Reviews

Having sold a lot of Webley & Scott 900 series shotguns over the last few years, I hold them in high regard. So high, in fact, that I bought a 920 game gun for my good lady. When Stuart Grant, Highland Outdoors Southern Sales Manager, popped in on his monthly visit and told me that there were new models arriving shortly, I was…

Both my shooting partner, Paul, and I were intrigued to find out what the new, affordable Xocet from Webley & Scott would be like. Coming from a famous stable with a background of solid, dependable guns, I really hoped that it wasn’t going to be a cheap item hiding behind a good name. My fears were quickly put to rest when I saw…

I started reviewing shotguns for Shooting Times in 2006, but now I feel the time has come to hand over to another, younger enthusiast. The years seem to have  flown by and have been interesting to say the least. Shotguns tested included anything from a Purdey to a 9mm economy “ratting” gun, high-tech semi-autos to new hammerguns and even muzzle-loaders. My policy was to…

It is a natural human instinct to have favourites even when we are told we really shouldn’t. Though you might happily wear a smile and tell your difficult teenage daughter that of course she’s your favourite child as she attempts to shake you down for an extra £20 for the weekend, we all know that if it came down to it you’d probably only go back…

Winchester has always been the symbol of American rifle-making but, as with Browning, manufacture transferred to Japan under the Browning, Winchester, Miroku banner. This particular gun is actually made in Portugal and is another one of the new line of rifles from American makers that are accessible to the masses at a very keen price. Often this means cheap, but this new Winchester XPR (extreme…

Rizzini is a gunmaker steadily making inroads into the British guntrade. It has some very attractive models at good value-for-money prices. This is my favourite in the range: the Rizzini RB EM 16-bore . The RB EM is a round bodied box lock gun with a bold scroll engraving pattern that reminds me of the traditional Holland Royal pattern. The engraving is similar to a…

You might be forgiven for heaving a sigh at the sight of yet another Italian over-under on these review pages. But it is rather difficult to ignore the fact our European cousins are responsible for much of the new hardware unleashed upon the sporting world. Unusually, however, this particular Italian over-under owes a significant debt of gratitude to some decidedly British influence. Having had the distinct pleasure of…

Based on a limited edition shotgun with the same name from the early 1980s, the new version of the Lincoln Vogue over-and-under game gun is placed in the sub-£1,000 sector of the market. But what sets it apart from competitors? Lincolns have been built by F.A.I.R. (Fabbrica Armi Isodoro Rizzini) since 1971. The company prides itself on its quality engineering, selection of materials…

Straight-pull rifles are not for everyone. The operation of the bolt as a straight pull directly back to you is very fast and smooth, and none more so than in the small Browning T-Bolt rimfire rifle. I love the classic T-Bolts of yesteryear that stopped production in 1975 but were way ahead of their time. Browning has its new versions in .22LR, .22WMR and…

In terms of exotic exports of luxury goods, it would be fair to say Italy has something of a stranglehold on the global consciousness. From the ultimate in sports cars from the likes of Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini to the fashion houses of Milan, Italian products have an unshakable air of desirability. This is no different in the world of shooting, with wonderful sporting shotguns bearing such…

Cogswell & Harrison (C&H) is a company with a wealth of history. It can be traced back to 1770 and is the oldest gunmaking firm to have evolved out of London. I use the word “evolved” because C&H has gone through many changes in its long history. More so since the mid-20th century and is now owned by the Brennan family who, while…