What is the best UK hunting/shooting magazine?

Jonher

Well-Known Member
Hi all,

I would like to subscribe to a UK hunting/shooting magazine and was wondering which one you would recommend?

Cheers
Jonathan
 
I have lost all faith in any UK magazine that is available currently. Sporting Rifle started off quite promising but then went into a combination of the Peter Carr self promotional magazine (and still is and I have stopped buying it for that very reason) and has also gone a bit "story time" for my taste aswell.

Do yourself a favour subscribe to one of the American mags. They are super cheap and have far better technical articles in them. The other option and this will save you money and is the best UK mag by far for rifle shooting is Target Shooter online. Brilliant pieces written by inteligent impartial experienced writers and it is free.
 
Cheers jon2,

I wasn't aware of the Target Shooter online :D I'll check it out!


jon2 said:
I have lost all faith in any UK magazine that is available currently. Sporting Rifle started off quite promising but then went into a combination of the Peter Carr self promotional magazine (and still is and I have stopped buying it for that very reason) and has also gone a bit "story time" for my taste aswell.

Do yourself a favour subscribe to one of the American mags. They are super cheap and have far better technical articles in them. The other option and this will save you money and is the best UK mag by far for rifle shooting is Target Shooter online. Brilliant pieces written by inteligent impartial experienced writers and it is free.
 
Jon2 is right. Try some of the US mags.

You can take an online subscription at Wolfe Publishing which gets you three mags which you can view on-line or download and print off yourself as PDF files. It is really cheap.

This might also be worth the $8 for a years sub:

http://www.riflesandrecipes.com./

Sporting Rifle seemed to start out as a decent effort.
 
Shooting Times still produces good stuff. I've had a subscription for years now and wouldn't be without it. Its got a broader appeal than many of the more specialist magazines. I'd have no hesitation in reccomending it.


Frankly I think this test is a good one; Would you let someone who knew nothing about shooting read (insert appropriate title) to form their opinions?

I would be ashamed to leave Sporting Rifle in a dentists waiting room but would have no problem with Shooting Times or the Field.

Sporting Rifle rapidly descended into a self promotional vehicle. A poorly written and edited one at that.
 
Sporting Rifle is utter cack. I cancelled my subscription, having got very bored with Peter Carr's reign.

I continue subscribing to Shooting Times and The Field, as I feel they are the most current and/or objective. And the standard of writing in ST and The Field is significantly higher than that of any other magazine, particularly any rag connected with the illiterate Pete Moore.
 
Yes I forgot about the Pete Moore one.

That in my opinion is like reading a comic - it is utter garbage.
 
I subscribe to Shooting Times and The Field, though I do sometimes ask myself why I take the latter.

The one I really miss is Guns Review; this was truly a general shooting magazine, with a combination of news, product reviews, scholarly articles and robust political commentary the like of which seems no longer to be available. I still enjoy reading the old ones, though.
 
With practically all the mags, it's the same old dross year in- year out. The articles are practically the same - just dusted off every 12 months - shooting times included.

I did unfortunately re-new my subscription to Sporting Rifle 4 months ago and i'm now regretting it. Why not just re-name it Peter Carr's Fan Club and have done with it?

What US mags would you recommend?
 
I used to get Field And Stream from the U.S which I liked,although it is more of a general sporting magazine.

I got hold of most of the back issues of stalking magazine recently (remember it?) I always meant to subscribe when it was on the go, but for some reason didnt get round to it so I'm delighted. I now have bundles of them placed strategically all over the house(kitchen,loo,bedside table,etc).For some strange reason my wife just does'nt get it! :rolleyes: :lol:

I was quite excited about sporting rifle, and still get it, but reading about shooting sheep inside a fence doesnt really float my boat.
 
For many years, I went with the US hat-trick of Guns & Ammo, Hunting & Rifleshooter.

As Jon mentions - good quality articles and posted to your door, three weeks before they are available off any shelf in the UK.

Recommended over any of the current UK crop of magazines.

Rgds Ian
 
Thanks for the replies everyone, i'll take a closer look at the US mags and see what catches my eye.

Jonathan
 
Baldrick said:
Sporting Rifle is utter cack. I cancelled my subscription, having got very bored with Peter Carr's reign.

I am glad you said this, because I have been thinking this recently, the dubious relationship between PC & cairnminnows means I wont be renewing my subscription to SR. I thought it was maybe just me that was loosing interest.
Have subscribed to a magazine from abroad for 10% less than the cost of SR.
 
I used to have subscriptions to Petersons Hunting, Sports Afield and US Shooting Times. All very good reads, well worth the subs when you get used to the different attitudes. If you can read Spanish Caza Mayor is a great magazine.

Here, as has been said, ST and The Field. Shooting Gazette is lovely but samey. All the others I find a little worrying...can't quit put my finger on it but as zaitsev said...they don't pass the waiting room test.
 
If your interested in Africa ' The African Sporting Gazette ' is good high quality bi-monthly .Each issue covers a different country,with great articles on big game calibers and game species and hunting stories.
Good if thinking of going as alot of safari companies advertise and are recomended.
 
Moose

I'd definitely second that - African Sporting Gazette is a great magazine.

I used to really like Stalking magazine, but it's demise probably proves that the UK can't support a dedicated stalking magazine. I used to subscribe to Sporting Rifle but let it lapse - I've picked up a copy or two recently and don't see a reason to take out a subscription again.

I still get Shooting Times but I've dropped The Field and also Shooting Gazette. After a year or so it seems to be the same old stories from the same old writers :(

willie_gunn
 
I will not be re-newing my subs to s.r. as pete carr is now the editor.
he and his chums are just promoting themselves and africa all the time.
its gone from a great read to a poor one and finally just an utter crap i read the articles in last months that interested me in under 2 mins.
always had my copy at the side of the **** house for those moments when you have a bit of peace.If it was,nt so glossy id have another use for it!!! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
I know what you mean about SR, I dont mind one or two Safari Articles as a bit of interest in somthing differant.

It has got to the stage where there is a bit much of the Safari stuff after all what percentage of their readers shoot fox and deer in the uk against african hunting??

Dave
 
I know what you mean about SR, I dont mind one or two Safari Articles as a bit of interest in somthing differant.

It has got to the stage where there is a bit much of the Safari stuff after all what percentage of their readers shoot fox and deer in the uk against african hunting??

Dave
 
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