Shooting in rude health

As the end of the year approaches feedback from the industry indicates that shooting continues to flourish. Sure, for importers of shooting hardware (and these days that is just about everyone) have had to work within margins reduced by an unfavourable exchange rate and consumers’ wages are only just keeping pace with inflation; however, it seems it takes a lot more than pre-Brexit currency wobbles and general belt tightening to discourage the nation’s shooters. A telling example of the sport’s rude health is provided by the recent release of Beretta’s 695 Field Gun. An exquisitely engraved boxlock with premium grade walnut stock, the maker’s UK distributors were able to secure 100 to sell in the UK. Not surprisingly the asking price was close to £4000 each. It would not be overstating things to say that the guns hardly touched down in the UK, before being grabbed by buyers.