Gun Trade Insider - June 2025

In this edition


RIGBY’S TRAFALGAR: 250 YEARS CELEBRATED ABOARD HISTORIC WARSHIPSBlending pageantry with purpose, Rigby’s landmark celebration in Portsmouth brought together global dignitaries, craftsmen and industry leaders for an unforgettable display of British gunmaking heritage and ambition.
NEW LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MINIATURE RIFLE RANGESFULL STORY: PAGE 10 The Home Office
VIKING ARMS NAMED IN RUGER’S NEW DISTRIBUTION ALLIANCEFULL STORY: PAGE 6 Ruger has announced
LYALVALE JOINS NIOA’S PORTFOLIO IN AUSTRALIAFULL STORY: PAGE 8 NIOA has announced
FIREARMS HEALTH AND SAFETY RULESBrabners explain legal responsibilities for retail ammunition sales
CRITICAL MINERALS AND THE UK TRADEPAGE 20 Stephen Jolly joins Rob Smith to
MINIATURE RANGE LAW CHANGESPAGE 22 Laura Saunsbury explains how recent legislation
MILITARY VS CIVILIAN AMMO EXPLAINEDPAGE 24 Paul Bradley compares the quality, design
PROOFING PERFECTION BEST GUNSPAGE 26 A rare look behind the scenes
MARKING 250 YEARS IN STYLEI recently had the privilege of attending one
THE NEWS IN NUMBERSNumber of police forces that responded to BASC
INDUSTRY MOURNS THE LOSS OF THREE INFLUENTIAL FIGURESThe UK shooting trade is reflecting on the
TRIBUTES PAID TO FORMER LYALVALE EXPRESS OWNER ROGER HURLEYIt is with sadness that the shooting industry
VIKING ARMS NAMED UK PARTNER IN RUGER’S NEW GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION ALLIANCERuger has announced a new international strategy that
RIGBY ANNOUNCES PROMOTIONS OF MARIA GIL AND STEVEN ‘MONTY’ MONTEITHLondon gunmaker John Rigby & Co. has announced
LYALVALE EXPRESS JOINS NIOA’S PREMIUM AMMUNITION PORTFOLIO IN AUSTRALIANIOA has announced that it is now the
POLICE FORCES REMAIN SILENT ON FIREARMS LICENSING FEE FUNDINGMore than two-thirds of police forces in England
COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE LAUNCHES FIREARMS LICENSING E-LOBBY AS RETAILERS FACE POTENTIAL IMPACTThe Countryside Alliance has launched a new e-lobby
NEW LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MINIATURE RIFLE RANGES AND AMMUNITION COMPONENTS UNDER FIREARMS ACT 2023The Home Office has confirmed that the Firearms
SUMMER LAUNCHES: RIFLES AND OPTICSPAGE 34 We review the latest field-ready products
Royal Warrant awarded to Witham Group as company unveils new brand identityUK-based lubricant and paint manufacturer Witham Group, well
PROMATIC BECOMES PLATINUM SPONSOR OF ISSFBritish shooting manufacturer Promatic has joined the International
THE SHOOTING PARTY SEEKS GLOBAL L DISTRIBUTORS FOR INNOVATIVE AIRGUN CHRONOGRAPHStaffordshire-based airgun distributor The Shooting Party is looking
GOVERNMENT SIGNALS CLAMPDOWN ON CROSSBOW SALES FOLLOWING VIOLENT INCIDENTThe British Government has confirmed it is preparing
GUN TRADE JOBSMEA OPUS -SECURE YOUR PERFECT FUTURE POSITION -REGISTER AT MEAOPUS.CO.UK
HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYERS DEALING WITH FIREARMS IN THE UKAs businesses in the shooting sector navigate increasingly complex regulatory demands, the legal team at Brabners outlines what UK employers need to know about health and safety responsibilities when working with firearms, highlighting key legislation, risk management practices, and the serious consequences of non-compliance.
UK URGED TO ACT ON CRITICAL MINERALS AS GLOBAL TRADE PRESSURES MOUNTGun Trade Insider editor Rob Smith and the GTA’s chief executive, Stephen Jolly, discuss how global pressures on critical mineral supply chains are affecting the UK shooting industry.
HUGE CHANGES FOR MINIATURE RIFLE RANGESSpecialist firearms licensing solicitor Laura Saunsbury considers recent legal changes governing the operation of miniature rifle ranges, highlighting the key responsibilities now required under updated legislation.
MILITARY SPECIFICATION AMMUNITION FOR CIVILIANS?Paul Bradley works in the defence sector — previously as a ballistician and now as a portfolio director. He looks after several Beretta-owned ammunition manufacturers, such as Swiss P, Norma, RWS and MFS. After visiting all the plants to look at their process and quality procedures, here he poses an interesting question… Is military small arms ammunition “better” or “worse” than its civilian equivalent?
HOW THE LONDON PROOF HOUSE HANDLES BRITAIN’S BEST GUNSDavid Miles, proof master at the London Proof
PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO TIPS TO HELP YOUR PRODUCTS SELL ONLINESimple techniques for UK firearms retailers to present products more effectively and boost customer trust.
HOW AI CAN HELP YOUR SHOOTING BUSINESSIMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK - VECTORFUSIONART Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn’t
THE RIGHT DIRECTIONDave Barham asks the owner of one of the UK’s premier importers and distributors for his opinions on the trade, and finds out how it all began for Range Right
SUMMER SIGHTS: NEW RIFLES AND OPTICS HIT THE SHELVESWith longer days and improving weather drawing more shooters into the field, interest in vermin control and target disciplines tends to peak at this time of year. It’s the ideal moment to take stock of the latest rifles and optics hitting the market – and two leading brands have timed their latest product launches perfectly for the summer season.
VIKING ARMS ANNOUNCES UK DISTRIBUTION OF THE NEW SAVAGE REVEL CLASSIC AND REVEL DLX RIFLESViking Arms, exclusive UK distributors of Savage Arms, has announced the launch of the all-new Savage REVEL Classic and REVEL DLX rifles – two lever-action rimfire models that blend traditional styling with modern innovation, purpose-built for the UK’s gallery and target shooting community.
INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVEGun Trade Insider offers a detailed examination of the latest developments across various international markets.
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