Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2020 i Sporting Rifle

Thankfully shooting will be allowed to continue under the new government guidelines and thanks must go to BASC, the National Gamekeepers Organisation and Countryside Alliance for their tireless efforts to ensure shooting and stalking will be able to continue moving forward. Outdoor recreational activities, including shooting, target shooting, recreational and essential pest control, recreational deer stalking, wildfowling and game shooting are allowed under new rules in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. However, there are some differences between the devolved governments and these are noted below: New government regulations came into force in England on 14 September restricting social gatherings to no more than six people both indoors and outdoors. However, after substantial work by BASC and other organisations with government ministers and pro-shooting MPs, shooting has been included in…

This month, we are really working hard on the female cull. I like to get straight onto the hinds and does as soon as the season opens. It is a great time to stalk, and I can’t think of many nicer things than being out on the hill, or in the wood, on a crisp November morning with the rifle and Zosia. During the first two weeks of last season, I was mostly up on the open hill with clients. We have regular guests who like to come for the start of the hind season, and a couple of regulars who book the last few days on stags and the first couple of days on hinds. So it was early November before I got back round to Garryloop, and I…

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Many years ago, I owned a Sako Model 85 in .223 calibre that served me well in my fox control work. I seem to remember that it was one of those rifles that had been developed to such a high degree that it was pretty well faultless, so I was keen to see how a far more modern Sako stacked up against my golden oldie! Some countries seem to have the knack of producing extremely good rifles. The Scandinavian countries, Finland in particular, have this ability. It is hard to understand why, but many of their products, not just rifles, seem to be uncluttered and, above all, fit for purpose. I must say that following shooting websites, YouTube and the shooting press, it’s hard to find serious criticism of any…

Primary Arms are offering a full armoury of optics and accessories through the Sportsman Gun centre, with innovative new reticle styles like the ACSS Predator spearheading the concepts. This reticle, mounted here in a 1-6x24 fast target acquisition and engagement optic, is ideal for point and shoot activities on low power before more concerned shots are taken with the advantages of the 6x zoom and multiple range holdover reticle. The 30mm tube is smoothly finished hard anodised aluminium with parallel objective body shrouding recessed multicoated lens within a supplied flip-up cap. The central spherical saddle carries windage and elevation dials under screw caps, each offering ½ MOA clicks or approximately half an inch at 100 yards for primary zeroing. Clicks are positive and secure, but remember, this is a scope…

Following their announcement of the WCP squads for 2020/21, British Shooting has also confirmed the selection of athletes and coaches onto the Rifle Talent Pathway for 2020/21. The purpose of the recruitment process was to form the Academy to further develop the Rifle Pathway for aspiring World Class shooting athletes. Dean Leak, Talent Pathway manager, said: “We are extremely excited about the future of rifle shooting in the UK. The number of applicants reflects positively the intent from athletes and coaches to wish to be involved in the British Shooting Academies. 16 coaches and 33 athletes applied to be part of this evolution of the Pathway. “The British Shooting coaches have worked tirelessly to deliver a fantastic process and more importantly, a brilliant programme of support for the next 12…

SPORTING RIFLE ISSUE 188 On sale 12 November Stalking in a winter wonderland Thomas Nissen is on the driven hunt for moose, boars, and lynx in the snowy forests of Latvia The Element of surprise Mark Ripley explores the flagship Nexus riflescope from Element Optics Viking victories Chris Dalton looks back at the kit that has served him well through 2020 Tikka chance on me Mike Powell gets to grips with our ‘Rifle of the Year’ – the Tikka T3X PLUS… • On Test: New optics from Zeiss and HIK Vision • Your questions answered by the experts • The ultimate festive gift guide • News, views and latest talking points SUBSCRIBE NOW Never miss a copy of your favourite shooting monthly again – subscribe to Sporting Rifle and save…

The quintessential British colonial, living a life of adventure abroad, is now thought to be confined to the writing of Kipling and his contemporaries. But Hilary Hook, alive until just 30 years ago, strove to embody the adventurous character, with a full life abroad as a soldier, hunter and raconteur. Born in 1917, Hook’s lifelong hankering for adventure and excitement began as a mischievous boy in Devon – whether hanging from cliffs to collect birds’ eggs, or reading Kipling’s tales as he lay by the log fire in a well-to-do home. Boxing lessons from a friendly local were accompanied by nights snaring rabbits. His thirst for hunting developed at boarding school, where a ride with the hunt was used as a motivator to get him to knuckle down. Hook did…

New Covid-19 measures in Scotland will “cut the legs from under stalking businesses” says the Association of Deer Management Groups (ADGM). Following the Scottish governments late u-turn over the ‘one household rule’, ADGM Chairman Richard Cooke also suggested that the new restrictions will have a severe impact on Scotland’s stalking businesses just as the stag season gets underway properly. “This really cuts the legs from under many rural businesses throughout Scotland that rely on let stalking income to fund deer management, particularly to pay the wages of regular and seasonal employees,” Mr Cooke remarked. “The new restrictions on self-catering accommodation, requiring that only one family can stay in rented holiday accommodation at any one time, will now prevent many planned stalking visits by people from Scotland, elsewhere in the UK…

Following correspondence with Defra, BASC has received assurances that next year’s general licences for England will be drafted by October and made public in November prior to being enacted on 1 January 2021. Defra has completed its analysis of its review and is consulting with Natural England before sharing its proposals with stakeholders. BASC, meanwhile, has stated that it will be “working hard to ensure the licences are fit for purpose and future-proof.” A statement added: “There is still concern that unnecessary red tape surrounding protected sites (for example SSSIs) will limit the ability of general licences to work efficiently. The general licence system was introduced to allow the control of legally-protected species with limited regulatory burden. BASC, along with other countryside organisations, will continue to fight for this ability…

Shooting has been added to a list of sports that are exempt from the latest Covid-19 restrictions in England. The ‘rule of six’ restrictions, brought in on 14 September in England, could have disrupted game shooting which usually includes eight or more people. However, the exemption will allow shooting to operate under Covid-safe guidance. Under the new rules, any outdoor physical activity which requires a licence issued by a public body for the activity itself, or for equipment used during the activity, are exempt from gathering limits. For shooting, this means that where the organisers or a participant holds a valid shotgun or firearms certificate, there is no limit to the number of people who can meet while outdoors. Employees, such as beaters, pickers-up and loaders are also exempt from…

“It is difficult to explain, and certainly impossible to describe, the mingled feelings of excitement and interest of the enthusiastic sportsman who, after perhaps a couple of hours’ toil and stratagem, finds himself for the first time within eighty or a hundred yards of a noble stag, as it raised its head majestically to the heavens for a moment when it realises the possibility of danger.” Tom Speedy wrote these words in 1920 in his incredible depiction of the time. His book, The Natural History of Sport in Scotland with Rod and Rifle, chronicles the Scottish landscape in intricate detail, offering a portal into a past mostly forgotten, or at the very least willingly buried. Multiple chapters on the foes of game species, and particularly the open persecution of raptors,…

There are many good reasons for the great enjoyment that deerstalkers derive from their pursuit of deer. High among them are the unique opportunities that stalkers have to enjoy the countryside in its quieter hours around dawn and dusk. Strolling through the purple loosestrife, tracking through the dew and appreciating nature undisturbed all have to be high on the list of deerstalker’s perks. However, such nature study does not stand comparison with the absorbing interest provided by the engagement of the rifle with the deer he hunts. The lessons to be learned from these encounters are limitless. I remember years ago hosting a friend with whom I had not previously stalked. We were after fallow does. Our morning outing had been unproductive so, after breakfast, I installed my friend in…

You can go for weeks feeling pretty sure there are no foxes around, and then suddenly the hairs on the back of your neck start to tingle. It’s a kind of foxing sixth sense – you just know a fox has moved in. Before long you start hearing the odd report from farm workers and villagers: “I think I saw something slipping down the hedge,” or “There was a fresh fox scat on the track this morning.” That’s what happened on my farm just recently. I wasn’t at all surprised, as Colin the keeper had just put the partridges out in their pens in each cover, which is bound to attract any fox that’s within scenting distance. We put our birds down late here, because we like to wait until…

No foxer can be without a reliable night vision or thermal set-up. With so many options on the market, Mark Ripley tests one of the new boys, the X Holo HL13 from InfiRay Thermal and night vision products have quickly become very popular with stalkers and particularly fox and vermin shooters in the past five years, and as a result have drastically improved in terms of design and performance along the way. Due to this increased demand, more manufacturers have joined the market bringing increased competition and more competitive pricing. Five to ten years ago a night vision scope with only basic functions and the ability to see little over 100 yards would have cost you perhaps £1,000, yet now you can purchase an all-singing alldancing day/night scope with the…

My mate Rick is an interesting rooster on account of being a bit one-eyed. Actually, he’s a lot one-eyed – the full monty. 100 per cent. One of his eyes was shot out while on active duty in the Sibling Wars of ‘64, when his older 12-year-old brother fired a hand-propelled missile at the advancing four-year-old. Big brother thought the one-sided stone fight was a good idea at the time – Rick did not. In fact, it would be many, many years before he’d allow himself to get stoned again! Whether being ‘hunted’ as a child shaped Rick in any way is open to conjecture, but he did mature into a fine hunter despite the odds. The injury had left him ‘handicapped’. His lack of depth perception meant he couldn’t…

STEYR ARMS ZEPHYR II The Zephyr II was announced by Steyr in 2016 and continues to be a staple in the UK market. Available in .17HMR .22LR and .22WMR, the award-winning Zephyr II is a firm favourite of target shooters and small-bore fanatics alike. It has a 19.7” matte black, slightly tapered barrel and a gorgeous European Walnut stock with a pistol grip complete with fish scale pattern engraved on the grip and the forend. It is bolt action with a matte black, low profile bolt handle. Weighing in at 2.65kg, the Zephyr II is lightweight, especially when you consider the walnut stock. It features a five-shot detachable magazine, single-stage trigger and tang safety. In short, the Zephyr II certainly lives up to the reputation of its predecessor. RRP from…

Blaser 8.5 x 55 The 8.5x55 Blaser is ideal for moderated rifles, and offers long-range trajectory and wide field of use. Even with barrel lengths of less than 50cm, the calibre reaches ideal ballistic values that are normally only achievable with longer barrels for high-performance calibres. Blaser Sporting ■ 01494 481004 blaser-group.com/uk Howa Bravo Howa Bravo’s precision-made chassis allows the rifle to adjust while remaining rigid. The aluminium build will not allow the forend to flex, but does allow for modular design with compatible accessories. Ideal for targets/varmint shooting, and available in 6.5 or .308. Price: From £1,395 Highland Outdoors ■ 0345 099 0252 highlandoutdoors.co.uk Swarovski NL Pure A huge, revolutionary field of view combined with ground-breaking design in premium-class binoculars – Swarovski’s new NL Pure has a sophisticated optical system…

RIMFIRE Brno .22LR bolt action with Leupold VX1 3-9x40 scope and Parker Hale mod. £200. Gavin Jones 01646 603814 07967 284704 (Wales) CZ452 American .22RF bolt action, 10-shot mag. BSA Sweet17 3-12x40 scope and mod (bipod not included). Good condition. With 500 rounds. £150. Selling due to retirement. Patrick Plavin 01303 863891 07934 597060 (Kent) BRNO .22 RF bolt action, five-shot magazine, ASI Super scope 4x40, wide angle image. All as new with silencer. £275 ono. Michael Darlison 01189 783202 miketat3@yahoo.co.uk (Berkshire) CENTREFIRE Sauer 202 Bolt Action .300 Win Mag. Synthetic stock, sling, bipod, moderator. Swarovski Habicht 4-16x50 scope. Sauer airline case. Bought for wild boar, used just four times. Plus 100 rounds Sako 220gn. £950 the lot. James Radcliffe 01924 402697 Jr_unionroad@btopenworld.com (West Yorkshire) Blaser R93 .308 black edition,…

After a year of negotiation, London gunmakers John Rigby & Co has announced a new partnership with family owned business, Traditional English Guncases (TEG London). From its inception, TEG London has attracted attention from many of the world’s premier gun and rifle makers. Using only the finest quality materials, their master craftsmen take pride in producing exquisitely detailed and robust gun cases of quintessential English elegance and style. The partnership agreement will see Rigby provide additional financial backing for TEG to support the small family business expand in the gun trade, while continuing to operate with all the same values and morals. TEG managing director Joseph Tomlin explained: “It gives us an opportunity to grow, more than we could as a small family business. We can achieve much more having…

Sportsman Gun Centre has announced the addition of new Field Representative for trade sales, Craig Toft, who joined the team in September. Craig joins the SGC with a wealth of experience from previous roles within the shooting industry, with over 13 years in total. Originally starting within the retail sector, Craig eventually moved his expertise into wholesale, and has continued to do so with great results for the past three years. Craig Toft commented: “I’m very excited to be with the SGC to continue working relationships with clients and to meet new ones along the way. This is such an exciting time to be working in the field with Pard Night Vision and CZ.” Gary Lamburn, MD added: “We would like to welcome Craig to the team and we look…

Who among us could ever have imagined that this year would turn out so strangely? That coronavirus has forced us to the realisation that we are powerless against the invisible. We take the advice of our governments and virologists to heart and make the best of every situation. Let us hope that soon a means will be found that protects us and that we can resume life as we once knew it – although it will never be like before. For the second year in a row we had a group of seven dogs that were prepared to do their gun dog exams at the beginning of March and the end of April. Seven passionate trainers signed up to take what we call the TA test. In January 2019 the…

With all the lockdown restrictions in place, I didn’t get to compete in any Precision Rifle competitions this year. I had entered another European-based sniper comp for serving and retired Military and Law Enforcement Personnel, but this too was cancelled. So the net was cast a little wider, and me and a buddy got chatting about what competitions were out there that looked interesting. We were looking for a challenge and something far enough away on the calendar to allow the corona pandemic time to calm. The Mammoth Sniper Challenge, which is scheduled for January 2021, seemed to fit the bill. Most of you have probably never heard of the Mammoth Sniper Challenge, and to be honest it is something that only really hit my radar about two years ago,…

A voicemail from a farmer first thing in the morning is invariably a sign that a fox has been misbehaving in the night, and someone has woken up to the results of its mischief. This message told a common story. This time it related to a property bordering a farm where I regularly control foxes. As a rule, the numbers there are always fairly low, partly due to my efforts and the fact that foxes are also controlled on the surrounding farms. This particular property bordered the lower wheat stubble fields of the farm, with nothing more than a wire fence separating the two. The gardens to this house are home to the owner’s chickens and ducks, and it was here that disaster had struck. Despite the poultry being shut…

Let’s talk about my friend Bob. We don’t see Bob around here much. Not in the UK, anyway. Even stateside now, Bob – a.k.a. the .257 Roberts – cuts a fading figure. The original design by NH Roberts (a well known writer and calibre-smith of his day) was chambered in custom rifles as far back as 1928. Seeing the potentially impressive scope of the calibre, Remington released a commercial version in 1934, altering the shoulder angle from 15 to 20 degrees but maintaining the Roberts name in honour of the original inventor. Affectionately known as Bob by its followers, it is limited in factory rifle options today, with Kimber one of few manufacturers to offer this great round. It has been described as the “one of the most useful cartridges…

Wild and Game are a not-forprofit company supplying frozen game products so you can enjoy delicious recipes all year round. Venison tagliatelle bake SERVES SIX Ingredients For the ragu: 500g minced venison1 onion, finely diced1 stick celery, finely diced2 tsp minced garlic4 rashers bacon, finely chopped1 carrot, finely diced1 glass of wine – white or red will do2 tins chopped tomatoes2 tbsp tomato puree300 ml beef stockSalt and pepperA glug or two of olive oil For the sauce: 1 litre milk1 onion1 bay leaf3 cloves50g butter50g flour150g cheddar1 tsp soy sauceSalt and pepper Other ingredients: 500g dry weight tagliatelle50g parmesan50g cheddar2 handfuls panko breadcrumbs Method…

Only a few hours previously, we had landed at the small Sibiu airport in the centre of Romania. From there we drove for three to four hours towards the Eastern Carpathians, located in Transylvania. On this trip, Mark Longhi Andreasen was off hunting with the outfitter Arpad Gyeresis and his son Arpad Gyeresis Jr. Until World War II, this region was Hungarian territory and is inhabited by many Hungarians to this day. It's clearly a financially stable region – like Hungary itself – and it does not appear as poor as many other places in Romania or Bulgaria. INFINITE WILDERNESS Behind the first hills, where the valley turns into actual forests, a more or less untouched wilderness extends 100 kilometres towards the Hungarian border. In these almost infinite forests –…

BISLEY THINSULATE MITTS A perennial favourite, these cleverly designed mitts double up as a full glove for when you want that extra warmth and a mitten glove for when you want your fingers free. A large cap of thinsulate materials sits unobtrusively on the back of the mittens ready to be rolled over the fingers as and when required. A great example of simple design that is effective, and the thinsulate material is excellent at keeping the warmth in and the cold out. RRP £8.99 John Rothery Wholesale 023 9224 5350 sales@bisley-uk.com RAM WINTER GLOVES It’s essential that you protect your hands while hunting in the depths of winter. The risk of frostbite and other conditions, in some circumstances, can be life threatening. The Deerhunter Ram winter gloves combine reinforced…

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 sixday 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…

Although this turbulent year is speeding towards its end, shooting is perhaps at its very best. For the deer enthusiasts among us the females of all deer species are in season. In my own area where there are only roe, the numbers have increased significantly. And for the last couple of months when out on foxing and other matters this increase has been obvious. However, from experience I am only too well aware that the moment the season opens most of the does will melt away! For the game shooters their season reaches its peak in November. Many shoots over the last few years have waited until this month before they really get going. On the last shoot I keepered they have had a few boundary days but will start…