FIND OUR AWARD WINNING PRODUCTS AT STAND C6 OF THE YEAR 2020 OF THE YEAR 2021 deerhunter.eu
THE GREAT BRITISH SHOOTING SHOW 2023 CONTENTS 06 Demo Timetable 18 The Gun Review 36 How to buy well Watch the professionals doing If you’ve somehow missed it, Jonathan Carter gives us some what they do best with Chris we’re here to show you the new insight on his gun buying Green the “Cornish Countryman” show ‘The Gun Review’ process. and Ralph Skripek the “Wild Chef”. 8 Shotguns 20 Rifles 38 Optics Check out what shotguns are Explore the exciting range of Explore new optics featured at new to the market at the show! new rifles on show this year. this years’ show. 10 Bettws Hall 22 What I love about gun 40 Work for the best! shows Westley Richards Learn more about Bettws Hall and what it’s all about. Apprenticeships. Chris Parkin shines some light on Join one of the world’s most his love for gun shows. prestigious gunmakers and learn from the best. 12 Traditional Skills 24 Airguns 46 Does your gun fit? Learn about the true art form of Explore the latest airguns on Jonathan Carter talks through traditional English gunmaking. offer at this years’ show. the importance of a good gun fit. 14 Thermal & NV 28 Venue Maps 50 BSS See the latest thermal and night Get to know the venue and We talk about the core values vision technology on offer at this find exhibitor locations. and what the show stands for. years’ show. 52 Lead Alternatives 16 The Fieldsports 30 Exhibitor Listings Channel Story Gamebore explores the hot Explore the brands and topic of alternatives to lead Charlie Jacoby shares the businesses that make up this ammunition. story behind the much loved year’s British Shooting Show. Fieldsports Channel TV.
The largest collection of Winchester Rifles outside of the USA. Exclusively on display at the British Shooting Show. Stand A9
WELCOME TO THE GREAT BRITISH SHOOTING SHOW 2023 The UK’s largest trade & retail shooting event. The British Shooting Show showcases the latest advancements in shooting equipment and accessories, and to provide an opportunity for industry professionals, retailers, enthusiasts and law enforcement to connect and network. We have an exciting lineup of demonstrations and exhibitions that you won’t want to miss. So whether you’re here to learn, write business or buy, we hope that you enjoy your time at the show today. The Great British Shooting Show is often imitated. But never duplicated. All information within this magazine was correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of production. Pricing, specification and availability subject to change. The British Shooting Show is not responsible for damages or losses sustained as a result of inaccurate or outdated information.
Demonstration Timetable Arena 10:00 - 10:30 Stand E20 Stand E20 Gundog Training the Pigeon Shooter’s Way Chris Green Arena 10:30 - 11:15 The Wild Chef Cooking Demo Ralph Skripek Stand E20 11:30 - 12:00 Pigeon Shooting Secrets Revealed Chris Green Arena 12:30 - 13:15 The Wild Chef Cooking Demo Ralph Skripek Stand E20 13:30 - 14:00 Gundog Training the Wildfowler’s Way Chris Green Arena 14:00 - 14:45 The Wild Chef Cooking Demo Ralph Skripek Stand E20 15:00 - 15:30 Wildfowling Secrets Revealed Chris Green Arena 6 BSS
Stand E20 Ralph Skripek The ‘Wild Chef’ Ralph Skripek, game shot & fisherman, one of Fishing & shooting from the age of 10. Ralph the leading game chefs in the country is also has strong ethics that we fish & shoot in a renowned as ‘The Wild Chef’. Ralph demonstrates responsible way with conservation and respect game cooking at game & food fairs and is for our countryside, and importantly, we eat an ambassador for the British Association of what we shoot! Shooting & Conservation for their Taste of Game campaign. Ralph has also written and Ralph is also the company director & chef for self published a game cooking book, featured the Butlers Pantry Derby Limited, a catering in shooting magazines & as a guest chef on BBC & events company incorporated in 2003 and Radio Derby discussing current food trends, soon to be celebrating 20 years in business. all whilst promoting game produce & hosting Catering for both corporate & private bookings an annual Taste of Game dinner which is fully in Derbyshire & surrounding counties. Details of booked every year. In addition, Ralph appears the Companies catering services can be found at; on shooting DVDs with Chris Green, ‘The Cornish butlerspantryderby.co.uk Countryman’ of Westcountry Films and online or by calling 01332 519007 show reels. Arena Chris Green The ‘Cornish Countryman’ Chris Green was born in the Westcountry in Always a keen inventor, today he makes a 1961. He grew up like most Cornish kids in a living by designing and manufacturing Goose, world with no money. Chris spent his boyhood and Pigeon decoys for pest controllers and bird nesting, Rabbit catching and living off the hunters. Chris has also appeared on several fat of the land and has had a lifelong passion for TV programmes including Hugh Fernley- fishing and shooting, even excelling at poaching Whittingstall’s “A Cook on the Wild Side”, and in his day! Chris Green began to learn the ways Rick Stein’s “Food Heroes”. Inspired by working of Wildfowling from the age of 11, when his dad with professional directors and cameramen took him out one freezing morning in the dead of he also embarked on a career making wildlife winter. and hunting films. His films on Pigeon Shooting This inevitably led Chris to fall in love with the and Wildfowling have been a massive success; magical world of estuaries, ducks and wild establishing Chris as one of the Country’s leading places. After successfully building his first gun authorities on filming country sports. For many ‘under cover’ at school in his metalwork class, he years he has been a familiar figure at Game and then went on to build his own gunning punt and Country Fairs across England, Scotland, Wales & even a three barrelled punt gun for Wildfowling even Northern Ireland where he is well known which he still uses today! for demonstrating his hunting and country skills. 7 BSS
PRODUCT GUIDE A selection of products on offer at this year’s show. SHOTGUNS USIVE NEW & EXCL BROWNING BE THE FIRST TO SEE BROWNING’S Ultra XT PRO Adjustable LIMITED EDITION SHOTGUNS. B525 Autumn Silver £4,024 inc. VAT B725 HTG Medallion Silver Available in: 30” & 32” B725 SPG Medallion Silver Sporter barrel en.browning.eu An exclusive premiere stand D9. See it on stand D9 KOFS Zenith SXE Sporter 8 From £599.99 inc. VAT Available in: Game, Sporter & Ladies BSS Universal Sportsmanguncentre.co.uk See it on stand D10
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BETTWS Founded in the late 1980’s, Gwyn & Ann Evans HALL have built a diverse family-run company with a worldwide reputation for delivering quality. Bettws Hall is a renowned driven sporting destination, Europe’s leading hatchery and a key dealership of Kawasaki ATVs. With six exclusive estates known for high-bird shooting and first-class hospitality, sporting enthusiasts from the world over travel to Mid-Wales for driven pheasant and partridge amongst spectacular topography. With luxury accommodation too, Bettws Hall offers the full package for teams and individual guns. Outside of shooting season, their cutting-edge hatchery, with the capacity to hatch 8 million chicks per year, supplies game farms and estates all across the UK and Ireland. A British Game Assurance founding member, Bettws Hall’s hatchery are able to supply pheasant and partridge as day-old chicks or as poults. We utilise our patented rearing systems to reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of rearing our stock. These systems are available for purchase too on your estate. Complementing our game farm, we are also a key Kawasaki ATV dealership with new, used parts and servicing forming part of our package. We invite you to call by our stand to see how we can help your needs and answer any questions for the season ahead. Stand B3 10 BSS
MORE THAN A RIFLESCOPE NEW HUNTING SEE WHAT BRILLIANT OPTICS ARE ALL ABOUT ON STAND C8 THE RIFLESCOPE FOR ALL HUNTING The new 3-18x42 [email protected] | schmidt-bender.com
Traditional Gunmaking Skills VISIT THE PROFESSIONALS ON THE GUNMAKING HERITAGE STAND D13 12 BSS
Meet the gunmakers who have temporarily relocated their work benches to the NEC, Birmingham BILL BLACKER TOM HICKMAN LONDON BARREL MAKER GUNSMITH / GUNMAKER Bill Blacker is a barrel maker at the top of his Tom mainly specialises in stock finishing, profession. He began his career in 1976, aged chequering, bolt action rifle making, renovations 16, as an apprentice at Holland & Holland. and gun fitting. His particular pleasure is building big rifles: the .500s and .600s. The minute technical JAMES BLACKER requirements relating to sights fascinate him as a craftsman. BARREL MAKER T.R. WHITE SON & CO Barrel maker and gunmaker apprentice to Bill Blacker, a renowned barrel maker of shotguns GUNMAKERS and double rifles. James is owner of George H. Daws Gunmakers, which is best known for Tony was fortunate to be involved with all making best guns for the likes of Prince Albert stages of gunmaking during his apprenticeship, and Annie Oakley back in the day and is still gaining experience in both metal and wooden producing high end guns and rifles. George components as opposed to focusing on either H. Daws’ design and development during the actions or barrels, specialising in stocking in 1860s saw the patent number 1594 registered latter days. Renowned for his attention to detail for a gun firing system called the central fire and balance of creating a gun fit for its purpose cartridge, which we still use today! in the field, as well as being aesthetically stunning. Tony is one of the few gunmakers in RICHARD BARNES Britain who colour case harden. ACTIONER TERRY GLADWELL Richard is an action maker to the English gun PUNT GUN COLLECTOR trade. He aims to make the very best shotguns and work and support the craftsmen that make Terry Gladwell has the knowledge when it comes this happen. to punt guns and vintage loading equipment. From a very young age, he had an interest in ALAN PORTSMOUTH wildfowling and the sheer excitement of firing a punt gun became an interest, a passion and GUN ENGRAVER an obsession! Along with vintage loading equipment from a bygone age, step back in Alan served his engraving apprenticeship at time and listen to Terry explain about the Holland & Holland in the 1980s and now magnificent craftsmen that produced these currently works freelance from his workshop guns and equipment so long ago. at home, always striving for perfection in his stunning art. VISIT THE PROFESSIONALS ON THE GUNMAKING HERITAGE STAND D13 13 BSS
PRODUCT GUIDE A selection of products on offer at this year’s show. THERMAL & NV PULSAR PARD Thermion Duo DXP55 NV007SP Available in: NV007SP & NV007SP LRF Price TBA £499.99 inc. VAT tj-fieldsports.co.uk sportsmanguncentre.co.uk See it on stand B6 See it on stand D10 ZEISS DTC Front Mounted Thermal Imaging Attachment £3,499 inc. VAT scottcountry.co.uk See it on stand C13 HIKMICRO HIKMICRO Alpex A50T Digital Day and Night Vision Riflescope Raptor RQ50L £3,999.99 inc. VAT £799.99 inc. VAT hikmicrotech.com scottcountry.co.uk/alpex See it on stand B5 See it on stand C13 14 BSS
SEE THE WORLD IN A NEW WAY Technology Innovation & High Quality Higher Sensitivity Zoom Pro HD 1280x1024 The All-In-One Solution Optical Zoom Full-HD Thermal Detector
The Fieldsports Channel Story By Charlie Jacoby When we launched Fieldsports Channel, we had Fieldsports Channel makes TV shows about an idea we could make a regular TV show about hunting, shooting and fishing with a monthly the best hunting, shooting and fishing and put it audience of 1 million - 2 million views. It’s an out online. We didn’t like the look of YouTube. We audience that the world of hunting, shooting and had no interest in campaigning and politics. We fishing has never seen. We have a remarkable 10 had no clue how it could pay for itself. How naïve million individual logged-in viewers on YouTube we were. around the world. YouTube trusted us to help write the Creator Playbook, which forms policies In 2008, bright young TV producer David Wright on what content the website allows. took British shooting magazine editor Charlie Jacoby (me) to Croatia to make a film about Each of Fieldsports Channel’s staff has been wild boar hunting. While there, we talked about working in national and specialist hunting/ making a film for British TV about hunting and shooting media for more than two decades. shooting sports, maybe a series about the Charlie Jacoby was launch editor of Sporting subjects, perhaps try to do what the shooting Shooter and Sporting Rifle magazines, magazines do – a weekly outing – but in video... commercial director James Westbrook was head a year later, on the Glorious 12th August 2009, of advertising sales on Sporting Shooter and Fieldsports Channel was born. Airgun World magazines and David Wright was a news producer at ITV. Since that date, Fieldsports Channel has grown to be more than just us two. A staff of eight is soon to make the 700th episode of our flagship weekly magazine show Fieldsports Britain from locations all over the world. We have launched other shows including AirHeads about airgunning, Claysports about clayshooting, Fieldsports Africa and Fishing Britain. We have produced and launched whole other channels on YouTube, including Club Digweed and NRA TV. We have introduced dozens of hunting and shooting industry companies to YouTube, and created channels for them, as well as film content for clients including the BBC and foreign TV channels. And we have introduced you to a wonderful, charming and funny array of characters in fieldsports, including Paul Childerley, Andy Crow, Roy Lupton and Tim Pilbeam.
You can find out about kit via our Fieldtester series. Our Whichipedia of hunting and shooting kit offers reviews and gives a chance for manufacturers and distributors to have their say. Why did they launch that shotgun? What’s the point of those binoculars? Who can afford that thermal spotter? And are they any good? Or you can simply pour yourself a whiskey (or a whisky) every Wednesday night and enjoy our free-to-watch TV show Fieldsports Britain about the best hunting, shooting and fishing. Funded by clients across the hunting and shooting industry, including Browning, Beretta, Zeiss, Leica and Swarovski, Fieldsports Channel has run dozens of press and advertising campaigns. We are the most experienced fieldsports media team in Europe, with a proven record in journalism, publishing, broadcasting and sales. We threw away the rulebook on production, audience and endorsement, and wrote a new one. We are even experimenting with methods of driving sales for retailers, distributors and manufacturers with Kitfinder.co.uk. YouTube reaches 90% of the world’s sport hunters. Fieldsports Channel is the biggest and most trusted hunting and shooting sports YouTube channel in the world. That’s the conclusion of the advertising industry standard SlateScore, which ranks YouTube channels on engagement, consistency, momentum and influence. You can join the Fieldsports Nation and help fund our news output. We want to change the social licence for hunting and shooting, to make them more acceptable to a currently largely anti-hunting media. To do that, we make positive films about our sport. The Fieldsports Nation is a pioneering model for funding news TV. That’s a nut few other broadcasters have been able to crack – but we have. Have a look at FieldsportsChannel.tv/membership
Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4
Series one: episodes one to five of The Gun Review is now live over on TGS Outdoors Youtube Channel. In this new series we have been tasked with finding and testing out the newest and best guns, equipment and accessories on the market. In each episode we have news, reviews, factory visits and challenges all wrapped around the camaraderie between the 3 presenters Jonny, Ryan and Mike. So far in Series 1: • We challenged each other to find the best game gun under £5000 • We pitched 3 semi-automatics against each other putting them and us through some gruelling tests • We’ve tested multiple airguns and rimfires out on the farm. • We have gotten hands on with some of the latest Swarovski gear, as well as plenty of night vision and thermal • We have visited Westley Richards to see how their guns are made, looking at various aspects of the gunmaking art. • We went out with £1000 each to hunt down the best possible clay gun on a budget • Nearly all of us have ended up cold, wet and muddy as the result of losing! The sixth and final episode is being filmed here at the British shooting Show, and will go live as soon as the doors of the show close on Sunday! Plans are already in place for Series 2, and we can promise you more guns, more gear and significantly more fun. Look out for Mike, Ryan and Jonny filming around the show! 19 BSS
PRODUCT GUIDE A selection of products on offer at this year’s show. RIFLES WINCHESTER XPERT Composite 22LR £459 Available in: 16.5” & 18” barrel See it on stand D9 BERGARA B14 Wilderness HMR Carbon £1,595.00 See it on stand D19 BERGARA B14 Wilderness Thumbhole Carbon £1,445.00 See it on stand D19 BERGARA B14 Wilderness Ridge Carbon £1,395.00 See it on stand D19 BERGARA B14 Wilderness Thumbhole £1,100.00 See it on stand D19 CADEX SEVEN S.T.A.R.S. PRO £5,999.99 See it on stand B9 TIER ONE ATAC Bipod Available in multiple variations highlandoutdoors.co.uk See it on stand B9 20 BSS
WELCOME TO THE BRITISH CHECK OUT THESE GREAT BRANDS ON THE ALL-NEW HIGHLAND OUTDOORS STAND For greater success in the field and at the range, check out the latest innovation in shotguns, rifles, scopes, clothing, ammunition and accessories, at Highland Outdoors’ stand. www.highlandoutdoors.co.uk 21 BSS
What I love about GUN-SHOWS By Chris Parkin 22 BSS
From the archives: The British Shooting Show 2010 I have always loved shows and when I went to Gun shows are also an opportunity for innovative the British Shooting show in 2010, I was asked to and creative products that the inventor or report back on a trip I was undertaking and let’s just manufacturer can introduce to shooters for a low say the snowball began to roll. 13 years later, the cost, they only need one example and thousands shooting world is my entire working environment of people will walk by it, perhaps notice it and what could be better than gathering with then hopefully walk towards it, ask for more thousands of likeminded fans. After Christmas is information and be genuinely enthused. I get to behind us, the weather is on the turn and the days see pretty much everything first hand, but I recall are getting longer, I love the optimism of planning having `tripped over` quirky new items that over the seasons of hunting or competition calendar the years either disappear or become shooting’s over the next twelve months, as well as checking household names. It’s a day away from home or out the latest items arriving on the shooting the office, lots of chatter with your friends, old market to whet our appetites, new clothing, and new as well total immersion within what’s accessories or even a new gun. Specifically for the likely to be a primary passion in their lifestyles. rifle world, fast evolving markets like night vision Most of us have our shooting niches, clays, pest and thermal imaging equipment mean there is control, game, foxing, stalking, wildfowling etc. so always something new to see and, in a world, it’s always great to see other facets of our sport losing connection with physical shops, not only is which might be new to us and suddenly draw us in, the gun world one where it must legally remain, let’s face facts, shooting is a smaller sport where but a show has everything under one roof, not we all need to stand together with one indivisible just what your local shop has on display. You mindset. Whenever I stand looking at the entrance can compare and contrast every gun hands on, and ticket booths, I can’t help my inner monologue experiment with the controls, the optics, field of murmur the words, “It’s Showtime”. view, intuitive accessibility, it’s the closest you get to having it all in your own home. As well as equipment, you meet people, put faces “Shooting is a smaller sport where to names and can ask all the in-depth questions we all need to stand together with about their products or services that they are there to answer, you aren’t invading on anyone’s one indivisible mindset.” time and if they want your business, it’s in their interest. One of the most fun elements is getting 23 to see businesses that conjure up your desires to travel, perhaps into Europe for Wild Boar or Africa BSS for the hunt of a lifetime, there are often show deals and you get to chat with the professional hunters who have often lived and breathed their lifestyle since childhood.
PRODUCT GUIDE A selection of products on offer at this year’s show. AIRGUNS BRK Ghost Models available: Carbine, Plus & HP From £1,400 brocock.co.uk See it on stand B18 BSA R12 CLX Pro (side lever action) Available in: Minelli’s Black pepper laminate stock & Minelli’s luxurious Walnut RRP £1,265 bsaguns.co.uk See it on stand B13 FX AIRGUNS Panthera Models available: 500mm, 600mm (FAC) & 700mm (FAC) From £1,853 sportsmanguncentre.co.uk See it on stand D11 BSA Scorpion TS RRP £569 bsaguns.co.uk See it on stand B13 EB ARMS XV2 Available in: .177 & .22 £1499.99 edgarbrothers.com See it on stand D17 30 BSS
PREMIUM DEALER Walther Rotex RM8 Show OFFER! Choose from two styles Rifle or Cabine SHOW PACK PRICE SEE BRACES FOR SHOW OFFERS Stand Number C14
BEYOND THE LIMITS The Walther Rotex RM8 models impress with their elegant yet robust looks, inspire with their sophisticated engineering and convince with accurate performance in sports shooting, recreational shooting and hunting. They combine reliable 230 bar compressed air technology with a rifled premium barrel from Lothar Walther, an 8-round rotary magazine, regulated action and a trigger with adjustable first-stage travel. EACH PACK INCLUDES: K3 Neo Bipod 10X Targets Pump
THE NEC venue layout Birmingham Birmingham International Airport Train Station 3 Hall 2 Hall 3aHall 1 Hall Piazza 20Hall 4 Hall Exhibition 1 Hall 5 Hall Pedestrian Skywalk Halls 6 - 8 9 1 Hall Hall6 Hall 8 17Hall 8 7Hall Atrium Taxi and 9 Hall 1 Hall 16Hall P Shuttle Bus 10Hall 1 12Hall Taxi and Visitor Car Shuttle Bus Parking
HALL PLAN Most islands contain multiple exhibitor stands. Please refer to page 30 for A-Z exhibitor listings. E2 E3 E4 E5 E6 E7 E9 E10 E12 E14 E15 E16 E17 E20 E1 LOUNGE E9 LOUNGE D1 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 - 11 D12 D13 D14 D15 D16 - 17 LOUNGE D21 c5 c6 c7 c8 c9 ARENA D18 - 19 D21 c1 c10 c11-12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 B9 B11 B12 B13 B15 B17 B18 B19 B20 B21 A2 A3 A6 A9 A9 FREE SHOAOIRTGIUNNGRANGES A21 Visit the Germans at BOOTH B14 AT THE UMAREX SHOOTING RANGE
The Great British Shooting Show 2023 A-Z EXHIBITOR LISTINGS
A A-Z Exhibitor Listings C14 Aaronbrook Game & Country D5 Accuracy International Braces of Bristol B18 Accurize D12 Acorn Saddlery E3 Brandecosse D9 Aimcam E6 Brocock B13 Air Arms D17 Brownies Rock C15 Airmaks Arms B2 Browning B3 Amos Owens Moonshine B9 BSA E20 Anglo Italian Arms B15 Bucks Brothers Gin Arkay Sales B16 Buddy‘s Bites D14 Artemis Outdoors UK C18 Butlers‘ Pantry B12 Ashford Gunroom C11 ASI B12 C Astor Defence E3 Cab Transit Boxes C5 ATN UK C20 D18 Caesar Guerini B19 B E16 Baileys Shooting C13 Caltta BASC E7 Baschieri & Pellagri E17 Carl Zeiss B20 / C6 Bella & Duke Best Fittings C18 Channel Jumper C6 Best Fox Call E9 Best Optics B17 City Air Weapons & Firearms A6 Bettws Hall E9 Big Dog Leathers Clay Pigeon Company E5 Bill Blacker B19 Blaser Optics Clear Ballistics C6 Blaser Sporting D6 C13 Blue Mountain Forge C15 Bowbrook Studios Click Heat B19 Braces of Bristol B3 C17 C18 Cluny Country Store D14 Coleman Baines B2 Contact Coffee Co B15 Continental Cottage C5 Country Clothing Store D15 Country Clothing Store B3 Country Wild C16 Countrymans Weekly D13 CPSA B7 Crackshot B8 Croots A6 Custom Fit Guards C1 A9
D A-Z Exhibitor Listings B21 Daystate B2 Deerhunter Flash Bang Smoke Dependable solutions C20 Derek Priestley Cheesemonger & B18 Flint & Flame E9 son C6 Fortis Devon & Cornwall Police C8 Foxdenton Estate C14 DNA Leisure E2 Francis Lovel C16 Dogs & Co E12 Fullbore UK E14 Dorset Police E14 Future Publishing DT Boxes A5 G E1 E12 Game Cooling System C10 E D5 Gamebore Gamekeepers Welfare Trust E2 E.J. Churchill E9 Easy Crypto Hunter Gazeboshop B4 Edgar Brothers E13 Edinburgh Outdoor Geoff Troth D5 Elderkin C17 George H Daw C17 Eley Hawk C14 Ghillie Clothing B11 Elite Optical Distribution D17 Giles Marriot A3 Elliot Ross Co D1 GMK E3 Elm Of Burford C17 Good Fellow Int E4 Emberleaf D13 Emma Cawston C8 Grovers E1 Emtec A4 Gumleaf Enfield Sport D15 Gunmaking Heritage B15 Epic Paintball Events E7 Gwatkin Cider D7 C14 E5 F B15 H B9 Fabarm C16 B5 Fieldsports Channel TV D15 Fieldtech Systems E5 H&N Sport B17 Fiocchi C14 Hawke Optics B20 Hayles Fruit Farm 32 Hicks & Hides BSS Highland Outdoor B12 Hik Micro C11 Hilditch Wood Design D15 Hull Cartridge D14
Leica Fortis 6. LEICA FORTIS 6 2.5–15 x 56 i with BDC 6 x zoom at its best. LEICA FORTIS 6 2–12x 50 i The new, bright Fortis 6 2.5-15 x 56 i joins the 24 and 50 models to complete Leica’s LEICA FORTIS 6 1–6 x 24 i family of 6 x riflescopes. Outstanding detail recognition, an extra-wide field of view, and unrivaled contrast from edge to edge: With their ideal combination of optical performance and streamlined design, the Leica Fortis 6 models set new standards in the 6 x zoom class. Models: Leica Fortis 6 1-6 x 24 i, 2-12x 50 i, 2.5-15 x 56 i See for yourself – visit your authorised dealer and explore leica-sportoptics.com Leica Camera AG I Am Leitz-Park 5 I 35578 WETZLAR I GERMANY I www.leica-sportoptics.com
I A-Z Exhibitor Listings B7 Ian James Stickmaker D9 ISOTunes Sport Minox C15 Isuzu Miroku D15 B2 B18 J MJM Promotions C5 C16 J.P. Sauer & Sohn Morrison Distillers B1 Jarvis & Co Jewellery D21 E9 John M. Browning MTC Optics Muntjac Trading E3 K B7 D15 Kahles E14 Katie Hargreaves Art N E14 Kimberley Dewhurst C16 Kin Toffee + Vodka E7 Kite Optics National Gamekeepers Organisation D9 E6 L A11 Laceys Shooting Services Night Pearl C19 Ladds Guns & Sports Leather Genie O C6 Leica Sports Optics D8 B3 Limagrain C6 O‘donnell Moonshine E15 Lintran C16 Ogdens Shooting Supplies C7 Lone and Grey Outfitters E15 Optics Warehouse Lyalvale Express D9 Outwear Ltd C18 C16 M Oxford Gun Co C15 Macwet C18 Martin Green Interiors B15 P D21 Mauser C21 Pawdaw of London D6 Mercury Custom Plugs C20 Pegasus Midlands Clothing C10 Pellpax Mili Fiddlers Hamlet C1 Perfect Tipple 34 B4 PJS UK B17 Plugzz BSS D14 Premier Guns R E5 Rab Protective A2 Raisthorpe Distillery B7 Ratcatcher C20 Raw Edge Leather B4 Ray Ward Gunsmith C18 Raytrade
A-Z Exhibitor Listings Renapur E4 The Airgun Target Company B20 Ridgeline B20 Rigged Out C9 The country Lifestyle store Rob Cotton Art E2 Roman Tackle C16 The Crusty Pie Co E5 Rose Cottage Pantry B19 Ruff And Tumble B4 The Knife Sharpener Guy B6 Rugs-fur-u E2 B4 The Shooting Party D5 S E7 Schmidt & Bender E3 Thomas Jacks Scott Country International E4 Shawbury Wines E2 Timber Croc B14 Shooter King Shooting Star E1 Toms Targets B4 Shooting Supplies Shots & Company Tweedl E15 Shuttle Socks B21 SKJ Watches C8 U A12 Sloemotion Distillery C13 Ultimate Fishing C14 Solware E15 Umarex Sporting Wholesale E15 Unique Fundraising C9 Sportsman Gun Centre Steve‘s Cheese C8 V E12 Suddle Group C10 Vagor B16 SW Pet Beds Vaynol Gunroom D5 Swarovski Optik C8 Vector Air E12 Swatcom B2 Virtus Precision Syren D15 Vortex Optics B2 E5 C15 T D12 W Tactical Training Area C19 Warwickshire Police A6 Talos Vehicles D10-12 Weihrauch E20 Teague Precision Chokes E1 Wellies Ltd D9 E2 West Mercia Police A10 B2 Westcountry Films E15 D8 Westley Richards & Co. D5 C18 Whitehawk Products B2 B12 Wild Chef Cooking Displays Winchester 35 Winchester Collection BSS A21 Withers Gin E10 WJ Bowman C19 Woodland Trust
How to Buy Well By Jonathan Carter Although I have been lucky to make videos are now available under £500 because a whole with some of the finest guns ever made, I am a generation has been told they are inadequate for bargain addict! some reason. Look for odd specs and old names and you’ll be amazed at what you can find. I blame my mother for this, we were not an If you are buying a first gun, it is obviously no affluent family but somehow managed to go on bad thing to buy a gun that you can sell quickly some sort of holiday every year as kids. My mum and with minimal loss, just in case you decide ended up literally writing the book on going on shooting isn’t for you after a few years of playing. holiday on a budget and this frugal thinking has However I find it sad when people buy for this led me to be a most prudent purchaser when it reason alone and do not follow the hearts down comes to guns. Before I two of my rules of gun more exciting paths. buying, I will admit to having strange tastes and too many guns! The second rule is to decide what concessions away from ‘Brand New in Box’ condition you My first rule, and the biggest and broadest, for are happy with. Are you happy to buy a non- buying used guns is to leave the beaten track. runner or a gun with a cracked stock? These are A 30” multichoke sporter from one of the main probably too scary for most, but will obviously makers is never going to be cheap as the market reduce the costs and open up the door to a desires them greatly, because people want whole new world. Obviously the more likely them the prices are strong. You will get much concessions will be rust spots on the barrels more gun for your money from edgy brands and or scratches in the stock, which are completely edgy specs, you may also be a stronger position superficial but can allow you to be in a better as a buyer if the seller is struggling to find the position as a buyer. right lunatic to buy their 26” Japanese side by side. Remember that fashions dictate price as much as quality and there are some guns that were once winning world championships that
There you go, that is how simple my buying process is: 1. Is this gun a bit obscure but well made? 2. Am I happy with its less than perfect condition and can I make it good if needed? 3. Am I happy to lose this money? Most guns I buy would be a ‘YES’ to question one, ‘YES, MAYBE’ to question two, and ‘NEVER’ to question three which is the part that keeps me, my spending and my gun collection in check. I good example is my latest purchase, a Winchester Grand European from Holts Auction. Winchester is a maker whos classic guns have been depreciating in value for 10 years. The Grand European was selling for around £12-1500 for an average condition example 10 years ago and now can be had for £8-900. This depreciation is unusual, but likely caused by Winchesters lack of new quality offerings in the clay scene and by a most of the old Japanese Winchesters being built with shorter barrels than are now popular AND finally because new shooters want shiny new guns that their friends will recognise and appreciate. This gun is a massive YES to question one and given it had a cracked stock and worn blueing it was a YES – YES to question two. The price was right, so I bought it and its just as good as guns many many times the price. Reading that back, perhaps I should gate keep my gun purchases a bit more, but then again seeing as its led me to own both some very interesting guns as well as purchase some serious bargains, maybe not. Give the theory a test at some of the shows used gun retailers and see what you can find!
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Work For The Best! Westley Richards Apprenticeships By Westley Richards & Co. Gunmaking has a long history of taking teenage boys and turning them into skilled craftsmen. It was always a long process and remained virtually unchanged for over two hundred years. 40 BSS
Traditionally, a gunmaker’s apprentice lived in his master’s house from age fifteen and was provided with food, clothing and training. He lived an austere life under his master and bided his time, until being furnished with his papers at the end of seven long years. Among the restrictions on his activities, as specified by the covenant signed at the beginning of the term, was ‘no fornicating’. Fortunately for the current generation, a modern apprenticeship is rather more liberal in its outlook, though no less ambitious. Apprentices beginning their working life at Westley Richards can expect to undergo five years of training, under the tutelage of masters in their disciplines. Training apprentices is a time- consuming and costly business for a gun maker but it is the only way to ensure that guns will be built here in twenty years to the same uncompromising standards that we build them today. The gun trade has been guilty of indulging in short-termism in the past and there are indications that some in the trade are succumbing to temptation in the current, difficult, climate and poaching staff from others, with promises of inflated wages. This practice may fill immediate gaps in production capacity but we do not believe it is the way forward for our industry. 41 BSS
The journey to becoming a best gunmaker might appear a daunting prospect to a young man contemplating his life’s work. Five years, viewed from the perspective of an eighteen-year-old is more than a quarter of his life to date. It requires maturity beyond that of the average teenager to take a medium-term view, never mind a long- term one. We do not pretend that it will be an easy road but it will be a stimulating and rewarding one for any youngster interested in engineering, mechanics, innovation, creativity and history. Those successfully completing their five-year apprenticeship will be awarded an industry- wide recognised Certificate attesting to their proven skills. The rest of a gunmaker’s career is a constant learning process as experience, experimentation and collaboration with peers bolsters and amplifies the talents and skills they have already developed. At the beginning of an apprenticeship, the apprentice is usually a raw teenager with little to offer but (hopefully) some innate talent and a good work ethic. Ten years later, that same individual will be a fully-fledged and time-served gunmaker, able to work anywhere that best quality guns are made, repaired, serviced or maintained. Even today, only a handful of people exist who can make this claim. Of course, once trained, we hope they will remain with Westley Richards for years to come and we strive to create a collegiate, stimulating and rewarding environment here, to ensure they do. 42 BSS
Wherever one goes in the world, where fine firearms are discussed and appreciated, a gun maker apprenticed to one of the great English firms is revered as the cream of the crop. A Westley Richards apprenticeship is a ticket to a lifetime of rewarding, well-paid work; for the skills acquired are in very short supply the world over. Westley Richards is currently seeking new apprentices. This is our commitment to the longevity of our own business and to the gun trade in Britain in a wider sense. Applicants should have an interest in mechanics or engineering, good hand-eye 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. Hand-filing steel and shaping wood into fine firearms is a very satisfying and creative process. 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 [email protected] 43 BSS
We’re heading to IWA Outdoor Classics 2023, are you? Come and say hello on the British Shooting Show stand. Have a chat with the team about the show or learn more on how we can help get your business seen by the shooting industry and public. Hall 3A 3A-620
DOES YOUR GUN FIT? BY JONATHAN CARTER 46 BSS
It is a commonly known fact that if you want Of course some guns will be so far out from the to shoot well, your gun must fit you. Everyone correct for their owners that they are better off knows this, talks about this, and professes that starting with something closer to their needs. their gun fitted them like a glove right off the So, the perfect client walks in, who has some shelf, but what is gun fit, how does it work and shooting experience, but knows that their gun what does it involve? isn’t quite right, and asks for a fitting, what do we do? The bead at the end of your gun is your front sight, a point of reference that does not change. LENGTH Now imagine if you will, that your eye is the ‘rear sight’ of your shotgun. In rifle shooting if your Checking length is a quite in depth process, the front and rear sights are not aligned you will not old trick of putting the stock into the inside of be hitting the bullseye (however hard you try!). your elbow and seeing if your finger touched the The concept of gun fit is adjusting your ‘rear trigger just doesn’t cut the mustard. There is a sight’ to ‘zero’ your shotgun. mixture of factors that go into the stock length of a gun, and the following is not an exhaustive This might seem a strange analogy, but is the list. What do you wear when you shoot? What only way to truly explain that even if your swing do you shoot? How do you shoot? How tall are is perfect, your lead is perfect and the stars are you? How long are your arms? How long is your aligned just so, that you will never hit the target neck? What shape are your shoulders (bone, if the gun isn’t pointing where you are looking. fat, muscle distribution)? How do you mount a Some people adjust themselves to guns which is gun? All of these are important factors in getting very possible, but is suboptimal. length correct, and as 1/4 inch can make all the difference, make sure you get it checked by To assess the suitability of somebody’s gun fit, somebody with fitting experience. we must first make two grand assumptions. The first is that they can mount the gun properly, Once a length has been determined it is a case effectively and consistently, without this there is of having your gun altered. To make it shorter, little to no point in doing a gun fit. this may require wood to be removed and have a pad refitted, if it is longer an extension is in Of course you can, with experience, tell what order. The options for what to put on the end somebody will need, but all together too often, of your gun is endless, from high tech recoil complete novices come in wanting a gun fit reducers to polished buffalo horn, but what you having held a gun for a mere 10 shot trial. The choose is usually determined by a mixture of basics of gun fit can often be achieved but a the gun’s application and aesthetics. A walnut perfect fit will require further work. I should say extension is one of the hardest to fit, as the at this point that it is better that they learn with grain must blend in, and although a perfect a gun that has been ‘first fitted’ as it should help match is essentially impossible, a match at 10 to avoid any bad habits whilst mounting a gun, metres away is often achievable! Once a material but with a realisation that further work will need has been selected, it must be fitted to the gun. doing. Most after market butt pads are ground to fit, meaning they come oversized and are not simply The second is that the person isn’t set to a sort of a bolt on attachment. To do this the original pad gun fit auto-correct. Too often people will make is removed and the end of the gun and new pad do, rolling their head over, hunching up and checked for a good flat connection, the pad is generally manipulating their bodies so that their then attached, with new holes drilled and old eye is in the right place regardless of what gun ones plugged as necessary. they have picked up. With this it is possible to achieve adequate results, but they will always fail with certain types of bird. It can easily be seen, and sometimes a word for them to just open both eyes, and relax can have them handling the gun much more naturally. 47 BSS
The excess of the pad is then marked with a CAST scribe, and the pad removed, and this excess material painted white, earmarking it for Once a satisfactory length is achieved it is time removal. This is done with a mixture of tools, to look at eye alignment. This is affected by the a bandsaw, a linisher, a file, and various other cast and drop of the gun (the way a gun stock is hand tools suitable for the material at hand. ‘bent’ from the line of the barrel). This is checked Once this excess is removed the usually rough by having the client mount their gun up to your surface is sanded down through the grits until finger tip, which puts different points between a quality fit is produced. To gain a seamless your eye and theirs. This is something you can join, the pad must be finished on the gun, and do at home in the mirror, but it is difficult to the woodwork refinished, although taking into see the smaller adjustments that are needed account the fitment of pads on factory guns, without an experienced person having a look. most people are happy with a pad worked off Always bear in mind what you are using the gun the gun. Reading back this seems very easy to for, as different disciplines as well as personal do, but having seen a few home-made jobs, I preferences require you to see varying amounts would personally take it to a gunsmith for the of rib. Shooting a gun over a pattern plate can be work! Expect to pay anywhere from £80 for a a very telling experience, and is definitely worth fitted after market pad, upwards to in excess of doing if you have access to one. £300.00 for something out of the ordinary. To correct any issues with cast we must adapt the gun to suit. This can be done in a couple of ways. Adjustable combs can be used to adapt where your eye line sits, and can very easily be adjusted with zero permanence, which can lead to fiddling with dimensions every time you have a bad day. I was once told that adjustable combs are for people with no confidence in good gun fit, and I have come to see there is occasionally mileage in this opinion, however on some guns there is little or no option but to fit an adjustable comb to get somebody’s sight picture correct. The ‘proper’ way is to cast the stock. To cast the gun the stock and action is put in a jig, designed to hold the action end and heat is then applied to the grip area. This is done by either pouring hot oil over the neck area of the stock, or by using dry heat. Hot oil is the preferred method as the chances of burning the stock are very low, whereas dry heat holds a certain burn risk. I personally use hot oil, although the action will always require a clean to ensure no oil is left in the firing mechanism. Once the stock reaches temperature the wood becomes extremely malleable and can be moved to the desired dimensions, the only limitations being the bolt that holds the woodwork to the gun and the integrity of the wood! The stock is then left in this position while it cools off, and sets in the new dimensions. 48 BSS
GUN FIT ACHIEVED! Hopefully once all this work is complete and you come back for your gun, you will pick it up to your shoulder without any head movements and be looking bang down the rib. Meaning that your eye can become the ‘rear sight’ of the gun instead of relying on the rib, or top of the action as a point of reference. May the more consistent, relaxing and enjoyable period of shooting begin. Of course there is always more. If a gun was a long way out, after alterations a client’s style may change and further work may be required. Heaven forbid we admit that we change shape throughout our lives, losing 20lbs will affect your gun’s fit, as will hitting the gym. Keep a track of how you are shooting and if you notice your fitted gun isn’t performing like it used to, pop into the gunsmith. THE FUTURE OF GUN FIT In the last few years, gun manufacturers have finally realised that not every shooter is the same. To this end many companies are producing easily adjustable guns. A Beretta for example comes at 14 1/2” length of pull but can be adjusted using there pad and spacer system from 14 1/4 to 15 1/2” plus all using a philips screw driver. It may not be the prettiest of extensions but in an age where people are much less long sighted in their gun ownership, it serves as a very reasonably priced and accessible way of getting your gun the correct length. The New Benelli 828 over and under provides us with an over and under with a shim set allowing the gun to be set to over 40 stock dimensions, unbelievable flexibility in one shotgun! Things are changing, perhaps for the better, for the people who do not suit off the shelf guns and it will be interesting to see where this trend takes us. 49 BSS
There’s a saying “quality wine gets better with age”. Welcome to the Great British Shooting Show, the UK’s longest running shooting industry event. Our 15th year is somewhat of a milestone, following the trials and tribulations of the past two years with the covid issues. What makes the British Shooting show tick? Good old fashion ethics; we are privately owned, financially independent and unreliant on shareholders whilst looking after our industry. The dynamics that make up the gun trade is truly wondrous! Powerful global brands, employing thousands of personnel all over the world keeps the British shooting industry staff busy throughout the year. Discussing their requirements for the forthcoming show, there’s an amazing buzz within the office when the graphics departments start submitting their stand designs. These wonderful graphics are a pleasure on the eye, amongst all this organised chaos it’s so pleasing to guide new companies exhibiting at the British Shooting Show, through what can seem a daunting task. Whilst they have hundreds of questions it’s a pleasure to be a part of their journey. (Rather like ‘Dragons Den’. Being part of a company and seeing it grow). Our 15 year journey, to coin a smoking barrel phrase “It’s been emotional”. The British Shooting Shows’ multitude of exhibitors covers absolutely all aspects of our industry. Land management for those of us as land owners, or as important tenants and agents, these skill sets can sometimes be overlooked as to their importance, keeping our countryside proactive! Organisations and media platforms are present at the show such as the NGO, BASC, Fieldsports Channel TV along with other organisations, offering support and advice over the three show days. 50 BSS
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