Reviews

Beretta is well known for its shotguns, pistols and military arms, having produced firearms since 1526. But other than the Sako brand under the Beretta umbrella, sporting rifles are something of a new direction for the company, so I was keen to see how its vast firearms experience would cross over into a hunting rifle….

It is becoming increasingly evident how difficult the position cartridge companies have been plunged into is, following the rush to replace lead shot with non-toxic ammunition for game that enters the food chain. Note that nothing has actually been ‘banned’ as yet despite the language often heard when shooters discuss the topic. However, with members…

Over the years Beretta has produced a great many models under the Silver Pigeon moniker. The Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon 1 Game Scene is one of the more recent, specifically designed to reach out to the field shooting market. Although its design remains similar to that of its predecessors, albeit with a few tweaks to…

As an elite piece of equipment, why is it that the shotgun hasn’t seen the advancements in technology that rifles have? Radical changes in design have been few and most never gain traction. Changes in aesthetics and materials and tweaking are constant, but these are more to do with sales than making you shoot straighter….

The renowned English gunmaker, Purdey, is known for its high quality, high performance and… high prices. You will be looking around the £150,000 mark for a London best gun made to your precise requirements. However, the famous gunmaker does have a gun called the Sporter which, at £39,500 plus VAT is relatively affordable. Purdey Sporter…

Back in 2019, Browning released a new gun to the market, which caused a great stir in the shooting community. The Browning 525SL (Sporter Laminate) was a fresh take on the firm’s much-loved sporting shotguns. It had stylish looks and a distinctive grey laminate stock. It was innovative, bold and some may say a bit…

I have always been a sucker for a carbine. The short stature and feel of such rifles makes great sense for most of my woodland stalking. A carbine balances reduced weight with enough barrel length to be ballistically efficient, yet doesn’t impede you stalking through foliage. That’s why when Unique Alpine (UA), a Bavarian company,…

The mighty ‘Disco’ has gained many followers over the past three decades, most sporting some sort of country attire rather than looking like an extra from Saturday Night Fever. The Discovery has evolved, but has always been a constant in town and country. But does the Disco 5 carry that mantle? We’re taking a look…

When Jonathan at Orston Shooting Ground in Nottinghamshire suggested I try the Yildiz Pro Black Sporter I did not know what to think. Yildiz is a little-known brand to me and I have always thought of its guns as affordable starters. The Turkish gunmaker Yildiz has a wide range of entry-level guns, but when Jonathan…

The latest Browning semi-auto is the Browning Maxus II Max-5 Camo. A gas-operated three or five shot with 89mm (31/2in) chambers and superior steel shot proof, it is only available as a 12-bore but with models to cover every possible use, including a traditional wood finish, synthetic and the latest Max-5 Camo option. These guns…

Too many shooters dismiss thermal optics as being too expensive and too complicated to be worth bothering with. While this kit is not exactly cheap, it is a lot more affordable than it was just a few years ago, quality has increased significantly and most modern units are very simple to use. The InfiRay Tube…