A WELCOME DOSE OF OPTIMISM

It’s refreshing to be able to say this: there’s a real sense of positivity running through this issue.

Take Shooting Star’s announcement that it will begin manufacturing clays here in the UK, a bold and timely step for a family-run business that’s spent decades importing ammunition. It’s a reminder that we still have companies willing to invest in British manufacturing, even when it would perhaps be easier not to.

Then there’s the Home Office’s decision to remove moderators from the legal definition of a firearm, a change long campaigned for by many in the shooting community. While the timeline remains unclear, the intention is there. A sensible, measured outcome supported by the overwhelming majority of respondents to the consultation, and an example of how joined-up representation can influence future legislation.

Our feature on The Chuckery, a Lancashire-based project using airguns to support vulnerable young people, is another story that deserves attention. This is grassroots shooting at its most constructive, built not around sales, but around positive outcomes for real people. With help from Daystate, Tim Harrison and his team are using marksmanship to build confidence, trust and life skills where they’re needed most.

And of course, our conversation with Richard Wilson at Cambridge University’s clay shooting club shows what happens when coaching, culture and community combine. His work not only raises standards in student shooting but also helps embed the sport in new generations,

many of whom are experiencing it for the first time.

Each of these stories reflects a part of the shooting world that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. They show ambition, responsibility and a long-term mindset, qualities that should give everyone in the trade cause for confidence.

As always, Gun Trade Insider will keep a close eye on the challenges, whether they come from Whitehall, Westminster or the court of public opinion.

But we’ll also continue to shine a light on what’s working. And right now, there’s a surprising amount of that to celebrate.

Have a great trading month.

ROB SMITH editor, Gun Trade Insider