NEWS

Written by:
Thimbleby Estate

Published on:

Game on for the glorious 12th by Gun Room Manager Max Cope.

The countdown to the Glorious Twelfth has begun. This very special date in the shooting calendar rouses excitement in all country folk as it marks the start of our favourite ‘half’ of the year. The run-up to this has been a particularly abnormal meteorological period with a truly astonishing amount of rainfall.

Many would be surprised to learn that the UK is home to 75% of the world’s moorland. This truly unique landscape still exists due to hard preservation work associated with managed grouse moors.

Here at Thimbleby we have gathered a shortlist of some of the latest heather-ready kit, high performing cartridges and fast-swinging guns. All of these are of course available at our one-stop-shop and will ensure you get the most from your special day.

Let us begin at the business end – grouse guns!

  • Naturally we first feature a pair – Belgian Browning B25 B2G’s from 1986.

These guns are the perfect moor specification. They feature 27 ½” barrels with choking fixed at ¼ and ½ that are effortless to accelerate into the our fastest  game bird. The Prince of Wales grips are a great balance of control and speed – these guns They really can be ‘put into action’ in a fraction of second. Overall weight is sub 7lbs at 6lbs 14oz – equal to many side by sides! These 100% handmade beauties have just been in the TSG gunroom and will surprise many how affordable they actually are. A leather motor case is also included to aid in transport.

https://www.guntrader.uk/guns/shotguns/browning/over-under/12-gauge/b25-b2g-pair-231104152735003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beretta 687 EELL factory 20 & 28 bore 2-barrel set. This really is a gem with 2 guns in one. We must not forget that walked-up shooting can be just as enjoyable as the prestigious driven format – especially when some incredible dogs are involved! What better tool for this task than a 20 bore and 28 bore? With long, arduous walks through heather a light gun becomes your friend. A bonus of these calibres is that ammunition a far lighter and a pocket-full can last all day. This factory numbered 2-barrel set is a rare thing and its spotless represents significant saving over new.

https://www.guntrader.uk/guns/shotguns/beretta/over-under/set-20-gauge-28-gauge/687-eell-240214153612001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It would be sacrilege to not include a side by side – the moor may be the last bastion of this traditional configuration and represents one of few occasions where they may outnumber the over and under. They are naturally suited to the rapid and instinctive style required for successful grouse shooting. This Abbiatico & Salvinelli ‘Zeus” hails from one of Brescia’s finest gunmakers. Manufactured in 1992 it is contemporary in its format with a single trigger and ‘modern’ stock dimensions. The action is truly unique with Dickson-esque sound round action, covered in some of the finest hand-engraving you will see. The 28” barrels are an ideal length and provide ample steadiness for that occasional 50- yard crosser that is the topic of conversation at elevenses!

https://www.guntrader.uk/guns/shotguns/abbiatico-salvinelli/side-by-side/12-gauge/zeus-211219111540004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gun maintenance is an often overlooked area and breakdowns can easily ruin a day you looked forward to greatly. One of our most useful assets is The Woodworking Gunsmith; Mr James Reynolds. James is a truly talented professional in all aspects of gunsmithing – some of you may have seen his drop-dead gorgeous custom made stocks. We cannot recommend highly enough that guns are serviced before the season to ensure they are in the best health and therefore run like clockwork. All gunsmith work is taken in through the TSG gunroom so drop in anytime to get your gun booked in. We can also offer fit advice and any alterations thereafter.

Next these guns of course need the very best ammunition – that is often frantically stuffed into their chambers!

  • My personal favourite – not only for grouse, but all game shooting – Gamebore Grouse Extreme 12 gauge. This load is very versatile with 65 & 70mm offerings for old English guns and modern over and unders. The 29gm 5.5 / 6 offering is one highest performing load in a for short-chambered guns, the biodegradable quad seal that sits below the fibre wad ensure an excellent gas seal and therefore blistering velocity. Even with this in mind, the recoil is very mild even in guns in the 6lb realm. For those wanting some extra punch in their more modern and heavier guns a 31gm and 33gm load is available in both 5.5 & 6 shot.

20 bore is certainly a popular grouse option – the scaled down actions and lighter barrels are well suited to reactive shooting. The game bird itself does not require a heavy load and therefore no gun should find himself at a disadvantage when using this smaller calibre.

Thimbleby has the perfect loading for all 20ga grouse aficionados. The brand new 26/6 loaded by our partners at Gamebore. This cartridge has been designed as an all purpose game load that you can also train with – not something most loadings offer. We are often reminded that consistency is the key to proficient shooting and what better example of this by using the same load throughout the year. Sometimes less is more – the 26gm load patterns beautifully and provides some brisk velocity also.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • The venerable Imperial Game cartridge from Hull is used even by the royal family. This load has been around for some years and has a great reputation. It provides super-smooth recoil and is one of best patterning shells we have tested, consistently. There is a good variety of loadings; the 28gm or 30gm 6 being most popular for the glorious gamebird. However, the lesser known 26gm 6 offering is a real gem and provides ‘laser beam’ like performance. A truly pleasant cartridge to use and there is no better option for the oldest or lightest side by sides.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One’s day can be easily ruined by poor kit  and the mentality of the old saying  “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing”, must be adopted. For those that have spent any time on the moor, they will understand that the weather does not conform to that found at sea level! A warm, clear  August day can turn in a split second as you are engulfed by a cloud of mist and rain. With that in mind here is our shortlist of ‘appropriate’ kit stocked in our TSG clothing & accessories shop:

  • A decent set of boots are arguably the most essential item – navigating long heather and uneven tussocks can cause nasty ankle twisting injuries. Many opt for a ‘high’ boot to provide the necessary support. A current Beretta offering fits this bill to the tee. The Duiker GTX is a robust but lightweight boot featuring a Gore Tex membrane for waterproofing and breathability. Vibram soles ensure traction on the most slippery of peat-covered surfaces! The affordable price point may also be a surprise…
  • Gaiters – these can make a difference to moorland navigation. Heather can be very abrasive on clothes and your shins – these bits of kit allow much easier transit through often wet and rough heather. Beretta make a fantastic pair that are sturdy yet flexible. The best feature being the steel cable that clamp firmly to the sole of your boots.
  • Hearing protection – a non-negotiable item. The best in the business are the Swatcom Active 8 with such sound clarity and comfort you can easily forget you are wearing them! The gel ear surrounds mould around any earwhere and effectively seals all harmful decibels.
  • Gloves – MacWet are a chosen shooting glove manufacturer. They are lightweight and become a second layer of skin with their intentional tight fitment. The alcantara palm sections ensure grip in all conditions and allow great feel through them. When double gunning in wet conditions the added grip is thoroughly welcome from a safety standpoint.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here at Thimbleby we offer a wide range of lessons that can be tailored to suit every gun and discipline. We are very fortunate to have access to 1,100 acres of gorgeous North Yorkshire moorland, only a short and scenic drive from our clubhouse. This allows us the opportunity to provide ‘Game Changer’ lessons in the most realistic of locations and presentation of simulated game birds. Here you are to shoot grouse targets of all angles, distances and speeds in an authentic grouse butt in situations where the real deal actually takes place! The icing on the cake being we can even run these lessons in the midst of the season providing flexibility to those wanting a shake-down before their big day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The red grouse is a particularly special wild game bird and it deserves the utmost respect. It is imperative that the gun be in top form in order to be ethical and make the most of these formidable feathered missiles.