Reviews

The Howa Contractor SP rifle combo A growing number of manufacturers are enticing us with deals that combine rifle, scope and sound moderator in one package. These include essential items from top brands but all from one supplier. This has the advantage of not only offering a big saving in money terms, but you will…

Bruce Potts tested the Haenel Jaeger 10 synthetic Sporter back in 2017. In April 2021 Charles Smith Jones revisited the gun for Sporting Gun magazine. He described it as: “a rifle of high quality that remains sensibly priced even when new. Haenel rifles are robust, well made, a pleasure to handle and reliable, so if…

The Zeiss V8 range sports four models that utilise, as the name suggests, a power range of eight magnification, that is to say, 1.1-8x30mm, 1.8-14x50mm, 2.8-20x56mm or on test is their 4.8-35x60mm V8 model. A premium scope designed to be as capable in woodland at close range as it is reaching out across the hill for…

Whenever I handle a Benelli M series semi-automatic, it makes me think of the king of gamebirds, the grouse. These guns are to grouse moor management what the Winchester lever-action rifle was to winning the West. My first introduction to the M series Benelli semi-auto was 20 years ago when I was working for Mark…

Our Verdict The Savage A22 Pro Varmint semi-automatic rimfire rifle is Savage Arms’ answer to the Ruger 10/22, which has long dominated this area of the market. The A22 is available in many guises but here we have the Pro Varmint stock version, giving a distinct heavy varmint profile. Like the Ruger 10/22, the A22…

The Krypton XG50 looks almost identical to the popular front-mounted F155 and the later F455 night-vision models, and the button layout and functions are practically the same. The Krypton, however, is purely a thermal unit, working solely on the heat source given off by your quarry. It comes supplied with a monocular tube that attaches…

The 687 EELL Classic Field was first introduced into the Beretta Premium range in 2006. The physical differences between the standard EELL and the Classic model are subtle and include improved wood, a fuller engraving pattern, Prince of Wales grip, extended trigger tang and an upgraded travel case. However, the biggest difference is clear from…

Why a used Marocchi Evo Black is a good buy The Marocchi Evo Black is a gun intended to appeal to the clay shooting market and available in both trap and sporting formats. The Trap gun is available with 30in barrels and has a beavertail fore-end, and there is also a somewhat less common version…

The Sabatti family has been at the heart of the Italian gunmaking industry for almost 400 years. It has been involved in the design of flintlocks, fine damascus barrels and arquebuses throughout much of its history. The fixed choke and a game rib indicate that this model was intended for use in the field Sabatti…

Steyr Mannlicher has been producing rifles in Austria for more than 150 years and its latest is the Steyr Mannlicher Carbon CL II. As the name suggests, it features a lightweight and strong carbon-fibre stock for consistent accuracy in all weather conditions. The new stock also alleviates excess noise, where other synthetic stocks may echo…

The .22 centrefire may have a bad reputation for deer work, but with prudent bullet choice it is certainly up to the job.