Gun Trade News 102

BERETTA LAUNCHES ‘NEW OVER AND UNDER PLATFORM’

Major release from Beretta designed to dominate clay sector

Beretta has announced the introduction of a new range of shotguns, the SL2, heralding it as a ‘new era’ for Beretta shotguns.

The SL2 will be the frst shotgun to feature the advanced Steelium® Pro X barrels, that Beretta claim offer unprecedented performance.

According to Beretta, there are three elements that make Steelium® Pro X the best barrel ever made.

1. Terminal energy: a smaller diameter of the forcing cone allows a better terminal energy, a recoil reduction, and better performances with felt fbre wad.

2. Shot pattern: tested with 3D modelling, the results are incredibly consistent and uniform, and remain full of energy throughout its useful range.

3. Recoil management: Smoother recoil, compared to the Pro version, is easily perceptible. New 90- millimetre chokes, called OCXP, complete the package.

“The pinnacle of Beretta’s expertise in clay target shooting is embodied in the Pietro Beretta Selection, showcasing unmatched craftsmanship,” says the press release, continuing: “With its forward-thinking design and cutting-edge technical innovations, this custom-built shotgun is crafted for victory.”

Certainly when GTN attended the Be-

retta Press Day held at the Schiesszentrum at Ulm, in advance of IWA this year, a handful of embargoed SL2s were available for shooting in the indoor clay shoot. Every one of the 30 or so international gun journalists attending agreed that the ‘platform’ was at a very high level, as expected from a company with Beretta’s reputation.

ISB TO DISTRIBUTE NEW THEOBEN

As has been re[ported in GTN before, one of the most iconic names in airguns, Theoben, is set to make a return after the brand has spent years lost in a legal wrangle. Theoben air rifes are now being manufactured by RAW in the US with the involvement of Ben Taylor, the ‘ben’ from the original Theoben setup.

Now ISB have confrmed in an exclusive interview with GTN that they will be distributing the brand in the UK. This marks a considerable gamble and a coup for ISB, which has recently lost its agreement to distribute Browning in the UK. David Stapley told us “We are lucky to partner with RAW who are a proven winner in the US market, they hold world records for accuracy and make some of the most reliable products available. When we add in the Theoben

name, a much loved heritage brand, we will have a strong brand and excellent product mix. We will back this up with slick aftersales and a unique go to mar ket strategy.”

AIR ARMS TO DROP ROTHERY AND HAWKE AND GO DIRECT

GTN understands that in a letter to its retailers, Air Arms has announced its decision to move from third-party distributors to a direct distribution model from 1 June.

In the letter, Claire West told retailers: ”With these changes, we aim to improve service delivery, increase your proft margins, and provide you with cuttingedge tools that will redefne how you engage with us and your customers. The changes we are making are designed to help Air Arms and our partners grow our businesses together and improve the service we provide to our customers.”

The news comes after a dramatic overhaul for Air Arms in recent months, driven by Claire’s leadership. www.air-arms.co.uk

Published by:

Stable Events, Invision House, Wilbury Way, Hitchin, England, SG4 0TY www.guntradenews.com

Editor-in-Chief: Steve Faragher, steve.faragher@guntradenews.com

Art Editor: Joe Burt

Consultant Editor: Lee Hurst

Advertising: Lee Hurst 07 949 111 539 lee.hurst@thegamefair.org

Publisher: Gemma Payne

Contributors: Stuart Farr, Diggory Hadoke, Mat Manning, Conor O’Gorman, Caroline Roddis, Alex Sayer, Karl Waktare

WE SAY

It seems hard to believe that it is now six months since we published our last paper version of the magazine.

Did we move too soon? Only time will tell, but I can honestly say that we remain glad to have made the decision, to have relieved ourselves of the burden of so much overhead and wastage. Now we’ve been able to focus on giving you more of what you want and need.

There’ll be some major announcements in the coming months as we continue our planned migration to digital proper, and start to harness the benefts it can bring us all. As the country gears itself up for a change of direction and some fresh faces through the election, we will be doing the same to Gun Trade News. Thank you for coming on the journey with us, and for not staying stuck in the unsustainable past.

Talking of the election, as Conor O’Gorman of BASC writes elsewhere in these pages this month, we must all make sure our voices are heard as we head into the campaigning proper. It seems the trade has little to fear from the Labour party who, touch wood, seem content to largely allow pastimes with guns to continue unchallenged should they form the next government (as seems inevitable at the point of writing). However, other groups

“ We must all make sure our voices are heard ”

such as the Greens may make more headway, and while I have often suggested before that our ultimate goals are not so dissimilar from theirs we do disagree strongly on the road to travel.

So make sure your prospective MP knows who you are, and what you do, and why you feel shooting is an important part of the UK’s economy and heritage. They can’t support us if they don’t know we exist.

Steve

to deliver uncomplicated and essential thermal imaging capabilities. Thermal imaging has never been easier!

Steiner, presents the next generation of the Nighthunter Series, extending its product portfolio into digital thermal imaging technology. Known for outstanding optical performance, especially in challenging lighting conditions, Steiner‘s Nighthunter Series promises to revolutionise hunting experiences through ground breaking technology.

Quantum VisionTM is the perfect combination of best possible thermal sensor, state-of-the-art display and advanced software development, all that combined with great usability and the legendary Steiner ruggedness.

Steiner’s Nighthunter Thermal Handheld delivers exceptional performance on the darkest of nights with crisp, clear images in a durable and reliable thermal optic.

Perfection through Quantum Vision™ The perfect clip-on that combines compact design for easy attaching and detaching from your ri escope, without compromising.

*Steiner 2 year warranty for electronics.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Around the UK and abroad, all the top stories digested

Lamberts Of Ringwood Closes

The much-loved Lamberts of Ringwood closed its doors for the last time in April.

The shop had been a gunsmiths for more than 100 years, trading as R Balanton’s from 1916 to the 1960s, then as Greenfeld’s before becoming known as Lamberts when Malcolm Lambert took the frm over in the 990s. alcolm, now 78, has decided to take retirement.

Malcolm told the Bournemouth Echo:

Brocock Launches

Final Piece Of Support

As the fnal part of a project to provide additional technical support to dealers and shooters around the world, BRK has released a series of online workshop guides that provide step by step guidance to help service and repair its PCP air ri es.

The guides are free and can be accessed from the BRK-Brocock website drop down menu at www.brocock.co.uk, or via a direct link: https://brocock.co.uk/ workshop-guides/.

The Workshop Guides apply to the current BRK and Brocock range and

““It’s sad. It’s something I’m not looking forward to doing. I’ll miss the whole atmosphere, and the customers coming in to see us.”

Lamberts’ resident gunsmith Ben Clarke has set up on his own with a great new shop in Ashley, New Milton called New Forest Country Sports. He can be contacted on 01425 464593 or sales@ newforestcountrysports.com

complement a similar series of guides for Daystate ri es. They are aimed at professional gunsmiths and amateur shooters who feel confdent in maintaining, servicing, and repairing their ri e if out of warranty.

The accompanying videos have been produced by Sub 12 Airgunners and include information of required tools and ‘o’ ring sizes. Each video is accompanied by a workshop manual and photos.

Got a role to advertise? Get it in the Movers & Shakers section and reach thousands of UK gun trade professionals. Contact Lee Hurst on 07 949 111 539

BASC AGM Appointments

BASC’s AGM took place at Marford Mill today, Saturday 18 May. The meeting included the election of two Council members, both of which were for national seats.

Gareth Wilson (left) is a former chief constable of Suffolk Constabulary and is interested in a broad range of pursuits covered by BASC.

He said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be elected to Council and I’m really hoping that the experience I have —everything from working my dogs through to deer stalking and rough shooting brings benefts to the members. I hope my professional career and skills will also be of signifcant beneft to BASC.”

Aidan Dryden, pictured right, from Worcestershire, was elected to the other national seat. His shooting interests centre around wildfowling and rough shooting.

He said: “It’s an honour to be elect-

ed to represent our sport by members of the sport and I’ll do my best to represent all members.”

Following the AGM, chairman of BASC’s Council, Eoghan Cameron, said: “Congratulations and welcome to Gareth and Aidan. Shooting continues to face an array of challenges and BASC’s attitude and approach is what sets us apart and stands us in good stead to face them head-on.

“BASC is leading from the front and fghting the battles where and when they need to be fought on behalf of the whole community.”

New Winchester Xperts

Winchester is now offering several new versions of its bolt-action ri e: the XPERT FDE with its sand colour, picyred below, the XPERT Strata with its unique camo and the XPERT Stealth with its hunting green colour.

This bolt-action ri e distinguishes itself by its technical features, striking looks and the pleasure it gives. Based on more than 150 years of experience as a frearms manufacturer, Winchester has developed the XPERT ri e with the goal of optimising customer experience, in

particular through improved ergonomics: The catch for the rotary magazine is fully ambidextrous; the stock is hollow to save weight: shouldering is as instinctive as it is fast.

Two Picatinny rails allow you to mount your accessories on the XPERT. You can also get an adjustable cheek rest or an additional butt plate to ensure your weapon fts you perfectly. And the barrel is threaded if you wish to use a sound moderator RRP 499 Euros

New Pixfra Mile 2 Announced

The Pixfra Mile 2 features a completely new, slimline design which seamlessly

119 ex120.

The CPSA added: “A huge thank you to Clive Bramley and his team for putting together a terrifc course, this is the second time Doveridge have hosted the English Open for us and once again they have pulled it off spectacularly. Thanks also to the dedicated team of referees who have worked tirelessly to keep the competition fair and running smoothly.”

w Hedgerow Regulations

The new Management of Hedgerows England Regulations 202 have offcially become law, promising to enhance the protection and management of hedgerows across England. They include::

Buffer Strips: A 2-metre buffer strip must be maintained around hedgerows, that is free from cultivation, pesticides, and fertilisers.

Cutting Ban: Hedgerow cutting is prohibited from 1 March to 31 August to protect nesting birds.

These regulations align with existing environmental schemes, making compliance straightforward for many. Over 20,000 agreements already support the management of 60,000 miles of hedgerows in England.

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will enforce these regulations, focusing on advice-led approaches and reserving stronger actions for severe cases. Public consultations will shape future implementation and enforcement strategies.

Cumbrian Firearms Licensing Reviewed

The Chief Constable of Cumbria police has committed additional resources to frearms licensing in the region to cut delays for certifcate renewals.

BASC’s head of frearms, artin Parker, met with the Chief Constable of Cumbria Constabulary, Rob Carden, on Monday 29 April to discuss the service delivered by his force to certifcate holders in the region.

The Chief Constable conceded that Cumbria’s performance in frearms licensing fell short of the high standards he demanded of other departments within the constabulary.

He has committed additional resources to the department, with a view to resolving their current backlogs by 22 July 2024. Initial progress has been dramatic,

Garrick’s First, Now Flyfishers?

According to The Times, one of the country’s leading female anglers has called on the lyfshers’ Club, whose patron is the King, to fnally open its doors to women. Marina Gibson told the paper there were “so many really hardcore women anglers out there and they would love a chance to go at lunchtime and just chill” at the 140-year-old club based in central London.

Gibson, who gave up a job in fnance to set up a fshing school in North orkshire, told the Hay Festival that she “would just love to go and sit and read a book and talk about fshing to other fshermen”.

She said, however, that she “completely understands” that “a lot of people have a diffcult time with change”, adding that when she recently told male anglers she should be admitted to the club they had

Farlows Picks Up New Royal Warrant From The King

Farlows is proud to announce that it has been given a Royal Warrant from King Charles III to replace the one it held previously from the Prince of Wales. Farlows explained the award was due in part to its longstanding commitment to excellence in the products it provides, as well as its environmental and sustainability practices.

Royal Warrants are only granted to a select number of organisations providing goods or services to the Royal Household, in Farlows case as Suppliers of Fishing Tackle and Waterproof Clothing. The criteria for qualifcation is notoriously strict.

There are currently over 800 Royal Warrant holders, representing a huge cross-section of trade and industry, from individual craftspeople to global multi-nationals, from dry cleaners to fshmongers and more.

with a 30 reduction in outstanding frearms certifcate renewals and a 2 reduction in shotgun certifcate renewals.

The meeting between BASC and Chief Constable Carden was arranged by Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Cumbria, Mike Johnson, following a conversation at BASC’s recent gamekeepers’ day at Swinton Estate.

Martin said: “I was pleased that Chief Constable Carden took time out of his busy schedule to meet with BASC. His approach to the problem was very encouraging and BASC has committed to providing any assistance with training that the force may fnd useful.”

IN PARLIAMENT

Prospective Reform candidate Nigel Farage interviewed by Guy

“I actually think driven game shooting is now in real trouble. They will licence the release of pheasants, and license grouse moors, limit how many birds you can cull, that sort of thing.”

appeared “quite scared”.

Gibson said that while the sector was changing, “women in fshing is such a tiny market still and there are probably only half a dozen women who are fulltime guides or instructors”.

She said that there were a “huge” number of women involved in clay shooting and that women had told her that “fshing doesn’t look glamorous”.

Adams on Scribehound

NEW SEASON OUTFITS ON SHOW

GTN headed up to London for the Covent Garden launch of some of the country’s favourite brands’ spring collection, here’s what was on show…

FAIRFAX & FAVOUR

The George Collection featuring

The Bella Collection featuring the Jacket, £195 and Gilet, £165, both available in Navy and Sage Quilt

This quilted collection for him and her is the sort of thing you’ll live in all season thanks to its smart country styling and supreme comfort levels. Button up for guaranteed style points on all your favourite country pursuits and maybe weekend walks that end at the pub.

The Sadie Jacket, £345 available in Khaki or Black Dry Wax Cotton

Beautifully tailored, and cinched in with an iconic chevron belt, Fairfax avour’s frst ever wax jacket is the last word in country style. Made for dog walks or shoots on fresh spring mornings and all your other favourite rural pursuits, it’s a piece to pair with Explorers for earthy walks in the woods or L’Alliance wellies for Saturdays at the stables.

Made with Halley Stevensons dry wax cotton—inspired by its 1910 patent for waterproofng textiles the Sadie fnish is a combination of F&F’s driest wax and soft aero tumbling, perfect for lightweight breath-

SCHÖFFEL COUNTRY

Edith Jacket £259.95 available in Navy and Tundra Simple, practical style epitomised. 100% waterproof, windproof and breathable thanks to a lovely-to-wear Venturi fabric, the Edith Jacket will keep you dry in the harshest of weather. With pockets to keep your hands warm and valuables safe, plus an adjustable, removable hood, this elegant coat is a nod to luxury found in simplicity.

LE CHAMEAU

Chasseur

The Iconic Chasseur, a handcrafted, premium, neoprene-lined, zip wellington boot is instantly recognizable. Available in a choice of eight calf fttings for an almost bespoke ft, Aramid fbre reinforcement to the front offers extra protection against abrasion, while a rugged waterproof Riri Aquazip and snap button serves for fastening. A shock-absorbing, insulating, all terrain-outsole with reinforced shank offers better arch support.

Whitwell Water

Repellent Trouser, £129.95 available in Navy and Forest Designed to stand up to the elements, keeping you comfortable whatever the weather, our Whitwell WaterRepellent Trousers are made for country living.

Cordoba Polo Shirt, £64.95 available in Navy and Forest Designed to help you perform at your best in the feld, our Cordoba Polo Shirt is a great op tion for summer clay shooting, simulated game days or pigeon shooting.

Vierzonord

The Iconic Vierzonord is the Wellington boot of choice for everyday country life. amous for being the frst rubber Wellington boots with an adjustable waterproof gusset, the Vierzonord also boasts an insulating neoprene lining that will keep you comfortable and warm all day long. A tightening strap and snap fastening button ensure a perfect ft, while the shock-absorbing and antifatigue dual density Grip outsole resists abrasion over all terrains.

A BIG THUMBS UP!

Did you know a thumbs up emoji can be used under contract law in the US? And that it’s okay to say “sorry” in business without admitting liability? Stuart Farr takes a look…

JUST think, for instance, how our methods of communication have altered over, say, the last three decades or so. Who could have imagined that so many forms of the “printed” word would morph into screen-based electronic formats? And for good reasons and with an abundance of common sense too, not least because virtually all shooters now realise that trees do need to be hugged rather than hacked down.

Hands up those of you who still have a “pigeon hole”? How many of you have used a fax machine? When was the last time you handwrote a “Dear Sir or “Dear Madam” business letter to a customer, dried the wet ink on a huge desk blotter, licked the envelope, applied a stamp and walked the delicate little paper parcel to the post-box? Phew, what an effort that was! Besides, who still has handwriting legible enough to justify the use of a fountain pen in any event? Plus, how many businesses do you know still operate a traditional “post room”?

So many of these phenomena have been left behind by the dramatic rise of all forms of electronic communication. But are these replacements just as ft for purpose as their demonstrably ineffcient ancestors were?

More haste

Speed with communication is now perceived as the priority, but has this resulted in a lowering of communication standards? On a day-to-day basis, it is often diffcult to tell but let’s see what the courts think…

Across the pond, a Canadian company called Achter Land and Cattle Limited was recently ordered to pay signifcant damages to its customer, South West Terminal Limited, for failing to supply a substantial volume of ax. The reason It was decided that the two companies had developed a very informal way of communicating with each other. So, when a sales representative of Achter acknowledged receipt of a message from South West requesting the supply of ax with a thumb’s up emoji, the court decided that Achter were, in fact, contractually committing to deliver. Achter was not merely confrming receipt of the message.

“ Who still has handwriting legible enough to justify the use of a fountain pen? ”

Similar cases in the USA have declared that using the smiley face, grinning face, and clapping hands emojis had similar effects within the context of contractual negotiations.

Although such informal modes of communication are yet to be tested in the UK courts, it is only a matter of time. Emojis are popular and are becoming increasingly used outside the boundaries of a purely social context. I now receive emojis regularly and being a lawyer, occasionally, I have even had to double check the meaning behind an emoji

laden message. Easily done with a quick follow up phone call, but nevertheless it does highlight the importance of vigilance. Even though I am of a generation where emoji “language” is unfamiliar, I realise that it can be just as nuanced as normal prose.

The prevalence of emojis and other abbreviated forms of communication means the risks associated with them need to be understood and, if necessary, trained out of your organisation where accuracy and clarity is essential. Inadvertently creating contractual commitments

in this manner may not only cause commercial embarrassment and reputational damage but might also prove costly.

Say sorry

owever, don’t panic. If the worse happens and a “tears of laughter” emoji is used to acknowledge a potential customer’s unrealistic request for a large quantity of the undeliverable, needing to be delivered yesterday and at a fraction of your normal price, the frst natural reaction to any error or breakdown in communication is, of course, to apologise. Or is it?

or years the insurance world and motor insurers in particular drummed a mantra into us all that, in the event of an insurable incident occurring, the very last thing you should do is… apologise. “Sorry” was, in the insurers’ opinion,

Legal 11

tantamount to giving an admission of liability, which effectively meant they were screwed under the policy.

In 2006, the government felt the notion of not apologising was counterproductive and decided to encourage the giving of apologies in the context of civil disputes. It enacted section 2 of the Compensation Act which basically said “an apology, an offer of treatment or other redress, shall not of itself amount to an admission of negligence or breach of statutory duty”.

Unfortunately, the government’s message has still failed to achieve traction and there persists an attitude that an apology can be damaging in some way, including in relation to insurance coverage. Hence, the so-called “law of apologies” is currently subject to a fresh consultation by the Ministry of Justice—the aim being to see whether the shortcomings of the 2006 Act can be modifed and improved in some way. As matters stand, the Act applies to all civil proceedings, except for defamation and public inquiries.

The Hardest Word

An apology can (and often does) have a positive impact on the dynamic of a

dispute. It can prevent a dispute from escalating and even restore good relations—an important consideration given that many industry sectors (the gun trade being no exception) operate in ever increasing niche markets. However, as the song goes, saying sorry can be hard to do, which is why I am not often instructed by clients to issue an open apology. Instead, they are uttered privately, being reserved for without prejudice discussions, such as mediations, where the words are unlikely to ever see the light of

day. Be that as it may, a suitable apology, phrased with thought and care, should never be the last priority.

Personally, I am expecting that any revisions in this area will start to creep into the pre-action Protocols which apply to virtually all civil disputes and require the parties to engage directly, in a spirit of co-operation, before any litigation is commenced. The government’s self interest in this area is obvious. Fewer court cases indirectly reduce the burden on the tax payer to pay for the civil

justice system. The backlogs and delays in the court system at present are huge, and while I feel certain that encouraging apologies alone will not be suffcient to make enough of a difference, as part of an ongoing suite of measures it might help things along.

All claims under £10,000 will soon become subject to a “compulsory” court appointed mediation exercise, which is already being gradually baked into the system through various pilot schemes. I can attest to some gun trade members having utilised the new court-based mediation service to great effect, and so it will be interesting to see how effectively the scheme operates as it broadens out. However, with such well-meaning initiatives in place, success is so often directly proportional to the amount and quality of the resources invested in it. For now, I am content to give it a qualifed thumbs up!

GTN

Stuart Farr is a member of the GTA and a partner in Taylors solicitors. He welcomes contact from any trade organisation, especially those with a problem to resolve.

RECORD-BREAKING NATIONAL SHOOTING SHOW 2024

The National Shooting Show (NSS), held at the Yorkshire Event Centre 11-12 May 2024, welcomed over 20,000 enthusiastic visitors this year

WITH over 200 exhibitors and a record-breaking number of attendees, the National Shooting Show 2024 proi e a eas or rear en h sias s offering a diverse array of guns, accessories, and expert advice. Attendees were also treated to interactive experiences, including the opportunity o es re annons se i a o a i rifes sho g ns an a igh alibre rife. ro no i es o seasone experts, the NSS event catered to all,

serving as both a celebration and a hub for like-minded individuals to connect and indulge in their passion for shooting.

Now in its 9th year, the National Shooting Show continues to emerge as a signifcant economic driver for the region, attracting visitors from across the country. Inside the event, exhibitors witnessed substantial spending, further solidifying its status as the largest consumer-only event in the sector.

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), a key partner of the event, reported a surge in membership sign-ups, marking this year as a resounding success. Duncan Thomas, Director of BASC, expressed his delight, stating: “What a tremendous weekend. We’ve been blessed by the weather, absolutely quality people coming and having a really good weekend. There’s something for all the family. It’s a real celebration of shooting sports on a na-

tional basis but here in the mighty North. Thank you.”

BSA showcased their latest innovations to an eager audience. Sales & Marketing Director Jon Hatton said: “We travelled up here with quite an assortment of guns – we’ve had a lot of interest … the booth looks really good. We’ve also got a range where people can come and have a go, that’s been popular. For visitors there’s so much to see, whether you’re into accessories, shotguns, air-

Images by Matt Kidd

National Shooting Show 2024

guns … lots of things for the kids to see and do and keep them busy.”

Sheila Cooper, customer service manager at Air Arms said about the Show: “It’s a good opportunity for us to meet the public and shooters—we’ve had some very good conversations with visitors to our stand.”

A spokesperson for Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle dealer Northside Truck & Van commented about the Show: “All very positive.”

“ We’ve been blessed by the weather, and absolutely quality people coming ”

Jim Rich of Crawley-based gunseller Surplus Store said: “It’s very unusual for us to come this far up north but it’s the third year we’ve done it. It’s worked well for us, we get a nice customer base.”

In addition to the frearms and accessories, the National Shooting Show featured displays in falconry, gundogs, archery, and culinary arts. “We’re pleased to see a rise in attendance, particularly

among women and children,” noted James Gower Managing Director “Our focus on family-friendly activities aligns with our vision of making shooting sports accessible to all.” GTN GTN

NEXT YEAR: The National Shooting Show returns to The Yorkshire Event Centre next year, 10-11 May 2025.

THE FULL AIRGUN

Daystate and BRK (Brocock) are offering airgun shooters the opportunity to enjoy a day or two of absolute indulgence. Mat Manning talks to Tony Belas to find out more

THE team at Daystate and BRK (Brocock) don’t do things by halves. They a e so e o he nes airg ns in he worl g ns ha are lo e b h ners an also ha e n ero s in ernational competition titles to their credit.

This summer the two British brands are offering airgun shooters an opportunity not only to shoot their range of guns amongst the rolling hills and woodland of Oakedge Shooting Ground in Staffordshire but also to enjoy a raft of social and learning activities. The ranges will be overseen by leading shooting instructors, experienced gunsmiths will lead servicing and maintenance workshops and myself and Richard Saunders from The Airgun Show will be doing our best to help attendees hone their hunting and feldcraft skills.

The event takes place on Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th July and, apart from giving shooters the chance to enjoy a day—or two—at Oakedge, there is even a package which includes accommodation, dinner and, no doubt, a memorable night out.

MM What inspired you to offer people Daystate and BRK experience days?

TB We have been running two-day trade training courses for many years and are quite used to having event days. Previous ones include the launch of the Wolverine up at Greystoke Castle, Time for MTC at Greenwich observatory and, more recently, Daystate’s 40th anniversary at the National Firearms Centre in Leeds. We also attend club and national events throughout the year, so it was a logical choice to combine it all into an

“ Oakedge is a beautiful place and it really suits what we want to do ”

open day, which in planning has expanded into Daystate and BRK (Brocock) experience days. I have a feeling that this will be something really special.

MM Why did you choose Oakedge Shooting Ground as the venue?

TB Oakedge is a beautiful place and it really suits what we want to do. Just 20 minutes from the Daystate/BRK factory, it is part of a 74-acre estate, and we already use it for testing, training and other activities. This time we have privately rented the whole site for the two days.

The Daystate day kicks off at 10am on Monday 8th July, and BRK follows from 9.30am on Tuesday 9th July.

We will have every current model from both the Daystate and BRK ranges on the fring point for our guests to shoot out to 70 yards.

I think one of the greatest advantages will be the opportunity to actually shoot these ri es and get a proper feel for them, which would be a great help for anyone trying to choose their next purchase.

MM And I see there will also be coaching. Who is involved and what aspects

will the range coaches be covering?

TB We are lucky enough to have the services of Ian Price who is a Benchrest champion and qualifed coach. e will be joined by BASC trainer Kevin Barnwell exclusively on the range.

MM I know several people in the trade who have attended the technical workshop sessions. Can you tell us a bit about what they cover?

TB The plan is to split each day into sections, and there will be an indoor part in the clubhouse where we will cover the history of the guns, how they work and how to maintain them. The other section of each day will cover hunting skills, conservation work with airguns and the range sessions.

MM It sounds like hunters will also be well catered for. What can they expect?

TB We have invited a team from the Staffordshire Squirrel Project who will talk about grey squirrel control and reintroduction of red squirrels from a conservation perspective. Then we are having demonstrations of hunting techniques from yourself and Richard Saunders.

Of course, this section is for shooters with an interest in hunting and is not mandatory. There will be plenty of other activities to keep the non-hunters entertained.

MM People can choose from several different packages. Can you let us know the various options, what they include and what they cost?

TB The Bronze Package is £40 per person. It is a one-day ticket and includes the activities we have discussed, plus lunch, a gift bag, fve percent discount for the Daystate and BRK online stores and a certifcate on completing the course. The Silver Package is £70 per person and gets you in on both days with all the activities mentioned and a ten percent discount for the online stores.

The Gold Package is £120 per person and again includes everything from the previous packages, both days at the event, an evening meal on Monday night and 15 percent discount for the online stores. Finally, we have the Gold Plus Package, which is £250 per person. This one has all the perks of the Gold Package, plus overnight accommodation on the Monday.

MM This sounds like being a seriously enjoyable and educational couple of days for airgun shooters. What elements are you most excited about?

TB It is all very exciting. We are only days into announcing the event and bookings are already rolling in. I think having the factory engineers showing you how your airgun is assembled along with demonstrations and explanations by Jeff and Jake from Sub-12—who are about the best technicians in the sport— really appeals to me, and something just impossible to get elsewhere.

MM I can see a lot of airgun shooters wanting to be a part of this. ow do they book and when do they need to do it by?

TB The last day for booking is Sunday June 30, but it will close earlier if all the tickets are gone All the booking details can be found at https://daystate.com/ enjoy-daystate-brk-experience-days/ and h s bro o . o. en o br daystate-experience-days/ GTN

You can’t beat having a go yourself

Tony Belas will be on hand to share his wisdom

WILL YOUR MP SUPPORT SHOOTING?

Conor O’Gorman urgers

readers to use BASC’s general election webpage to contact their parliamentary candidates

SO many key issues will be decided by whoever takes power after the general election, there may never have been a bigger day at the ballot box for shooting and conservation.

BASC has launched an interactive online campaign on its website www. basc.org.uk to help people lobby candidate MPs in their area for their views on shooting ahead of the general election on 4 July.

The campaign allows people to email parliamentary candidates in their constituency asking if they support BASC’s election manifesto, which is as follows:

• Sustainable shooting, which respects quarry species, seeks to conserve and improve the environment, avoids excessive consumption, complies with the law, improves the health and wellbeing of participants, and provides food and economic benefts to the wider community.

• Recognition by government that shooting is a force for good, delivering numerous environmental, economic and social benefts, and that it is a massive untapped resource for conservation and addressing the nature emergency.

• A properly resourced frearms licensing system that fulfls its primary purpose of protecting public safety by being conducted effciently and effectively.

• The recognition of the importance of shooting and conservation to the economy of rural areas during the ‘off season’, the humane management of species such as deer and agricultural pests, food production, rural heritage and culture, and social life across the country.

• A commitment by government to work with BASC to assist with the nature emergency by facilitating shooting’s contribution to conservation and building participation in shooting sports.

You can use a template text from our campaign webpage for your email or write your own message.

Whatever approach you take please email any feedback you get to politics@ basc.org.uk and we will use that to update the candidate listings on our site.

Invite candidates to visit your business!

Many GTN readers manage shops, shooting ranges, clubs and syndicates. That puts you in a strong position to in uence candidates by inviting them along to your business to see frst-hand

“ Shooting is a force for good, delivering environmental, economic and social benefits ”

The more replies we get from candidates across the UK the more informed we will all be as part of our own personal decision making on who we are going to cast our vote for.

This is an interactive campaign so over the next few days and weeks, we will be adding new candidates to our webpages as they are declared and at the same time indicating whether or not they have confrmed their support for BASC’s election manifesto.

the important social and economic role you play in your constituency. Some key facts that might come in handy for any such visit are as follows:

• Shooting is worth £3.3 billion to the economy, generates economic activity worth £9.3 billion and provides the equivalent of 67,000 full-time jobs.

• Habitat management and conservation are carried out on 18.8 million acres by those involved in shooting—

around half the agricultural land area of the UK.

• Those involved in shooting provide 14 million conservation workdays, the equivalent of 26,000 full time conservation jobs.

For these and many more facts from the newly published 2024 Value of Shooting report visit www.valueofshooting.co.uk

You can make a difference! I realise many may feel a degree of cynicism about getting involved. That’s the public mood. People are fed up with politics. But that general apathy gives us added reason to contact candidates as can truly make our voice heard.

As a case in point, around 13,000 people got involved in our recent Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) campaign, yet those few, relative to circa 600,000 certifcate holders, made a difference for us all.

Of the 40 elected PCCs, 28 declared themselves as supportive of shooting duringour campaign. Of these, 22 said they would wish their force to process grants and renewals within 17 weeks. Furthermore, 19 PCCs said they would encourage the setting up of an Independent Advisory Group in their force area.

BASC has since been meeting with newly elected PCCs to discuss the situation in their constabularies. We have prioritised 2 areas where frearms licensing is particularly ineffcient. Within these areas, 10 of the newly elected PCCs are supportive of shooting.

What happens next?

We have already been meeting with PCCs and, after the general election, BASC will be following up in many ways with the 650 newly elected MPs. BASC is an all-party organisation and will continue to fght for sustainable shooting and conservation whatever the result of the election. GTN

BANG ON TARGET

British owned, designed and built, Accuracy International held prime position at The National Shooting Show this year as Alex Sayer reports

INVENTORS of the Chassis system, holder of multiple MOD contracts, NATO approved and exporter to 70 different countries, Accuracy International had a stand at the NSS that was busy, engaging and packed with a whole lotta merch.

Although they specialise in designing police and military rife, the section one bolt actions are available to the public who hold a section one license. Accuracy International was founded by British international target shooters in Portsmouth, England in 1980

The choice of professionals, Accuracy International continue to cater for national, international and Olympic target shooters and remain true to their roots. Everything retrofts so that is it compatible going forwards and backwards. Thanks to the engineers, there is no need for contractors who have bought accessories to re purchase. Barrels and components built today ft weapons made twenty years ago. This is something Accuracy International are proud of and it maintains loyalty and adds value.

In the air

All their rifes under go rigorous testing and use aerospace materials. Every Accuracy International rife is manufactured to meet full NATO D14 military testing. Just a few of the things this testing includes is climatic trials i.e. cold wet/cold dry, hot wet/hot dry, drop, drag, dust, and saltwater immersion.

These are not hunting or stalking rifes but more for prone target shooting or precision target shooting—you can even run sideweights on the Accuracy International patented keyslot design system.

In the army

The frst MOD contract Accuracy International secured was in 1985 with the L96A1 rife. The engineers worked closely with UK special forces and government users, to create the L96: a breakthrough in tactical weapon design. Since those early days AI has supplied tactical rifes and associated equipment to over 70 countries, all under export licenses approved by the British government and become the leading supplier of sniper rifes in the world.

Across the pond

There is a USA facility employing around forty staff. Whilst this is mostly production and assembly, there is also a dedicated development team who ensure they fully understand the demands of the American market. Ingenuity arises from information.

Every single component including the barrels are British made in Portsmouth

Improving the action

Mostly there is a choice of colour but there are small production runs of left handed bolt actions. Accuracy International rifes are designed to be ambidextrous—there have only been small changes to the design over the years. As Commercial Director Alice Bond tells us: “there are always tweaks that can be made but there are only a few options

“ Every single component including the barrels are British made in Portsmouth ”

and have been exported to seventy countries around the world. There are around eighty staff based in the machine shops and assembly section in the UK. This includes quality control and testing.

Up top

Director and original owner Dave Walls has been with the company since day one and is pictured in 2015 with fellow Director Tom Irwin at Buckingham Palace when Accuracy International won The Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade.

available because we were so ahead of our time.”

Some of these changes include a side cut out for easy reloading when in the feld. The linear design and weight of the rife reduces the recoil and the design ensures it doesn’t rise but rather pushes. If you need to reload and manoeuvre a heavy weight, this can add to movement—not ideal when you’re a sniper— so the cutout allows for easier access and movement to allow the soldier to stay on target whatever the challenges they are facing.

Innovation

Driven by the end user, Accuracy International are told what the requirement is and their dedicated engineers design, create, refne and manufacture according to need.

An example of this is the ability, with some rifes to change calibre in under two minutes with the same Allen key.

Another example is their pressure plugs that pop out to indicate there is overpressure—this comes as standard on all Accuracy International models. Any scopes that are co-branded with Accuracy International have also been through rigorous military testing. The main ones that you see paired with Accuracy International are Night Force, Schmidt and Bender, Leopold and Vortex who have just won an MOD contract and released a new scope at the National Shooting Show.

Classy chassis

Another part of the business is their chassis system, which they invented. AICS stands for Accuracy International Chassis System. Examples include Tikka T1 X and Tikka T3 as well as Remington’s Bergara B14. Accuracy International don’t sell to these companies but any user can buy the chassis and drop their rife into it.

In terms of their own rifes, Accuracy International have secured Swedish military contracts, supplied the the German Army (G22) in 1995 which saw the evolution of the iconic AW Series of weapons and also the UK MoD L115A3 (“The Long”) since 2008.

Best of British

Seeing Accuracy International at the National Shooting Show gave everyone a chance to get hands on, and see the beauty of British engineering.

We should all feel proud of Accuracy International’s British roots, their commitment to keep every part of their business in the UK and their far reaching export record.

The stand was welcoming and engaging with lots of opportunity to learn about AI and their highly acclaimed rifes and chassis systems.

ON THE FRONT LINE

Her Majesty the Queen meets Dave Walls (centre)

BIDDING ALL OVER THE WORLD

Diggory Hadoke demonstrates that even on a flight to Botswana, tech means he can be a formidable bidding opponent at an auction

MARCH seems barely to have passed and we have leapfrogged into June. With Holts results still ringing in my ears: they topped £2,200,000 again, once all the bids were processed across the Main and the Sealed Bids sales.

No sooner had the March sale concluded, than the previews of the next one, in July, began to appear online. More of that later. In the meantime, Gavin Gardiner held his May sale, which coincided with my birthday and a ight to Botswana, so I was mid-air and out of touch when the bidding took place.

I used Invaluable as a bidding platform and pitched a £1,400 maximum on a Thomas Bissell 12-bore hammer gun. Bissell was the man behind the ‘Rigby Rising Bite’ and I was after a good, early example of his work to put in a display I’m curating for Rigby’s new showroom, which we hope will be built and habitable by early 2025.

There is quite a bit of information pertaining to Mr. Bissell in Rigby’s ledgers, spanning the years 1871 to 1892 and the two gunmakers clearly had a long and

mutually benefcial relationship. This particular gun was a rotary under-lever 12-bore and by my reckoning, the earliest gun by Thomas Bissell yet to emerge on the market.

It pre-dates the 1879 ‘Rising Bite’, which in point of fact was never called that by the maker or the patentee. The patent refers to it as a ‘Vertical Bolt’ and the Rigby records mention ‘R&B Action’, ‘Bissell Action’, and ‘Vertical Bolt Action’, never ‘Rising Bite’.

I have yet to trace the origins of the, now commonly used term. Paul Roberts, one time owner of Rigby, tells me it has been in use in the London trade for at least 70 years.

Air time

As I was over the Atlantic, eating vaguely tepid airline food at the time that bidding took place, it wasn’t until I landed in Johannesburg the following day that I gathered that I had bought the Bissell, for a bid of just £800, which made me happy. With Gavin’s fees and those of Invaluable added, the total bill came to £1,088.

A classic Thomas Bisell ‘Rising Bite’

The Thomas Bissell 12-bore hammer gun

Auction View 19

That breaks down to a bid of £800, plus a Premium of £240 and a charge from Invaluable of £40, plus £8 to the VAT man. Still, all below the £1,400 that I was prepared to bid, so a good result.

Pairs that sold looked very good value, with a 1947 pair of round body assisted openers from Boss netting £17,500 plus Gavin’s 25% commission. A pair of Purdey 16-bores made in 1938 made £16,500 plus £4,125 commission, which, at a fraction over £10,000 each is a steal for best quality small bore sidelocks by Purdey.

As Gavin observed, English side-lock prices have fallen steadily but unusual collector-grade guns and ri es are in demand and make good money. Interest from the US was stronger than it has been for a while, perhaps due to the good economic fgures coming from the country recently.

Back once again

Back to Holts with their mid-year sale on July 29 and 30. A few interesting bits caught my eye. A Wilkinson & Son Harvey patent hammer gun with self-retracting strikers is like one I have already but it has a Jones lever, rather than a sidelever, though it is also a 16-bore.

Another interesting gun is an Adam’s Patent Small Arms Company converted pinfire, built on Horsley’s 1863 pull-back lever patent

“ Magazine rifles from the 1920s and ’30s are collectable but still good value ”

An unusual Dickson hammer gun from 1879 with wood bar action is listed along with a Rigby, Jones under-lever, gun dating from 1872. Checking this one confrmed what I had long suspected, that Rigby often recorded the Jones under-lever guns as ‘Lefaucheaux’ in the order books. That explains why so many ‘Lefaucheaux’ guns appear in the records well after the original system was obsolete. Rigby used the term to cover any action with a rotating lever. At £600-£800 as an estimate, it will attract a fair bit of attention.

Another interesting gun is an Adam’s Patent Small Arms Company converted pinfre, built on orsley’s 3 pullback lever patent. It is a pretty gun in good order and shows that it is still possible to collect interesting hammer guns for a thousand pounds or so, if you avoid the ‘big names’.

agazine ri es from the 920s and ‘30s are collectable but still good value

compared with new prices. For example, a Rigby Highland Stalker is currently priced from around £8,000 to £10,000 depending on specifcations, with a ‘London best’ version at over £35,000. Westley Richards only build best quality and a new one in .318 Accelerated Express (a proprietary Westley Richards cartridge) will be upwards of £65,000.

Holts have a 1925 Rigby .275 Mauser Sporting model made in 9 0, ftted with its original ’scope, estimated at £1,500£2,000 and a Westley Richards .318 made in 1935, estimated at just £1,0001,500, complete with Zeiss ‘scope.

Be careful to watch out for the added 20% on the hammer price that is now being applied to guns and ri es imported for sale from overseas. This is only payable by us in the UK, so it makes our bids uncompetitive compared to overseas buyers. If you voted for Brexit, pat yourself on the back; we have you to thank for that.

Classic

Holts have a 1925 Rigby .275 Mauser Sporting model made in 1910, fitted with its original ‘scope, estimated at £1,500-£2,000

Another ri e in this category, though attracting only 5% extra VAT as a pre-1939 ri e, is a olland olland .2 0 Apex. With .240 being the minimum deer-legal calibre for all UK deer species, this would be a classic ri e you could hunt with, if you can fnd or load ammunition for it. It dates from 1925 and has a period ’scope ftted. The reserve is ,000.

Other auctions over this period include Bonhams, at the end of May, which, as I wrote last month, is dropping Sporting Guns as a dedicated sale category and will include any future sales of sporting guns under the Antique Arms & Armour banner.

There are ri es listed with several provincial auctioneers, including Ryedale, David Duggleby, Cadmore, Wooley & Wallis, Lawrences, and Morley auctions. Horners have a great collection of air ri es for sale on une st. I spotted a clean Weihrauch W3 , the air ri e of my teenage years, for £45.

The summer’s approaching sales defnitely contain some worthwhile lots and in a buyer’s market there are good deals to be had, if you happen to be lucky enough to have some spare cash to splash. GTN

OH DEER OH DEER

So now Jeremy Clarkson is stuffing his face with venison hot dogs, it’s finally okay for the rest of the population to enjoy it, as Caroline Roddis uncovers

THERE’S a lovely story I missed last year, which involved two fallow deer popping into a hospital in Plymouth after someone left a back door open. They roamed the corridors while giggling s a l e he be ore lea ing after some ‘gentle encouragement’. or were he he rs o heir in to pay a visit—the same hospital had previously been explored by a threelegged deer, who was presumably after some kind of prosthetic, and staff and patients have since been “urged to shut all doors behind them as wild animals ‘should not be encouraged within a busy hospital setting’.” Surprising, that.

Presumably this means that wild animals are encouraged to pop round when things are quieter and let’s face it, given the state of NHS funding it won’t be long before we’re training them to do minor procedures. But perhaps they should steer well clear, given that more and more hospitals are beginning to welcome deer in through the kitchen door and out onto patients’ plates. The latest to do so is Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in London, which introduced venison dishes for patients and staff in May after working on a plan to do so for over a year. “Venison is a highly sustainable and ethical source of meat as deer are completely free-range animals” enthused the Evening Standard.

This news is, however, seemingly of zero interest to the general public. Not only were there no comments on the online article, but the ES didn’t even bother putting it on their Facebook feed. Perhaps they knew that the article—which reported the news as a ‘sustainability drive’ without external commentary or any attempt to cover how the deer got from forest to phlebotomist—wasn’t contentious enough, or perhaps there just isn’t suffcient public interest in the minutiae of patient care?

May I Have Some More?

The slow move towards venison in hospitals certainly doesn’t seem contentious amongst patients themselves, with dishes getting rave reviews and mostly positive comments on the oddly addictive ‘Rate My Hospital Plate’ Facebook group. A

“ Venison jeez what r u in private care or something? I’ve never had that in hospital ”

lot of the comments also re ect the popular opinion that venison is somehow premium or posh: “Venison jeez what r u in private care or something, I’ve never had that in hospital” complained one, with another exclaiming “Venison ooo lala posh, looks scrummy”.

Any successes in popularising venison, as well as introducing it to more and more hospital menus, are of course thanks to organisations campaigning for years about the benefts of this locallysourced, nourishing and sustainable meat. As we learned from the Post Offce scandal, however, if you want to get people to take notice then one TV series is far more effective than decades of journalistic media coverage.

Enter Jeremy Clarkson, who these days seems to be single-handedly teaching people where their food comes from, and Clarkson’s Farm guest star Hugh ‘De Niro’ van Cutsem of the British Deer Society. Their segment on deer stalking may only have been a very brief part of one episode, but it’s an effective one.

The pair discuss why the vast horde of tree-munching deer needs to be reduced in number, before Clarkson remarks: “if you’re going to kill a deer, you may as well eat it. It’s daft not to eat it. Or give it to schools and hospitals as you’ve [van Cutsem] been suggesting for a long time.” He goes on to add that, despite there being multiple good reasons for doing so “if I were to kill a deer on television they’d all go berserk”.

And so he doesn’t. After footage of him practicing with a ‘ at pack’ Blaser—how much did that comment knock off their share price?—and ostentatiously pausing too long when confronted with a real life deer, things fade to black at the crucial moment, before opening again onto a shot of venison hot dogs being served to a grateful crowd.

It’s Top Gear

It was good, entertaining TV: the point was made concisely, there was enough action to make it interesting and the expert came across as a genial man in a sil-

ly hat rather than the psychopathic posho most people seem to picture when you say the phrase ‘gun owner’. In an ideal world you’d have given the knowledgeable van Cutsem more airtime, but you can tell the segment was nevertheless effective—not only did it spark conversations across social media but politicians started claiming that serving venison in public institutions was a great idea.

“Serve VENISON in schools and hospitals to help control deer population, Tory MPs tell government as they warn ‘cheap and abundant homegrown meat’ championed by Jeremy Clarkson on Clarkson’s Farm is being sold abroad or thrown away” ran the very long Daily Mail headline.

As worried as I am that the party manifestos for the election are going to be lifted from the pages of the Radio Times, it was cheering to see the debate being amplifed in this way and hopefully doubly cheering for everyone who’s put in years of hard work campaigning. It did make me laugh, however, that one of the comments on the article, whilst suggesting contraception was a better option than culling, claimed that ‘the venison industry controls the media’. If that’s not proof that vegan products cause brain damage, I don’t know what is… GTN

Strictly Shooting with Alex Sayer

AROUND THE GROUNDS

In our new column focussing on clays and trap shooting, we have a round up of news from across the country

Creating a mindset

We are well into the competition season now with Kreighoff shooter Mark Winser winning the English Open Sporting at Doveridge their frst big event in the last ten years. Well done Mark. Billy Baughan was just one target behind him. Billy entered the scene a few years ago at the Oxford Gun Company when he was participating in The Schools Challenge. The Schools Challenge is the brainchild of David lorent and it never ceases to amaze me how well the participants go on to do. The basic premise is quite simple, children compete with others their own age. You don’t get that anywhere else and it gives young shots a frst taste taste of competitive shooting. I was so pleased to see Billy do so well. Amber ill shot The Schools Challenge in the past as did 2021 British Open winner Brody Woollard.

Another protege from Oxford is Beth-

Beverly

We have yet to see what is happening with East orkshire but the strongest story on the ground is that it is going to a ‘businessman’. Whom that is, we don’t yet know and it remains to be seen. What has been seen however is the removal of a great many traps from the ground. These are the sole property of Rob all and we look forward to seeing where they go and hopefully shooting a target or two out of one of them one day. I will keep you posted but one thing is for sure, whoever

any Norton who won the The Schools Challenge top prize—a car. Bethany went on to win CPSA Young Shot of the Year 2023 and will represent Team GB in Paris this year shooting Olympic Skeet. Back in 1908 when London hosted the Olympic Games Team GB came away with 2 medals. att Coward- olley secured us a bronze medal in Tokyo 2020 and its twelve years since Pete Wilson won us the gold in double trap. Twelve years prior to that in 2000 Richard aulds won Gold with his ASE and Lyalvale Express cartridges, he still uses them to this day, remains at the top of the tables on the shooting circuit and won the Lyalvale Express asters this month. is son Charlie is hot on his heels and won the English Open Sporting junior category andante British and UK Open Sporting Compak this year using Lyalvale Express Super Comp.

takes over East Yorkshire has got some big boots to fll. Thanks to Adam, the lady in the kitchen and Rob Wick for making Beverly such a great place to shoot. Let’s hope it’s not closed for long, if at all.

Helice

What a variation this is! Selection shoots are currently ongoing at the Invicta shooting ground near Tunbridge Wells which specialises in this rare discipline which attracts a strong following. It’s not so much the randomisation of release but the position of the target when it lands. The white must be entirely detached from the orange but fall within the fenced boundary. This is the unpredictability of it all. The fence is curved and if you catch it at the wrong height or the wind is blowing unlucky. They can even bounce over Chris Potter has been involved with sport since it really began in the UK and Donovan Jenkin owns a full set of traps which he takes to Rugby and District Trap Club for regional and county Championships. Trapping for him this season was Robert Gray, son of a former GB e-

lice shooter. Many people put in a lot of time for this sport and it is a shame to see the future of grounds hanging in the balance. Rugby and District Trap Club is one example with the ground being subject to probate and rumours. ohn Nightingale and his team have worked tirelessly and the atmosphere in that clubhouse is second to none. Or perhaps second to their original, which burnt down.

Not quite the real thing

I think we are about where we need to be on the whole ‘sim day’ front. The ones who sprang up soon realised it was quite a lot of work and not really worth it unless you are doing plenty of days. The trouble with that is that they tend not to all sell out so there were many who only lasted a season or two. What remains now is a good day out, plenty of shooting—again, those who have been around a while have now modifed the amount of targets to save shoulders and maintain realism. It’s better for the guns themselves, I’ve seen 2 bores fre hundreds of shots in no time at all in the blistering heat on a sim day in the past. That can’t be good for them.

Nowadays a sim day is what it should be, a great way to get your eye in before the season, a decent challenge and an opportunity to get used to a new gun. The 20 bore trend remains popular and an excellent excuse to buy a second gun. Sim days are great for the game shooter who never frequents a clay ground, is on a syndicate and enjoys some good shooting and like minded company. They are also great for those that aren’t on a syndicate and want to try something different. Those that remain offer excellent value for money so if you didn’t get as much game shooting last season as you’d have liked, try a sim day they keep getting better.

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS BRANDS

Following the big news earlier in the year, industry insider Karl Waktare was keen to hear how David Stapley was taking the business forwards…

IT’S an interesting thing that the four cartridge makers in England love to bitch about each other. You see them having these nice chats all friendly, where I suspect they bullshit each other abo heir sales g res an lans. I guess some of this comes from the nature of cartridges being an homogenous product whereas guns have more unique characteristics. Beretta’s biggest competitor in the crucial £1,500-

QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS

Favourite shotgun

My pair of hand-made Browning B25 C11 game guns

Favourite clay ground

Oh, that is hard as very rarely shoot clays. I would say County Clays at Dunkeld Scotland. ard to beat the location there.

Favourite Holiday destination Holiday? What is that?

Hobby

My vintage 1954 BSA motorcycle restoration project—and game shooting of course!

3,000 price point was Browning. I always felt my relationship with David Stapley, from Browning, was pretty straightforward. Sure, when speaking to him I would often try and give away fairly obvious sales info in the hope of gaining more useful intel in return. We o l alwa s n o on gro n in ha ing a bi h abo he o i l customer—you know who you are!

KW Tell me about your early career and how you ended up with the Browning/Miruku franchise?

DS After school I went to Agricultural College and found myself qualifed in farming and estate management, unfortunately I had neither. I was a decent golfer which helped me land a sales role in that industry where I spent the next 20 years. I guess I wanted to try something new and switched to a brand marketing role in Central London which I stuck with for six years. I hated the commute and was desperate to get back to a sporting goods role so I started putting my CV out there. I suddenly got a call from a recruiter who said they wanted to meet me urgently. An hour later I had my frst interview in a café in Reading train station! They would not tell me who

the brand was but they said I had the perfect background. Follow up interviews took place in Birmingham and that is when they told me the brand was Browning! Wow that was a pretty big deal. I would work for the incumbent owner for 18 months before buying the business. I started in July 2008

KW What were your frst impressions of the gun trade when you joined it?

DS Researching the trade I realised why my background appealed, frst of all my agricultural background but also the gun trade had similarities to the golf equipment industry. In both industries the retail customer was often small, owner-operated businesses selling highly-branded sporting products to passionate hobbyist consumers. y very frst week was spent shooting at the Beretta World and fnding out that D J Litt had gone bust! A memorable start to my new industry but I have loved it ever since.

KW Beretta and Browning operate different ‘go to market’ methods. How do you view the advantages and disadvantages of both?

DS In case of any doubt Beretta own

the majority share of GMK Ltd and operate on a traditional distributor model. Browning have operated an Agency Contract model in most of Europe for some time now. So, in my case I was both UK Browning Country anager and D of my own company (ISB) which managed Browning business for the UK. This model is very margin effcient for Browning as it bears none of the operating costs of the sales team. It also works well from the agent’s point of view as you are an independent business yet have the full back-up of an international brand including utilisation of its central marketing, aftersales and fnance departments. The agent is also not responsible for credit control and bad debt.

KW The slight downside to this model is that, by nature, the company HQ becomes very dominant rather than reacting to local market changes/ product demands. They have to look at Europe as the territories and we are concerned exclusively with the UK.

DS I would say the Beretta’s distributorship model gives greater local management control but with the

An original Theoben Raw Rapid 7. Who remembers shooting one of these?

Industry Insider 23

from outside ”

higher associated costs duplicated across several territories.

KW You took over from Andrew Young. What recollections do you have of this?

DS Andrew Young (Open Season) held the Browning Agency, I worked for Andrew before buying him out through my company ISB. He is no doubt one of the true characters of the gun trade and one of the most confusing people to deal with, I often got off the phone from him and wondered what we had just agreed! I still admire his child-like animated enthusiasm and his ability always to come up smelling of roses. It really is quite amusing, and I still speak with Andrew several times a year and we shoot together at our syndicate in Gloucestershire.

KW What do you think are the biggest changes in shooting sports in the time that you have been involved?

DS The frst 0 years of my in the industry were pretty stable. The last six have been quite worrying and challenging. I sit on the Gun Trade Association Council which gives me good insight. I am very aware of the challenges we are facing. Covid seemed to accelerate changes that maybe were always there. anufacturers of both frearms and ammunition are facing raw material cost increases that is putting pressure on prices plus the phasing out of lead is massively confusing for consumers. Then there are the cost increases affecting both game and clay shooting. We have the challenges surrounding licencing (inc. costs) and the political environment becoming more diffcult for releasing game.

KW How has the retail customer changed and any thoughts on the future evolution?

DS I don’t think the retail customer has changed that much but trends in purchasing have. During the recession of 200 -20 0 we saw reduced sales of under and overs in favour of semi-autos and lower price points. Post pandemic we have seen the demise of the ,0002,000 entry level gun in favour of cheaper Turkish models retailing in below ,000. and at the same time more frst guns being purchased at between 2, 00- 3, 00. I think consumers adapt to their personal fnancial circumstances and purchase accordingly.

KW What do you view as the biggest challenges facing shooting and the strength/opportunities for the sport.

DS Our biggest problem is that us shooting people make up less than of the population, we are a minority sport with very little goodwill from outside. Therefore we have a very small voice and little in uence on governments and politicians. This means that as a sport and an industry we are easily rolled over when new legislation is proposed and introduced. We need to maximise our in uence by speaking as one voice.

Good work has been done recently with some of the shooting organisations in co-ordinating responses to the HSE Lead shot report. They have received so many responses that they have delayed the publication of the report to take these into account.

But the truth is that we need more people to take up the sport to become more relevant, and it is all of our responsibilities to promote shooting to anybody who is interested. Invite them clay shooting or game shooting or beating.

KW Please give some background on the new direction of IS Brands.

DS So after wonderful years and

my privilege to represent one of the most highly regarded gun brands, ISB will be moving away from shotguns and ri es into a new sector of the trade. From June we will be launching one new brand into the UK market and bringing back one very iconic brand.

KW What are the key products?

DS We are now working with a US based airgun manufacture called Rapid Air Worx (RAW) who are already highly regarded and renowned for their quality and accuracy. They have a range of premium priced air ri es that we will distribute in the UK.

RAW also owns and builds products using the IP and designs developed by the legendary Theoben. We are working with RAW (and Ben Taylor—the Ben part of Theoben) to bring back the iconic Theoben Rapid 7. This airgun was “the” airgun to own back in the 0s and 90s and lead the way for other wellknown manufacturers to bring out their own variations. We are aiming to launch this summer.

KW And the key strengths?

DS We are lucky to partner with RAW who are a proven winner in the US market, they hold world records for accuracy and make some of the most reliable products available. When we add in the Theoben name, a much loved heritage brand, we will have a strong brand and excellent product mix. We will back this up with slick aftersales and a unique go to market strategy that will focus on a “build your gun confgurator” on the website and a limited franchise dealer network.

We still have the same highly regarded ISB team behind us that contributed to the growth and success of the Browning brands in the UK. GTN

PERSONAL STUFF

How old are you?

Just turned 55! Ouch! How did that just happen?

Where did you grow up?

I grew up to the West of Reading in Berkshire

Where do you live?

After a period of time living in Suffolk and Australia as well as travelling around the world for a year or two, I have found my way back home again and now live on the Hampshire/Berkshire border not very far from my original family home

Wife/kids?

es, married for years and have three rugby mad boys , and identical twins of

First experiences of shooting?

Like any young lad I had messed about with airguns but the frst time I ever shot a shotgun I must have been about years old at a country show. They were very easy targets and of course I only missed one clay, the instructor told me I was a natural and I believed him! I later bought my frst shotgun I still have it) and used it around the farm when I was

A Browning B525

The Reximex Zone bullpup is a great choice for all shooters who want a quality PCP air rifle with a regulator for a reasonable price. The stock is available in Turkish walnut and synthetic and is very comfortable and lightweight. The synthetic version has an adjustable rubber buttpad to give the shooter an opportunity to adjust handling & comfort. The gun boasts a 260cc air cylinder to allow for a greater shot count. The shroud is fitted with a 1/2” UNF thread to allow a silencer to be fitted.

Key features:

• Ambidextrous cocking lever

• Regulated PCP

• Screw cut for 1/2” UNF

• 260cc air cylinder

• Comes with 2 x multi-shot magazine and single shot tray

• 4 way adjustable trigger

• Manual safety

£560.00

Barrel length: 580 mm

Power: 11.3 Ft/Lbs

• Weight: 3.3 kg

PLEASE NOTE: SCOPE SOLD SEPARATELY.