RURAL SPORTS

BIRMINGHAM PROOF HOUSE ANNOUNCES EXPANSION
The Birmingham Proof House, a historic institution central

GRAHAM DOWNING’S LASTING LEGACY
PAGE 22 We reflect on Graham Downing’s impact

BUILDING LOYALTY BEYOND THE SALE
PAGE 32 After-sales service is key to enhancing

THE IMPORTANCE OF POSITIVITY
Running a firearms retail business comes with its

EDGAR BROTHERS ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH WILDMAN SLUGS AND TACTACAM
Cheshire -based Edgar Brothers has announced new partnerships

BASC DELIVERS TRAINING FOR POLICE SCOTLAND’S FIREARMS ENQUIRY OFFICERS
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK -LOCH EARN As part of its

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS REAFFIRM COMMITMENT TO RURAL COMMUNITIES AT BRIGHTON CONFERENCE
The Rt. Hon. Alistair Carmichael MP emphasised the

JOHN RIGBY & CO. WELCOMES NEW GUNMAKER DANIEL RIVERS
London-based gunmaker John Rigby & Co. has announced

EDGAR BROTHERS RANKS 30TH ON GROWTH INDEX 100
Edgar Brothers has secured the 30th position on

GEORGINA ROBERTS JOINS FIELDSPORTS PRESS AS HEAD OF DIGITAL
Fieldsports Press has announced the appointment of Georgina

SPORTING WHOLESALE CEASES KNIFE AND SWORD SALES FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT SURRENDER SCHEME
Sporting Wholesale, the Luton-based knife wholesaler and owner

WORLDPAY CONTACT FOR THE GUN TRADE SECTOR
Following recent communication, we would like to clarify

CHALLENGES OF BRAND LOYALTY IN THE GUN TRADE
DEAR GUN TRADE INSIDER, I read the article

GMK ANNOUNCES IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP TRANSITION
GMK, a leading distributor in the firearms industry

GUN TRADE JOBS
MEA OPUS - SECURE YOUR PERFECT FUTURE POSITION - REGISTER AT MEAOPUS.CO.UK

A NEW ERA FOR POLICE TRAINING?
When tragedies like the Plymouth shooting happen there are lives ruined and inevitable backlashes against the law -abiding shooting community. Just possibly, however, there may be something good that has come out of the whole incident

FIREARMS SECURITY
As we all know, or should, the Firearms Act 1968 (as amended) broadly provides for the imposition of conditions subject to which shotgun and firearms certificates are held and creates a criminal of fence where such conditions are breached, writes Lachlan Nisbet. By far the most frequent criminal allegations that we advise upon in this field relate to security. As the holder of a firearm or shotgun certificate, you are required to comply with the “security conditions” on your certificate, namely conditions 4 (a) &(b).

GRAHAM DOWNING’S LASTING IMPACT ON SHOOTING LEGISLATION
Graham Downing, the British Shooting Sports Council’s (BSSC) secretary for the last six years, has announced that he will be retiring later in 2024. Gun Trade Insider took the opportunity to speak to him about the BSSC, the shooting world and his career in fieldsports.

COMPONENT SUPPLY AND ITS IMPACT ON PERFORMANCE
Many of us have come to rely on a steady supply of ammunition. We all like to stick with what works well for us. Even reloaders will have their favourite recipe and look to source the same component parts. This is especially true for those who take part in competitive shooting. In these cases, the stakes are higher and nobody wants to risk using a brand-new product in the hope it delivers great performance. For some time now, there has been a factor which may have impacted our ability to source our go-to ammunition and in some cases may have changed our preferred product’s performance: supply chain.

A CRUCIAL EVENT IN YOUR CALENDAR
As a premier exhibition for hunting, target and action sports, as well as outdoor activities, IWA OutdoorClassics 2025 is set to take place in February and March in Nürnberg, Germany. This event is not just a cornerstone for the international market but also holds significant importance for UK firearms dealers. Here’s why attending IWA OutdoorClassics 2025 is essential for your business and how you can start preparing now.

THE RIGHT GEAR AT THE RIGHT PRICE
Range Right is a distributor with a reputation for delivering dependable airguns and accessories at very competitive prices. Mat Manning catches up with Jake Peters, the Harrogate -based business’s sales director, to find out more

IMPORTANT FOR CERTIFICATE HOLDERS TO APPLY IN GOOD TIME TO RENEW CERTIFICATES
With under-resourced police forces and increasing delays, renewing firearm certificates early is more critical than ever to avoid legal issues, says Nick Doherty, a barrister specialising in firearms licensing law.

THE CRITICAL ROLE OF AFTER-SALES SERVICE FOR UK FIREARMS DEALERS
Offering excellent after-sales service is no longer just a bonus — it is a key differentiator that can significantly impact customer loyalty and business success. For UK firearms dealers, the relationship with the customer extends beyond the sale

JOSE SOUTO
The award-winning game cook and chef lecturer at Westminster Kingsway College discusses sustainable shooting, Eley Hawk’s innovation and the growing demand for game in the UK shooting community.

SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION PART 1
Learn how SEO can help your website rank higher in search results, attract more customers and compete with leaders within the shooting industry, writes Philip Montague

UPSELLING IN THE GUN TRADE
I once had the good fortune to go for lunch with a friend who is fairly high up in a large, non-shooting-related retail chain. We compared notes for the first half before slipping into far more puerile conversation after lunch was consumed. My main take away from the conversation was the reasoning behind forcing staff to add an upselling pitch at every check-out encounter.

RURAL SPORTS
Co-owner Demi Leah Smith gives us an inside look at Rural Sports in Llanfyllin, Powys. Alongside her colleague, Helen, she shares how they’ve expanded their family-run business into a thriving destination for shooting enthusiasts, while navigating challenges and seizing opportunities in the ever-changing firearms retail landscape

CLASSY GLASS WITH NO CORNER CUTTING
Mat Manning puts the ZC420 riflescope from Zero Compromise Optic to the test on his pest control rounds

UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF SHOOTING ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR BUSINESS
With a romantic vision of misty valleys, high birds and faithful dogs retrieving expertly dispatched quarry, many shooters eagerly anticipate the forthcoming pheasant season. For UK shooting retailers, this excitement presents an opportunity to boost sales by capitalising on the accessories market.

INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
ACROSS THE POND