Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2017 i Sporting Gun

This month we have moved Robin’s piece to our Snapshots pages and given Stewart Cooper the Parting Shots section. This is because we want to leave you with a smile on your face. I always find Robin’s articles thought-provoking and this month is no exception. My late father often said that it is a sign of maturity when a shooter realised that there is more to our sport than just getting a big bag. Conservation, getting out in the countryside and friendship all go to make shooting the great sport it is. When I was young, nature offered so much in the way of education, and I took little - I was more interested in the size of my bag. It’s now time to make up that deficit and I…

“I’m taking a keener interest in the stuff you can’t draw a bead on” There’s no danger of me hanging up the gun any time soon but some folk say the urge to pull a trigger whenever possible starts to wane the older you get. I’m beginning to believe them. I still love shooting as much as ever but the fun factor is now no longer measured in bag size or shots fired, but by the quality of whatever quarry I get within range of. And more than ever I’m taking a keener interest in the stuff you can’t draw a bead on. When I moved north to the family farm four years ago I was reasonably awake to the wildlife around the place. Now I make a point of…

5,000 The Wildlife Trust has launched a recruitment drive, seeking 5,000 volunteers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to help protect native red squirrel populations. 10 The National Farmers’ Union is pressing farmers to mitigate the risks on farms as 10 fatalities, including one child, were recorded on farms in February alone. £50,000 BASC marked the end of the wildfowling season by making its largest grant ever of £50,000 to the Wildlife Habitat Trust. £500 Members and guests of the Beara shoot in Braunton, North Devon raised £500 for the Devon Air Ambulance for the Devon Air Ambulance Trust during the shoot’s annual dinner. 7 A new report shows farm support is being returned sevenfold. According to consultants Development Economics, for every £1 invested in farm support, the…

Young people and shooting Last season my two daughters, Niamh and Lucy, started to come shooting with me. I shoot in the Northern Pennines and the going can be quiet rough, so I thought they’d try it once and then cry off. I couldn’t have been more wrong. They love it. They beat all day which is pretty good going considering they’re 12 and 10 respectively. They even turn down invitations to friends’ birthday parties to come beating with me. I’m amazed to see how much their confidence is growing in such a short time. They mix and chat with other syndicate members, they’re learning the importance of safety, they’re becoming familiar with working dogs, they’re asking questions (usually lots of them) and they’re learning to respond and adapt to…

Browning B725 Pro An improved range of ProSport and ProTrap guns will be coming this year with adjustable stock and barrel weights to balance the gun to the shooter’s preference. The guns will also come with adjustable combs, top ribs and trigger reach so the gun can be set up to suit the shooter. SRP: From around £3,285 www.browning.eu Elite 5 Boots from Viper Tactical These waterproof camo boots are made from suede and cordura, making them lightweight and hardwearing. A waterproof membrane wicks moisture away from the foot and the rubber toe cap protects the boot from abrasion. SRP: £104.95 www.vipertacticalshop.co.uk Sporting Skeet Vest Available in navy, black and green with contrasting suedette trim, these vests are made from polyester mesh making them ideal for use in the summer.…

Last month I wrote about acquiring a new permission from a neighbouring farm and how I didn’t hesitate to get stuck straight in to some crow action with an improvised strategy. I intercepted the crows on the outskirts of the buildings as they headed back to the farm after the disturbance I caused looking for potential ambush sights. Although this was effective, I wanted to get stuck into them properly by setting up in the cattle building where they wanted to feed. This month I’m back, but this time I mean business and have an organised game plan. The location The cattle shed is a large building that is open on two sides with separate pens full of cows. This meant the crows were free to come as they pleased,…

“This gun punches well for its weight and will be a popular wildfowling gun” 1. In the workshop Enhancing its ergonomics and controls, the SX4 is a move forward from its well-received predeccessor and it will be a popular wildfowling gun Without doubt the best part of my job as gun reviewer is being able to look at new models as they come to market. This month, I was lucky enough to be sent the brand new Winchester SX4 from Oxfordshire based International Sports Brands (importers of Browning, Winchester and Miroku). As a weapons manufacturer, Winchester is renowned for its repeating arms – whether it’s the iconic 94 series underlever rifles or the 1866 Yellow Boy. Established in 1855, it was originally formed between Mr Smith and Mr Wesson as…

The 22LR round can travel quite a distance so it is always essential to check the safety of your shot. Never fire it up in the air – most ammunition boxes will warn they can travel up to 1.5km. When taking a shot make sure there is something to stop the bullet, for example a hill or bank. Remember not to shoot into hedges as you don't know if someone is on the other side. Most 22LR are accurate up to 150 yards, however the ballistics of the round will be difficult to judge around that distance with the large drop. I would recommend 50 yards for small game such as squirrels or rabbits to ensure a humane shot.…

Modern foxing equipment is so good that high-tech rules most of the time. Things such as thermal imaging and night vision devices are found everywhere, however, every now and then old school methods remain the best. Should you lose track of a shot animal, a dog is still by far the best way of locating it. Choosing a breed Now, there is an enormous number of breeds to choose from and every one of them has its staunch advocates – no-one should own a dog if they aren’t 100 per cent committed to it. When I decided I needed one there were two basic constraints – it had to be good at its job and as free from medical problems as possible. For this reason I didn’t go with any…

“Over-facing your dog early can put it off from water altogether” The causes This is a classic case of allowing a behaviour pattern to develop and now you will have to go back to the beginning to try and rectify the issue. It is something that needs to be sorted, especially if you plan to shoot wildfowl over the dog. In the worst-case scenario imagine your dog has picked an injured duck, it gets to the bank and decides to shake itself dryand then drops the duck, which runs back into the water – not a good situation. Quite often the problem can be due to the dog not having a good delivery on land, if the dog will not sit up and present properly and confidently in a dry…

PICK 'N' MIX Pick ‘n’ mix is designed to test your dog’s ability to choose from a selection of retrieves. This scurry relies on the perfect picking-up scenario, with several birds that have already been shot lying in the undergrowth ready for your dog to retrieve. Before your dog takes on the challenge, two more birds are then shot – with your dog required to pick-up just one of these seen dummies and one of the four blind retrieves. SHORT FENCE The short fence gundog scurry is as simple as the name suggests. A skill often overlooked in other gundog scurries is the ability to leap over fences or into pens, which is an essential part of any gundog’s repertoire. Out in the field, some of the obstacles faced can…

Shane Robinson Shane tests guns for Sporting Gun. This month he looks at the Winchester SX4 semi-auto, which he believes will be a popular wildfowling gun. Don’t forget, you can also win this gun – see page 43 for competition details. Mike George Mike has been with Sporting Gun since the beginning, editing the magazine at one stage. Mike is a guru at all things gun tech and features in our Shooting Answers feature. This month Mike answers all your cartridge questions while also picking our three prestige second-hand shotguns.…

East Anglian Game & Country Fair Euston estate, Thetford, Norfolk. For more details and for tickets, tel 01263 735828. GWCT annual clay shoot Kingston House estate, Kingston Blount, Oxfordshire For more information or to book a place contact Chris Robinson by tel 07785 308282 or email chris@oxfordmeditech.co.uk Broadlands Country Show Broadlands Park, Romsey, Hampshire. For further information, tel 01889 563232 or visit www.broadlandscountryshow.co.uk . Northern Shooting Show Yorkshire Event Centre, Harrogate. For more information and for tickets, tel 01472 809727 or visit www.northernshootingshow.co.uk .…

Adam Partridge Auctioneers, Cheshire Adam Partridge Auctioneers & Valuers, Withyfold Drive, Macclesfield Tel 01260 223675 or visit www.adampartridge.co.uk Mitchells Sporting sale Mitchells, the Saleroom, Station Road, Cockermouth, Cumbria. Tel 01900 827800 or visit www.mitchellantiques.co.uk . Gavin Gardiner Ltd, in association with Sothebys Sotheby’s, 34-35 New Bond Street, London. Tel 01798 875300 or visit www.gavingardiner.com . Lawrences Auctioneers Militaria, Coins & Medals, The Linen Yard, South Street, Crewkerne, Somerset Tel 01460 73041, email enquiries@lawrences.co.uk or visit www.lawrences.co.uk.…

“It really is a jacket for all seasons and it’s good value for money” First of all, the jacket I was sent to review was grey – a strange colour for shooting which rather confused me. But, when I realised that it was available in green as well I could see the sense of it. It turns out I was sent one of the first jackets they had, so we shall ignore the colour. And a grey jacket is fine to shoot clays in, just not ideal for game shooting. The jacket is available in six colours including teak and olive – two great colours for our sport. The jacket is lightweight, windproof, waterproof and breathable – everything you need in a jacket, and stylish as well. I don’t like…

“It made all those freezing hours spent round a rape field seem worthwhile” A whole host of favourable criteria has to fall in place if you're going to make a good bag of pigeons on rape during January and February. Occasionally all the stars align and a constant stream birds pile into your decoys. The following is an account of one such day. Paul and I first shot the field in question after the farmer had phoned him to ask if he could sort out the pigeons that had started to hit his rape. The farmer agreed to lay off the bangers and kites for a couple of days until Paul had assessed the situation. Further reconnaissance revealed 350 pigeons contentedly munching away at the plants, certainly enough to warrant…

Spring is the time of year when a lot of folk want rabbits controlled, especially on farms. This can often mean we are up against it, especially when you consider vegetation will soon make the hedge bottoms thicker than what would be preferred for ferreting. However, it is also the time of year when game shooting has come to an end which means we can freely use shotguns to shoot over ferrets. Shooting over ferrets requires an immense amount of concentration by a disciplined shooter because rabbits can flash into the distance in a millisecond. The furry target can put even the most practised Shot to shame because you have to make the decision on when/if to take a shot in a short time. It could be argued that there…

GUNDOGS GRAHAM WATKINS A professional gundog trainer for more than 35 years and runs Gamegoer Gundogs. 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. PIGEONS PETER THEOBALD Author of Woodpigeon: The Ultimate Quarry. STALKING GEORGE WALLACE Former National Gamekeepers’ Organisation’s firearms consultant. RABBITS ED COOK Professional rabbit catcher working over 30,000 acres. PEST CONTROL & WILDFOWLING TOM SYKES Passionate wildfowler and pest controller…

“I kept thinking I would like to be here in spring or summer to really appreciate the landscape and wildlife” Venue: Cheshire Activities, Mickley Hall Lane, Broomhall, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 8AJ. Tel 0800 772 0056 or visit www.cheshireactivities.co.uk. Easy to Find? No problems in this department. Tap the address into your satnav and bingo. The approach is down a straight road hedged on both sides. However, be careful of oncoming traffic. The ground is well situated in relation to the M6 and serves a number of counties: Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire and, of course, Cheshire. 9 Disciplines: English Sporting and down-the-line, both are shot from covered stands to minimise the sound of shooting and give visitors all-weather protection. 8 Traps: Fully automatic traps from Promatic, operating on easy-to-use pay as you…

Tester: Toby Clark Sporting Gun reader Occupation: Lawyer Age: 36 Years Shooting: 22 years with air rifles and two years with a shotgun Type of shooting: Mostly clay When Toby shouldered the gun he felt the stock was a little short. “I almost feel that the trigger is under my nose,” he said. Luckily the gun comes with a spacer that is easily fitted and gives the stock an extra quarter inch. Once fitted Toby said: “The length of pull is much better for me now.” The stock without the spacer is 14½ inches, which is around average, but that extra ¼ inch made all the difference to Toby. Having a slightly shorter stock would suit many shooters, including women, who buy semi-autos because they are lighter and have less…

A rodent native to North America, the grey squirrel (Scurius carolinensis) was first introduced to the British Isles as an ornamental species around 1870 and, once firmly established, showed a remarkable increase in both numbers and range. It has now become all too widespread and common throughout the British Isles, much to the detriment of the indigenous, less harmful and now seriously endangered red squirrel (Scurius vulgaris). Almost twice the size and weight of the red, the grey squirrel is easily able to displace its smaller cousin, but more significantly is a carrier of “squirrel pox”; a lethal virus normally deadly to the native reds, but to which the grey is largely immune. Appearance Lacking the red squirrel’s long ear-tufts, during summer the “tree rat” has flecked grey-brown fur with…

“We could learn something from Sydney’s response to the decline of his company” Hull Cartridge has a Royal warrant, produces a huge variety of cartridges, and is celebrating 70 years as a leading cartridge manufacturer. But the family owned company might never have come about if had not been for the entrepreneurship and vision of the company’s founder, Sydney Bontoft. In the 1920s Sydney was selling calcium carbide, which was used on estates and farms for lighting. By adding water to the chemical compound acetylene gas was given off which could be ignited. However, electricity began to overtake calcium carbide as a light source and Sydney’s business, Turner’s Carbides, was faced with obsolescence. New technology threatening jobs has a very modern ring. It goes to remind us that we are…

• They have webbed feet and two-layer fur, the inner of which is waterproof. • They are seriously fast – not as quick as a greyhound, but with much more stamina. • They are both air-scenters and ground-scenters – consequently, it if snows, they’ll simply put their noses up and carry on working, in conditions where many other dogs will really struggle. • If trained properly, they make excellent picking-up dogs for game shooting. They need no encouragement for flushing though – they are naturals at that! • They are neither passive nor aggressive, but won’t put up with any nonsense. • They’re generally very quiet, but make superb guard dogs – barking if something is not right. • They are good with other pets – both of ours treat our rag doll cat very well. • Korthals…

 Age 12 months Countdown to first shoot 5 months and 26 days “Over the past few weeks I have been trying to get Ted’s hunting to flow more” The one thing that I learnt a long time ago is that gundog training is not a race or indeed a competition, but as I sit here writing this piece I am feeling slightly under pressure. At the end of the month I have arranged to take Ted back up to Yorkshire for a few days training with his breeders Andy and Fiona Robinson of Whaupley Gundogs, I am hoping that getting him on some “rabbity” ground will bring his hunting on, literally in leaps and bounds. Future field triallers So, you ask, what is the pressure? Well, Andy and Fiona…

“Within five minutes of the lesson my score had become nine out of ten” After my shame-making performance in my first go at the Handicap Challenge at Royal Berkshire Shooting School (RBSS), Robert Cross, who took me round the course, suggested I take a lesson. I met up with Robert, a senior coach at the shooting school and we trudged to one of the stands of the Handicap Challenge, which was a sim pair called the “Cross-eyed woodcock”. This is the stand that really challenged me last time, resulting in a score of one out of 10 and I wasn’t looking forward to returning to the scene of my shame. However, within five minutes of the lesson my score had become nine out of 10. How did this happen? At…

“The signs of good fecundity in despatched deer leads to a rise in population” As is usual around this time of year, I have a tendency to look back on the doe season just as we are about to start on the opening of the buck season. The roe buck open season is from 1 April to 31 October in England and Wales and from 1 April to 20 October in Scotland. Looking back on our doe season, it has – on the whole – been a pretty mild winter up here in Northumberland. We had very little snow and certainly not the extreme cold we can often expect. Negative temperatures appeared a few times with some hard frosts, but having said that when you're sitting in a high seat…

Liver fluke is a common parasite in deer and farm stock, especially on wet ground. The fluke develops from a small water snail that lives in wet pasture or boggy ground. Once ingested it ends up in the liver as a fluke. This is a small brown parasite that can cause premature death if the burden is high, especially in young deer. More mature animals seem to cope with it quite well, but it will shorten their natural life. As I mentioned in a previous article, farm stock are dosed for it but unfortunately we cannot do that with wild deer. The usually observed signs are a white scarring on the liver, which can be difficult to see sometimes. It can appear as tiny white dots on the surface –…

Venison tacos Ingredients Method Mexican-style food can be a great way to cook game meats – this is my way of cooking venison tacos. Tacos can be used as a way to share wild meat between family and friends and they are also a quick meal that tastes fantastic. Start by mincing the venison into a large bowl. Dice the onions and peppers before heating a frying pan or wok on the hob. Pour a little oil into the pan and once it's hot add the veg to sweat it off. After a minute or so add the venison and mix it in with the veg to break up the mince. Once the meat starts to brown, add garlic and…

Email us now to to place your FREE* gun advert or click on www.gunsforsale.shootinguk.co.uk  and have it advertised ONLINE as well! Send us an email at sportinggun_ shopfront@timeinc.com and include: • Your name • Your address • Your postcode • Your daytime telephone number • And, most importantly, details about the item/s you have for sale or wish to advertise. To place your ONLINE advertisement (guns only) and add a picture of the gun you are selling go to: www.gunsforsale.shootinguk.co.uk. *There is a fee of £5 for online advertising for guns costing more than £1,000. This feature is not open to members of the gun trade If you don’t have email Alternatively, if you don’t have access to email or the Internet, you can still send your personal…

Everyone knows that firearms can hurt people, in most cases really badly, if not fatally. But how do you convince a trained member of the armed forces, or even a desperate assailant that it is simply not worth the effort, to take on the person holding the firearm in question. Well, in history, the answer was simple; you either made the muzzle bigger or added extra barrels! Blunderbuss myth In the case of the larger muzzle, the blunderbuss was king. Even the military (especially the Navy) experimented with them, making large examples known as musketoons; but the wide muzzles that these weapons were equipped with was as much to facilitate easy loading on board a rolling ship than to increase the effect of intimidation. A certain school of thought also…

Travelling back in the Sporting Gun time machine we came across this vehicle review. The machine in question was Volkswagen’s Syncro 4x4 Caravelle – which would now be called a people carrier – and was written by David Shepherd. It seemed a strange choice of vehicle for a shooting magazine to cover, but back then there were fewer all-wheel drive cars than today. However, when you think about the amount of the modern Caravelles you see at game fairs up and down the country, you begin to understand that these vehicles actually do play an important part in the rural community. Whether this is because of David’s review in Sporting Gun, I don’t know. David’s review wouldn’t be out of place in an automotive magazine and we were surprised by…

“It will be a vest you wear a lot, and you’ll stand out from the pub crowd” The Schöffel “Oakham” fleece waistcoat is the go-to item of clothing for so many men. So much so that it’s a bit of a uniform. I suppose it’s practical and warm but, if you’re not careful, you can be in a pub in a country town and half the men are wearing one! And, I don’t really like to follow the crowd. But Schöffel has obviously done something right as everyone, from a certain set, seems to want this waistcoat. It must be a marketing man’s dream and has put the company on the map sartorially. Schöffel has developed an excellent, deserved, reputation for shooting clothing – albeit an expensive one – so…

• With the farmer away, Paul let numbers build close top 1,000 before picking a windy day to shoot. • A shooting party was banging away on the estate where the pigeons had previously headed to feed, sending the birds straight back to Peter and Paul. • Using the quad to move the birds, every time a flock lifted they would fragment into smaller parties, which is exactly what they wanted. • Although the wind was in their face they were in the right part of the field, which will always trump wind direction • The bright sun, although a nuisance, lighted up the decoy pattern like a beacon…

“Potts goes into depth, but never baffles the reader with needless jargon” It would be boring if we were all the same, so says Bruce Potts in his introduction to Custom Rifles of Great Britain . Throughout it he extols the virtues of the having a rifle tailored to your exact requirements and in Potts you won’t find a greater exponent of the custom rifle. With more than 30 years experience as a shooter and wildlife photographer, Potts gives extensive advice to novice and more experienced custom rifle buff alike in this comprehensive and fully illustrated book. According to Potts the custom rifle is flourishing, spurred on by the rise in popularity of deer stalking and long-range shooting, each discipline creating a need for better rifles. “There is seemingly an…

“With a steady stream trickling in overhead I was soon itching to get set up” It’s almost the end of the winter rape season. The crop is advancing now and beginning to flower in places, but there’s still an odd late – or damaged – bit to draw the pigeons in. And when it does, unless these few persistent ones are told in no uncertain terms to give it a rest, damage will continue until the plants become stunted and ultimately produce little. A call from my farmer friend needed a quick response. He’d only seen a few small bunches on his various bits of rape, but a tenant was having real trouble from a particularly stubborn lot that were giving him the runaround. Firing a shot to put them…

“Switching guns isn’t easy unless you know your gunfit and have a good foundation” The gameshooting season might’ve come to a close some while ago, but that’s no reason to put the gun away for the next six months. Now that the weather is warming up your thoughts will hopefully be turning to some regular clay shooting forays. As soon as the days start drawing out my phone always gets busy with enquiries for lessons, and these past few weeks I’ve been fielding a number of them from people asking me to help them “get used to this new O/U I’ve bought”. Close behind have been calls from a few saying they want to “shoot clays with my father’s old side-by-side” for a change. Others have told me they are…

“Just because mygeneration did it one way, it doesn’t mean it’s the correct way” Name of estate or shoot: Rhug County: Denbighshire, North Wales Acreage: 12,500 acre, 4,500 acre shoot Birds released: Partridge and pheasants Why did you become a keeper? I always tell everyone I blame my English teacher because he made us read Lady Chatterley’s Lover, but I wasn’t until I was about 40 that I realised that was a load of crap. But, seriously, I just fell into it really – love of the countryside. I was always keen on natural history as a kid. Did you do any formal training? Yeah, I did my A Levels then went down to Sparsholt College, but I was keepering at the weekends any chance I got. I fully recommend…

For many people the European magpie is just like any other common bird and they don’t pay them much attention. Bird lovers all over the UK will leave them scraps in the garden and encourage them onto their property, but for small holders like myself they are a nuisance and it’s about this time of year that those of us concerned will have to get to work. Magpies are pairing up and making nests in early spring as well as establishing territory. Spring is also the time of year they begin hunting hedgerows and eating songbird eggs. I have a flock of chickens on my property and every year I breed the more desirable birds for meat, eggs and to sell on at my local market. The birds for sale…

“The Policing and Crime Act should result in a more uniform standard of service” In 2015 the Law Commission reported on its study into firearms legislation. It found much to criticise, notably that there are about three dozen Acts affecting the possession and use of firearms. Its principal recommendation was that all this legislation should be codified into one updated Act. Sadly there is to be no codification but all the other key changes proposed by the Law Commission have been incorporated into the 2017 Policing and Crime Act (PCA), as have some useful changes put forward by the shooting organisations. In an attempt to ensure uniformity of practice between the 44 police forces in Great Britain, the Home Office has regularly published guidance to the police. The guidance is…

“An initial examination is great value even without vaccinations being given” There are so many issues here it is hard to know where to start! Firstly, many vets will do what I like to call a “cuddle consult” free of charge, especially for regular clients. Even if they don’t, an initial examination should be great value-for-money, even if no vaccinations have to be given. The 1979 Sale of Goods Act This applies to puppies just as much as it does to washing machines and fridges. Your pup should be fit for purpose. The initial consult, preferably done within 24 hours of receiving him, will include checks for abnormalities that might prompt you to return him immediately before the family becomes too attached. Check out the story Vet checking a litter…

“There is a world of difference between working and show dogs” With summer and the game fair season just around the corner, many gundog owners will be heading straight for the scurry tent in an effort to qualify for the numerous finals that will be held later in the year. Nowadays there are some big prizes to be won, including cars and a plentiful supply of dog food. I think there can be no doubt that there is a world of difference between working and show lines of gundogs – especially where spaniels and Labradors are concerned. I do however concede that many people show and work their HPR’s and some lines do very well in both disciplines, but here is an interesting thought – are people now training their…

WHEN TO SHOOT GUN-UP When less gun movement is need, or you need to get on a target fast (for example the clay is going away from you), shoot gun-up. HAVE A METHOD Matt missed the cross-eyed woodcock because he had no method, which resulted in him shooting at the target 25 feet further away. He had too much barrel movement, so pointing the barrel at the target in a more controlled way minimised movement and gave him more time to move and shoot the target quicker. COMMON PROBLEMS The fundamentals are trying to keep the barrels in relationship to your eyes. You want the barrel to point where you’re looking. If you don’t manage this you have to do a lot of extra work to get the barrels to…

The buck season has started. I know of some but never all of the bucks we have. They tend to appear here and there when least expected. I will be out to check who is still around or has been replaced and by what. In the first weeks we will be trying to cull out some of the youngsters, leaving the more mature animals to gain their territory without the fraying and damage that would go on with too many animals in one area. They are always drawn to the best areas and that is usually the areas you are trying to protect.…

INGREDIENTS Cooking method 1 Season the hare loins with salt and pepper and then sear them in a hot pan, before taking them off the heat and allowing them to cool. 2 Take two sausages and remove the outer skins, place in a bowl and add the egg, parsley, orange juice and chestnuts and then mix thoroughly. 3 Take the ready-made puff pastry and roll it out in a rectangular shape. You want it to be a generous size so it can cover the two loins and the sausage mix. 4 Place the sausage mix onto the pastry, add the loins and roll them up into a tube shape. Tuck in both ends and egg wash the wellington. Season before cooking. 5…

• MAX PRICE: £6,000 • MAIN PURPOSE: Sporting clays and driven game. • PREFERRED MAKE: Anything made in Europe, and with a reliable importer. Mike George’s buying advice Your budget of £6,000 gives you a wide choice. Among the Italian offerings there are plenty of Berettas, and some fine guns by Perazzi, Guerini and B. Rizzini, to name but a few. Then there are German guns, led by Kreighoff, some very attractive O/Us by AYA of Spain, and, last but by no means least, the ever-popular Browning B25 made in the custom shop in Herstal, Belgium. To fall within your £6,000 budget you must remember, the more expensive the gun was when new, the older the £6,000 second-hand example is liable to be. And, although some of the older guns…