Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2015 i Sporting Gun

There’s a new organisation in town (town being the operative word). Rewilding Britain has some of the silliest ideas I’ve seen in a long while. It wants to bring back what it calls “keystone” species, including wolves, lynx, bison and moose – though it also wants to reduce “grazing species”. In other words, our deer species and farmed livestock. The very best of Rewilding Britain’s mad notions is that we should be reintroducing grey whales, on which the organisation says: “More research is needed to know if they could be transported from the Pacific for breeding purposes.” And then what? How do they think they’ll keep them here? The organisation wants “ecotourism booming”. Essentially, it would like to turn our countryside into a vast theme park for people to visit,…

Without having any figures, I suspect that the majority of .22 centrefire sporting rifles used in the UK will be chambered for either the .223 Remington or the.22-250 Remington, to give them their full names. Both cartridges are very popular, so rifles are available from virtually every manufacturer and both types of ammunition are probably stocked by every dealer in the country. A firearms buff might fancy one of the less common .22 centrefires – or even one that is downright obscure – but for most shooters, easy availability and a wide choice of rifles and ammunition will be governing factors. Which usually means.223 or .22 250. I have heard the .223 recommended because you can buy cheap ex military ammo for practice. DON’T! At least, not unless your rifle…

Working with neighbours is often the key to success when running a shoot. It can also help with wildlife conservation projects. Joined-up habitats across a wide area can be more beneficial to wildlife than when farms or shoots are working in isolation. For example, with deer management groups, where stalkers may be controlling deer with a co-ordinated approach at the “landscape scale”, it is often necessary to achieve effective control to ensure browsing levels in woods are suppressed enough to allow regeneration of the understorey. This will benefit not only the pheasants but also nesting songbirds and pollinators such as butterflies and bees. Compete, co-operate Discussing plans for the location of covercrops near boundaries with neighbours will ensure drives are not ruined or birds poached by neighbours leading to tension…

THE AIR Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill was passed at the end of June, despite Government figures showing a 73 per cent drop in Scottish airgun crime since 2006-2007. Anyone who owns an airgun will now need to obtain a licence before April 2016 or risk breaking the law. BASC Scotland’s Alan Balfour said: “It is bitterly disappointing that the Scottish Government has seen fit to bring in this new law in the face of all the evidence against it.” Official statistics released in June, following pressure from BASC, support its argument that airgun licensing is unnecessary. As BASC has repeatedly stated, the figures show that airgun crime is at its second lowest in the 10-year period between 2004-2014. Overall, airgun offences account for just 0.06 per cent of crimes…

THE GREEN Thinking Award in this year’s Community Sport and Recreation Awards, held in July and organised by the Sport and Recreation Alliance (SRA), has been won by Westmorland Wildfowlers Association. The south Cumbrian wildfowling club’s secretary Andy Stott, and chairman Mark Shaw, were presented with the annual award and a £1,000 prize by HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, at the SRA Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, 8 July. The SRA is the representative body for a diverse number of national sports organisations. Each year it gives the Green Thinking Award to the club, programme or initiative that has shown an outstanding concern for the environment through its work and helped to protect the great outdoors. Westmorland Wildfowlers Association was selected from almost 200 entries. Andy Stott described the…

THE RSPCA is at risk of losing its credibility following the election of two radical activists to its ruling council, and by putting political campaigns ahead of animal welfare. The Mail on Sunday reported that MPs are concerned the charity is growing increasingly far removed from its traditional role of protecting animals to focus on prosecutions. The charity recently elected to its council Peta Watson-Smith, who has previously compared farming to the Nazi Holocaust, and Dan Lyons, who believes people should pass an exam before being allowed to own a pet. Neil Parish, the new chairman of the Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee called for an inquiry into the RSPCA’s behaviour.…

Glad Rags & Cartridge Bags, the all-female Scottish shooting club, is holding a “Blast, Cast and Cake” event on Sunday 23, August at Tullich, Ballater in Aberdeenshire. Call Mhairi Morriss, tel 07841 393 155 or visit www.jommevents.com for full details. The Meon Valley Airgun Club in Hampshire is holding a special charity shoot on 13 September to commemorate the life of its late member Alex Boddy. Visit www.mvac.co.uk for more information. BASC South West is holding a field sports activity day for young people at Lake Wimbleball, near Dulverton, Exmoor, on Sunday, 16 August. Places cost £25 per child. Contact Julia for more details, tel 01884 260910. The NSPCC is hosting a clay-shoot fundraiser at Royal Berkshire Shooting School on Friday, 16 October. The event features an 80-bird competition and…

We all have the best of intentions where our kit is concerned, particularly with our guns, but the reality is that most of us, on returning home after a long drive and an even longer day on the marsh, moor or woodland, simply want to sink into a comfortable chair with a warming drink that isn’t tea. The dogs are always looked after first and foremost. The gun gets a wipe down and a pull through, or is left to dry. The birds are hung in the larder or chiller. As for the rest, it can be dealt with on the morrow. Come morning, there seem to be a million other things to get on with, and so your kit is left in a disconsolate heap. Decoys, waders, coats and…

Keeping your gundog healthy and fit for purpose not only means giving it good exercise and regular training. A good, wholesome diet is also vital – whether you choose a kibble-based food or a “raw” diet, the basic principles are the same. A dog’s diet also includes water, and this becomes even more important early in the season when the weather can still be very warm. Feeding for performance Feeding your gundog before, during and after a day’s shooting is a very important aspect of the dog’s management. There is a debate as to whether a dog gets fed before it works – I feed my dogs on the morning of a shoot, but not a full ration. Dogs do not eat “percentages” – they eat grams per day of…

It’s not long now until we need to think about scrubbing off the shooting gear and preparing for another season. Which is all very well for the seasoned campaigners, but what if it’s your first season, or rather your first season with this gundog? What do we need to do to get our dogs shooting fit and ready to rock? If want your dog to work on the peg, forget about it for his first season out and think about picking-up. Your dog will learn what’s expected of it alongside a handler who’s paying attention to it and teaching what is required from it, rather than looking for the next shot. When we take our dogs out on the shooting field it’s essential we’ve trained them to come when called,…

Kate Gatacre tests the Bushmaster smock and trousers from Ridgeline I tested the smock in late June — perhaps not the best moment because I’m sure you’ll all remember just how hot it was, even at four in the morning. It’s long enough to keep your backside dry if you are sitting on dew-drenched ground, and with the zip at the side giving you an extra panel below the waist, it’s easy to move around in, too. I like the large side pockets. There’s a hood, but to be honest I found this sat a bit heavy on the neck when rolled up. It’s much better flapping behind you, or, if you’re sure of dry weather, just removed altogether. The smock definitely keeps you dry, as was proven when it…

PIGEON S HOOTING CHECKLIST 1 SEELAND MOSQUIT O HAT RRP £17.99 WWW.SEELANDUK. CO.UK 2 ROCKY PR O HUNTER ¼ ZIP SHIR T IN REALTREE FROM UTTINGS £45 WWW.UTTINGS.CO.UK 3 CHATHAM MARLBOR OUGH WALKING BOO T FROM WILLIAM PO WELL £65 WWW.WILLIAMPO WELL.COM 4 STEPPE 100 HUNTING TROUSERS FR OM SOLOGNAC £7.99 WWW.SOLOGNAC.COM/EN-GB 5 LEATHER CARTRIDGE POUCH FR OM HORNSTONE £67.99 WWW.HORNSTONE.CO.UK OTHER KIT WATER SUNGLASSES BINOCULARS FOR RECON SUNCREAM SWIVEL SEAT HESSIAN SACKS…

GUNS FOR SALE Chas Lancaster boxlock. 12-bore sbs. Non-ejector. 28in barrels. vgc. £300. Tel 01794 341517 (Hampshire). Beretta 686 Onyx, 12-bore, 30in barrels, mc, black action. £500. Tel 01482 872917 (East Yorkshire). Ruger 10-22 semi-auto rifle, beech stock, c/w, 4 mags, fitted simmons 3-8-12x44 diamond scope, Sak moderator. £250, little used, v clean. Tel 01524 770340 (Lancashire). Beretta 390 Silver Malard 12-bore semi-auto 28in mc barrel also with 30in mc barrel. vgc £650 ono. Tel 07917 010902/01759 306186 (Yorkshire). Aya Matador 10-bore, 32inx3½in barrels, ejector, beaver-tail fore-end, v clean, with slip and cartridges. £650. Tel 01524 770340 (Lancashire). Miroku 800 o/u 26in barrels, scroll-engraved action 12-bore £400 ono. Tel 07917 010902/01759 306186 (Yorkshire). .410 sb 3-shot with moderator, will take 3in cartridges, £175. Tel 01484 862601 (West Yorkshire). Beretta Silver…

GUNS adj — adjustableble — boxlock ejectorblne — boxlock nonejectorbrls — barrelsc/w — complete withcyl — cylinderdb — double barreldt — double triggerej — ejectorex con — excellentconditionfac — firearms certificatefc — fixed chokegc — good conditiongrd — gradehg — hammer gunimp — improvedltwt — lightweightm/c — multi-chokemod — modifiedo/u — over and underono — or near offerovno — or very near offerp/x — part exchangepa — pump actionrf — rimfirernds — rounds(ammunition)sa — semi-automaticsb — single barrelsbs — side by sidesle — side lock ejectorslne — sidelock no ejectorsst — single selectivetriggertge — teague chokesu/l — underlevervgc — very good condition DOGS b/w — black and whiteess — English springerspanielftaw — field trial awardwinnerftch — field trial championftw — field trial winnerhpr — hunt, pointand retrievekc — kennel clubl/w…

Yes, shooting’s popularity is rising again. Latest Government figures confirm there are now 10,000 more firearm and 2,000 extra shotgun certificate holders than five years ago. Shotgun licence numbers have gone from 580,653 to 582,923 and firearms certificates have risen from 141,852 to 151,413. Even better, the upward trend is set to continue: every shooting instructor I’ve spoken to over the past 12 months or so says they’ve been pretty much flat out coaching a lot more first-timers, especially youngsters. Which is brilliant – shooting needs as much new blood as it can get if it’s to have a long-term future. So the signs look good. But… recent headlines claiming “shooting’s more popular than ever” in light of the new figures are, ahem, a bit off the mark. A long…

It’s always nice to get an invitation to shoot someone else’s pigeons, so when Richard, one of Sporting Gun’s photographers, phoned to say the magazine needed some fresh pigeon-shooting pictures, if only to prove I possessed more than one hat, we set about making a plan. I explained that pigeons were in short supply on both my and Paul’s grounds, but Richard said he had a field of peas that could come up with a shoot, even though he did not have exclusive rights to the pigeon shooting. The field in question was in full flower, and had been shot three or four times over the past month, though this had not deterred a good number from continuing to visit the field. All that needed to be done now was…

Easy to find? A piece of the proverbial. Situated right alongside the A177 Sedgefield to Coxhoe road with easy links to the A1, both north and south. Roadside signpost to the farm could be a bit more prominent but if you download the club’s map from the website (or tap the postcode into your sat nav) you won’t have a problem. 9 Disciplines: English skeet, four down the line ranges (covered), Sportrap and an ever changing Sporting course complete with a high tower. The club makes sure there’s always a number of easy stands for beginners and novices every meeting. In other words, something for everyone. 9 Traps: Fully automatic throughout with what appear to be a mix of Promatic and Bowman machines. 8 Target quality/variety: Spennymoor is proud of…

The stalker’s aim (pardon the pun) is to humanely despatch a deer at every shot taken. For most of us, that is what we hope to see once a shot has been carefully placed into a killing region of the animal. The shot should be taken from a good, steady shooting position, which could be a quad-pod, bipod, or other type of shooting stick. A suitable tree is often used where the stalker is able to steady themselves by leaning against it, or even a fence post or stone wall. Anything is better than a freehand shot without any support at all – there is too much likely error on that shot. It won’t hurt you, but it certainly does hurt the deer, which is not a result any of…

THE SCOTTISH Government published its Land Reform Bill at the end of June, including proposals to end the exemption on business rates for shooting estates and force the sale of land if owners are blocking economic development. The bill, which aims to widen the ownership of land throughout the country, will reintroduce the higher rates, which landowners have not been required to pay since 1994. Some argue that bringing them back will make estates unprofitable, forcing gamekeepers and other workers out of business, leading to an impact on conservation management and rural tourism. Land reform minister Aileen McLeod, who believes reform is key to tackling inequality, said: “We cannot underestimate the crucial part land reform will play in contributing to the future success of communities across Scotland.” But not everyone…

THERE WERE more requests for firearms certificates last year than at any other time in the past five years, according to new Government figures. Statistics showed nearly 10,000 more firearm and 2,000 more shotgun certificate holders than five years ago, with the number of firearms certificates issued rising from 141,852 in 2009/10 to 151,413 in 2013/14. Likewise, shotgun license figures went from 580,653 to 582,923 in the same period. These figures are the highest since the 1988 peak of 882,000 . The Countryside Alliance said: “With over 730,000 certificates now issued, the shooting community has never had a louder voice. In a time where shooting is under increasing pressures, we have never needed it more.”…

A RECORD number of first-time shooters tackled clay targets on National Ladies’ Shooting Day on Saturday, 27 June. In total, nearly 1,100 women attended 22 different shooting grounds across the country. Among them were some 600 who had never fired a shotgun before and were taught how to shoot a variety of targets by The Shotgun and Chelsea Bun Club. Event organiser Victoria Knowles-Lacks said: “It was such an outstanding day; to have that many women shooting simultaneously was just incredible. I am so grateful to all of our sponsors, shooting grounds, hosts, guests and supporters. It’s such an exciting time for ladies’ shooting and we’re proud to be a part of it”.…

Your tips put a spring in our spaniel’s step > I have a 12-month-old springer spaniel called Peggy, who is the first dog of my own that I have trained from a puppy. I have had several family dogs that have worked on nearby shoots but I have never actually fully trained one myself and was pretty nervous about where to start when I picked her up on 2 August last year. But nearly a year on she is doing so well and even competed in her set of scurries last weekend and did very well, even with a stunt plane flying overhead! I am an avid reader of your gundog and training section and the helpful tips have paid dividends with Peggy’s training! We are looking forward to the…

Idon’t know whether it is Bisley’s military associations, but it wouldn’t be the first time I have “enjoyed” some form of exercise when I have visited the place. I seem to recall, quite a long time ago, being offered something called the “Iron Arm” challenge – shooting 100 driven clays from a grouse butt, without stopping, on the Bisley clayground. In my 20-something youthful innocence and competitiveness, I eagerly responded to the gauntlet. It sounded easy, but the act of breaking and closing and firing a shotgun continuously stopped being fun about two-thirds of the way through. Target shotgun shooting wasn’t to prove quite as bad as the grouse based shotgun hell, but it did involve a certain amount of a runnin’ an’ a pumpin’. For those of you who…

Watching any predator hunt successfully has fascinated me for as long as I can remember. Watching dogs hunt intrigued me from an early age, as did working with ferrets. Adding birds of prey to the equation to create a combined force doesn’t get much better than that. When such a team unites, it can prove highly effective. I have owned Harris’ hawks for many years and regularly use them in my work both day and at night. Lamping with hawks is frowned upon by purists, but I’m not a sportsman where rabbits are concerned – they provide my living as a rabbit catcher. Sporting chances are admired by some, but, given such latitude, rabbits often escape. This infuriates me, so I try to make the situation a lot less sporting…

You feel like you have done the hard work. The dam has been tested for PRA, CNM, EIC and Uncle Tom Cobley and all. Her hips are good. So are her elbows. The sire is a stallion in disguise. He too tested clear for everything. His pedigree is one big red FTCh. Mating was successful. Pregnancy has been uneventful. Whelping starts. Puppies are born. And then they succumb… Surely the worst feeling in the world is to watch a litter that was so full of potential sicken and die.So how can you minimise the risk? Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail There is much you can do before pregnancy begins to maximise your chances of healthy puppies. The dam should be in tip-top condition. Too fat is bad because the…

Most articles on pigeon shooting tend to focus on decoy layouts, hide building and electronic gizmos, but I have read none on a piece of equipment, Paul, my shooting partner, and I employ all the time. And that is two-way radios. There are often situations where we will split up on different fields but still need to keep each other informed as to what is happening. Mobile phones can fulfil the same function but often there is no signal, and a radio is far more instant. Sometimes we can conduct a running commentary, calling birds that the other Gun might not be able to see approaching. Friendly insults are then exchanged if said pigeon is missed! More pressing calls can be made too, such as requiring more shells from the…

Ingredients 2 wild mallard ducks 2 heads of curly kale, large stalks removed Butter Salt and pepper For the chutney 500g of pears, peeled and diced 100g of apple, peeled and grated 250g of tomatoes, skinned and chopped Feeds: Half an onion, finely chopped 75g sultanas Juice of half an orange 300g sugar 250ml cider vinegar ½tsp ground cinnamon ½tsp ground nutmeg 50g fresh ginger, peeled and chopped 1 pinch saffron COOKING METHOD 1 Season and seal the ducks in a hot pan, then roast for 25 minutes in a hot oven for a medium-rare finish 220°C/Gas 8. 2 Remove from the oven and leave to rest somewhere warm. Keep the duck fat for roast potatoes to serve with the duck. 3 Boil the kale in boiling salted water for…

Some auction houses place unsold lots in online sales, says Mike George, so it's worth keeping your eyes peeled What happens to lots that are unsold at auction? Different auction houses have different policies, but generally the owners of guns that have failed to sell either allow them to go forward into the ne t sale, on a sort of “better luck ne t time” principle, or take the gun back and review their options. Some auction houses, however, notably Holt’s, offer a third alternative, in which unsold lots can go forward into an online sale. Such was the fate of an interesting gun that failed to sell earlier this year. It wasn’t a sporting gun, but a battalion artillery piece with a fascinating history and strong British military connections,…

It’s safe to say that, being a wildfowler, I’m no stranger to getting up in the wee hours of the morning to head out with the gun. This can be a great tactic when it comes to crowing, too, despite it being a little bit more depressing getting up before sunrise on long summer days! There is something therapeutic about getting tucked into position and watching the world start to wake up, whether out stalking, wildfowling or simply trying to take out pesky crows. We have recently had the covercrops drilled in anticipation for the up-and-coming season, and this is a crucial time to protect them, as they make up large parts of the pheasant drives in the winter months. Being prepared Organisation is essential. I try to ensure I…

VETERINARY: NEIL MCINTOSH A practising vet in Scotland. TUITION: JOHN BIDWELL 6 times World FITASC champ and pro shooting coach. LEGAL: DAVID FROST Author of Sporting Shooting and the Law. TECHNICAL: MIKE GEORGE Engineering author with a deep love of gunmaking. GUNDOGS: LEZ GRAHAM Gundog trainer and author of the Pet Gundogbooks. PIGEONS: PETER THEOBALD Author of Woodpigeon: The Ultimate Quarry. STALKING: GEORGE WALLACE National Gamekeepers’ Organisation’s firearms consultant. FERRETS: ED COOK Professional rabbit catcher working over 30,000 acres.…

Combination guns are not that common in the UK, probably because of the type of shooting we do, our terrain and our licensing laws. They are common in Germany and Austria, however, sometimes with three or even four barrels. There are many calibre combinations with any mixture of shotgun and rifle barrels. The terrain can be more extreme in these countries and the quarry species may include boar and mountain-dwelling deer, so rifle calibres tend to be bigger. The shooting is more walked-up and hunted game, and there is less driven shooting than we have, so switching between shotgun and rifle calibres makes sense. Hunting is similar in the US — more walked-up — although they tend to hunt with either a rifle or a shotgun. Single-barrel shotguns have always…

Have you ever thought of being self-sufficient? Can you even remember the taste of genuinely fresh produce that has never seen the inside of a cold store, or been treated with debatable preservatives? If you love good food, the idea of using organic meat, vegetables and fruit – with the knowledge of exactly how it was produced – will certainly appeal. Besides game and wildfowl, ever since childhood I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy a wide variety of wild meats, some of which could only be classed under the “various” heading in the game book. Admittedly, that was long ago, at a time when a certain amount of self sufficiency was not only desirable, but indeed was a necessary part of earning a living in the countryside. Back then, people…

A SHROPSHIRE gamekeeper was cleared of trying to trap wild birds when video evidence obtained by the RSPB was ruled as inadmissible in court. Neil Gordon Wainwright, 55, was accused of using a Larsen trap to catch wild birds at Birch Hill Wood near Ratlinghope in July of last year after the RSPB produced covert video surveillance of him. But at Telford Magistrates’ Court, district judge Kevin Grego said that the video could not be entered as evidence because the cameras were planted while trespassing on private land. A spokesman for the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation said: “It is high time that the RSPB issued up-to-date guidance to its inspectorate on the legal framework within which it operates. The RSPB will otherwise continue to embarrass itself.”…

WHERE THEY WERE SHOT 1 Name: Ian Cheesman Location: Kent On 24 June, Ian Cheesman went down to a pea field at Burmash, in Kent - using one pigeon magnet and 18 half-shell decoys, he shot 46 birds, which gave Alfie the Labrador a good day out retrieving. 2 Name: Chris Bray Location: Lincolnshire Here’s Chris Bray’s 12-week-old Labrador Lottie checking the evening’s bag of 45 pigeons shot over chopped broccoli in Friskney, Lincolnshire. 3 Name: Andy Thomson Location: Fife Andy Thomson was interested to read Peter Theobold’s piece on the lack of pigeons in May (in the July issue) – he was getting some excellent bags in Fife, Scotland, over peas, especially in June. RED LETTER DAY? CONTACT US AT: sportinggun@timeinc.com…

Ammunition: For targets shot with birdshot (No4 up to No7) buy the cheapest ammunition you can find. For slug shooting start homeloading as decent slug ammunition can be expensive. Homeloads can be around 15p each – quality shop-bought ammunition can be £1 per round. Clothing: Wear layers of reasonably close-fitting upper garments that will reduce chances of snagging. Trousers with knee pads from a builders’ merchant will protect the knees for some of the shooting positions. Wear gloves until it is time to shoot, to keep your hands warm. Safety glasses and hearing protection are essential. Range bag: Buy a range bag or wheeled trolley to keep all your items together. Cartridge belts: You can buy either an expensive specialised belt or line the belt with foam pipe lagging, which…

To train a gundog well, you need all the basics in place before moving on to any of the more comple e ercises. Think about it along the lines of building a house: if the foundations are not solid and strong, the rest will fall down. If you do not get your sit, stay and recall commands firmly embedded into your dog’s behaviour, you will end up with an uncontrollable dog. The stay command is probably the most important; without it, you will not be able to introduce the stop whistle at distance, use any directional commands or steady your dog to dummies, and eventually live game. The stay command is boring to train, not only for you as a handler but also for the dog – it takes time…

CHILDREN’S STORM JACKET FROM JOHN FIELD Available in sizes suitable for eight- to 10-year-olds, this lightweight breathable jacket is just the thing for the young fieldsports enthusiast. Made from recycled microfibre polyester, the jacket comes with “Thunder trousers” that will keep your children dry while they are out in the field. Price: Children’s storm jacket £165 Children’s thunder trousers £90 Web: www.johnfield.eu 3HGR RIFLE SLING Developed in Finland, this is an excellent sling that will stop your rifle falling off your shoulder while you stalk. It is versatile, and easy to use, and was built to cope with the challenging hunting conditions in Scandinavia. Price: RRP £60 Web: www.vikingarms.com VETSPEC OMEGA-3 JOINT MOBILITY + GRAVY An innovative new joint supplement for dogs cleverly designed to produce gravy when…

PROFILE NAME ELIZABETH WHITEHEAD AREA GLOS/WORCS BORDERS MEDIA RECYCLED FABRICS PROFESSION RETAILER/ MANUFACTURER “Tweed — Harris, Yorkshire and Donegal — was the perfect fabric to represent the fur” Elizabeth Whitehead could be classed as a taxidermist, but not in the conventional way. She makes some fabulous quirky fox and stag heads, not mounting the dead animal itself but making them out of tweed and recycled fabrics. “It all started when we were in Spain on holiday and a vegetarian friend was horrified that a restaurant had all these mounted heads in it. She hated the thought of taxidermy. It got me thinking, and I asked her if she would be happy to see a mounted head made from something else rather than the animal itself. She didn’t seem to think…

Many shooters are wary of light, aluminium guns, but they shouldn't be, says Mike George BETTINSOLI CRYPTO LITE Bettinsoli are well respected as makers of entry-level guns, and a new Crypto Lite (now known as the Crypto Extra Lux Lite) comes in at just over £1,200. The gun pictured is last year’s model, weighing 6lb 5oz. The gun achieves its light weight by utilising an aluminium alloy action body. For slightly less money you can buy a heavier, steel-actioned version. Many shooters are wary of guns with aluminium alloy actions, thinking the aluminium is soft. Pure aluminium is soft, but introduce other metals into the mix and reinforce the action face to prevent scuffing (aluminium can “pick up” on steel) when the gun is opened and closed, and the criticism…