Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2020 i Sporting Rifle

As I write, the current pandemic sweeping the globe – coronavirus, or Covid-19 – is forcing countries to take measures to protect their citizens that escalate day by day. At the moment the UK isn’t in full lockdown, like Wuhan or Italy, but since we are nine or 10 days behind Italy’s infection development it’s not hard to imagine we could very well be in the near future. Europe has already announced a range of sweeping restrictions on all non-essential travel, days after the US extended the list of countries from which incoming flights are to be banned. The advice from the UK government has been both somewhat vague, and in places contradictory. People have been advised to work from home if they can, self-isolating as far as possible to…

It all happened so quickly! Our stalker friend – who shall remain nameless – was gralloching two young muntjac in the field when it started to rain. He rushed the first one and then gralloched the second. In cutting off the last leg of the second beast he sliced into the knuckles of his left hand. He knew at once that the cut in his middle finger was a deep one. On checking his injured fingers he noticed the tip of the middle finger was locked straight whilst the other fingers were working perfectly although bleeding heavily. He drove home one handed and was then driven to his local hospital, by which time his fingers were very swollen. Treatment in A&E comprised assessment, wound cleaning under local anaesthetic and then…

LEUPOLD VX-5HD RIFLESCOPE The Leupold VX-5HD offers extended low-light hunting performance, so you can make the most of every second.. As the lightest, most rugged 5:1 riflescope in its class, a VX-5HD features Leupold’s exclusive Argon/Krypton gas blend, which nearly eliminates the effects of thermal shock. Blackened lens edges reduce light diffusion and the fast-focus eyepiece ensures a generous eyebox and superior field of view. The two-turn CDS ZeroLock 2 dials deliver accuracy and added elevation every time. Viking 01423 780810 vikingshoot.com LEICA MAGNUS 1.5-10X42I Thanks to its 6.7-fold zoom factor, the Magnus 1.5–10x42i is as multi-faceted as hunting itself. This riflescope is a universal all-rounder for stalking, hunting, at long or close range, and offers maximum versatility and superior accuracy in any situation. The crisp red dot and finely…

One of the big take-aways from the non-lead rifle debate, is the performance and availability of smaller calibre options. That may mean a shift in the kind of cartridges we look to in the UK. Larger diameter, faster shooting options may become the norm to account for the current technology in non-lead rifle ammo. Indeed, this could be the very reason cited when your next FAC variation is on the table. I have always been a fan of the 300Win Mag. With this in mind, I re-visit a cartridge which may now see far more take up on the back of this shift. The advent of short magnums was, at the time, a revolution. Many of the popular cartridges found themselves shrunk down into short magnums, pitched as the slayers…

SPORTING RIFLE ISSUE 181 On sale 30 April A Living Legend Chris Parkin casts his eye over the Legend Tactical T Series Spotting Scope Raring to go With the roe in pre-rut, Chris Dalton turns his attention to the red stag More river monsters Thomas Nissen’s hippo hunt will help with his next adventure – crocodile hunting Big Talk Talking to the greats of the industry on the Shooting Show sofa PLUS… • Tested: Swarovski Z8i • Leica’s first hunting thermal optic • Top picks for rifles, ammo, scopes and binoculars • The best of summertime stalks • News, views, competitions and offers SUBSCRIBE NOW Never miss a copy of your favourite shooting monthly again – subscribe to Sporting Rifle and save money every month, as well as getting the…

If you have a news story, email ollie.harvey@futurenet.com The new unit combines Zeiss’ style, form and function with a 384x388 thermal sensor and a 1280x960 HD LCOS display for crisp clear thermal imaging at extended ranges. However this optic also has the ability to detect quarry and game in complete darkness at distances over a kilometre, providing crisp clear imaging, via the HD LCOS display. Ashley Thompson from UK Zeiss Premier Dealers, Scott Country International, said: "We are very excited about the launch of the new Zeiss DTI Thermal Imaging range, knowing the quality and passion behind Zeiss Hunting products using them for deer stalking for most of my life. We fully expect the Zeiss DTI to represent the brand at their best – with a high performance thermal imager…

I suppose it was almost inevitable! Going back about a year I lost a patch of ground I had shot over for half a century when it was sold. The new people, although extremely pleasant were, to put it kindly, not true country folk. They had sold their business up country for a small fortune and, as their children had fledged, moved to Devon in search of the “good life”. Nowadays that seems to be the norm round here. The problem is, once again putting it kindly, the vast majority of these people haven’t a clue as to what they are doing. Running a successful engineering set-up in the Midlands is no real basis for establishing a smallholding in the heart of the countryside. Anyway, my original overtures as to…

GOT A QUESTION? Contact: ollie.harvey@futurenet.com or post your question to: Sporting Rifle, Future Publishing Ltd, Units 1-3, Sugarbrook Court, Aston Road, Bromsgrove B60 3EX. FOXING Q A couple of times recently I’ve called foxes in quite successfully only to have them leg it at the last moment. Have you ever tried to shoot them on the run? A Mark says: Unless I’m using a shotgun, no never! Unless it’s in daylight trying to shoot a fox on the run with a rifle is not only pretty nigh on impossible but is extremely dangerous. During the day, it is possible but you must exercise great care and caution.. If, as you say, you are getting foxes to come in but then they take off I would suggest your technique needs looking…

This months review rifle comes from Howa; a model 1500 in calibre 300 AAC BLK (300 Blackout) a new creation which is effectively a 7.62x35mm – perhaps a modern take on the infamous 7.62x39? Howa rifles don’t need any introduction, their rifles have been finding a strong following for many years now. A tried and tested two lug design action, with a neater flat bottomed action and a built in recoil lug – to my mind this is much easier for bedding the action and is far simpler for any customisation work that involves cracking the barrel out; these are just my personal findings. When any rifle gathers a good following the resulting increase in available accessories will always help both shooter and the shooting industry alike. The Howa 1500…

It may seem a regular fixture in the British Shooting calendar, but the Northern Shooting Show is still a relative newcomer when compared to other firearms events. It is just four years since the show was first conceived and in that time it has grown into one of the most essential events on the UK shooting show circuit. Show organiser Richard Stokoe explains the success, as his team gear up for their fifth show. “We put it down to three things; the location, time of the year and the venue. There was clearly a demand for it, we knew that there was a niche and that shooters in the North of England were not being represented with a specialist show. “The venue is perfect – we are a hybrid show…

ENGLAND CHILDERLEY SPORTING Chinese water deer and muntjac specialist. We manage over 30,000 acres of land in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. We can offer 1:1 guided stalking to all capabilities and training for beginners. We have a zeroing range up to 250 metres along with our simulated stalking area. Contact: Paul Childerley 07715 638934 paul@childerleysporting.co.uk www.childerleysporting.co.uk MARK BOULTON Driven boar hunting throughout Europe and night shooting in Sussex. Groups or individuals. Various packages offered from day trips to France to six-day all-inclusive trips to Hungary. Contact: Mark Boulton 07854 985006 markthedeerstalker@hotmail.co.uk SHOOTING SH A long-established syndicate of 15 years with 19 varied blocks. Red, roe, muntjac and fallow deer with 10 walked-up days as added value plus rough shooting in your annual fee of £750 first year, dropping to £600…

This month, in honour of International Women’s day, which was celebrated as I write this, I wanted to take the opportunity to highlight the lives of three incredible women, forging an uncommon path for their time, in the wilds of an emerging North America. Their lives deserve far more space than that which I can offer here, and I only hope that this serves to show that a quest for greater equality is driven from a history which was far less welcoming than it is today. It was the sheer determination of women such as those I am writing about here, which helped forge a progressive future of inclusion. I also hope it serves as a small light of inspiration to any women who read these pages. Historically, the U.S.…

The gun trade was left reeling after IWA announced the postponement of the event – just a week before it was set to open – due to fears over coronovirus (Covid-19). Exhibitors have subsequently been informed that “NürnbergMesse have decided revise the planned dates of 6-9 March 2020 to new permanent dates in the autumn. The new showdates are 3-6 September 2020 – two weeks before the British and Countryman Show in Manchester. While a statement from the organisers said that the event could not be achieved “under the current circumstances.” In an update, NürnbergMesse bosses commented: “For the planning reliability of all exhibitors, visitors, partners and media: IWA OutdoorClassics will continue to take place in the period at the beginning of September in the following years, and no longer…

The sky was just starting to show the first signs of dawn as I quietly eased open the footpath gate out on to the hill. This gate latch always grates unless it’s pushed forward at the same time as opening; on a still morning like this the sound carries across the valley. Although it was still too dark to clearly see the flock below in the valley, I could hear the gentle calls of the lambs and ewes on the fresh morning air. We had lost two or three lambs here over the past week and I was keen to get to grips with the culprit. However after a couple of outings at night, I was yet to see anything more than a fleeting glimpse of a fox on the…

HORNADY PRECISION HUNTER The Hornady Precision Hunter factory-loaded ammunition boasts excellent accuracy, and excellent terminal performance. Loaded with ELD-X bullets, great care has been taken by the engineers at Hornady to ensure that this ammunition reaches its maximum ballistic potential. Precision Hunter ammunition uses clean burning propellants – meaning more time shooting, and less time cleaning. It’s also got Heat Shield tip technology – ideal for any hunting situation, due to its effective terminal performance at almost all ranges. Edgar Brothers 01625 613177 edgarbrothers.com RWS .243 WIN The .243 Win. provides a balanced performance for the hunting of light game. The ingenious co-ordination between the Tombak jacket and core material provides flexible adaptation to the target resistance. Whatever your quarry, the projectile mushrooms in a controlled manner and transfers energy…

During the one-hour drive from home to the farm we hunt regularly for red deer, fallow, feral goats, and wild pigs, my son Daniel and I discussed how we would hunt the 500-acre block this particular day. While the area is not huge, the terrain and vegetation is such a liquorice all sorts of contours, flats, terraces, creeks, forest, pine plantations, and grassy clearings, there are a multitude of angles from which to approach the hunt. Of course, the key determining driver is wind direction and that can never be predetermined. Strategising is an important aspect of hunting, because it allows for the sharing of knowledge and information, it is a great teaching tool for young hunters, and it lets you savour the hunt for longer. “We’ll nip up Jimmy’s…

May is a beautiful month when the countryside is at its pristine best; unfortunately the fresh growth that looks so good is also proving excellent cover for the wildlife that lives there. Fortunately for the stalkers among us, deer can still generally be spotted, despite the ever increasing cover. I suspect the muntjac will be difficult to spot but never having seen a live one, I can’t really comment! Certainly, the roebucks in their summer pelage are showing up rather well. The breeding vixens will have well-grown cubs with them, most of them will be weaned and with that the fox controllers among us will be getting busy. Over the last few years I have noticed that Callum and I are getting called out more and more. I guess this…