This test gun is a London-made 30in .410 side-by-side sidelock by Smith & Torok. It is made on the Purdey-Beesley self-opening system with a rounded action bar. Maker Alex Torok…
THE FIELD
The Field’s bucket list for a sporting 2025
We all aspire to having an iconic sporting moment. However sadly we rarely achieve them. It might be the red-letter day when you catch a trout on the mayfly, or…
How to make smoked bacon bourbon
Q: I recently read an article about the joys of smoked bacon bourbon and apparently it is something one can make. I have tried to find a recipe for smoked…
Shooting law: ownership of fallen game
Who does fallen game belong to if it lands on a public right of way?
Stopping the gun – he who hesitates is lost
To think too much at the wrong moment and stop mid-swing or as you pull the trigger, may be noted as amongst the cardinal sins in shooting (breaches of safety…
Is a raw diet healthy for a dog? Looking at the facts
Dogs are remarkable animals: they will live, and even thrive, on the most unlikely of diets. Vegetarian food for dogs has been around for years and now vegan food is…
Beretta 687 EELL ‘Classic’
This review focuses on the aesthetically modified, version of the well-established and popular Beretta EELL over-and-under. Designated the 687 EELL ‘Classic’, the gun under the spotlight is a 20-bore with…
The history of the punt gun
Throughout the history of firearms the big gun has exercised a fascination among various shooters but it was not until the 19th century that its use on land began to…
The Bedlington terrier: a good family pet
It is, perhaps, the most disappointing two hours of my life. I am sitting in a cafe in Bedlington, the old Northumberland mining town after which the eponymous Bedlington terrier…
How to make a brash pile and why you should
Early one evening in late July I found a struggling stag beetle in a bowl that had filled up with water, on an apron in front of our open woodshed.…