Airgun Shooter April 2023

IN THIS issue we’ve focused on one very important aspect of our sport, optics, offering some advice regarding scope selection and mounting options. With such a wide choice available, it’s sometimes easy to get lost when choosing a suitable optic. Barn Door columnist Jim Old has been stating the case for more affordable optics, while I've been extolling the virtues of higher-end models, but ultimately it comes down to what the shooter wants, needs and can afford. Optics are more than just telescopic sights though, as Phill Price demonstrates. Phill's been explaining how hunters should spend more time surveying an area with binoculars when planning their approach, and has been trying out a suitable set in the form of the Hawke Vantage 8×42. He's also been getting stuck into the…

AUTHORITY AIRGUN Shooter is by airgunners for airgunners. Our team has decades of experience in everything from target shooting to hunting and is committed to bringing you the highest quality advice in print and video every month. PASSION WE are obsessed with airguns and we love writing about them. We're here to share our knowledge with you and focus on helping you become a better shooter, and we hope you'll share your knowledge and expertise with us, too! INDEPENDENCE THE views you read in Airgun Shooter are our own, which means you can trust every word you read in these pages. We've built up reputations from years in the field - we're not prepared to pull any punches. INSPIRATION OUR mission is to maximise the enjoyment you get from shooting, so…

As a serious airgun hunter, I know all too well the huge benefits of using binoculars to find my quarry, to the extent that I literally never leave home without them. I also carry a laser rangefinder for all the benefits it delivers to me in managing my airgun pellet’s trajectory. These compact pieces of technology are worth every penny by making me a more productive and successful hunter, so how good would it be if somebody could combine the two? I've seen rangefinding binoculars from the top German optics companies and as lovely as they are their price is simply too high for me, and I’ve not considered buying them seriously. So I was very happy to read that one of my most trusted optical manufacturers, Hawke Sport Optics, has…

GET AN ANGLE ON THE AIGLE Aigle has released a brand new outdoor boot called the Sonricker, and it's available for purchase in the UK right now thanks to distributor John Rothery Wholesale. Aigle is widely known for its quality footwear, and the Sonricker is no exception as it features Gore-Tex to keep your feet dry, a Vibram rubber sole to help you keep your footing and Ortholite foam technology in the insole to boost comfort and performance. The Sonricker is a great addition to the Aigle range, and complements the welly boots and walking boots that are presently available. The new Sonricker boot is covered by Aigle’s two-year warranty and has an RRP of just £140 for a boot packed full of features. Visit John Rothery Wholesale at bisley-uk.com…

The gunmaking industry is mourning the loss of Klaus Walther, the former director of German barrel manufacturer Lothar Walther, who died in the presence of his family aged 87. Klaus Walther was a master toolmaker who was born in Erfurt in central Germany. He had been connected to firearms and their manufacture from an early age through his grandfather Carl Walther, a pistol specialist, and his father Lothar Walther, who was an expert in the production of non-cutting (cold extruded) barrels of the highest accuracy. Klaus spent his childhood in Zella-Mehlis in the Thuringian forest and in 1945, after being relocated by the US Army to Königsbronn in the south-western state of BadenWürrttemberg, he began his professional career in his new hometown. Klaus learned the profession of a precision mechanic…

The countdown to the Northern Shooting Show is underway, with airgun shooters being given a reminder that people who book their tickets early can make a saving, while members of BASC can get in for free. This year's show is being held at the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate and runs from 6 to 7 May, with airguns again being a key component. Shooting an air rifle or pistol is usually how people get a passion for the sport, and this is something that often lasts a lifetime. Airgun Central, located in the Central Exhibition Hall, is therefore the ideal place to see all the latest products related to our sport. But don't forget that the show will also include optics, rifles, shotguns, a clay line and a hunter's kitchen.…