In the early 80s we were pleased when we could shoot ten pellets into the diameter of a five-pence piece at 30 yards.

Of course nowadays - most of us anyway - are still pleased to get ten pellets into the diameter of a five-pence piece at 30 yards, yet long-range accuracy has increased significantly.

Most shooters smugly assume that their new-fangled PCPs, top-drawer glass and superior knowledge and skill have given them the edge over their predecessors or older selves, who could barely dream of hitting a 40mm circle at 40 yards.

Yet the real reason that accuracy has increased is the simple fact that the old 5 pence was 23.59 mm in diameter, while the newer one is 18.00 mm.

That means the area of the new one is 254.47 square millimeters, while the old one is 437.06 square millimeters.

Thus air-rifles have become more than 70 per cent more accurate, simply because of the metal-saving actions of the Royal Mint.

It may not be too long before the 5 pence is phased out completely, and then air-rifles will become completely accurate in the manner of a laser being fired in a vacuum.

Judging by one recent post, this may already have happened.