Editor’s Letter

You might say reliability, superb engineering and performance and you would be right. But for me there is something more than that. For me a gun has to have soul.

Plenty of modern guns perform well, but they can sometimes leave me cold. There is not a great deal of pleasure in shooting them, but there are others that are almost addictive to shoot. Get the stock dimensions, trigger pull and balance right, combine that with the right cartridge for the job and you have something that is a real joy to use.

It is rather like driving a Ferrari or Porsche, where the handling, mechanical slickness of the gear changes is just right that gives the pleasure.

I am not saying that you have to purchase the most expensive guns to get this, or acquire an antique; you have to buy the gun that feels right. What might look good on paper might not always be the best gun for you. Get out there and try them and don’t buy until you find a gun that leaves you buzzing and ready for the season.