John Heagren Credits his Game Changing Success to the New St James

When time allows it, John loves to compete, “it’s in my nature to be the best I can” he tells us. Now shooting with the new St. James William Evans over-and-under shotgun, John has experienced game changing success. John credits the “all-round capability” of the new St. James shotgun following his winning success of the Simon Ward High Tower Challenge at the Game Fair, to include beating George Digweed’s pigeon score with 19/10 and tying with Lord James Percy on his namesake Grouse Challenge. 

The increasing popularity and demand for over-and-under models led to William Evans launching this completely new version of the St. James. By combining state-of-the-art Italian engineering with the traditional finishing skills for which the English gun trade is world-renowned, the new St. James represents an affordable, high quality shotgun of the type for which William Evan is known by sportsmen throughout the world.

Having had the gun a few months now, John has shot half a dozen registered shoots, with his average soaring above 95 with the new St. James shotgun, having been in the low 90’s before. He recently shot at the Royal Berkshire Grouse Challenge and shot 26 and 27 out of 30, putting him top of the scores so far. 

We asked John what features of the new St. James William Evans shotgun he thinks have contributed to his increasing success whilst using the gun, “it is the best handling and balanced gun I have ever picked up (and I have picked a few up).” He goes on to tell us what his fellow sportsmen have thought of the gun, “everyone I have shown it to cannot believe how well balanced it is. They then try it and without fail they find it incredibly easy to use, whether it be a fast-driven grouse or a high driven pheasant.” Being a competitive clay shooter himself, John and fellow clay shooters have also found the gun smooth and precise to shoot. 

Click to find out more about William Evans guns.