THE TRADE REACTS TO A NEW LABOUR GOVERNMENT
The recent landslide victory by the Labour Party was well anticipated by opinion polls and has ushered in a significant swing in the political landscape, prompting the UK firearms and hunting industries to evaluate the potential impacts of the new government’s policies. Gun Trade Insider has collected detailed reactions from prominent figures within the sector, assessing their perspectives on navigating the changes under Labour’s rule.

POLICE PLEDGE TO IMPROVE FIREARMS LICENSING PROCESS
FULL STORY: PAGE 04 Two Police and Crime

ESR DISTRIBUTION SEALS DEAL WITH CHIAPPA FIREARMS
FULL STORY: PAGE 06 ESR Distribution, a new

HOME OFFICE STATS SHOW FALLING LICENCE NUMBERS
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK -ASCANNIO FULL STORY: PAGE 10 The

POLICE POLICY MISINTERPRETATION
Nick Doherty critiques police handling of non-disclosure,

FIREARM LEGISLATION CHALLENGES
Simon West discusses Dame Diana Johnson’s role in

H&S COMPLIANCE LANDSCAPE
Lawyer Lachlan Nisbet outlines key health and

DEEP DIVE LEAD-FREE BULLET ANALYSIS
Paul Bradley evaluates the ethical, manufacturing, and environmental

SHOULD THE GUN TRADE START SPECIALISING?
Jonny Carter delves into brand specialisation in

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
DEAR READERS,

THE GUN TRADE REACTS TO THE NEW LABOUR GOVERNMENT
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK -SEAN AIDAN CALDERBANK He outlines the

HODGDON PYRODEX RECLASSIFICATION IMPACTS LEGALITY OF POSSESSION
In a significant regulatory update, Hodgdon Pyrodex, a

POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONERS PLEDGE TO IMPROVE FIREARMS LICENSING PROCESS
Two Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England

ESR DISTRIBUTION SEALS EXCLUSIVE DEAL WITH CHIAPPA FIREARMS
ESR Distribution, a new entrant in the wholesale

STEVE REED ASSUMES ROLE AS DEFRA SECRETARY
With Labour reclaiming government control after 14 years

HANNAH GIBSON APPOINTED AS UK SALES MANAGER AT FIOCCHI
Fiocchi UK has announced the appointment of Hannah

ALAN RHONE INTRODUCES STEALTH PLATE PRO PAD ADJUSTER TO THE UK MARKET
Welsh company Alan Rhone has brought the Stealth

WORLDPAY ENHANCES PAYMENT SOLUTIONS FOR THE GUN INDUSTRY
Worldpay, a leading US provider of payment processing

WOOCOMMERCE TURNS BACK ON GUN INDUSTRY
WooCommerce, a prominent e-commerce platform, has recently made

OVERVIEW OF FIREARM AND SHOTGUN CERTIFICATES STATISTICS
(APRIL 2023 -MARCH 2024)

THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF IN-STORE EVENTS
Discover in-store event benefits for retail enhancement with

DAYSTATE AND BRK EXPERIENCE ATTRACTS OVER 150 AIRGUN ENTHUSIASTS TO STAFFORDSHIRE
More than 150 airgunners gathered at Oakedge Shooting

GUN TRADE NEWS MOVES TO NEWSLETTER FORMAT
Gun Trade News (GTN) has announced that, starting

SCOTTISH COUNTRY SPORTS TOURISM AWARDS 2024 CELEBRATE SECTOR LEADERS
The chairman of the British Association for Shooting

JOHN ROTHERY WHOLESALE LAUNCHES NEW WINDOW STICKERS FOR BISLEY AND PARKER-HALE RETAILERS
John Rothery Wholesale, a Hampshire-based distributor, has expanded

GUN TRADE JOBS
Mea Opus - secure your perfect future position

OPTICS WAREHOUSE SEEKS TO EXPAND TEAM WITH NEW SALES EXECUTIVE
Devon’s Optics Warehouse is looking to expand its

JOURNEYMAN GUNMAKER POSITION AVAILABLE AT I.S. SWEETMAN IN HERTFORDSHIRE
I. S. Sweetman, a well-established gunmaking firm, is

A PROMINENT ROLE OPENS AT JOHN ROTHERY WHOLESALE
John Rothery Wholesale, a leading distributor in the

THE NEW MINISTER DAME DIANA JOHNSON MP
In my recent articles, I have talked about

POLICE “POLICY” REGARDING NON-DECLARATION DOES NOT REFLECT THE LAW
Failure to declare previous convictions or medical conditions can lead to the refusal of firearm certificates. However, police interpretation of non-disclosure policies often disregards the intent behind omissions, treating all failures as deliberate. This approach, says barrister Nick Doherty, raises significant legal and fairness concerns.

PREMIER GUNS
In the first of a new series of articles showcasing UK retailers, Gun Trade Insider talks to Premier Guns head honcho Nick Cross to find out how the business has evolved over the years, and what advice he’d give to any new kids on the block.

AIMING FOR COMPLIANCE
Lachlan Nisbet outlines the evolving landscape of health and safety compliance, detailing what businesses need to be aware of in 2024 and beyond.

LEAD FREE BULLETS – PROS & CONS
Paul Bradley from Hexagon Ammunition offers an expert analysis on the emergence of lead-free bullets, examining their impact on hunting ethics, manufacturing challenges, and environmental health.

ROB GEARING: THE MASTERMIND TURNING OUTDOOR CHALLENGES INTO INGENIOUS SOLUTIONS
In an exclusive interview with Gun Trade Insider, Rob Gearing, the managing director of US-based Spartan Precision, available in the UK through Highland Outdoors, offered insights into the genesis and evolution of Spartan’s innovative products, driven by his personal experiences and professional expertise.

ENGAGE, ENLIGHTEN AND ELEVATE: THE POWER OF IN-STORE EVENTS
Discover how hosting in-store events, workshops and demonstrations can transform your retail business. From boosting visibility and driving sales to promoting community engagement, this guide provides innovative ideas, strategic planning tips and effective methods for measuring success.

WHAT DO YOU LOOK LIKE ONLINE?
Perhaps the most important step in successfully marketing your business is to look at it from your customers’ point of view. Thinking about what they’re searching for and why they’re searching for it will inform the choices you make about marketing, as Philip Montague explains.

SPECIALISING IN A BRAND
Industry commentator Jonny Carter explores the potential of brand specialisation within the gun trade, drawing parallels with the car industry’s franchise model. Is this something we should all be considering?

ENHANCED PERFORMANCE AND PRECISION: THE BERETTA A400 XTREME PLUS REVIEW
Sporting Gun magazine’s expert Rob Speed delves into the refined features of Beretta’s latest semi-automatic model, the A400 Xtreme Plus

BRACE FOR IMPACT
This August, the FX Impact M4, the latest version of Sweden-based FX Airguns’ flagship model, is set to be released. Introduced in 2015, the Impact series has been consistently at the forefront of airgun innovation, setting standards for power, accuracy and customisability. The new M4 aims to advance this legacy by further enhancing the technology and performance of this well-established rifle

PROTECT YOUR RIFLE IN TRANSIT WITH THE NEW RIGBY EXPEDITION CASE
Embark on your next hunting adventure with confidence, thanks to London gunmaker John Rigby & Co.’s new Rigby Expedition Case. Offering premium protection for your rifle during travel, this state-of-the-art gun case is crafted by Paua, a UK-based company using superior technology and innovative materials.

UMAREX’S HÄMMERLI BLACK FORCE 400 AIR RIFLE HITS UK MARKETS
John Rothery Wholesale, based in Hampshire, has recently introduced the Hämmerli Black Force 400 Combo, crafted by German manufacturer Umarex. This spring-powered air rifle is a significant addition to any retailer’s range, equipped with a high-quality 3-9x40 sight for enhanced handling and robust performance.

PROFESSIONAL AIRGUN OPTICS FIRM EXPANDS ITS PORTFOLIO WITH TWO NEW RIFLESCOPES
The Shooting Party (TSP), based in Staffordshire, has announced the addition of two new riflescopes to its Professional Airgun Optics (PAO) portfolio.

HOW RETAILERS CAN BENEFIT FROM TEAM WILLIAMSON PSG’S PERFORMANCE AT THE FRENCH NATIONAL SHOTGUN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Retailers across the UK can benefit from the recent achievements of Team Williamson PSG at the French National Shotgun Championships. The team’s performance with the Mossberg 940 JM Pro shotgun highlights the product’s reliability, durability and high performance, making it an appealing choice for customers.

INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Gun Trade Insider offers a detailed examination of the latest developments across various international markets.