Everything under the sun - The Game Fair 2024 at Blenheim Palace

Sportarm of Dorchester (who also have premises in London, at Lady’s Wood Shooting Ground in the Cotswolds, and even a centre for big-game fishing in Mallorca!) offer a quality of service that has won them multiple Shooting Industry Awards. In addition to everything you’d expect from a leading gun shop, they present an exceptional selection of premium guns, including current production from Beretta, Browning and Perazzi, innovative models of their own (the AYA English Game and Ribless Game ranges), and magnificent classics from legendary names such as Boss, Holland & Holland, Purdey, and Woodward, making them an essential port-of-call for lovers of fine guns.

www.sportarm.com

Another favourite stop of mine is the Cheshire Gun Room. No exhibitor brings a wider selection of new and second-hand airguns, shotguns and rifles, meaning there’s something for everyone and some very tempting prices. Alongside all the modern guns are some special but still affordable classics. I came within a whisker of buying another lovely gun I didn’t need this year! My thanks to Alex for taking the time to show me the real gems on their stand.

www.cheshiregunroom.com

Some things really are worth waiting for! In 2021, Beretta released just 50 examples of their stunning SL2 clay gun to selected buyers. Now, 3 years later, it has finally entered series production, with Beretta announcing (with typical Italian understatement) that "the age of the Hypergun has begun." Naturally, it took the prime spot on GMK’s ample stand, and despite 1,000s of publicity photos as thrilling as any supercar poster on a teenager's wall, the reality did not disappoint. The visuals, the fusion of styling and technology, and the “presence” of the gun in your hands are truly energizing. Look up the details for yourself, then find one of these and experience it!

www.gmk.co.uk

Meeting Gerry Coulter, engineering director at Manor & Co. was a highlight of my Game Fair. As he showed me Manor’s product range, it became clear he was passionate about shooting, classic gunmaking and technological innovation in equal measure, and committed to making guns that would enable children and ladies alike to fall in love with shooting. Thus, Manor offers a lightweight 20-bore with a titanium-alloy action featuring an integrated recoil reducer, and all their models have the option of a short, child-friendly stock that includes a free extension and restocking at cost as the owner outgrows it. As is traditional in the British gun trade, Manor sources major components from leading international firms, including Lothar Walther and AYA, completing the build in-house and with select UK artisans, thereby enabling any gun to be fitted, finished, and engraved to the customer’s requirements. Unique to Manor is a classic 16-bore sidelock and a magnificent 10-bore Anson ‘boxlock’ with old-fashioned coloured hardening and fine rose and scroll decoration. Manor has also entered cartridge production, having developed eco-friendly steel loads to feed these guns (with other gauges to follow). There are also plans to launch a line of rifle ammunition using a patented proprietary non-toxic alloy.

www.manor.london

Frederick Hadfield is a historic name in the Birmingham gun trade, formerly based at 32 Whittall Street in the city’s renowned Gun Quarter. Its current incarnation owes its existence to Simon Hadfield. Like others, Hadfield sources his guns from Europe's surviving gunmaking heartlands, specifically Brescia. They offer six base models and a comprehensive bespoke service that includes personalized engraving designs. You imagine it, and Hadfield’s will make it happen! Their signature pieces are side-plated over-and-unders featuring iconic scenes from the Battle of Britain and the Dambusters' raid. Other notable models include the ‘Moorland’ (a classic sidelock side-by-side), the ‘Elegance’ (a stunning round-action over-and-under with extended forend iron, guard, and grip cap), and the Extreme and Extreme Game (fine over-and-unders that perfectly fuse Brescian and English styles).

www.hadfieldguns.com

Regular readers will know that I’m a total convert to red-dot shotgun shooting thanks to Aimpoint’s pioneering Micro S-1 and latest Acro S-2 models. Hearing that the UK distributor, Edgar Brothers, had some Acro-equipped Zoli guns active on the CPSA’s ‘have a go’ clay stand, I was keen to find out how others were taking to them. Feedback from coaches and regular showgoers alike was positive. If you’ve not seen the Acro S-2 yet, it’s a super-compact, rib-mounted reflex sight that places the sightline just 15mm above the rib. The dot is precisely zeroable, has ten intensity settings that cover all lighting conditions, and measures a generous 9 MOA, helping you to visualise the pattern as you focus on the bird. If you have issues with eye dominance or gun fit or are simply tired of guessing where you’re shooting, the Acro can fix that!

www.edgarbrothers.com

I got into virtual reality (VR) shooting with hardware and software from GAIM, but now use MegaVR’s SimStock and the Clay Hunt app for all my shotgun practice. The SimStock’s advantage is its adjustability, which lets you replicate the dimensions, weight, and balance of almost any gun, adding significant training benefits to the fun of VR shooting. It will also fit most shooters, regardless of build or handedness. However, when demoing the system at shows, the designer, Nick Royle, noticed that younger users often needed something smaller and lighter. In response, he created the new Junior (Jr) model, ensuring that younger shooters receive the same high-quality experience as their parents and older siblings. So, absolute safety, zero recoil, reduced fatigue, perfect gun fit, instant detailed feedback, and a variety of natural-looking scenarios. As well as eliminating ammo and travel costs for adults, VR shooting is great for building confidence in kids, while casting the VR view to a TV lets everyone get involved. The SimStock Jr. is available in brown, blue, pink, black, white, and green. MSRP: £199.

www.megavr.co.uk

Catching everyone’s eye on the A1 Decoy stand were their unique Flying Pigeon Deceivers: ingenious bouncers featuring high-contrast, photo-realistic 2D pigeons, their wings and tail flared for landing or hovering. Supplied in pairs (£39.99), Deceivers are designed for use in standing crops, where the slightest wind will float them above the surface, adding meaningful movement to the pattern by simulating an active feeding area. The decoy image is indelibly printed on shine-free, rip-proof plastic and supported by a spring steel flying wire that swivels in an alloy ground spike, maximising movement, minimising weight, and making them easy to carry and deploy.

www.a1decoy.co.uk

Imported by ASI, Skout moved from paintball into the airgun sector with the modest goal of doing everything better. The result was the Epoch, arguably the most over-engineered and fully-featured air rifle to grace this planet. It was also the most expensive. Now that position has been taken by its successor, the Evo. The Evo platform boasts a totally new grip frame, electronics package, and control system (complete with a high-resolution, full-colour, sunlight-visible screen). There are also new carbon-fibre composite barrels (complete with a new locking and indexing system), aftermarket barrels (Lothar Walther), and a new Skeletonized Shoulder Rest (SSR) with additional sling connections, as an alternative to the still-compatible Bench Rest Chassis (BRC) from the Epoch. Modularity is everywhere. This facilitates repair but also enables customers to opt for a minimum or full spec, and everything in between. Consequently, you can pay as ‘little’ as £2,490, or as much as £3,015 to have everything you want and nothing you don’t. There’s also a choice of 11 colours: black, grey, olive, brown, gold, red, purple, lime, blue, white, and pink!

www.a-s-i.co.uk

Before digital (yes, there was a before), Burris’ original Eliminator scope pioneered the combination of onboard laser range-finding, ballistic calculation, and trajectory compensation via a heads-up display (HUD). For its 6th iteration (around £2,250), Burris has chosen a classically styled 4-20x52 format with a 34mm main tube, allowing for a total of 40 MOA adjustment in each axis. Features include an improved HUD capable of displaying up to 11 data zones; Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity (to the BurrisConnect ballistic app and remote control, respectively); an inclinometer, thermometer, and barometer (providing density altitude); and a powerful rangefinder capable of pinging deer out to 1,280m. The reticle indicates the correct elevation holdover to 0.2 MOA, and its ‘Christmas tree’ design, supplemented by dynamic 10 mph wind brackets, enables precise wind holds. Additionally, a Shot Call Marker (SCM) function flashes a red ‘X’ in the HUD when the ranged distance exceeds the effective killing range of your projectile. All in all, it’s a triumph of technology, albeit one arguably better suited to the US than the UK.

www.gmk.co.uk

Thomas Jacks is best known as Pulsar’s UK distributor. Recognising that not everyone has the budget for a premium European product, they have worked with the Chinese company, Pixfra, to create a range of devices that deliver great performance at more accessible price points, and Pixfra’s new Pegasus thermal riflescopes do precisely that. There are four models, all with 1440x1080 OLED displays, still and video recording with audio, and Wi-Fi connectivity to a smartphone app. Power comes from a built-in Li-ion battery supplemented by a replaceable CR123A cell. Sensors are 640x512 or 384x288, with 12µm pixels and a <30mK NETD sensitivity rating. Lenses are 50mm or 35mm at f1.0. But here’s the news - the P435 base model is a stunning £1,489.95, while the top-end P650 is only £2,069.95! Look out for a full review of the P435 here soon.

www.thomasjacks.co.uk

Emberleaf’s SERE (Survive Escape Resist Extract) knife (£550) was commissioned in 2018 as a bushcraft and survival tool for British special forces. Based on their Bran model, it is designed to deliver precise control while being suited to different cutting tasks, especially those requiring a sturdy blade, such as batoning. Extensively tested in the harshest conditions worldwide, the SERE is currently in use with multiple special forces units. The 4” blade has an HRC hardness of 59.5 and a true Scandinavian grind. The grip features a choked-up guard for increased stability and power, black linen Micarta scales, stainless steel rivets, and an 8mm lanyard tube. You also get to choose between a black leather or Kydex sheath. The knife comes with a lifetime warranty as standard.

www.emberleaf.com

A1 Decoy has become the UK’s principal source for flat-pack high seats, offering no fewer than six styles: four lean-tos, and two free-standing. Prices range from £180 for the telescopic model, to £318 for a height-adjustable version or 2-man free-standing model. Alternatively, you can spend £499 on a freestanding seat with a weatherproof cover, complete with zippered transparent windows!

www.a1decoy.co.uk

The Game Fair is the perfect place to see exceptional vehicles of all kinds, from supercars to logging tractors, but the major focus is naturally on 4x4s. So, no report would be complete without at least one special mention. This year’s goes to Buzz Special Vehicles (Hoddesdon, Herts), who can supply all the parts and services you need to give your 4x4 all the performance and curb appeal you could want. They specialise in Jeeps and Jimnys and had examples of completed projects to showcase their expertise, including a delightful Jimny with the air of one of those terriers that thinks it’s a Rottweiler!

Wilderways is the creation of Francis Lawrence, a qualified bushcraft, survival and wilderness living skills instructor and mentor, who grew up in the Gloucestershire Cotswolds and began making knives at just eight years of age. A wide range of models are available from stock, but Francis also makes knives to customers’ individual specifications. His preference is for AEB-L stainless steel with a 62 HRC hardness rating, and for the scales, there’s a great choice of G10 colours and stabilised curly and burl woods. On display at the fair were examples of his Jägare Pro series, which include classic and drop-point designs in 75mm (£335) and 105mm (£345), as well as a drop-point friction folder (from £300). The Claw and its orange G10 scales (£228) will suit those who like a super-compact knife but don’t want to lose it!

www.buzzspecialvehicles.co.uk

Also spotted at A1 Decoy, who were knocking it out of the park this year, were a couple of budget-friendly Walther-branded butchering sets from Umarex. Common features are a rugged orange nylon scabbard for secure carriage and storage, plus rubberised, ergonomically shaped orange handles to ensure a firm grip and accurate movement in all conditions. Lanyard holes in the grips are a nice feature, whether for extra security or for hanging while drying. The two-knife set (£47.99) includes a medium-sized skinner with a gut hook and a smaller knife for fine work, while the 3-knife set (£59.99) adds a compact T-handle saw that stows neatly away in the back of the scabbard.

www.a1decoy.co.uk or www.umarex.com

German manufacturer, Landig, has long been the leading name in specialist game fridges. Tarrant Refrigeration (Marlborough) recently acquired an agency for their products, and (by accident or design) were side-by-side with Landig’s other UK seller, Fisher (Cambridge), making their presence felt with a free QR-code lottery for a very desirable LU9000 unit and a price list with some pleasant surprises. Both companies are well-established and offer a comprehensive range of fridges, larders, cold rooms, and equipment. Gaining another Landig supplier may reflect the growth in UK stalking and should be good for customers.

www.gamelarder.com or www.fisheruk.co.uk