SHOOTING GEAR: BEST OF BRITISH

Created on 14th May 2009

MARK CAMOCCIO gives the lowdown on Rangesports' shooting gear, including a nifty pellet tin and a top-quality mat

MADE IN Britain is a hard label to track down these days, as more and more firms outsource production to our oriental friends. Cheaper production and labour costs are of course the motivation behind such moves. The end results aren't always satisfactory though, with a wave of inferior products flooding the market.

Rangesports is a new company on the scene which, I'm happy to report, is proudly bucking the trend. Based in good old Dorset and headed up by Dave Hutton, it's offering a selection of shooting gear which is refreshingly British-made!

Dave's a keen shooter himself, so unsurprisingly some real experience is fed back to the product range. A few of the company's goods are highlighted here.

Pelletsafe

The Pelletsafe is a very simple idea, but one which can make a big difference. It's basically a snap-shut tin to replace those awful pellet tins with no thread, and just tape holding them closed. Why this design has proved so popular with manufacturers is one of life's little mysteries, but most outdoor airgun competitions bear witness to this folly - with small piles of pellets lying abandoned in the grass up and down the country.

Decanting a freshly opened tin straight into the Pelletsafe makes sense. The centre of the tin must be pressed to open it, and the sides of the lid pressed to snap it closed. With a resin surround finishing off the lid, the design is comfortable in the pocket too. Peace of mind for around £3.75 sounds good to me.

Pellet pouch

Rangesports' pellet pouch is made from tough cordura. It features a magnetic fastener, allowing one-handed closure if necessary. In addition, an adjustable neck cord means the pouch can be raised off the ground when shooting from the prone position, which is particularly handy for HFT events. Finally, a two-way rubber back mount allows the pouch to be belt or rifle mounted, bringing real versatility. It's available in eight colours: black, green, navy, red, cherry, orange, DPM camo, and grey. Logos or personal designs can be embroidered as an optional extra, making these attractive to clubs and individuals alike.

Personalised beanbag

All the top exponents of both Field Target Shooting and HFT use beanbags, and none come any better than this tough Rangesports version. Again constructed from waterproof cordura, the asking price includes an embroidered logo or design of your choice. My old beanbag (again British-made although no longer produced) is constructed from near- identical fabric. It has just completed 20 years service, so they clearly represent an investment if the quality's up to scratch! Eight colours are available, as per the pouches.

Shooting mats

Finally, probably the most impressive item is the Rangemat. Again, it's constructed from waterproof cordura (1000-denier nylon) and is available in the same eight colours. These shooting mats are heavy-duty professional pieces of kit which come generously proportioned and well-appointed.

A heavy-duty zipped pocket section is a useful feature. The well-padded four-section design means the whole mat folds to a convenient stowed size, transportable via the central carry handles. It's great stuff and as good as any shooting mat I've seen to date. Many shooting disciplines other than air rifle HFT require a mat, and this one offers very high quality at a reasonable price.

In summary, all the equipment featured here is serious kit for the serious shooter.

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