Reviews

At first glance, this month’s shotgun – the Beretta 486 Parallelo – may appear to be one for the diehard traditionalists – but look a little harder and you may be in for something of a surprise. Beretta 486 Parallelo is a little bit different Sitting as it does within the more usual Beretta range…

We don’t all need — or want — an expensive stalking rifle. Whether your decision is financial or practical, you can still achieve a blend of value, reliability and accuracy with a Remington Model 783. This budget bolt-action design – the Remington 783 synthetic –  is aimed at the hunter who needs a workhorse rifle;…

James Purdey & Sons is to shotguns what Stradivarius is to violins and Rolls-Royce is to luxury cars. Even if you know nothing about shooting you will have heard of Purdey, such is its reputation. You couldn’t be blamed for thinking this quintessential gunmaker would rest on its laurels and be thoroughly traditional. The Purdey…

Straight-pull rifles are becoming more popular as their ability to offer a super-fast cycling rate with a short and effortless bolt-action design is appealing. German firm Merkel has had good success with its version of this genre in the Helix system, and the Merkel Helix Speedster model embodies all the benefits of a straight pull…

Zeiss has an enviable reputation for being able to deliver riflescopes that boast the performance and refinement you would expect from a German optics giant without the inconvenience of an eye-watering price tag. Knowing that the Conquest V4 range aims to follow in that vein, I couldn’t wait to mount one to my Weihrauch rimfire…

There is no doubt that Blaser caters for a higher end of the market and there was considerable excitement when its new shotgun, the Blaser F16, was launched in this country in 2016. Innovative The F16 is different to the earlier F3 – itself a highly regarded shotgun with a loyal following – in many…

What makes the Benelli Raffaello Accademia semi-auto different?  The words ‘beautiful’ and ‘semi-automatic’ don’t get used together very often. Most semi-autos are plain. None of them would turn heads on the looks front. For example, the Benelli M2 is the workhorse of many gamekeepers because it offers rugged reliability, but it is totally utilitarian. However,…

The Baikal 12-bore shotgun is a reliable, well-made gun capable in practical terms of holding its own against much more expensive alternatives

There is a great buzz of excitement among our customers here at the Oxfordshire Shooting School about the upcoming Game Fair. For some it will be about catching up with friends, others will be enjoying a day with the family, and many will be having a look at all things new and shiny from the…

Browning X-Bolt rifle: Browning’s X-Bolt deer stalking rifle is practical and affordable.

I have a high regard for the Italian firearms maker Benelli as its shotguns always buck the trend and it follows its own path in design and handling concepts. The 828U over-and-under shotgun is an eye-catcher, as are the famed Benelli semi-automatics. Now Benelli has designed its first bolt-action rifle, the Benelli Lupo, and it’s…