Gun Trade News issue 87

EDGAR BROTHERS LAUNCH NEW BRAND

Team believes global sourcing plus UK quality control equals winning formula

issue at some point. What we have is the knowledge of how to deal with that, how to look after and support the value product.”

He also laid out the firm’s vision: “It’s about quality and value for us, providing the two together. As a company we believe there is value in Edgar Brothers as a brand, and we have worked in value lines for a long time and believe we have a great approach and understanding working with our partners—Hatsan, for example, who we worked with for 22 years—so we have a good idea of what’s required.

XV-2 ANNOUNCED

Edgar Brothers Arms launch first product

Edgar Brothers have announced the introduction of their own firearms and air-rifle brand, EB Arms (EBA). Born from the desire to forge their own space within the shooting sports market, with 75 years of industry heritage, EBA’s intent is to provide the very best quality product lines at great value for the consumer.

In words that will mean a great deal to retailers, EBA’s ‘mission’ will also include a reliable after sales and warranty support package.

“It’s something we have wanted to do for more than ten years.” Heapy continued, “but we have had to wait for the right moment for us. Happily we believe this is it.”

There are plans prepared for three launches within the year. First up is a PCP air rifle, the XV-2 (see panel right), and this will be followed by a semiautomatic shotgun range and a break-barrel air rifle.

The first model to be announced is a continuation of the well-known and fondly remembered XVI model Edgar Brothers brought to market some years ago, which was in fact a rebadged Logun made in Serbia.

The XV-2 takes on similar design styling to the original XVI designs but is brought up to date in terms of both mechanics and market trends. The XV-2 features a compact shrouded barrel design that is integrally moderated, a large 500cc air

bottle, and collapsible AR-styled stock. Furnished with Picatinny rails for scope mounting and accessories below, the XV-2 is a versatile partner ideally suited to both target shooting and vermin control. “EB Arms has been a project for Edgar Brothers since the very first XVI model was brought out almost ten years ago, so we are excited that we have managed to get this brand off the ground and can’t wait to get the XV-2 into the hands of shooters,” said Tom Heapy.

tion. They will draw on their own experience as arfrom a hands-on, machining background at the com-

Working with several manufacturing partners, EBA will introduce product lines that are quality controlled in the UK to ensure 100% user satisfaction. They will draw on their own experience as armourers—sales director Tom Heapy himself comes from a hands-on, machining background at the company. He told GTN: “Any mechanical product that has ‘value’ as part of its qualities is going to have an

SHOOTING WELCOMES GOVERNMENT’S ENVIRONMENTAL LAND MANAGEMENT SCHEMES

Long-awaited details of England’s post-Brexit farm payments scheme have been published by the government.

Landowners and farmers will be paid money for environmental work and sustainable means of food production.

The environmental land management schemes (Elms) will pay farmers public money for actions like managing crop pests without chemicals and working towards net zero.

The measures have been broadly welcomed by farming and conservation groups.

Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said farmers were at the heart of the economy, producing food, but also being the custodians of the land it comes from.

“These two roles go hand-in-hand and we are speeding up the roll out of our farming schemes so that everyone can be financially supported as they protect the planet while producing food more sustainably,” she said.

The shooting community welcomed the schemes with many leading on the implication that predator control, such as stalking and shooting foxes, will become subsidised.

George Danby, BASC’s head of biodiversity wrote: “If you read the [accompanying] report,

you’ll see correlations throughout between the output of sustainable shooting and game management, and the delivery of [its] goals.”

Elms payments are designed to replace the European Union’s common agricultural policy (CAP) subsidies now that the UK is no longer part of the EU. They represent the biggest shake-up of farm policy in England for 40 years.

ADJUSTABLE STOCK

COCKING LEVER

Competition cocking lever with hold open

TRIGGER

AIR PRESSURE GUAGE

POV Guage with level warning

Created and developed by

Trigger mounted safety button

9 position cheek riser & 5cm length of pull

Anodized scratch resistant coating /Moderated shrouded barrel / 500cc bottle / 3.2kg weight / 48cm barrel (38cm plus 10cm mod) / 2x magazine with mag cap reading / Picatinny scope rail / Picatinny accessory rail below.

WE SAY

Hats off to Edgar Brothers.

As I may have mentioned in passing over the last few months, our industry has been having one of its tougher periods—and through no fault of our own—so how great to see a well-established name like Edgar Brothers take a look at the market, see an opportunity, and have the guts to back it substantially. It’s potentially a great move, and one I feel pretty confident they have the skills to execute successfully. And once they have established their own brand of products, it will put them in a stronger, much more nuanced position when it comes to negotiating deals going forward, offering them hopefully lots of opportunity for growth.

I’m excited to see Schöffel’s new collection too, which will be unveiled on 1 March, just too late for this issue, but again what we’re seeing is one of our key players investing substantially in new product—at a time when I believe new product is exactly what we need to reinvigorate the market.

So it will be very interesting to see what the British Shooting Show and IWA have revealed by the next time I write this column. I’m expecting exciting things. Certainly SHOT Show last month seemed to be more vibrant than it has been for a few years, with lots of amazing product released.

See our mini round-up on page 13.

There is a fly in our ointment, however: the ongoing farrago that is the underfunding of police licensing teams. It feels like now, not a week goes by without some awful event involving a licensed firearm that should have been removed from its owner

if the system was working properly. Gun sales are falling as licenses expire and are replaced with temporary permits that do not allow purchases. People are giving up the sport they love because of the hassle of renewing, or never getting the proper chance to participate as they wait miserably for licences long-promised but never arriving.

30 JUNE - 2 JULY 2023

I’m sure we’ve all been doing our bit, but now is the time to redouble our efforts and raise our voices in concert. Write to your MP, lobby your shooting organisation, write to the papers, use social media to get the message out.

This has gone on too long.

Steve

30 JUNE - 2 JULY 2023

“

Licenses expire and are replaced with temporary permits ”

INDUSTRY NEWS

Around the UK and abroad, all the top stories digested

Highland Outdoors signs RTI Arms

UK-based distributors Highland Outdoors has announced an exclusive distribution partnership with RTI Arms throughout the UK and Ireland. The globally recognised, multiple award-winning Slovenian manufacturer is producing stunning compact PCP air rifles that offer excellent performance, accuracy, and reliability—at very competitive prices.

The all-new Prophet II and Priest II featured on the Highland Outdoors stand at the Great British Shooting Show where impressed punters got their first look at the rifles.

“Highland Outdoors has long sought the right manufacturer and product to enhance our air rifle portfolio,” announced Steve Kelly, Highland Outdoors Group Commercial Director. “Watching RTI’s development and success over the past 18 months, we are very optimistic and excited to now partner with RTI Arms.

RTI will join the Diana range of air rifles and Webley in the Highland Outdoors air rifle offering. Given the ultra-tactical looks of the Priest and Prophet, they should fit in well with the existing, more classic-looking brands.

Kelly continued: “Offering a comprehensive range

Highland Outdoors signs Ultimatum Precision

Shooting sports distributor Highland Outdoors has added another brand to its portfolio, with a deal to supply UK and Ireland dealers with Ultimatum Precision actions.

Among the latest offerings from the Canadian manufacturer is the Deuce, their take on a full-sized 700 footprint 22LR action. These are becoming popular with rimfire PRS and NRL competitors who want to match the feel of their centrefire match rifle with the training value of a 22LR. Supplied with an International Barrels Inc rimfire barrel, the actions are cut from the best 416R stainless steel, CNC honed, hand lapped and double stress-relieved for maximum performance.

The Deuce features a full-sized 700 footprint rimfire that drops into whatever 700 chassis/stock system you prefer. It takes most 700 triggers, which attach via a trigger hanger for ease of removal, and boasts a standard 30 MOA one-piece scope rail. Nitrided for corrosion resistance, it also accepts most AICS pattern rimfire magazines and comes with a barrel nut fitment allowing the user adjustable headspace to suit the ammunition.

Ryan Charlton, Highland Outdoors Brand Manager, said: “We are delighted to be working with Ultimatum Precision and pledge a substantial investment toward their product range.”

of both sub-12ft/lb and FAC air rifles, RTI are also turning heads with their new ranges of Hush suppressors and accessories. We look forward to working with our trade partners in delivering to UK and Irish consumers this innovative new PCP brand that’s prominently featuring on the world Extreme Benchrest stage.

“The team at Highland Outdoors are very pleased to welcome RTI ARMS to our industry leading portfolio, and with great optimism look forward to distributing their products throughout the UK and Ireland.

For more information, and to order stock go to rtiarms.eu and highlandoutdoors.co.uk

Northern Shooting Show to host World Hunter Field Target Championships

The World Hunter Field Target Championships for elite airgun shooters is set to be held at the Northern Shooting Show this May at the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate.

This is the first time the annual competition has been held in the UK and it will see up to 240 competitors from all over the world shoot two 40-target courses on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 May. The course will be made up of four standing targets, four kneeling and 32 prone.

The overall winner will go home with a specially commissioned trophy and there are medals for first, second and third places in each of the classes – Open,

Veterans, Ladies, Junior, .22, Springer and International Team. All competitors will receive a free twoday ticket to the Northern Shooting Show plus entry to the exclusive tombola which will include lots of airgun-related prizes.

The Northern Shooting Show will welcome more than 20,000 visitors from all over the country looking to try a myriad of shooting-related activities including shotguns, airsoft, archery, bushcraft, and of course airguns.

Entry to The World Hunter Field Target Championships costs £50 per person. Registration closes on 7 April 2023. To register, visit whfto.com.

Sportsman signs KICK-EEZ

Sportsman Gun Centre has signed a deal to distribute KICK-EEZ products in the UK. KICK-EEZ are renowned for supplying superior shotgun and rifle recoil pads to the market. The company’s products are made in the United States and utilize a compound called Sorbothane, which provides extra shock absorption and reduces recoil effectively and quickly. Less recoil reduces flinching, eases sore shoulders and cheeks and allows for a more pleasant—and thus accurate—shooting experience.

Many of these pads are black, but SGC will be introducing brown and orange pads to the range,

because “not everybody wants black, so brown is a good alternative and the orange pads are often seen on older English guns”. They will also be offering junior pads and pitched pads for women.

“We are really happy to secure this brand, having bought hundreds over the years, but were never able to work with them directly. However after going to SHOT Show and having a good meeting with the guys there we were successful in adding this great brand to our portfolio," said Gary Lamburn of SGC.

For more information on the pads, go to sportsmanguncentre.co.uk

CPSA to change name

The Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (CPSA) has sent a proposal to members for its name to be changed to the Clay Target Shooting Association (CTSA). The proposal states: “We are keen to modernise our sport’s brand image in order to attract new shooters, members, and sponsors from outside the sport.”

Oakes wins cookery prize

Westminster Kingsway College student George Oakes scooped top prize at this year’s British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and Highland Game Colleges’ Cookery Competition. The third-year student impressed the judges with his show-stopping venison anticucho with nori and puffed wild rice canapé dish.

Nick Nairn returns to Game Fair

Scottish celebrity chef and restaurateur Nick Nairn is coming back to Scone Palace with his VIP restaurant, creating a bespoke country-andCaledonian menu which will showcase the best of Scottish produce and game at the GWCT Scottish Game Fair.

New firearms legislation

The Home Office has laid before Parliament the new Firearm (Amendment) Rules 2023 No 77. This change in the Rules gives legislative force to the requirement for security standards to the equivalent of Level 3 as described in the Firearms Security Handbook to be in place for the storage of HME rifles. This applies to certificate holders with rifles over 13,600 joules of muzzle energy (notably .50 cal).

Bird flu movement restrictions finally to be cut?

The avian influenza 90-day movement restriction is to be cut by two-thirds. The change is subject to the completion of relevant ‘stamping-out’ policies and that the absence of infection has been demonstrated. The change is welcome news for the shooting sector, potentially reducing delays to the import of game birds from the EU.

Fur Feather & Fin relocates to Teesside

Country sports retailer Fur Feather & Fin, hitherto based in Chichester, has reopened in new premises at Hangar 1A of Teesside Airport, North Yorkshire.

Due to a substantial increase in rental fees, the business ceased operations in December 2022 as they searched for alternative locations. Financial director Paul Walton said: “It is sad to be leaving Chichester, but this new facility offers great expansion opportunities with an increase in space for holding stock, and implementing an even more efficient and responsive ordering and fulfilment service.”

Fur Feather & Fin retails shooting, fishing, stalking and gundog products from top brands, including Yeti, Dubarry, Härkila, Rio, Berretta, Scott and

Snowbee. The team plans to expand its brand range and develop its own range of luxury leather goods and accessories.

Paul adds: “We will be focusing on online and mail order sales, though we are in the process of finding a replacement showroom, so that those travelling north or from overseas to shoot, fish or stalk can see what we have before purchasing.”

Fur Feather & Fin will be operating as usual with current stock ahead of the brown trout and main salmon season, with a greater collection of luggage, apparel and accessories for game shooters and gundog handlers ready for the Glorious Twelfth. The full range can be found at furfeatherandfin.com

Schöffel to launch its new collection on 1 March

Unfortunately, we currently are embargoed from sharing the full details, but a new range from Schöffel is big news and you can be sure that we will be devoting space to it in the next issue of Gun Trade News.

For now we can say that we are expecting to see the following items: Hallaton Down Jacket, Pine Green, £219.95; Bowden Down Gilet, True Navy, £199.95; Fishcombe Cove Sweatshirt, Pine Green, £99.95; The Exeter Heritage 1/4 Zip, Pale Blue, £89.95;

Porthmeor Pima Cotton 1/4 Zip, Cornflower Blue £89.95; St Ives Polo Shirt, Pine Green, £ 59.95; St Ives Jersey Polo Shirt, Navy £59.95; The Exeter Heritage Polo Shirt, Nany, £69.95; Hebden Tailored Shirt, Light Navy, Mint Checked, £69.95; Titchwell Tailed Shirt, White, £79.95; Holkham Classic Shirt, Flamingo, Cloud, Blue, £79.95.

Watch this space and we will bring you more details next time.

John Rothery takes first shipment from

Gehmann

John Rothery Wholesale has announced the arrival in the UK of its first shipment of Gehmann products. Retailers can now access the latest range of premium quality competition shooting equipment from one of the world’s leading brands. This first shipment includes sighting systems, shooting frames, clothing, and targets.

Gehmann has been at the forefront of the industry for nearly 100 years and is renowned for producing innovative products of exceptional quality.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to bring Gehmann’s exceptional range of competition shooting equipment to the UK market,” said Sean O’Driscoll, Managing Director of John Rothery Wholesale. “Gehmann’s commitment to innovation and quality aligns perfectly with our own, and we’re excited to offer these premium products to our trade customers.”

Trade enquiries for Gehmann products can now be directed to John Rothery Wholesale. Call 023 9224 5350, email sales@bisley-uk.com, or visit bisley-uk. com, where information on pricing and availability for trade users is available for your convenience.

Got a role to advertise? Get it in the movers & shakers section of the magazine and reach thousands of UK gun trade professionals. Contact Lee Hurst

Bolton is added to the Rigby smithing team

London Gunmaker John Rigby & Co. is pleased to share the appointment of John Bolton as gunsmith to its in-house team based at the brand’s Pensbury Place workshop. John is a former Royal Marine Commando who reached the very top of his trade as a Class 1 Armourer during his 10 years of service. This appointment demonstrates

Rigby’s commitment to supporting ex-servicemen and women and the brand’s appreciation of their extensive transferable skills.

Boyd looks to Stable future

Alan Boyd joins Stable Events to head up the Northern Shooting Show team. The company that owns the Game Fair, Scottish Game Fair, Welsh Game Fair and the World Gunmakers Evening, bought the Northern Shooting Show last year and has ambitious plans to make it grow. John worked for seven years at Media 10, home of the Ideal Home Show, managing the Scottish event before moving to DC Thomson as head of events to look after bunkered LIVE, Girl’s Day Out and Scottish Golf Tourism Week.

Stable Events appoints Trotter

Stable Events has appointed Henry Trotter to look after corporate sponsorship and luxury partnerships. Having previously worked in the same role in the yacht racing sector as well as Ascot Racecourse and the Goodwood Group, Henry brings a wealth of experience and black book of contacts. Based in Hampshire, Henry will be focussing on The GWCT Scottish Game Fair, The Game Fair and The GWCT Welsh Game Fair.

Westley Richards seeks new apprentices

Westley Richards, one of the oldest surviving traditional handmade gun and rifle makers in England, is seeking new apprentices. Applicants should have an interest in mechanics or engineering, good hand-toeye coordination and the ability to pay close attention to detail. Artistic ability is a bonus. People good at making shapes and drawing, sculpting and using hand tools will find they progress well under good tutelage in the right environment.

Apprentices at Westley Richards can expect to undergo five years of training with masters in their disciplines. Those successfully completing an apprenticeship will be awarded an industry-wide recognised certificate attesting to their skills.

Stockers, finishers and actioners all provide the essential elements of the gun-making process. Apprentices will graduate with one of these specialisations, though it is not uncommon for those with one set of specialist skills to learn others during their working life.

Although, traditionally, apprentices were taken on as young boys, Westley Richards is equally happy to consider applications from women and from older candidates with related skills, transitioning from other industries.

For full details please send a CV and cover letter stating your interest to apprentice@westleyrichards.co.uk

GMK announces restyled Beretta 486 Parallelo

Beretta’s popular 486 Parallelo has been restyled and now features a deep relief, scroll engraving created using the latest 5 axis laser technology. The beautifully proportioned, round body receiver sports a deep scroll, floral motif which gives a fresh yet elegant look to this classic side by side shotgun.

This new design is completed with 2.5 grade walnut, carefully selected in terms of colour, density and grain, to give impeccable aesthetics. Balance is further taken into consideration by precisely distributing the weight of all components. The result is a gun which is easy to handle, and swings beautifully while shooting. A wooden butt pad is carefully matched to the stock for a flawless finish.

WELCOME TO IWA

The biggest show on the calendar for the European gun trade, IWA is an essential visit for anyone doing business beyond the UK, whether that be import or export. It’s also a great place to catch up with the UK trade. There’s nothing quite like it in this country.

ÜBERSICHTSPLAN GENERAL PLAN

DAS FACHANGEBOT IN DEN HALLEN PRODUCTS ON DISPLAY IN THE HALLS

HALLEN | HALLS 1, 3A, 3C, 4A, 7, 7A

Schießsportzubehör, Schusswaffen für Jagd, Sport, Sammeln, Munition und Wiederladen für Jagd und Sport, Optik und Elektronik Shooting sports accessories, Firearms for hunting, sport and collecting, ammunition and reloading for hunting and sports shooting, optics and electronics

HALLE | HALL 3

Ziviler und behördlicher Sicherheitsbedarf

Security equipment for civil and o cial agency purposes

HALLE | HALL 4

Bekleidung, Outdoor-Equipment für Jagd, Sport, Angeln und Freizeit Clothing and outdoor equipment for hunting, sport, fishing and leisure time

DAS FACHANGEBOT IN DEN HALLEN PRODUCTS ON DISPLAY IN THE HALLS

HALLEN | HALLS 1, 3A, 3C, 4A, 7, 7A

Schießsportzubehör, Schusswaffen für Jagd, Sport, Sammeln, Munition und Wiederladen für Jagd und Sport, Optik und Elektronik Shooting sports accessories, Firearms for hunting, sport and collecting, ammunition and reloading for hunting and sports shooting, optics and electronics

HALLE | HALL 3

Ziviler und behördlicher Sicherheitsbedarf

Security equipment for civil and o cial agency purposes

HALLE | HALL 4

Bekleidung, Outdoor-Equipment für Jagd, Sport, Angeln und Freizeit Clothing and outdoor equipment for hunting, sport, fishing and leisure time

Jagdzubehör, Geschenkartikel, Outdoor-Equipment, Bogensport Hunting accessories, gifts, outdoor equipment, archery

HALLE | HALL 5

Messer

Knives

Airsoft & Paintball

Brits Abroad

Find your way to all the key UK exhibitors at this year’s IWA Outdoor Classics…

DAS FACHANGEBOT IN DEN HALLEN PRODUCTS ON DISPLAY IN THE

HALLEN | HALLS 1, 3A, 3C, 4A, 7, 7A

Schießsportzubehör, Schusswaffen für Jagd, Sport, Sammeln, Munition und Wiederladen für Jagd und Sport, Optik und Elektronik Shooting sports accessories, Firearms for hunting, sport and collecting, ammunition and reloading for hunting and sports shooting, optics and electronics

HALLE | HALL 3

Ziviler und behördlicher Sicherheitsbedarf Security equipment for civil and o cial agency purposes

HALLE | HALL 4

Bekleidung, Outdoor-Equipment für Jagd, Sport, Angeln und Clothing and outdoor equipment for hunting, sport, fishing and leisure time

Jagdzubehör, Geschenkartikel, Outdoor-Equipment, Bogensport Hunting accessories, gifts, outdoor equipment, archery

HALLE | HALL 5

“The Irish Bar”

Often used as an unofficial clubhouse for visitors and exhibitors from the UK, “The Irish Bar”, as it is always referred to, is in fact called Finnegan’s Harp. It is at 51 Königstrasse, just down from the train station in the centre of Nuremberg. We’ll see you in there most evenings of the show.

SHOT SHOW ROUNDUP

Every year Shot Show produces an eye-watering selection

NEW GUNS!

A22 Takedown in 22LR.

There was a big trend for stowable rigs this year, and Savage seems to have hit all the marks with this version. The stock has two smartly placed storage compartments for stowing accessories and gear. Just pull the bolt back and twist the forend to split the A22 directly in half for easy storage. A simple twist is all that’s needed to lock the two halves back together. The Savage A22 is listed with an MSRP of $479.

Taurus Executive Judge

Taurus added another fan favorite to its Executive line with the new Executive Judge. Like others in the Executive line, the new Judge is hand assembled by gunsmiths and has a refined look, fit and feel. The Altamonte walnut checkered wood grip and handpolished satin finish make this Judge an especially classy blaster. The trigger is fine-tuned, smooth and crisp in both single and double-action. The Executive Judge ships in a TSA approved Pelican case and has an MSRP of $949.

new guns and associated products.

Impulse Mountain Hunter

Early 2023 marks the release of a re-designed straight-pull Impulse big-game rifle, the Impulse Mountain Hunter. In response to customer requests for a lighter rifle that’s easier to tote over long distances in the western backcountry, Savage shaved off some bulk on the earlier Impulse, but retained beloved features like the Acu-Trigger and AccuStock. It’ll be available in nine popular chamberings for big game. SRP: $2,437.

NEW PRODUCTS!

Concealed Carry Leggings

Keltec KSG-410

KelTec entered the .410 game with the all new KSG410. At first glance, one would think it’s a KS-7, because of the smaller profile compared to the KSG. Don’t let the compact size of the KSG-410 fool you, though. The gun still touts double magazine tubes for that classic KSG capacity many of us have come to love. With 2¾-inch shells this shotgun boasts a 14+1 capacity, and a still-solid 10+1 with 3-inch shells. The grip is slimmed down as well as the action which keeps the forend trim and suitable for smaller hands. The KSG-410 will be shipping Q3 of this year with an MSRP of $495.

Bergara Crest

Bergara is now manufacturing its own carbon fibre stocks which can be found on the Crest rifle in the new B-14 squared series of rifles. The Crest comes with a deep-fluted barrel and carries the same subMOA guarantee for which Bergara is known. This gun comes in at only 6.9 pounds, with 20-inch and 22-inch barrel sizes available. The fluted bolt with black inlays adds a sleek and refined dynamic to this already incredible precision rifle. The MSRP for the Crest is $1,999 and it will be available in 6.5 Creedmor, 6.5 PRC, .308 Win, and .308 Win Mag.

Patriot LR Tactical Rifle

The Patriot LR Tactical Rifle line consists of three models: the 6.5 Creedmoor (22-inch barrel), the 6.5 PRC (24-inch barrel), and the .308 Win. (22inch barrel). The stock is user-adjustable for length of pull by the use of three spacers, and the comb/ cheekrest height is user-adjustable up to two inches.

Chiappa Little Badger Take Down Xtreme

The newest addition to the Little Badger series of survival rifles from Chiappa Firearms. A simple knob transforms this rifle into a packable two-piece gun that fits perfectly in its floating, water-resistant tube. Weighing only 2.9 pounds, the Little Badger Take Down Xtreme offers a next-level advantage for shooters and hunters looking to achieve complete versatility packed into a minimalist design.

CVA Cascade XT

The CVA Cascade XT (X-Treme) sports weight-reducing flutes and a radial muzzle break as standard equipment. The 4140 carbon-steel No. 5 taper barrel in Cerakote Graphite Black is the heaviest in the Cascade Series, designed to provide superior accuracy capability. The threaded muzzle will also accept a suppressor. Available calibres are 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win. .450 Bushmaster, 350 Legend, 6.5 PRC, 7mm Rem. Mag., .300 Win. Mag. Unloaded weight 7.5 pounds. SRP: $850.

Ruger LC Carbine

Ruger’s breakout design, the LC Carbine, chambered in 5.7x28mm, may take some retailers by surprise. Space is saved with bolt-over-barrel configuration, and the pistol grip doubles as the magazine well. But its compact utility doesn’t end there. A folding stock and adjustable length of pull make it portable and ready for youth or adult shooters. SRP: $979.

Rounded by Concealment Express’s Concealed Carry Leggings are a comfortable and secure way to carry your firearm. The leggings have concealed pockets in the appendix and 5 o’clock carry positions. They also have two external side pockets to carry your belongings. The material is 20% Spandex and 80% polyester, making these leggings very durable yet functional for everyday carry.

Aim Perfect simulator

Developed by a SWAT operator for law enforcement and hunters, Aim Perfect is a software that turns your computer into a shooting simulator when used with a projector. It can be used with both real guns or simulation guns. You shoot on a paper screen and you can record your own scenarios using a mobile phone or other device. You also have access to multiple shooting games on moving targets. The software records the exact moment of the shot so you can review your accuracy and analyse decision making.

SIG SAUER K320 AXG Knives

of

Here are a few of the more interesting. Not all are suitable for the UK market, to say the least!

Designed by Jim Bruhns, Master Tool Maker and President of Hogue Knives, the K320 AXG is comprised of a 3.5-inch CPM S30V stainless steel blade

NEW AMMO! Hornady 7mm PRC

Remington 360 Buckhammer

Premier Long Range Ammo from Remington

Black Hills Ammunition 10mm Honey Badger

Winchester Big Bore Handgun Hunting Ammo

Browning Maxpoint Deer Load

Winchester 35 Whelen

Hevi Bismuth

Hevi Metal Extreme

THE IM pACT M3

• DUAL REGULATED • UNIQUE QUICK TUNE SYSTEM • REVERSIBLE COCKING LEVER

• MULTIpLE ACCESSORY RAILS (pICATINNY) • MATCH GRADE ADJUSTABLE TRIGGER

• LARGER 72CC pLENUM (FAC MODELS ONLY) • CHANGEABLE CALIBRES

177 /. 22 / .25 / .30 / rrp : £1,844.99

SNI p ER FAC BLACK c al: .22 / .25 / .30 / rrp : £1,905.99 c al: .35 c al rrp : £1,922.99 BRON z E c al: .22 / .25 / .30 / rrp : £1,904.99

£1,923.99

BETTWS HALL GUNROOM

Are you independent, one of a chain, how does that work? Who do you report to?

The gunroom acts as the main reception for when guests arrive at our luxury accommodation to shoot on our six estates. It is independent and forms part of the Bettws Hall brand, stocking the countryside’s leading brands whilst also working in collaboration with James Purdey & Sons.

The one member of staff you couldn’t live without and why…

Every season I have an assistant join me in the gunroom as we are open seven days a week, so I literally couldn’t live without them to help with the long opening hours.

Tell us more about yourself, and why you’re running a gunshop—tell us what your passions are in life…

Four years ago I was approached by the Evans family, the owners of Bettws Hall, to manage the gunroom and realise its potential. As someone with a passion for shooting, game farming and the countryside, as well as delivering the 5-star service, this was a dream opportunity. Very quickly this role developed into my academic passion—marketing—and soon I was selling shooting to the very guests I had been meeting-and-greeting and ensuring their gun needs and requirements were met. I see the gunroom now as the cherry on the cake of the circle of shooting with Bettws Hall. No amount of phone calls and emails in the spring and summer can compare to the personal greeting when the shoot day comes, and the gunroom is central to that.

What has been the most successful product (or area) for you in the past year?

This can be split into two categories. In terms of product, our Schoffel Cableknit 1/4 zip jumpers have been received very well by our guests. Obviously the brand’s reputation for quality is wellknown but the volatile Welsh weather requires the ability to layer up and this product does just that. In addition to this, an area which we have seen grow in prominence is our collaboration with James Purdey & Sons. Now in its second season, we have enjoyed a rapturous response to the ability to take a demo Purdey shotgun out onto our estates on live game to truly see what the gun can do in a real-world setting. I liken it to taking a supercar for a test drive—dawdling at 30mph is no indication. You want to take it to Silverstone and really put it through its paces. In our case, our guests take the Purdeys out to Brigands or Vaynor on a 500 bag and come back impressed and wanting more. It’s a dream relationship for the two brands, and we can’t wait to see how it develops over time.

What was your first gun?

I still own my inherited Lanber 12g, the first gun I ever had. Unfussy and does the job. Plus, being a left-hander, guns that fit are harder to come by.

Who’s your best customer?

I know it’s a cliche, but the best part of my job is our guests. I am incredibly lucky to spend every day over the season welcoming guests into the gunroom and learning about each and every one of them.

Best day ever?

The best days are when the whole, well-oiled process of the gunroom is in full flow when we are at full capacity. We are very lucky to have a great team here who work hard in ensuring the highest service is delivered and you get days where you just take a second to truly appreciate what we do here day in day out for our guests. In terms of the best day, it has to be when we made our first Purdey deal. A lot of hard work and planning had gone into setting up our collaboration and it was so exciting when the process did exactly what it was installed to do.

What’s the first thing you put down when ordering stock?

Something new. We have our best-sellers and our essential items but I think it is important to keep a number of new and different items. We have a very good portfolio of international guests who love memorabilia, so it is always fun to have extravagant items to accompany the usual lines in the gunroom.

What’s your funniest or most memorable story?

A few seasons ago we had a client fly in to Bettws to

shoot as part of a team he was invited onto. Upon arrival he realised he had forgotten everything. Guns, cartridges, clothing… the lot. Needless to say, he enjoyed a thorough shopping trip through the gunroom and may have been one of the biggest single-day spenders we̓ve ever had. Of course there are plenty of stories over the seasons where guests wake up to rain and realise they have not packed waterproofs.

What do you anticipate will be the biggest trends for the next year?

I think there will be several. Obviously, we will see the industry trying more non-lead shot and therefore trying guns proofed for steel, etc. I am also seeing a continual decline in the number of side-by-side guns coming through the doors, which is only going to continue. Outside of guns, I am also seeing a massive move away from traditional tweed clothing and a preference for the more comfortable technical materials. It is lovely to see a full houndstooth four-piece shooting attire but the proof is in the pudding—technical clothing is just more comfortable and performs better in all weathers, good or bad.

Purdey’s new clothing line features a lot of technical items and many of the countryside brands offer similar, with their range of ‘traditional’ shooting attires shrinking like a pair of wool breeks in the wash.

Any other interesting facts about the business?

Renowned for world-class sporting, we are also

Europe’s leading hatchery, own the patent for a revolutionary rearing system, offer luxury holiday accommodation, are a major Kawasaki ATV dealership, have an online sporting shop, and we own the local tavern in Bettws (which comes in handy after work!). Our family-run company truly is a hugely diverse operation across a multitude of channels, all founded by Gwyn and Ann Evans over 30 years ago on the very farm where the gunroom, and our luxury lodges, can be found to this day. We also have a very strong social media presence, with so much good content to promote to our audience and the wider market. We have even had a couple of TikTok videos go viral to over four million views! #bettwshall

What for you is the best thing about working in the gunroom?

Listening to shoot clients throughout the off-season talking excitedly about the up-coming season and a trip to Bettws Hall, the best thing about the gunroom is that this is the start of the trip they have spent all year dreaming of. And I am so proud to be part of that.

Are people surprised when you tell them you run a gunroom?

Not really. The usual response is, “Yes, I can see you doing that.” GTN GTN

For this month’s Store of the Month we visit the famous Bettws Hall Pheasant and Partridge Shoot outside Newtown, Powys, and speak to gunroom manager Marc Brown

“ As someone with a passion for shooting and the countryside, this was a dream opportunity ”

Marc Brown will be there to greet you when you arrive at Bettws Hall

The gunroom also serves as the main reception area for Bettws Hall

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LEADING THE CHARGE

Mat Manning catches up with John Rothery Wholesale’s managing director Sean O’Driscoll, the man tasked with sustaining the business’s remarkable momentum

MM Can you give us a brief history of John Rothery Wholesale?

SO The business can be traced back to John Rothery & Co Ltd, a network of four retail gun shops established by John Rothery in Portsmouth, Egham, London, and Stirling in Scotland, with a fifth retail shop later added in Leeds.

In 1971, John Rothery purchased the wholesale operation, Singlepoint, initially to supply their five retail shops and expand retail presence by twenty more. However, the company decided to close its retail stores and focus solely on the wholesale business. Over the following years, John Rothery Wholesale added numerous brands to its portfolio, including MTM Case-Gard, Birchwood Casey, and Umarex, and acquired key assets such as Parker-Hale Ltd and the intellectual rights to the Wasp Pellets brand.

Tragically, John Rothery passed away in 2011, but his legacy lives on through the company, which continues to uphold his motto of “we eat by the courtesy of our customers”.

Over the years, headquarters have been relocated to adapt to the needs of the business and its customers. In 2012, the company moved into Rothery House—a 32,000-square-foot warehouse and office building procured by former managing director Bob Rothery—in Waterlooville near Portsmouth, and remains there to this day.

In 2018, the John Rothery Wholesale company was awarded the exclusive Umarex airgun agency for the UK, and I joined the team as an area sales representative for the south of England. I brought over 20 years of experience in the gun trade, having previously served as managing director of David Hall Publishing, a company specialising in trade and consumer magazines for the shooting, fishing and outdoor industries. In 2020, I was made managing director of John Rothery Wholesale with a mandate to drive growth and broaden the company’s product range.

MM Can you tell us about some of the key airgun (and airgun accessory) brands you deal with?

SO Umarex is a critical agency for airguns, and we’re thrilled to have recently been granted exclusive distribution rights for Feinwerkbau; a German manufacturer of airguns geared towards competitive ISSF shooting events. Additionally, we have a long-standing partnership with the renowned H&N pellet brand and UK brand Hills pumps and compressors, which also contribute significantly to our revenue. And of course, we have our own brand, Bisley, which covers everything from airgun pellets to cylinders and cleaning oils.

MM What have been the most successful airgunrelated products for you over recent years?

SO The Walther RM8 series of air rifles have been a top-performing product for the company, with the Ultra Compact model beating all previous records of any air rifle sold by the company. The Reign Mark 2 has also exceeded expectations in sales. On the pistol side, the Glock Gen 4 and Dual Ammo have proven to be popular alongside well-known favourites like the Beretta, Walther CP88, and PPQ.

now

On the accessories side, the Hills compressor has been a popular choice. I think it’s due to the added reassurance of local production and exceptional after-sales service in the rare case of any issues.

MM What are your top priorities when it comes to delivering a positive customer experience?

SO I am thrilled to be part of a company so highly regarded for its exceptional customer service. Making sure we keep up this reputation is my top priority. Without our retailers, we wouldn’t have a business, so it’s important for everyone on the team to understand this. And that’s why every customer gets their own account man-

ager—someone who builds a real connection with them. We see ourselves as the stockroom for our retailers and encourage them to place regular, smaller orders with us. And here’s the best part: if you order before 3pm from Monday to Friday, you’ll get your delivery the very next business day.

MM John Rothery Wholesale has a talent for identifying brands and products that go down well with British shooters. What do you look for when choosing new lines?

SO There’s no secret to this, really. We’re always on the hunt for new products and opportunities in the market. Sure, you can find a lot of what

we offer from other suppliers, but what sets us apart is our exceptional service. We aim to keep a stock of 90 per cent of our products at all times, and we deliver the next working day, which is highly valued by our retailers. Cheap prices aren’t everything if you can’t get the goods to your customers on time.

MM What have been the biggest challenges to the business in the past year and what changes have you made to work around them?

SO Last year proved to be a tough follow-up to two great years. Covid-19 brought a boost to businesses in the outdoor market, including us. But the question was how to keep that momentum going? I hear lots of stories of too much stock being held by retailers and wholesalers/distributors. And manufacturers have increased production, wanting to deliver earlier. But retailers didn’t always have the demand to match the supply. The situation wasn’t made any easier by confusing decisions from customs officers that made it difficult for UK companies to import and export. On top of all that, unpredictable customs and freight charges really added to the complexity of the situation.

To overcome these challenges, we’re taking some major steps forward. We’re working closely with our manufacturers to align supply with demand. We’re keeping a close eye on the customs and freight charges to ensure we’re in compliance and minimise costs. And of course, we’re focusing on building stronger relationships with our retailers to support them and help them navigate these challenges and achieve success. We believe that by working hand-in-hand with our retailers and suppliers, we can overcome these obstacles and keep growing our business.

MM Can you give us any hints about new airgunrelated products we may see coming through and any future ambitions for the business?

SO In early 2022, we were given the opportunity to distribute Feinwerkbau airguns and Gehmann accessories for the competitive market. We’re eager to dive into this new area and see what potential it holds.

Umarex is always pushing the boundaries and coming up with new products, and its design and production team has a lot in store. I can’t reveal too much about their plans, but I’m grateful to be part of a company that never stops moving forward and innovating.

I’m excited to be leading the charge here and working towards our growth plan. When I became the managing director, I set a ten-year plan that the entire team is fully committed to following. For a company that’s been around for over 50 years, it’s really exciting that there’s still so much room for us to grow.

Lesley Bishop, our superb general manager, has been with the company for over 20 years. She’s seen it all and done it all, working in every department over the years. It’s invaluable to have someone like her on the team.

Really, all we have to do is keep doing what we’re already doing well. We have the right products that retailers want, we sell them, we offer amazing service; we just need to keep doing more of the same. GTN GTN

“ I am thrilled to be part of a company so highly regarded for its exceptional customer service ”

Sean O'Driscoll joined John Rothery in 2018 and is

managing director

PELLET SPRAYERS EVERYWHERE

Diggory Hadoke eschews the big three and heads off-piste this month, where he discovers oodles of lovely shotguns for sale. He also has a word or two to share on lead ammunition

A quick word search this month for ‘shotgun’ revealed items for sale at Holts, Ashley Waller, Woolley & Wallis, Stroud Auctions, Wilson55 Auctioneers, Swan Fine Art, Special Auction Services, Cadmore Auctions, Rogers Jones & Co and Taylor’s Auction Rooms.

It’s easy and forgivable to overlook some of the smaller players and get overly focussed on the ‘big three’: Holts, Bonhams and Gavin Gardiner. However, decent guns do sell elsewhere in fair quantities.

Stroud Auctions and Wilson55 Auctioneers, in particular, had a good representation of modern firearms, shotguns and antique pieces, all nicely photographed and described online.

Some stand-out examples were a high-quality Bonehill 12-bore boxlock ejector, well-restored and looking in good order, with 30in Damascus barrels and finely carved and chequered side panels. Estimated at £60-£100, if it is a shooter (not horribly thin in the barrel walls) it would be a very good buy. At the other end of the scale, they had a Beretta A303 semi-auto 12-bore. Mike Yardley swears by these and has used one for decades. At £40-£80 it represented quality and reliability at a fraction of the cost of a new Turkish plastic-stocked equivalent.

Wilson55 had some interesting names hidden amongst the more prosaic ones. A single 8-bore of quality by E.M. Reilly, estimated at £1,400-£2,000 caught my eye, as did a single 4-bore by Watson Bros. It’s a buyer’s market for these big-bore wildfowling pieces at the moment and I thought the estimates a little strong.

A bit of digging suggested the Reilly was made for Sir Henry Spencer Morton Havelock-Allan of Blackwell Hall, Darlington. Several lots of 8-bore ammunition and cases also should prove useful to wild-fowlers still using these old beasts on the marsh, dwindling though their numbers are.

On the subject of 8-bores, Holts have a remarkably original and beautiful percussion single barrel by Birkett & Allen of Birmingham listed in their March sale catalogue. Unlike most 8-bores, this is a live pigeon gun, circa 1865. Modestly listed at £1,000-£1,500 it is a rarely found example of a quality gun of the period in such pristine condition.

The panic about lead shot and its imminent demise has subsided somewhat and guns not suited to steel shot are again trading quite well, though prices are still favouring the buyer, if we look at them from a historical perspective.

Slinging non lead

My own experiments with BioAmmo Blue this season have been rather erratic. In some guns it has performed adequately at moderate driven game ranges, while in others it has done less well. One cylinderbore hammer gun I have was especially ineffective when loaded with BioAmmo.

I stood on one drive and hit every one of half a dozen pheasants that flew over me. Not one dropped, much to the disapproval of Vesper, my long suffering Hungarian vizsla. She made a point of bringing me a bird my neighbour had shot, to remind me of our purpose for being out.

I shall continue to experiment at the pattern plate with this and other lead alternatives to get some more scientific data, but the anecdotal results I’m fielding so far are mixed. One London maker told

me of a customer’s damaged vintage sidelock with scratched barrels, claimed to be due to BioAmmo Blue—but I cannot verify that as the cause, being three people removed from the trigger pull.

If BioAmmo proves sufficiently effective, it will be a big plus for shooters and for those who sell them old British guns. It is significantly cheaper than bismuth. So far, the jury is still out.

As of now, like Westley Richards, I’m still advocating bismuth as the best alternative. I have read a few articles and have seen the odd YouTube film of different pundits declaring various older (and even

closed-cup wad? The honest answer is that we don’t have sufficient evidence.

The trade will continue to argue about it and the public will continue to worry about it. Meanwhile, talk in the background indicates the push for leadfree shot may have over-run its realistic implementation timetable and could be pushed back.

Academic

That may be academic to many shooters. They are already being asked (actually instructed) not to use lead shot by commercial shoots who cannot sell lead-shot game. For them, the lead ban is here already. I reiterate, the only fail-safe advice for these people would be to use bismuth or buy a steel shot proof gun.

Actually, a third option is to buy a gun that is inconsequential to you in value, so if the barrels do get scored, you just take it on the chin. That is why many of us are selling sleeved guns and Webley Model 700s so well lately.

quite worn) English guns as ‘safe for standard steel’, but I suspect they are mistakenly offering the public certainty when it is too soon to do so.

Dare I mention, it is also in the interests of many in the business to reassure buyers that vintage guns are suited to standard steel loads as long as they have open chokes (1/4 choke constriction or less). I maintain that the data is not yet there to make this claim with any degree of certainty.

There are too many variables, from the non-concentric bore and wall thickness issues of many old guns, that have been honed to remove pits, to the variety of bore sizes the Victorians used in their shotgun manufacture. A 12-bore very frequently does not measure the nominal .729in, it is frequently up to 20 thou’ narrower or 20 thou’ wider. How does that affect the passage of a steel shot column in a

I shot with Simon Reinhold of Holts this season. He has bought a very nice, but inexpensive, Damascus-barrelled hammer gun to use in experiments with steel shot. So far, he tells me it has performed well and is showing no signs of damage. I’ll re-visit his results in two seasons’ time and see if there are any developments.

My final mission for the month is to visit Wilson55 Auctions to view the sale and especially to check out the Charles Lancaster rhino horn stocked 12-bore hammer gun. The price has dropped from £15,000-£20,000, as estimated three months ago, to £7,000-£10,000 this time around. My feeling is that is worth about £5,000 in the current market but it is unique and historically interesting and looks in good condition. I have to say I’m tempted and will be watching with interest. GTN GTN

“ It’s easy to overlook some of the smaller players and get overly focussed on the ‘big three’ ”

(Top) A single 8-bore by E.M. Reilly, estimated at £1,400£2,000, (bottom) a Bonehill 12-bore boxlock ejector estimated at £60-£100, both at Wilson 55

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INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION?

Stuart Farr recommends a cost-effective way of promoting your brand through sponsorship, but also warns of the pitfalls if it is not done properly

AS the famous Monty Python phrase goes: What did the Romans ever do for us? Roads, aqueducts, plumbing and sanitation, irrigation, public health and order and, of course, wine. Over centuries these benefits have become some of the cornerstones of our civilisation—and they are all examples of international influences by one country over another.

Domestically, we have tied ourselves in knots. The levelling-up “war” between the north and south of England continues to rage, often in a symbolic fashion. Woe betide any prime minister, therefore, who thinks he can leave his southerly domains and travel north without a seatbelt. Be warned: the hardy Lancashire police will be waiting for you, mate, ticket book in hand, to demonstrate that the same laws apply everywhere in England.

However, even with domestic issues such as levelling-up, there are now calls for international solutions to similar issues to be adopted. Germany, for instance, is known for having established a legal framework and investing billions to remedy the huge economic divide between West and East created by the division of the country after the war. Seemingly, the German policy worked—potentially another positive international influence we could learn from here in Blighty. It is perhaps little wonder that Germany hosts the highly regarded IWA Outdoor Classic.

I fear the regrettable consequence of Brexit is that it has left us in need of international help. And yet, it is help we can ill afford. To our credit, in some industry quarters, we have tried to make a fist of things. While I am not sure our proud boast of leading the world on climate change is entirely justified, for instance, I think the point to be made is that someone has to lead, so why not stick our hand up and volunteer for the job. However, in order to recover to where we were, we need to be doing a lot more volunteering. Brexit left us with a hand tied behind our back, and so cost-effective ways to promote ourselves on an international stage need to be explored.

Exposure and recognition

Sponsorship is a good way to gain international exposure and recognition, at a lower cost than many other forms of direct marketing or business development. It also performs a valuable public role by actively encouraging excellence and fostering respected international relations.

Many different types of entities in the gun trade sponsor people, teams or events. Without that support, many good things would never be seen, let alone applauded. Thankfully too, it is much more prevalent than it once was. As a young adult, I recall that individual sponsorship was virtually impossible to come by unless you were already a recognised name or “asset”. This meant that before the valuable benefit of sponsorship could be attained, you first had to pay your own way and climb the ladder to success alone. There was little or no interest in investing in “potential”. Sponsors required immediate and short-term reward. I am not looking to be critical. That̓s just how commercial decisions were made at that time.

But though sponsorship offers large potential gains, on either a domestic or international stage, it is not without risk. I have seen many promising sponsorship deals break down irretrievably, largely because of a lack of clarity regarding expectations on both sides. In other cases, the behaviour of one party has led to all manner of problems that the other simply could not tolerate. Sponsorships, like many other forms of contract, are based on mutual trust and confidence. The benefactor is promising to provide something, and that often involves entrusting the beneficiary with its intellectual property, good name and reputation.

Sponsorship agreements are, in my view, essential. One could argue that modest sponsorships do not justify one of these, and I have seen instances where a sponsorship arrangement has been created without committing the deal to writing beyond an exchange of emails. All I would say is this: the fact that the deteriorating relationship was eventually referred to me for legal advice only served to highlight the maxim that hindsight can be a wonderful thing. Even the smallest sponsorship deals going wrong can result in disproportionate levels of damage.

The key to forming a good and long-lasting sponsorship arrangement is having a document which clearly sets out the expectations on both sides. The person or entity providing the support needs to be precise in terms of what they are willing to pro-

vide, for what purpose and when. This could be in the form of cash contributions (for expenses or upkeep generally), human or administrative resource, product(s), services or permissions to use the benefactor’s intellectual property.

In return, the benefactor should be certain as to what they require in return. This aspect is usually driven by the desire for business development opportunities and publicity (whether at designated times or in particular forms). The agreement might require commitments by the beneficiary to display logos on clothing or vehicles, to attend press conferences and interviews and to mention the benefactor specifically or engage in photo shoots or co-operate with social media posts.

Exclusivity

Exclusivity can also be a topical issue. Some sponsors do not wish to see their name mixed with other sponsors who are competitors, or even non-competing entities which it does not hold in high regard. As such, in exchange for their sponsorship they may insist on exclusivity, so that other brands are unable to crash their parade. This is more or less fair game, although bargaining position does play its part. Where substantial sponsorship deals are being formed, the level of support required may prevent exclusivity being offered because of the need to pull in several income streams at once.

Sponsorship can be great, until someone turns out to be a very naughty boy

Perhaps most importantly, reputational risk is an essential aspect to cover off. If one party misbehaves, which causes reputational damage to the other, having the right termination clauses can draw a line under matters relatively quickly. I must stress, however, these cut both ways. It is all too easy to assume the benefactor will be the one deciding to pull support when the beneficiary misbehaves in some way. That is not always the case. Even sponsors occasionally cause adverse publicity or do unethical things from time to time. The beneficiary may equally wish to distance themselves to avoid damage to their own reputation. Termination clauses are often, but not always, mutual.

Finally—and I think this is important in a shooting context—a sponsor should be mindful of the other influencers on beneficiaries and the potential impact of third parties. This is especially needed where sponsorship is provided in the form of product (such as a gun for competition use). An example could be a beneficiary who switches their coach/instructor midway through their sponsorship deal in the belief a change will lead to improved performance. A new arrival might instigate requests for expensive adjustments to product specifications which can ultimately push up the time, cost and effort expended on the relationship. Clarity as to who bears the incidental costs of these adjustments can either dissuade such demands altogether, make them more manageable or even cause the parties to conclude they are not for each other. Better to anticipate situations such as these and avoid a potentially embarrassing outcome when a request for “more” is met with polite refusal. After all, look at the reputational harm which can flow simply by not wearing a seatbelt as you cross into Lancashire! GTN GTN

“ The key to forming a good arrangement is having a document that sets out expectations ”

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BEST BUYS

Reximex Pretensis

Mat Manning finds the Reximex Pretensis to be more than just a handsome PCP at a sensible price

As someone who has reviewed a heck of a lot of airguns, I have learned to manage my expectations when testing kit with a lower than typical price tag—it’s only fair because a low-cost airgun is hardly going to compete with one costing several times as much. There are exceptions to the rule, though, and the subject of this review is one of them. In its walnut stock guise, the Reximex Pretensis from Range Right retails at £525, and although it would be ridiculous to suggest that it’s in quite the same league as a two-grand supergun, this Turkish PCP punches miles above its weight—not just in terms of performance, it̓s a very handsome piece of kit, too. In fact, I might go as far as saying that I think it’s the nicest looking sub-£600 airgun on the market right now.

I found the Reximex Pretensis an absolute pleasure to shoot, both on the range and in the field. It is nicely balanced, has a great cocking action and a crisp, predictable trigger. Best of all, it is capable of an impressive level of accuracy. The design of its stock, and the ability to adjust the cheekpiece up and down, make it comfortable to shoot from virtually all stances, from prone to standing.

Of course, shooting from the support of a bench irons out the worst of the inevitable human wobbles, and that was when the Pretensis showed its true potential. I ran a variety of pellets through the test gun, and it shot pretty well with all, but showed a slight preference for Air Arms Diabolo Field.

Shooting with these in windless conditions, ragged single-hole groups soon became an expectation at 30m. Even at 40m, groups were still generally loose one-holers—even with the occasional stray pellet, most could still be covered by a 2p coin. This airgun certainly has the power and accuracy to tackle small pests over sensible sub-12 ranges.

The Reximex Pretensis has managed to impress

me from the outset. As already explained, I wanted to manage my expectations when I saw its retail price, but I was immediately taken with its handsome looks, which will certainly add to the pride of ownership felt by anyone who chooses to buy one. Most importantly, though, its looks are more than matched by its features and performance, which certainly exceed its asking price.

Ceská zbrojovka 512 .22 rimfire

Looking for a dependable semi-automatic for pest control? Look no further, says

When it comes to rimfires, CZ (Ceská zbrojo vka) has designed, built and supplied the world with pretty much every conceivable bolt-action model available. I tend to forget, however, that it actually produces a rather good semi-automat ic in the guise of the 512 model, which combines CZ’s legendary accuracy with its reliable repeat ing-action design.

This makes it a real contender for those wanting a fast second or third shot when lamping rabbits or squirrel drey shooting. A lot of semis are plagued with stoppages or feed problems but CZ seems to have ironed these out, making this semi-auto a very viable pest control tool. CZ has also worked on its looks—older models were not the most at tractive guns. While there is a Tactical version, the rifle on test is the Sporter model, which is offered in .22LR and .22WMR.

Conclusion

CZ is not called ‘king of rimfires’ for nothing; it knows what works and what doesn’t. We had one hang-up in the magazine from a dodgy bul let, but otherwise total reliability, even with the slower subsonics. Accuracy was good for a semi, as was the trigger, although a little heavy, and magazines are cheap. This gun is really worth a look.

NEED TO KNOW

n MANUFACTURER: Reximex, Turkey

n MODEL: Pretensis (walnut)

n TYPE: Multi-shot PCP

n STOCK TYPE : Walnut sporter

NEED TO KNOW

n

Cosmi Titanium

This Italian beauty is one of the most instinctive guns you’ll ever hold, writes Jonny Carter

The gun reviewed here is my own gun, a 12bore Titanium model, but I have been lucky enough to shoot five different iterations of the Cosmi semi-automatic, each of which gave a similar heart flutter. For those unfamiliar with the brand, let me introduce it.

The company was founded by Rodolfo Cosmi, who started making the first of these guns

in 1890. Since 1936, the company has been based in a factory on the seafront in Ancona, four hours south of where just about every other Italian gun is made, Brescia. The gun itself is utterly unique. It is a break-open seven-shot semi-automatic built almost entirely by hand. The gun opens with a top lever, just like your over-and-under, to reveal the most interesting internal actions you will see.

Jonny

In the UK, the Cosmi is a tough sell. Semi-automatics are not yet accepted at pheasant shoots, and the gun is perhaps a bit too posh for pigeon shooting; it’s not really a clay gun and true walkedup hunting is not readily available. However, I can assure you that if you owned one, you would find a use for it, even if it is just admiring its beauty on a daily basis.

JTS Airacuda Max

Dave Barham reveals a stunning new PCP rifle that ticks all the right boxes for less than £550

The guys at The Shooting Party (TSP) have just started importing this new rifle, which is a collaboration between American manufacturer JTS and their UK partners, Lee Enfield. It’s sleek, extremely well-priced and performs faultlessly.

About JTS

Based in Katy, Texas, JTS Airguns was born from an idea among a group of airgun enthusiasts who wanted to take airguns to a new level. Their passion, expertise and experiences have all played a huge role in the creation of this high quality, competitively priced airgun. A rather unique collaboration with Lee Enfield Guns Ltd., here in the UK, has seen them tweak the design to suit the UK market, introducing a .177 model to complement the existing .22 version.

All-Metal Mag’s

Before I get into the nitty gritty with this new rifle, I’ll kick off with the supplied mag’s. No expense has been spared here, and you get two rotary mag’s supplied along with a single-shot tray. Perhaps the biggest selling point as far as the mag’s are concerned is their all-metal construction. These things are solid, and they perform extremely well.

Conclusion

I won’t bore you with a picture of a target at 30 metres. There’s no point. Let’s just say that this rifle is accurate—extremely accurate—and consistent. I was punching 6mm groups from the get go, with very little effort, even when using the 13.9 QYS Magnums that TSP supplied.

I did try my favourite QYS Streamlined ‘heavies’ with similar results, as well as some JSB and Air package for just £729. field hunting.

NEED TO KNOW

new means serious business!

Created through a three year process of meticulous planning, careful crafting and brutal testing. With a completely re-engineered turret system, digital illumination control and a magnification range of 6-36x, we’ve raised the bar governing what a flagship should be and placed the Theos firmly on the throne. As with all our riflescopes, we’ve introduced strict quality control measures to ensure perfect operation under testing conditions. And if something should go wrong...Our Platinum Lifetime Warranty has you covered!

A YEAR IN PERSPECTIVE

Big gains, some missed opportunities and an increase in affordability are the take homes from the game market this season, says the head of British Game Assurance Liam Stokes

THE build up to the 2022/23 season was one of anxiety and nervousness across the game meat sector the third such season we have experienced. A nexus of lead, bird flu and soaring costs combined to threaten a disastrous period of low supply and high prices. We now have the market data to unpick precisely what has happened over the past five months, and the upshot appears to be that it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as it could have been, but that there is still significant room for improvement.

Perhaps the clearest signal, with the potential to cause the most enduring impact, was the difficulty in sourcing lead-free game experienced by many of the major retailers. It is increasingly looking like Christmas 2022 was a missed opportunity, as supermarkets report demand for lead-free birds outstripping supply throughout the crucial period from 30th November up until New Year̓s Eve.

Various factors resulted in the transition from lead slowing in the run-up to last season. The members of the National Game Dealers Association had announced back in 2021 that they would not accept a lead-shot bird on any of their premises from August 2022 onwards. By the time the 2022/23 season dawned, almost all had reversed the policy.

Some of that reversal was driven by demand; some by supply. As recorded in my last column, one of the stranger impacts of bird flu was the raging appetite for British game birds in Europe, to replace the decimated population of farmed ducks and geese. This market was happy to swallow lead-shot game. At the same time, the potential supply of leadfree birds slowly declined, as the ability to source non-lead ammunition proved more difficult than expected and shoots discovered their lead-shot game would be collected after all.

Empty shelves

It now seems that the slowing of the transition did indeed result in empty shelves, with insufficient lead-free birds available to meet the festive demand. Dealers are beginning to fret that unless the trend reverses and more shoots opt into lead-free ammo next season, supplying the major retailers is going to become even more challenging in 2023. Lost shelf space in supermarkets is not at all easy to win back, and whatever one might think of supermarkets, the reality is the volumes of game that they move are not easily placed elsewhere.

A further blow to Christmas takings was registered online, where profits took a hit as delivery

Of course, the impact of poor delivery services was not unique to game. The trouble is that the consumer doesn’t necessarily know that.

Battling poor delivery services was one challenge game shared with the wider food world over the winter; raging overheads was another. Processing costs led to game increasing in price wherever it was found, both on menus and shop shelves. Yet perhaps surprisingly, the price increase we recorded in the game market outperformed the record levels of food inflation seen across the economy.

Food in the shops was up 13.3% on the previous Christmas. BGA has been working with Kantar for a couple of years now to generate the first food-indus-

product’s price is matched to the value of something else, which would explain the additional inflation seen in the cost of game in hospitality. So, for example, game is seen as a more premium option than chicken, so a restaurant might stick a couple of quid on the price of a game-based meal to keep it that little bit more expensive than a chicken-based meal.

Cost crisis

Indexing is not the whole story, however. Game is undoubtedly costing more to the retailers, because game processing has been subject to the same cost crisis as the rest of the food sector. On average, dealers are seeing electricity costs go up 315% year on year, fuel up 40%, wage bills up 12.5%, packaging costs up 45-50%, among many other soaring expenses. The fact the cost of game increased at a slower rate than food in general reflects a reticence to pass these costs on to the consumer—a decision that is of benefit to all of us who want to see game lose its elitist connotations.

services fell apart under the pressure of the Royal Mail strikes. From our own research, it seems that up to 40% of online food deliveries went awry, either arriving in poor condition or not arriving at all. I am sure almost every reader experienced some sort of postal delay during December. I was receiving Christmas cards in mid January.

These delays are devastating for online food retailers, who are called upon to issue refunds or resend orders, eating into profits at the time of year that is supposed to sustain the business through the leaner months. And of course, much like the empty supermarket shelves, the risk is that these customers opt for something other than game next season.

try standard data on game meat, and that data suggests that in the same time frame game experienced a much more muted 4.55% increase.

In hospitality, food inflation had reached a staggering 24% at the end of December 2022, with the added costs of catering staff and powering a restaurant layered on top of the stratospheric cost of food and materials. Figures for game in hospitality are a little harder to calculate, but from conversations with the outlets we work with, we estimate that game prices rose by 10-15% on restaurant menus across the country.

Some of the increase in the price being charged for game can be attributed to price indexing, in which a

Within these various market signals there are certain clues as to what should be the way forward for the game meat market. We need improved marketing and coordination to diversify and ensure that we don’t see empty shelves again, and we need strides towards a larger lead-free meat supply. We need to drive down the causes of inefficiency in the supply chain, such as poor game meat handling and refrigeration, which drive up overheads. Small amounts of money, in certain locations, started changing hands for shot game last season. If we can crack these inefficiencies and diversify the market, there’s no reason why we can’t continue to drive value for game back through the supply chain, whilst growing the availability and affordability of game to the British public. GTN GTN

“ We estimate that game prices rose by 10-15% on restaurant menus across the country ”

New standards have been set... Offering interchangeable barrels for quick and easy caliber change. Plus a revolutionary innovation with an extremely durable anti-corrosion finish on metal parts that currently has no equal on the market.

The perfect combination of ergonomics and elegance

• Thumbhole stock made from high-strength, grey-brown laminated wood

• Advanced anti-corrosion finish on metal parts that fights against rust

• Cold hammer forged barrel • Threaded 1/2 x 20 UNF

CZ 457 sTaiNLEss CAMO RRP: £655.99

CZ 457 syNTHETic RRP: £545.99

RIFLE REGIMENT

A round-up of the latest, most interesting and saleable rifles on offer at the moment

Fierce CT Rage

Designed and built in collaboration with competition shooters, the AT-X boasts the same battle-proven action and other key components of our AX and AT sniper rifles, mounted in a sleek, low-profile chassis. The heavy barrel is set low for stability and visibility of the field of fire, the magazine aperture has a large cut-out on the left-hand side for rapid reload, and the rifle features a new Competition trigger. The modular design allows a base rifle to be user-configured and reconfigured to achieve the ideal system for the situation. Competitively priced, we think you’ll agree we’re on to a winner. RRP: £4,726 Sporting Services 01342 716427 sales@sportingservices.co.uk

Christensen Arms Ranger 22

The Ranger 22 brings a rimfire rifle back to the Christensen Arms lineup • Aluminum receiver with a steel locking lug insert • Christensen Arms carbon fiber tension barrel, and a carbon fiber composite rimfire stock • Standard sling studs • 0-MOA Picatinny rail • Match-grade Rem 700 style trigger • Starts at 5.1 lbs • Christensen Arms Sub-MOA at 50 Yards

Guarantee • 18 inch Carbon Fiber Barrel, with a Black Anodised action and receiver • Carbon Composite Rimfire stock in Tan with Black webbing / Black with Gray webbing. 22 LR. RRP: £1,199.99 Highland Outdoors 0345 099 0252 sales@highlandoutdoors.co.uk

Franchi Horizon

The updated Franchi Horizon rifle benefits from the same excellent design and quality but with a couple of new features. The rifle now has a detachable magazine and a fluted bolt, still all backed by a 7-year warranty. The smooth 3 locking lug bolt delivers faultless feeding. The fluted bolt reduces weight but also contributes to the aesthetics. And with the same ergonomic synthetic stock and blue barrel, this is a tough yet attractive rifle. All tested to prove they perform to under 1 MOA of accuracy. Available in .243, .270, .308, .223 and 6.5 Creedmoor. RRP: From £2,050 GMK 01489 579999 gmk.co.uk

Christensen

Mesa

Another rifle now easily available thanks to Highland’s new deal with Christensen, this is a premium lightweight hunting rifle at an accessible price. It features a ‘seamless’ removable radial muzzle brake and a sporter carbon fibre composite gunstock. Select chamberings are available in a left-handed configuration. Burnt bronze cerakote carrel, action and receiver. In black with grey webbing, or green with black and tan.

RRP: £1,999.99

Highland Outdoors 0345 099 0252 sales@highlandoutdoors.co.uk

Haenel Jaeger NXT

With more speed when cocking and repeating than a conventional boltaction rifle, the Jaeger NXT is also robust, offers more safety features, and is based on sustainability. It comes in two stock options, standard and Monte Carlo, made from a lightweight FSC-certified durable wood compound from light birch. All plastic components are made from a composite material of cellulose and all-natural tree resins, the quality and finishes are equivalent to conventional plastics, only without petroleum. And the barrel has been optimised for lead-free ammunition.

RRP: from £2,010.24

Viking 01423 780 810 (Ext 1) info@vikingarms.com

Ruger 10/22

Introduced in 1964, the Ruger 10/22 range is constantly evolving. The introduction of the Ruger Custom Shop Competition rifles has seen the range expand, so now there’s a 10/22 for everyone, starting with the 10/22 carbine plinker and the super convenient Take-Down, right through to the incredibly accurate, competition-ready Ruger Custom Shop rifles. The 10/22 is totally customisable with hundreds of thirdparty upgrades ranging from stocks, barrels, triggers and more—the latest being the amazing Trek-22 stock from Desert Tech, which is available now. RRP: From £479.52

Viking 01423 780 810 (Ext 1) info@vikingarms.com

The Lithgow Arms LA102 CrossOver

The LA102 maintains the military, form-following-function style of the LA101 rifle with reinforced polymer stock, broad flat fore end and Cerakote treated barrel and receiver. Accuracy, now synonymous with the Lithgow Arms brand, is assured by the floated, choked hammer forged barrels with semi-match chambers and three-lug lock-up bolts. The new, three lever style trigger module fitted to the LA102 is adjustable for weight, sear engagement and overdraw. Black Polymer £1,274.99 SRP, Brown Laminate £1,434.99 SRP. Highland Outdoors 0345 099 0252 sales@highlandoutdoors.co.uk

Benelli Lupo

The synthetic stock features the Progressive Comfort recoil reduction system, delivering maximum stability. The AirTouch, non slip finish ensures outstanding grip in all weather conditions. The Crio free floating barrel is tested to achieve sub MOA accuracy. Furthermore, Benelli’s BE.S.T Surface treatment which has been applied to the barrel, bolt and receiver, ensures the rifle is totally durable, resistant to scratches and corrosion, while also enhancing the overall look of the gun.

RRP: from £1,700 GMK 01489 579999 gmk.co.uk

Savage B Series Synthetic Varmint

Meet a bolt-action rimfire built for the modern age and for the shooter’s body. The B series FV (Synthetic Varmint) uses an ergonomically designed stock, higher comb, top tang safety and target style, vertical pistol grip to allow shooters to hold the rifle in a more natural position that puts less pressure on the wrist. Its heavy, button-rifled barrel is suppressor ready and fed by a 10-round rotary magazine. The adjustable AccuTrigger gets the most accuracy from the precision platform. The perfect step up from an air rifle? RRP: from £450 Edgar Brothers 01625 613177 edgarbrothers.com

Market Opportunities: Rifles

CZ 457 Synthetic

Built for the harshest of weather conditions. All metal parts come with anti-corrosion surface treatment combined with an extremely durable, ergonomic polymer stock. Equipped with a cold-forged barrel, it can be easily swapped to other barrel lengths, profiles and chamberings (like all CZ 457 variants). A hardy, accurate rifle, the Synthetic weighs just 2.5 kg and is ideal for fitting a suppressor to its ½ x 20 UNF threaded muzzle. Available in 20-inch barrel (.22 LR, .17 HMR or .22 WMR), 16-inch barrel (.22 LR only) RRPs: £545.99, £917.99 from Sportsman Gun Centre 01392 354870 trade@sportsmanguncentre.com

CZ 457 Thumbhole

The defining characteristic of this model is its sturdy laminate stock in grey/brown. With symmetrical features, this modern thumbhole is comfortable for right-handed and left-handed shooters and the stable nature of the laminate stock and varmint barrel allows shooters to engage medium- and long-range targets. Chambered in .22 LR, the Thumbhole can be had with either a 16-in or 20-in barrel, while the longer variant can be chambered in the more powerful .17 HMR or .22 WMR cartridges. Threaded 1/2x20 UNF, the muzzle of the 457 Thumbhole is equipped with an efficient cylindrical compensator. RRP: £831.99 Sportsman Gun Centre 01392 354870 trade@sportsmanguncentre.com

CZ 457 At-One

The CZ 457 At-One sport model is from the CZ-USA range, which is held in high regard by our customers, is part of our worldwide offer of the CZ 457 series. This specially designed rifle is equipped with a varmint barrel with Match chamber and a laminated wood stock from the well-known American brand Boyds, which features an easily adjustable butt pad and cheekpiece. The classic sling stud is complemented by a quick-release loop and a QD socket on each side of the stock. Available in .22 LR with a 20-inch barrel.

RRP: £917.99 Sportsman Gun Centre 01392 354870 trade@sportsmanguncentre.com

Seekins Havak PH2

These Seekins precision centrefire rifles are high-end beasts, and coming in Mountain Shadow and Desert Shadow (pictured) these new colours give the Havak PH2 the head-snapping, double-take look it deserves. With lightweight carbon composite stocks and hand-bedded barreled actions, these new rifles deliver repeatable accuracy and unparalleled reliability, all backed by Seekins’ unbeatable lifetime warranty, and in a range of big boy calibres from .308 to 6.5 Creedmoor.

RRP: from £2,770

Edgar Brothers 01625 613177 edgarbrothers.com

ISLAND OF OPPORTUNITY

Come to the UK and shoot some deer? Our resident stalker Al Gabriel recommends that visitors are encouraged to give it a go

Size matters

AS far as deer stalking (deer hunting) goes, Great Britain is perhaps the best place in Europe. First off, we have an estimated two million heads of deer. Furthermore, with six species of deer—red, Japanese sika, fallow, roe, Chinese water deer and muntjac—we have the most varied population in Europe. The variation in size, evolutionary history and behaviour is sure to excite any visiting hunter. And with our well-established sporting sector and experienced guides, it has never been easier to hunt deer in the UK.

From a conservation point of view, this presents a challenge, but as far as stalking opportunities go it’s the perfect fit. Distribution is varied across the country, with roe deer being the most common species. But although only red and roe deer are native to our island, the other four species have made themselves truly at home. Fallow deer in particular are now considered a naturalised species, given that they have lived in Great Britain since Roman times. Chinese water deer are the only species without antlers in the UK, and the least distributed. Along with muntjac, they possess tusks, often indicative of an older evolutionary lineage. Dogs have often been on the receiving end of such ancient weaponry.

Unique advantages

The UK possesses unique advantages compared to other Western nations when it comes to deer. For instance, stalking opportunities are quite difficult to come by in continental Europe, where the bureaucracy involved in acquiring a visitor’s hunting licence is rather tedious. Even local hunters must attend night classes and pass tests that could take several months, even years, to complete. This comes

at a significant financial cost. In the United States, a lottery or tag system is a big part of the hunting calendar. It is a costly endeavour with no guarantee of a tag, often for several years. Although most Europeans see Americans as a gun-friendly folk, when it comes to hunting opportunities, it is not as easy as people think. I remember having a discussion with a friend from the States. I distinctly remember his frustration on this issue. Here in the UK, it is not uncommon for deer stalkers to take 20 to 80 animals a year per person, or even thousands for those in the professional sector.

Deer such as Chinese water deer and muntjac are in decline in their native habitats. There are plenty here, often accounting for a large percentage of the species’ global population. Due to their feeding habits, they pose serious conservation issues for ancient woodlands. For muntjac deer, the only way to manage them currently is to cull them all year with no closed season. Muntjac, as well as Chinese water deer, originally escaped from private collections in the 19th century. For our stalking industry they draw more and more international hunters, often as an add-on to a Scottish trip. There is a rich history of

Don’t let the large cull figures fool you: appropriate numbers of animals are taken from each area. The “estate rifle” system, whereby guests can borrow a rifle for hunting, is a unique feature of the UK. The joy of travelling without a rifle is a bonus, particularly with flights. Who needs the paperwork?

The British Isles are rather temperate, the result of being surrounded by water. In fact, many people are surprised to learn how far north we are. We’re not that far off from Norway. We should have more snow. But our temperate weather and lush green countryside make an ideal habitat for deer. Increased forestation since the Second World War has also helped increase the number of deer significantly.

deer stalking in Scotland where red deer are closely associated with Scottish history and heritage. Scottish hill stalking is the stuff of legend and attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Deer in the UK are managed according to breeding season. Open and closed seasons are often similar within the devolved nations. That said, there is no month on the calendar that doesn’t have deer on the menu. We do not have a true closed season. Given that there is a strong conservation element, we rarely have upper limits on the cull bag of invasive species such as muntjac. A trip to the UK is rarely affected by bag limit. And deer management in the UK is well developed, with conservation at its heart.

I am always keen to hear the views of visitors I get from around the globe, and I particularly love it when Americans describe British deer as “baby deer”. In particular, roe and muntjac are often mistaken for young deer. I do enjoy, from time to time, pointing out to people that a particular deer might be over six years old. It is a reminder that size matters. There are advantages to having smaller deer species, with the exceptions of red and sika deer. Firstly, extraction is much easier than for large elk or moose. Quartering animals in the field is virtually unheard of and, in fact, is against best practice from a hygiene point of view. Most carcasses are easily carried by the stalker or transported by estate vehicles, or even by traditional ponies in the Highlands. Extracting heavy beasts is a logistical nightmare and often the end of an outing in other countries. British woodland stalking is something of a novelty as well. Most of our woodland deer are shot at close distances, which is unusual for those who may be used to hunting on vast plains.

Spread the word: this is an island that punch well above its weight when it comes to deer stalking opportunities. Depending on the time of year there will also be opportunities to undertake the most spectacular driven bird days. People might consider grouse shooting while they are visiting the UK. It will certainly be an opportunity of a lifetime—life does not get any more British than that. The stalking areas of the British Isles might not be as big as the African game reserves, but in our own little way we have something unique and exciting to offer. The only drawback is that our game sometimes comes with a tick, so tell them to watch out! GTN GTN

“ The estate rifle system, whereby guests can borrow a rifle for hunting, is a unique feature of the UK ”

PCPAIR RIFLES

The

Factor PCP Air rifles are packed with features and engineered by one of the most advanced gun makers in the industry. Designed for Pest control & target smashing.

& hard case

Contact our Trade Team for the full range of Hatsan Air Rifle / Air Pistols / Accessories available

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p re- F it r e C oil pad

Sporting Clay r e C oil pad

Basically the same contour lines as the All Purpose recoil pads except the heel is canted approximately 45º to allow easier shouldering from “low gun” position.

Junior

This recoil pad was designed to accommodate stocks that have been shortened. The screw holes are spaced only 2 3/4” apart which allows for trouble-free mounting.

Magnu M r e C oil pad

The magnum recoil pad was originally designed for use on extra large bore guns, but it is suitable for any gun to tame heavy recoil.

trap r e C oil pad

This recoil pad has a concave face and was designed especially for “Fixed Position” trapshooting.

ro CK er r e C oil pad

This design lets the recoil pad mount more consistently to the same pocket area and naturally affords less opportunity for shoulder discomfort due to the tapered toe-end design.

Chee K - ee Z (CheeK proteCtor)

An oval-shaped sheet of microcellular urethane that adheres to your gun comb to help eliminate recoil to the cheek. Also very useful if you need some adjustment to your line of sight.

a ll p urpo S e r e C oil pad

KICK-EEZ® recoil pads are made from Sorbothane, a proprietary visco-elastic material famous for its superior damping properties. In tests, Sorbothane has shown shock absorption levels up to 94.7%.

S pa C er S

These spacers are made from strong lightweight plastic polymer. They are easy to

grind, finish, and have superior machining and sanding characteristics for a GREAT

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1/2" thickness rrp: £20.99 182381

pit C h S pa C er S

These jet black spacers are made from a strong lightweight plastic polymer. They are easy to fit, grind and finish. The universal slotted holes at each end make it easy to match almost any hole location.

KiCK-eeZ® sells a wide selection of rifle recoil pads and shooting supplies made of Sorbothane®, which provides shock absorption and reduces recoil effectively and quickly. less recoil reduces flinching, easing sore shoulders and cheeks and eliminates it in all shooting conditions. From shoulder to fingers, KiCK-eeZ® has something to help reduce flinching and ease soreness as well as help to adjust your “line of sight.”

PLEASE DON’T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD

Maybe, considers Caroline Roddis, AI writing tool ChatGPT will bring some much-needed clarity to the portrayal of shooting in the media. Maybe…

AS anyone attending IWA might be about to discover, language is a tricky business. It’s not just knowing the difference between words like kaufen and verkaufen, Nacht and nackt*, but it’s also about nuance. Let’s say, for example, you’ve been writing an article in a charming German brewery at lunchtime and you decide to order a couple of litres of their beer to take away. Your patchy language might lead you to believe that the lovely waitress is concerned about your alcohol consumption, which you dismiss with a hearty guffaw and an explanation that the British can drink, thank you very much, when what’s she’s actually concerned about is you having to lug an enormous glass container full of beer around Freiburg im Breisgau all afternoon, as the Germans apparently haven’t heard of plastic bottles. Just a hypothetical example, of course, but… Well, does anyone need a large, ornate Black Forest Pimm’s jug?

Nuance is one of the many things which shapes great writing, and it’s also one of the factors – like freedom from bias, accuracy and a lack of sensationalism – often lacking from media articles about shooting. You might have heard me complaining about this once or twice in the almost decade I’ve been writing this column.

If you ignore the influence of a publication’s political slant, one of the most common explanations for these factors being missing from articles is that journalists are overloaded with work and simply don’t have the time to pay any one piece sufficient attention, let alone build up a detailed understanding of a topic. This isn’t an excuse, but it is a reflection of the well-documented financial pressures on newsrooms. People are expensive and, even on the best of days, they’re also fallible, which is why at present I’m particularly worried about nuance – because when something is costly and slow the default response is to replace it with something that’s fast and cheap. Normally, this is something with a Ctrl Alt Del function attached, although I’ve been campaigning to have this installed in my boyfriends for years.

For the past few weeks there have been hundreds of news articles about ChatGPT, the revolutionary writing tool built by OpenAi which, it is variously claimed, will completely replace internet search engines, steal all our jobs and bring about the next apocalypse. It’s not just news articles about ChatGPT, either, as it turns out the AI has also been writing them:

“Starting around November 2022, tech and news outlet CNET has been employing ‘automation technology’ to write financial explainer articles, with a small little dropdown note explaining that a human did not write the content,” wrote a journalist on iflscience.com. They have a byline photo so I think they’re a human, although given the pace at which AI is evolving that could well just be it turning its metaphorical hand to catfishing.

Doffed cap

ChatGPT is, to be honest, very good. It takes information from internet sources and weaves this into coherent arguments, adding in references where nec-

essary. And it does it so convincingly that it passes many of the plagiarism checks which are routinely used to check students’ work. It’s so good that it made me start wondering how shooting would fare if newsrooms started outsourcing more than just tech articles to AI. To test it out, I asked ChatGPT questions which, in a journalist’s hands, might result in something inflammatory. The AI, on the other hand, responded with:

“I’m sorry, I do not have information on recent shooting incidents as my knowledge cutoff is 2021 and I do not have access to current news events. It’s important to have accurate and up-to-date information when discussing such a sensitive and potentially traumatic topic.”

wider implications for public safety and the Olympic movement.”

While the piece was far more suited to a GCSE student’s submission than an appearance in a Sunday supplement, there was something quite cheering about its entirely emotionless approach to the topic. As with the news side, I don’t think there’s much to trouble the shooting industry here.

The chop

Well, not the industry at large, anyway. While doing this research I suddenly had a horrible premonition that my editor would start asking ChatGPT to write this monthly column, and that I’d be begging on the streets for pennies or spare shotgun cartridges. With

horror as I watched the text unfurl on the page. And I don’t mean because I thought it was about to steal my job, it was more because it had approached the task with the same misdirected energy as someone tackling a best man’s speech while on crack cocaine. ChatGPT clearly understands the points within a piece of text where humour has the most effect, but it has no understanding of the nuance required to make something funny.

The first article started with one sentence, this ‘funny’ version started with two: “British media has portrayed shooting in a variety of ways over the years, reflecting the changing attitudes and concerns of society. However, one thing that has remained constant is the abundance of puns and jokes related to shooting in the media!” Er… if you say so.

This seemed pretty encouraging, and certainly means that for now we only have to deal with the inaccuracies of humans in news articles—and goodness knows there are enough of those.

What ChatGPT can still do, however, is write more general features. When asked whether shooting should be removed from the Olympics, it wrote several paragraphs discussing the arguments for both sides, before concluding that: “Regardless of one’s personal views on the issue, it is important to have a respectful and informed discussion about the role of shooting in the Olympics and its impact on society. This includes considering the experiences and perspectives of athletes, coaches, and other members of the shooting community, as well as the

some trepidation I asked ChatGPT to write me a piece on shooting in the media and it churned out 800 words in 60 seconds – which is definitely faster than I can do, even after a can of Red Bull.

Fortunately, while the piece was articulate and well-reasoned, it was also highly generic—perfect for a quick GCSE essay but not up to the rigorous standards of this august publication. Still, to make doubly sure that my role was safe, I asked the question again but this time ensured it covered every aspect of my highly complex job. “Write about shooting as portrayed by the British media, and put some jokes in,” I commanded ChatGPT.

It is no exaggeration to say that I spent the next 60 seconds with my hand clapped over my mouth in

From there the AI proceeded to write the same article as the first time, but added in some more madeup jokes along the way. Things, on the whole, got a bit dark. “During the mid-20th century, the portrayal of shooting in the British media began to shift as concern about gun crime and violence grew,” it wrote. “This shift in media representation was influenced by a number of high-profile shooting incidents, including the Hungerford massacre in 1987 and the Dunblane school shooting in 1996. But despite the serious subject matter, the media couldn’t resist a good pun, with headlines such as: ‘Hungerford massacre: shots fired, puns flying!’”

I may not be able to write a column in 60 seconds, but at least I’m not mind-bendingly crass or likely to inspire people to visit the GTN offices armed with torches and pitchforks. So, in conclusion, shooting and my job are pretty safe from ChatGPT for now, plus I have a lovely sense of, well, is it Schadenfreude if the other person isn’t human? GTN GTN

*Buy and sell, night and naked, in case you were wondering. So, pretty important.

“ The AI proceeded to write the same article as the first time, but added in more made-up jokes ”

HUNTEr’S

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AIR, APPARENTLY

With spring loaded to burst open soon, Simon West counts our blessings and exhorts us to sing the praises of our great trade

MANY of you will be taking in guns for servicing now the season is over. I’m already missing the sociable Saturday mornings of walked-up days or ‘armed dog walks’ on Salisbury Plain.

Time now to catch up with the fallow cull. I’m sure there will still be some cold days ahead but I’m already thinking of warmer weather and the ever-changing cycle of our shooting activities— clay competitions, roe buck evenings, lying on the firing point at Bisley.

With perhaps a moment to pause, we should all be planning our opportunities to meet the public and turn them into customers. We all recognise the headwinds that shooting faces but we have so much to celebrate. I am always impressed by the number of families that engage with airgunning ranges at summer shows—I’ve mentioned it before. The big shows provide wonderful audiences for those that want to exploit national footprints but there are lots of local country shows where we just need small dealers to offer opportunities for those families to buy an airgun and start the journey.

Later this year we are likely to see the Home Office plans for enhancing airgun safety and security advice. We have just upgraded and re-printed thousands of our ‘Airgun Shooting at Home’ booklet thanks to Air Arms and ASI. They will be available to members to have ready to hand out to customers. The booklet provides interesting background information on airguns as well as advice on marksmanship, setting up a range, safety, security and the law. Pick some up from us at shows and use them to help attract new shooters. The idea is to help provide parents to have confidence in introducing shooting to the home environment in a safe and sensible way.

Youth organisations

Reaching out to youth organisations can also be valuable. It’s not every group that has a fear of offering shooting as a constructive activity. The Scouts provide advice on their website on how instructors should organise shooting activities—they even describe the benefits of the sport and describe rifle shooting, clay pigeon, even muzzle loading! Many of you will already have ranges where customers, clubs and others can develop their skills. Might more of you think about setting up your own? Even temporary summer outdoor ranges could attract new business. There’s plenty of advice online and the NSRA publish an excellent book on design, construction and maintenance of ranges.

If running a range is not in your plans, you can still encourage others to do your work. Close relationships with clubs can prove profitable. Offer talks on your products, sponsor prizes, offer special discounts. And, as ever, try to connect with customers through social media. We know how much time people spend on their phones—use those channels to inspire and connect with you.

I’m banging on about young people for a reason. Home Office statistics show that 70% of certificate holders are over 50. While some come to shooting in later years, the reality is that we need to start early. Most of us came into shooting through the airgunning route—and that’s the obvious starting point. But we should also look at other sectors of society. There is growing evidence that women are becoming strong contenders to grow business. Much of our traditional media engagement has been targeted towards men. We now need to offer more and become more relevant to wider markets.

I am also impressed by the spread of shooting sports in the disabled community. A quick google search will show how many disabled shooting groups there are across the country in every discipline. We often quote the strong take-up of the sport in disabled ranks but are we doing enough to support and encourage it? In parallel, we need to keep bringing talent into the trade. We need gunmakers,

gunsmiths, shop staff, social media experts, logistic managers and technical innovators. When you are out and about talk about your job and opportunities to work in this broad and fascinating trade.

Reliability and trust

As well as talent, we demand reliability and trust. It is both an opportunity and a responsibility to work in

We can do more to bring young people, women and the disabled into shooting. Images courtesy of The Game Fair

and around guns and ammunition. We have something very special to offer the professional, dedicated worker.

At a time when guns are often in the news for all the wrong reasons, let’s not be shy about telling the other side of the story. Whether you are involved as a sport or as a livelihood, this is an industry with great traditions, impressive products and talented staff who support the recreational and professional wellbeing of over a million shooters.

A wise old army recruiter once told me: “If you want to go duck hunting, go where the ducks are.” Let us use this summer and all the gatherings we attend—from family picnics to the Game Fair—to talk about shooting and the pleasures and rewards it brings. GTN GTN

“ There is growing evidence that women are becoming strong contenders to grow business ”

NEW

The ICON is the newest addition to the Crosman PCP line up.

This modern looking airgun provides shooters of all skill levels with a tactical looking, ambidextrous PCP, rich in features yet kind on the pocket.

• Lightweight polymer stock with pistol grip

• Smooth bolt action PCP

• Open sights

• Threaded for ½” UNF

• Adjustable trigger

• Easy load magazine:

.177 = 12 shot

.22 = 10 shot

• Single shot tray included

• 11.3 ft.lb

• Dovetail rail for fitting scopes

RRP

£299.00 INC VAT

Unit 4, Freemans Way, Harrogate Business Park, Wetherby Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 1DH