November crossword

CLUES ACROSS

1 _ pairs, clays released at the same time (12)

The ill that comes from ticks (7)

7 8 _ steel, maker of barrels, once upon a time (5)

9 Purring creatures, domestic or feral (4) 10 Specialist hunting hounds with an avian connection (4,4) 14 An introduced species of muntjac (6) 15 Operational design of many semi-autos (3-3)

18 Type of fence with the power to shock (8)

21 How gun stocks can get bent out of shape (4)

23 An air rifle valve (5)

24 Home to many Italian gunmakers (7) 25 Sharp-edged companion in the field (7,5)

CLUES DOWN

1 Single _ , one type of trigger (9) 2 Fitted scope to rifle (7)

3 A cut of venison or hare (4) 4 See 13 down 5 Lubricated guns (5)

6 A motion crucial to shooting technique (5)

11 _ hunting, scent trail sport (4)

12 An area for engraving on guns (9)

13 & 4 DOWN Thetford Forest is in this area of England (4,6) 16 Italian shotgun maker – part of the Beretta Group (7) 17 Decoration for both hair and gun? (6) 19 Meal break during a day’s shooting – sometimes packed (5)

20 _ kill, a precise and decisive shot (5) 22 A bird’s bill (4)

Cut out the quiz coupon and send to: Sporting Gun Crossword, Future PLC, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP by 18 October 2021. The first correct entry drawn will win.