Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2020 i Sporting Rifle

Vista Outdoors has secured the rights to Remington’s ammunition business and the Remington brand name. Remington filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US for the second time in two years this July, as it faced draining financial troubles related to the Sandy Hook school shootings and subsequent legal cases. Vista Outdoors paid $81 million for some parts of the Remington Outdoor Co Inc’s ammunition and accessories businesses, including the ammunition manufacturing facility in Lonoke, Arkansas and related intellectual property, including the Remington brand and trademarks. Other buyers include outdoor-gear retailer Sportsman’s Warehouse, which will acquire the Tapco brand of gun parts and accessories, and Nevada-based gunmaker Franklin Armory, which is reported to be snapping up Remington’s Bushmaster rifle brand. James Nicholson from Remington’s UK distributors Raytrade commented that,…

Rimfires, particularly the .22LR variety are probably my most-used and most-loved guns. A mooch around your ground with a decent .22LR slung over your shoulder is a great way to spend any spare time you have, and to steal a phrase from an old work colleague, let the ‘armed ramble’ commence! Most vermin and game can be taken with the .22LR – leaving longer range foxes and deer out of the equation obviously – the .22LR is a truly useful tool. The criteria it has to fulfill to satisfy my needs are: quiet; cheap to run; and hopefully light and deadly accurate. If the package is short and compact that’s even better, that’s my personal take on things, but I think this brief is not uncommon among vermin hunters across…

This month I really can’t top the fox story I read by Alexandra Shulman, former editor of Vogue magazine, writing in the Daily Mail. She went into her living room to watch TV only to find a fox curled up in her favourite spot on the sofa. It ignored her shrieks but eventually her boyfriend persuaded it to leave, back out through the open French windows. She sat down to catch up with her favourite programme. “The itching began on my bottom all of four minutes later,” she wrote. It got worse over the coming days, spreading all over her body despite all sorts of antihistamines, steroid tablets and what-have-you prescribed by her GP who had no idea of the real problem. To cut a long story short, some ten…

The looks on the faces of those milling about the jetty at Lake Rotoroa were uniform: mild admiration morphing through surprise to disbelief, before all agreeing that concern was more appropriate. My son was dressed similarly to the rest of the raggedy bunch; long lean legs under the skin of camo’ thermals, overdressed with baggy shorts, topped with Merino long sleeved vest, alpine jacket and gloves…all were dressed for New Zealand’s Southern Alps. What separated my son from the group was a decapitating smile – and his age. And his inexperience. He’d just idled off the jetty, nosed the 3.8m Smartwave plastic dinghy through 180 degrees to point south, and squirted the throttle of the ‘thirty-horse’ enough to pop the boat onto the plane. Accompanying him was a heavy pack,…

British Shooting have announced the appointment of Guy North as the new Interim Chair of British Shooting, following the recent retirement of John Harris. John successfully lead the organisation for nine years, and completed two terms as Chair, spanning two Olympic and Paralympic Cycles, including London 2012 and Rio 2016. John remarked: “It has been a privilege and honour to lead British Shooting for the past nine years. I am proud of what we have been able to achieve to drive the sport forward. We have punched way above our weight as an organisation and gained a reputation that I am very proud of.” British Shooting CEO, Hamish McInnes, said: “I’d just like to thank John sincerely for all the work, effort and time he’s put into leading the organisation…

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…

As I write this the years’ end is already in our sights, the evenings are getting dark ridiculously early (although that suits my foxing needs) and the less said about the weather the better! What a year this has been with the coronavirus affecting everyone in one way or another. From a shooting point of view I suppose we shooters have got off lightly compared with many other sports and pastimes although clearly there have been aspects of our shooting activities that have been impacted by the disease. Christmas is almost here but at the time of writing no-one has any idea as to what the situation will be when the height of the festive season arrives. Boxing Day has always been a focal point for many of us –…

With a second wave of Covid-19 cases seeming increasingly likely, local restrictions are curtailing shooting activities and even stopping them in places. But, for the majority, they are workable and shooting remains viable. BASC are among the organisations that have made every effort to reduce the complication by publishing several easy-to-follow documents and, to date, their coronavirus hotline has dealt with more than 1,500 emails. BASC England director, Dan Reynolds, commented: “It is hard to picture many positives coming out of 2020, but the determination and resilience of the shooting community has shone bright. Members and shoots I have spoken to remain positive, open to advice and willing to make the restrictions work for them while respecting the obligations placed on all of us. “Our efforts to ensure shooting was…

Highland Outdoors have announced a new initiative collaboration between ATN scopes and Ridgeline Clothing. The distributors are offering the end consumer a Ridgeline Clothing voucher for every MARS 4 sold between now and New Year’s Eve. Buyers will receive a voucher worth £384 for any purchase of the MARS 4 384x288 Thermal Scope; and £640 for the purchase of a MARS 4 640x480 Thermal Scope. The MARS 4 range starts from £2,448.99. To redeem a voucher, simply register your proof of purchase and serial number at Ridgeline Clothing and once processed, Highland will email your clothing voucher. www.ridgelineclothing.co.uk www.highlandoutdoors.co.uk…

CABER FEIDH This new smock might just be the ultimate garment for Scottish stalking. Silent, waterproof and windproof, it comes in a lightweight Argyll or Grampian tweed pattern with a zip in anti-midge veil that doesn’t impede vision. The wearer also benefits from a binocular pocket, interior pocket, deep side hand pockets and a zippered pocket on the back. With a flexible cut, the smock also has two mesh lined vents to allow a breeze through while keeping the mosquitoes out. RRP £565 (AUTUMN WEBSITE SALE: £510) Nomad UK 07736 255100 uk-nomad.my-shopify.com NIGHT MASTER CHRISTMAS KIT Have a Night Master Christmas with their latest quality gear. Stay warm and dry with the new water repellent beanie hat1. Get the easy-to-use QMD multidirectional lamp mount2 – just move the lamp yourself…

I have recently been supplied with the latest Heads Up Display (HUD) from Kestrel, to accompany my recent stalking forays. The new unit – used in collaboration with 5700 series weather/ballistics meters – features an ambidextrous mount to slide under your current scope without alteration on a Picatinny rail, before the HUD itself is clipped in position. Wireless connection with the mandatory Kestrel 5700 Elite is easy to configure and once done, connects reliably when both units are turned on. Once connected, the two devices are in immediate communication so with the Elite mounted in a wind vane, it automatically aligns to prevailing wind at its location, measuring relative compass bearing to the pre-programmed target. In accordance with the ballistic setup in use, the HUD reads out wind corrections and…

New rifle, new scope, ‘wind dots’, ‘speed drops’ and ‘quick millers’… are you ready? I recently got my hands on the Tikka UPR that was released early this year. Its arrival to market may have been somewhat overshadowed by the arrival of its stablemate the Sako S20, but I was keen to get my hands on the Tikka. I admired both rifles and must admit that the S20 does have lots of appeal. While the S20 features such as the integrated Picatinny rail and interchangeable skins appealed to me, I would lean more toward the target configuration as the thumbhole stock fascination has come and gone for me. On hearing about the Tikka UPR “Ultimate Precision Rifle” I was intrigued… the name conjured up images of a bull-barrelled action mated…

A heavy snowfall often means the stalking rifle is left in the cabinet, but for those of us with time-sapping work commitments, every opportunity to be out with the rifle and keep up with one’s cull plan must be taken – so let’s look at the practicalities of stalking in the snow. I tended to ease off the foxes from March, as their pelts are nigh on worthless during the summer. As I relied on the months from October through to March – when the foxes have grown their winter pelts – to produce a year’s income I knew I was in for a very busy time. I intend to examine the pelts of the foxes I shoot from now on as I suspect the heavy winter skins will be…

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,…

SPORTING RIFLE ISSUE 189 On sale 9 December New Year’s Resolutions We’ll be back in 2021 with the best gear of the year and all the expert advice you’ll need for stalking success More of the Saim Mark Ripley puts the Saim SCL35 thermal through a thorough foxing test Rugged recon Thomas Nissen is in the Macedonian mountains tracking Balkan Chamois Savage synopsis Mike Powell talks tactics as he reviews the Savage B22 Precision Rifle PLUS… • On Test: Pulsar’s Accolade • Stag stalking at Sutherland • More Mammoth challenges • The best trophies of 2020 • Tackling early season fox cubs • News, views and talking points SUBSCRIBE NOW Never miss a copy of your favourite shooting monthly again – subscribe to Sporting Rifle and save money every month, as…

With three categories and some fantastic prizes, nominations to the annual BASC Ladies’ Star of Shooting awards have opened, with three categories celebrating the outstanding contributions towards ladies’ shooting in 2020. As the awards enter their fourth year, and owing to their growing success, the 2020 awards will be split across three new categories: Target Shooting Star – including clay shooting, air rifle shooting, coaching and all the surrounding support. Field to Fork Star – these creative and resourceful game cooks and caterers. Game and Gamekeeping Star – not just for game shooters but also those who contribute to the planning and enjoyment of the day. Kathleen O'Connor, BASC Ladies' Shooting coordinator, said: "The awards are there to celebrate and recognise those who continue to make positive contributions to our…

The Sportsman Gun Centre has announced that they are now the sole UK and Ireland distributors for PARD Night Vision. As part of this new deal the Pard NV008 and NV007 have been tested and approved for UK sale. What’s more, these models have now achieved a British Standard to ensure that there are no further restrictions to their sale. All new Pard NV007s and NV008s will be fitted with a high resolution OLED Screen and will come with a two year warranty. All UK/Ireland models from September forwards will carry a Sportsman-specific serial number which will ensure that all supported models meet the British Standard. This will protect retailers and ensure Sportsman can offer the best possible service. In addition to the well known NV007 and NV008, the Sportsman…

For some time now, I have been working with Viking Arms and, as a result, using rifles out of the Haenel stable which, prior to this, were largely unknown to me. I’ve had the Jaeger 10 in .243 for over a year and it has been the rifle I have used exclusively throughout that time. I like how it handles and particularly like the stock which has an adjustable comb which you can raise and set exactly how you want it. If I am using a rifle then I use it all the time. I don’t believe in chopping and changing between one rifle or calibre; it’s much better to get to know exactly how one rifle performs in any given circumstance. When I set the rifle up for a…

It was only a matter of time before some of the big European names began to seriously flirt with night vision and thermal imaging, and my first encounter with such a product is the Zeiss DTI 3-35 thermal imaging monocular. There is no escaping that Zeiss have clearly displayed the device is made in China but before this seems a little worrisome, I have to say my overall opinion of the product is that its performance is a respectful reflection of the brand’s name and heritage – it is rather good in fact. This monocular is unlike many others in that it is truly ambidextrous. The tube is slightly tapered in shape with a tactile rubberised finish coating the tough inner metal structure. The taper makes up for hand size…

I’ve always been a die-hard Nightforce fan, and they are indeed high-quality scopes with a price tag to match. Having used one exclusively on my 260 as a long-range dayscope, I had no plans to use anything else. This all changed when out of the blue I received an email from Matt Dubber, a fellow YouTuber with the channel AirArmsHuntingSA. Matt’s email basically said he was working with a new company producing top end scopes that was as good as my Nightforce – or better – as well as considerably less money and asking whether I would like to test it. Better than my Nightforce? Really? Bet it’s not! Yeah, I’ll test it! I was quite confident that there would be aspects of this scope that didn’t cut it, but…

It is near impossible to pick a preference when it comes to shooting sticks and tripods. It’s not just a case of one being better than the other – each have their pros and cons. There is a vast array of various shooting aids available to assist in an accurate shot from a basic bipod to state of the art carbon fibre tripod system. To shoot accurately stability is key but there can also be a trade off when it comes to being able to quickly take a shot when an opportunity arises. A bipod is, without doubt, a worthwhile addition to a rifle as it adds very little weight or bulk and is there when you need it. They can also be fairly cheap to buy although it pays…

SHOOTING EXCLUDED FROM 2026 COMMONWEALTH GAMES PROPOSAL Vladimir Lisin, President of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), has warned that the absence of shooting from the 2026 Commonwealth Games programme, would “negatively affect” a significant number of nations, including potential hosts, Canada. Hamilton 2026 Bid Committee chairman Louis Frapporti confirmed that shooting disciplines did not form part of the proposal during a recent virtual community forum. “One of the challenges we’ve had is working with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and Commonwealth sports to come up with a Games programme that is modified and a little less ambitious than their usual Games programme,” Frapporti commented. Lisin responded: “The ISSF cannot take positively the information…that shooting sport may not be included in the Games programme. “It is obvious that the decision…

Roualeyn George Gordon-Cumming (1820-1866), was a Scottish adventurer and big game hunter, who gained some fame as a specialist lion hunter. Born on 15 March 1820, Roualeyn was the second son of a Scottish baronet, Sir William Gordon-Cumming of Altyre and Gordonstoun. He was educated at Eton and commissioned cornet in the Madras Cavalry. The climate of the Far East did not agree with him, though he’d enjoyed hunting in South Africa on the way out to India. He resigned his commission two years later and returned to Scotland to take up deer stalking. But even the wildest moorside that Scotland could offer proved too tame and restrictive for Gordon-Cumming. He yearned for the life of a true wild hunter in vast untamed wilderness, rather than that of a mere…