Shooting men choose their own kit and usually know what is good far better than you do. Even so, there are things that wear out in the field, get left on a peg or are always worth having twice. This guide lists 15 shooting gifts for men, sorted by budget, for game shooters and clay shooters alike.
This guide was put together by Bellore. Of the 15 ideas, 3 are our own products and are clearly marked. For everything else we name no brands and tell you what to look for instead.
The best shooting gift is either hard-wearing kit he will use on every outing or a keepsake that brings the day in the field back into the house. A flask, a hip flask, gloves and a cartridge bag are always useful on a smaller budget. Binoculars and waterproof boots are the favourites at the top end. For the man whose gun room is full, a glass with a real 12 cal shotgun shell set into it is a safe shooting gift, because you need to know no sizes, no bore and no brands.
Three questions to ask before you choose a shooting gift
What does he shoot? A clay shooter, a man who stands on a peg on driven days, a pigeon shooter in a hide and a deer stalker all need different things. If you are not sure, choose gifts that work across country sports: a flask, a hip flask, a cap, a good knife.
How experienced is he? Someone new to shooting is glad of the basics. A man with thirty seasons behind him has a full cupboard and firm views on brands. Buy him either a fresh version of whatever has worn out or something that is not kit at all.
Does the gift need a size or technical knowledge? Boots, clothing, caps and gun slips need measurements. Cartridges are a matter for the shooter and his certificate. If you cannot get that information, stay with gifts that need none.
Shooting gifts by budget
| Budget | Gift ideas | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Smaller budget | Flask, hip flask, shooting gloves, ear defenders, shotgun shell whisky glass, bullet mug | A friend, a colleague, someone new to shooting |
| Mid budget | Field knife, cartridge bag, flat cap, gun slip, camouflage clothing, gundog kit, crystal whisky glass set of 2 | Dad, husband, boyfriend, a shooting partner, the gamekeeper |
| Bigger budget | Binoculars, waterproof leather boots | A retirement, an anniversary, a big birthday |
15 shooting gifts for men, from the peg to the fireside
1.Binoculars
Good binoculars spend far more time in the hand than the gun does. A stalker uses them to read the hill and judge the animal. A picker-up uses them to mark where a bird came down. A good pair lasts for decades.
The usual sizes are 8x42 and 10x42. The first gives a wider, steadier view and suits woodland. The second reaches further across open ground.
What to look for: Look for a waterproof, fog-proof body. Binoculars that mist up on a cold morning are no use to anyone.
2.Real 12 cal shotgun shell whisky glass
This is the cartridge that stayed in the belt. On a shoot day a man is judged as much by the birds he leaves as by the ones he takes: too low, too close, not safe. The real 12 cal shell set into this glass stands for the shot he chose not to take, and for the patience behind that choice.
Given to a shooting man, it says "I respect the way you shoot". In the evening, when the day is gone through drive by drive, the glass on the table is part of the conversation.
It is a 300 ml glass whisky tumbler with a real 12 cal shotgun shell, the 12 bore cartridge British shooters know, set into the body by hand. It comes in its own gift box. People looking for shotgun cartridge gifts for him, or for shooting gifts for dad at Christmas, on Father's Day or for a birthday, choose it because it needs no sizes at all.
3.A good field knife
A knife is a personal thing, and a good one gets handed down. Fixed blades are stronger and easier to clean. Folding knives sit in a pocket. Stainless steel needs little care, while carbon steel takes a keener edge but has to be oiled.
The UK has rules on the sale and carrying of knives, so buy from a reputable seller and ask them what applies.
What to look for: Look for a handle that fills the hand and does not slip when wet, and choose a knife that comes with its own sheath.
4.Stainless steel flask
A shooting day starts early and involves a lot of standing about in the cold. Hot tea, coffee or soup makes the difference.
Double-walled stainless steel keeps a drink hot all day and survives being dropped. A one-litre size is right for one person for a full day.
What to look for: A lid that doubles as a cup and can be opened with gloves on is far more practical in the field.
5.Hip flask
The hip flask is part of the driven day. It comes out between drives, gets passed along the line and usually holds sloe gin or something home-made that its owner is proud of.
It is small, needs no sizes and is easy to wrap. That makes it one of the simplest shooting gifts for him when you do not shoot yourself.
What to look for: Choose stainless steel with a hinged, captive top, so the cap cannot be dropped in the mud. A small funnel makes filling much easier.
6.Waterproof leather boots
A day with wet feet is a shooter's worst day. Good boots keep him dry through mud, dew and ditches, support the ankle and let him walk for hours. Leather boots suit rough shooting and stalking. Wellingtons are the usual choice for a wet driven day.
Of everything on this list, boots need the most care, because fit differs from one foot to the next.
What to look for: Find out the make and size he wears now. If you cannot, buy from a shop that exchanges or give a voucher.
7.Real 12 cal shotgun shell crystal tumbler set of 2
A shoot day ends indoors, and it takes two glasses. After the last drive there is a fire, a drink and the day told all over again. One glass is for the man who shot. The other is for whoever made the day what it was: the keeper, the neighbour on the next peg, the father who taught him.
That is why it works as a gamekeeper gift at the end of the season, as a present from a son to the dad he shoots with, or as a thank-you to a shoot captain. It says "we did this together".
The set holds two 355 ml crystal tumblers, each with a real 12 cal shotgun shell set into the glass by hand, in a padded black gift box. If you are looking for gamekeeper Christmas gifts, a shoot prize or gifts for game shooters, it is ready to hand over as it is.
8.Cartridge bag or belt
Cartridges have to be carried somehow. A leather or canvas cartridge bag sits on the shoulder and is quick to load from on a busy drive. A belt spreads the weight on a walked-up day and keeps both hands free.
Buy the bag or the belt, and leave the cartridges to him. They are sold to certificate holders, and every shooter has his own preferred load anyway.
What to look for: A belt is made for one bore size, so check whether he shoots a 12 bore or a 20 bore. A bag suits either.
9.Camouflage for the pigeon hide
Camouflage belongs to pigeon shooting and wildfowling, where the whole point is not to be seen. Good clothing is quiet when he moves, cuts the wind and does not get heavy in the rain.
On a formal driven day, men wear tweed and muted greens instead. Find out which kind of shooting he does before you buy.
What to look for: Start with low-risk pieces such as a hat, a neck gaiter or a face veil if you do not know his jacket size.
10.Ear defenders
Hearing lost to gunfire does not come back. Clay grounds expect shooters to wear hearing protection, and most game shooters now wear it as well.
Among gifts for clay shooters, this is the one that says "I am thinking of you" most plainly. Electronic models cut the bang but let speech through, so he can still hear the trapper or the next man on the line.
What to look for: Slim cups do not catch on the stock when the gun is mounted. Add a pair of shooting glasses for a clay shooter.
11.Tweed flat cap
The flat cap is the shooting man's hat. It keeps rain and low sun out of his eyes and stays on when he swings the gun.
It also gets worn to the pub, to the point-to-point and on the dog walk, which makes it one of the more useful country gifts for him.
What to look for: Caps are sold by head size. Check the label in one he already owns, or measure it, before you order.
12.Real .308 bullet coffee and tea mug
The cartridge tells the story of the driven day. The bullet tells the stalker's. A deer stalker may crawl and wait for hours for one careful shot. The real .308 bullet set into this glass stands for that single chance. Nothing is hurried, and the shot is taken only when he is sure.
It is a mug for a reason. A stalking morning starts in the dark with tea from the flask. This is the mug for those mornings, and for the shooter who does not drink, it does the job the whisky glasses do.
It is a 340 ml glass mug with a handle and a real .308 bullet set into the body by hand. It suits tea and coffee and comes in its own gift box. It is a good choice as a gift for rifle shooters, deer stalkers and target shooters.
13.Gun slip
The gun is the most valuable thing he owns in the field, and it needs protecting between drives and in the car. A padded slip keeps off knocks, rain and dust.
Leather and canvas slips are the smart choice for game days.
What to look for: A slip is chosen by barrel length, so find that out first. A full-length zip lets the slip be opened flat to dry.
14.Gundog kit
For a man who works a dog, a present for the dog counts for more than one for himself. A slip lead, a whistle and a set of training dummies are all inexpensive and all get used.
A towelling drying coat for the journey home and a folding water bowl are just as welcome. A wet spaniel in the back of the car is a familiar problem.
What to look for: Find out the breed and rough size of the dog. Coats and leads are chosen to fit.
15.Shooting gloves
Numb fingers and safe gun handling do not go together. A shooting glove has to be warm and still thin enough to feel the trigger and the safety catch.
Fine leather gloves, some with a fold-back trigger finger, strike that balance.
What to look for: Look for a close fit and a cuff that fastens at the wrist. One thin pair and one warm pair cover the season.
Who are you buying for?
- Shooting gifts for dad: binoculars or the shotgun shell crystal tumbler set of 2. One goes out with him, the other is on the table when he gets home.
- Shooting gifts for him, as a husband or boyfriend: a field knife, waterproof boots or the shotgun shell whisky glass. Add ear defenders and you have told him you care about him as well.
- For a shooting partner: a flask, a hip flask or the bullet mug. It will be there on the next outing.
- Gifts for clay shooters: ear defenders, shooting glasses and a cartridge bag. Clay pigeon shooting gifts work best when they go to the ground with him every week.
- For the gamekeeper: gloves, a flask or the boxed crystal set from the whole syndicate.
- For the man who has everything: step away from kit. A shotgun shell glass or something for the dog carries the least risk here.
Why are there no guns, cartridges or scopes on this list?
A shotgun is fitted to the person: stock length, weight and balance are chosen to suit his build. In the UK a gun is also held on a certificate, so it cannot be bought as a surprise, and cartridges are sold to certificate holders. Scopes and chokes depend on the exact gun. If in doubt, ask a gun shop what applies.
If you want to give something connected with the gun, a slip, a cleaning kit or a voucher from his gun shop is the better choice. A lesson or a round of clays at his local ground works too.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best shooting gifts for men?
The best shooting gifts for men are hard-wearing kit for the field or a lasting shooting-themed piece for the home. Popular choices are binoculars, a hip flask, a cartridge bag and a whisky glass with a real 12 cal shotgun shell set into it. Guns and cartridges are tied to his certificate, so they do not work as a surprise.
What are good clay pigeon shooting gifts for him?
Ear defenders, shooting glasses, a cartridge bag and a lesson or voucher at his local ground are the practical choices. For something to keep, the real 12 cal shotgun shell glass mug is a 340 ml mug for the tea after the last stand.
Is the shotgun shell in the glass real?
Yes. Bellore uses a real 12 cal shotgun shell. It is set into the glass body by hand and can be seen from both the outside and the inside of the glass.
What does a shotgun cartridge glass mean as a gift?
It shows respect for a shooter's patience and judgement. The shell in the glass stands for the shot he chose not to take. The set of two stands for the people who share the day with him. The bullet mug tells the stalker's story of one careful shot and an early start.
What is a good gamekeeper gift?
A gamekeeper is outdoors in all weathers, so warm gloves, a flask and a hip flask are always used. For an end-of-season or Christmas present from the Guns, the shotgun shell crystal tumbler set of 2 comes boxed and needs no sizes.
Which glass suits a shooter who does not drink whisky?
There are two glass mugs for tea and coffee: the shotgun shell mug and the real .308 bullet mug, both 340 ml. For a beer drinker there is the 465 ml shotgun shell beer glass.
Are the glasses dishwasher safe, and do they come in a gift box?
Yes. The glasses can go in the dishwasher, and every product comes in its own gift box.
When do people give shooting gifts?
Mostly before the game season opens in the autumn, at Christmas, on birthdays and on Father's Day. Kit is best given before the season, a keepsake at the end of it.
For more glasses with shotgun shells and bullets, have a look at the Bullet Edition collection.