Field Tests

If there's a wingshooter on your holiday shopping list or you simply want to indulge yourself with a piece of best-quality gear, consider The World's Finest Brown Leather Shooting Gloves from Galazan. The immodest name is indicative of the first-rate materials and design incorporated into this excellent hand-wear.

On the trigger-hand glove, deerskin uppers and goatskin where the palm and fingers contact the gun provide a comfortable fit and sure, tactile grip. A cutout allows for slipping the trigger finger through the glove, and a Velcro patch holds the finger portion of the glove back and out of the way. The forehand glove has a reinforcing layer of deerskin sewn over the palm and undersides of the fingers, offering extra protection from abrasion and hot barrels. On both gloves an elasticized lower wrist and a two-position snap-closure strap on top allow for a secure fit and cinching the wrist against the elements.

I tested these gloves during the summer clays season, and they lived up to their billing. They allowed me to maintain a secure grip on my gun while protecting my thumb and fingers from warming barrels. Conversely, the gloves prevented perspiration from coming in contact with gunmetal, protecting it from potential damage. Although I didn't use the gloves in extreme heat, my hands remained cool in temperatures around 80°. My guess is that the gloves will come into their own this fall when I'm walking windy prairies and busting brush for grouse. They also would be ideal for hot-barreled driven action or other high-volume shooting. One thing to keep in mind is that these gloves do run large-my smallish hands had wiggle room in a pair of Smalls-so order on the conservative side, to avoid extra material in the fingers sticking up over the gun barrels or otherwise detracting from your hold.

The World's Finest Brown Leather Shooting Gloves would make a wonderful addition to any shooter's kit. They are available in sizes S through XL, in right- or left-handed versions, and cost $50 (plus shipping). They also come in an elegant, gold-lined padded presentation case.

For more information, contact Galazan, PO Box 1692, New Britain, CT 06051; 800-515-4867 or 860-225-6581; www.connecticutshotgun.com.