[Music]
We might be a nation of bargain hunters.
But we don't shirk when it comes to game shooting.
One of the most expensive, extravagant, exciting shooting experiences is glorious grouse on
the glorious 12th and to mark it the boys from Browning are stepping out in style.
They are going to show off their guns, they are going to be gunning the engines of some
superb modern shooting brakes - and you are going to walk away from this film with expert
tips for shooting driven grouse.
In preparation for some shooting later in the season they're taking three versions of
their top end B25s out for the day of simulated grouse.
First they're stopping off at an appropriate pile in the country for some refreshments
and to let the cars 12-cylinder engines cool.
12!
- I see a theme developing here.
What better way to celebrate the start of the grouse season, or the game season in the
UK, the glorious 12th by incorporating some beautiful guns in the B25, fantastic game
guns.
Some beautiful cars, the Astin Martins and the Bentleys, all 12 cylinder of course bringing
that combination of the glorious 12th and glorious 12 cylinders together and a beautiful
location here at Brocket Hall today.
And start of the season on the 12th August, it all comes together very nicely.
The cars are on loan from HR Owen in Cheltenham.
At this point we'd be asking Dom to help us out with the facts and figures of these British
beasts, but he's not coming until later, instead we have Bentley brand manager Paul Carvell
on hand.
This is the Bentley GT speed, W12 engine 616 break horse power.
Fastest road going saloon that Bentley have produced to date at 205 miles per hour.
Next we have got the Astin Martin V12 Vantage roadster.
Underneath that bonnet they have squeezed the V12 6 litre 510 break horse power engine
into the car.
Top speed of 190 miles per hour.
0 - 60 in 4.1 seconds.
GTC speed again will catapault you from 0 - 60 in 4.5 seconds, but all of the comfort
and luxury of a Bentley.
The Astin Martin Vanquish Flightship of our range 565 break horse power V12 engine all
carbon ... pretty stunning car with ... engine.
Get a mental orgasm!!!!If the cars don't do it for you the guns will - but more about
them in a minute...
Our backdrop of Brocket Hall has an infamous connection with exotic motors.
It hit the press in the 1990s when Lord Brocket was jailed for burying supercars in the grounds
of the house and claiming on the insurance - but those were Italian cars, so his actions
are entirely understandable.
Today it's an exclusive golf club and venue.
It was originally built in 1760.
Obviously owned by the Brocket family which is quite a well known story I am sure.
Our company took it over in the early 90's and built it up to what it is now two championship
golf courses.
The award winning restaurant over there as well and the hall over here as an exclusive
use venue.
Right that's enough pre-grouse moor posing - we need to make sure these guns are able
to strut their stuff when it matters.
So we're off to Atkin Grant and Lang shooting school just a few miles away.
They've been busy here developing a special stand for anyone wanting to experience the
next best thing to a driven day .. they also offer sartorial advice, Dom.
So this isn't your typical stand at your average clay ground.
So can you talk us through the set up you have got here.
Yes, what we have got here we have actually got stone from Yorkshire.
We have had this shipped down for us.
We have got heather here which you will find on a grouse moor.
As you can see it is sunk into the ground so as we look out we can't see any traps or
anything in front of us.
It is very similar to when you are grouse shooting you have got low horizon.
We have got six traps out here so they will just appear.
And we have also got traps you can move around so you can just shoot them over each shoulder.
So this really is as close as you are going to get to the real thing.
Absolutely.
Yes absolutely and we do spend a lot of time setting up the targets so that they are actually
coming down hill into the butt instead of a lot of clay targets will go up over you
like a partridge target.
I have done a bit of shotgun shooting Charlie but clearly I am a peasant and driven grouse
is not something normally open to an amateur like myself.
So could you give me a few tips on what I should be doing.
Yes, absolutely.
So when you are actually shooting grouse they are coming a lot faster and a lot flatter
than pheasants and partridges.
So instead of a pheasant being nice and high you are going to give it a long lead in front.
These grouse are coming very flat and you have got to get out there at them.
So a target when it is coming in towards you, a lot of the time you can still see the bird
over the top of the gun because the gun is pointing up into the direction where it is
going.
Ok so there is not a great deal of lead.
But you have to be quite positive with your lead.
Yes, absolutely so it is really important to get the line of the bird so if the bird
is quartering in towards you, if he is coming in towards you and just fairs off to the side
just go onto the wing tip in the direction it is going.
Let's hear a little more about the guns on show today.
Each of our three Browning guys has a different model, but all of them have been hand crafted
by the gunmakers and engravers at the Browning Custom shop in Liege, in Belgium.
We start at the top and the pair of B25 D5Gs in 20-gauge on loan from Reeves at the Royal
Berkshire Shooting School.
I mean this is the top of the market gun.
Obviously it is £66,000 for a pair it is not something you buy lightly.Thankfully there
is a lot of money still around and people do like to buy the best.
We are in the market of supplying probably the finest game gun in the world, certainly
for balance and feel and we do have a number of people requesting guns like this on a weekly
basis and that is why we have a 24 month lead time.
Next is the 28 gauge B25 on loan from Ian Coley Shooting Ground and it suits Andy down
to the ground.
It is one of the few guns in life which is both aesthetically pleasing to the eye and
is also more reliable than most and is hard working.
If you go to any gun shop in the country you will find B25's that have been around from
the 50's and 60's, plenty from the 70's and they are still working and going strong today.
There are very few guns or models that you will find that have been going that long and
that well.
Lastly it's the biggest Browning with the biggest Browning team member, Allister.
Starts from around £22,000.
This one actually comes with a few extras.
Such as the round pistol grip here and this one is my personal favourite because it is
the 12 bore calibre and obviously being the biggest chap out of the three it brings down
the biggest birds.
But it is a beautiful weapon.
Great investment, great value for money and it is around half the price of a D grade side
plated gun.
So value for money it is superb.
They say money doesn't bring you happiness - but it certainly gives you choice.
It could mean deciding between a Aston or a Bentley or if they don't raise the hairs
on the back of your neck, a pair of B25s just might espcecially when the birds are coming
at you like little rockets.
If you want anymore information about the custom shop and these B25s email info@isbrands.com
or watch our Browning Factory film.