TRADE FACES PIVOTAL MOMENT AS LICENSING REFORM APPROACHES
The Government’s forthcoming consultation on aligning Section 1 and Section 2 licensing represents the most significant shift in firearms regulation for a generation

VUDOO GUN WORKS ANNOUNCES UK PARTNERSHIP WITH C2 PRECISION
FULL STORY: PAGE 8 Vudoo Gun Works, a

NICOLE BROCKLEBANK-FOWLER TAKES THE HELM
FULL STORY: PAGE 10 The Worshipful Company of

NATIONAL SHOOTING SHOW CANCELLED FOR 2026
FULL STORY: PAGE 6 Stable Events has cancelled

LEGAL LANDSCAPE
Laura Saunsbury examines rising certificate fraud and outlines

SPOTLIGHT ON LICENSING
Special coverage examining Government proposals to align Section

POLICE PERSPECTIVE
Chris Downes analyses key trends, operational pressures and

AIRGUN WORLD
Eric Irish discusses Crackshot’s growth, customer-focused approach and

SHOW BUSINESS
The Great British Shooting Awards highlight leading craftspeople,

POLICY SHIFTS ALWAYS LAND HEAVIEST ON THE COUNTER
Large policy debates often feel distant until they

THE NEWS IN NUMBERS
The year C2 Precision was founded in Cornwall.

LICENSING CONSISTENCY AND PUBLIC SAFETY MUST TAKE PRIORITY, SAYS DCC DAVID GARDNER
David Gardner, deputy chief constable of Warwickshire Police

CAN THE NEW DIGITAL SYSTEM SAVE FIREARMS LICENSING FROM LONG WAITS?
Superintendent Shane Baker of the Police Digital Service

FEARS OVER LICENSING RISKS PREVENT GAMEKEEPERS SEEKING HELP
The Gamekeepers’ Welfare Trust has warned that concern

BASC CONDEMNS CRIMESTOPPERS CAMPAIGN
The British Association for Shooting and Conservation has

NATIONAL SHOOTING SHOW CANCELLED FOR 2026 AS FOCUS TURNS TO FARM-FEST
Stable Events has cancelled the 2026 edition of

DISTRIBUTOR GMK PARTNERS WITH BRITISH DEER SOCIETY ON RESPONSIBLE DEER MANAGEMENT ACROSS THE UK
GMK Ltd, the Hampshire-based distributor of shooting sports

VUDOO GUN WORKS ANNOUNCES UK PARTNERSHIP WITH C2 PRECISION
Vudoo Gun Works, a leader in precision firearms

A TRANSATLANTIC MASTER: NICOLE BROCKLEBANK-FOWLER TAKES THE HELM
The Worshipful Company of Gunmakers has welcomed its

PURDEY REOPENS ITS GROUNDS
James Purdey & Sons has officially reopened its

DIGITAL FIREPOWER
Philip Montague explains how consistent marketing and sales

SHIKAR STORE EXPANDS WITH FOUR NEW RIGBY KNIFE DESIGNS
John Rigby & Co, based in Greater London,

THE UK GUN TRADE IS WARNED OVER FRAUDULENT ONLINE LISTINGS
A GTA member in Sussex recently alerted the

FIOCCHI UK REINTRODUCES GOLDEN X AND OFFICIAL X MULTI-GRAIN LOADS
Fiocchi UK has reintroduced two updated competition loads,

GUN TRADE JOBS
MEA OPUS -SECURE YOUR PERFECT FUTURE POSITION -REGISTER

HOW SAFE IS YOUR RFD CERTIFICATE FROM FRAUD?
Fraudulent use of firearm and RFD certificates is on the rise, creating real risks for dealers and certificate holders alike: Specialist firearms solicitor Laura Saunsbury examines what can you do to protect yours.

HOW A SHOTGUN CARTRIDGE IS MADE
Paul Bradley traces the journey of a shotgun cartridge from raw materials to finished round during visits to Cheddite and Nobel Sport France, revealing the scale, precision and quality control behind one of the trade’s most familiar products.

EDWARD KING URGES UNITY AS SIGNIFICANT LICENCE REFORM LOOMS AHEAD
The Government’s intention to consult on aligning Section 1 and Section 2 licensing has created significant concern across the shooting community. Speaking to Gun Trade Insider, Edward King, GTA council member and managing director of ASI, set out why the potential changes could have profound implications for certificate holders, the gun trade and the wider rural economy.

LICENSING CHANGES RAISE MAJOR CONCERNS FOR THE GUN TRADE
The proposed harmonisation of Section 1 and Section 2 licensing has become one of the most significant issues facing the UK gun trade. GTA chief executive Stephen Jolly sets out the implications for the trade and the wider supply chain.

SAFEGUARDING THE FUTURE OF LICENSED SHOOTING IN THE UK
Jeremy Hinde, secretary of the British Shooting Sports Council, examines the latest NPCC licensing figures and the Government’s forthcoming consultation on firearms licensing, outlining the challenges ahead and the priorities required to protect responsible shooting in the UK.

UNDERSTANDING THE GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION PROCESS
Understanding how the consultation process works will be essential in the months ahead. This article outlines the key stages of a Government consultation and explains how registered firearms dealers and shooting businesses can engage effectively.

THE LOOMING CRISIS IN FIREARMS LICENSING
Firearms licensing attracts little mainstream attention, yet within the trade it has become a growing point of pressure. In this introductory piece, Chris Downes – former national firearms licensing subject matter expert for the College of Policing and previously firearms licensing manager for the Metropolitan Police – outlines the trends, challenges and concerns now shaping the system.

SHARING A PASSION
From farm pest controller to an award-winning retailer, Crackshot founder Eric Irish discusses mixing a passion for shooting with a customer-centric ethos, the value of its on-site range, and the key to turning first-time visitors into lifelong enthusiasts

THE GREAT BRITISH SHOOTING AWARDS
Each year, when we open nominations and voting for the Great British Shooting Awards, I’m reminded just how extraordinary our industry is. As the CEO of Time Well Spent, it’s one of my greatest privileges to oversee an awards programme that brings together the very best of British shooting; our craftspeople, innovators, conservationists, professional practitioners and the countless passionate individuals who drive this sector forward.

WHEN THE SALES & MARKETING FIRE GOES OUT
Philip (Monty) Montague, director at MK38, outlines why underinvesting in sales and marketing can create hidden costs for shooting businesses and explains why consistent activity is essential for long-term stability in the trade.

F.A.I.R. PREPARES FOR GLOBAL TRADE SEASON
Italian shotgun brand F.A.I.R. prepares for global product showcase as the international trade fair season begins

TOP SHOTGUNS AND TECHNOLOGIES TO STOCK THIS YEAR
With the game season now in full swing, it’s the perfect moment to take a closer look at the latest technologies arriving on the shelves this year—alongside some of SGC’s most popular models.

LONDON PROOF HOUSE AND THE AUCTION TRADE
For the many auction houses across the UK dealing in second-hand firearms, the London Proof House plays a vital role in ensuring that guns entering the market are both legally compliant and safe to use. Proof Master David Miles explained that the organisation’s work is central to maintaining trust, transparency and safety standards across the trade.

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