GTN issue 86

THE GREAT BRITISH SHOOTING AWARDS

The annual shooting awards ceremony takes place at the British Shooting Show, and while it’s too late to register your vote, it’s never too late to see if you agree with the selections for 2022

Optics product of the year (over £1,000)

First, the awards celebrate the top-end optical products that run on traditional glass—be it a riflescope, binoculars, rangefinder or spotter. All countries of origin are considered.

• Leica Geovid 8x32 Pro

• Pulsar Merger LRF XP 50

• Steiner Ranger 8 Scope

• Swarovski Optik Spotting Scope: ATC/STC

• Hawke Frontier 34 FFP Riflescope

Optics product of the year (under £1,000)

The very best of budget optics that really do the job and don’t break the bank. Once again, all optics that run on traditional glass are welcomed, as long as they don’t break the £1,000 mark.

• Bushnell Fusion X Rangefinding binoculars

• Blaser RD20

• Element Helix

• GPO Spectra 4-16x50i Scope

• Hawke Sidewinder 30 SF

Night vision product of the year (over £1,500)

A focus on the top-end night vision products, including image intensifiers, digital and thermals. Which product has really innovated and pushed the boundaries the most?

• Zeiss DTC 3

• Guide TD210 Thermal Monocular

• Pard SA62 Plus 45mm LRF

• Pulsar Merger LRF XP50

• HIKMICRO Falcon Pro (FQ50)

Night vision product of the year (under £1,500)

Looking at those night vision products that deliver the best bang for your buck. Once again, all image intensifiers, digital and thermals welcome, as long as they’re below £1,500.

• Sightmark Wraith 4K

• Pard NV008S LRF

• Guide TrackIR 35mm

• ATN X-Sight 4K Pro

• Hikmicro Alpex Day & Night Scope

Rifle ammunition of the year

This category is for metallic rounds that are used in hunting, competition or training. The awards are about brands, models and calibres that have really performed.

• Sako Powerhead Blade 308 162gr lead-free

• Hornady CX

• Winchester Extreme Point Copper Impact

• Sellier & Bellot Exergy Blue (non-toxic)

• Hornady Precision Hunter 30-06

In the second ammunition category the awards celebrate all manner of shotgun shells, from clay cartridges and pigeon loads to driven game and grouse. If it’s used and loved by the shooting public, it deserves to be nominated.

Shotgun ammunition of the year

• Gamebore Regal Game 12G

• Gamebore Dark Storm Precision Steel with bio-wad

• Hull High Pheasant Extreme Hydrowad

• BioAmmo Blue

• Zenith Pro Eco Wad

Shooting apparel of the year

From technical to tweed, suits to socks—clothing and footwear designed specifically for the shooting market. All types of shooting—stalking, game, clay or target—and all price points considered.

• Shooterking Greenland Jacket 2.0

• Alan Paine Axford Men’s Field Coat

• Sasta Mehto WS Camo Jacket

• Brandecosse Stambecco Boots

• Schöffel Ptarmigan Tweed Classic Coat

Airgun of the year

Celebrating the variety in the airgun market—rifles and pistols; PCPs, springers, gas-rams and CO2; hunting guns, plinkers, 10-metre and FT. But which airgun has had the most success with its target market?

• Stoeger Bullpup

• Rainson Edge-X

• RAW HMX1000

• Niksan Ozark

• Air Arms S510T Tactical

Rifle of the year

From .22LR up, the awards want the live-firing rifle that’s dominated the market for its intended use, whether that’s stalking, foxing or longrange targets. All price points eligible but it’s factory rifles only.

• Beretta BRX1

• CZ 457 LRP II .22LR

• Tikka .243 T3X Super Varmint

• Howa 1500

• Fierce CT Rage

Shotgun of the year

Over & under, side-by-side or semi-auto—the awards panel are looking for the shotgun that’s had the most success in its market, whether that’s winning international medals or attracting newcomers to shooting. Game and clay guns are eligible, in any bore. Again, factory guns only, but all price points are considered.

• Beretta Silver Pigeon 5

• Caesar Guerini Invictus V Ascent

• Browning B525 Exquisite 12M

• Yildiz SPZ ME

• EJ Churchill Crown side-by-side

Innovative product of the year

A category which rewards innovative products in the shooting market. Ammunition, apparel, optics, firearms, accessories, and products not covered in any other category are eligible—as long as they have really caused a stir. The awards panel are looking for products that are set to play a big part in the future of field sports.

• Zeiss LRP S5

• HQS Hunter Suppressor

• Spypoint Flex Camera

• Sellier & Bellot Special Slug Sport

• Blaser Carbon Shooting Stick V2