Table of contents for May 2019 in Sporting Rifle

It’s not often these days that I experience a reality moment – hitting the half-century mark and all that means you’ve seen much of what life can throw at you. However, during a recent visit to Cameroon, the devasting reality of mankind’s collective footprint on our planet came home to me. Forgive the purple prose, but I was experiencing one of nature’s finest sunrises – ochres and mauves haemorrhaged across the Atlantic seascape and lit up the Limbe islands like jewels from an unspoilt nirvana of tranquillity. But looking over the Limbe seawall, my enjoyment of nature’s finery was instantly dashed. A raft of plastic detritus washed back and forth against the pristine sands as far as I could see, north and south. Humankind’s flotsam and jetsam had travelled the…

BASC and the British Game Alliance have joined forces to secure the future of shooting. BASC will support the BGA with financial backing, access to BASC staff expertise and a BASC council member to sit on the BGA board. That council member is Peter Watson. He said: “BASC and the BGA are working together to ensure that assured game meat enters the food chain and that the BGA Assurance scheme, which references the Code of Good Shooting Practice, is strictly adhered to. This stands to protect game shooting and provide validity and reassurance of the provenance and quality of British game meat.” Tom Adams, managing director of the BGA, said: “The BGA is grateful for BASC’s support. Working together, we can focus on delivering our shared objectives of a sustainable…

Moorland fires are in the news again after a blaze on Marsden Moor in February. Shooting groups said it was likely that the National Trust, which owns the moor, had increased the risk of wildfire by refusing to participate in controlled burning. Ian Coghill, chairman of BASC’s uplands committee, said: “Fires have repeatedly occurred on the Saddleworth moors, part of which burnt to a crisp 20 years ago. There were further fires again last June. Yet according to Natural England restoration burning to reduce the fire risk cannot be used as a management tool except as a last resort. Political correctness is creating environmental damage.” And BASC’s Ian Grindy added: “Many local gamekeepers volunteered and helped bring the Saddleworth moor blaze under control – it is a shame that their…

We bobbed along in a frozen ocean. A golden sea of sunflowers bordered by a foamy swathe of maize. The troughs and gullies were choked with trees and tangles of rambling blackberry whose succulent fruits highlighted the region’s rich wild tapestry. Tiny butterflies distracted the unfocused and a distant ridge-line stalled the march of an ancient forest that stretched 40km to the east. In it roamed monstrous fallow bucks and huge reds with tree-trunk racks. A smaller, but no lesser, game animal erupted from the row next to the one we were stalking along – literally at our feet – and stopped, unsure of what had spooked it. Roland froze but allowed a smile to light his face. A tiny female deer the size of a dog stepped from the…

Schmidt & Bender’s T96 riflescope claims the highest light transmission percentage figures on the market of 96 per cent. I’m not really one to believe a great deal in marketing and the simple fact is that percentage light transmission is a vague statement. Light waves travel in many colours of the spectrum, glass quality alone isn’t the key, the multi-layer coatings are a hidden mystery for the optical manufacturers to keep secretive. It is their blend of coatings deposited on the glass surfaces that alter the balance of these light spectra to tailor the image to what the rods and cones in a human eye can compute. Are we talking a percentage of daylight in sunny conditions at noon, or the brightest glass in those critical last few minutes of…

FOXING Q I’m thinking of getting a custom rifle for fox shooting. What would be your opinion on this? A Mike says: I think there are pros and cons on the whole question of custom rifles. I am sure that if you have unlimited funds and know for certain that you will keep that rifle for many years, a custom rifle built by one of the top gunsmiths such as Mike Norris, Neil McKillop or one of the other highly reputable names would be a very exciting venture. We shooters can be a bit fickle when it comes to our rifles, and should you decide in due course to change your custom rifle, be prepared to take a real hit price-wise. Most factory rifles today are more than capable of…

I have been lucky to see behind the scenes of a variety of companies in the shooting world, but few have blown me away as much as recent visit to Holland and Holland. The history, skill, dedication and investment to the future was more than just impressive. In an interesting quirk of their history, I had the opportunity to look at ‘the last’ .600 NE they built. As a promise to a client’s commission to own the last .600 NE built by the company, they would go on to build a .700 NE some years later, hamstrung by the previous commitment. They have since bought back the rights to produce double rifles in the famed .600 NE, and this prompted me to look at the cartridge’s history. Designed by Jeffery…

I’m not sure whether, metaphorically speaking, Rob Dines is a dog or whether he’s a metaphorical dog, or if, in fact, there is a distinction between the two. I am sure, though, that he is not a specific breed of dog, like the Shih Tzu, or the intellectually challenged Irish Setter, or the racially insensitive Bluetick Coonhound for that matter (real breed – I am not making this up). He is more a generic pig dog. Not that he chases pigs or sniffs the ani of other dogs. It’s more that he demonstrates behaviour normally attributed to dogs. Chained dogs who have just realised that, any minute, they are about to hunt some pigs. My wife drew my attention to this somewhere through the murky transition of Rob morphing from…

With slow, deliberate swipes from side to side, the snow parted to unveil random tussocks of grass hidden below the frozen, powder covered surface. The temperature was touching close to twenty below, but didn’t feel as bitter. It was a dry cold, very unlike what I was used to in Scotland. That cold, wet, fridgid air which seems to make your bones shiver is the worst kind of cold. I had found myself in one of the world’s most famous national parks, watching in awe at one of the great conservation successes of our time. They were as inspiring as I had hoped; an icon of what’s possible when action follows great aspirations. For some reason I had expected an elusive, secretive animal, and yet here they stood, 30 or…

Shoot In Scotland is your annual guide to the mystery and magic of shotgun and rifle sport north of the border, and it’s back for 2019 with an all-new collection of knowledge, kit and tales from the field. Start planning your trip today with our detailed guide of shooting-friendly places to stay and sporting providers, from the Borders to the Isles, plus travel and legal tips. And get geared up with a round-up of affordable rifles and a guide to what to look for when buying a new shotgun. Then, get inspired as Byron Pace tries out wildfowling for the first time, the Shooting Show’s camera team gets a sample of shotgun sport that won’t break the bank, and Chris Dalton guides a newcomer after a first Scottish buck. Byron…

Processes and costs for granting or renewing a firearms certificate could finally be standardised across the UK, after the government said it would publish a draft of statutory firearms licensing guidance this summer. In a House of Lords debate on the Offensive Weapons Bill, Earl Howe, minister of state for defence, undertook to hold a public consultation on the introduction of statutory guidance to police chief officers “that will apply to issues such as background checks, medical suitability, and other criteria to protect public safety.” This was in response to a proposed amendment to the bill from the Earl of Shrewsbury, who wanted a legal requirement to be placed on the Home Secretary to open such a consultation within three months of the Offensive Weapons Bill receiving royal assent. The…

I have found, having been an outfitter for a long time now, that you build up a group of regular clients who come back each year at broadly the same time. It’s nice from my perspective to welcome these guests back for several reasons – not least they know our setup, much of the briefing and introduction to any particular area is negated, and I know their capability, both physically and with the rifle. Some of our ground can be a bit challenging – especially if I want help dragging a big Ayrshire or Perthshire stag off the hill. Equally it’s nice for the guests as, again, they have experienced what we have to offer and have obviously enjoyed the experience previously. After all, why wouldn’t they? So all round…

I recently made mention of two new items of night shooting equipment I had been sent to try out that had proved more than fit for purpose. They were the Pard, a Chinese-made digital add-on, and from Wicked Lights, an American based company imported here by Scott Country, an extremely functional infra-red torch, again made in China. PARD NV007 The Pard is a small, compact and nicely made little NV unit somewhat reminiscent of similar pieces of equipment that have appeared in the past which haven’t always been that successful, so I was keen to see how this one performed. The Pard comes with the usual add-on bayonet type fitting, which is suitable for fitting scopes with a 45mm optical lens housing, there is also a 48mm version. Should the…

When I first saw the details of the new Swarovski DS scope, I couldn’t wait to get my grubby little mitts on one. Designed to simplify long-range shooting, it was immediately of great interest to me. In a nutshell this scope takes all the guesswork out of long range by ranging the target. It also takes into account all the environmental conditions that will effect the shot and almost instantly gives you an accurate aiming solution for you at the touch of a button! Combine this with the typical high quality glass and craftsmanship associated with a name like Swarovski and you know you're on to a winning combination. As expected this scope oozed quality as soon as I saw it and I was pleased to see that despite all…

GERBER KETTLEBELL The Gerber Kettlebell FE folding knife is a versatile tool that benefits from its rugged design with its stainless-steel 7Cr17MoV 2.5in blade and sturdy frame lock. The Kettlebell has a dual finger choil as well as an anodised aluminium textured handle, offering a secure grip. This knife can also be clipped to your pocket for quick access. With a slim profile, it can be carried about your person for any outdoor task without getting in the way. Price: £35.95 Thomas Jacks 01789 264100 thomasjacks.co.uk WALTHER SET You get a whole load of knives for barely over £50 in this set from Walther. The nylon sheath contains two knives and a compact saw. There is a skinner shape blade with gut hook and a smaller knife for fine work.…

The season for deer stalking here in Ireland runs from the beginning of September to the end of February. The first two months are male deer only, the middle two months are all animals and the last two months are females/calves only. So it is a six month long season. The bird hunting season parallels, for the most part, with ducks starting in September and pheasants starting in November and ending at the end of January. So what? Well what this means is that these are a busy six months. My aim is to be out hunting at least two days a week, there will be weeks where I hunt five or six days, but two is the norm. I always try to include a couple of multi-day hunts and…

Our 2018/19 auction for Save The Rhino International has now closed, and we’ve added nearly £11,000 to our all-time total. Don’t forget, our all-time fundraising figure for Save The Rhino International is now over £100,000. With no processing or admin fees deducted from the total, this means every penny has gone to supporting the fight against poaching on the ground. Money from this year’s auction will go to Big Game Parks in eSwatini, formerly known as Swaziland, nestled between South Africa and Mozambique. It is a potentially dangerous location to be a rhino. South Africa, home to the world’s largest rhino population, is the primary target for rhino horn poachers. Just across the eSwatini border lies Maputo, Mozambique’s capital city, a notorious base for many poaching syndicates. Despite these volatile…

MIDSUMMER FOXING How do you get the job done when the days are long? DOUBLE VISION Out at night with the Pulsar Accolade biocular LIGHTEN UP Lightweight clothing for stalking in the summertime ROEBUCK: BEST OF BRITISH Top stalks from both sides of the border SOUTHERN SPORT ABROAD Stalking sambar deer in New Zealand PLUS… • Hone your precision shooting technique • Rimfire rabbit control • Summer fair preview • Riflescope roundup • 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 mag delivered to your door. With a quarterly subscription starting at £12, it’s more affordable than ever to subscribe. Get signed up today and rest…

One of the great privileges of the job I do is having the opportunity to meet great people from all walks of life. The podcast has often become the driving force for reaching out, and has offered more insight than I could have ever hoped. If the many conversations have taught me one thing, it’s that people are amazing, and all of them do incredible things. My recent trip to Montana allowed me to interview a man I first heard speak a few years back in an interview about the release of a documentary on his life. The film, Charged, currently available on Amazon Prime, is an incredible and brutally honest depiction of triumph and adversity intertwined with the realities of life. “Not only is it quite unbelievable that he…

Shooting organisations have been dealt a blow in the battle to restore shooting on Welsh public land. BASC, the NGO and the Countryside Alliance were trying to mount a judicial review against the ban – but a judge has refused permission. Judge Andrew Baker ruled that the attempt was out of time, deciding that the decision to curtail shooting on National Resources Wales-controlled land was taken on 12 July following a letter on 9 July from Welsh environment minister Hannah Blythyn. In reality, the decision was not made public until 20 September. This leaves little hope of the Welsh government changing its mind, and apparently spells an end to a saga that saw NRW discard the results of its own consultation, which said that commercial shoots should continue on its…

RUGER PRECISION .17 HMR Ruger’s Precision rimfire has been popular in the UK since it arrived in .22LR guise last year, and now it’s available with a larger chassis for the .17HMR or indeed the .22 Magnum. This one’s threaded ½x20UNF, has the Magpul M-Lok rail system for mounting all kinds of accessories, and the Marksman trigger for a light, safe trigger pull. Loading comes courtesy of Ruger’s BX-15 banana magazine, while the stock is adjustable for both length and cheek height. Viking • 01423 780810 • vikingshoot.com SIGHTMARK LATITUDE SCOPE Hot on the heels of the Wraith day/night scope is the Latitude, a more traditional day scope designed to bridge the price gap between the company’s high-end Pinnacle model and its more regular fare. Sightmark told us it’s planning on a…

Purdey are world renowned for their reputation as shotgun manufacturers, and, to channel the M&S advert for a moment, not just any shotguns. They have been producing the finest London-made guns for over 200 years. Purdey have actually built both shotgun and rifle for a long time, but there’s no doubt the former are better known – but why should that be? The simplest way for them to solve that was to pull out the drawing board, and after some uncompromising development,. the BAR rifle was born. My understanding of the brief, or perhaps more clearly, the mission statement, was to create an aesthetically beautiful rifle that performed like a target rifle, from the quality and figuring of some fine walnut, to the deep blued engraved metal surfaces and the…

It’s only in May, June and July – the close season for fallow deer – that I can consider this species with any objectivity. I use these three months to plan my campaigns and those who stalk with me know full well that my particular bête noire are the female fallow, the smart, wary, wood and field wise lead does. In truth, the harvest moons and hot weather in August and September serve to attract the prickets out of the woods and into the standing crops, and the pursuit of them is hardly challenging, certainly not so when compared with the nightmare that is fallow doe stalking. If the stalker has been out on his ground in late July and early August – most likely in pursuit of a roebuck…

LEUPOLD MARKSMAN 1000 Part of the limited-edition Marksman range, the Leupold Marksman 1000 Rangefinder combines a lightweight, streamlined design with precision ranging performance. 6x magnification and fully multi-coated lensed make for a high-contrast image, boosting your chances of spotting quarry even when conditions get dull. A simple-to-use and easy-to-read LED display gives you the information you need instantly. The Marksman 1000 Rangefinder gives uphill/downhill angle distances, line-of-sight distances, and even has a scan mode. Price: £247 Viking 01423 780810 vikingshoot.com ATN LASER BALLISTICS 1500 Here’s something different: A rangefinder that can communicate with smartphones and even other optics units. ATN’s Laser Ballistics 1500 communicates with the corresponding app – using that on your smartphone, you can program the unit and change the settings without even touching it. And when you…

For us the start of the year is the busiest time for our foxing obligations with the first of the sheep farms starting to lamb at the end of February and most lambing from 1 April. From December onwards, we up the pressure on the local fox population and actively head out with the sole intention of reducing their numbers, rather than just knocking over the odd opportunistic fox we run into when stalking or rabbiting. From mid-January through to around the middle of February (at least locally) is a great time to be out after foxes. At this time of year dog foxes will be out looking for potential mates and will usually stray over all neighbouring territories on their search. It’s common to see a dominant fox chase…

The Northern Shooting Show is back for its fourth year on 11-12 May and will once again be held at the Yorkshire Event Centre, which is perfectly placed just off the A1 to the east of the beautiful town of Harrogate. Major manufacturers and distributors this year include Blaser Sporting, CSW, Edgar Brothers, Leica, Raytrade, RUAG, Scott Country International, Thomas Jacks and Viking Arms, all of whom will be bringing a huge array of rifle brands including Bergara, Blaser, Haenel, Mauser, Merkel, Remington, Tikka, Sako and Sauer. Many of the manufacturers will be bringing their stands straight from IWA, the huge trade-only show in Germany, so it will certainly be impressive. They are also taking the opportunity to follow up their European trade launch with UK launches to the general…

Night vision has transformed the way night shooting works – we all know that. But, as revolutionary as NV has been, it can still be rather expensive. Not just because of the cost of a unit itself – but because a dedicated night vision scope will tie up one rifle to which it’s permanently attached, meaning you have to invest in twice as much hardware, effectively setting up a separate ‘day rig’ and ‘night rig’. What are we serious yet cash-strapped shooters to do? Enter British firm NiteSite and its innovative and affordable range of digital NV units, which offer an ingenious solution. Rather than functioning as an optic on its own the NiteSite unit attaches a sensor to the optical lens of your day scope and converts it into…

Zimbabwe’s Matabeleland in midwinter can be subject to extreme cold, particularly so in the Gwayi Valley. Late June 1992 was much like any previous June month, warm during the day but bitterly cold at night. On this day PH Mike Bunce and his client had crept into a well-constructed leopard blind in the dense and tangled riverine growth along the dry sand-bedded Gwayi River. Bunce, who was an experienced ex-Rhodesian National Parks game ranger turned PH, ensured that he and his client were settled in the blind by 3.30pm. A wag once quipped that leopard hunting from a blind is five hours of boredom followed by a few seconds of sheer adrenalin. At the safari’s start, Bunce would’ve carried out preliminary baiting, by hanging impala and warthog at chosen sites…

April and May are perhaps two of the best times to be out in the country. The first flush of spring growth has gone and now the fields and wood are covered in concealing herbage. Regeneration is the name of the game and wherever you look, wildlife is doing its best to produce the new generation. With the longer evenings allowing a gentle walk round with the rifle or shotgun, it’s time to see what’s going on – sitting out with the binos can reveal a great deal. Already, after being rather conspicuous by their absence, those vixens that have produced litters are once more out on the hunt, as the early born cubs will already be taking solid food along with milk from the vixen. Now, problems will arise…