing range up to 250 metr

As March arrives the game season, such as it was, is now becoming a distant memory. Disrupted, as was pretty well everything else, it finally turned out to be a bit of a disaster. Just as the festive season was arriving things seemed to be improving

SPORTING RIFLE ISSUE 191 On sale 4 March With a call for more foxing ammunition, Mike Powell takes a retrospective look at the 17 HMR Hornet Chris Parkin tests the latest 008 LRF night vision scope from Pard David Barrington Barnes ends 2020 with a w

The British Shooting Show has confirmed that neither of its two shows will go ahead in 2021, and say that the decision is “acting responsibly for our industry”. Organiser, John Allison, commented: “Hosting the UK’s largest trade and retail event in t

In the words of the Cher song, If I could turn back time… I’d pop back and have a serious chat with Captain James Cook. I’d ask, “What were you thinking?” It might even develop into a mild rant, “On what planet were you operating and under which theo

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The brand new Zeiss DTI 3/35 offers outstanding optical performance combining a 384x288 thermal sensor with 1280x960 HD LCOS display for crisp clear thermal imaging at extended ranges up to 1350yds, with the performance, reliability and optical excel

The Blaser R8 Ultimate’s two-piece stock ensures a relaxed shooting position and optimal control of the rifle. Available with black elastomer, impregnated leather inlays and an integrated moderator. Price: From £3,750 Blaser ▪ 01483 917 412 blaser-gr

The Howa Bifrost is a proven combination of stock and action – perfect for the discerning rugged stalker. With a superior hammer forged steel action, the grip and forehand have a rubber surface which is steady and comfortable in any type of weather.