Buyer's guide

Bruce Marks, shooting coach and director at the Association of Professional Shooting Instructors, sorts through some of the shells that work well for him and his students

B ruce Marks knows a thing or two about shooting. He first shouldered a gun at the tender age of 12, fell in love with the sport and has ended up dedicating most of his life to it.

A career in the police as a firearms officer introduced him to the technical side of shooting, reinforced the importance of safety and saw him master of the legal framework that envelopes our sport. All very worthy qualities that have proved immensely useful during his time with the APSI. But anyone who's met Bruce will know that he adores shooting because, above all else, it's great fun.

Bruce loves the social side of the sport. The smiles and the laughs he's enjoyed with the friends he's made on grounds up and down the country. The beams on the faces of those he's coached as they've gone on to accomplish more.

"Getting to pass on my knowledge as a coach is the best," says Bruce. "I believe a good coach requires a lot of empathy, some sympathy and a bit of humour! Shooting has been great to me and now I enjoy putting something back by teaching the latest generation of shooters.