GTN Issue 95 by The Game Fair Ltd

BRITAIN’S ONLY SHOOTING INDUSTRY PUBLICATION

ISSUE 95 NOVEMBER 2023

£4.95

LEAD LAWS PROPOSED Five years to a ban from date of enactment The Health & Safety Executive has ﬁnally published its proposals for the future of lead ammunition in the UK. It sets the ambition of the proposed regulations in the executive summary: “For the environment there are risks that are not adequately controlled for lead shot, lead bullets and airgun ammunition, and amongst consumers of high volumes of game meat that has been shot with lead ammunition, there is a risk to the health of They key features of the ban are • The use of lead shot for live quarry shooting would be prohibited. • The use of lead shot for target shooting would be prohibited. • The sale or trade of lead shot would be prohibited. • The use of lead bullets for live quarry shooting would not be prohibited. • The use of lead bullets for outdoor target shooting would be prohibited. • The use of lead ammunition in air weapons would not be prohibited. Further details and news of some exemptions can be found in Simon West’s column on page 42.

vulnerable people that is not adequately controlled. Therefore, the Agency is recommending measures to restrict the use and placing on the market of some types of lead ammunition.” The published proposals are unlikely to become law until next year. There will now be a further consultation process during which the industry can continue to comment on the proposals. This ends on 10 December. Legislation, therefore, seems unlikely before spring at the earliest, which would mean the proposed ban coming in some time in 2029.

“The likely reprieve for lead airgun ammunition is very good news,” said Mat Manning. “Lead pellets are by far the best option for delivering precise, clean kills when using airguns to control pests. Airgun shooters use a tiny amount of ammunition out in the ﬁeld, and when larger volumes are used for practice or competition, it can usually be recovered. I am still of the mind that we should consider a leadfree alternative if offered something of comparable price and performance in the future. I haven’t seen anything that comes close to that yet, though.”

The British Shooting Sports Council gave a cautious welcome to the proposals, with Secretary Graham Downing telling us: “We are encouraged by the fact that the Health & Safety Executive is not proposing to restrict the use of lead in airguns or for hunting with bulleted ammunition. Likewise, target rifle shooters will benefit from a derogation that will enable them to use lead ammunition provided that the range they are shooting on complies with NRA codes of practice on lead recovery. We believe that most established ranges will already be in compliance. This will also allow the users of vintage, historic and muzzle loading rifles to continue shooting with the ammunition for which their guns were originally designed. “HSE is proposing a five-year transition for lead shot. The live quarry shooting associations have already signed up to a voluntary phase-out for shotgun shooting, but there will undoubtedly be a challenge for clay shooting, which consumes around 70% of all the shotgun ammunition sold in the UK, and it remains to be seen how the derogation for elite international clay shooting competitors will work. “The 60-day public consultation is now open and we will see whether this will affect the Health & Safety Executive’s final proposals, and how Ministers will react to them.”

LEVELLING UP? SGC AND JSB JOIN FORCES Fans of second-hand and antique guns will no doubt be delighted by the news that a new auction powerhouse is emerging in the north. Lonsdales Auctioneers is holding its inaugural ﬁrearms sale on 9 November 2023. The auction house, run by John Tamlin (pictured), holds a Section 5 authority allowing them to handle prohibited weapons and ammunition. John explains: “Since opening, our geographical convenience has been highlighted by a number of elderly gunowners who have contacted us wishing to dispose of their guns without leaving the inconvenience of disposal to relatives and, at the same time, being able to realise their value. This has become even more apparent when clients wish to dispose of Section 5 items.” For more, see Auction View on page 23.

The Sportsman Gun Centre Group has announced that they will be the UK and Ireland’s ofﬁcial importer for JSB ammunition. Through this new venture SGC and JSB hope to grow market share and increase availability to airgun shooters in the UK and Ireland. JSB munitions have been the competitor’s choice for years, winning countless competitions and championships. Unrivalled in shot-to-shot consistency, accuracy and quality, JSB is the choice of leading manufacturers, hunters and sportsmen. JSB recognise that manufacturing processes and tolerance vary between gunmakers. To this end many of the products are offered in minute varia-

tions (0.01mm/0.025g). It is these variations that ensure the perfect pellet to gun fit and an unrivalled level of accuracy and performance. As part of the SGC’s commitment to JSB and the British and Irish markets, the group will be including a UK identification mark so dealers and the public know they are buying the genuine/official product imported through the correct channels. This process will ensure that JSB’s good name is upheld and consistent pricing is maintained. SGC Managing Director and founder Gary Lamburn said: “SGC are proud to represent the world’s leading brand in airgun ammunition. JSB offer the best all-round performance of any pellets we have

INSIDE THIS ISSUE…

WOT NO SOCKS!

The famous Christmas gear round up is upon us already – Page 27 –

SHOOTING PARTY

The inimitable Mike Hurney talks everything airgun with Mat Manning – Page 20 –

seen. Our plan is to stock enough ammunition to accelerate the brand to new heights and fulﬁl every shooter’s needs.”

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We step inside the grand doors on South Audley Street for a chat – Page 15 –

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CONTENTS

Industry News ......................................... 05 Product News .......................................... 07 Review Round-up ................................... 11 Store of the Month ................................. 15 Media ........................................................ 18 On Air ........................................................ 20 Auction View............................................ 23 Legal.......................................................... 25 Marketing Opportunities ...................... 27 Taking Stock ............................................ 35 Talking Stalking ...................................... 37 BASC .......................................................... 38 Simon West, GTA ..................................... 42 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 Production Editor: Jon Palmer Advertising: Lee Hurst 07 949 111 539 lee.hurst@thegamefair.org Publisher: James Gower Head of Marketing: Gemma Payne Subscriptions: HH&S, 301 Harbour Yard, Chelsea Harbour, London SW10 0XD subsaver.co.uk/gtn Subscriptions Customer Care: gtn@ subsaver.co.uk or call 0800 953 0033 Contributors: Stuart Farr, Al Gabriel, Diggory Hadoke, Michael E. Haskew, Mat Manning, Conor O’Gorman, Caroline Roddis, Alex Sayer, Simon West ©2023 Stable Events

The editorial matter, pictures or text, may not be reproduced without prior permission. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the editor and staff.

IMAGE: CHRIS WARREN

BASC_10_2021_Layout 1 19/10/2021 15:04 Page 1

WE SAY Lead. It has been the defining debate of my tenure at Gun Trade News so far: to steal a David Bowie line: “We’ve got five years, my brain hurts a lot.” As things stand now, despite the headlines, we still don’t actually have five years to a lead ban, simply a proposal on the table that we might get five years once the Secretary of State finally enacts the HSE’s latest proposals. And that enactment is not going to happen until we have had another round of consultations. Surely a large part of the consultations that major manufacturers will be providing at this point is that, added to the war still going on in Ukraine, we now have a very unstable situation in the Middle East, and that any retooling of production lines undertaken during such a period of turmoil would be madness, no matter what we suggested a few short months ago. It’s an outside horse, but if we were taking bets I would say it may well be ten years before we actually see a lead ban on the statute books. Which is all well and to the good. As an industry, I accept that we don’t actually want a lead ban and the ensuing difficulties it would bring. However I’m pretty sure we will get a ban one day, and I can’t help but wonder if the sensible thing for the industry now would be to accept a five-year window from the spring, just to get some certainty on board. For without certainty, planning is impossible. I feel like I have spent a lot of time and effort thinking about and writing about lead, so for those

“ It doesn’t take a genius to predict a strong future for airgunners ”

of you with a major financial stake I can only imagine the wringer you have been through, and continue to endure while the flip-flopping continues. On the other hand, the news for airguns is unremittingly terrific. Already a booming sector in our trade—thanks in large part to its unregulated nature—it doesn’t take a genius to predict a very

strong future for airgunners of all sorts, especially now that they likely won’t have to comply with a lead ban. I was interested to read Mike Hurney’s thoughts on the sector on page 20 of this issue, I suspect this will only have deepened his ambitions for airguns. We should all sit up and take note. Steve

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Industry News

INDUSTRY NEWS Around the UK and abroad, all the top stories digested

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

Beretta, Browning and AYA are still the best-sellers

No change at the top of the sales charts for shotgun brands

25 Guns you meet will have a Browning, and another two will have an AYA. Among people who say they shoot 30 or more days per year, Beretta and Browning remain the top two brands, but Perazzi jumps four places to third in the charts. That story changes when we look at side-by-sides, however. Here the top spot is held by AYA. If you see someMOST POPULAR SHOTGUN BRANDS FOR GAME SHOOTING one wielding a side-by-side Position Brand Position vs Market share Market share this season there’s a slightly 2022 2022 (%) 2023 (%) greater than one-in-five chance 1 Beretta 29.35 30.05 that they’re using an AYA. 2 Browning 17.26 16.39 While the market is still 3 AYA 7.36 7.68 dominated by over-and-under shotguns, it is now undeniable 4 Miroku 4.63 4.84 that the side-by-side is mak5 Rizzini Up 1 2.66 2.61 ing a comeback. Since 2018 6 Caesar Guerini Down 1 2.73 2.50 we have seen the proportion of 7 Perazzi 2.23 2.12 game shots who take to the peg 8 Holland & Holland Up 2 2.10 1.85 toting a gun with barrels arranged horizontally grow from 9 James Purdey & Sons Up 3 1.40 1.74 24% to 33%. 10 William Powell Down 1 1.77 1.74 The survey asked thousands 11 William Evans Up 2 1.30 1.55 of people who completed the 12 Winchester Up 1 1.40 1.36 2023 Game Shooting Census, 12= Webley & Scott Down 3 1.60 1.36 conducted by GunsOnPegs in association with Lycetts, what 14 Blaser 1.27 1.10 gun they use most often for 15 Atkin Grant & Lang 0.97 0.91 game shooting. The 2023 Game Shooting Census shows little change at the top of the shotgun sales charts, with Beretta, Browning and AYA keeping the first three spots. These three brands account for more than half of all shotguns found in the shooting field, with nearly one in three people opting for a Beretta. Four out of

Daystate introduces Alpha Wolf Blue For a limited time, the Daystate Alpha Wolf will be offered in a spectacular blue finish. The Blue Special Edition will be available in both 12 ti/lbs and FAC/ export output. The 17-inch barrel model will come in .177 and .22, while the 23-inch barrel Alpha Wolf Blue Edition HP will add .25 and .30 options. In addition to the blue and grey laminate stock and metal work, the Alpha Wolf Blue Edition has a specially designed cocking handle and comes with a blue 0db silencer, hard case with a special edition plaque, and a tin of the type of rangemaster pellets used to test and set up the rifle. Also included is a Data Transfer Device (DTD) and cable, so the rifle’s software can be upgraded with free updates, and back-ups and custom programming can be made via a Windows PC or laptop. There is also a built-in chronograph, Huma-Air regulator, electronic trigger and firing action, and touchscreen accessible adjustments and functions. In addition, Daystate is offering an optional package of extras. Priced at £300 when purchased with

John Rigby & Co welcomes Tim Hill as Head of Sales John Rigby & Co has appointed Tim Hill as head of UK sales. With an impressive career spanning more than 18 years in the shooting industry, Tim will bring invaluable expertise and a deep passion for the ﬁeld to this key role. Tim’s journey began in 2005 at Sportarm, a renowned high-end shotgun retailer. After an enriching three-year tenure, he ventured into wholesale territory management with Highland Outdoors in 2008. Tim’s career then led him to Edgar Brothers, where he excelled in ﬁeld sales before serving as UK sales manager over an eight-year period. Following a brief stint as the commercial director at Sportarm, Tim took the helm at Per-

azzi UK, where he managed all aspects of the business, including product advertising and client relationship building. Tim said: “We have exciting projects on the horizon, and I am eager to showcase our exceptional offerings to customers, dealers and enthusiasts.”

Rigby welcomes Austrian artist Robert Weldy London gunmaker John Rigby & Co has introduced the Austrian sculptor Robert Weldy as the newest member of its art department, saying that Robert’s exceptional talent in creating lifelike artworks will make him an invaluable addition to the Rigby team. Already a renowned and accomplished sculptor, Robert’s artistic journey began at the age of just 15, when he apprenticed in taxidermy, driven by a passion for modelling and lifelong love of hunting. After joining the Austrian army at the age of 20 and serving in Kosovo, he spent 15 years as a weapons technician.

In 2015, he started sculpting alongside his military career, crafting wildlife sculptures that reﬂect his deep connection to nature, infusing his works with authentic, intricate details that capture each animal’s true essence.

Ollie can manage

the Alpha Wolf Blue Edition, it represents a saving of around 50% against the items purchased separately. In other Daystate news, the PCP airgun manufacturer’s 2023 Limited Edition rifle, of which only 250 will be made, is to use the Wolverine-R as its basis. Featuring a blue laminate stock and matching finish, the Wolverine-R Sapphire incorporates the A.R.T. barrel and Huma Air regulator, for match-like accuracy out to the most extreme ranges. Standard versions have a 17in barrel in 177/4.5mm, .22/5.5mm, and .25/6.35mm calibres, while high-power models fit a 23in barrel and add .30/7.62mm calibre. The UK version is being sold exclusively through the Airgun Centre in London.

Fieldsports Press have announced Ollie Harvey as the new managing editor of Shooting Times and Country magazine. Ollie becomes the 19th editor in ST’s 141-year history. Having started his career in ﬁeldsports journalism on Gun Trade News in 2017, Ollie also worked as deputy editor on Sporting Riﬂe before moving on to Shooting Times. In his new role Ollie will oversee the day-today production of the magazine and represent the brand at events such as The Game Fair and World Gunmakers Evening. He will also continue to produce episodes for The Shooting Show YouTube channel. Through his work on previous titles, Ollie has established a good knowledge of the shooting industry, ranging from deer stalking and pest control to driven shooting and wildfowling. Speaking on his appointment, Ollie comment-

ed: “It’s a great honour to take on a title with so much heritage. I am looking forward to the opportunities that lie ahead and taking a hands-on approach when it comes to producing the magazine. And I look forward to meeting many of you in the next few months.” ollie.harvey@ﬁeldsportspress.com

E G N A R G N LO U

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Industry News

Firearms Act 2023 given Royal Assent

Longthorne secures U.S. import approval for LHP Pistol Viking Arms honoured

Viking Arms has been formally recognised by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for its outstanding support to the Armed Forces. Viking Arms was one of 17 companies and organisations in the Yorkshire and Humber Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (RFCA) area to be awarded the prestigious Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver award for 2023.

3D printed firearms

An Amber Alert for 3D printed ﬁrearms has been issued by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA). This is based on assessed intelligence and warns of dangers and threats from serious organised criminality. It is devised with the aim of bringing about preventative or remedial action. They recommend you use this Alert to complement existing knowledge and support ongoing improvements to your business processes and procedures. Report your concerns to interknow@nca.gov.uk

Pheasant plucker paucity

A shortage of pluckers means pheasant and other wild game could disappear from Britain’s supermarket shelves. Game dealers, butchers and chefs say the birds are becoming more expensive to process because of a lack of skilled labour to pluck them. There has been a dramatic drop in the number of seasonal workers from Europe coming to the UK to ﬁll game processing jobs since Brexit.

Glorious Game returns to H&H Shooting Grounds

Building on its success at the 2022 event, Eat Wild has announced that Glorious Game is to return to the Great British Game Week (6-12 November 2023) agenda for a second year, with an enhanced format. Great British Game Week is a celebration of wild game, promoted by Eat Wild in partnership with BASC’s Eat Game initiative. Now in its seventh year, the week-long promotion will be a focus for events, dinners, and special offers promoting game to consumers across the UK. Louisa Clutterbuck, CEO of Eat Wild, said: “Eat Wild will provide the wild meat for the day and give a presentation. Our mission is not only to encourage more people to taste game, but to educate them about the beneﬁts of cooking with it an accessible joy.”

Longthorne Gunmakers has announced that the Longthorne LHP Pistol has received official approval for importation into the United States. This marks a significant step in Longthorne’s commitment to delivering exceptional firearms to discerning shooters and collectors in the U.S. market. The LHP Pistol combines classic aesthetics with modern precision. It is designed to provide a superior shooting experience through its unique combination of artistry and advanced engineering. This pistol is available in a variety of finishes, grip styles,

and calibre’s to suit the individual preferences of discerning shooters. Said Elaine Stewart, Marketing Director for Longthorne: “This import approval is a testament to our dedication to providing exceptional ﬁrearms to enthusiasts and professionals. We look forward to sharing the Longthorne experience with American shooters and collectors.” For more information about the Longthorne LHP Pistol and its availability in the United States, visit longthorneguns.com

The new 2023 Firearms Act has finally been given Royal Assent. This Act covers the requirement for a person operating a miniature rifle range to have a firearms certificate and for the rifles to be limited to .22 rimfire cartridges. It continues to allow people to shoot on the range without themselves having a firearms certificate. Secondly, it provides a new offence where a person has any ammunition component with an intent to manufacture Section One ammunition without authority. This is to “prevent criminals unlawfully manufacturing ammunition”. It brings no new controls on brass cases or bullets, or on reloading for those licensed to do so. Key here is the intent to manufacture without licences, which the police would have to prove, and the burden for that is high. Included in the Act is the requirement for the Home Secretary to bring into force the relevant sections of the Act by Statutory Instrument. This would normally come with a Home Office circular and an amendment to the Guide to Firearms Licensing Law.

Blaser’s aser’s autumn/winter HunTec collection Everyone who slips into HunTec jackets and trousers for the ﬁrst time immediately feels lightness and freedom of movement. Both are the result of completely new, patented cut shapes and state-of-the-art, lightweight materials. These are not only very durable, but also ensure the ideal microclimate on the body. This applies to every part of the HunTec collection, whose jackets and trousers are designed for very different climatic conditions. HunTec’s new collection has been available in specialist shops since September and can of course also be ordered from the Blaser Store. Highlights of the collection include:

The Men’s Challenger Airflake Jacket, a lightweight, quick-drying thermal jacket with a small pack volume. The exterior is made of ultra-light 15D polyamide with a DWR treatment that repels light rain. The filling is made of Airflake fibres, the synthetic equivalent of duck down. The Men’s Reversible Vest Endeavor, part of the insulation concept of HunTec. The light padding provides light insulation and thus sufficient warmth with good breathability. It keeps you warm but is also extremely lightweight, wind- and water-repellent, and guarantees full freedom of motion. It also features a small pack size.

The Men’s Merino Base 160 T, a 100% merino wool crew neck T-shirt that keeps you warm all year round. The superﬁne merino wool provides a pleasantly soft feeling on the skin. Mulesing-free!

TSP launches M16 BB gun The Shooting Party has launched the Lee Enfield Guns M16 A1 CO2-powered rifle in 4.5mm steel BB format, as part of the ‘Brothers in Arms’ series of replica iconic 20th-century combat weapons produced by Lee-Enfield (Guns) Ltd. The M16 is a family of military rifles adapted from the ArmaLite AR-15 that was officially accepted into service by the U.S. military in 1964 to replace the M14. It was deployed in Vietnam the following year and has featured prominently in several films, including Apocalypse Now. In 1969 the M16 A1 became the US military’s standard service rifle and incorporated modifications including a bolt-assist, chrome-plated bore, protective reinforcement around the magazine release and a revised flash suppressor.

Said Mike Hurney, TSP Chairman, “Our CO2 -powered M16 A1 incinerates targets with blistering semi-auto shots and a real steel feel, fuelled by a single CO2 cartridge. It’s able to send .177 BBs downrange at over 495 fps. The replica features full-metal construction throughout the barrel, receiver, and the 18rd BB magazine.” SRP: £199.99

New beginnings on the horizon in Scotland’s upland deer sector Organisations and individuals across the Highlands have formed the Common Ground Forum (CGF). Initiated by the Association of Deer Management Groups (ADMG) and Scottish Environment LINK with the aim of setting aside disagreements over deer management, the Forum includes deer stalkers, foresters, farmers, landowners, community representatives, nature conservationists and others. Tom Turnbull, ADMG Chairman, said: “While there are still differences in approach, there are also areas we can agree on. The Forum will endeavour to discuss some of the divisive topics and ﬁnd solutions. Key to the process will be the deer managers

tasked with delivering challenging Scottish Government targets for climate and biodiversity.” Representing Scottish Environment LINK’s Deer Group, Duncan Orr-Ewing said: “Everyone is aware that change is coming as we look to respond to the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss. The CGF offers a channel for building positive relationships that focus on solutions.” Lea McNally of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) said: “It’s refreshing to see the momentum as there are still signiﬁcant issues to address as we try to achieve the Government’s aims for sustainable upland deer management.”

BGA scheme transfers to Aim to Sustain

British Game Assurance has transferred the BGA Assurance Scheme to Aim to Sustain. The move will allow BGA to focus its efforts on the vital task of securing a market for every bird shot. BGA’s game-meat marketing operation, Eat Wild, will remain a key driver of assurance. As of 1 November, Eat Wild will be the ofﬁcial development board for all wild meat, including venison. Not only has the retail market for game meat grown by almost 7% during the time of BGA’s operation, the Eat Wild campaign has modernised how BGA communicates with the public. As demand for lead-free birds distorts the market, a professional marketing and development operation is more vital than ever. Louisa Clutterbuck, CEO of Eat Wild and formerly British Game Assurance, said: “We believe this transfer to Aim to Sustain will propel assurance adoption to the next level, allowing our team to concentrate on the vital task of promoting game to the wider public.”

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MATCH MiddLE WEiGHT .177

EXACT PrEMiUM .177

Extremely effective ammunition, designed with pointed heads, the perfect shape to break targets, hunts, competitions and guarantee excellent accuracy.

Designed to be used for target shooting at 10M. Equipped with a flat head, so that they can cut as precise shot through paper targets.

Made for competition...Individually selected pellets from only the best manufacturing batches, designed to give optimal performance. Weight sorted pellets with tolerance of +0,001g!

.177 /.216 /.217 /.218 /.251 /.25 /.30

KnockOut Slugs (500pc) Cal .177 / 4.51mm / 10.03gr KnockOut Slugs (400pc) Cal .177 / 4.52mm / 13.43gr KnockOut Slugs (200pc) Cal .216 / 5.50mm / 25.39gr KnockOut Slugs (200pc) Cal .216 MKII / 5.50mm / 25.39gr KnockOut Slugs (200pc) Cal .217 / 5.50mm / 25.39gr KnockOut Slugs (200pc) Cal .218 / 5.50mm / 25.39gr KnockOut Slugs (150pc) Cal .251 / 6.37mm / 33.49gr KnockOut Slugs (150pc) Cal .25 MKII / 6.35mm / 33.49gr KnockOut Slugs (150pc) Cal .30 / 7.62mm 50.15gr

Stration Jumbo (500pc) Cal .22 / 5.50mm / 15.89gr

Middle Weight (500pc) Cal .177 / 4.49mm / 8.02gr Middle Weight (500pc) Cal .177 / 4.50mm / 8.02gr Middle Weight (500pc) Cal .177 / 4.51mm / 8.02gr

PrEdATOr

The hollow head design with sharp polymer tip offers match grade accuracy with incomparable penetration and expansion.

The hollow head design with sharp polymer tip offers match grade accuracy with incomparable

penetration and expansion. Designed for rotary mags.

The hollow head design with pinpoint sharp metal tip offers maximum accuracy with incomparable penetration and expansion.

Polymag (200pc) Cal .177 / 4.50mm / 8.02gr Polymag (200pc) Cal .177 / 5.50mm / 15.89gr

Polymag Shorts (200pc) Cal .177 / 4.50mm / 8.02gr Polymag Shorts (200pc) Cal .177 / 5.50mm / 15.89gr

Metalmag (200pc) Cal .177 / 4.50mm / 8.02gr Metalmag (200pc) Cal .177 / 5.50mm / 15.89gr

POLYMAG .177

POLYMAG SHOrTS .177

Exact Premium (200pc) Cal .177 / 4.52mm / 8.44gr

METALMAG .177

*For the latest pricing on JSB Match Diabolo ammunition, please download our new Trade / Retail books from the SGC Portal or contact our Reps / Trade Team.

AirGUn PELLETS / SLUGS c a l l O U r D e D i c at e D t r a D e l i n e : 01392 354870 Or eMail Us On: TRadE@SPORTSMangunCEnTRE.COM O r V i s i t O U r t r a D e w e b s i t e : W W W. S g C T R a d E . C O. u K

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Our dedicated business insurance is specially designed for all aspects of the gun trade offering an extra layer of protection that lets you focus on the real target: running your business.

To get a quote: 0121 327 1977 or visit: www.guncover.co.uk Guncover is a trading name of Howden UK Brokers Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No. 307663. Registered in England and Wales under company registration number 02831010. Registered Office: One Creechurch Place, London, EC3A 5AF. Calls may be monitored and recorded for quality assurance purposes. HUBL-CC-CS-GC-004-1023-a

Review Roundup

BEST BUYS

Highlights of reviews from consumer magazines

Umarex ReadyAir Compressor

KIT TEST

Mat Manning tries out Umarex’s ReadyAir Compressor and finds it to be an effective filling solution “If, like me, you use a pre-charged airgun for most of your shooting, you will appreciate its recoilless firing cycle and the level of accuracy it makes possible. It is also likely that you are aware of what a pain it can be when you have a gun that needs to be refilled with high-pressure air on a regular basis. “For years, I laboured away with a stirrup pump to keep my PCPs filled. Eventually, I gave in to the temptation of buying a diving tank, and immediately savoured the ease of filling my airguns

NEED TO KNOW n MODEL: ReadyAir Compressor n MANUFACTURER: Umarex n TYPE: Portable air compressor n DIMENSIONS: 37 x 37 x 23cm (14.5 x 14.5 x 9in) n WEIGHT: 10kg (22lb) n MAXIMUM FILL PRESSURE: 300 bar n WEBSITE: bisley-uk.com n PRICE: £839.95

at the turn of a tap. The only downside to using a tank is that you also need to have it refilled, which usually means going to a shop with a compressor. This arrangement can work well enough, but not for people who live in remote areas, and none of us need reminding of the struggle to get our tanks refilled during Covid lockdowns. “One of the latest models to hit the shops is the Umarex ReadyAir Compressor, which promises a dependable, portable and—most significantly— ever-ready air supply. Distributed in the UK by John Rothery Wholesale, the ReadyAir charges to a pressure of 300 bar and retails for £839.95. That is quite a sum of money, but having used this compressor for a few weeks, I can confirm that the price tag is justified and this piece of kit has been built to last. If you have one or two shooting friends who live close to you, it could be a good idea to club together and buy one to share. “The first thing to strike me about the ReadyAir compressor was that it’s very compact. It measures about 37cm long by 37cm high by 23cm deep— and that includes the parts that jut out from it. That

Airgun World is published by Fieldsports Press and is available for wholesale from Seymour on 0207 429 4000

means it should easily fit in the boot of most cars. Weighing in at about 10 kilos, which is significantly lighter than some compressors that claim to be portable, it should be a comfortable lift for most people, so it really is a case of grab it and go. “Another great thing about Umarex’s compressor is that it’s very easy to set up and comparatively

Telos LRF XP50

fuss-free to operate. It simply plugs into the wall or you use the provided crocodile clips to run it from your car battery. The ReadyAir is more or less ready to go straight from the box, in which you will find all the accessories you need to get it up and running and to keep it in tip-top condition— not that it should require much maintenance.”

OPTIC TEST

Paul Austin takes a look at the long-awaited ‘upgradeable’ Telos LRF XP50 “The Telos series, with or without its LRF, has been on everyone’s radar since IWA Outdoors. It’s now finally taking its place as Pulsar’s premium product in their monocular line-up. It doesn’t have the HD sensor of the new Mergers, but it does have some ‘next generation’ features designed to future proof the device, which is another first in the thermal market. “The Telos is designed to be upgradeable, and is the first thermal on the market to offer such a feature. Pulsar are to be applauded for this. It’s no doubt a way of maintaining market share and ensuring customer loyalty, but if that translates into lower running and upgrade costs for shooters, I’m all for it. “Options include the ability to change lenses, so potentially a wider FOV for woodland work and a longer lens for open country. There will be the option to add a higher resolution sensor or enhanced internal display. Details are sketchy, but the units will need to be returned to either the UK distributor or Pulsar themselves for upgrading. DIY upgrades will not be supported. “Apparently you can even add an LRF to the standard Telos, as well as additional optical channels, although Pulsar’s blurb is a little vague as to what ‘optical channels’ actually means. It’s most likely a daytime camera option, as seen in their recent update to the Thermion scope range. Importantly, Pulsar have stated that all Telos monoculars purchased in 2023 will be eligible for upgrades as soon as this service becomes available, which is scheduled for 2024. As you’d expect, Pulsar’s excellent f50/1.0 germanium lens features in the new range, while

Rifle Shooter is published by Fieldsports Press and is available for wholesale from Seymour on 0207 429 4000

NEED TO KNOW

OVERALL “Excellent design, great in the hand, intuitive to operate and plenty of power in both battery life and functionality. The big USP is the upgradability of the device and the added clarity and visual information that’s provided by the ultra-low NETD. Even though the Merger has the wow factor of the new HD sensor there’s a lot to be said for the Telos.”

the built-in LRF delivers as advertised in the right conditions, with a 1,000m reach in both single and continuous scanning modes. “On the software side there are no complaints, with Pulsar still leading the field in terms of functionality. All the regulars are on hand, including multiple colour modes, which are still the best selection on the market, plus an array of contrast adjustment, PIP, smoothing algorithms, pic and video

recording. Essentially everything you could ever need, alongside connectivity to Streamvision 2 for remote control and file sharing. “Menus get you to key features quickly while manual adjustment of the sensor sensitivity improves detection quality if conditions worsen. A smoothing filter and a wide range of brightness and contrast settings all add up to make prolonged observation a more comfortable experience.”

n Sub-18mK NETD thermal sensor n 640x480 @ 17µm thermal sensor n Sub-18mk NETD sensitivity n Zoom adjustment ring behind front focus n f50/1.0 Fast Lens system n Integrated laser rangefinder n Upgradable device n Advanced Pulsar image boost technology n Objective ring zoom control n Precise laser ranging up to 1,000m n Dual battery system n Customisable user interface n Fast aperture f50/1.0 germanium lens n Built-in video recorder with 32GB memory n Stream Vision 2 wi-fi integration with iOS and Android devices n High-contrast 1024x768 AMOLED display n Dual wi-fi waveband support – 2.4/5GHz n Operation in extreme temperatures n IPX7 submersion waterproof rated n Selection of 8 colour palettes

Review Roundup

Fierce CT Edge

GUN TEST

Bruce Potts takes a look a factory rifle that guarantees the performance of a custom

Sporting Gun is published by Fieldsports Press and is available for wholesale from Seymour on 0207 429 4000

NEED TO KNOW “Fierce Firearms, based in Quebec, Canada, started producing high-precision items for the firearms industry and now produce precision rifles of their own. To this end, Fierce have manufactured an extraordinary range of rifles with guaranteed accuracy of 1/2 MOA at 100yds with recommended ammunition. “You can opt for the Rival model, which has a Remington 700-type footprint and a two-lug bolt, or the Edge model, here on test, with a Sako 85 footprint. But in both cases the build quality is more custom than factory. “The Edge rifles show their precision and custom credentials with a lightweight yet superstrong carbon-fibre constructed stock, and the

CONCLUSION “Carbon-fibre wrapped barrels and carbon-fibre composite stocks are here to stay and Fierce have used them to all their advantages, both in light weight for better handling and for strength with a consistent bedding from that stiff stock design. You can feel the precision built into these rifles.”

barrel is match-grade hand-lapped stainless steel with Fierce’s proprietary C3 carbon-fibre wrapped barrel technology. Add to this a superb trigger system and stainless steel detachable magazine, and you have yourself a really nice stalking rifle in your hands. Best of all, this rifle came chambered for the new 6.5 PRC round, so it will be really interesting to test.

“The Edge has a choice of stainless steel or titanium (on test) actions, this CT Titanium model, although pricey at £5,720, really makes the already light Edge into a nimble stalking rifle. You also have a tough black Cerakote finish, making it impervious to the weather. Carbon-fibre barrelled models weigh 6.6lb and the titanium actioned CT model weighs a scant 6.1lb.”

Zoli Kronos M-Sport

n MANUFACTURER: Fierce Firearms, Canada n MODEL: Fierce Carbon CT Edge 6.5 PRC rifle n TYPE: Bolt-action carbon-fibre sporter n CALIBRE: 6.5 PRC n MAGAZINE: 4-shot detachable n ACTION: Titanium n FINISH: Carbon fibre and Cerakote n BARREL: Carbon-fibre wrapped, 24” n OVERALL LENGTH: 44.5” n WEIGHT: 6.1lb n SIGHTS: Drilled and tapped for scope mounts n STOCK: Carbon-fibre sporter n TRIGGER: Single-stage adjustable n PRICE: £5,720

GUN TEST

This may not be the most eye-catching over-and-under in the gun rack, says Jonny Carter, but it performs up there with the big boys “In short, the Kronos M-Sport shoots very, very well. Before writing this, I took this gun out on three occasions—twice on clays at Barbury and once into the pigeon hide. The first standout with the gun was a proper ‘big boys pants’ stand, a teal shooting up and away starting at 30 yards, followed by a left-to-right looper at 60. Why start easy? With a gun that weighs 8lb 8oz, you have to walk into a stand with a plan.” “It’s a big, heavy gun and needs to be shot accordingly, moving hold points out and reducing movements down so that you’re not chasing clays in vain and tiring your arms out too. “I walked out of that first stand with a 9/10. This gun, when moved correctly, is as sweet a gun to shoot as they come, moving well with very smooth recoil. I went on to shoot five more stands and although there were some misses, they were few and far between. I was feeling it that day and the gun and I really got on. “Compare this to the next time I took it out,

16 /20 /20

ACTION AND BARRELS Solid action and great barrel spec

Shooting Times is published by Fieldsports Press and is available for wholesale from Seymour on 0207 429 4000

indeed. I even put my auto down in the end. On a day when most birds were not coming within 30 yards, the control on this gun actually helped out, although my arms were pretty tired at the end of the day.” when after a long day of filming I grabbed this gun and went for another 100 to see how I got on. This was a different experience again. Being tired, I found myself walking into stands and just hoping

I would hit some clays with little forethought and poor concentration. I missed a lot more than I did that first time out. “How did it get on in a pigeon hide? Very well

HANDLING Amazing when used correctly

TRIGGER Almost perfect, I couldn’t fault it

STOCK Solid condition and spec but plain looks

VALUE Not expensive but no bargain

OVERALL SCORE Fantastic on clays but could be prettier

/20

/100

NEED TO KNOW n MAKE: Zoli n MODEL: Kronos M-Sport n PRICE: £4,700 n CALIBRE: 12-bore n WEIGHT: 8lb 8oz n BARRELS: 29.5in and 32in n CHOKES: Multichoke n STOCK: Monte Carlo adjustable stock n FINISH: Matt-black finished barrels and action n FORE-END: Beavertail n WARRANTY: 10 years n IMPORTER: edgarbrothers.com

“ i t ’s unlike any rifle fX airguns has made before”

a dedicated, PurPose-built air rifle designed to Win comPetitions.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

• Available In Three Configurations - The Panthera 600 & 700 - Purpose Built For Shooting Slugs, The Panthera 500 - Shoots Pellets & Lightweight Slugs o • Wo r l d ’s F i r s t O v e r- T h e - B a r r e l P l e n u m • D u a l 4 5 A n g l e d M a n o m e t e r s • A r c a R a i l & M - L o k F o r e n d • H i g h - P o w e r / S h o r t - I m p u l s e Va l v e • R e a r A i r So urce & Fi ll Port • Qu ick Tu n e S ys t em • Fully Adjustable Rear Stock

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

*Scope & accessories not included

• 156cc Over-The-Barrel Plenum • Slim Profile Arca & M-Lok Forend

• Quick Tune System • High-Power / Short-Impulse Valve

Panthera 500 black • Sub 12ft/lb Cal: .177 / .22 • In-excess of 280 shots • Barrel: 500mm Superior STX Barrel Liner • C/F 300cc Bottle • Pellets & Lightweight Slugs • Micro Plenum (Sub 12ft/lb) .177 cat17590 / .22 cat17591 / RRP: £1,853.99

*Scope & accessories not included

Panthera 500 black fac • FAC Cal: .177 /.22 /.25 /.30 / .35 • Up to 112 shots - pellets • Barrel: 500mm Superior STX Barrel Liner • Carbon Fibre 300cc Bottle • Pellets & Lightweight Slugs • Macro Plenum – 62 cc

• Rear Air Source & Fill Port • Fully Adjustable Rear Stock

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Panthera 500 Black

.177 cat17592 / .22 cat17595 /.25 cat17598 / .30 cat17601 RRP: £1,853.99

Panthera 600 black fac • FAC Cal: .177 / .22 / .25 / .30 / .35 • Up to 80 shots - hybrid slugs, • Barrel: 600mm Superior Heavy STX Barrel liner & carbon fibre liner sleeve • Carbon Fibre 300cc Bottle • Shoots Slugs • Magnum XL Plenum – 156 cc

Panthera 600 Black

.177 cat17593 / .22 cat17596 /.25 cat17599 / .30 cat17602 RRP: £1,904.99

Panthera 700 black fac

• FAC Cal: .177 / .22 / .25 / .30 / .35 • Up to 90 shots - hybrid slugs,

• Barrel: 700mm Superior Heavy STX Barrel liner & carbon fibre liner sleeve • Carbon Fibre 300cc Bottle • Shoots Slugs • Magnum XL Plenum – 156 cc

Panthera 700 Black

.177 cat17594 / .22 cat17597 / .25 cat17600 / .30 cat17603 RRP: £1,954.99

UNRIVALLED IN ACCURACY & PERFORMANCE Log on To oUR TRAde PoRTAL FoR THe FULL FX RAnge oR ConTACT THe TRAde TeAM

DISCLAIMER: FOR THE LASTEST PRICES & AVAILABILITy ON FX AIRGUNS / ACCESSORIES - PLEASE CHECK OUR WEBSITE OR CONTACT OUR TRADE TEAM (PRICES MAy CHANGE FROM TIME OF PRINT)

SGC TRADE EST.1971

Official UK DistribUtOrs fOr fX airGUNs

call OUr DeDicateD traDe liNe: 01392 354870 Or email Us ON: trade@sportsmanguncentre.com O r V i s i t O U r t r a D e w e b s i t e : w w w. s g c t r a d e . c o. u k

ON THE FRONT LINE

Store of the Month

JAMES PURDEY & SONS LIMITED For this issue’s Store of the Month, we went to London to speak to Andrew Ambrose, Director of Gun Sales at James Purdey & Sons for many generations and our thought process was that we should make every effort to future-proof that gun. Given the excellent work done by our factory it has not changed the balance or handling and now comes as standard with any new Purdey. If I had to make a prediction, I’d say over-and -unders will continue to rise in popularity, which I am sure will disappoint side-by-side enthusiasts! We have seen this trend continue and it is one of the reasons why we have three over-and-under models. Having said all that, as one client said to me when I explained our sales ratio of side-by-side to over-andunder, “But Andrew, our eyes are side-by-side, not stacked on top of each other!”

NEED TO KNOW n YEAR ESTABLISHED: The first foundations of Audley House were laid in 1881, when we broke ground, and the building and business was open and became fully operational in 1883. n ANNUAL TURNOVER: N/A n NUMBER OF STAFF: Across the three areas of our business—the shop, the shooting ground and the factory—we have just over a hundred staff in total.

Who’s the one member of staff you couldn’t live without and why? I manage a team of five, which includes three salespeople with an additional two after-sales members. Every single member of the team is critical because when one is not present I can see the difference. Tell us a little more about yourself, and why you’re running a gun shop. Tell us what you passions are. I’ve been very fortunate throughout my career and held a number of roles within our industry. I started off at Holland & Holland in a gun sales support role, essentially responsible for supporting the gun sales team and for the firearms register. Twenty five years ago, computers still hadn’t arrived at Holland & Holland and so I was brought in to update the systems and transfer the records to digital. I stayed in that role for four years before being offered the chance to join the gun sales team. Although I was very keen to join the sales team, this was off-set with a reluctance, given my lack of technical knowledge in the actual gunmaking and lack of confidence in my product knowledge. Thankfully the chairman at the time, John Ormiston, backed me and offered me the opportunity to work in the factory for a year. This was so beneficial, firstly because I got to know the craftsmen and gain their support (in most cases!) and secondly, I gained an understanding of the craft and the work that goes into best gunmaking. I was then equipped to join the sales team and progressed to the role of Gunroom Manager, eventually working for Holland & Holland for a few months short of 20 years in total. I was then approached by Marc Newton at Rigby, who offered me the unique role of Head of Sales in 2017. Rigby were, and still are, a forward-thinking company that loves to push the envelope, and they are extremely creative. I greatly enjoyed my time there, adding more to my existing knowledge, from H&H, on both bolt action and double rifles and generally about the hunting side of our world. In February 2020, just before the lockdown, I was approached to become the Director of Gun Sales here at Purdey, which was an offer I simply couldn’t refuse. I had of course watched Purdey from afar, being at Holland & Holland and then Rigby, and was acutely aware of their great history and heritage. This, coupled with what Purdey have given to the industry over the past 200-plus years, was an opportunity I relished. What has been the most successful product (or area) for you in the past year? Since Covid, the last few years have been good years, with our sidelocks seeing a resurgence in orders. We have also witnessed the growth of our Purdey Trigger Plate (launched in 2018), with clients

Andrew has worked in the gun trade for 25 years and for Purdey since 2020

“ All our clients are passionate

about Purdey and that makes the job very enjoyable ”

recognising the unique space they fill in the new gun market. Then finally, bringing the Purdey Sporter completely in-house and entirely made in London has really excited our clients.

What’s your clientele like? First off, our clients are extremely varied and come from all different backgrounds. I think the belief that our clients come from an aristocratic background is now an anachronism. One could possibly argue that was the case maybe 50 years ago but not today. The large majority of our clients are self-made who have aspired to own a Purdey for years. In the main they have reached a stage in life where they want to purchase something that is not only extremely tangible that they can physically enjoy using but something they can pass onto the next generation and pass on the enjoyment that they experienced themselves. What was your best day ever? I have experienced many enjoyable and memorable days in this industry, with some being unprintable! Without wishing to speak for others, I believe that’s why a lot of us enjoy this industry so much. Selling a new pair of 12-bores and a new pair of 20-bores inside 10 minutes to a walk-in client at Holland & Holland who we had not met before and was completely unannounced was quite memorable! We do a lot of events abroad and one year we went to California to take some demo guns to a private members club. We wanted to give clients the actual opportunity to handle and shoot our guns. We had quite a few clients visit us but we sold double the amount we had planned to in a single day!

Who’s your best customer? That’s difficult because a large part of the enjoyment is the variation in customer that we meet. From our perspective all our clients are passionate about Purdey and that makes the job very enjoyable. What’s your funniest or most memorable story about a customer? I met a client who had confirmed to proceed with his order for a new side-by-side. We always encourage the clients to express their thoughts on their engraving, especially if it is to be a more personalised style of engraving. Over the years we have had many examples of a client wanting to have their dog engraved on their gun somewhere, and so in this instance I suggested we could do a scene on the lockplate. The client paused and said he wanted his dog to be engraved on the trigger guard instead. I explained that the trigger guard was a lot smaller and would restrict the engraver but that we could make it work. Curiosity got the better of me and I asked the client why he wanted it engraved on the trigger guard and he said, “Well, when my dog dies, it is far cheaper to fit a new trigger guard and re-engrave my new dog, than to replace the entire lockplate!” What do you anticipate will be the biggest trends for the next year? I don’t think we are necessarily the best-placed in the industry to say what the biggest trends will be. Tempting as it is to give the knee-jerk answer of ‘steel shot’, the truth is, as a company, Purdey have been superior steel-shot proofing their guns for six to seven years. We are building a gun designed to last

When you order stock, what’s the first thing you put down? For us, the large majority of our gunmaking is bespoke and made to order but we do have a selection of guns ready to be purchased “off the shelf”. For these stock guns it’s about anticipating what the client wants and requires. For example, we will be quite conservative with the engraving because if a client wants a game scene then they will place a bespoke order for that specific scene. We do handselect the wood and always go longer in the stock so that there is the opportunity to then adjust the measurements to fit that client. Any other interesting facts about the business? For me, and though not exclusive to Purdey, one of the most interesting features of our business is that we build “out the back” and “sell out the front”. With the change in business practices across all industries over the past 50 or so years, either the manufacture is outsourced or the retailing is outsourced; it is quite rare to do both. We do both and that brings unique benefits, but of course issues as well. What is the best thing for you about working in a gun shop? As mentioned above, it is the great variation in the clients we are lucky to meet. Our clients come from all different backgrounds and from all over the world. This mix provides us with many different requests and sees us build many different guns, all entirely unique. And that leads me into the second part about working in a gun shop: getting to witness and momentarily (!) hold these wonderful new and old Purdeys that the imagination of the client has helped create and our craftsmen have brought to life with their immense talent. Are people surprised when you tell them you run a gun shop? I’ve been doing it for quite a while now—2023 marked my 25th year in this industry! That said, yes is the answer when I meet new people, and after the initial surprise comes the long list of questions, because people are always so interested to learn more, which is refreshing and rewarding. GTN

JAMES PURDEY & SONS LIMITED n ADDRESS: 57-58 South Audley Street, London, W1K 2ED n PHONE: 020 7499 1801 n WEBSITE: purdey.com n OPENING HOURS: Monday-Friday 10am-6pm and Saturdays 10am-5pm

Purdey has held its premises at Audley House for 140 years

Store of the Month

CZ 600

TRAIL A RADICAL BREAK THROUGH IN CENTERFIRE TECHNOLOGY.

Designed from the ground up to fulfil the hopes and dreams of the modern shooter, the CZ 600 are rifles like no other. Built for reliability, durability and functionality, the CZ 600 are set to redefine what a great rifle, can and should be!

DURALUMIN RECEIVER & FOREND WITH PICATINNY RAIL & M-LOK INTERFACE

COMPATIBILITY WITH AR-15 OR CZ BREN 2 MAGAZINES

TELESCOPIC STOCK

DOUBLE-STAGE TRIGGER WITH 4 LEVELS OF PULL

COMPATIBLE WITH AR-15 PISTOL GRIP &CZ P-09 INTERCHANGEABLE BACKSTRAPS

CZ BREN 2 INSPIRED SAFETY AND MAGAZINE RELEASE

CZ 600 TRAIL RRP: £1,398.99

CZ 600 ALPHA RRP: £1,242.99

CZ 600 ERGO RRP: £1,262.99

CZ 600 LUX RRP: £1,339.99

CZ 600 RANGE RRP: £1,584.99

All CZ 600 centrefire models are available in selection of calibre’s and barrels. Log on to our Trade Portal for the full CZ range or contact our Trade team dIscLaImer: FOR THE LATEST TRAdE PRICES, PLEASE CHECK WITH TRAdE TEAM ( PRICES MAy CHAngE FROM TIME OF PRInT )

SGC TRADE EST.1971

Official UK DistRibUtORs fOR cZ

call OUR DeDicateD tRaDe line: 01392 354870 OR email Us On: trade@sportsmanguncentre.com O R V i s i t O U R t R a D e w e b s i t e : w w w. s g c t r a d e . c o. u k

Shooting in the Media

WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON? Caroline Roddis calmly reflects on controlling bias in reporting, and concludes it is a good thing… Just so long as it never applies to columnists like her AS you’ll have undoubtedly seen, the topic of media bias has been—for tragic reasons—a subject of much debate since 6 October. At the centre of this is the BBC, who have been accused not only of failing to describe Hamas as a terrorist organisation in their coverage, but also of being biased against both sides in the unfolding conﬂict. According to a recent article in the Guardian: “The BBC is understood to have received more than 1,500 complaints relating to its coverage of the Israel-Hamas conﬂict with complaints split almost evenly between those claiming its reporting has been biased against Israel and those saying it is biased against Palestinians.” Is there any way, in this scenario, that the BBC could get it ‘right’? In a quest to decide whether the point of journalism is, in fact, to please none of the people none of the time—which you could argue the BBC has long made something of an art form— I returned to the thought-provoking Frontlines of Journalism podcast, released earlier this year and presented by the BBC’s International Editor Jeremy Bowen. The topic of the podcast is the pursuit of truth, and Bowen, who has been accused of bias many times over his long career reporting on war zones, sets out his belief that impartiality isn’t necessarily compatible with providing balanced coverage.

Windows

As one of the guests on his first episode explains: “Balance is where you have two people with equal views both given equal time, and impartiality is when the journalist makes an active search to determine what is true. There’s a famous phrase, which I’ll censor slightly: if one person says it’s raining and the other person says it’s not, the journalist’s view isn’t to strike a balance, but to look out of the blinking window.” On face value this makes perfect sense, and is probably invaluable advice if you want a career presenting the weather. Where it can get muddled, however, is where the answer isn’t a simple yes or no—and infinitely more so when conflicting belief systems are involved. Impartiality, the podcast contends, “doesn’t mean being neutral about basic moral values,” but how this works in a society which has difficulty differentiating the concepts of morality and ethics. While you could contend there’s a shared moral code, a recent Telegraph article highlights the lack of any similar system of ethics. “Buy now, pay later provider Klarna has been accused of cutting off rifle suppliers from finance after declaring them unethical,” it begins. “Richard Stebbings, managing director of Centaur Target Sports, which sells Olympic-grade target air rifles, ammunition and specialised clothing, said the company has been cut off from Klarna’s services, which he used to offer finance on sporting accessories.”

Finances

The article quotes from the explanatory statement on Klarna’s website, which quickly descends into nonsense: “Some products can be categorised as products of dual use, meaning that they may have a legitimate use, but also an illegitimate use. When assessing partners providing products of dual use, Klarna will try to determine if its typical end customers intend to use the product in an illegitimate way and if the partner supports such use. Klarna shall make an overall assessment of the partner,

“ George Monbiot looks out of the window and sees a murderous toff ” its business practices, its conduct in general and its product portfolio.” Given that most of you either have RFDs or know your way around licensing law, I don’t need to dwell on the many ways in which any so-called ‘assessment’ was clearly worthless, but I will briefly observe that a search on the Klarna app just now has offered me a wide variety of sharp and pointy objects for sale through their financing, all of which would serve quite well in any ‘dual use’ situation. Does Klarna really believe it’s unethical to enable the sale of rifles and sporting accessories, one wonders, or is this pandering to an audience for commercial gain?

Pheasants

The guest on that ﬁrst podcast episode who explained the problems of balance in reporting, incidentally, is a journalist known to most of us: George Monbiot. And as most of us are also aware, where

we might look out of the window and see someone enjoying a sport which offers myriad beneﬁts to the community and conservation, Monbiot looks out of the window and sees a murderous toff. In his recent opinion column—where I acknowledge he has carte blanche to say what he likes, as we columnists are mavericks who play by our own rules*—Monbiot asserts that pheasant shooting is “one of the bluntest expressions of class power in the United Kingdom” and later that “joining a shoot is a ticket to social acceptance in the upper echelons, and the signal to everyone else that you’ve made it.” This should have made me furious, but I couldn’t help but chuckle as I imagined introducing him to my old syndicate, where at least half of the members were called Dave, and where most of us would have been bluntly told to use the tradesman’s entrance at the stately homes of those whom he asserts constitute the pheasant shooting community.

It’s a deliberately provocative piece—and a successful one at that, judging by the 390 impassioned comments on the online article from both sides— and one riddled with contentious statements like: “After each massacre, most of the dead pheasants, as there’s little demand for their meat, are dumped in ‘stink pits’” and “I suspect that the industrial killing of other animals has long helped inure the ruling classes to the industrial killing of human beings.” In general reporting, of course, journalists are supposed to put their own beliefs aside, provide substantiated facts and allow the truth to shine through. In columns, it’s just an opinion—which by definition takes a side on a topical issue and is designed to provoke and/or entertain. The idea of impartiality and the search for truth is an endlessly pure and beguiling one. But in a world where the idea of media legitimacy is in flux and where there’s so much seemingly ‘true’ content out there for us to consume, I’m not sure I’m quite ready to let the value of providing balance slip out of my cold, dead hands, for fear of denying people the right to be heard. That feels like it would be… immoral? Or unethical? GTN *Or, as our editors probably say, misfits who can’t cut it in real journalism and who should be grateful just to be employed…

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On Air

AIRGUN INNOVATION AT THE RIGHT PRICE

Mat Manning catches up with Mike Hurney, owner of shooting gear distributer and retailer The Shooting Party, to find out what sets this well-known business apart from the rest

MM Can you give us a brief history of how The Shooting Party came to be and who the key people in the business are? MH I’ve been shooting for over 40 years—shotguns, live-firing rifles and airguns. During my time owning and running Webley in the early 2000s, I spent a lot of time researching and developing new products all around the world, in China, Taiwan, South Korea, Italy, Turkey and more. I realised there was a real opportunity to introduce novel shooting sports products into the UK market, at attractive price points, so I launched The Shooting Party in 2010 to do that. My key colleagues are Peter Jackson, my number two, who is responsible for all the logistics and day-to-day operation of the business. Mat Hope runs our warehouse and despatching, whilst also handling the bulk of our warranty work MM More and more shooting businesses are embracing the airgun market. How important is the airgun sector to The Shooting Party and why is that? MH Ninety-nine per cent of our many hundreds of products are firmly aimed at the airgun sector. That is largely because it is, currently, less regulated than the live-firing sectors and much more accessible and inclusive. MM Can you tell us about the main airgun brands you deal with and their key models? MH We only supply our own brands, or ones where we have exclusivity and serious input into their development. Our own brands include AirForceOne, and the key model here is the Trophy MkII CO2 Pistol, which has been extraordinarily successful. We also have Lee Enfield (Guns) Ltd. The main products here are the line of Brothers in Arms CO2-powered steel BB replicas: the SMLE, AK74, Mosin-Nagant, M1911, M4 carbine, and the new M16. In PCP rifles we offer the Sentry and the incredibly well-reviewed Airacuda Max in conjunction with our US partners JTS. MM You also supply a range of optics. Can you tell us about some of them? MH Our PAO (Professional Airgun Optics) range features pistol and rifle scopes, as well as sights such as the multi-reticle reflex sight and red and green lasers. Prices range from around £30 to £300, and we are particularly proud of our F1 5-20x50 First Focal Plane model, described as having the best reticle of any FFP scope under £1,000, yet it costs only £299. All our scopes have a no-quibble, replace-not-repair, lifetime warranty, which gives consumers and retailers complete reassurance about their purchase. MM The Shooting Party also distributes QYS and JTS Dead Centre airgun pellets. Can you tell us more about them? MH We took on QYS in 2018 when they were unknown in the UK market. Today they are the number one premium .177 pellet brand, regularly referred to as “the best .177 pellets in the world”. They are super-clean, consistent and blisteringly accurate. We sell two weights

Mike Hurney, owner of The Shooting Party, with the acclaimed Trophy MKII CO2 pistol

“ Ninety-nine per cent of our many hundreds of products are firmly aimed at the airgun sector ”

(8.48-grain and 9.56-grain) and in two formats, FT Domed and Streamlined. We have worked with JTS for around ten years and for the last two we have been closely involved in the development of the Dead Center range of pellets. Substantial research was undertaken over multiple airguns, from supercheap springers to top-of-the-range competition PCPs. JTS’s substantial investment in new proprietary technology has resulted in pellets that in recent tests proved to be between eight and ten times more weight-consistent than comparable models from the previous leading

manufacturers. We are confident that within the next 12 months or so, they will emulate the success of QYS, but in the .22 calibre sector. We currently offer two weights: 16.05-grain and 18.1-grain. New .25 and .30 calibre versions will be available on our next shipment. MM What attributes do you look for when choosing new products to add to the Shooting Party line-up? MH Quality, value and innovation are our watchwords. It’s as simple as that. MM What are your priorities when it comes to delivering a positive customer experience?

MH We have an unrivalled warranty, and we always deliver fast and proactive customer service, and true value. MM You often attend shooting shows as a retailer. How do you decide which events you are going to attend? And how do you feel about the general state of shooting shows and game fairs these days? MH We have reluctantly decided to give up on outdoor shows for two main reasons. Firstly, the ever-increasing unpredictability of the UK weather means that you can spend many thousands of pounds attending a fair and then it rains for two days and financially wipes you out. Secondly, organisers seem determined to attract ever more craft gin distillers and artisan food producers. I think fewer and fewer shooters are interested in paying to take their families to what is essentially an outdoor Fortnum & Mason. We are still big supporters of the British Shooting Show at the NEC and the National Shooting Show in Harrogate. The weather is largely irrelevant at these events and the exhibitor profile is much more shooter-aligned. MM What have been the biggest challenges to your business in the past few years and what changes have you made to overcome them? MH Everything Covid-related seems to have presented big challenges. Firstly, the lockdown in Chinese factories led to product shortages. Then, because all the shipping containers were in LA or Felixstowe ports, there was a great lack of shipping capacity, which saw the cost of a 20ft container going to over $19,000 from $1,300 pre-pandemic. We lost a lot of money over a whole range of products and some lowcost, high-weight or bulk items became completely unviable. Only in the last month or so have prices returned to something closer to prepandemic levels. China is a 30-day plus voyage from the UK, and they operate in a completely different time zone, so we have made the decision to move to more “near-shoring”. So our latest Trophy Mk II pistol is made in Turkey, not China, and we plan to transition more products there. Transit times are much shorter and Turkey is only two hours ahead of us, which also helps. MM Can you give us any hints about new airgun-related products we may see coming through The Shooting Party and any future ambitions you have for the business? MH We have a bullpup version of the JTS Airacuda, called the Brawn, arriving before the end of the year, about which we are very excited. It is super-accurate and has great looks. We also have a multi-shot, full-powered CO2 rifle in development. That also should be here in time for Christmas. And there will be more, so watch this space. Our ambition remains to be viewed by shooters and the trade alike as the go-to company for new innovative products available at great price points. GTN

EN TR W QU AD EL IR E CO I E M S E

I I K M Y H P O R T

t ccess, with ever y shipmen su t an st in an s wa ’ hy op static he original ‘Tr in the UK and garnering ec g in riv ar re fo be t ou gllin vir tually se ess alike, culminating pr un rg ai e 99 th d an rs ile ta 9. 2 reviews from shooters, re £2 2 Pistol 2014’ P R in it being voted ‘Best CO R Black Trophy Ultimate Combo Pistol

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The new MK II models (which are a UK Registered Design), being introduced following customer demand, offer a host of new features, including:1 All models are available in a 9-shot (.177) Target and 7-shot (.22) Vermin versions featuring a self-indexing rotary magazine. 2 45-55 full-power (up to 5.5ft/lbs) shots from a single 12gr CO2 capsule. 3 All models feature free-ﬂoating barrels for excellent barrel harmonics which aid accuracy. 4 A high-quality, low-maintenance, black ballistic polymer competition-style stock with a palm shelf that improves grip and control.

5 They also feature an under fore-grip weaver rail for the addition of a bipod. 6 There is also a special limited edition Nero Rosa SE model with a stunning black/red Cerakote finish. 7 A classic bolt action with a wide breech makes magazine loading simple and un-fussy. 8 The pistols are fitted with micro-adjustable rear sights and a steel blade foresight but also feature 9/11mm dovetailing designed to make fitting a PAO® pistol scope, a swift and straightforward task.

9 Metal triggers (adjustable for pull pressure between approximately ½ and 4lbs) and metal trigger guards further enhance the quality construction of what we believe to be a leading challenger for the best new pistol of-2023! The Shooting Party recommends QYS pellets for Trophy MKII air pistols.

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Auction View

NEW BOYS IN TOWN Diggory Hadoke welcomes Lonsdales to the increasing number of auctioneers recognising the value of the shooting pound, and looks forward to some big nights to come A deepening storm is gathering in the provinces. More and more guns are appearing in local sales and the chatter on the breeze says that fear of a lead ban is prompting older shooters to turn their guns in for sale, while that is still optional rather than imposed. While it is true that Holts and Gavin Gardiner travel untold miles offering free valuations and taking consignments, for some not based in the south, dealing with their own local auctioneer is perceived as easier and preferable. Such sentiment has created a new sporting guns auction in the north. Lonsdales Auctioneers have announced their inaugural sale on 9 November. The sale includes Purdey, Woodward, Holland & Holland and Dickson shotguns, as well as riﬂes by Weatherby and David Lloyd. Usefully, they also hold Section 5 authority and can dispose of pistols and other prohibited weapons if necessary. Part of the strategy Lonsdales have employed is to partner with several other auctioneers across the region who get occasional ﬁrearms but lack the facilities or expertise to handle them comfortably. Lonsdales takes them on. Lonsdales Auctioneers are based near Kirkby Lonsdale, close to the M6 and just an hour from the Scottish border. The catalogue is available now at auctions.lonsdalesauctioneers.com and bidding is also available via The Saleroom or Invaluable, if you don’t mind paying the added fees for using those sites. Lonsdales themselves charge a seller’s commission of 15% on the hammer price. Buyer’s commission is 20%, making a total of 35% of the value of the sale going to the auctioneer.

Wilson55

Another auctioneer located away from the traditional southern hub is Wilson55, in Nantwich, and they hold a sale the day before Lonsdales, on 8 November. This is a two-day sale of ‘Firearms, Shotguns, Airguns, Arms & Militaria’. The catalogue, available now at wilson55.com, is heavy with collectibles, including a large number of flint and percussion pistols, 19th-century rifles and a shotgun or two. Notable is a .451 Whitworth target rifle circa 1858, numbered 154 and believed to be an early experimental version of what became a very successful competition target rifle. There is a good smattering of classic air rifles, including Weihrauch HW35s and BSA Airsporters— the kind of things my friends and I had when we were youths in the 1980s. If anyone is looking to decorate a man cave or study, there are several interesting choices, like Africa tribal knobkerries and Polynesian war clubs, and if you always secretly wanted a German helmet, or even a Third Reich Imperial battle flag, now is your chance to actually buy one! The sale also contains a lot of Pedersoli and Parker Hale modern reproduction muzzle-loading firearms and shotguns.

Bloomfields

While these two sales appeal to mainstream shooters, there was one this month that was very much for the specialist collectors. Bloomfield Auctions in Belfast sold what was billed as ‘The Leslie Martin Collection’, which was predominantly flintlock and percussion pistols of Irish origin. Among the collection was a large number of firearms by John Rigby

John Tamlin of Lonsdales with some of the guns on sale in their inaugural auction

“ A lot of Americans have been

holding off buying British guns in anticipation of a UK price crash ”

of Dublin and the firm that preceded it, William & John (W&J) Rigby. The most impressive was a 32-bore, hand rotated, seven barrel carbine, with sprung bayonet. Made around 1838, it is extremely rare, in remarkable condition and listed with an estimate of £45,000£50,000—quite a hike from the original 1838 sale price of £34.13s.0d. There was also a very good .451 target rifle by Rigby, made around 1860 and possibly used by the Irish team in competition with an American team in 1874 and 1875 on both sides of the Atlantic. The price expectation for this was £12,000 to £14,000, which I thought optimistic, but with provenance you can never be sure how bidding will go. One of the premier rifle trophies is the Elcho Shield, which was first presented in 1865. It was commissioned by Lord Elcho as a prize for competing teams from England and Scotland shooting at long range. Before it was finished a sketch of it and later a plaster version were presented instead. As the actual shield was six foot high, each member of the winning eight was presented with a small silver copy, paid for by the losers. I bought one such silver trophy in October at Bloomfields. It was awarded to one of the Irish eight who won in 1877—Irish and Welsh teams having by then been added to the list of competitors. Among the Irish team was none other than gunmaker John Rigby, who was a very accomplished rifle shot. Team photographs, sold with the shield, depict John Rigby and his fellows with the full sized Elcho shield and their rifles. I cannot say for sure that this shield was the one presented to John Rigby, but the odds are one in eight! It now resides with John Rigby & Co. in Pensbury Place, London, where visitors can see and touch a piece of history, very much related to the company, whose rifles were so well loved by long range competition shooters.

The big boys

Gavin Gardiner has closed entries for his 15 November sale and the catalogue should be available shortly at gavingardiner.com. Holts already have a big list of guns, riﬂes and accessories, which can be viewed at holtsauctioneers.com. Having just sold off a huge number of bargainbasement type kit in their online no-reserve auction, they have another scheduled for 27 November (Fine Modern & Antique Arms) and Modern Sporting guns the following day. The Sealed Bids auction can viewed at the same time as the main sales and bidding for sealed bids lots ends online, or by post, on 7 December.

Bonhams have a sale in London on 23 November and their website has a preview of five lots to whet the appetite at bonhams.com. These include a composed pair of early 1900s Boss sidelocks and some minty Purdeys of various ages, from the 1950s to the 1990s, with estimates fro £18,000 to £60,000. Bonhams have had some important and interesting sales lately, so keep an eye on the catalogue as it develops. There has been some encouraging news from the Gun Trade Association with regard to the imposition of a lead shot and projectile ban. That, of course is expected to have an impact on gun and rifle prices, as shooters have to decide what to do when or if lead ceases to be available. Auctions have already begun to see resultant consignments from people deciding to give up voluntarily before they have no choice. The latest view is that, largely due to effective representations by the GTA, the Health & Safety Executive has dropped the push to ban the use and sale of lead bullets for hunting and the use and sale of lead airgun pellets. There will be restrictions on lead bullets for target shooting but there will be exceptions for suitable ranges, which can contain and extract spent bullets. Lead shot is still on the way out, with a ban on sales and use except for a small number of international class competitors who may represent the country in international clay shooting competitions. For the rest of us, the HSE is pushing for legislation that will deliver a total ban, with a five-year period to allow the industry to make the necessary changes to comply without catastrophic business losses and inability to meet the demand for lead alternatives. I know a lot of Americans have been holding off buying British guns in anticipation of a UK price crash (many have told me so) but it looks like they will have to wait a while longer. While many big commercial shoots are already insisting on non-lead shot, smaller syndicate, rough and pigeon shooters can probably carry on with lead for at least another five years. These proposals have yet to be formalised but they do give us a good idea of the HSEs plans at this stage. It can only be seen as good news. GTN

A fine custom Mark v .416 Weatherby Magnum ser. no. h225199, estimated at between £1,200 and £1,400 at Lonsdales

A Purdey 12-bore self-opening sidelock ejector gun estimated at between £11,000 and £13,000 at Lonsdales

Legal

HOBSON’S CHOICE Stuart Farr looks at succession planning, the process by which a business owner passes on the responsibility of their enterprise to the next generation Image by StartupStockPhotos from Pixabay

I had always assumed, perhaps rather naively I now see, that the primary roles of government were to create and foster stability, wherever reasonably possible, and to diligently steer the country down a winding path toward prosperity. Perhaps with very similar expectations in mind, I suspect it caused so many of the voting public to muster the courage and plunge for Brexit—perhaps in a fervent belief that it was time for us to carve a new and exciting national identity. At that time, we had (note the use of the past tense!) a clear ambition to lead the world from the front, rather than simply follow the crowd. The government pitched its stall. When it came to important environmental issues, and climate change in particular, it wasn’t shy in shouting out from the rooftops: “We are much better than everyone else.” Of course, while making such bold proclamations several issues were ignored, and so they continued to linger.

Same old

Firstly, we still drive around in tatty old polluting vehicles—why else would we need to implement clean air zones if we were already so compliant? Secondly, too many of us can barely garner the enthusiasm to service our domestic gas boilers, let alone fork out the cost of replacing them. Thirdly, we still scratch our heads over which coloured bin to use when chucking out our domestic waste. But hey, let’s be fair. We all try to do our bit. Nowadays apparently, if it’s yellow, more of us than ever before are prepared to let it mellow! So, when those massively ambitious “net zero” targets, fanfared by the non-elected government of the day, start to get watered down, while at the same time our headline national infrastructure projects become subject to “review” and are unceremoniously scrapped, it all rather begs the question: were we sold a pup? The reality, of course, is that big political promises always come with big consequences. The most signiﬁcant consequence usually involves delivering on those promises. And for any government this is never easy. The problem lies in the fact that, generally speaking, the big promises must be made ﬁrst in order to gain position and power. The issues surrounding implementation do not become evident until much later. U-turns then start to occur, but always long enough before the next election, in the hope that we’ll have forgotten about them and moved forward with the new and shiny big promises of things yet to come. I realise this is rather cynical, but nevertheless it is an endless vicious political circle we must apparently continue to endure.

Country matters

As a sector which directly feeds into the rural economies, the gun trade knows full well that it does not require rocket science to realise that the widespread infrastructure projects needed to shift ourselves fully into EV usage are little more than a twinkle in the local planners’ eye. Indeed, it will probably require a minimum of several years’ hard labour before the basics of a workable national EV infrastructure will even emerge from the womb. In short, everyone knows that there are nowhere near enough chargers around to juice up our hefty and eye-wateringly expensive battery-operated 4x4’s.

All of which comes at a time when people in the gun trade and rural economies generally are struggling to make other ends meet as it is. It is perhaps no wonder, therefore, that I have come across several rural and gun trade businesses recently that are sadly edging nearer to some form of closure. I don’t necessarily mean “closure” in the literal sense. What I sense is that some gun-tradebased business owners are getting far too weary. Enough is (nearly) enough, they are telling me.

process whereby new or emerging talent within a business is identiﬁed in order to help replace those people who are in key positions, whenever those key people step down or leave, or the need otherwise arises. Unfortunately, in my experience, it is too often the case that those who are driving the succession process forward view it as a purely one-way process. For instance, the “boss” handling the situation selects a candidate to succeed (this might involve an

“ There needs to be an interaction that produces something that is greater than the sum of it parts ”

The message is one of despondency. After a relatively brief pick up after Covid, the future is not all that bright after all. Business owners are suggesting they would much rather close their doors and liquidate their depleting capital than risk the consequences of even more U-turns, uncertain prosperity, a ﬂat economy and escalating costs. Add to that the ongoing licensing delays, export issues, ever-increasing threats of more restrictive regulation, and pressures of going lead-free, and it is not hard to understand that some business owners simply want to move on, or quit while they’re ahead. It therefore perhaps comes as no surprise that succession planning is a topic which many business owners across a broad spectrum of sectors are now looking to embrace. Succession planning can mean various things to different people, but overall it involves a managed

external recruitment, or a person with family ties, or an existing time-served employee) so that, when the time is right, the baton of business is duly passed on. In this scenario, the decision-making process may be too unilateral and a bit erm… “traditional”. Here’s a useful tongue twister for you to bear in mind: “Successful succession subsumes synergy.” To explain, in my view, for succession to be truly successful, there needs to be an interaction between the parties which eventually produces something that is greater than the sum of its parts. I would always encourage any succession planner to reﬂect on the business as a whole and make sure that there are no avoidable “poison chalices” to be inherited. The shop window, so to speak, needs to look spick and span, and command a kerbside appeal to those who would consider investing their time, career and money into the venture going forward.

Finances should be reviewed and strengthened where possible with the requisite levels of due diligence. Plans and projections should be recorded and shared. Customers and contracts need to be ﬁrmed up, stable and healthy, with all business policies, terms and conditions scrutinised and brought up to date. Skeletons in closets should be removed, dealt with properly and then appropriately buried.

New incumbents

All these things require effort, but the rewards could be much greater than simply handing over control of a business with a substantial number of issues festering in the background. New incumbents generally don’t mind taking a business forward and even enjoy putting their own stamp on things. What causes problems (and can quickly lead to expensive disputes!) are those matters which have been glossed over, swept under the carpet or, even worse, actively concealed, whether out of embarrassment, recklessness, or even more sinister motivations. Succession planning should not, therefore, be about offering a Hobson’s choice to an unwitting new management team. It always beneﬁts from professional help from the right sources and can prove to be a cathartic exercise. Even if the timing does not prove to be ideal, an ongoing process of succession planning can still help to strengthen a business by providing a purgative effect on the issues which are causing it to suffer. 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.

NIGHT VISION & THERMAL DEVICES

NEW & IMPROVED gEN2 SERIES ParD’S NiGht ViSioN raNGE laSEr haS uNDErGoNE aN uPGraDE to aN lED ir

NEW DS35 Gen2 SerieS DAY & niGHT ViSiOn SCOPe

The latest update to Pards Night Vision range the DS35 is a day and night scope with unrivalled clarity and features a New LED IR and the worlds first round circular LTPS display for greater clarity and performance. DS35-70 GEN2 • Mag: 5.6x (Optical) / 2x (Digital) • Focal Length: 70mm • FOV: Horiz 3.4° / Vert: 3.4° / Diag: 4.8° • Cont Digital Zoom: 5.6 - 22.4x DS35-50 GEN2 • Mag: 4x (Optical) / 2x (Digital) • Focal Length: 50mm • FOV: Horiz: 4.8° / Vert: 4.8° / Diag: 6.8° • Cont Digital Zoom: 4 - 16x • 800x800 Circular LTPS Display • NEW LED IR Light - Up To 350m (Optional) • 850NM • Wifi • Focus range 5m - Infinity • 2K CMOS Sensor • Range Finder - Max Dist 1000m (Optional) • 70mm / 50mm Focal length from objective lens to sensor for the best combination of optical magnification and field of view

DS35-50 GEN2 / STD Gen2 - RRP: £749.99 (NO IR) ir Gen2 - RRP: £779.99 / LRF GEN2 - RRP: £849.99

DS35-70 GEN2 / STD Gen2 - RRP: £749.99 (NO IR) HD

ir Gen2 - RRP: £779.99 / LRF GEN2 - RRP: £849.99 2K

HD CIRCULAR LONG EYE LTPS DISPLAY RELIEF DISPLAY

350M NEW LED IR LIGHT

NEW USER INTERFACE

2560x1440 CMOS SENSOR

Images are for illustration purposes. Actual Image quality may vary depending on environmental factors

NIGHT & DAY MODE

Focus-Free Lens Cap

Rear Button Panel Power / Sleep Button

Multi-Functional Control Dial

NEW NV007SP Gen2 SerieS NIGHT VISION REaR aTTaCHMENT

The UK’s best selling night vision add-on, has just got better... converting your standard day scope into a high performance night vision system, quickly & easily. • Mag: 4x (Optical) / 1-3.5x (Digital) • Cont Digital Zoom: 4-28x • FOV: Horizontal 22° / Vertical 12° / Diagonal 25° • 6000J Recoil Resistance • New Extremely Sensitive 2560x1440 CMOS Sensor • Self-activated Recording • Quick Mount & Release • Wifi Connectivity • Record HD Video (30Hz Frame Rate) & Save Photos • 6000J Recoil Resistance • Up-to 350M adjustable Directional NEW LED IR Light • Ultra Compact Design • Integrated Range Finder (Optional) Range - 1000M • Oled Eyepiece Display • USB C Charging • Ip67 Waterproof Body • Image Mode: Colour / B&W

NV007SP

NV007SP LRF

GEN 2 SERIES

NV007SP GEN2 RRP: £499.99 / NV007SP LRF GEN2 RRP: £599.99 1000m

2K COMPACT DESIGN

QUICK ATTACHMENT

2560x1440 CMOS SENSOR

LONG 1000M LRF

ADJUSTABLE LED IR LIGHT

Images are for illustration purposes. Actual Image quality may vary depending on environmental factors

NIGHT & DAY MODE

Rear Button Panel Power / Sleep

Direction Adjustable NEW LED IR light

Shorter Body Length Compact Design

NV007V SerieS

NIGHT VISION REaR aTTaCHMENT Successor to the NV007A...Improved HD sensor & USb-c charging interface 16mm objective lens • Mag: 4x (Optical) / 1-3.5x (Digital)

LIFESTYLE

• Cont Dig Zoom: 4-28x • FOV: Horizontal 20° / Vertical 11° / Diagonal 23° 12mm objective lens • Mag: 3x (Optical) / 1-3.5x (Digital) • Cont Dig Zoom: 3-21x • FOV: Horizontal 26° / Vertical 15° / Diagonal 30° • USB-C Charging Interface • 1920x1080 Full Hd Sensor • HD Video Recording • High Res Photos • IR Distance - Up-to 350M • 128GB External Storage • Image Mode: Colour / B&W • 45mm Scope adapter (48mm sold separately)

12mm

16mm

HD 16MM RRP: £284.99 NV007V 12MM RRP: £284.99 / NV007V

2K WIFI

HI DEF VIDEOS

HIGH RES PHOTOS

LONG EYE RELIEF DISPLAY

NIGHT & DAY MODE

Images are for illustration purposes. Actual Image quality may vary depending on environmental factors

All-Glass MultiCoated Lens

Rear Button Panel Power / Sleep Button

Adjustable Eyepiece & Larger Eye Cap

Log on to our Trade Portal for the full Pard range or contact our Trade team DISCLAIMER: FOR THE LATEST TRAdE PRICES & AVAILABILITY, PLEASE CHECK WITH TRAdE TEAM ( PRICES MAY CHAngE FROM TIME OF PRInT )

SGC TRADE EST.1971

OffICIAL UK DISTRIbUTORS fOR PARD

CALL OUR DEDICATED TRADE LINE: 01392 354870 OR EMAIL US ON: tRADE@SpoRtSMAngunCEntRE.CoM O R V I S I T O U R T R A D E w E b S I T E : w w w. S g C t R A D E . C o. u k

Market Opportunities: Christmas

YULE CLEAN UP Strap yourself in for a bumper Christmas with our key stocking recommendations for the festive season

Pard DS35-70 Gen2 Night & Day Scope

The first things you will notice about the new DS35 Gen2 are that Pard have upgraded the IR to LED, improving reliability, and that it has the world’s first 800x800px round display. The unique LTPS unit delivers high-clarity images with rich contrast and an extra-wide field of view for enhanced situational awareness. Other advantages include great magnification range and an aluminium alloy body, and a 2K imaging sensor, which when coupled with the optional new 850nm upgraded LED IR can see users push their night shooting out to 350m and beyond. Shooters can also now opt for a built-in range finder that will instantly show reading through the device. Available in a range to suit all hunters. STD GEN 2: RRP £749.99 (NO IR/LRF)—IR GEN 2: RRP £779.99—LRF GEN2: RRP £849.99 Sportsman Gun Centre 01392 354870 trade@sportsmanguncentre.com

BOG DeathGrip Carbon Fibre Precision Tripod

The BOG DeathGrip Carbon Fibre Precision Tripod is engineered to be the most stable precision tripod on the market. The carbon fibre legs reduce its overall weight, making it highly portable without sacrificing stability. The strength of the carbon fibre legs decreases the amount of flex, making this precision tripod extremely accurate for even the beginning hunter. Its patented clamp securely locks down any weapon for a hands-free, rock-solid rest. A tilt adjustment lever which controls up to 25 degrees of cant, forwards and back, and the head pans 360 degrees with tension adjustment. Dual action clamping Deathgrip head with non-marring jaw inserts and lever leg locks for secure, easy adjustment. Also available in an aluminium version tripod. RRP £415.99 Sportsman Gun Centre 01392 354870 trade@sportsmanguncentre.com

Rigby ‘Big Five’ Tie Collection

A premium ensemble that showcases the majestic lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant. Designed for sporting and hunting enthusiasts, each tie is made from the finest British silk and features intricate designs of the big five animals set against a rich backdrop, representing strength, peril, and the awe-inspiring wonders of nature. Each tie is also available to purchase individually. RRP £400 set of five—£89 each John Rigby & Co Maria Gil maria@johnrigbyandco.com

Schmeisser SP15 Bronze

Zbroia PCP Air Rifle Hortitsia

Introducing the Hortitsia (PCP) air rifle from Zbroia. Made in Ukraine, with a Monte Carlo stock, an adjustable two stage trigger, a Picatinny/ Weaver rail and available in .22 & .177 calibre with a choice of three different barrel lengths, the Hortitsia air rifle has something for everyone. Known for its accuracy, the Hortitsia is fitted with a 300 bar air cylinder capable of firing more than 100 shots in .177 or 60 shots in .22. The built-in regulator is designed to ensure the shot to shot velocity is kept to within a 1% deviation. Magazine capacity is 12 rounds in .177 and 10 rounds in .22. Retail prices from £785.00 to £835.00 depending on the barrel length and air cylinder capacity Artemis Outdoors UK 01579 362319 info@artemisoutdoorsuk.co.uk

Featuring the ‘Comp-Pro’ bolt carrier group, and a 1-in-9 twist rate match barrel, the Schmeisser SP15 MK3 range of straight pull bolt action rifles is now available in an all-new bronze finish. The MK3 models offer a more consistent and reliable extraction due to increased leverage at the front of the bolt. The re-positioned bolt handle means faster bolt operation, increasing speed of cycling, with an adjustable angle to ensure perfect hand position. The SP15 MK3 bronze rifles are chambered in .223, with a choice of 4 barrel lengths; 14in and 16.75in standard match grade, 18in fluted match grade and 20in heavy match grade. RRP £2,175.00 Edgar Brothers 01625 613177 edgarbrothers.com

Market Opportunities: Christmas

The Wakerley Jacket, Pine Needle

Meticulous attention to the details that matter is a priority of Schöffel Country. The highly breathable Wakerley Jacket, with its abundance of technical features, is proof of that. Available in a regular ﬁt, this premium piece is designed to protect you from the elements—and it does just that with a ﬂattering cut and no shortage of charm. Throw in a selection of signature Schöffel Country features, like a two-way YKK zip, suede trim, external zip security pockets and a detachable, adjustable, stowaway hood, and you have a minimalistic coat with a whole lot going for it. RRP £349.95 Schoffel

Pinewood Smaland Light Jacket

The Smaland Light jacket from Pinewood has a wind and waterproof breathable membrane, taped seams and is designed for either hunting or general outdoor use. The outer material is also impregnated with an ecofriendly Bionic Finish organic ﬂuorocarbon-free treatment to provide extra water-repellent properties. Two large front pockets, hand warmer pockets with magnetic closing, a Game pocket and even a pocket for your radio mean you can enjoy your day whilst being prepared for anything. The Smaland Light jacket is just one part of the Pinewood clothing collection designed in Scandinavia for people with an active outdoor life. RRP £179.95 Artemis Outdoors UK 01579 362319 info@artemisoutdoorsuk.co.uk

Wax Baseball Cap in Navy

New this season, Hicks & Brown’s wax caps are a classic shaped baseball cap. A must have for any countryside enthusiast, designed for all seasons ahead. Expertly crafted from dry wax cotton, this cap is ideal for rain or shine, and the lightweight and comfortable design makes it ideal for everyday wear. With a one-size-ﬁts-all and rear adjuster for a tailored ﬁt, the unisex style makes it the perfect Christmas gift for everyone. The Wax Baseball Cap is available in Navy and Olive Green. RRP £34 Hicks & Brown wholesale@hicksandbrown.com

Silk Country Tie

Aside from socks, nothing says I love you more than the gift of a tie at Christmas. This belter from Alan Paine features a pure silk outer matched with a branded satin lining. The ties are 150cm long, come in any colour you like—so long as it is wine, gold or navy—and come packaged in a leather-look gift box for that extra touch of class. RRP £49.95 Alan Paine 01623 415765 alanpaine.co.uk

Farlows Ladies Chunky Donegal Fairisle Jumper in Mull

Made for Farlows in Aberdeenshire, this stunning Chunky Donegal Fairisle jumper is the ultimate in warm and cosy knitwear. Perfect for the winter months, this jumper is made using the ﬁnest quality Donegal yarn. This jumper features a traditional Fairisle pattern around the neckline. It is made using a tubular design, meaning it is seam-free. This increases its durability, ensuring its longevity, and also means that when it is made there is zero wastage, ensuring its sustainability. RRP £144.99 Farlows

Steiner Ranger LRF

PAO LumenMAX 900 IR Hunting Lamp System

Comprises a 900 Lumens, 500m range Cree LED torch, interchangeable infra-red 850nm night vision illuminator unit, long-life USB rechargeable 18650 Li-ion battery, interchangeable red/green ﬁlters, remote tail switch with extendable cable, universal scope/torch mount (ﬁts 25mm, 30mm and 34mm scope bodies). The Torch is impact resistant up to 1 metre, and waterproof IPX-68 up to 2 metres under water. RRP £149.99 Shooting Party 01543 480361 mike@shootingparty.co.uk

The Ranger LRF 10x42 combines a precise integrated laser range ﬁnder, perfect ergonomics and highest accuracy in one product. The unique slim design, which houses all the electronics, allows comfortable handling and precise measurement in any situation. This, combined with the bright display and integrated angle compensation, ensures that nothing escapes you, plus an ingenious continuous scanning mode provides accurate measurements even while game is moving. The Aluminium housing delivers a robust, reliable construction which achieves impact resistance of up to 11G. The nitrogen ﬁlled system prevents fogging and perfectly seals the optics to guarantee crystal clear observations. RRP £1,285 GMK 01489 579 999 gmk.co.uk/contact

Market Opportunities: Christmas

Rigby Linen Hunting Shirts

Elevate your outdoor experience with this premium shirt, crafted from high-quality linen for unmatched comfort and durability. Adorned with the iconic Rigby ‘double R’ logo in elegant gold embroidery on the chest, the shirt features a relaxed button-down collar. Experience timeless style and exceptional craftsmanship on your hunting expeditions and beyond. Sizes: S-3XL. Colours available: Navy, green, cream or brown RRP £99 John Rigby & Co Maria Gil maria@johnrigbyandco.com

JTS/Lee Enfield Airacuda Max PCP Air Rifle

This fully regulated PCP was US-designed in conjunction with Lee Enﬁeld Guns and has drawn rapturous reviews from journalists and shooters alike for its blistering accuracy. It features a fully regulated action, delivering a massive 220 shots per ﬁll in .22 and around 200 in .177 at 11.7ft/lbs. It has a walnut stained, hardwood stock, with adjustable cheek piece, a fully shrouded barrel, 10-shot all metal magazine in .22 (12 shot in .177) and now includes an Airacuda max dedicated silencer—free of charge. RRP £549 Shooting Party 01543 480361 mike@shootingparty.co.uk

Women’s Vierzonord Neoprene Lined Boot

As comfortable in all conditions as they are on your feet, the Le Chameau Women’s Vierzonord is the perfect neoprene boot for everyday country life. Famed for being the original rubber wellington boot to feature an adjustable, waterproof gusset, the Vierzonord also boasts a warm, insulating neoprene lining that will keep you warm and comfortable all day. RRP £200 Le Chameau

Caldwell Claymore Target Thrower

The Caldwell Claymore provides all the beneﬁts of an electric clay thrower without having to tote a heavy battery around. This easy to cock, foot operated manual device can throw clays out to 55-70 yards and can hold 50 clays in the target magazine. It features a standard mode and a ﬂurry mode which allows for a continuous step and throw sequence, launching clays as fast as you can step on the pedal. To expand on the versatility of the Caldwell Claymore, it also features adjustable launch angles to provide multiple different shots for the shooter. The Claymore only weighs 15.8kg and is collapsible for easy storage and transport. Get out and shatter some clays either by yourself or with some friends with the Caldwell Claymore! RRP £480.99 Sportsman Gun Centre 01392 354870 trade@sportsmanguncentre.com

ATA SP Pro12 Competition

The new ATA SP Pro12 Competition shotgun is designed specifically for the competition shooters in mind, offering exceptional performance, durability, reduced recoil and finished with a hand polished action. All matched with an unbelievable price which will blow the competition away. The Pro 12 Competition features a new and improved barrel profile with elongated forcing cones, which has reduced recoil by 26.7%. SP Pro12 Competition Sporter: RRP £999.99 SP Pro12 CompetitionAdjustable Sporter: RRP £1,099.99 Sportsman Gun Centre 01392 354870 trade@sportsmanguncentre.com

Stoeger A3 TAC

The X3 is a lightweight, lower powered, break barrel air riﬂe. Its modern looking, scaled down, skeletonised, synthetic stock is perfect for smaller hands. With a 30cm length of pull it’s ideal for youth and smaller shooters. Other features include automatic ambidextrous safety and double stage trigger. RRP £120 GMK 01489 579 999 gmk.co.uk/contact

Burris Veracity PH

A ground-breaking scope at an astonishing price. Easy to use and incredibly accurate. Simply enter the target distance and the Veracity will show you the point of aim. The clear heads-up display will provide you with all the data you need. First Focal Plane Wind MOA reticle. Features: Burris PEK (programmable elevation knob) digital turret; Bluetooth connectivity to link with the Burris Connect app; calculate bullet drop and ballistics with the turn of a dial. Lifetime warranty. RRP £995 GMK 01489 579 999 gmk.co.uk/contact

THE 8x56 SFP HAS GOT bACk TO bASICS...

NEW HELIX 8x56 second focal plane scope

The HELIX 8x56 puts your money where it matters, with precision-engineered internals and a turret system superior to other products in the same price class. This new illuminated Helix scope comes with a 30mm tube and ED glass. The 8x magnification model features an impressive 1/4 MOA click value and features a 56mm objective muti-coated lens. As with all of their riflescopes, they’ve introduced strict quality control measures to ensure perfect operation under testing conditions and if something should go wrong...Their Platinum Lifetime Warranty has you covered! This Helix is a true multi-purpose riflescope.

ILLuMInAtED / SEConD FoCAL pLAnE / 8x MAg / 56mm oBJECtIVE LEnS / 30mm tuBE / CAppED wInDAgE & ELEVAtIon ADJuStMEnt / 1/4 MoA CLICk VALuE / MuLtI-CoAtED LEnS / SpEED FoCuS EYE ADJuStMEnt / InCLuDES - RuBBER LEnS CoVERS / wAtERpRooF, Fog pRooF, SHoCkpRooF & nItRogEn puRgED raPtr-1 MOa illUMiNatED

helix 8x56 / ret: rAPtr-1 MOA “rAPid trajectory” RRP: £359.99

FOR THE FULL RANGE - DOWNLOAD OUR TRADE CATALOGUE DISCLAIMER: FOR THE LATEST PRICES, PLEASE CHECK WITH TRADE TEAM ( PRICES MAy CHAngE FROM TIME OF PRInT )

SGC TRADE EST.1971

Official UK DistribUtOrs fOr ElEMENt OPtics

call OUr DEDicatED traDE liNE: 01392 354870 Or EMail Us ON: tRADE@SpoRtSMAngunCEntRE.CoM O r V i s i t O U r t r a D E w E b s i t E : w w w. S g C t R A D E . C o. u k

Market Opportunities: Christmas

Tipton Compact Range Vise

The Tipton Compact Range Vise offers a completely new level of performance, securely holding the widest array of guns possible while collapsing to ﬁt in a range bag. The compact design is a convenient solution to gun cleaning at the range. The Compact Range Vise collapses to 11-1/4in and fully expands to 17-3/4in, making it easy to carry but also fully functional when expanded. Six rubber feet provide a rigid, nonslip base. Two non-marring forks protect your guns’ ﬁnish while holding them securely for cleaning, light maintenance or as an extra set of hands. The Compact Range Vise is extremely durable and is made from solvent-resistant nylon that will deliver years of lasting performance. Serious shooters know keeping their guns clean is essential to performance, making the Compact Range Vise the perfect range accessory. RRP £39.99 Sportsman Gun Centre 01392 354870 trade@sportsmanguncentre.com

AirForceOne Trophy MK II CO2 Powered Air Pistol

The original Trophy was a run-away success and won ‘Pistol of the Year’ when launched in 2014. The new MK II version takes the original design and adds a nifty Quick Detach Shoulder stock and detachable ½in UNF ‘Get Shorty’ to transform it into a well-balanced ‘mini-riﬂe’. It offers up to 45 full pistol-power (5.7 ft/lbs) shots from a single 12gr capsule. It includes a moulded weaver/picatinny rail under the forestock to ﬁt a bipod or laser. Super accurate. Super quiet. RRP (from) £189.99 Shooting Party 01543 480361 mike@shootingparty.co.uk

Kestrel 5700 Elite Weather Meter with Applied Ballistics and LiNK

Digital F.A.T. Wrench

Wheeler’s Digital F.A.T. Wrench (Firearm Accurizing Torque) brings even more precise torque settings to the handheld torque wrench market. This amazing digital handheld torque wrench lets you apply repeatable, accurate torque settings to your scope rings, bows and other screws. The audible and visual indicators let the user know exactly when the desired torque setting has been achieved. The large range of 15-100 in/lbs. will aid in accuracy of all your screws and decreases the opportunity for problems in the ﬁeld. The F.A.T. Wrench Bits are built to last and are made from S2 tool steel and hardened to 56-56 Rockwell “C”. RRP £129.99 Sportsman Gun Centre 01392 354870 trade@sportsmanguncentre.com

The Kestrel 5700 Elite Weather Meter with Applied Ballistics takes the guesswork out of long-range shooting, even out to the transonic and subsonic flight range of your bullet. The Applied Ballistics bullet library of custom drag models gives an exact measurement of your bullet’s drag profile plus corrections for Aerodynamic Jump, Spin Drift, Coriolis, and Drop Scale Factoring to achieve accurate extended long-range shots. Expanded features include a customisable Target Card and an expanded Ballistics Data Table, as well as storage for up to 30 gun and bullet profiles and 10 saved targets. The Kestrel 5 Series platform offers a large, high-resolution and contrast display with ease of font readability. It also includes a builtin dual colour backlight, extra-strong polycarbonate lens, AA battery operation and optional LiNK iOS and Android wireless connectivity and app support. Like all Kestrel meters, the Kestrel 5700 Elite is dropproof, dust-proof, waterproof and able to withstand harsh environments without damage. RRP £956.00 Edgar Brothers 01625 613177 edgarbrothers.com

Nieload Drakensberg Carbon Hunting Tripod CRKT Sketch

The CRKT Sketch is as attractive as it is useful. The 2.9in k-tip style blade in a compact package is a product of devotion and fine-tuned skill. This surprisingly powerful knife is blue-collar through and through. The Sketch is brought to you with a robust carbon stainless steel blade featuring a satin finish. The stainless-steel handle pops with an anodised light green backspacer and pivot ring. When you’re ready to fire it up, the Sketch deploys with a thumb slot to make cutting insulation or working at the bench a breeze, the frame lock keeping you steady and safe.. Regard this as more than just your everyday knife: it’s a pocketsized part of your toolbox. RRP £59.99 Edgar Brothers 01625 613177 edgarbrothers.com

Rigby Canvas and Leather Holdalls

The perfect kitbags for your next big adventure. Produced in partnership with Traditional English Guncases (TEG) London, they combine strength and style with practicality, making them adaptable to a host of environments. Complemented by a beautiful tan leather trim around each of the seams and fixings, as well as on both side pockets, the full leather base is protected by brass studs and is finished with the iconic Rigby ‘double R’ logo embossed on a leather circular tab. For ease of transport, the user can either opt to carry the bag by its leather carry handles or attach the provided shoulder strap, via the brass loops. For ease of opening, each zip is affixed with over-sized leather tabs. Colours: Rigby blue or Kalahari canvas RRP £450 John Rigby & Co Maria Gil maria@johnrigbyandco.com

The Drakensberg Carbon Hunting Tripod from Nieload is a modern tripod developed in collaboration with special forces from several countries’ sniper units. The tripod has four sections and offers a great stability, so you can be even more accurate in your shooting. It can be laid completely ﬂat so that you can use it as a bipod and includes a QR weapon mount designed so that the weapon does not get scratched. The head of the product can be replaced with other products from Nieload, such as an ARCA/Picatinny head. RRP £598.00 Artemis Outdoors UK 01579 362319 info@artemisoutdoorsuk.co.uk

sHotGUns

solid steel action

pERfoRmancE & handling... meet tHe kofs zEnith sXe availaBle in a ranGe of models to sUit all and still made to a standard...tHat far eXceeds tHe rest.

zenitH sXe

Game OVER & UNDER

MULTI CHOKE / 26”, 28”, 30” / RH/LH

12g - RRP: £599.99

zenitH sXe

ladies Universal

OVER & UNDER / MULTI CHOKE / 28”, 30” / RH/LH

12g - RRP: £599.99

zenitH sXe

sporter adJUstaBle OVER & UNDER / MULTI CHOKE / 30” / RH

12g - RRP: £729.99

zenitH sXe

sporter OVER & UNDER MULTI CHOKE / 28”, 30” / RH/LH 12g - RRP: £599.99

“tiGHt sHot pattern witH improved HandlinG & feel” LOG ON TO OUR TRADE PORTAL FOR THE FULL KOFS RANGE OR CONTACT THE TRADE TEAM DISCLAIMER: FOR THE LATEST TRADE PRICES, PLEASE CHECK WITH TRADE TEAM ( PRICES MAy CHANGE FROM TIME OF PRINT ) / IMAGES USED ARE FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLy

SGC TRADE EST.1971

Official UK DistribUtOrs fOr KOfs sHOtGUNs

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Taking Stock

HIGHER AND HIGHER Michael E. Haskew watches with interest as Rigby and David McKay Brown guns raise eyebrows and exceed estimates

An early 7X57mm (.275 Rigby) bolt magazine sporting rifle, circa 1900

An exquisite pair of David McKay Brown 28-bore round action ejectors CHURCH Farm Barns at Wolferton, Norfolk, rang with enthusiastic participation during the Holts firearms sale in July. The traffic was brisk, and the bustle of bidding produced numerous fine exchanges, while several lots exceeded the pre-sale estimates. Two of these gained particular attention, both of them due to the lustrous firearms history which they represent as well as the inherent quality and craftsmanship for which they are well known. As John Rigby and Company nears its 250th anniversary, lot 1120, an early 7X57mm (.275 Rigby) bolt magazine sporting rifle, circa 1900, eclipsed the pre-sale estimate of £700-900 when it went to a well-pleased new owner for the tidy sum of £3,000. Serial numbered 1816, the rifle’s 25-inch barrel, nitro reproved in 2023, bears the engraving ‘John Rigby & Co. 27 St. James’s Street, London’. With its block-mounted, bead fore-sight, blockmounted open rear sight with two folding leaf sights marked for 100, 200 and 300 yards, the subject is married to the iconic Mauser action. Thumb cutout numbered 2602, the action’s receiver ring is engraved ‘Waffenfabrik Mauser. Oberndorf A/N. 1900’. Bases accommodate Parker Hale A22 or A28 telescopic sights, the bolt with adjustable peep sight, and floorplate with military style release. The 7lb 7oz rifle includes figured semi-pistol grip half-stock, 15 1/8th inch pull, and chequered buttplate. The lustre of the subject bolt magazine sporting rifle is contained not only in its superb condition and tradition of quality, but also in the winning combination of two legendary firearms producers. John Rigby founded his company in Dublin, Ireland, in 1775, and 90 years later a London office began operation under the direction of his grandson, also named John. After the originator died in 1818 and the Dublin concern closed its doors, the enterprise continued under sons William and John Jason Rigby. The accession of the founder’s grandson, John, raised the company to new heights. He took control in 1858 and captured several prizes in exhibitions held in London and Paris, prompting the opening of the shop in London’s West End. John Rigby was an outstanding marksman and used his experience in the development of the Rigby target rifle for per-

sonal competition. A .451-calibre muzzleloader, the Rigby target rifle became the most popular match rifle of the mid-19th century across the UK. Rigby was named superintendent of the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock in 1887 and worked with the British military to develop firearms and ammunition. His consultation resulted in the production of the famed .303-calibre Lee Enfield rifle, which remained with modifications as the standard-issue shoulder arm of the British Army into the 1950s. Prior to World War I, Rigby had negotiated with the German Mauser company and secured rights to the UK distribution for its popular sporting rifle. The subject sale piece is representative of that cooperation, and the story of Mauser and its place in firearms lore is well documented. John Rigby died in 1916, and his son Theodore gained control of the company. Afterwards, a series

who acquired McKay Brown in mid-2021 upon the retirement of its founder. “The guns were our standard Classic Scottish Scroll engraving carried out by Creative Art. The guns were made with 29-inch fixed choke barrels with a flat top rib, standard wood stocks with LOP 14 and 9/16ths. The guns are colour case hardened with black furniture and cased in a Dark Havana motor case. Client extras were feathers inlaid into the bow of the guard.” The handsome pair bears tube engraving that reads ‘David McKay Brown, 12 Hamilton Road, Bothwell, Scotland.’ The action and furniture are finely carved in relief with ‘Scottish scroll’ engraving on a finely matted background, the sides with cartouches signed in ‘David McKay Brown’. Alongside the Prince of Wales ostrich feather plume engraved on the trigger guards is the motto ‘Ich Dien’. The two subject shotguns are indicative of the quality of David McKay Brown as well as the famed

“ The traffic was brisk, and the

bustle of bidding produced numerous fine exchanges”

of owners, including a group of American investors, bought the concern but maintained the Rigby name, which has held royal warrants under five British monarchs. In a fitting coda to the Rigby saga, L&O Holdings, the principal owner of Sig Sauer, Blaser, J.P. Sauer & Sohn, and Mauser, acquired Rigby in 2013. Since then, a good portion of the Rigby operation that had been located overseas has returned to London, where Rigby is headquartered at Vauxhall.

Brown bargain

Also during the July Holts sale, an exquisite pair of David McKay Brown 28-bore round action ejectors soared past the pre-sale estimate of £25,000-35,000, and the hammer fell at £47,000. Lot 1352 included the shotguns serial numbered 8124 and 8125. “I can confirm that the guns were built for a UK client,” related Grant Buchan, principal of the firm

Scottish round action gun. First appearing in 1879, the round action has since been built only by three Scottish gunmakers, James MacNaughton of Edinburgh, John Dickson & Son of Edinburgh, and David McKay Brown of Bothwell, near Glasgow. The round action is an exclusively Scottish hallmark distinguished in the action being completely rounded to produce an aesthetically stunning firearm that is lightweight and presents a pleasing curve in wood and steel. The mechanism is situated above the triggers and identified as trigger-plate action rather than being contained within the action of the gun. Since the mechanism is atop the trigger-plate, the body is solid action and without the encumbrance of the mechanism, allowing a rounded construction that produces a slim profile. McKay Brown produced his first round action side-by-side gun in 1974. He was born in Bellshill,

Glasgow, in 1941, and grew up with an ever growing interest in firearms. By the time he had reached his teens, he owned an impressive collection and later began an apprenticeship with Alex Martin of Glasgow. In 1967, he entered business for himself repairing guns. Soon enough he built that initial round action side-by-side, and the company steadily gained appreciation for exceptional craftsmanship.

Over-and-under

By the early 1990s, McKay Brown responded to a trend among British shooters toward over-andunder shotguns. The first McKay Brown over-andunder round action was completed in 1992. Meanwhile, as McKay Brown enjoyed the patronage of a steady clientele, Grant Buchan had been making fine quality shotguns and rifles with the trade name of Buchan Guns. In 2021, McKay Brown made the decision to retire and sold his company to Buchan, assuring that the business would continue to be headquartered in Scotland under the direction of an outstanding Scottish gunmaker. True to its charge, the company flourishes today. In February 2022, Buchan told Gun Trade News that he was “thrilled to have acquired the McKay business and to have David on board as our consultant. It will open a new chapter in Scottish gunmaking. We aim to make fifteen to twenty McKay Browns a year.” McKay Brown praised Buchan saying: “Grant is deeply knowledgeable about deploying modern gunmaking processes to help make guns that are reliable, balance beautifully and meet the demands of today’s shooting.” As for the exquisite pair that sold at Holts in July, Grant offered that the guns were not made for anyone famous or to celebrate any specific occasion. However, it is obvious that the guns, in themselves, are a celebration of the very finest in Scottish and UK gunmaking. Buchan added: “All our guns today are built specifically to order as we don’t build guns for stock. I think the sale price was a good figure considering a new pair today of similar spec would be around £168,480. Quite a bargain for whoever bought them and saved themselves the two-year wait.” GTN

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Talking Stalking

PEST CONTROL Image by Diana Parkhouse from Pixabay

Our stalking expert Al Gabriel unravels the new Scottish legislation on deer stalking in that country, and separates the good from the bad

THE recent amendments that have passed Scottish parliament with regards to deer bring about some of the most radical changes to deer management in Great Britain. This comes at a time when global warming is at the centre of most governments’ agendas, where terms like ‘carboncapture’ or ‘carbon sequestration’ are seamlessly woven into everyday conversation. The Scottish government has suggested three major amendments to the management of deer in Scotland, which involve the removal of a closed season for male deer, permitting the use of thermal or light intensifying equipment at night, and reducing the bullet weight required to cull red deer, fallow, and sika to 80gr. The amendments are aimed at improving overall cull numbers, but not everyone agrees. All three amendments will come into effect this year. Such changes have come about from the notion that there are too many deer in Scotland, and that trees are struggling to take hold as a result of overgrazing. Numerous studies indicate that Scottish tree cover and biodiversity is not where it should be. But how deer have come to be at the centre of that story is not clear. We don’t know how many deer there are in Scotland, but the number being thrown around is one million. Land usage such as farming and millions of sheep have also impacted the ecosystem. Why are the crosshairs solely aimed at deer? The idea that trees planted somewhere in Scotland and the eradication of deer provide carte blanche to then pump 400 million tonnes of CO2 per year is nonsense. Carbon offsetting and greenwashing schemes cooked up by ﬁnancial institutions are making matters worse. I am all for increased tree cover, but it must be the right type of tree in the right area. Blanket tree planting is nothing short of moronic.

Pining

I had the pleasure of watching a recent ﬁlm that was released by one of the Scottish conservation charities: tree-mania has taken hold in Scotland. Such efforts seem to ignore the traditional Scottish sporting estate, which provides valuable income and employment to isolated rural communities. Those in power seem to think they know better. Red stags are the bedrock of sporting estates, which draw in visitors from all over the world. Indiscriminate culling of stags all year round threatens that economic model, with no alternatives proposed by those in power. It is a shame that a Scottish icon

ly evolved ungulates are part of the Scottish heritage and landscape, and they must not be made to pay for issues arising elsewhere. Most stake holders, including deer management groups and shooting organisations, have all raised concerns with the impact of culling male deer all year round. And most stake holders recognise that it will only have a minimal impact on reducing population numbers and that it is female deer that we should focus on for appropriate deer control. There is no scientiﬁc evidence to support the culling of male deer in reducing deer populations in Scotland. The main concern arises from the fact that most poli-

“ I am all for increased tree cover,

but it must be the right type of tree in the right area ” such as red deer has become public enemy number one. Speak to professional stalkers in remote parts of Scotland and you will soon discover that tree planting and re-wilding ideas, which may seem innocuous on paper, are becoming a real concern.

Culling

The most contentious of the amendments is the culling of male deer all year round. You only need to monitor public forums to note that many have committed to continue to follow the traditional dates, irrespective of what the law says. The ability to cull male deer out of season was always there under licence. Was the change even necessary? These high-

cymakers aren’t seeing deer as a valuable asset to the people of Scotland. There is a sense that deer are being prosecuted or, at the very least, being seen as pests. There is also the issue with shooting deer out of season where the venison quality is not optimal, since thin stags are not ideal. There is also the unintended consequence of the price of a stag if stags are shot all year round. It might even interfere with hind culling in winter should visitors choose to focus on stags instead.

Lighter touch

The legal use of 80 grain bullets to cull larger species is a positive move. Given the difﬁculties of sourc-

ing 100 grain copper bullets, it significantly helps increase capacity in the number of people who can take part in deer management. While there are some debates about the effectiveness of light bullets on large stags, from a policy and capacity point of view I think it is a good thing. There are currently only two brands that I know of that cater for 100 grain copper bullets. It is nearly impossible to stabilise 100gr copper bullets in the common twist rate of .243 rifle. Given the popularity of .243 it would be a shame to lose many stalkers who may not be able to afford a new rifle, or to affect newcomers. The utilisation of thermal imagery or light intensification scopes is also a positive thing, which brings standardisation across all nations. Night shooting will always pose more risk, but as long as the licence is issued to competent shooters it will help with deer management. The combination of lighter 80gr bullet and a thermal imaging scope, for example, can potentially increase the deer welfare issues which some have raised. I think that is a valid concern and only time will tell. Whichever way you dissect it we are certainly entering a new era in deer management in Scotland. The sustainability of the traditional sporting estate and the steeped culture associated with it, in the eyes of many that have lived it, is at risk. Hopeless policies and the incentivisation of ill-conceived carbon offsetting and greenwashing schemes by corporates are only going to accelerate the issue. The fact that large swathes of Scotland are owned by a few individuals who may wish to enact the wrong kind of green policies is a clear and present danger. Deer are a sustainable resource that are key to the Scottish landscape. The real problem lies with the polluters and carbon emitters: humans. GTN

BASC

DO OUR MPS SUPPORT THE GUN TRADE?

One of BASC’s objectives is to ensure cross-party political support for shooting. Conor O’Gorman looks at what’s involved

AUTUMN is an especially busy period for BASC’s political team because we host a rural reception event in partnership with the Angling Trust at the Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Labour Party conferences. Hayley Williams, BASC’s communications and public affairs coordinator, manages all the logistics leading up to the conferences, and I asked her for an insight on what’s involved behind the scenes to ensure well-run and productive events. It all starts around March every year when conference dates are announced. The myriad arrangements for us include booking venues for the reception events, securing speakers, inviting media, MPs and their staff, organising advertising in conference literature for the events, and circulating brieﬁngs on the key policy issues for shooting. In the last few weeks leading up to these events much can change that affects the planning, and it can be a bit frantic accommodating last-minute changes, with so many people involved. At the events themselves we have photographers present and we take notes of the speeches as they are delivered. We then work with the political party press teams ahead of publishing our press releases following each event. As well as supporting our rural receptions, BASC staff also attend other conference events as an opportunity to meet as many MPs as possible and to network with the representatives of other organisations with overlapping interests to our own. It is always an intense three-week period with staff moving around between Bournemouth, Manchester and Liverpool. BASC has been attending party conferences and organising fringe events throughout its history. In the last decade or so BASC and the Angling Trust have worked in partnership hosting the rural receptions at the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservatives Party conferences, showcasing all that is positive about the contribution of participants in angling and shooting in protecting and improving the biodiversity of our waterways, marshes, ﬁelds, woods and uplands.

“there was a tension and a reaction, which needed to happen, and which could have made it much harder for people to have shotguns.” She also said that “government understands that it is about having a sensible partnership on this approach; recognising, of course, that the police need to do their job well, while being mindful that there should be a trust in the shooting community.” Those comments were seized upon by the media and lobbyists, namely the Mirror, Plymouth Herald and the Gun Control Network, with inaccurate and lurid headlines. However, the fact is that the Home Office decided which recommendations to take forward from the coroner’s report following the Plymouth murders in its recent firearms licensing consultation, and ill-advised suggestions to put shotguns on the same footing as Section 1 firearms were not included in the proposals, and rightly so.

The Conservatives believe in “sensible partnerships” on gun control

Political opportunity

BASC’s engagement at conferences, and all year round, helps counter the arguments of those seeking to use political opportunity to commit their party to policies that would undermine shooting. At a time when the gun trade is under considerable pressure from debanking and a squeeze on commercial insurance provision, as well as other untoward developments, this is the time to reach out and not retreat. Please contact your current MP (and with a general election looming, any candidate MPs in your constituency) and invite them to your store or place of work to showcase what you do and how you support jobs and the local community in what you do. But of course, it is not only MPs that have a say on new laws impacting our shooting interests and livelihoods. With increased decision-making powers granted to devolved governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, there are lots of opportunities and threats for shooting. BASC’s country teams are representing shooting at all levels and they need your voice and support. In all of this, one thing seems clear to me: apathy rules. So we really do need some people that are up for the ﬁght‚ and the gun trade is in the front line. So if you want to get more involved in shooting politics please email me at conor.ogorman@basc.org.uk and let’s get something done! GTN

The Labour Party wants a “respectful relationship” with the countryside

Gamebird releasing

At this year’s Liberal Democrats conference we highlighted the key issue of gamebird releasing in both England and Wales. The Labour Party gave a clear endorsement of “sustainable shooting conducted according to the law” at our rural reception as it announced its intention to create a “Nature Manifesto” ahead of the next general election. Shadow Environment Secretary Steve Reed said the Labour party wanted a “respectful relationship” with the countryside. “In 1997 and 2001, Labour was the biggest political party in the countryside,” he said. “We had more rural and coastal seats than any other party. That hasn’t been the case since then, but we want to be the party of the countryside again. “Keir Starmer wants that to happen and we know that means we have to develop a very respectful relationship with the countryside. That means people from urban seats like me not telling people who live in and enjoy the countryside how they should live their lives.

At the Lib Dem conference BASC highlighted the issue of gamebird releasing “That respectful approach is absolutely necessary if we’re going to form a government and then be a successful government. And that includes us supporting shooting that is sustainable and conducted according to the law.”

Firearms licensing

In a wide-ranging speech covering key issues for shooting, including ﬁrearms licensing and gamebird releasing, Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey

spoke of her support for shooting at our Conservative Party rural reception. Coffey said: “This is one of the most important events of the week for me because it’s with the people who really care about our countryside. Shooting is really important to the success of the countryside and I can assure you that the Conservatives are on your side.” Commenting on policy developments since the murders in Plymouth, the Minister explained that

Last chance for lead ammunition?

On 11 October the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published its final public consultation on lead ammunition restriction proposals, which runs until 10 December 2023. The good news is that the proposed ban on lead airgun pellets has been dropped. However, proposals remain to ban most uses of lead shot and lead bullets outdoors. This is our last chance to influence the final proposals that the HSE submits to the government for consideration. A full briefing will be provided in the next issue of GTN.

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Gun Trade Association: Simon West

THE CAT IS FINALLY OUT OF THE BAG

As the first draft of the HSE’s proposed lead ban is published, Simon West takes a look at what has been won and lost on the process.

THE HSE have published their long-awaited Socio-Economic Consultation on the restriction of lead in ammunition. This includes their current ‘opinion’ on where they think restrictions will lie. Some of it is inked in, but also there is additional scrutiny being conducted on certain topics. For those of you who want the detail—and there’s lots of it—google ‘HSE lead in ammunition’ and you will find the draft Agency Opinion and the draft Background Document. While these restrictions will have a significant effect on British shooting, they are far less punitive than those that were originally proposed. Their proposals now show that they have accepted the extensive evidence that the GTA and others have submitted over the last two years. I am somewhat encouraged that the combination of technical facts and industrial realities have been recognised as an important part of the debate. The timelines have been stretched twice, first to deal with the wealth of submissions to the consultation, and again to allow more time for the socioeconomic consultation to clear publication. We would not now expect final opinion and enactment (Secretary of State at DEFRA’s signature) before early 2024.

The headlines

• The use of lead shot for live quarry shooting would be prohibited (ﬁve-year transition from enactment to deal with industrial realities), as the GTA requested because of the industrial realities of re-machining and supply chain issues. • The use of lead shot for target shooting (clays) would be prohibited. However, a derogation will allow for a small number of athletes, as identiﬁed by the appropriate sporting body (for example, British Shooting), that are required to continue

shooting lead shot for the purposes of international competition and training. (Again, a ﬁve-year transition.) • The sale or trade of lead shot (for a price or otherwise) would be prohibited. However, a derogation will allow for those athletes referenced above to continue to source the lead shot required for international competition and training. (Again, a ﬁveyear transition.) • The sale or trade of lead bullets (for a price or otherwise) would not be prohibited, since these

ranges could continue to operate and allow the use of lead bullets. • The use of lead ammunition in air weapons would not be prohibited. (A major GTA objective, based on the current technical absence of effective alternatives.) • The sale or trade of lead ammunition for air weapons (for a price or otherwise) would not be prohibited. These are not ﬁnal proposals; some are open to further scrutiny. The ﬁve-year transition for shot and the

“ The consultation is described on

the HSE website and the deadline for comment is 10 December ”

would continue to be available for indoor shooting, which is out of scope of this restriction. • The use of lead bullets for live quarry shooting would not be prohibited. (Part of our representation, particularly for small calibre riﬂes—quoting small calibre technical challenges and large calibre change is already occurring in the marketplace, led by consumer demand.) • The use of lead bullets for outdoor target shooting would be prohibited. However, a derogation would allow for this use to continue at sites that have controls in place to reduce the identiﬁed risks to the environment, and documentation indicating why these controls are appropriate. In practice, these controls, which include de-leading of ranges, are broadly expected to be in place by the majority of existing outdoor shooting ranges. This means that the majority of outdoor shooting

use of lead bullets for hunting is still subject to further scrutiny. The GTA will continue to put forward strong justiﬁcation to maintain the current position. We will refresh the core data that related to remachining and supply chains. Steel shot cartridges cannot be produced at economic rates on old machines. The industry is investing in new machinery but with lead times of over two years. This is not a quick process. The supply chain issues arose out of the pandemic and war in Ukraine. There is some progress on a few components but you will all be aware of the global shortage of propellants. With the war in Ukraine far from over and new instability in the Middle East, this is not going to improve any time soon. In Europe, ammunition manufacturers have asked for a ten-year delay to any restrictions to allow for the prioritisation of military production.

These international factors will play a major part in the timelines for shot cartridge manufacturing change and also the availability of non-lead large calibre rifle ammunition, where much of our supply comes from Europe. The consultation is described on the HSE website and the deadline for comment is 10 December. We will now review the document in detail, collect further information where required, and then provide an appropriate response. The GTA shares evidence with the other members of the British Shooting Sports Council to ensure that valid and coherent comment is made. The original proposals from the HSE would have seen lead shot, large calibre bullets being banned in 18 months, and small calibre bullets, including airgun pellets, being banned within five years. These timelines would have been devastating to UK shooting because of the lack of alternatives. The GTA and its Cartridge Group invested time and resources in collecting data with Cranfield University and Blake International to be able to present technical and industrial realities. That representation has been vital in protecting shooting and the trade from excessive and unreasonable penalties. The GTA will continue to defend your interests. GTN

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GTN Issue 95

Articles inside

THE CAT IS FINALLY OUT OF THE BAG

DO OUR MPS SUPPORT THE GUN TRADE?

PEST CONTROL

HIGHER

NEW HELIX 8x56

YULE CLEAN UP

HOBSON’S CHOICE

NEW BOYS IN TOWN

TROPHY MKII

AIRGUN INNOVATION AT THE RIGHT PRICE

Inspired for champions, by champions...

WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?

JAMES PURDEY & SONS LIMITED For this issue’s Store of the Month, we went to London to speak to Andrew Ambrose, Director of Gun Sales at James Purdey & Sons

Zoli Kronos M-Sport

Fierce CT Edge

Telos LRF XP50

BEST BUYS Umarex ReadyAir Compressor

Longthorne secures U.S. import approval for LHP Pistol

INDUSTRY NEWS

ZAMBERLAN LYNX GTX BOA

WE SAY

LEVELLING UP? SGC AND JSB JOIN FORCES