The Stalking Show 2025 - Antlers Away!

Viking Arms brought serious firepower to the show, with the new Savage Klym taking centre stage. This lightweight, carbon-barrelled bolt-action rifle is designed for mountain hunting and is now available in the UK for the first time. Weighing less than 6lbs, it blends strength and portability with a carbon-wrapped stainless barrel, fluted bolt and thumbhole stock. Chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor or .308 Winchester, and priced at £3,310, it’s one of the lightest stalking rifles around. Also on the stand was the elegant Anschütz 1782, a refined bolt-action rifle renowned for its precision engineering, with a silky action and superb build quality. A must-handle for any fan of fine German workmanship. Glass was another Viking strong suit, with a broad display of Leupold optics drawing attention. Showgoers got hands-on with everything from VX-3 scopes to the formidable MK4 and VX-6 lines, offering rugged durability and elite optical clarity in a range of magnifications. Viking also showcased a comprehensive selection of Federal ammunition, including the Fusion line for deer and boar and the affordable, effective Power-Shok range. Remington centrefire ammo was well represented too, with the latest Core-Lokt Tipped cartridges delivering consistent expansion and reliable performance across calibres. Finally, it was good to see the Merkel Helix Speedster holding court – a well-proven straight-pull rifle with fast cycling. www.vikingshoot.com

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Benelli, perennial innovators in firearms design, have scored another first with the Alpha, a striking 1,000-unit limited edition of their already-accomplished Lupo bolt-action. The standout feature is a biomimetic stock inspired by natural structures like bird bones that combine strength and lightness, produced through generative design and 3D printing. An aluminium lower receiver brings the Alpha in at a dainty 2.6kg. Specifications also include a 51cm fluted Crio barrel with BE.S.T. finish, a five-round double-stack magazine, an adjustable trigger (650–1,650g), an ambidextrous three-position safety, an interchangeable Combtech comb, and a Picatinny optics rail. Chambered in .308 Win only, it's priced at £1,956.99. www.sportsmanguncentre.co.uk

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Three new designs from Tom’s Targets stood out: the Sitting Fox (£150) and Muntjac (£280) feature lifelike vinyl stickers, ideal for simulated stalks. Each sticker (£14.95) withstands around a dozen hits before needing replacement. Also new is the Roe Doe Follow-Up (£320), with a reactive neck hit zone for practising dispatch shots. All targets are laser-cut from AR500 Hardox 500 steel and are available exclusively from Tom’s Targets. Meanwhile, sister company Devana Hunting showed off a compact folding gambrel (£24.95), tough enough for any deer but small enough for a pocket or rucksack. A quick shackle adjustment sets it up for use, eliminating the bulk and sharp edges that make conventional gambrels a pain to carry. www.devanahunting.co.uk  www.tomstargets.co.uk

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I hadn’t crossed paths with Day-Night Technologies (DNT) before, but UK rep Andrew Dickinson quickly brought me up to speed with an impressive whistle-stop tour. First up was the Thermnight TNC series, offering true multispectral performance — thermal, digital day/night, and laser ranging — plus onboard ballistic compensation, all in a compact, lightweight build priced from £1K to £2.5K. Also of note were the similarly compact Zulus HD day/night scope (with or without LRF), the versatile Hydra (a triple-duty thermal monocular, weapon sight and front add-on), and a lightweight pre-production 4K digital riflescope that’s well worth watching out for. Just some of the bases covered by a brand with real momentum. uk.dntoptics.com

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Fine Shooting Accessories continues to set the benchmark for traditional field gear, blending elegant design with rugged functionality. Their Stalker’s Piece Bag (£85) is a thoughtfully engineered companion for hill stalking—compact and lightweight at just 750g (unloaded), yet equipped to carry enough to keep you fuelled in remote terrain. It comes complete with a small thermos flask and a plastic sandwich box, offering practical comfort without excess bulk. Also worth a look is the Small Bullet Pouch (£60), crafted to hold four rounds up to .375 H&H, or .416 Rigby in the express version—robust, discreet, and built to last.  www.fineshootingaccessories.com

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GAIM drew plenty of attention with a huge screen and full-height hunting stand, challenging visitors to top the leaderboard on a race-tuned version of their classic Hunting Lane driven boar scenario. Since its UK launch in 2022, I’ve logged hundreds of hours with GAIM, my benchmark for VR-based training in practical shooting and driven ground game. The system integrates three elements: a Meta Quest headset and controllers; GAIM’s custom hardware, which includes lifelike trigger modules that replicate the feel of real firearms; and a growing suite of immersive software scenarios. Features like range customisation and multiplayer are already live, with major updates expected in Q2 2025. www.gaim.com

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Alistair Harkness is an avid hunter, with a taste for the Teutonic and a keen eye for quality. He imports Steel Action rifles, and they are gorgeous. Made in Cologne, they combine a rotating triple-lug head (for bank-vault integrity) with a straight-pull bolt (for compactness/speed). Dual-stack magazines hold 5 or 10 rounds. Metal is blued/nitrided or nickel-plated. Picatinny bases are integral and complemented by a neat QD mount. Stock options include practical polymer with tactile inlays (green, black or orange), warm walnut (classic, thumbhole or multi-adjustable), and a high-tech Akila chassis. Chamberings (17) currently span .223 Rem to .338 Win Mag. Prices run from £2.75K to £4.3K. www.instagram.com/harknessetal

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Unusually in this sector, GamePro’s high seats are precision-engineered for stability, comfort, and ease of use. Developed in the Peak District by a company rooted in both deer stalking and fabrication, these seats are field-tested by professional and recreational stalkers and independently assessed for safety. Both the deluxe Vantage (£360) and the economical Contractor (from £265) offer exceptionally solid, spacious, and ergonomic platforms that optimise the stalker’s experience and outcomes. Constructed from corrosion-resistant galvanised steel with reinforced joints and adjustable mounts, they’re fully compliant with Countryside Stewardship grant requirements and designed for quick transport and set-up anywhere in the UK or Europe. www.gameprooutdoor.co.uk

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Lichfield-based Midcounties Blacking (MB) returned with a broad selection of powders (Hodgdon, Vihtavouri), projectiles (Hornady, Nosler, Sierra), ammunition (you name it!), and other in-demand items. True to their ethos of making as well as selling, master gunmaker Darren Hartshorne spent the day bending gambrels and S-hooks on his custom-made jigs, pausing only to advise me on a restocking job and coach me through making some myself. It’s only when you try it that you realise just how skilled he is. Their hands-on ethos, commitment to practical shooting needs, and sheer friendliness make visiting MB’s stand one of the great pleasures of the show. www.midcountiesblacking.co.uk

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MME Custom Rifle Bullets is the creation of Pete Watson, a lifelong shooter and hunter, who has dedicated himself to creating innovative bullet designs tailored to meet individual shooters’ needs. These include hunting projectiles with unique polymer-ball tips for enhanced expansion, and bullets designed to combine excellent terminal performance with smooth feeding, even in vintage rifles. The company continues to expand its range of calibres, while maintaining a strong focus on quality and precision. Pete collaborates closely with clients to solve design challenges, ensuring each bullet is crafted for optimal performance and reliability. www.mmeriflebullets.co.uk

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Debuting at the show, the Pixfra Volans V850 LRF is a brand-new digital day-and-night riflescope aimed squarely at the market dominated by the Hik Micro Alpex 4K LRF. It features a 4K CMOS sensor, adjustable aperture, and a new circular display designed to echo the feel of traditional optics. A built-in laser rangefinder offers readings out to 1,000m, while an onboard ballistic calculator supports long-range precision. The user interface is especially clear and intuitive, with a fluid menu system that enhances ease of use in the field. It’s priced at £789.95, so £60 less than its main rival. ww.pixfraoutdoor.co.uk

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Set to replace the long-serving Axion, Pulsar’s new Oryx LRF XG35 refines the compact thermal monocular with improved ergonomics and full one-handed control. A redesigned interface places the focus wheel behind the eyepiece and adds a rocker-style menu button for swift setting changes. The fully integrated laser rangefinder now sits flush under the lens, offering ±1m precision out to 1,500m. A 640x480 <20mK sensor and 35mm f1.0 lens give crisp detail to 1,800m, with digital stabilisation, 2.5–20x mag, and built-in video recording. Power comes from a dual-battery system — one fixed, one removable — offering up to 12 hours. £2,189.95 RRP. www.thomasjacks.co.uk

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Pausing to admire Ian Sweetman’s classic custom rifles, I discovered he’d branched out into social media, launching Stile, a new platform dedicated to rural life. With the strapline “Connecting the countryside” and the cheeky hook “No bias, no trolling, no vegans (only joking, vegans),” Stile offers a safe and supportive space for those passionate about the countryside. Members can promote local events and rural businesses, share knowledge, connect with others, and post without fear of judgement. Crucially, Stile lets its users shape what they see, giving a voice to rural communities often misrepresented in mainstream media. www.stile-country.com

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UK-based Wapiti Ammunition manufactures loaded rifle cartridges and loose projectiles. Their products feature premium components and undergo rigorous testing in CIP-accredited facilities. Key USPs are proprietary non-toxic projectiles (in solid, medium-expansion, and high-energy-transfer formats), and services that include bespoke ammunition design, manufacture, and packaging. Plus, load pressure testing and brass case reconditioning. Wapiti also prides itself on its in-house R&D capabilities, allowing for rapid development of new calibres to meet growing demand. With a focus on precision, innovation, and customer service, Wapiti’s offerings cater to a comprehensive range of shooting needs, with prices varying based on calibre and custom specifications. www.wapiti.co.uk

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For all the outstanding kit on display and for sale, the Stalking Show delivers so much more: an invaluable opportunity to meet and learn from expert chefs, hunting outfitters, riflesmiths, countryside organisations, and even regional firearms licensing departments. You can get potential medal heads CIC measured, compete in challenges, and enjoy delicious food. In short, it’s an unmissable event for anyone passionate about deer and the countryside. Contact: www.thestalkingshow.co.uk

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