Shooting Sports - April 2016.pdf - PDF Free Download (2024)

ST FIR TEST

SERIOUS PROPOSITION!

THE NIMROD TACTICAL PRECISION RIFLE WILL PLEASE YOU ON PRICE AND PERFORMANCE £3.99

VOL 19 | ISSUE 4 | APRIL 2016

FOXING IN WIN T don’t get leER out in the ft cold!

BARRICADE!

YouTube Sensation!

Gamo’s latest springer has got the lot looks, performance and optics

RACKNLOAD We track him down to find out what he’s about

TOP AIRGUN

ACCESSORIES FOR WET WEATHER SHOOTING

Airgun Hunter Quarry guide and tactics for the upcoming spring and summer seasons

ALL AMERICAN! RUGER’S AMERICAN RIMFIRE OFFERS

771367 699077

0 4

TEST FIRST UK

A MODERN RIMFIRE FOR TODAY’S HUNTER

TAKING STOCK

WEIHRAUCH’S

HW100 JUST GOT BETTER!

SPOILT FOR CHOICE CHOOSING YOUR FIRST CENTREFIRE RIFLE; TIPS AND TRICKS

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Show Time

Just back from the British Shooting Show and it was a packed event. We will have a full review in the next issue, but I thought you might like some highlights and there were a few. First up Blaser’s launch of a new sporting shotgun the F16, visually a bit like their F3 competition gun but considerably cheaper and still with some nice features, it should do well! At last I got to handle the Ruger Precision Rifle and it was everything I hoped it would be. Best described as a bolt-action AR15 chambered in 243/308 Win and 6.5 Creedmoor, guns have been coming in dribs and drabs and the demand is high. I was told by importers Viking Arms a couple of months (ish) could see some press guns to test. On the airgun side Diana have now got an under lever that’s configured like the old Mauser K98 service rifle; different but interesting. Also Air Arms were showing off their new Galahad Bullpup for the first time and Weihrauch their replacement for the HW100. GRS stocks had their first every synthetic design in the form of the Berserk, which follows their Sport Varmint build with a few tweaks and improvements. Spartan Precision Equipment had their new tripod, which is finally in production. Quite the cleverest thing was the Eagle Vision scope mount that can switch between 1” and 11m dovetails and offers a base that slides front and rear and also angles too; genius. See it all next month!

Pete Moore

ST FIR TEST

SERIOUS

PROPOSITION!

P80

THE NIMROD TACTICAL PRECISION RIFLE WILL PLEASE YOU ON PRICE AND PERFORMANCE £3.99

VOL 19 | ISSUE 4 | APRIL 2016

P88 FOXING IN WIN T don’t get leER out in the ft cold!

BARRICADE!

P50

Airgun Hunter

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10 PRODUCT Bushnell Trophy XLT 20-60x65 spotting scope

12 PRODUCT Clulite Head-A-Lite Pro Flood 900 head lamp

14 EXPANDED AND IMPROVED Pete Moore takes a trip to Riflecraft to see what has changed

18 PRODUCT

ALL AMERICAN! RUGER’S AMERICAN RIMFIRE OFFERS

20 PRODUCT

P64

Aigle Artemis 2 H GTX Hunting Boots Turboflame Military GX7R lighter

22 THREE IN ONE Neil Mackinnon visits The Tunnel range

24 PRODUCT

A MODERN RIMFIRE FOR TODAY’S HUNTER

TAKING STOCK

WEIHRAUCH’S

HW100 P60

JUST GOT BETTER!

P68 SPOILT P60 FOR CHOICE CHOOSING YOUR FIRST CENTREFIRE RIFLE; TIPS AND TRICKS

NEWS ELEY high velocity hollow point Mauser-U-like Diana K98 air rifle Leica rifle training Kahles product configurator Game Fair 2016

Quarry guide and tactics for the upcoming spring and summer seasons P46

TEST FIRST UK

771367 699077

n n n n n

RACKNLOAD We track him down to P30 find out what he’s about

TOP AIRGUN

YouTube Sensation!

Gamo’s latest springer has got the lot looks, performance and optics

ACCESSORIES FOR WET WEATHER P52 SHOOTING

GENERAL

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

Ridgeline Deer Hoodie Fleece Jacket (olive)

26 RETURN FIRE n n n

PCP air bottles The image of shooting European firearms changes

30 SHOOTERS STIG We meet RACKNLOAD the video sensation

AIRGUNS 34 DAN WESSON 715 6” REVOLVER Bill Thomas rekindles his passion for CO2 revolvers with ASG’s new Dan Wesson 715

36 HFT DIARY Mark Camoccio previews the World Championships and a new junior competition

38 FT BLOG James Osborne considers some older FT machinery

40 SECOND THOUGHTS (PT 1) Terry Almond gives us chapter & verse on Daystate’s new Pulsar Bullpup

44 SCOPE TEST Tasco Target/Varmint 2.5 – 10 x 42AO IR

45, PRODUCT Jack Pyke Mini Spinner targets

46 AIRGUN HUNTER Pete Wadeson suggest quarry and tactics for the spring and summer

EDITOR Peter Moore (01206) 525697 E-mail: [emailprotected] [emailprotected]

EDITORIAL ADDRESS Shooting Sports, Aceville Publications Ltd, 21 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Road, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JY Website: www.gunmart.co.uk

GROUP ADVERTIsem*nT MANAGER Vanessa English Gun Mart, Shooting Sports & What Gun! 21-23 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Road, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8JY T: 01206 506247 F: 01206 500226 E: [emailprotected] W: www.gunmart.net

ADVERTIsem*nT MANAGER Zoe Baker (01206) 506248 E-mail: [emailprotected]

ADVERTIsem*nT EXECUTIVE Ed Jackson (01206) 506243 E-mail: [emailprotected]

84 50 GAMO VARMINT BARRICADE Pete Wadeson tests the latest Gamo springer package, and finds a ‘nice-price’ hunter

52 WARM & DRY Pete Wadeson introduces us to ten bits of essential wet weather shooting gear

55, PRODUCT Aeron Gen2 Airgun Silencers

56 AIRGUN WORKSHOP Pete Wadeson considers keeping your barrel clean

60 WEIHRAUCH HW100KT LAMINATE Pete Wadeson finds 100-reasons to like the latest HW100 option

63 PRODUCT Maxum ‘Fatbag’ Bench Rest Bag

FIREARMS 64 RUGER AMERICAN RIMFIRE Pete Moore looks at Ruger’s more affordable rimfire bolter

68 CHOICES, CHOICES Ed Jackson discussing choosing your first centrefire rifle

72 SCOPE TEST Hawke Endurance 3-9x40 IR 223/308 reticule

74 PRODUCT Nigrini rifle case

30 78 PRODUCT NRA TURKEY HARDOX 500

80 NIMROD TACTICAL 308 Bruce Potts looks at a new precision rifle with a deal of versatility and potential

84 SWEDEN’S FINEST Pete Moore takes us on a tour of Norma to see how it’s done

88 PEST CONTROL DIARY Foxing in the snow, it’s not all black and white

90 PRODUCT Timney Calvin Elite trigger

92 HUNTING STORY PART II Ed Jackson completes his Scottish trip and bags his second fox

98 TIKKA M65A SNIPER Bruce Potts looks at a modern Finish classic

102 PRODUCT Browning XPO Big Game parka and bibs

WORKSHOP 104 CASE HISTORY 7.62x25mm Tokarev

106 RELOADING Wheelwrite considers the consistency and reliability of reloading data

108 WILDCATTING Bruce Potts looks at that great early wildcat the 22-250 Remington

ADVERTIsem*nT DIRECTOR Tony Phelps

DESIGNERS Steve, Lee, Hayley, Ben & Sarah

SUBSCRIPTIONS Telephone: 01795 414672 Email: [emailprotected] Address: Shooting Sports 800 Guillat Avenue, Kent Science Park Sittingbourne, ME9 8GU Overseas Number: +44 (0) 1795 414672

SUBSCRIPTION EXECUTIVE Lisa Harvey (01206) 505922 [emailprotected]

ON SALE First Friday of the month

REPROGRAPHICS MS Typesetting & Design, 1 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Road, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JY

DISCLAIMER The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers

PUBLISHED BY Aceville Publications Limited, 21 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Road, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JY

NEWSTRADE SALES Marketforce 0203 148 3300

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Pete Moore

NEWS & PRODUCTS

News

New Anschutz air rifle

All for one and one for all, the new Anschutz ONE-stock; clever idea

The Anschutz Model 9015 in the ONE-stock, is an adjustable match air rifle suitable for all disciplines and marksmen, from junior to adult, regardless of whether right or left handed. It is high-quality, robust, multifunctional and above all, repeatable, precise and has an appealing design. It’s based on the popular 9003 Premium barrelled action. With optimised air pressure control, a new patented 5065 4K trigger with ball bearings and versatile adjustable trigger blade, a stainless steel barrel unit and the thin, specially coated muzzle tube. The new stock design represents the peak of technical evolution with numerous adjustment options providing endless flexibility for adjustments to individual requirements. Due to its adjustment range and balanced weight, it can also be used by junior marksmen. The ONE-stock grows with the marksman and can also be easily converted for bench rest shooting. It comes with sight set, accessory box and gun case; SRP £3,015. Contact: RUAG Ammotec UK Ltd, +44 1579 362319

Kahles New Website & Scope Configurator!

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The new Kahles scope configurator website, well worth a look!

Kahles has launched a brand new website containing all their latest models and up to date information. This includes their excellent new configurator! Now you can test out all the important functions of the Kahles scopes from the comfort of your own home. Reticule selection, distance options, illuminated and non-illuminated reticule controls, game type, different lighting and weather conditions and magnification options all of which will then suggest the best scope for your needs. Other features include: New appearance and responsive design, Innovative product database with range of product views and detailed reticule information, Newsroom with press releases, press messages and product reviews, Distributors and dealer locator incl. address finder and map-view Visit www.kahles.at

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

WHAT’S HAPPENING

BASC welcomes firearms provisions in new Policing and Crime Bill BASC, has welcomed the introduction of the firearms provisions contained in the new Policing and Crime Bill placed before parliament today. These will provide an opportunity to clarify areas of the law which would benefit to shooters. It contains some provisions relating to the recent Law Commission recommendations on firearms law. This legislation comes at an important time for shooting, when firearms law is in the spotlight. In Europe, the government is currently negotiating hard to represent the lawful interests of the British shooting community as the Commission makes proposals for the amendment of the European Firearms Directive. BASC has played a key role in briefing ministers, civil servants and MEPs to ensure that unintended consequences do not damage shooting in the UK. Provisions include:

ELEY ammunition launches the first and only black .22LR rimfire hunting cartridge – ELEY high velocity hollow. The hollow is a highly accurate supersonic round with excellent penetration and expansion from the low antimony soft lead alloy bullet. The patented black oxidised brass case enhances accuracy by providing a more consistent propellant and primer burn by optimising the contact point between case and bullet. Research and performance evaluation has proven the oxidised finish

■ Simplification of the legal definition of the word ‘firearm’, including setting a new threshold of a firearm’s kinetic energy at 1 joule. ■ The definition of an antique firearm – which makes the current guidance statutory, ■ A new offence, targeted at criminals, of the possession of articles with intent to convert an imitation into a working firearm. ■ New powers to charge fees, introduced by secondary legislation for licences, relating to section 5 firearms, museums and clubs. ■ A new legal requirement for the police to have regard to the Home Office guidance when carrying out their licensing function. BASC will continue to represent the interests of its members and the wider shooting community in discussions with the Home Office.

increases friction between the case and projectile. This regulates and controls the force required to eject the bullet (bullet pull) to increase ballistic consistency and accuracy, enhance stability and accuracy, and mitigates the inherent instability caused by supersonic speeds. It is the perfect round for hunters and pest controllers who need maximum velocity without compromising on accuracy.

Eley’s new high velocity hollow point looks interesting; let’s hope we can get some for testing?

ELEY quotes a muzzle velocity of 1250 fps and an energy figure of 139 ft/lbs. The high velocity hollow will be available in the UK in April 2016, and pre-orders are being taken. Visit; www.eley.co.uk/eley-highvelocity-hollow

The Game Fair 2016 It seems everyone is getting excited over the new Game Fair 2016 that is being held at Ragley Hall near Alcester in Warwickshire on July 29th to 31st. Companies are already confirming their delight at this new venture, which springs from the old CLA-run events that pulled out last year due to financial issues. We are told to date 500 business and associations have signed up for the show. For our community, field sports is at the core of The Game Fair and along with The Shooting Line, Fishing Village, Gunmaker’s Row and Gundogs, the smaller patrons of the countryside come together in an annual gathering celebrating, Falconry, Ferreting, Pugs and Drummers. There will be an exciting array of displays and demonstrations, both in the main arena and up close and personal in the Falconry ring. There’s little doubt that over the years the CLA event established the popularity of the Game Fair concept so it’s good to see that this British tradition is being carried on. Visit; www.thegamefair.org

NEWS & PRODUCTS

News THIS MONTH IN BRIEF

RETRACTION Countryman Fairs has retracted last week’s press release about Kelmarsh Country Show now being a three day event. With so many new attractions being added to the event including the Gun Makers’ Road Show, Airgun Road Show, Fishing Village, expanded Festival Stage and a host of other exciting new features, they now have sufficient capacity to handle the expected crowds over two days. An update will follow shortly. PRODUCT DEMONSTRATION EVENING We know not everyone can travel to the various shooting and game fairs held south of the border, so Drew’s Lab is offering the opportunity to shooters in Scotland’s Central belt to see the latest in Night Vision, Thermal Imaging and more from the leading manufacturers. There will be representatives from Thomas Jacks, the exclusive UK Distributor for Pulsar and Yukon Advanced Optics, with other manufacturers to be announced. The event will take place on Wednesday 23rd March, between 6.00-10.00pm.Tickets are £1 which includes refreshments and entry to a prize raffle. Register at; www.drewslab.co.uk FAIRBURN/SYKES RECREATION

Sheffield Collectable Knives, announces their reproduction of the iconic Fairburn Sykes Commando dagger after 75-years. It shows the familiar stiletto blade with the characteristic flat ricasso and s-shaped guard. It is available in two options – mirror-polished carbon steel or Swedish Damasteel. Knives are uniquely numbered and supplied with a certificate of authenticity; a range of presentation cases and leather sheaths is also available. www.sheffieldcollectableknives. com

Does a single shot under-lever air rifle configured like a K98 Mauser float your boat, we shall see!

K98 air A new chapter in the history of the Mauser 98 is being written, as you can now own an air rifle configured like this iconic design. Made by German Sport Gun and Diana it has a fixed barrel and under-lever co*cking system. The slide cylinder locking system and rifled pellet seating provides maximum velocity and performance. Exceptional accuracy has been achieved by DIANA’s high quality

barrels and the genuine, 2-stage, match-type trigger. The premium stock which boasts metal fittings completes a first class air rifle! The specifications are; length – 44.3’’, barrel lengths: 18.1’’, fixed barrel under lever system, weight: 8.8 lbs. We saw one briefly at the BSS and it’s certainly different and have asked for an example to test. Contact: Edgar Brothers Ltd, 01625 613177

Leica Experience Range Days and Training Leica Sport Optics UK has launched a series of groundbreaking Experience Days in a bid to serve the British rifle shooting market. Any rifle shooter with an interest in Leica Sport Optics products is invited to a free-to-attend exclusive Experience Day to assist them get the most out of their optics. Hosted at Diggle Ranges the first event will be held on Thursday 21 and Friday 22 April. It will include technique clinics from European F-Class champions and seasoned hunters, reloading workshops and coaching from hunting specialists on the newly installed running boar range. As the best equipped private range facility in the UK with excellent transport links, Diggle benefits from covered firing points with chances to shoot from 100 to 1,000 yards. Partnered by Blaser, Sauer, Mauser, Rigby and Hornady, guests will enjoy using a full selection of rifles and ammunition free of charge. There will also be the chance to take part in a first of its kind shooting competition. New Zealand outdoor clothing manufacturer, Swazi will also be partnering the event, providing prizes and showcasing their full range. Food and refreshments will be provided throughout the day. All applicants must be in possession of a current UK firearms certificate. Visit; [emailprotected]

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

Sounds like a good time; Leica’s range experience days offer a lot for rifle shooters

CSR info There will be further Civilian Service Rifle matches on Saturday 5th March and Sunday 3 April. There is one extra date to be added to our calendar. The league has managed to secure a range booking for the Nelson Urban Contact and Langley MMTTR (Moving Target) ranges at Pirbright. These two highly sought after venues have both been booked for the whole day for a mini championship outside of the league and will prove to be highly popular with the opportunity to zero and then have multiple runs throughout the day. The date for this Sunday 8th May, more details nearer the time. They are also in the process of confirming the program and match schedule for this year’s Imperial meeting and have today secured the services of Theresa Barbara and the use of Canada House for the prize giving. This year there will we be a BBQ/hog roast, the date for this is Sat 2nd July. Visit; www.nra.org.uk/ common/asp/ Calendar/events. asp?site=NRA&id=3914

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GENERAL | PRODUCT TEST BUSHNELL 20-60X56 XLT SPOTTING SCOPE CONTACT: Edgar Brothers Ltd, 01625 613177

Seen! Pete Moore looks at a Bushnell spotter and reckons you should not leave home without one!

s you gain more knowledge and experience in shooting, you soon realise that kit you might have thought was unessential when you started is now worth considering. I never used to carry binos when hunting, as I had my scope, now I always do; see what I mean? But what about a spotting scope; too big, too heavy and too expensive; anyway I’ve got my binos! But there are times when a deal of extra magnification can be beneficial, be it for spotting those long range groups or checking out quarry, to see what it is and if it’s worth shooting. In both cases saving a deal of time and leg work!

Bushnell 20-60x56 XLT spotting scope this one has the more useful angled eyepiece and is quite a bargain for what you get!

GOOD ENOUGH! So may I direct you to Bushnell’s 20-60x65 XLT? They make a range of spotting scopes and I think the most expensive is around £600, pretty good compared to the £2K+ of the top European brands! The 20-60 sits at just under £350 (angled eyepiece model) or £318 (straight eyepiece) and proved to be an affordable and effective design. Yes, I’d love a Swarovski or Zeiss but I know I could not justify it for a spotter; a scope probably! However, don’t write Bushnell off as cheap, as they make quality products to suit all pockets and the sheer scale of their manufacture means prices are keen. The XLT is 14” long and weighs 42 oz and comes in a hard case with a soft bag, integral sunshade and

“But there are times when a deal of extra magnification can be beneficial” objective cap and a compact tripod. It’s a porro prism design and uses BaK-4 glass along with fully, multicoated lenses and their Rainguard outer coating, which repels water. The build uses green rubber armour. Being a variable power design makes it a lot more versatile, with x20 being ideal for closer work. This is controlled by twisting the eyepiece, which is angled up at approximately 35°, making it easier to view down on. This has an un-tethered pull-of cap. Focus consists of a rotary wheel just forward and right of the prism housing.

height, which when shooting off a bench or prone, places the scope a bit too high to view without having to get up! But at the price no complaints and cheap compact tripods are readily available. Slightly cheaper and of lower power is the XLT 14-45x50, also worth a look! Detail of the variable power eyepiece and the focusing drum, note the rubber armour finish!

IN USE

FOR Well priced, practical and effective

AGAINST tripod a tad high for bench work

VERDICT Hard to beat on price or ability

The spotter comes in a hard case with soft field bag and even includes a compact tripod

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

The folding tripod attaches by a standard camera thread and offers a twist-&-lock handle, that gives both traverse and elevation movement. The XLT proved its promise and I had no real complaints on clarity or effective range observation, plus it’s not that hard to carry in the field in its bag. If you’re serious about deer culling or do longer-range varminting, it’s worth humping it! Two small niggles, it’s easy to lose the eyepiece cap, as it’s not attached and the tripod is a fixed

{ TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS } Bushnell 20-60x56 XLT spotting scope z FOV @ 1000 ft – 110 ft x20, 55 ft x60 z Close focus 32.8 ft z Water/fog proof Y z Weight 42 oz z Length 14” z Price £318-£345 (depending on eyepiece) £270 14-45x50 z Contact Edgar Brothers Ltd, 01625 613177

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GENERAL | PRODUCT TEST CLULITE HEAD-A-LITE PRO FLOOD 900 (HL18) CONTACT: Cluson Engineering Ltd, 01730 264672

Streets -A-Head! Pete Moore looks at yet another new item from Cluson Engineering The new Clulite Head-ALite Pro Flood 900 (HL18), a big and powerful head lamp for many needs

n important part of my hunting gear is without doubt a head-mounted lamp, which has a multitude of uses; looking for downed quarry at night, having enough illumination to check a rifle is empty or even working in the dark! Generally speaking, this group of lights come in two versions, compact with a limited range and larger with a much increased operating distance, which and depending on your needs, offers two distinctively different possibilities.

“As I discovered, Cluson’s new Head-A-Lite Pro Flood 900 rechargeable headlamp is just the ticket”

BIGGER/BETTER For me the larger-style is preferable, where the bulk of the design is balanced by the power of the beam offered in both effective range and brightness. As I discovered, Cluson’s new Head-A-Lite Pro Flood 900 rechargeable headlamp is just the ticket. The build is more ‘old school’ with a large, 90mm lens lamp head with a separate battery pack at the rear of the harness. Bigger and heavier yes, but if you want some serious power then worth it! The 10 watt, CREE T6 LED is quoted at an output of 900 lumens, with a 300m pre-focused beam. Power comes from 3 x rechargeable integral, Li-ion 18650 batteries, with Cluson

FOR Big and powerful Good run time

AGAINST No vehicle charger

VERDICT A little old school in build A solid design with an impressive range

Detail of the battery pack, which runs on 3 x rechargeable, Li-ion 18650, integral batteries, run time on high beam is an impressive 8-hours!

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

quoting run times of 8-hours on high beam and 16 on low. There’s the normal, wrap-around and up and over, adjustable, elasticated head harness, with both battery pack and lamp being supported by plates for added stability. These have soft, foam rubber pads on these surfaces, to improve comfort for longer-term use!

cigarette lighter adaptor for vehicle charging too, as they often do with other of their lighting systems! However, with the Head-A-Lite’s generous run time, even on full power, a full night’s work can be easily accomplished on a single charge! Charging takes 10-hours from empty and is indicated by an LED indicator light that goes from red to green, the latter indicating fully charged.

PUSH THREE TIMES Though the beam is pre-focused, the lamp head hinges through an arc of approximately 30° and can easily accommodate for longer and shorter-range usage. The controls are located in the battery pack, with a simple ON/OFF button on the lower left and the charging port, complete with rubber cover, on the right. Operation is simple; press and release to turn it on (low power) with two more cycling it up through medium to full output. A further full press turns it off again. Cluson supply a mains charger that plugs in to the socket underneath on the right of the battery housing. I think they have missed a trick here by not including a

LIGHT HEADED Though not heavy by any means, the Head-A-Lite is bulky compared to some other lamps in its class, but I found that no impediment. The beam given is quite wide and easily illuminates out to 50-yards + and could be used for night shooting at closer ranges. Operation is easy, even with gloves on and the long run time is useful too.

{ TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS } Clulite Head-A-Lite Pro Flood 900 (HL18) z One year guarantee included z Price: £42 z Contact: Cluson Engineering Ltd, 01730 264672

A RECHARGEABLE SEARCH LIGHT FOR YOUR HEAD NO GIMMICKS, JUST SHEER POWER The new HL18 Pro Flood 900 Head-A-Lite Rechargeable is a 900 Lumen Head light with incredible power illuminating up to 400 metres. BRILLIANT FEATURES! • Light Source: 10w LED • Large 90mm diameter Lightweight Lamp Head • White Flood Beam illuminating up to 400 metres • Elasticated Head strap with battery container with Rechargeable 3 x 18650 Li-Ion Batteries • Operating Time: 8 Hours Continuous on High Beam. 16 Hours on Low Beam • Quick Recharge Time of 10 Hours, complete with intelligent mains charger • Low, Medium & High Brightness Modes

SUPPLIED WITH: • 10w LED Head Light • Mains Intelligent Charger • Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery Pack • Adjustable Head Strap • 1 year full guarantee • Manufacturer’s full service support

CALL US NOW ON 01730 264672 | WEBSITE: WWW.CLUSON.CO.UK

ORDER BY PHONE, CHEQUE OR ONLINE

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Unit 6, Bedford Road, Petersfield, Hampshire GU32 3LJ Email: [emailprotected]

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CLUSON ENGINEERING LIMITED

GENERAL | SHOP VISIT

Walking in the new look Riflecraft shop you come face to face with a wide range of gear including this Polaris quad

ALTERED IMAGES Pete Moore revisits Riflecraft to see what has changed since they took on some new staff

’ve known Riflecraft for many years and remember when founder Andrew Evans-Hendrik first started up out of a secure unit in the back of his house. The company grew its reputation not only in quality gunsmithing, but also training; both of which I can attest to. As they were one of the earliest providers of this facility with their Modules 1, 2 and 3 that took you from basic to long range and more. Eventually and unsurprisingly they moved to larger premises to further grow the business, which they did by starting with one unit on an industrial estate. After a year or so Andrew had purchased the rest of the row and put in a proper gunshop and a massive showroom as well as expanding the workshop and associated machinery. They also have a Cerakoting facility too!

manager. But also things change with staff moving on to do their own thing and Andrew very much building rifles most of the time the training side wound down a bit as did the shop. Plus competition in the training market was now fierce with other companies following the original Riflecraft model to a degree, so shooters were now spoilt for choice. With that pocket history over I was invited down by the new gunshop manager

EBB AND FLOW Things were looking very good with dedicated training personal as well as a gunshop

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

Reloaders are well taken care of

Jonathan Mason so I could see what he has done and how Riflecraft was now on the upswing again. I also met James Hyde the new head of training; he like me and Andrew is ex-Army so we had no problem communicating!

INTRIGUED I was more intrigued by Jonathan as he did not seem like a shooter to me, which he is not; no problem, as often someone who is

SHOP VISIT | GENERAL not near a thing can be far more analytical. I discovered he has a degree in business studies, with over a decade of experience in retail with his most recent role being a district manager with Lidl. Today’s gun trade seem to be recruiting outside it’s comfort zone, seemingly preferring business acumen to people who love shooting. Which I find overly sensible, as you do not need to love something to sell it well, in fact that detachment probably helps more than you might think! However, Jonathan is keen on getting into Mini Rifle and doubtless will get into other areas too, if I know Andrew that is! Jonathan has been tasked with increasing retail and trade sales, he had this to say about it: “This year’s focus is to reintroduce our product range to the trade, this includes our existing range (Bore Tech, Hardy Moderators, Timney Triggers etc.) as well as some exciting new products.” He is helped in the shop by Callum and George who are also on the sales team as well as helping out with the day to day running of the company as to range days, the shop and product launches.

The shop is also looking to attract shotgunners

James Hyde head of all training; you could be meeting him soon

major brands of powder, primers and bullets, along with dies, presses and associated equipment along with a huge choice of factory ammunition. Walking around shows a good choice of aftermarket rifle stocks from McMillan, Bell & Carlson, Hogue and others. Jonathan also has the task of making discontinued lines shift and there were SALE signs with all manner of other gear that we shooters love to rummage through as there’s always a bargain or something you need. He has also done well on website sales too, which is an integral part of any modern business who wants to keep tight communications with its customer base.

WELL STOCKED The shop has changed a little with the original and massive shelving units giving way to more and smaller displays, the result being more product on display making it easier to navigate. What hit me right away was the Polaris quad bike parked in the middle of the floor. Not just a gimmick, though it certainly caught my eye, as they can arrange test drives through the local dealer if you are in the market. Major product lines I saw include Timney triggers, Tier 1 scope mounts, a big selection of 22 semi-auto rifle and AR15

THE RIGHT PLACE

Lots of MDT chassis systems, Riflecraft build quite a few rifles on this furniture

accessories with lots of S&W 15-22 magazines etc. The two clothing lines are Deerhunter and Snugpak, both of which I use already as they are very good! Add in the MDT chassis systems with a nice display of options, Caldwell products, Nightforce, Leupold and Nikko scopes and much more. Reloading is well taken care of with most

With a lot of animal heads on the walls (all shot by Andrew in his time) this area feels like a real gunshop, and as a shooter when you walk through the doors you feel like you’ve come to the right place! Next stop the gun room. This is very much a giant, walk-in armoured box, so firearms can be displayed to their best effect. Lined in polished chequer plate the goods stand out well. There are many custom builds on the walls along with new guns like Barretts, Remingtons, Kimbers, CZs, Stoeger

L-R George, Jonathan (shop manager) and Callum

Timney triggers and a wide range of scope mounting accessories

The gun room as always impressive

GENERAL | SHOP VISIT s

shotguns, in fact most major brands and S&W 15-22s. This little 22LR AR15 copy is hugely popular and Riflecraft does a sweet version with a 12” tube and moderator. They also offer a Cerakote option too. Surprising too was the Uberti lever-action rifles on offer, I never thought I’d see this classic design in a shop like this, but they must sell or they would not be there! Upstairs which was the reloading room, is now dedicated to air rifles and shotguns. Jonathan told me they stock most major brands of spring guns and pre charged pneumatics and have a steady through put of airgunners. They also offer a range of pellets, accessories and a bottle filling facility, though this is not on site and has a 24-hour turn around. They are also moving into more sporting shotguns and have a selection of guns, clays, cartridges and other accessories. Not traditional products Andrew would have stocked a few years ago, but if you can attract more and different shooters by diversifying your product range it’s a no-brainer. After all that’s why you employ people who know what they are doing! It looks to me that the retail side of Riflecraft is once again on the up and I congratulate Jonathan for the job he is doing.

Airguns too, well I never thought I’d see the day, but hey if it sells then why not stock it?

be taught new techniques in a safe and well conducted environment.” “This led us to develop the Riflecraft Marksmanship Academy. A set of progressive modular courses designed to increase a rifle shooter’s awareness and knowledge at a challenging but manageable pace. We believe there are people out there keen to learn the skills which separate an extremely accurate shot from a casual shooter. We look forward to meeting them and helping them realize their desire to

pursue extreme rifle accuracy. All modules are conducted in an environment conducive to learning. Above all your safety is paramount but that doesn’t mean to say that you won’t have fun! Our instructors are very experienced and are there to ensure you get the most out of your training.” “Our trainers are either former military skill at arms or sniper instructors, snipers and Army 100 shots with a wealth of operational experience and time behind the rifle. All carry a current civilian professional trainer’s qualification. Our facilities include two classrooms, one at Harleston HQ and the other at Stow Langtoft, both fitted with audio visual equipment and can seat up to 20 students. We have a 100m centrefire private shooting range, with covered firing points and covered bullet capture. When required we have access to all military ranges in the UK, facilitating firing up to 2km.”

Black rifle shooters are well-catered for!

COURSES AVAILABLE AT RIFLECRAFT:

WE ARE TRAINING Next stop a chat with James who is responsible for all the training be it civilian, police or military. I’ll let him speak for himself: “We’ve been setting the standard for the firearms training industry for the last 15 years, providing an unparalleled level of training to the military, police and civilian markets. Whilst initially training police tactical firearms teams and running courses for national shooting organizations, we found an increased desire by civilian rifle users to

Good call on clothing; Deerhunter and Snugpak

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

Module 1: General Rifle Module 2: Long Range Module 3: Moving target Practical Rimfire Remington 700 maintainer’s course AR15 Maintainers course Bespoke and one to one training Prices start at £250 James told me they will be producing small, promotional videos for their website so you can see firsthand what the various courses are all about. Though looking little different, Riflecraft now seems to have everything back in line and with Jonathan and James running their respective departments it looks like a bright future ahead for both the company and its customers. Contact: Riflecraft Ltd, 01379 853 745 Website: www.riflecraft.co.uk Email; [emailprotected]

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GENERAL | PRODUCT TEST AIGLE ARTEMIS 2 H GTX HUNTING BOOTS CONTACT: Fabric PR, 0203 326 7331 for nearest stockists www.fabricpr.com www.bisley-uk.com

High ‘n’ dry

The Aigle Artemis 2 H GTX is a superior high leg waterproof hunting boot, with all the attributes such footwear requires

Pete Wadeson test some serious outdoor footwear from Aigle

igle Artemis 2 H GTX boots measure 10 ½” at the front (including tongue) and dropping to 8 ¼” at the rear, the main body is manufactured from water repellent suede leather, with a generously padded polyamide upper. It’s lined with a full Gore-Tex® membrane, ensuring they’re completely waterproof and breathable. The anatomical polyurethane Ortholite insole offers long term comfort, is shock absorbing, promotes air circulation around the foot, absorbs moisture and fights odour and bacteria growth.

VIBRAM The rugged Vibram rubber outsole’s flexibility is aided by the low profile rand, which isn’t compromised in strength or toughness due to extra rubber protection being applied at key areas – one of which being the very generous amount of added rubber at the toe cap. The outsole unit, with multi-directional lugs, offers further shock absorption protection and a high level of grip on a wide variety of terrain and in all weather conditions. All lace retainers are manufactured from metal, treated to be fully weather resistant and are attached to the boot by strong rivets. The layout includes four pairs of low profile captive eyelets and a further five pairs of open, speed-hooks at the

“It’s lined with a full Gore-Tex®” top. Although not a new design, the lowest hooks are set back from the rest, so allowing the laces to draw the boot to the contours of the foot. In fact, such is the spacing and positioning of all these ‘anchor points’, in use the boots feel very tactile and fully secure, without sacrificing any of the design’s inherent flexibility. Also, when un-laced, there’s a generous gape, which makes them easy to slip on and off.

GOOD KIT The configuration and the combination of materials used for the main body,

FOR Build quality, strength and flexibility Well priced

AGAINST Not a Lot

VERDICT Good all-round, all-season footwear

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

The outsole unit, with multidirectional lugs, offers further shock absorption, protection and a high level of grip on a wide variety of terrain and in all conditions

gives a reassuring and comfortable feel when worn. These boots are suited to tough, rugged hill ascents, as well as lowland grassland stalking, and the well-padded synthetic upper is seen quite clearly, as this makes up the majority of the rear section of the boot, including where they naturally flex at the heel. Slightly lower, they meet full suede leather, which gives the required level of rigidity and support you require at these areas.

{ TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS }

When the speed lacing system is ‘un-done’, the boots show a wide gape, so making them easier to get on and off

Aigle Artemis 2 H GTX Hunting Boots z Price: SRP £125, sizes 6 – 12 UK (colour – Khaki) z Contact: Fabric PR, 0203 326 7331 for nearest stockists www.fabricpr.com www.bisley-uk.com

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GENERAL | PRODUCT TEST TURBOFLAME MILITARY GX7R Price

£7.99 CONTACT: Turboflame, 0161 434 6197 www.turboflame.co.uk

FOR Powerful, reliable and weatherresistant

AGAINST Nothing

VERDICT A versatile heat source for many uses

Field Flame Turboflame lighters are far more than just a means of lighting a cigarette!

urboflame has been providing their range of specialist lighters to the outdoorsmen, military and emergency services for many years! The Turboflame Military GX7R is 7.8 x 3cm and weighs 85-grams, to put that in perspective an iPhone 6 weighs around 130g. It features a detachable cap connected to the unit via a metal keeper chain. Obviously this is to stop grit/dust getting into the working parts, there is also a flame lock function for when you need a continuous burn. It’s constructed from

a robust metal alloy and is covered in a grippy, rubberised coating and available in green, black or grey. Inside it features a single jet capable of 1300° Celsius. The jet is clean burning and therefore does not leave any carbon residue. Ignition is by a piezo-electric system and the flame is powerful enough to allow you to use the lighter in windy/wet conditions, at all angles without the flame bending or blowing out. It functions reliably at altitudes of up to 9,800 ft with a continuous burn time of 17-minutes

(or 850 short ignitions). The high temperature flame can be used to seal cracks in canoes, seal Para cord or even solder and it’s a whizz at lighting fires too!

“The high temperature flame can be used to seal cracks in canoes, seal Para cord or even solder and it’s a whizz at lighting fires too!”

Th e 4 1 s t Bi s l e y An t i q u e & C l a s s i c Ar m s F a i r

VA D

M DL A B O R EM CU

O OV

Sunday 27th March, 2016

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

The Bisley Pavilion, Bisley Camp, Queens Road, Brookwood, Surrey GU24 0NY www.bisleyarmsfair.co.uk

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Early Entry 8am £7 General Admission 10am £4

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GENERAL | RANGE VISIT TARGET SPORTS CENTRE

Tunnel

The

Out and about once more, Neil MacKinnon discovers hidden depths when visiting a shooting centre in Dorset

y dictionary defines serendipity as meaning ‘the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way’. That very much described both the development and my discovery of The Tunnel Target Sports Centre, just off the A35 on the Devon Dorset border near Charmouth. Richard Clist is the man behind The Tunnel, in every respect. He originally bought the land and the tunnel with a view to building a Grand Designs type home, but local authorities and planning departments being what they are, he was unable to persuade anyone to let him start work. In the end, exasperated by the red tape he used an almost unknown bit of planning law to provoke action, and provoke it did! However, not exactly in the direction Richard thought it would go, as when the local authority came back to him, they told him he could get permission for commercial storage, caravan storage or a shooting range; what?

staircase to the right leading to the open office, ruled over by manager Kira Smith and also more working areas of the centre.

WHAT’S INSIDE? As the centre is constructed in a tunnel, you are obviously expecting it to contain a shooting range, in fact there are three. Just along the corridor from reception there is a 25m range, suitable for air and full bore weapons. It is here that any ‘practical’ club competitions are held. Upstairs, there is a 35m indoor range, again suitable for a range of weapons. This used to be a 50m range, but room had to be pinched back to construct an AIS judgmental training suite (more of this later) as well as a reloading room, which is well equipped with Dillon presses that produce much of the ammunition used by both the club and the training facility.

THROUGH THE GLASS DOORS The Tunnel itself used to be the A35 and is a listed building, so the entrance is both grand and at the same time gives the impression of a professional business. Once inside, you find yourself in a large atrium, with the smiling face of Richard at the reception desk. A long corridor to the left of reception leads to most of the facilities, with a

As can be seen the firing points are well appointed

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

Purpose-built shooting benches, comfy seats, bench rests and even ear defenders; it’s got the lot!

Beyond the 25m range is the cafe and across the courtyard is the new shop and also the entrance to the present jewel in the crown of the centre, the 100m indoor range. The range is licensed for weapons up to and including .50 cal.

JOIN THE CLUB The Tunnel centre is very much a business of two halves, as there is a very active club, with an armoury on site for the storage of both member’s firearms and also ammunition. The other side of the business is the training facility, with the laser suite previously mentioned and also four classrooms. These are currently finding frequent use for Maritime Firearm Competency training, teaching merchant seamen to use firearms, something required since 2007 for British Registered vessels travelling through certain oceans. There is also a very active trade in Birthday, Hen/Stag parties, youth groups and corporate events as the 25m range also has a function room behind it with a window into the 25m range, so that party members can see how everyone else is doing with their shooting practice.

RANGE VISIT TARGET SPORTS CENTRE | GENERAL Full supervision is provided for all events and parties, and all the staff at the centre are NSRA and NRA qualified. Food and drink can be provided for parties and the restaurant is also licensed, for post shooting congratulations/commiserations.

A lecture room is also on site

SECTION 7(3) The Tunnel has been granted status as a designated site for Section 7(3) firearms. This means that Firearms Certificate holders who fulfill necessary criteria are allowed to own and shoot pistols of historical interest, but they can only be used and must be kept at a designated club / range. The Tunnel is a designated site, which means members of the club are able use and store their pistols on site.

The Tunnel, this pleasant frontage conceals three indoor ranges including a 100m facility

also underway for a 50m INDOOR clay shooting layout. We did not go into too much depth on this, but it is presently moving forward and is an incredibly exciting prospect.

WORTH A VISIT? FUTURE PLANS While I was visiting, Richard took full advantage of my archery and shooting backgrounds and showed me part of the 15 acre woodland that he owns and which is adjacent to The Tunnel. He is currently planning to get some local FT / HFT course setters in to assess the possibilities of laying courses in the woods for regular competitions, with talk of prizes that will make the shoots well worth attending. Plans are

A few months ago I did not know this centre existed and yet the facilities are both easily accessible and exciting. Richard’s future plans are equally exciting and when the FT and HFT courses open I will be back to have a go and see what further development has taken place. I get the impression that this centre will grow and grow, not just in its facilities but also in popularity, as they offer more and more for the local and visiting shooter.

NEW SHOP OPEN NOW

OPENING HOURS ■ Mon: 10am-2pm ■ Tue: 2pm-9pm ■ Wed: 10am-2pm ■ Thur: 2pm-9pm ■ Fri: CLOSED ■ Sat: 9am- 5pm ■ Sun: 10am-2pm (1st and 3rd Sunday each Month)

CONTACT: Target Sports Centre Ltd The Tunnel, Axminster Rd, Charmouth, Dorset, DT6 6BY, 01297 560049 E-mail- [emailprotected] Web: www.thetunnel.co.uk

HydroGraphics

The Tunnel

UK Realtree® licencees. All Realtree® patterns plus a full range of decorative patterns available for Sporting goods, Automotive parts and Motorcycles. We offer in-house design and machining of one-off custom parts for rifles & vehicles.

Target Sports Centre SHOP Stocking a wide and increasing range of scopes for target shooting, hunting and practical, bags and cases, reloading supplies and cleaning equipment, rifles, airguns, airsoft and ammunition.

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Tel: 01904 778188 www.hydro-graphics.co.uk

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TEL: 01297 560049 EMAIL: [emailprotected] WEBSITE: www.thetunnel.co.uk

Some of our new patterns, see our website

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The Tunnel Shop Axminster Road, Charmouth, Dorset DT6 6BY

www.facebook.com/hydrographicsyork

GENERAL | PRODUCT TEST RIDGELINE DEER HOODIE FLEECE JACKET (OLIVE)

Raising the Profile

CONTACT:

Ridgeline Deer Hoodie is a definite inclusion for your outdoor wardrobe!

Highland Outdoors; www.highlandoutdoors. co.uk (nearest stockist)

L FOR Simple and practical design Seriously warm

AGAINST Could do with a couple of zip pockets for wallet or phone

VERDICT

“We have been using this for a few months now with no complaints at all!” hood is generous and starts high on the neck, so offering plenty of protection. It’s big enough to comfortably cover the head and features draw cords to cinch it down. In use it’s plenty warm and will take the place of a heavier jacket in certain conditions, or can be easily carried in the warmer months if required. We have been using this for a few months now with no complaints at all, it’s available in sizes from Small to 5XL

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Great piece of kit Well worth inclusion in your hunting wardrobe

et’s face it in recent years the hoodie has gained a bad social reputation. However, considering the design; it has much to offer the shooter; quick and easy to put on or take off, lightweight, warm and maybe even waterproof given the material. Ridgeline clothing offers their Deer Hoodie Fleece Jacket. This is a distinctive garment and made from warm, olive green, poly/cotton fleece with a really cool deer head in their Buffalo Camo on the chest. The interior of the hood is also lined with the same material. The build is basic with a handsthrough front pocket and elasticated waist and cuffs. The body is long and easily covers the kidneys and the

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

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SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

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Come on it’s a 22 semi-auto, so does it matter what it looks t like, or is it jus another excuse the gun-hating bureaucrats are looking for to further restrict our sport?

s; shotgun ection 1 S ar il n e im v s e rs or clude e in d a o o ls ve also -l a lf would r se o. We ha y e is to v th g o n s g s ti o e in doubtle rget sho are all th happen ent for ta I stress these hat is uld m o w c ip f u s s o q m re e a d r firea urs an r y calib ny ide o a n a it f m o il e o ru s v m l s t a h ur osa tha heard nyone f rumo oment, n prop Does a sorts o n Unio at the m . This l a s l e re e a o. p a fl ss the to o d i r r r u ea sights im acro er of ir w n e s n l r th these E ns? I have h il a n w in o m be all tless ou f this g off tio on’t much o ut doub d ions on holdin b t w , I c o restric n m i s H e r a e t A s I s be re ore. nd re od-given uns ains to ave ge whe also a full b bans a it as a g they h ond rem p e the sta d d e n o s n t l egal’ g fi a il t o o o w o t i-aut on the ‘l ment rder only t has g p o m rn u y e e n e v s n i o n g t 2 te o a2 tigh fm men BASC is buying pend a load o k and r tunity to govern too. The r o f to s e p o s p -j e e o e l v e e kn os ppro uro MPs pin want t do not a to lobby their E and its y our s y e; b t e u n d s th e e is n m is an on th ooters Parlia rism! g h o s o in r been b r o g r d u e in t E urg op My one ey are e the s details. w to st what th o re t h o u appeas o n m hich ha s will o r d n fi ideas endas, w nd association bsite fo g e d a w e n ir w e e a d a th fl id p s h to p s n u re o i g a gro is s to to Osw in all th shooting s as good thing k how rifles rn James in e g c ta r in n e o d c a C n o Lo tio re! lf-lo ed befo after se not like. le restric nd happen e EU is gorous e possib 1988 a imply do th ri s s e t in y s u re t th e s e o o c r f th e m e m o te k ff o e h a a o rm it t m h m a Hi Ja w o o s n s n re n a g n rifle nb al fi uld see at we ca rms, alo handgu rmer wo trefire rifles. es of leg ver self loading From wh e militar y firea bout the s. The fo r tain typ o n a e n e ll d. Sadly c o c a e re , p k g a a d lp li c e e e in k and -load ted w aps h dump id not lf a w d rh v A e e e s ti that loo R s d n c r p N n a e te e w e e v v o o th e ha ld ha l sho again an s on d ed to ll older, as yes w own us on-pisto ight cou ti h n e y standard e are not allow s s r w y s s n to re w d a s a a o e h t ll d m re ry ad ren ha as w , but the also nd their e a diffe rms histo ing, whic as the UK e EU is required might b either a ng firea n anyth th ti is o n as well r t t r o o a a e ti in p h a th h s th v to it , w e d u w g n rn a te o e ito a m d s o m ic d o Deacti e n n fr rd a sta us mu ur m an s id stand destroy e never tive o ASC com om shooting, b more rig ict and irrespec in that w there. B tr fr a s t t like! g s u le re a y o p te e l o to ts e a th ac what medic rs. nger p o seek a u o h y r e o d w legal de y -y to e t to 5 a s ic g r e o fo th obli nch to restr s to run trol, an ar te bla e seeking ithout c pest con rearm cer tificate t extending th w r fo d e fi ou rifles us un and s talk ab an on semi auto 2 Pete Moore nd shotg ough there wa Ab . ore 2 n o ti of risk a an no m inistra now, th e m o m d d a y ld e e u s o it c This th s to ea ying as 10-year l is worr o tr n period to o c for pest firearms m with

S L A S O OP R P U E

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The East Anglian Game & Country Fair offers a fantastic day out for all the family and is held at the Norfolk Showground, which has excellent facilities and infrastructure. This year’s show dates are April 23rd & 24th 2016 and we are extremely excited to announce that we have some fantastic new arena displays including Action Sports Tour and The Royal Signals White Helmets.

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SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

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GENERAL | RACKNLOAD

THE SHOOTER’S

We track down the mysterious RACKNLOAD from YouTube and find out what he and his channel are all about!

o who and what is Racknload? Well, back in 2010 I thought I’d give this You Tubing thing a go for myself after trawling the Internet for a decent review (and failing to find one) of a shotgun I wanted. Some of these were OK and others were certainly not so good! There were never any real good close ups and real detail and in some cases, honesty was lacking! That was it for me, so after finally buying the shotgun in question which by the way was a Hatsan MPA semi-auto, I decided to do one of my own reviews with lots more detail and also be as honest as I possibly could.

YOU TUBE Also, I wanted to try and come across in a professional manner although I was doing my filming with a cheapo camera. My aim was to try and make the video ‘feel’ like you were having a real good look at the shotgun as you would in a shop or at a show. To scrutinise and look for weak points and poor quality and pick up on it was also a biggy for me, if I was going to do this YouTube channel properly. Ah…YouTube; it was time to sign up.

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

RACKNLOAD | GENERAL

So what should I call my new channel? Well because I enjoyed doing the video so much and was sure I was going to do more, it needed a decent name, and something shooting-related; so how’s about Lock and Load, Lock, Stock and Barrel? Then it just popped into my head - RACKNLOAD! Fortunately the name was not taken on YouTube so I signed up! So a legend in the making was born, mainly for just a bit of fun, doing reviews and shooting videos. But as the months went by, I started to get some real nice comments on the work that I was creating and lots of good advice off other YouTuber’s. Also, viewers were asking me if I could review this gun or that gun. This was a real inspiration and motivation for doing the video’s and has kept me going ever since and now is pretty much my second job; well, that’s what the wife thinks!

Rack’s L/H Remy 700 custom; sweet!

HONESTY OR SPONSORSHIP? However, it does annoy me that some YouTubers that are heavily sponsored and cannot be honest about what is sometimes rubbish that they are reviewing. I would rather listen to someone tell me not to bother buying something rather than say it’s good so not to upset their sponsors or manufacturers. The aim of the game for me then was to keep it REAL and HONEST! Don’t get me wrong, I’m by no means a perfect reviewer and to be honest, I still feel like I’m a newbie to the Tube scene so it’s a case of just keep on learning. So as the channel grew and got more and more subscribers and views I decided it was time for me to invest in a decent camera and some good lighting and put together a little studio in my shed. When I say studio I mean an old table, a white table cloth and to screw a cheap tripod to the ceiling for the camera so it could look down from above and not be in the way. Many an hour I have spent in there since, as well as at my computer doing all of the editing stuff!

BIG SHOUT GOING OUT! I had a chat with my local gun shop to see if I was able to loan air guns and shooting

Man of myster y and are sworn to silence we !

accessories for testing and reviewing and in return I would give them a ‘shout out’ or put a link to their website in the details of the video. They were really keen to do this, so the guns and accessories started to flow and so did the content for the channel and I was in my element! Getting to play with all the latest Gucci kit; life was good! I found myself uploading a new review video to YouTube every two weeks or so and that has pretty much carried on ever since, as well as what I

S: RACKN LOAD SAY

d e p p o p t s u j t i “Then into my head RACKN LOAD!”

Any gun, anytime, anywhere!

call ‘Range Time’ videos which are basically video’s of different kit in action at the range. I ended up reviewing almost every shootingrelated product that I own from airguns, shotguns, firearms and accessories as well as doing booth reviews at the shooting shows. Yep, you will usually see me at a shooting show with the camera rolling!

COMMUNITY As I’m a multi disciplined shooter who enjoys all aspects of our sport from Airsoft to long range centre fire shooting (I’m not great at any of them by the way!) I thought it might be a good idea to start a Facebook group and use the RACKNLOAD name to create a community for all types of shooting sports enthusiasts. Now with well over 2000 members, it really is a great collection of like-minded souls that is really busy with regular content every day so please come and check us out! There is now Racknload. co.uk that is under construction so keep an eye out for that, also Twitter and Google+. So where now for Racknload? Well, the busy part is the YouTube channel and doing the videos and keeping the content fresh. We now have what we call the Racknload playground which is basically a test area where we can have some shooting fun in a safe and controlled location. There is lots of room to do many different discipline’s including practical shotgun, mini rifle, good ‘ol paper punching and run ‘n’ gun. Archery is something that we may possibly touch on in the future plus more ‘do it yourself’ gunsmithing project videos so very busy times ahead! Now to put the icing on the cake, thanks to Pete Moore, it looks like you may just see me in these pages of Shooting Sports Mag every so often throwing out reviews and trust me, it’s a real privilege to be here too! Safe shooting. –RackWWW.RACKNLOAD.CO.UK

AIRGUN | GUN TEST

LOOK-A-LIKE Bill Thomas rekindles his passion for CO2 revolvers with the new, fully licensed Dan Wesson 715 model from ASG

come from a time when we could own real handguns, and considering revolvers, names like Smith & Wesson and Colt were the top choice of shooters worldwide. Sadly for we British, those days are largely gone, unless you want to have a darn great long barrel and a coat hanger hanging off the back of your beloved handgun. Unless of course you look to a replica CO2 model. For many shooters it’s all about revisiting those lost days of Practical Pistol that really drives them, and a decent gas-powered replica is certainly one solution!

OVER 18 The fact is that if you’re over 18 you can legally purchase and own virtually any action air model of handgun you can

think of! SIG SAUERs, Colt 1911, Beretta and the list goes on. You can even get custom built race guns with all the whistles and bells on. So in many ways equipment of this type fills a need and also scratches an itch too! Although I have owned a couple of CO2-driven pellet revolvers in my time I’ve always found them a little uninspiring. They work right enough, but have generally been underpowered and the overall construction left them with a very poor feel in the hand. Plastic moulded imitation wood grips didn’t really set my world alight either and you couldn’t change them as the gas capsule storage was usually tucked away within. I was also wary about trying to holster them as they felt fragile; things of beauty to look at, but far from practical.

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

ALL CHANGE That all changed when I first saw the range of revolvers offered by Action Sport Games (ASG). Founded in 2003 from a merger between two of the largest Danish distributors of replica guns and accessories, ASG has just grown and grown, and it’s always a pleasure to visit their mammoth stand at any of the shows. They have become a true world leader, especially when it comes to properly licensed reproductions from many of the real firearms manufacturers. On test is a CO2 revolver modelled after a perhaps lesser know US manufacturer – Dan Wesson. However the real product was of high quality and innovative design and offered a quick

GUN TEST | AIRGUN

There are two pre-drilled and threaded holes in the underside of the barrel lug that accept a scope mount

change barrel system; an unusual feature at the time!

THE WONDERS OF WESSON! Dan Wesson Firearms is now a part of CZ-USA. Daniel B. Wesson II himself was the great-grandson of one of the founders of the Smith & Wesson Company where he worked from 1938 until 1963. When S&W was bought by Bangor-Punta, Wesson set out to open his own operation to produce high quality, American made revolvers for service and competition use. The first pistol was the Model 12 chambered in .357 Magnum. The success of the .357s series coincided with interest from hunters and competition shooters, and the company expanded their range to other models and calibres. Dan Wesson Firearms is still a trusted name in the shooting industry and is synonymous with quality, finish, and accuracy. So it’s perhaps not surprising that when ASG wanted a brand to work with for their range of CO2 revolvers, Dan Wesson would have been one of the first to approach. Especially and given the fact that they have a great relationship with CZ; luckily for us both parties were able to agree on licence terms.

name, in various finishes, with barrel lengths of 2.5, 4, 6, and 8”. The two extremes of this might well be for the collectors rather than the shooters (I do own one!), but the 4 and 6” guns are absolutely ideal for a bit of practical revolver work. On test is the newly launched Dan Wesson 715 and what a beauty it is! The .177” calibre air pistol version is accurately based on the real DW715 revolver. In the words of CZ-USA: “It’s designed and built to be the most accurate, rugged and versatile revolver on the market.” What turned up from ASG was an extremely attractive revolver with a 6” barrel; each pistol has its own unique serial number, which is also a nice touch. Whilst the polished, deep-grey finish might not appeal to everyone, for a range gun it works very nicely. Weighing in at a hefty 2.7lbs it feels good and solid, and resembles the real thing down to the smallest detail.

WELL BALANCED It’s really nicely balanced and offers a great combination of overall size and weight. Like

many handguns of its type it utilises a 12-gram C02 capsule, which fits neatly into the pistol grip, and there’s even a tool incorporated to help fitting the gas cartridge. This is easily achieved courtesy of a cleverly designed mechanism, which allows the grip to be split, the capsule fitted, and then to be closed solidly. Once again, this does mean that you’re not going to be able to fit aftermarket furniture, but the issue grips resemble an ergonomic and stippled Hogue-style, so for me that wasn’t going to be an issue! With the 12-gram fitted it was time to load up, and once again this is where a smile comes into the equation! The pistol comes with six metal shells of a new design, which allows you to easily load pellets into the rear of the base of the case, rather than having to unscrew the nose cone of the existing design. This is a neat touch as you can easily reload without removing the shells from the cylinder. Also included is a 6-round speed loader, extra shells are available as accessories in boxes of 25. Just like the real thing, the catch to release the cylinder is situated not on the rear upper left of the frame, but in front of the cylinder crane on the left hand side. This functions smoothly, and allows the cylinder to swing out to the left so you can load. It snaps back and locks securely, and you really don’t need to be delicate with this revolver, as everything other than the pistol grip is metal. Just like the original the cylinder rotates clockwise!

WIDE RANGE What came from this is a range of 20+ revolver models (both 4.5mm air and 6mm airsoft) bearing the Dan Wesson Unlike the Colt and S&W revolvers the Dan Wesson’s cylinder release is located forward left on the crane

The new design cartridges are loaded from the rear, which can also be done in situ

AIRGUN | GUN TEST s

A manual safety is discretely placed above the pistol grip; note the fully adjustable rear sight

“For close-in prac disciplines this gu tical going to be every n is accurate as you nebit as ed”

The Dan Wesson shows Colt Python type build with a full, under-lugged barrel and is available in a number of lengths

DOWNRANGE! With the shells loaded you are ready to go; I tried the pistol in numerous holsters designed for the real guns of the same frame size and had no issues with any of them. First stop as ever for me was the chronograph; power levels in air pistols are strictly regulated by law, but ASG have made this replica as powerful as possible, and the DW715 sends Diablo pellets out at a healthy 426 fps! Typical of a modern revolver the DW715 offers both single (hammer co*cking) and double action (trigger co*cking) modes. In use you can you get rid of six rounds quickly if your finger is up to it! The trigger feels a little heavy in DA, but in SA it’s a dream. Accurate placement of shots and good groupings are possible thanks not only to this, but to adjustable rear sight and a clearly defined front blade. There are pre-drilled and threaded holes in the underside of the barrel lug for a dedicated 715 Rail, which is available as an accessory in silver, black, blue and red) should you wish to fit a red

FOR Excellent replica, very shootable and accurate

dot sight. To me this would be overkill, as the pistol is beautifully accurate with the standard irons. I would say if you’re going to use the gun in practical-type shooting then buy some extra shells and a pouch for your belt and use the speed loader, otherwise you’ll be on one knee reloading for ever!

TWIST OR SMOOTH? There is a rifled barrel version available but to my mind unless you are super-picky you don’t really need it as the pellets fly flat and true. I can only surmise that the rifled version might improve things a bit! For close-in practical disciplines this gun is going to be every bit as accurate as you need, and it really is just so much fun to shoot. If you hanker after the olden days, when we had revolvers for practical

The DW715 sends pellets out at a healthy 426 fps

AGAINST

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

VERDICT

Not a lot

Great price and fun Puts the R back into revolver shooting!

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ■ Name ■ Calibre ■ Capacity

AGS Dan Wesson 715 revolver .177” 6-shot cylinder (speed loader included) ■ Barrel 6” (rifles or smooth bore) ■ Operation single and double action ■ Adjustable sights Y ■ Weight 2.7lbs ■ Price £165.99 ■ Contact www.highlandoutdoors.co.uk (for nearest stockist) www.actionsportgames.com

shooting, then I really must recommend AGS’s 6” Dan Wesson 715 revolver, as in my opinion they have really outdone themselves in terms of quality and finish. I’d go as far as saying that this is actually one of the very best replicas they have ever made!

The Hogue-style pistol grip splits to access the 12-gram chamber; no tools are needed for this

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AIRGUN | HFT DIARY

Fitting

MONUMENT

HFTY DIAR

ll eyes on Kelmarsh, and aren’t we lucky? For Kelmarsh Hall and the Country Fair, once again play hosts to our top event of the year- the World HFT Championships, held at the tail end of March. This year it actually kicks off the season proper, and what a way to start? A two day event, held over the Easter weekend, is an exciting opener, and with the big title up for grabs, there’s always some sleepless nights at the half way point- for those who manage to keep their scores tight on day 1. Staying in with a shout is the name of the game, but the excitement and unique atmosphere that this tournament creates, has to be experienced. Shooters from all around the globe converge on sunny Northamptonshire for this one, and it’s an event to savour for sure.

ENJOY IT WHILST... I can’t help thinking that with the growth of Hunter Field Target, as an increasing number of countries take part, so there will be an

Mark Camoccio previews the World Championships and a new junior competition

Kelmarsh Hall is a fabulous backdrop to our flagship event

inevitable clamour for the tournament to be staged by other nations around the world (maybe a few years down the line)- much in the same way that Field Target has now evolved. In other words, enjoy the current set-up whilst it lasts, and is effectively on our doorstep! 33 countries at the last count, now practise FT, and the World title rotates around willing nations, with the UK having to wait its turn. HFT is seriously on the up, so it’s unlikely we’ll get it all our own way for too long. The entry book opened late last year, but the field of 360 participants has long since filled and closed. That’s quite a figure, and a genuine spread of nations are included, which really adds to the occasion.

STRONG SHOWING Take this title, and it surely sends out a broadside to the chasing pack for the rest of the year! As it stands of course, the UK still fields some of the best shooters, and there’s several familiar faces that are once again in

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

the running. Richard Woods may be ever the joker, but his professional approach stands him in good stead. A top ten finish is almost inevitable, but he has the ability to go all the way. Dave Ramshead is a seasoned campaigner and another top class shot that has come painfully close in previous events. Could this be his year? Several others join that group of contenders this time round, and Simon Vant has earned his place on the list, after a blistering finish in the 2015 Series. OK; I’d never count myself out; stop that loud snigg*ring in the back! But the smart or ‘serious’ money if you prefer, would have to be on a certain lady that has simply torn through the ranks over the last couple of seasons. From what I’ve seen, Theresa Reed will take some stopping, and I’m not just talking about the Ladies title! All to play for then.

HFT DIARY | AIRGUN PAT FAREY MEMORIAL JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP In light of the recent sad passing of Pat Farey, the much loved Editor of Gun Mart, we have been informed by Ian Bainbridge and Roger Lait that HFT Masters will proudly host a new Junior competition in Pat’s name:-The Pat Farey Memorial Junior Championship, sponsored by Gun Mart and Shooting Sports magazines. Ian said: “We at HFT Masters are honoured to have been asked to hold a Junior Championship in the name of Pat Farey. As some of you may know Pat passed away recently while editor of the Gun Mart magazine and the publication have asked HFT Masters to run a competition throughout the year to honour his name. This will take place at five events throughout 2016, with the final to take place at Lea Valley Air-Rifle Club in October. At each event, the top three juniors will qualify for the final at Lea Valley. As usual, all juniors will shoot for free at all HFT Masters events. Trophies will be awarded at each event, but at the final, there will be prizes for the first three places, with the Pat Farey Memorial Trophy going to the winner; a perpetual trophy, to be held for 1 year.”

SOME OF THE FACES FROM HFT

Ever the joker, but Richard Woods is in that elite band of likely contenders for the title

Ian Bainbridge is one of the names behind the successful HFT Masters competitions

Seasoned campaigner Dave Ramshead is never far away

Theresa Reed has to be in with a shout

The World HFT Championships will once again be held at the Kelmarsh Country Fair

Spring guns are very much in evidence in HFT

KEY HFT EVENTS IN 2016: WORLD HUNTER FIELD TARGET CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016 27th & 28th March Kelmarsh, Northants. UKAHFT NATIONAL SERIES DATES

Hitting those tiny kill zones is no easy task these days

z Round 1z Round 2z Round 3z Round 4z Round 5z Round 6z Round 7z Round 8z Round 9z The Gathering

24th April 22nd May 26th June 30th July 31st July 21st August 25th September 15th October 16th October TBA

Quarry (S.Wales) Furnace Mill (Shrops) Buxted (Sussex) M.A.D. (Essex) M.A.D. Rivington (Lancs) Cambridge (Cambs) Emley Moor (Yorks) Emley Moor TBA

HFT MASTERS DATES z 10th April z 8th May z 19th June z 3rd July z 20th August z 23rd October

Cambridge (Cambs) Harrogate (Northern Shooting Show, N. Yorks) Cloybank (Scotland) Greyhound (Coventry) Emley Moor (Saturday, Yorks) Lea Valley, (Hertfordshire)

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (HFT) z September

(date TBA, Poland)

For pre-booking application forms and downloads regarding established UKAHFT events (where bookings are still possible), and all the latest information on anything connected with Hunter Field Target shooting, take a look at the following websites: https://sites.google.com/site/ukahft/ and www. shooting-the-breeze.com https://sites.google.com/site/whfta1/ In addition, details of the new HFT Masters events can be seen at www.hftmasters.net

AIRGUN | FT BLOG

R O E R RESTO

CONSERVE?

James Osborne gets all nostalgic over some classic FT hardware

am a member of the National Trust, I may not agree with everything they do but on the whole I get good value for money from my subscription and always enjoy the days out I have at their properties. My own observations tell me that they seem to strike a good balance between allowing their facilities to be used for the pleasure of visitors, both young and old, while preserving some of our country’s heritage.

OLD TIMER A curious intro, but you’ll see where I’m going with this. Mostly my airguns are all of a modern target style, basically new designs. Or at least I thought they were. I own a Ripley Rifles AR4, a fully regulated, pre-charged pneumatic rifle that will knock down field targets all day long. On

the trigger block is engraved its date of birth, the day I collected it from Ripley, Derbyshire. That date is 15th March 1992, oh my, it’s 24 years old! Now, to be honest, it kind of looks its age too, the bluing is scratched where a tie-wrap was fitted to make a wind indicator and whatever treatments were used on the stock have stripped away areas too. Then there is the scratch I put in the cylinder and muzzle brake assembly, which I used to realign the barrel after the muzzle brakes removal, the reasons why I thought this was a good idea are now lost in time. The original quick fill adaptor is somewhere I’m sure, but it isn’t where it should be on the actual gun. That doesn’t really matter though because the gun has a leak somewhere, so it seems pointless filling it up.

IN-HOUSE MODS

Wear from a tie wrap

The stock too has seen a few modifications over the years. I raised the cheekpiece and lowered the forend with the help of a band saw at work, but don’t worry I actually

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

Some progress with the strip down

managed this with some aplomb, so it looks OK. The posts I used to fasten everything together however need securing properly. The original butt pad is long departed and in its place is a homemade one which I sprayed black, I know, I know! It has been on my mind for a while now that I should perhaps restore this rifle to its factory fresh best. A little restoration project for the evenings, hopefully resulting in a great deal of satisfaction for myself and to all intents and purposes a new rifle to admire and use or perhaps display. But here is my dilemma, something that organisations such as the National Trust must have to

FT BLOG | AIRGUN person in the queue behind me. I’ve been shooting a long time now too and I kind of know what works for me in terms of how a gun is set up!

My Pro-Sport, bought to be kept as original, still used though

LITTLE TWEAKS

wrestle with all the time. A full restoration project will result in something beautiful that can be looked at while thinking ‘so this is how they used to look’! I quite like that idea, but if I did that, I would instantly destroy the history of the rifle and with it possibly its character. Each scratch, mark and modification tells part of its story; they tell me things, when I see these marks I think back and smile (or grimace).

ORIGINAL CONDITION Now, I like to see rifles in their original condition, as their makers intended, I have no real reason for this, it is just one of those things. I try to maintain the originality of my own guns too, but never really manage it and here’s why. Normally I buy a rifle to use in competition. Now manufacturers have to make a living and therefore mainstream kit is always a compromise in one way or another. These don’t necessarily make a rifle terrible, but let’s be honest an ‘off the peg’ gun that suits me isn’t likely to suit the

So almost as soon as I have a rifle, little tweaks occur here and there and initially I try to make sure anything I do is reversible. The addition of an after-market butt pad for instance, can be fitted in such a way that should it be removed you would never know it had been on there. There generally comes a point in the life of that rifle that this is not possible and irreversible changes have to be made. I think this in particular applies to target guns, as those of us who shoot them are of a mindset that ultimately the rifle is a tool to do the job, and if it will perform that job better if a hacksaw is used to cut parts off, then so be it! So the decision needs to be made as to whether or not I continue the rifle’s story by leaving well alone or turn it into a museum piece. The thing is, a full-on restoration project would become part of its history anyway and it wouldn’t mean it couldn’t be used, although either way it isn’t likely to be used as it once was.

Really that long ago? Check out the blueing!

do fancy having a go with it for the sake of nostalgia. I’m afraid there is no outcome for me to tell you of here, I still can’t make up my mind you see. I wondered if writing this might help me come to a decision but alas it hasn’t. I will however tell you how far I have got with trying to fix that leak. The rifle is in a sorry state of semi disassembly, I can’t get some parts to unscrew as they were designed to do, and therefore I’m plucking up the courage to employ some less than subtle techniques. As this is likely to turn into a long term project (most of mine do) if you bump into me in a couple of year’s time ask me how it is going and down which road did I go. One thing is for certain, by the time I have employed those less than subtle techniques I’ll have added some more ‘story’ to my Ripley Rifles AR4 serial no.34.

NOSTALGIA Whatever I decide to do, I will have to fix that leak if the AR4 is ever to be shot again and I

Look what I found lying around…

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Shown: Black Mamba Ultimate FT

• • • • •

Regulated sub 12 ft/lbs Side lever • Single shot action Fully adjustable stock and hamster Weighs 3.9 kg Costs under £1000

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Range of FT / HFT clothing and accesories Jacket £135 Gloves from £15

AIRGUN | GUN TEST

Terry Almond has bought Daystate’s latest Bullpup PCP, so what does this veteran FT shooter and all-round airgunner think?

SECOND

CHECK MY

PULSAR I

am aware that Graham Allen looked at the Pulsar a few months ago in this magazine and I know he was very taken with it. However, this one is a little different, as I asked the Editor if he would be interested in something from me about it, as I elected to buy one. Hopefully it will give that bit more insight into the pros and cons of using what is a unique, computer-controlled PCP.

MULTI-ROLE For me, the Pulsar needs to fulfill a multitude of roles, from vermin control to all target

disciplines; a rifle for all seasons is how Daystate portray it. So does it do what it says on the tin? I hope to answer that question in this two part review, and already there have been a few surprises. Mostly pleasant, but a few frustrating! The Pulsar has replaced the more conventional Mk4 and retains the electronic trigger, which lends itself perfectly to its Bullpup design. No sloppy linkages from the forward set trigger unit. A big plus point for me! It can be used with the 10-shot magazine or the single shot tray provided. Clever

Stripping is quick and easy, note the battery pack, display screen and capped filling point up front and the high scope rail

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Old dog new tricks; Terry Almond reckons his new Daystate Pulsar is probably the most technically advanced Bullpup PCPs ever, and he should know!

improvements over the Mk4 system should make it a much more ‘shooter-friendly’ rifle. This month I will give you my first impressions and next will go into more detail on scope set up, ballistics, and shooting a course FT-style.

ERGONOMICS The first impressive thing is the short case it comes in. Matt black, with the Daystate emblem in the centre, it is only 35” long with two snap catches each side of the handle. Well padded and snug within lies the rifle. While it may well be an acquired taste to some, there is no doubting the short, business-like style and quality it portrays upon first sight. This is the laminate stock model in Forest Green, with carbon fibre inserts each side. The 17” barrel is hidden inside a matt black metal shroud, which is fully floating and threaded for a sound moderator. The scope rail sits on top of the shroud giving 1¼”of height from center of barrel before mounts are added. In the back of it sits a neat spirit level, which could be adjudged compulsory on a Bullpup with its high scope position. A slim cheekpiece, designed to slide fore and aft, is

GUN TEST | AIRGUN New for Daystate, a side-co*cking lever improves operation over a bolt-action, note the cheekpiece and the all way adjustable butt pad

A nice touch; the Pulsar comes in a tough carry case to protect your precious Bullpup baby

mounted on the action above the laminate stock. Cleverly designed, it fits on a standard dovetail mount behind the breach. Initially I was concerned that it offered no height adjustment but the action actually gives ½” of rise above the stock and I find it perfect. At the rear is an adjustable shoulder pad, allowing everything except length to be tweaked and I soon had it set in the ball park. The 300cc air cylinder and filler valve is shrouded by a stylish black nylon fore-end. I like the large screw cover, which when removed, reveals the snap-on filler valve. Underneath the forend is a very useful 14mm Picatinny rail for accessories. It won’t need a laser, as that’s already built in. More of that later!

Feed is from a 10-shot magazine; a single-shot tray is also included. In mag-fed mode the on-board computer counts shots and other clever stuff, note the spirit level

HEY GOOD LOOKING!

information window on the left. The co*cking lever can be changed over to suit. All previous Daystate’s have used a bolt-action, but the pulsar has a side-lever, which is a new development for them. Perhaps ‘co*cking’ is the wrong term as this lever doesn’t actually co*ck anything but activates the computer and when it’s closed again you’re ready to fire. This must be done each time in the normal manner. This is an improvement over the Mk4 system, which had a permanently live trigger without the need to activate the bolt. It’s very comfortable to operate from the shooting position, although having no resistance, it feels strange initially. Unlike its

FOR co*ck OR NOT? The stock is ambidextrous and the only difference between left and right is the digital

Probably the most sophisticated, Bullpup PCP ever Masses of potential

predecessor the Mk4, it does not require a key to activate the electronics. To check the info screen, simply push the button safety ON and OFF. This will light up the screen and give info on charge pressure remaining and what power level has been selected. The rifle remains de-activated or ‘un-co*cked’. There is also a small red L.E.D. at the rear of the stock just under the cheek piece which will illuminate when the rifle is ‘live’ with no safety on but hardly visible to the user. I will go into greater detail next month!

COMPUTING MADE EASY As the Pulsar is the most sophisticated electronic air rifle ever produced a certain

AGAINST Not a lot

VERDICT Expensive but exceptional A must for serious shooters and Daystate fans

The short laminated stock in Forest Green looks gorgeous. All the bumps are in the right places but I think Daystate have missed a trick here, as there is no provision for shooting ‘thumb up’ as a thumb rest is conspicuously absent. I feel that on a rifle with this price tag, an important aid like this should be included in the design. Underneath is the one-piece trigger guard/pistol grip from Israeli Industries and used on their AK series of rifles. It incorporates a push button safety and also opens up from below providing access inside the handle. This led me to my first frustrating moment; more of that next month! The grip is well shaped, grippy, and suits my average sized hand well. The trigger on this models is a fully adjustable target type shoe offering 1st and 2nd stage travel/ weight adjustment with the ability to also ‘fine tune’ the finger reach and angle.

AIRGUN | GUN TEST The Green Mountain camo stock looks the business, but there’s a serious amount of programmable electrickery going on inside

“For me, the Pulsar needs to fulfill a multitude of roles, from vermin control to all target disciplines” s

amount of button, or in this case, trigger pressing is to be expected. Daystate have worked on this system for some years now and have actually made things much simpler in terms of menu selection and options, in effect de-cluttering the programme. The options on the menu are High Pwr, Mid Pwr, Low Pwr, Magazine On/Off, and Laser On/Off. For example, choosing the magazine ‘on’ option will operate the rifle for 10-shots before closing down. The count is shown on the digital readout. Removing the empty magazine and inserting a fresh one re-sets the counter automatically. Loading two pellets from the mag is also a thing of the past, as it will not cycle until the previous shot has been fired. Very clever! The counter can be re-set to 10 at any point during the cycle in a few simple trigger pulls with the co*cking lever open. In the ‘off’ position the rifle supplies uninterrupted shots with a visible ‘low pressure’ warning on screen at around 120bar. The laser function is clever in its operation and as this

Detail of the pistol grip and trigger, sensibly the safety catch is located in the grip, which few other Bullpups have yet to achieve!

rifle may well be used in a close quarter, rat in a barn situation, it has a few tricks up its shroud. Here’s the clever bit!

will show up on screen when the voltage drops to 7volts.

SUMMARY LASE AWAY With ‘laser on’ selected in the menu, it will automatically come on when the rifle is co*cked. Applying the safety button will turn it off. Pushing the safety off, the laser will activate until the shot is fired and remain on for approx 1.5 seconds before switching off. Next time the action is co*cked the laser comes on and so on. Should I wish to use it, the function is spot on and should work well in the right situation. The projected beam is far too big to be accurate at anything over 25yds and it’s a real pain to set up on point of aim, requiring a fiddly and inaccurate method of adjustment. Achievable eventually but room for improvement.

STRIP DOWN Stripping the Pulsar for maintenance/ cleaning and battery replacement is quite simple and requires the removal of only two items. The Allen head screw behind the pistol grip and the end cap over the filler valve. After ensuring that the button safety is in the ON position, where it lines up with a recess in the stock, simply slide the stock down and clear. The nylon shroud slides forward and off the end of the cylinder. The other big user-friendly improvement is the battery pack. From the factory it holds 6 x AA cells; good for thousands of shots. Rechargeables can be used or lithium options are available from Daystate. A visible warning

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There is no doubt that there are real advantages in this design as far as compactness and balance are concerned and although I am a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to rifles, at my age I need all the help I can get! Just feeling that 4.9kg all but disappear when shouldered standing helps keep my ‘Pulsar’ under control; see what I did there? As to be expected, the finish and build quality is excellent and there is just something about owning the most sophisticated PCP ever built. I am hoping it lives up to my expectations. Next month I set it up for Field Target and run the ballistics. Good Shooting

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ■ Name: ■ Type ■ Capacity ■ System ■ Stock ■ Weight ■ Length ■ Barrel ■ Cal ■ Air Cylinder capacity ■ Max pressure ■ Claimed shots per charge ■ Warranty ■ Price ■ Contact

Daystate Pulsar Bullpup Pre Charged Pneumatic 10 (DM) and single shot MTC electronic/Harper Valve system /Computer regulated Forest Laminate /Nylon composite 8.5 lbs un-scoped 30” Walther 17” .177 300cc 230bar 200 (12ft/lbs) 3 years £1995 RRP Daystate. www.daystate.com

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AIRGUN | PRODUCT TEST TASCO Tasco Target/Varmint 2.5 – 10 x 42AO IR Prices from

£149.99 SRP (Non – illuminated model £115.99)

TRULY TRADITIONAL Pete Wadeson tests a dual role Tasco scope and finds that despite its uncompromising, ‘old school’ layout, it proves to be a very capable optic!

CONTACT: John Rothery (Wholesale) Co Ltd for nearest stockist www.bisley-uk.com

’m sure many ‘young guns’ will probably find it hard to believe that back in the day Tasco were one of the few companies who had scopes specifically designed for airgun use. I say this due to the wealth of airgun-specific optics now available with specially designed, multi-aimpoint reticules now much favoured by our community.

The Tasco 2.5 – 10 x 42AO IR Riflescope has an uncompromising ‘traditional’ look but it’s still a rugged and reliable optic with a useful illuminated reticule

OVERVIEW At 23” this is quite a lengthy design considering the magnification range, but weighing in at 20.6oz it isn’t overly heavy. Built around a 1” body tube and manufactured from high-grade aluminium with a matte black anti-glare finish, it features a Mil-Dot reticule. A design that has much been favoured by airgunners, not for its original range-finding ability, but for repeatable and easily seen hold over aim points. Old school too is the rheostat in design, operation and location, as it sits atop the chunky eye-bell, just behind the zoom ring at 12 o’clock! Its rotary drum style shows 11 brightness levels, and takes power from a single CR2032 3V lithium battery that sits under a coin slot style screw off cover cap. At the rear of the generously sized eye bell is a non-locking, fast focus ocular adjuster.

TURRET TIME

FOR Build quality, sight picture, wide field of view and useful reticule

AGAINST Not a Lot

VERDICT A Rugged and reliable no-nonsense illuminated reticle optic

The target style ¼” MOA capped turrets are relatively slim but stand quite proud of the saddle. Not a bad thing, as the drums are easy to operate and click audibly and positively to each station. Both elevation and windage offer nine full rotations, with 54 clicks per turn. Vernier scales are also present, so once you set a zero you can unlock the turret’s small grub screw to set 0 on the vernier to the vertical centreline. The reticule uses the 2nd pattern Mil-Dot design, with round dots and four to each inner arm, all very standard! Also, when illuminated, only

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The adjustable objective (AO) is quite lengthy and has distance markings notated in both metric and imperial

The target-style ¼” MOA capped turrets are relatively slim but stand quite proud of the saddle. Drums click audibly and positively to each station too

the inner cross and dots are lit! Particularly impressive is just how crisp and well defined the reticule stays, with no blurring even on its highest intensity. The zoom and adjustable ocular have deeply ridged outer edges for ease of use and operate very smoothly.

CONCLUSIONS

DOUBLE MARKED Interestingly, the adjustable objective (AO) is quite lengthy and has distance markings in both metric and imperial. Yards are marked in white lettering, while metres are shown in green. Only the colour differs, as quite sensibly the ranges stated are for the same increments, those being 10yd/m, 15, 20, 30, 50, 75, 100, 200, 300 and ∞. In use these distances correspond quite well to the ranges when tested on given objects set at known distances. There’s also plenty of room between the 10-yd/m mark to the 15, 20, 30 and 50 - good news for the airgun hunter because you’re able to drop a dot of tippex on at ranges you prefer to know. Another bonus is it has an ultra-close minimum focus range of 5yd/m – that is of course with the zoom on its lowest setting.

I’ve long known that Tasco have some very capable optics suited to airgun use – now having tested this model I’d say they have some criminally over looked gems in their range. The fully multi-coated lenses are obviously high grade, as on bright or dull days the sight picture doesn’t disappoint. Add to this the useful illuminated reticle design, sensible magnification range, solid strong and business like build and you’ve got a very capable optic for many low light airgun hunting situations.

{ TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS } Tasco Target/Varmint 2.5 – 10 x 42AO IR z Body tube 1” z Reticule Illuminated Mil-Dot (round dots) z Length 23” z Weight 20.6oz z FOV ft. @ 100 yds/m 34.5’ – 9.7’/11.5 – 3.2m z Click values ¼” MOA z Clicks per turn 54 z Full rotations Windage & Elevation 9

PRODUCT TEST | AIRGUN JACK PYKE MINI SPINNER TARGETS Prices from

In A Spin! Jack Pyke’s sturdy take on a classic airgun target

£6.95 CONTACT: Jack Pyke, 01234 740327 www.jackpyke.co.uk

FOR Simple, versatile, and made to last

AGAINST Screw in variety needs an object to attach to

VERDICT Loads of fun for minimal outlay

ini Spinners are rewarding and enjoyable targets, as scoring a direct hit on a tiny metal disc, and seeing it spin round takes some beating. Jack Pyke offers three different packs to choose from. The Mini Screw-in Spinner 4 Pack, has four separate target discs 1x 20mm, 1x 25mm, 1x 30mm, 1x 40mm, each one with its own chunky screw, washers, and spacer tube, ready to be screwed into a block of wood, or the side of a tree/ wooden shed. The Mini Screw-in Spinner 2 Pack includes twin targets with 20mm and 25mm discs attached. Again, it just needs to be screwed into position. Finally, the Mini Spinner Target Stake comes with a 25mm and 40mm disc sitting on a 30 spike that pushes straight into the

ground. All targets are made of steel, so they should last for a very long time. Just consider your backdrop and safety aspect as with any target. Jack Pyke’s Mini Spinner targets are available from all good gun-shops.

{ TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS } Jack Pyke Mini Spinner Targets z Prices: Screw-in Spinner 4 Pack £6.95 Screw-in Spinner 2 Pack £7.95 Spinner Target Stake £8.50 z Contact: Jack Pyke, 01234 740327 www.jackpyke.co.uk

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Whole range of accessories in stock

Plus much much more

We supply 53 brands of airguns with full range of accessories

We stock over 23 brands of shotguns as well as centrefire & rimfire rifles 45

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VIEW OUR WEBSITE TO VIEW ALL OUR STOCK WWW.SOLWARE.CO.UK

AIRGUN | AIRGUN HUNTER

Spring

s winter gives way to spring, it’s a time of year airgun hunters should look forward to. There is more quarry to choose from whose numbers need curtailing early, so they don’t get into plague proportions later. There’s still many opportunities in the woods before they get into full leaf, taking woodies and other avian species from sitty trees and targeting wood pigeon at roost. Squirrels are very active, their first litter of young often seen frolicking around the base of trees, so target them while they’re still naïve to danger. Alternatively, the fields will be coming to life as crops begin to grow, with fresh plants vulnerable to attack.

WOOD PIGEON At this time of year, roost shooting is still a favoured method for pigeons, as is targeting them in sitty trees; decoys are worth trying too, as they peck around feeding on clover and other young vegetation. They’ll be found visiting ivy-covered trees in search of berries and bushes that contain early spring berries, descending and gorging themselves until they are stripped bare. Early in the season food will be scarce, so as soon as a field is sown, they’ll be there – erecting a hide and ambushing is another challenging method.

At this time of year roost shooting is still the favoured method for woodies, as is targeting them in sitty trees

SQUIRRELS

is in

The Air Pete Wadeson looks at the species and tactics to employ to enjoy the best of sport throughout spring into early summer…

Squirrels are always a nuisance and before the woods and trees get too densely foliated, continue targeting them whenever you spot one

Before the woods get too dense, continue targeting these pesky bushy tails whenever you can. Walk quietly around the wood, slowly watching the branches and the ground for the flick of a silvery grey tail and be ready. Alternatively, if you know a place they frequent, quietly stand with your back to a tree trunk to hide your silhouette and wait for them to appear. Use full camo, including gloves and facemask, so as not to show any pink bits- if not they will spot you! If the foliage is too heavy up above, then entice them down onto the ground with free offerings of food such as chocolate, nuts and seeds. Be there in a hidden position within range, to hit them as they stop to pick up food. You can combine the two previous methods with using a squirrel call. They are highly effective and imitate the chattering and barking they often make in their territory to challenge others, signal danger or attract attention. The call will fire their curious nature, and often an area that shows no life or activity will suddenly show heads popping up and around tree trunks to see what the commotion is. The rest is down to you!

RABBITS In most parts of the country rabbits will have already bred, and dependant on

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AIRGUN HUNTER | AIRGUN

Look for fresh runs through entrance holes to established warrens, scratchings or areas where rabbits are commencing a year’s worth of new diggings to raise young and to live

weather conditions, does could even be ready to have a second litter! For sport and practice, target the bucks and if you’re not ‘instructed’ to decimate the area, the non-milky does too. If it’s total pest control then there’s no room for sentiment and picking off youngsters as they emerge from warrens or stops will reduce their numbers drastically. Young rabbits are far less wary than adults and sit out betraying the positions of warrens and areas around cover where others emerge. Look for this and set up an ambush point using a cover screen of camo. Also, as the youngsters will venture out first, if you’re shooting for the pot, wait a while until the far more worldly-wise adults appear before taking a shot. Another trick, while ambush shooting near well-used warrens, is to get into position very early, to try and catch

Young rabbits are far less wary than their parents and sit out betraying the positions of warrens and areas around cover where they emerge

them as they return from a night-time feeding spree. Alternatively, early in the day or towards evening, you can try stalking as they feed besides the cover of hedgerows or out in the open fields. Lamping is always worth a go too! Targeting them at night is hard at the best of times, so trying your luck earlier in the year when they won’t be as lamp shy can be productive. However, if you’re into night vision you can target them with utmost stealth using this technology.

MAGPIES & CROWS Arguably, the most destructive of the corvid species - magpies and crows will be paired off by now, and back at nest sites building or re-building old abandoned homes from the previous year. If you’ve done your homework over the winter Never forget the use of gun-mounted lamps, or going out with a partner who operates the light while you concentrate on the shot

months, you’ll already know where these sites are and areas the birds frequent! A method I employ at this time of year for certain corvids is to place a little owl or even magpie or crow decoy within their territories. The birds (including Jays) will mob the plastic intruders to scare them off their patch. If you’re hidden and waiting, pick them off while they’re preoccupied screeching and cawing at the deeks! The all-time favoured method of using a bait to attract egg-thieving nasties is to use a slit open rabbit and snipe them from cover when they drop down to peck at the free meal. As this is the breeding season for many ground-nesting birds, also try using the trick of a few hens’ eggs out in the open, bunched together with dead grass and hay, as a makeshift nest. A method I employ at this time of year for certain corvids is to place a little owl decoy or even a magpie or crow decoy within their territory

AIRGUN | AIRGUN HUNTER s

come to feed. They rarely come to bait, but when they’ve found a natural feeding area, such as a freshly drilled field, they’ll descend in large groups. You’ll only have a short ‘time frame’ to target them but satisfying and rewarding shooting should you land in the right spot at the right time. But, as we know - of all the shooting disciplines, airgun hunting can be the most difficult – little surprise many welcome and embrace the challenge.

JACKDAWS

Brancher shooting is getting more difficult due to climate change, but May 12th is still heralded as the traditional day to visit a rookery to shoot the young before they can fly

Like all avian species, but from the corvid family in particular, crows will have favourite sitty-trees and look out points where they sit and ‘caw out’ their territorial rights

Arguably the most destructive of species of corvid - magpies and crows will be paired off by now and back at nest sites, building or rebuilding old abandoned homes

Like all avian species, but from the corvid family in-particular, crows will have favourite sitty-trees and look out points where they sit and ‘caw out’ their territorial rights. Find one of these areas and again, using cover of full camo (often a hide will be needed) snipe them off the branches. Using a handy pop-up hide, you can quickly erect a fully concealed shooting position, as with these very wary adversaries ‘being hidden from above’ is more often than not required to get within range. Some feel roost shooting is worthwhile, however targeting them at roost isn’t easy but if you find an established site (as with all the airgun shooting techniques outlined) you’ll need to be well concealed and wearing full camo. Because you’re in the woods, if possible also use the shaded gloomy areas for your position. However, be prepared to only get the chance of a few shots before they leave and possibly never return. Unlike the wood pigeon, once they leave a roost site they can often seemingly disappear to another wood miles away or deep into the densest part of the wood.

SPOTLIGHT – ROOKS

Although the traditional time and method to target Rooks is brancher (young birds) shooting on the 12th May – due to climate change this tactic is getting more difficult. However, they’ll return to the rookery much earlier in the year to repair their bulky nests and also hang around on the edges during the evening before dusk, bunched together in the tallest trees. The adults are certainly not the easiest of birds to target but with caution and care – it’s not totally impossible! Be at the rookery at least two hours before dawn. When the adults emerge, waste no time in targeting them from the branches, as they’ll soon be off to feed on the fields close by; demanding yet rewarding shooting. When the adults have wised up and left or keep flying high above the rookery, there might still be some late developing ‘branchers’ trying to fly you can target as the day wears on. If you’ve found a field rooks are feeding over, set up a hide during the night and again be there waiting for them to

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Like most corvids, Jackdaws will turn up when least expected. They’ll flit around the wood, visit sheep feeders put out near the backs of barns or in fields. Find where they are feeding and wait up in full camo in a hide and target them. They’re quite a small bird, so be precise with your pellet placement. Many times they’ll have a sitty-tree or favoured fence posts, gates, telegraph poles etc. that they’ll sit on early in the morning, after first leaving the roosting areas but near feeding spots before they drop down to feed. Target them here! In many places that are overrun with them, they’ll actually fly into barns holding either food or livestock and nick it. They will tuck in to the high protein feed pellets in the cattle and especially the sheep troughs. Be waiting in the barn and catch them as they perch on the outer doors or once inside on the beams. Pay particular attention to the shots taken, don’t attempt any off a sheep’s back or those that are grubbing around within the pens. Get them above the livestock when sat on holding fences or overhead beams. Jackdaw roost shooting is again not the most practiced method, but find a spot they favour and you can have some good sport with these raucous noisy birds while it lasts. They’ll usually stay longer at a roost site than crows but if mixed in amongst them – expect sport to be very short. Find where the jackdaws are feeding and wait up in full camo in a hide and target them with well-placed shots. They’re quite a small bird so precise pellet placement is essential

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AIRGUN | GUN TEST

BARRIERS Pete Wadeson tests the latest Gamo springer package, and finds an appealing and ‘nice-price’ hunter

hen it comes to spring or gas-ram rifles, there’s no disputing the fact that Spanish gun manufacturing giants Gamo are now amongst the leading players; it’s hardly surprising, as they offer a comprehensive range of stylish and practical sporters. The new Barricade however, breaks slightly from this template, as it’s one of three models in their designated ‘Varmint’ range that come bundled with in-house optics and mounts, as a ready to go combo. This consists of the Stalker DX, Hunter Classic and the Barricade. While all have identical actions, the feature that individualises each model is the stock. The former is an all-black synthetic, the ‘Classic’ traditional beech furniture and the Barricade has olive green synthetic furniture, with generously sized black rubber inserts to aid grip. The other commanding feature that they all share, is that the barrel is shrouded in a

‘Bull Whisper Silencer’; visually it’s a semi-fluted, synthetic bull barrel outer with an ‘air dispersion’ end tip. Coupled with the stock designs, these tend to give the Varmint series the look of a fullbore centrefire.

INNOVATIVE INSERTS The Barricade stands out with its stylish looks, but it just screams ‘solid hold’ too. The colour contrast begins at the butt, where the base olive green colour is dominated by a substantial medium height ambidextrous ‘black section’ cheekpiece and cushioned ‘Shock Wave Absorbing’ thick rubber butt pad. This refers to the familiar insert blocks installed through the pad, so it can be tailored to suit your requirements. ‘Inserts’ left in place for a full pad or ‘inserts’ slid out to offer a ventilated design – the latter of course being more forgiving to help quell recoil at the shoulder.

“The Barricade stands out with its stylish looks, but it just screams ‘solid hold’ too” 50

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

The slim neck and shallow rake allows for a comfortable hold on the pistol grip. The forend is slim and lengthy, tapering slowly upwards, to end in a neat rounded tip, just short of where the barrel shroud begins. The rubber ‘grip’ inserts are seen as two-panels set either side of the pistol grip and along the forend and formed so they stand slightly proud of the stock and are configured with a multitude of raised oval shaped dots. There’s also a lengthy run of fluting that comes from the top leading edge back to approximately midway along the forend. The rifle is surprisingly light and even measuring 44.75” from butt to muzzle handles far better than you’d first expect.

LOCK ‘N’ LOAD Due to the length of the bull barrel shroud it acts as a useful lever, helping to reduce the effort needed to co*ck this break-barrel action springer. Taking into account the rifle also has a lengthy articulated co*cking linkage, accommodated for by a long slot in the underside of the forend. The co*cking movement hinges easily but does require a

GUN TEST | AIRGUN TRIGGERED

The Gamo Varmint Barricade Combo is a nice package deal based on a solid action design and has a stylish and practically featured stock

The olive green colour of the synthetic stock is dominated by a medium height, ambidextrous ‘black section’ cheekpiece and cushioned ‘Shock Wave Absorbing’ thick rubber butt pad

A large wedge-shaped detent lock keeps the rifle solidly shut and the O-ring seal ensures all is airtight when closed!

All Varmint models, like many other Gamo rifles, use that now familiar 2-stage trigger layout, which includes an in-guard safety lever set just forward of the main blade. A word of caution here; it’s a manually operated safety, as the co*cking stroke doesn’t engage it on lock back as is the case on some similar designs. However, trigger safeties shouldn’t be used as ON/OFF switches, so it’s good practice upon co*cking to get into the habit of immediately setting to SAFE if a shot isn’t instantly going to be taken. In use, the trigger operates precisely and with no undue creep as it trips the sears reasonably crisply. Recoil is low and the integral Whisper system silencer in the barrel shroud and tip reduces muzzle report to an acceptable level. Some might prefer to remove one or all butt pad inserts but I was surprised at how well this lightweight, though quite lengthy, rifle-quelled recoil upon firing. As for accuracy, after setting a 25yd zero for the .177 calibre test rifle and after a short period of initial dieseling, I was able to produce 1” groups shooting both freehand and rested.

CONCLUSIONS

‘bit’ of heft towards the end of travel before the sears engage. Once in the fully open position, the mechanism locks back with an assured click and a solid feel. With a pellet in and the barrel closed, a large, wedge-shaped detent keeps the rifle solidly shut and the O-ring breech seal ensures all is airtight. The top of the air cylinder is grooved for mounts but also comes ready fitted with a 6” long raised scope rail adaptor. This solid platform has a mount arrestor stop at the rear and helps raise smaller objective lens optics, so that you can attain a comfortable head position on the cheekpiece for correct scope/eye alignment. A nice feature and useful on this option, as the Barricade comes bundled with a Gamo 4 x 32 fixed magnification scope. It’s quite basic but is usable for general airgun hunting ranges, though personally I’d have preferred it to have been paired up with a 3 – 9 x 40, like the other two in the range. I’m sure many will feel it’s a decent enough optic and it does enable you to, as we say, ‘shoot straight from the box’, once zeroed of course!

FOR A comfortable and shootable springer package

AGAINST Might be a bit long for some

The forend is slim and lengthy, tapering slowly upwards to end in a rounded tip - note the black rubber inserts set either side and top side fluting

The top of the air cylinder is grooved for mounts but the rifle also comes ready fitted with a raised scope rail adaptor

VERDICT Well worth a look Comes with scope and moddy included Good value for what you are getting

The Varmint Barricade Combo is a nice package deal – based on a solid action design, it has a stylish and practically featured stock - of the three ‘Varmint’ options, I’d certainly choose this one! A minor gripe is I’d prefer a higher spec’ scope to be included, also overall this capable sporter is a bit lengthy for my taste. Having said that, upon handling and firing, the lightness of the overall set-up helps dispel any misgivings you might have that it’s cumbersome. As an all-weather option it comes out of this test with flying colours, as there’s no way you’ll have any problems holding onto that grippy and tactile stock, no matter what the weather throws at you.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ■ Name ■ Type ■ Stock ■ Sights ■ Grooved for scope mounting ■ Length ■ Barrel ■ Weight ■ Calibre ■ Price

Gamo Varmint Barricade Combo Break-Barrel, Spring/Piston Ambidextrous synthetic sporter N Y

44.75” 18” 6.6lbs un-scoped .177 calibre on test .22 available SRP £179.99 Varmint Barricade combo tested SRP £179.99 Varmint Stalker SRP £199.99 Varmint Classic ■ Contact BSA Guns Ltd www.bsaguns.co.uk Thanks to T & J. J McAvoy LTD for supplying rifle on test Contact: 01257 426129 www.guns.gb.com

AIRGUN | TOP TEN KIT FOR WET WEATHER

TOP

KIT FOR

WET WEATHER

Pete Wadeson advises us on the sort of gear you should consider for wet weather hunting

As the US Marines say; ‘if it ain’t raining, we ain’t training!’ Truth is; rain is something we know about in the UK, so being able to cope with it when out hunting is essential. Some might say why bother going out in the wet, well that’s your call? But being able to handle the weather with the right gear is a definite plus point. This is not a look at waterproof clothing, but a general feature on a range of diverse kit worth consideration. I have picked brands I favour but there’s a lot of good stuff out there that will do the same job!

Butler Creek Lens Covers a truly essential item!

JACK PYKE TECHNICAL FEATHERLITE JACKET & TROUSERS

PRICES: FROM £12 BUTLER CREEK LENS COVERS This almost ‘iconic’ brand of ‘flip-up’ lens covers are available in sizes to suit virtually all optics and are pretty much the industry standard when it comes to quality and ease of use. Both covers are sprung, so quickly ‘flip-up’, with the rear having a button release and the front a lug on the cover itself. They come in a range of sizes to fit just about any scope and simply slide into position due to their flexible collars. They can also be rotated to give a position you favour. Contact: Edgar Brothers 01625 613177 www.edgarbrothers.com

Hawke Lasers, as daft as it might seem, are useful in low light conditions

In my opinion it’s advisable to carry a waterproof suit. Using a Tasion Nylon outer, with a mesh liming, both the jacket and trousers are breathable, waterproof, tough yet light for ease of transportation and stowage! The jacket boasts an internal mesh pocket, two lower front pockets with zips and a weatherproof zip closure chest pocket. The zip-detachable, generously sized peaked hood has a top adjuster and elasticated draw cord. Other features include an elasticated waist cord and cuffs with Velcro fastenings. The front fastens with a double-zip, plus Velcro tab secured storm flap and underarm vents help regulate body temperature. The over trousers feature an elasticated waistband plus toggle adjust/lock draw cord, two side pockets with weatherproof zips, with Cordura reinforcement at the shin and ankle area. Side zips allow easy ‘pull on’ over boots and Velcro fastening ankle straps cinch them tight to your footwear. All zips are self-sealing plus elongated tabs enable them to be gripped easily in wet weather. Contact: Jack Pyke Ltd www.jackpyke.co.uk

£52.99 (GREEN) £29.99 (RED)

HAWKE LASER KIT Lasers can be useful in wet weather when light levels are low, as they also help ‘train’ the eye on the quarry. Manufactured from black anodised aluminium, this 5mW eye-safe laser projects a 10mm dot at 10m and has a 50m range - ideal for airgun use. Windage and elevation are adjusted by two recessed grub screws that can be locked in place when set. The kit includes a Weaver Rail mount, 25mm scope mount suitable for clearing optics with 50mm objective lenses, integral tail and remote switches and a 1 X CR123A battery. It’s available with a green or red emitter. Contact: Hawke Sports Optics 01394 387762 www.hawkeoptics.com

£56 SIZES S - XXL

£36.95 SIZES S - XXXL

Jack Pyke’s light weight waterproof suit is a no brainer for your pack

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TOP TEN KIT FOR WET WEATHER | AIRGUN

DEXSHELL SOCKS & HAT

£18.95 (BLACK)

Dexshell specialise in weatherproof socks, gloves and hats. The Hytherm Pro Socks are well suited to hunting in the harshest of conditions being both waterproof, breathable and with excellent insulating properties. The 3-ply build consists of an abrasionresistant nylon outer shell, A Porelle® waterproof, breathable membrane and merino wool, anti-pilling acrylic nylon inner. Their Waterproof Beanie Solo Hat is a ‘one size fits all’ design, with an acrylic outer and uses the same high performing Porelle® membrane with a Micro fleece fabric inner. Contact: Fordville Ltd. Tel: 0161 864 4666 for nearest stockists www.dexshell.co.uk

BISLEY PELLET POUCH Measuring 4 ¼ x 4 ¾” when empty, this option is made from hardwearing green nylon, with double strengthened trim. The front, bottom section that holds the pellets is lined with a smooth waterproof inner. When the Velcro fastening front section is opened, both sides articulate out to reveal a spacious ‘holding area.’ The material used gives the pouch strength and can be folded back and over on itself to form a generous size belt loop. Contact: John Rothery (Wholesale) Co Ltd www.bisley-uk.com

PRICE: £6.99

Bisley Pellet Pouch, keeps them warm and dry

NIKWAX CLEANING & WATERPROOFING AGENTS Key words that apply to outdoor wear are they need to be water/windproof and breathable. Cleaning in normal washing powder can have disastrous results on their effectiveness. To maintain integrity, it’s necessary to clean and in some cases ‘treat them’ with specialised solutions, designed specifically for the materials used. Nikwax specialise in the production of high quality cleaning and waterproofing products and by far have the most comprehensive range available. Here’s a small selection, available in 300ml and larger containers, either as solutions or in pump-action spray cans. Space restricts me detailing everything, but the products shown are all useful to the all-weather airgun hunter, as they prolong the life and enhance the performance of outdoor wear. Prices from: SRP £4.75- £8.25 for any product in 300ml format. Contact Nikwax 01892 786 400 www.nikwax.com

£28.95 SIZES S - XL

Dexshell waterproof hat and socks – good kit!

RIDGELINE WARRIOR EXP HUNTING BOOT ‘Wellies’ aren’t a popular choice anymore! This high leg design uses full grain wax leather, treated to a waterproof outer, plus a Hydro Guard membrane and Thinsulate insulating liner. All metal lace retainers are treated to be fully weather resistant and are configured as four pairs of eyelets and four speed hooks. Plus there’s also a ‘lace guide hasp’ set on the generously padded tongue. The rugged build includes a thick and deep cut outer sole, also fitted with a full rubber rand configured to give extra protection at the toe and heel. Above this is a ‘flex panel’ for wearer comfort. The aggressive cleat and lug layout of the rubber composite Hyper Grip outsole gives good traction on a variety of terrain and is easy to clean. Sizes: 6 – 14UK Contact: Highland Outdoors 0845 099 0252 www.highlandoutdoors.co.uk

PRICE: £189.99

PRICES: FROM £4.75

Nikwax products will keep your clothing working longer

Good boots; always an essential and they don’t get much better than Ridgline’s Warrior EXPs

AIRGUN | TOP TEN KIT FOR WET WEATHER FIELD PATCH £6.98

Napier’s Field Patches and Super VP90 offer great long-term protection

NAPIER CORROSION INHIBITORS Rain + rifle = rust! Even if rain hasn’t been forecast, I always take two items invaluable for protecting the metalwork of my guns; Napier’s Field Patches and a sachet of Super VP90. The former are a quick and efficient way of protecting your gun, VP90 as each sachet contains a £4.37 full sized Super Clean patch, which is impregnated with 2ml of Napier Gun Oil, this is sufficient to completely clean and rust proof your air rifle, both inside and out. It also contains their VP90 - a powerful Vapour Phase Corrosion Inhibitor, ensuring that any metal surface is completely rust proof. It can be placed inside a gunbag or at home in a gun cabinet. The advanced vapour phase action deposits/bonds an invisible monomolecular coating on any exposed metal surface but leaves other materials such as glass, plastic, wood, leather etc. totally unaffected. Price: Field Patch (Pack of Ten) SRP £6.98 One Sachet of Super VP90 SRP £4.37 Contact: Napier of London 01235 812993 www.napieruk.com

RWS GUN CLEANER & GUN OIL RWS Gun Cleaner and Gun Oil are available in 200ml aerosol cans for ease of dispensing. The Cleaner offers a two-in-one action. It not only contains safe solvents to remove fouling from your gun without degreasing it, but also leaves a microfilm layer of oil to help protect it, it’s ideal for barrels, as it contains a lubricant. The Gun Oil will penetrate all areas of your gun, giving complete protection to all metal parts. It contains VP90 corrosion inhibitors, which ensure penetration to even the most inaccessible components. Contact: RUAG AMMOTEC UK Ltd 01579362319 www.ruag.co.uk

PRICES: £8.95 EACH RWS gun cleaner and spray oils is another great solution to cleanliness and combating corrosion

SEAL SKINZ SHOOTING GLOVES WITH FOLD BACK TRIGGER FINGER Seal Skinz use what they term an ‘Aqua Dynamic Design.’ The 3-layer build incorporates rip-stop fabric on the outer back of the gloves, while their patented StretchDry membrane plays a major role in their effectiveness and overall performance. I say this because not only are they completely waterproof and 5 breathable, the ‘StretchDry Technology’ PRICE: £49.9L X allows them to stretch, which is something SIZES XS some waterproof membranes can’t. This results in the gloves fitting closely, giving next to skin Seal Skinz dry comfort. shooting gloves warm Contact: Bushwear 0845 226 0469 and dry with www.bushwear.co.uk fold back trigger fingers www.sealskinz.com

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PRODUCT TEST | AIRGUN AERON GEN2 AIRGUN SILENCERS CONTACT: Sure Shot Airguns Ltd, 0844 8003550 www.sureshotairguns.co.uk www.aeron.cz

Slide or Screw? Mark Camoccio checks out a new moderator from the Czech Republic

ith an abundance of dedicated, specialist accessories now finding their way to market, today’s airgun scene is an exciting place to be. Silencers have become an ever more popular add-on for many enthusiasts, and there can be many benefits for their addition to the kit bag. On a lightweight rifle for instance, a moddy can add some weight at the muzzle to steady things up. But of course, the biggest benefit has to be the reduction in muzzle blast, minimizing detection and disturbance to any prospective quarry in the field. Noise suppression is most dramatic on pre-charged pneumatics (PCPs), where rapidly expanding air can generate a real crack. Silencers absorb and tame any obtrusive report, and they can be the way forward for hunters in particular. Modern manufacturing techniques and lightweight materials means there’s rarely any detrimental effect to down range performance, and with looks often enhanced along the way, it can be a smart move all round.

NEW NAME Many of the big names in airguns produce their own versions- but one brand that won’t be quite so familiar, is under the spotlight here. Aeron hails from the Czech Republic, and they manufacturer their own range of PCP’s among other things. Their Gen2 Airgun Silencers are precision manufactured on CNC machinery, and formed from aircraft grade aluminium. Specified for sub 12ft/lbs airguns, the new silencers cater for the three main calibres .177, .22, and .25, and can be

New to the UK Aeron silencers in a range of calibres and fitting options

“Aeron hails from the Czech Republic, and they manufacturer their own range of PCP’s among other things.” supplied with either a screw-fit, ½” UNF fitting, or to slide onto specific barrel diameters:- namely 14, 15, or 16mm and are secured by twin grub screws.

FEEL & PERFORMANCE The Gen2 features baffles to trap and diffuse spent air as it expands through the tube. Aeron make a point of stressing that, unlike many designs internal noise suppression components are plastic, and therefore cannot easily rot or degrade.

For evaluation, I fitted the ½ x 20 unit to my Air Arms S400, via a slide-on adaptor, and with an old Air Arms design, and their Q-Tec model also on hand, I was well placed to see how this new Aeron model fared. An honest assessment has to conclude that the Gen2 was fractionally noisier than both controls. However, my unscientific test (by ear only), shouldn’t take away from the fact that the S400’s quite significant crack with no silencer fitted, was still dramatically tamed by the Aeron. Also the differences between all three moderators was minimal! To conclude, the new Gen2 range feel extremely well made, and are the perfect weight, to affect balance where necessary, without adding much overall. OK, the test proved that technically, they aren’t the quietest out there. However, factor in the very reasonable RRP, and they have to be seen as a sound investment.

FOR Well made, good weight and balance

{ TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS }

AGAINST Marginally louder than some

VERDICT Well priced and effective

You get the choice of ½ x 20 UNF for threaded muzzles or slide-on, secured by grub screws, for plain muzzles

Aeron Gen2 Airgun Silencers z Weight 4.5oz, length 195mm z Price: £35 z Contact: Sure Shot Airguns Ltd, 0844 8003550 z www.sureshot-airguns.co.uk z www.aeron.cz

AIRGUN | CLEANING AIR RIFLE BARRELS

Your

Although they may look clean – especially in a tin - pellets can be dirty with minute pieces of swarf and sometimes traces of other substances on them

! e b u T First step is to scrub the bore with a quality phosphor bronze brush and rod to loosen up any fragments of lead; where possible breech to muzzle is the best direction

No ‘gun’ barrel can ever achieve its full ‘accuracy’ potential if dirty

Pete Wadeson tackles the ‘controversial’ subject of cleaning an air rifle barrel – here he gives sound advice on why, when and how to do the job properly… 56

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CLEANING AIR RIFLE BARRELS | AIRGUN

A mop has a synthetic woollike outer – this I spray sparingly with airgun ‘barrel’ oil and insert to gather up all the loose particles of lead

lthough firearms shooters know the importance of keeping their barrels clean, for some reason it’s still quite a controversial subject amongst the air rifle community! I don’t see why, and it does surprise me how many airgunners never give this important task even a passing thought. The FT boys certainly understand the importance of having a clean tube – some cleaning theirs after every 80 – 100 shots! But the simple fact of the matter is no ‘gun’ barrel can ever achieve full accuracy potential if it’s dirty. As a hunter I clean my 12ft lb air rifles at around 750-shots, my FACrated more frequently, due to the pellet travelling much faster up the barrel, which can cause more lead deposits into the rifling. Others may feel that’s more often than required, but that suits my shooting and keeping a barrel clean isn’t such a time consuming chore!

As you can see by the photos, the pull-through cable is passed down the bore until the end loop appears at the open breech

inside the barrel. Using any brush, mop or a ‘bore snake’ (more on these soon) may damage it. So check with the manufacturer or call on a good gunsmith who specialises in airguns for advice. Also, never use solvents intended for cleaning firearms because they’re very corrosive and if allowed to trickle inside a pneumatic air rifle valve or come into contact with any synthetic material, will severely damage them. So it’s imperative you only use a cleaner intended for airgun barrels!

THE BRUSH OFF So how best should an air rifle barrel be cleaned? I favour using a combination of methods, the first is to scrub the bore with a good quality phosphor bronze brush and rod

THE DREADED LEAD

The patch is passed through the loop and folded over on itself so you can start the process of drawing it back up the spout.

EYE OF THE NEEDLE The ‘straw trick’ – this works wonders if you need to pass the cable down through and past the inner baffles of a bull barrel shroud or perma-fix silencer

On certain rifles, getting the pull through cable down the tube can be tricky. Especially those with barrel shrouds containing baffles towards the end, or have a permanently fixed

The manufacturing of all good quality airgun pellets is now far better than ever before! However, and although they may look clean to the naked eye, many pellets can be quite dirty, with minute pieces of swarf and sometimes can even have traces of other substances on them. Granted, they can be washed and lubed in many of the different treatments available, but the rifling will still pick up some lead particles after prolonged use. Lead is a dirty material - you only have to look at your fingers at the end of a long practice session to see that. Now coupled with the speed the pellet travels up a choked, rifled bore, you can see why a barrel can become quite dirty and in some cases relatively quickly. Before I begin detailing my cleaning regime, here a few notes of warning: Some models of PCPs have a breech seal just

to loosen up any fragments of lead in the rifling. If possible (which is only the case with break-barrel action rifles) I do this from breech to muzzle so the muck is being pushed outwards. Then before beginning ‘pulling’ the bore through with a lint free cloth or using the ‘patches and a pull through’ method I move on to the ‘mop.’ Just a note on pull-throughs; if used a lot and not pulled out dead parallel to the bore, the cord will rub on the muzzle crown and in extreme cases can wear it, which will affect accuracy. This is called ‘cord wear’; you have been warned! A mop is a head attachment for the cleaning rod that has a synthetic wool-like outer – this I spray sparingly with airgun ‘barrel’ oil and insert (again from the breech if possible) to gather up all the loose particles of lead. Mops can also be used ‘un-treated’ (with oil) to ‘mop’ up the excess cleaning fluid in the barrel, which is a matter of personal preference. After a good ‘mopping’ I then go on to use the ‘patch and pull-through method. For this I prefer to use Napier’s POWER pull through kit - check out the company’s website as there’s a very useful instructional video. It’s a simple procedure as basically the main factor is to keep replacing the patches until they finally appear clean and lead free = white. As you can see by the photos. The pull-through cable is passed down the rifle until the end loop appears at the open breech. Then a cleaning patch is passed through the loop and folded over on itself so you can then start the process of drawing it back up the spout.

AIRGUN | CLEANING AIR RIFLE BARRELS

VFG Felt Cleaning Pellets come in different densities and small or larger sizes to suit the calibre of the gun to be cleaned

Alternatively, if you want to save time or feel the need of a quick clean in the field, use a ‘Bore Snake’ made by Hoppe’s

moderator. Obviously if it’s a screw-on model, no problem, just remove it and clean the barrel – remembering though to check the zero after refitting. But if it’s a push-fit silencer, held in place with a grub screw, these can sometimes be quite difficult to remove, particularly on older model guns. If the silencer is actually ‘bonded’ onto the end of the tube, then it’s impossible to remove! So how can you overcome this problem? Well, a simple little tip I was told by my good friend and gunsmith Tony Wall of Sandwell Field Sports, is to insert an ordinary plastic drinking straw into the front of the silencer until you feel it ‘bottom out’ against the muzzle/crown. Then place the pull-through wire into the now protruding straws ‘hole’ and feed it in until it shows at the breech loading area. Then fit with a clean patch and pull through as per usual. On exiting the barrel, the patch catches on the drinking straw and hey presto - all come out of the silencer together!

After this Your Tube should now be clean – however many, myself included, recommend you fire a few shots to ‘settle’ the barrel down again. Some misleadingly call this ‘leading the barrel up.’ This wrongly implies you’re un-doing the good work you’ve done in the first place. On the other hand - I’ve heard airgunners that have rifles with ‘smooth-twist’ barrels such as the PCP’s from FX Airguns do this more often because the barrel is ‘smoothbore’ for most of its length, with rifling applied for only the last few inches or so at the muzzle. But there’s no harm in checking what the UK importers advise.

MULTI-TASKING VFG Felt Cleaning Pellets are manufactured from pure wool and other natural fibres; they come in different densities and are available in small or larger sizes to suit the calibre. Very useful for a quick clean in-between a full regime. Note: when

shooting them through, place a normal lead pellet behind the felt, as for some reason they don’t ‘always’ fully expand into the rifling. This also stops you dry firing, which is not a good thing on a spring gun or gas ram! As the piston slams forward and is not decelerated by the air in front of it pushing the pellet out, in extreme cases, or if done a lot, it can cause damage! Alternatively, if you want to save time or feel the need of a quick clean in the field use a ‘Bore Snake’ made by Hoppe’s. This handy bit of kit does both jobs at once, the pullthrough cord has a phosphor bronze bristles impregnated along most of its length and a ‘wick’ directly behind it thus cleaning the muck out of the barrel as it’s pulled through. To clean; wash it in soapy water; simples!

DON’T FIDDLE! Airgun silencers don’t really need cleaning inside, as there’s no real residue discharge to get rid of so; leave well alone! To coin a phrase ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ because when a manufacturer assembles a silencer, the internal baffles are precisely set by ‘professionals’ for it to work at its best, so there’s no point risking upsetting the factory ‘pre-set’ internal baffle ‘harmony’, now is there? You might have noticed I have not dealt with PCPs that much, due to their design, which mainly precludes breech to muzzle cleaning and will look at them in detail next issue. Until then keep it clean guys!

USEFUL CONTACTS: ■ ■ As a dedicated hunter I clean my 12 ft/lb air rifles around 750-shots, my FAC-rated more frequently, due to the pellet travelling much faster

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

■ ■

Napier of London, 01235 812993 www.napier.com John Rothery (Wholesale) Co Ltd www.bisley-uk.com RUAG Ammotec Ltd 0157 9362319 www.ruag.co.uk Intershoot (VFG Felt Pellets & Other Related Cleaning Kit) 028 8225 0591 www.intershoot.co.uk

SS04.16/64/p

AIRGUN | GUN TEST

BLENDED & AMENDED The stock is in the same black, brown and grey - Autumn Forest colouration, which combine to give an attractive, camo-like finish. This is more striking at the butt and it’s this area that shows the most modifications from its predecessor! Still ambidextrous, it wisely retains that familiar over large thumbhole, but the once workmanlike semi hogs back design is replaced by a very generously sized, well-defined, height and lateral adjusting butt pad. This design cuts the cheekpiece approximately two-thirds the way down at the point it can be raised up from the stock.

REASONS…

ince its launch over a decade ago, there’s no disputing the fact that the Weihrauch HW100 has been a huge success. Yep they got it right with the first roll of the dice. Over the years they’ve capitalised on its popularity by offering other variants including a dedicated HFT singleshot model – the HW101. Many airguin enthusiasts will know them all, especially as most have had so much coverage in the shooting press. Those being the ‘KT’ (carbine) designated models in thumbhole or full length ‘S’ sporter stock, not forgetting the last option I tested – that being the ‘original’ Laminate design. I say this as the ‘L’ model available now has had quite a re-vamp to make it more appealing to those who like furniture that offers a ‘bit of adjustment.’ However, the devil’s in the detail – because combined with the obvious alterations are some subtle modifications that put it at the top of the tree!

100 60

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Shoulder fit is now catered for by a sliding, height-adjustable, slim rubber butt pad, while the pistol grip drops down steeply, with a generous amount of aggressive stippling. The screws that allow you to adjust the cheekpiece are found on the right hand side deeply recessed into the wood. The ability to adjust it laterally comes into play depending on the size of optic you wish to use. If you prefer a bigger scope, you’ll really appreciate this, as it allows you to set the optic further back on the action and still have a comfortable head position. Also, the overall weight is felt at the shoulder or more towards the middle. This ensures handling is spot on for ease of shouldering and taking freehand shots. The forend is nicely proportioned, having a flat underside that tapers forwards to end in a practical, angled back tip. There are finger grooves on either side too, which do

GUN TEST | AIRGUN aid your supporting hand position. At the top of the grip are mini shelves, allowing the trigger finger to comfortably rest alongside on its way to make contact with the blade. The generous amount of aggressive stippling and the chunky proportions of the pistol grip’s palm swell offer a solid hold, which transfers over to give a superb platform for optimum control.

SLICK ACTION Obviously, the superb metalwork and operation of the side-lever action hasn’t changed - the air reservoir with large forward facing ‘manometer’ is still detachable, so it can be filled on or off gun! For on-gun filing a quick fill probe (supplied) inserts into the fill point at the front of the reservoir, which when not in use is protected by a large easy grip insert plug. From a recommended 200-bar fill you can expect approximately 50-shots in .177, 70

in the .20 calibre as per rifle on test and 75 in .22 calibre. Yes, I did say .20 calibre and my views on this will be expressed as I conclude the test! The side-lever action that runs the 14-shot removable rotary magazine is still in my opinion the best of its kind on any production multi-shot PCP! A feature that when it first appeared helped endear this type of co*cking lever to the general airgun shooting public. It’s impressively engineered and as expected, works faultlessly.

Detail of adjustable butt pad and cheekpiece/ comb, the later can be moved forward and back as well as up and down

SIDEWINDER To recap on operation - for co*cking and loading, the side-lever first needs to be pulled fully rearward. To access the removable magazine, you then need to slide back the retaining catch found on the right of the action block, just behind the magazine’s housing. Then the big, metal drum can easily be lifted clear from the The forend is nicely proportioned, having a flat underside that tapers forwards to end in a practical angled back tip. Finger boards show on both sides

The attractive HW100KT L’s stock has the ability to be tailored for not only shoulder fit, but you can move the height adjustable cheekpiece fore or aft depending on optic used.

action. After thumbing pellets into the chambers, you simply place it back into its housing, slide the retaining catch forward and return the side-lever to its original position, whereby it probes a pellet directly into the top quality 12.2” tube. A feature not often mentioned, but one that should be praised, is you can’t doubleload the gun! After co*cking and loading, a repeat action of the co*cking lever doesn’t index the magazine until the rifle has been fired; I wish more multi-shots had a similar system! The semi-free floating tube is also held and secured at the front by a chunky barrel band. This has a synthetic O-ring that protects the barrel from knocks, adds extra strength but doesn’t affect the semi-floating nature; therefore accuracy is kept to the highest possible level.

GRADE SCHOOL

Pete Wadeson tests the adjustable, laminate, thumbhole stocked version of Weihrauch’s only PCP to date and reckons it’s the business!

Like the co*cking mechanism, the rifle’s 2-stage, adjustable, match grade trigger mechanism, with manual safety is a superb unit. The black anodised alloy trigger blade is ideally sized and ergonomically shaped, affording a very comfortable finger fit. The manual, trigger safety lever operates positively and is positioned on the right and at the rear of the action block. Push forward and you put the rifle into FIRE mode, indicated by a red dot clearly visible on the side of the block. Reversing this movement sets it back to SAFE, also concealing the red dot and exposing a white one. Incidentally, the safety can only be operated, and indeed only functions, when the rifle is co*cked.

AIRGUN | GUN TEST s

THE CAN, CAN Another feature that is of equal quality and ability is the now widely acclaimed ‘HE’ (High Efficiency) Silencer already spun onto the tube’s screw cut muzzle. Upon firing it tames muzzle report to a mere whisper, a phrase often used but in this instance very true, as the rifle is one of the quietest carbine-sized PCP’s on the market! For scope fitting, you have a lengthy run of railed action block with no protruding magazine to potentially foul on a scope body tube. For the test and to aid precision shooting, I fitted an MTC 5 – 20 x 50 EVX scope – a substantially sized optic and the ability to slide the cheekpiece rearward allowed me to tailor the balance of the rifle, so handling wasn’t compromised in the slightest. After setting a 30yd zero using JSB Exact Diablo 13.74-grain pellets, the rifle printed some stunning groups, with my best score card producing a clover-leaf .20 calibre (5mm) sized hole at 35yds. I’ve always favoured the flatter trajectory characteristics of this calibre in FAC-power levels and I must admit I liked what this size ‘slug’ is capable of doing fired from this 12 ft/lb (off-ticket) air rifle. We all know the argument for a regulated, over a non-regulated rifle but the HW100’s superb internal self-regulating valve system makes a mockery of thinking a rifle is made more accurate if it has one fitted. Fact of the matter is it just makes them more consistent and air efficient. Having said that, with the groups I was attaining, shot to shot consistency is certainly not an issue here.

“After setting a 30yd zero using JSB Exact Diablo 13.74-grain pellets, the rifle printed some stunning groups”

The air reservoir with large forward facing ‘manometer’ is detachable, so it can be filled on or off gun!

The side-lever action runs the 14-shot, removable, rotary magazine and is one of the best of its kind! Note the manual safety lever

CONCLUSIONS To the many hunters who already have a model of HW100 in their armoury, I’d say consider adding a second. Specifically, in this stock option and in the much misunderstood .20 calibre. I say this as in my opinion the .20 definitely fills a niche in the armoury in both 12ft lbs and in FAC-rated power levels. In fact, I now prefer this calibre when shooting at night ‘off-ticket’ with lamp or NV scope due to the flatter, more forgiving trajectory, plus the harder hit it imparts at the target. But that’s an article in itself because in relation to the HW100KT L on test, you can’t fail to be impressed by the very attractive stock’s ability to be tailored for not only shoulder fit but the fact you can move the height adjustable cheekpiece fore or aft

FOR Better stock, great shooter

The 14-shot metal magazine sits low in the action block and once released, is easily lifted out for loading

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS The 2-stage adjustable match grade trigger is a superb unit – note the generous amount of stippling and the chunky proportions of the palm swell

depending on the optic used. As for handling, balance, accuracy, operation and performance, you’re looking at a multi-shot PCP air rifle that in my opinion has currently few rivals. Though considering a totally new multi-shot PCP is due for imminent launch by the company, who knows what’s on the horizon?

AGAINST Not a lot

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

VERDICT If you have not brought an HW100 yet, this is the one to get! One of the better multi-shot PCPs around

■ Name ■ Type ■ Capacity ■ Stock

HW100KT Laminate Side-lever action PCP 14 (DM) Laminate thumbhole ‘adjustable cheekpiece and butt pad’ carbine sporter ■ Sights N ■ Grooved for scope Y mounting ■ Length 37.75” including silencer ■ Barrel 12.2” ■ Weight 6.8lbs un-scoped ■ Trigger 2-stage, adjustable, match grade ■ Safety Manual ■ Calibre .177 and .22 (special order .20 calibre on test) ■ Price SRP £916 incl 2x magazines, 2x fill adaptors and air reservoir ‘bleed’ unit ■ Optional Extras Single-Shot Loading Clip SRP £54 specifically for.20. ■ Contact Hull Cartridge Co, 01482 342756 www.hullcartridge.co.uk

PRODUCT TEST | AIRGUN MAXUM 'FATBAG' BENCH REST BAG

Solid Support!

£24.95

Mark Camoccio sees what a bench bag has to offer

CONTACT: Deben Group Industries, 01394 387762 www.deben.com

rrespective of your discipline, extracting maximum performance from our equipment and improving the chances of success is what it’s all about. If achieving a precise zero is our starting point, then anything that can assist is the way forward. Under the spotlight is the Maxum ‘Fatbag’ Bench Rest Bag, made by The Outdoor Connection, which represents a neat and surprisingly versatile solution to the age old problem of stability in the aim.

PREPARATION Supplied empty, the bag first needs to be filled, sand is a favourite, along with polyethylene pellets, foam beads, dry split peas, lentils, or as I chose, rice. The finer the medium, the denser and more effective the end result, however, remember rice will attract moisture and swell. Filling is easy, thanks to a sizeable entry tube, which is neatly folded into a pouch and Velcro sealed. Once unsealed and pulled out, the material tube is actually some 2.5inches in diameter, which makes the process child’s play. Just insert a small funnel to make the job that bit easier, and pour in the medium. Once the bag is filled to a satisfactory degree, the tube is sealed and re-stowed. Rice, as mentioned, works a treat, adding weight which in turn, can aid stability. Be careful not to over-fill though, as this reduces the all important

Filling the bag is easy, with fine mediums a funnel helps

FOR Well priced and effective

AGAINST You need to get the filling density right

VERDICT A serious aid to zeroing and accuracy It’s hard to fault this product.

The Maxum Fatbag Bench offers a stable shooting support for minimal outlay

“Supplied empty, the bag first needs to be filled, sand is a favourite” flexibility. Get it right though, and these bags really take some beating.

STURDY The bag is constructed from tough 1000D polyester fabric, which still has the necessary amount of give to enable the rifle to feel locked into place. The slightly smoother fabric used on the top contact surface aids

‘bedding in’, and all helps with overall recoil absorption in the process. It also has an integral shoulder strap; always useful! OK; admittedly died in the wool Bench Rest aficionados will still favour their hi-tech, fully adjustable gun cradles, but these bags aren`t really intended to compete with that sort of high-end set-up. What the Maxum ‘Fatbag’ does offer, however, is an inexpensive taster to just what can be achieved when more variables are removed from the equation such as lack of stability. Packing underneath the bag, to raise the sight-line to somewhere near the target makes sense, but with the bulk of the necessary elevation dealt with, final tweaking can be easily achieved. For those who have never used any sort of range bag, the way that the sight picture can be delicately altered, and bull acquisition achieved, just by gently pinching the rear of the bag for example, is a pleasure waiting to be discovered. These bags are also great just as a support in the workshop, for those times when the gun needs to be held for scope changes/ maintenance etc; which is an added bonus in my book.

FIREARMS | GUN TEST

Market

Forces!

ne of my favourite 22 rimfire bolt-actions is Ruger’s now classic M77/22, built like a fullbore, it’s a shooter! However, it now costs over £1000, which is just plain mad, so who is going to bother in today’s market place? This must have been Ruger’s thinking too, as and though the 77/22 is still on their books, they have gone down the apparently ‘budget rifle’ route with their latest 22 ‘bolter’, the American Rimfire.

PLEASING PLASTICS For some years now, the US gun industry has been offering budget, centrefire bolt-actions;

synthetic stocks only, scope mounts and sometimes even an optic in the package. You may turn your nose up at this sort of marketing, but I have shot most examples and they perform as well as the more expensive guns and will not break the bank! Ruger got into this area quite late with their American model, but have now leapt ahead by offering a rimfire variant, that also solves the problem of the prohibitive cost of the 77/22. Called, unsurprisingly, the American Rimfire it’s a huge departure from the 77/22 and as I discovered, is a well thought out and engineered design that delivers! It

Same old; the 22 LR version uses Ruger’s 10-shot rotary mag made famous on their 10/22, but they have extended the release catch, which really helps

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

Trigger mech detail, it’s adjustable from 3-5 lbs and offers a decent pull and break

Pete Moore tests Ruger’s apparently budget American Rimfire; but says don’t be fooled! comes in three models and two stock options, a 22” Standard rifle in black polymer or wood, and the 18” Compact also in the black furniture. Unusual but innovative, the polymer models feature removable comb/butt pads (modules) that slide onto the butt lower and are retained by the QD sling stud screw. You get two included, with straight and raised combs for iron sight and scope use.

HAVE A GO! Yes, iron sights come as standard with a fixed, Williams™, green, fibre optic up front and a Ruger 10/22-style fold-down U-notch

Safety catch and bolt handle detail, the latter control is perfectly placed for easy operation

GUN TEST | FIREARMS

A metal bedding block is fitted in the action void The Ruger American, this is no 77/22 in terms of cost or build!

“Ruger got into this area quite late with their American model, but have now leapt ahead by offering a rimfire variant” forend and deep, angled fingerboards, with QD sling studs front and rear. There’s no chequering, just integral gripping lugs in the usual places, which work well. Inside, Ruger has gone to town with a bedding block system (Power Bedding®) that the action bolts to and offers a free-floated barrel. It has the look and feel of the zinc alloy Zamak, but could be aluminium! Closer inspection shows twin, angled lugs moulded into the block that engage with cut-outs machined in the front lower sides the receiver. This is the sort of belt & braces set up you might see on a centrefire. Though most rimfires shoot well just bolted to the stock, I wondered how much difference this would actually make?

RUGER, NON-RUGER Unlike a lot of the cheaper 22 rimfires, which can be butt ugly, the American is attractive with a slim action and faired-in bolt. The handle sticks out a bit and gives lots to get hold of and offers a 60° lift angle, the shroud is angled back nicely and to the rear is a tang-mounted safety catch; my favourite! The last time Ruger offered this set up was on their original Mk 1 M77 centrefire, a system I much preferred to the latter Mk II and Hawkeye with their 3-position levers! It pushes forward to FIRE and reverses for SAFE, with minimal disturbance to the shooting hand. A separate bolt release catch is located rear/left of the receiver too. Feed is from; you guessed it a 10/22 rotary magazine, well if it ain’t broke don’t fix it!

SIMPLIFIED BUILD! The American Rimfire is totally different from the 77/22 with a round steel receiver complete with an integral 3/8” dovetail for scope mounting. The top of the action is also drilled and tapped to accept a Weaver base too; sensible! The cold hammer-forged, mid-weight barrel is screwed into the receiver, so doing away with the 77/22’s and 10/22’s barrel clamp system and is threaded ½ x 20 UNF for the UK with a protector. The stock is moulded and of solid construction with a mid-width

Each synthetic-stocked American rimfire comes with high and low combed butt modules to suit scope and iron sight use

FOR Clever build, shootable

AGAINST Not a lot

VERDICT A modern and practical rimfire Well priced Unusual but effective butt system

that gives limited windage and elevation adjustment. OK, few people use irons in the UK but I like them on a rifle and the ability to drop in the low combed module might just make it more attractive! As I discovered, the Standard version offers longer modules, so the length of pull (LOP) differs between it and the Compact. The latter seems to be aimed more at the youth market with its 12.5” LOP which is a big sector in the US. Though I had a Compact on test, it came with the Standard modules, giving an LOP of 13.75”, which was good enough. The one-piece, wood stocked version (Model 8329) does not offer this facility and shows a low comb only with a fixed, 13.75” LOP. Speaking to Viking Arms indicated that they are concentrating on the 18” Compact, with the 22” Standard to special order. Sensible really as a long 22 standard rimfire barrel does little if nothing for performance, only adding unnecessary weight and length! However, the wood stock version with its 22” tube only reduces its appeal a little!

Bolt Detail

FIREARMS | GUN TEST

The diminutive Hawke 2-7x32 AO really suited this rimfire hunter with its Mil-Dot reticule

I fitted the new A-TEC rimfire moddy

The release catch is an extended paddle at the rear of the well; a vast improvement over the flush, release plate of the 77/22 and 10/22 families. Taking a leaf from Savage’s book is their Marksman Adjustable™ trigger! It shows a similar blade-within-blade of the AccuTrigger and is user-adjustable between 3 and 5 lbs and shows a short and crisp break. To adjust, the action must be removed from the stock, and then it’s just a single Allen screw at the front of the trigger mechanism block.

USUAL SUSPECTS Ruger wisely chambered the American in the three most popular rimfire calibres – 22 Long Rifle, 22 WMR (Winchester Magnum Rimfire) and 17 HMR (Hornady Magnum Rimfire). Capacities are 10 in 22LR and 9 for the WMR and HMR, doubtless these two use the larger, JMX-1 version of the magazine. Both these calibres offers the same model options as the 22. The 22 LR gun will also accept Ruger’s in-house, 25-round, highcapacity BX25 mag too.

So far the American Rimfire impressed me in both design and handling. Articles I had read about it indicated it was also accurate, due to the barrel manufacture method, bedding block and fully floated tube. I opted for a rather unusual scope choice, which to me seemed well suited to the calibre and mainly hunting application of the rifle and calibre! Hawke’s 2-7x32 AO AIRMAX is a compact with parallax-adjustable objective and uses a modified Mil-Dot reticule, which offers both full and ½-Mil subtensions; so a good amount of range and windage marks, this went into Sportsmatch mounts. Ammo went from sub-sonics, through standard, Matchtypes, and high velocity. Up front was an A-TEC Wave, the latest rimfire can from Jackson Rifles.

READY, STEADY, GO The change over from low to high butt modules is easy; unscrew the rear QD stud and lift off the module, then slide the new one in and re-tighten. With iron sights, I really did appreciate the lower comb, which does make them easy and comfortable to use. The magazine filled easily and the extended release catch made changes so much more practical! I set zero at 50 yards and surprisingly with the diversity of ammunition I used there

was very little difference in group sizes. A ball park figure of an inch +/- would be a fair appraisal; in order of accuracy from large to small groups it went MagTech, Winchester and Fiocchi sub-sonics, but as always with any rimfire ammo there were poppers and crackers indicating velocity shifts. The Match fodder showed little improvement with perhaps a bit more group and speed consistency. Out at 100-yards the American was capable of keeping it inside 2” sometimes better, which is more an ammo thing. Suffice to say it’s capable of body shots at that distance, so again good enough! Feed and function was 100%, and bolt operation smooth, its raised and curved lever being easier to break out of its closed position. Equally, its 60° lift angle offered slicker functioning! No complaints either on the tang-mounted safety, which is just a push of the thumb away with little disturbance to the firing hand position. It would also be easy enough to fit a night vision optic, most of which use a Picatinny base.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ■ Name ■ Calibres ■ Barrel ■ Capacity ■ Stock ■ Prices: ■ Contact

The forend offers a good and solid hold!

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

Ruger American Rimfire Compact 22LR, 22 WMR & 17HMR (LR on test) 18” (threaded ½ x 20 UNF) 10 DM (22 LR) synthetic Iron sight and scope height combs £419.00 Compact or Standard (all calibres) £545 Wood stocked Viking Arms Ltd, 01423 780810 A-TEC moderators – Jackson Rifles; www.jacksonrifles.com Hawke Optics – Deben Group, www.deben.com www.ruger.com

FIREARMS | FIRST RIFLE

The

The Mossberg MVP in 223 Remington, feeding from AR15 magazine with a 1-9” rifling twist this is a great, all-round 22” centrefire option

New FAC owner Ed Jackson discusses selecting your first centrefire rifle thought it would be a good idea to talk about a dilemma faced by many new firearms certificate holders. Just how do you go about choosing your first centrefire (CF) rifle and its calibre? I recently had the pleasure of going through this process myself and there were a lot of questions that needed answering before I would part with my hard earned cash! In this article I will talk about my decision making process and what I ended up getting.

me build up a much better picture of what rifle/calibre combo I would be looking for and what makes them shoot well. Now I am lucky in that I get to see reviews and read a lot of information on all the various rifles available to the UK shooter on a daily basis. I also get to pick the brains of all sorts of people who know significantly more than me! For the average consumer there are plenty of sources of information out there in print and online.

RESEARCH:

WHAT CALIBRE?

My advice is first to try and increase your knowledge of CF rifles and the available calibres as much as possible. Now this may seem obvious but I soon found myself exploring twist rates, ballistics, reloading, upgrades such as chassis systems amongst common upgrades etc. All of which helped

I was on the hunt for one rifle, in a calibre that could be used for fox shooting, varminting and range work. For this task I looked at the .22 Hornet, .204 Ruger, .222 & 223 Remington and .243 Winchester. This selection was chosen quite simply because they all meet the guidelines that most police forces follow

“For the average consumer there are plenty of sources of information out there in print and online” 68

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

when it comes down to my primary use, fox shooting. The .243 just scrapes into the selection here and may well be a bit trickier to get for this use. By choosing one of these it also meant it was more likely I would actually get granted a licence. If I was not shooting Charlie and just after a target calibre then the list would be much larger! I decided that to begin with I would be using factory ammunition rather than reloading, due to lack of space where I live. A quick scout about on the internet soon put .223 Remington at the top of the list, the simple reason being that it is a calibre with a huge following. There are a lot of factory loads to choose from including full metal jacket (FMJ) and expanding variants and very importantly- it’s also affordable! When I was doing research on the selection of factory ammo in other calibres, I found the choice was very poor if not non-existent, especially for range use! Overall the choice of calibre was sort of made for me!

CALIBRE CAPABILITIES Once you have made your decision on a calibre, it is worth doing further research on

FIRST RIFLE | FIREARMS

Right

Choice

AR15 mags are cheap and easy to come by, offering 10, 20 or 30 round capacities!

whether this is varmint or target. The reason being is that heavier bullets work much better at range, such as 62-grain GGG NATO spec or 69 or 75-grain match projectiles. They will however require a faster twist rate to stabilize them i.e. 1-7, 1-8 or 1-9. From my research I discovered that each twist rate has a band of bullet weights that it works with best. It therefore became apparent that 1-7 would not be suitable, 1-8 however can be quite generous, handling weights from 55-75-grains! 1-9 however was perfect, apparently capable of working with 50 up to 62/69-grains, so decision made, fox, varmint and target all catered for!

BUDGET REQUIREMENTS

its capabilities and particular rifle specs that anywhere from 40 to 55-grains and these may affect its performance in relation to the rounds utilise a twist rate of 1-12. This is sorts of shooting you want to do. It is probably the most common for a 223 sporter, important to understand the effects of barrel with what are standard weight bullets. So, if length and twist rate when choosing a rifle. you want a .223 for just fox/varmint shooting, The former is easy; a short tube will reduce then go for this! The requirement for a different twist rate weight, improve handling and balance once a comes when longer range shooting is likely, moderator is fitted. The trade-off is the loss of velocity, which in my mind is a valuable commodity. I simply decided that I would go for something longer, then I could always have it chopped down at a later date! Twist rate was the next consideration and I am going to try my best to simplify the subject as much as possible. When shooting foxes or varmints you want a nice flat trajectory to make things a simple as possible, with a point and shoot ability out to say 200m, with useable performance out to 400m. It is a good idea to buy a wide This is achieved with a selection of factory bullets weighing in at ammo to try

The budget is obviously down to the individual at the end of the day but I was banking on the fact modern rifles are well made and you don’t necessarily need to spend big bucks! My aim was simple; I wanted something that was able to shoot 1” or better at 100m with factory ammo. I also wanted to make £1000 go as far as possible. Ideally I wanted a rifle, scope, mounts and moderator for my money. I knew it was ambitious and I would probably go over but not by too much!

The Howa 1500 Varmint, just one of the many variants available covering a wide price range

FIREARMS | FIRST RIFLE

A Tikka T3 in a Robertson custom stock. Just one of many options to choose from when you have the extra cash!

The Browning X-Bolt was a strong contender but out of my budget

This is an area worth considering, as most shooters I know like to change, swap and upgrade their kit. There are a lot of rifles out there, which due to their popularity have a huge range of modifications available. These can include box magazine conversion kits, triggers, chassis systems, stocks, scope mounts, tactical bolt handles etc. So make sure you do some research, as upgrading components is a nice option to have when you are on a budget.

DECISIONS DECISIONS: The first rifle that I considered was a Howa 1500 based on my own previous experience, a capable design and more shootable than many more expensive makes! Their range is all about choice, you can pick from a selection of barrels, stocks including the excellent GRS laminate range. Plus box magazine conversions and trigger upgrades too. You can essentially start at around

£500 and work your way up! At the time the only option was a 1-12 barrel which meant the Howa was out. I do believe a 1-9 twist barrel has since appeared on the scene. Next up was the Browning X-bolt, a very nicely put together rifle. Unfortunately the one I liked was the Eclipse varmint and the cheapest I found was £790! Even putting that aside, the twist rate was not what I was after, nor was there much choice for modification at a later date. The X-Bolt was not to be! Tikka T3; I wish it had been in my budget, I have recently had a lot of experience with them and the out of the box accuracy is impressive. There is a good selection of models, from light, super varmints to full on tactical. The sheer number of aftermarket stocks and accessories impressed me as well. 1-8 twist in .223 was available, with a lot of reviews stating 55gr + worked very well, so I would

Switching roles; The MVP is certainly at home on the range as it is shooting foxes

have given it a go. Unfortunately I just could not stretch to over £800; shame! Finally and all the way from America, the Mossberg MVP Varmint, which is in fact the rifle that I ended up choosing. My research indicated that it was very well thought of over in the USA and priced at £640 from the Saddlery and Gunroom it had to be worth a look! With a 24” 1-9 barrel the MVP had my attention. Plus it runs on AR15-type box magazines, which sounded good! The trigger was good for something in this price range too. To top it off there is also a few chassis systems from MDT to choose from.

CONCLUSION I am pleased that I found a rifle that met my criteria for fox, varmint and range work and I like to think I am not the only person out there who would like one gun that does all. I wasn’t too far from my budget in the end, the MVP, a Wildcat EVO10 moderator, Vortex scope and mounts all for around £1200. There is a lot of information and choice out there and it can be difficult for a first time buyer. Hopefully my process of choosing a rifle will help your choice!

CONTACTS ■ Mossberg - Saddlery & Gun Room 01959 573089 www.mossberg.com ■ Howa – Highland Outdoors 0845 0990252 highlandoutdoors.co.uk ■ Tikka – GMK Ltd 01489 579999 www.tikka.fi ■ Browning - BWM (Browning UK) 01235 514550 www.browning.eu

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

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FIREARMS | SCOPE TEST

Compact scope packed with features at a very good price and reticule system

Simple but

I really liked the ballistic reticule design, that was accurate in use on my Tikka .308 Win.

One click repres ¼“ click at 100 ents yd 14 MOA per tur s. n.

Bruce Potts checks out a BDC scope for those two most popular UK calibres – 223 Rem and 308 Winchester

was impressed with the last offering from Hawke, their Vantage 4, bullet drop compensating (BDC) reticule for 22 LR sub-sonics. So I thought I would test an Endurance model in 3-9x40mm, it too has a BDC set up but this time for a .223/.308 centrefire. Designed in the UK by Deben but made in China, it offers a cost effective optic of good quality and ability!

BUILD

Fast focus ocular with smooth 3x to 9x power range and 17-layer multi coated lenses.

FOR Well featured and practical design Clever reticule

There are many models in this range, but I selected a compact, the type you would put on a stalking rifle or vermin gun, so the size of the 3-9x40mm Endurance was perfect. It is 12.1” long and weighs 17 oz., all built around a 1” body tube. This is a sturdy design, which can be low mounted to aid correct cheek weld. Overall finish is a

AGAINST Don’t take bullet drops for granted without practice

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

VERDICT Cost effective designs Well worth a look

uniform satin black, which is resistant to scratches and marks from mounts. The objective is 40mm and the eyepiece equally large, giving a good sight picture that is not at all eye relief sensitive at full magnification. Talking of which and very sensibly, the eye relief is 4.5”, so perfect for even those hard kicking rifles. There is a fast ocular focus system that is mandatory these days and the magnification ring has raised ridges, with a more prominent one at x5.5 magnification that is easily felt in the dark. Magnification increase from x3-9 is anti clockwise and is smooth, yet reassuringly firm, so no slack at all.

SADDLE UP The saddle contains the adjustment turrets, as well as the illuminated reticule controls. This is an infinitely adjustable, step-less rheostat design that has a positive OFF position then click ON, again reassuringly positive. From then on the central cross and lower stadia are illuminated in red only. Nice and faint to start with, for use so your

SCOPE TEST | FIREARMS

.223/.308 RETICULE Now the crux of the Endurance scope and part of its appeal. The reticule is calibrated for the trajectory of a .223 or .308 win round with bullet weights of 55 and 155 grains and velocities of 3240 and 2785 fps respectively. Or a generic velocity and BC value of 2790 fps and 0.4010. I fitted the scope to a Tikka .308 Win rifle to test this calibre-specific reticule feature. I loaded up some Hornady 150-grain SST bullets in front of 46-grains of Alliant RL15 powder to achieve 2775 fps and a BC of 0.415, so pretty close. The 2nd focal plane reticule dictates the use of the reticule for trajectory compensation set at the maximum setting, in this case x9 power. I zeroed dead on 100 yards, not my usually 0.5 or 1.0 high zero.

SIX POINTS You have six aiming points, the first being the central zero cross, with five descending crosses beneath, to compensate for

trajectory down from 200 to 600 yds, with the larger upright post at 6 o`clock being used as a 700 yd zero. I tested out to 500 yds, as that was the limit I had on the farm with steel silhouettes at 100 yard intervals to aid visual and audible hits. With 1” groups at 100 yds and on x9 I used the second cross down for the 200 yd target as the aim point and clang, so far so good. At 300 yds the groups were getting bigger but the steel rang out, a bit low so the third cross down was more like 315 yds but still a hit. At 400 low again so in reality 425 yds with this load and at 500 yds just below but groups had opened up from this light weight sporter barrel. Impressive performance for a first go and all you have to do is subtly change the load to coincide the bullet drop to the correct cross or just lower the magnification a smidge to drop the reticule in the view and bingo. It’s a fast system to use and once you have shot the rifle to coincide it is a reliable scope for shots at sensible ranges! Generically any bullet travelling at 2790fps with a BC of 0.4010 at a scope height of 2.35” or equivalent trajectory will work, a 75-grain .223 A-MAX at 2795 fps and BC of 0.395 is very close, as is a 6.5x55mm 120-grain Ballistic Tip travelling at 2822 fps with a 0.430 bullet and so on. However, I would advise you to shoot all the distances with your load, so you know where to aim off when required. BDC systems are great but as they have to be load-specific, you really need to learn what they do!

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ■ Model ■ Reticule ■ Illumination ■ Eye relief ■ Field of view ■ Tube diameter ■ Click values ■ Length ■ Weight ■ Water, fog, shock proof ■ Price ■ Contact

Hawke 3-9x40 Endurance IR .223/.308 Marksman Y 4.5” 29.1 to 9.6 ft at 100 yards 1” ¼ MOA @ 100 yards 12.1” 17 oz Yes £189.99 Deben Group Industries, 01394 387762 www.deben.com

Trajectory drop shown for 155-grain .308 Win bullet but you should tailor make reloads for your own interpretation.

CONCLUSIONS Having shot the Hawke for several months now in some pretty horrible weather, I was pleasantly surprised at how it performed. This is not a European scope, but then it’s not that price either and from the performance I had from it, it looks a bargain to me! Optically good and a reticule system that takes the hassle out of quick reaction hunting range finding.

Illuminated reticule lit up the crosses on the reticule with a small amount of bleed at full power.

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natural night vision is not lost and then all the way up to maximum brightness for day use if necessary. There is a small colour bleed around the edges at ¾ to full power but for the price who can complain? It is powered by a CR2032, with a spare included, along with a lens cloth and lens covers, nice! Click values are the near standard ¼ MOA at 100 yards, with turrets being graduated into 14 segments, so 14 MOA per turn. Firm clicks with just a faint amount of backlash; I had a few missed clicks from the start but no problems thereafter. The build is what I would call hunter-style with low, screw-off caps, so all corrections are done on the reticule! Lens-wise the 17 layer multi coated lenses offer good clarity edge to edge and for 90% of all hunting scenario`s the quality is more than good enough. The long eye relief is appreciated and makes the Hawke safe in use.

FIREARMS | PRODUCT TEST

Prices from

£59.99 CONTACT: Rules of Engagement Firearms; roefirearms.co.uk

FOR Well priced with effective protection

AGAINST Not a lot

VERDICT

Want a cost effective and tough gun box? Then have a look at what Negrini has to offer

ransporting your rifle and scope combo in safety is always a point of concern. Soft bags are perhaps easier and cheaper, but might not offer the more serious protection available from a hard and rigid design. Admittedly these can be expensive but there are also cost effective designs around, a good example is Negrini’s Rifle Case with Foam; catchy name eh? A quick call to Rules of Engagement (ROE) Firearms in Benfleet with the measurements of our test rifle a Mossberg MVP Predator in 223 Remington had an example arrive the very next day; good service we reckon! Made of a tough, black plastic the build appeared good and solid. Dimensions were 116.5 x 27.5 x 9.5cm and the case easily swallowed the Mossberg MVP along

with its scope, bipod and monopod. There was also enough extra space for spare magazines and the moderator. Apart from the rigid outer, internal protection is provided by eggshell foam inserts. There are four sturdy hinges along the spine and everything

GM04.16/45/r

Well worth a look

Right Hard Case

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

is secured by four catches which are a simple push or pull affair. At just under £60 it won’t break the bank and offers proper protection too. There is a great selection of these cases for both pistol and rifle, so just ring ROE with your guns dimensions.

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NEGRINI RIFLE CASE WITH FOAM

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FIREARMS | PRODUCT TEST NRA HARDOX 500 STEEL SILHOUETTES Prices from

£39.99 CONTACT:

Bang ‘n’ Clang! Ed Jackson tries his hand at some steel silhouettes and is not disappointed!

www.target-air.co.uk [emailprotected] Family photo, the HARDOX 500 range of steel silhouettes offers chicken, turkey, pig and ram

FOR Great range of reactive targets

AGAINST

aving first shot steel at Orion Firearms Training in Wales, I discovered just how useful this type of target can be as a training tool. Described as a reactive-type, they offer immediate feedback for each shot; this is particularly useful when trying to learn your fall of shot at distance and compensating for wind. I have been hooked ever since and it was about time I had a look at some of the steel targets available today. On test we have a steel turkey from the NRA HARDOX 500 series manufactured by target-air.co.uk. Also on offer are chicken, pig and ram silhouettes (sizes and dimensions below). These could be seen as a strange selection from our view point, but in the USA steel silhouette shooting is popular. However, they have the capability to produce pretty much what they want, so foxes could be an option! Weighing in at nearly 10kg, the Turkey shrugged off multiple 22LR and 223 Rem strikes

Watch out for fragment damage Big and heavy

VERDICT Great fun and good practice Tough and built for purpose

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

CONSTRUCTION Targets are painted red and made of 10mm thick (3/8”) HARDOX 500, which is abrasion-resistant steel, with a nominal hardness of 500 HBW. In English, this means they are going to withstand bullet impacts from even the largest hunting calibres. It is worth considering the weight though, as the turkey is not light, at just shy of 10kg. The ram is nearly 22kg, but they need to be to take the pounding! Included with the target is a stand, which attaches to the base using wing nuts for quick assembly. Alternatively they come pre-drilled with holes and a pair of D-shackles. These are provided to allow the attachment of chains (not included) so you can hang them, so that they swing freely when hit. Meaning you will get both physical and audible indication of a hit.

LET’S SHOOT If you are using the stand provided, then it is a good idea to make sure that the face of the target is angled forwards by say 20°. This makes sure that the majority of the bullet fragments are directed downwards into the ground. Be aware the immediate area gets seriously damaged by the bullet fragments! My preference would be to mount it on a frame using chains, as this allows it to absorb the impact and to direct the fragments downwards as it swings back.

Detail of the target standard fixing system, steel can also be hung uses chain and D-shackles

Having placed the target around 115m away, I fancied having a few shots at it with my Smith and Wesson 15-22. There was an easily audible ‘ding’ which immediately became very addictive as you can probably tell from the picture! After a quick inspection it was clear that the little .22LR rounds had just rubbed the paint off, which is what I expected. Up next was the .223 (also at 115m) and with a noticeably louder ‘ding’, all this did was scratch slightly more paint off! With prices starting from £39.99 for the chicken, these targets offer a very affordable and fun training tool.

{ TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS } NRA HARDOX 500 Steel Silhouettes z Prices: CHICKEN £39.99, (11 x 13”) TURKEY £59.99 (23” x 19”) PIG £59.99, (14 x 22”) RAM £119.99 (27 x 32”) z Contact: www.target-air.co.uk email: [emailprotected]

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FIREARMS EXPERIENCE

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Prices start from £90 per person per day. Gift certificates are available check out our new website Or give us a call on 01686 412113 or Jon on 07449 327006 www.orionfirearmstraining.co.uk

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Tel: 07448 177009 Email: [emailprotected] Web: www.dpteuro.co.uk

Glenswinton, Parton, Castle Douglas, DG7 3NL, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 1644 470223 Fax: +44 (0) 1644 470227

FIREARMS | GUN TEST

NOT JUST

TACTICAL Bruce Potts looks at a new precision rifle with a deal of versatility and potential

Spiral fluted bolt is practical and stylish, a 3-position safety is located on the bolt shroud

“

ot another tactical rifle!” I hear you say, yes but this new gun comes in many guises as we shall see! Graeme Clarke heads up Sporting Services and now imports a new rifle from Germany called the Nimrod, which will satisfy tactical aficionados, varmint hunters, long-range geeks and savvy hunters alike. From the outside, the Nimrod is a typical and reasonably conventional bolt action offering. But the magic is on the inside, with use of high-grade materials and design, with close tolerances for accuracy coupled to tough exterior coatings. The barrel is a stainless steel, match-grade Lothar Walther unit, enough said and available at this time in a limited number of popular calibres, such as 243 Win, 6.5x47 Lapua and of course; 308 Win of which I had on test. Best of all is the Nimrod’s ability to slip into different, after-market stocks to change its look and usage due to the Remington 700 action underside profile.

You can also substitute different Remington 700 clone trigger units, so further enhancing its credentials and appeal. So, and according to your preference, you have the choice of the following furniture - Accuracy International Chassis System (AICS) thumbhole and some of the GRS laminate range. I had the AICS folding option.

BARREL, ACTION AND FINISH Being made in the Fatherland almost guarantees the Nimrod`s quality, as the premium barrelled action is designed to extract the maximum accuracy potential. The action is fashioned from tool steel that has a tensile strength of 1200N/ mm2 and is then gas nitride finished with a phosphate and polyurethane coating. This makes for a strong action internally to the firing and operational processes and tough exterior that can brave the elements! The finish is good at resisting those annoying scratches from belt buckles and roe sacks that seem to play havoc with my other rifles.

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The bolt action uses a 3-lug operating system that locks into a central action ring imbedded into the action body. Each lug is 0.54” long and 0.35” wide and offers near 100% contact when engaged, which is impressive and certainly aids accuracy. It has a 60° bolt lift and is 7” long with a solid 0.84” inch O/D, with nine, radial flutes to reduce bearing surface and to reduce any unwanted binding due to debris falling on to the action! These are shallow and blacked inside to contrast with the polished bolt body.

SAKO-TYPE Cases are extracted by a Sako-type claw set into the right hand lug and cases are ejected in a timely manner by a sprung/ plunger ejector in the bolt face. This .308 Win has a 25” barrel, with an outside diameter (O/D) at the muzzle of 0.86” and 0.92” just in front of the forend, so a varmint profile! The muzzle is threaded at 18/1.5mm (AI specification) and this can

GUN TEST | FIREARMS Push a button and the butt folds away on a single pivotal point and lays flat

Shot out to 400-yards + the Nimrod showed what it was worth, easily producing some very tight groups!

FACTORY MAKE

be fitted with a large muzzle brake for an additional £120 or a moderator. I popped on an MAE Scout muzzle can, which worked rather well. The twist rate is 1 in 12”; personally I would prefer a 1 in 10, which would suit heavier, longer range bullets better! Exterior finish is black Mil Spec painted and sighting wise the Nimrod wears a one-piece Picatinny rail without MOA bias.

Winchester Hornady Norma Geco Remington S&B

BULLET WEIGHT GRAINS 150gr 150gr 150gr 165gr 168gr 180gr

BULLET TYPE Ballistic Silver Tip SST Ballistic Tip Express Match King BTHP Soft Point

MUZZLE ENERGY FT/LBS 2953 3045 2634 2642 2616 2483

RELOADS BULLET MAKE Hornady

BULLET WEIGHT BULLET TYPE GRAINS 110gr V-Max

STOCK Nosler

Hornady

Sierra

Hornady

125 gr

150gr

165gr

180gr

Ballistic Tip

SST

Game King

Interbond

RELOAD DATA 44.0gr of Alliant RL10X powder 44.5gr 45.0gr 40.0gr of Vit H4198 powder 41.0gr 41.5gr 44.0gr of Varget powder 44.5gr 45.0gr 45.5gr of Vit N540 powder 46.0gr 47.0gr 42.0gr Alliant RL15 powder 43.0gr 43.5gr

adjustable cheek piece, which is set up via two wing-type nuts, that when slackened allow it to be positioned to suit your own shooting-style. The length of pull is adjusted by adding or removing spacers from the rubber butt pad.

TRIGGER, SAFETY AND MAGAZINE The trigger is a precision Shilen, with a precise single stage operation, which broke

MUZZLE VELOCITY FPS 3291

MUZZLE ENERGY FT/LBS 2645

3322 3353 3043

2695 2745 2571

3099 3126 2749

2666 2713 2516

2778 2808 2683

2571 2626 2637

2708 2759 2584

2687 2788 2669

2641 2669

2787 2847

very cleaning at 1.85 lbs on test. However, Sporting Services also stocks the excellent Trigger Tech and Cadex units, so you can specify what you want when you order. I have tried both and they are excellent alternatives for any Remy-based system. The safety is a wing-type lever that is sited on the bolt shroud and offers three positions. Forward is FIRE, middle is on SAFE with bolt operation and rear is

This model wears the folding version of the AICS stock system. This build offers a strong and rigid, internal, aluminium chassis member that the action bolts into. On top of this is the actual outer stock made of a strong, impact-resistant polymer material. You have three colour choices – black, O/D green and desert/sand, mine was in sand, which matched the Schmidt and Bender scope on top nicely! The barrel is allowed to free float well in the square profiled forend which has an accessory rail underneath for bipods etc. The trigger guard is moulded in and generous in size to allow easy access by the finger, but the blade does look a little lost inside! The thumbhole pistol grip is large and gives comfortable position, with a long reach to the trigger. The stock folds via twin hinged sections located above and below the thumbhole. A large button is depressed from the right side, allowing the rear butt section to swing and fold flat on the left hand side. There is a good

MUZZLE VELOCITY FPS 2977 3023 2812 2685 2648 2492

FIREARMS | GUN TEST s Testing over the chronograph proved the Nimrod to be both accurate and consistent

The Nimrod action is machined to close tolerances and is smooth and locks up like a bank vault

SAFE with the trigger and bolt both being locked. Nice and precise but not really a clear click in the mid position though. The floor plate and magazine assembly is a quick detachable unit, designed to accept Accuracy International AICS 5 and 10-shot mags that are released by a large one inch push forward lever in front of the trigger guard. This is practical option that offers a decent payload, fast changes and even different ammo to suit a given situation!

FIELD TEST I shot a lot of factory and reloads at 100 yards, then stretched its legs out 400 yard +, saying that and in the right hands; a good 308 should be able to reach out to 1000 yards easily. Truth is the Nimrod showed very good manners and was not at all fussy on what it was fed!

ACCURACY AND TARGETS These Lothar Walther barrels are good and consistent, which showed in the groups the Nimrod was producing. Best factory load

was a toss up between the Rem Match 168-grain and the Hornady SST. The former producing 2648 fps/2616 ft/lbs and 1” groups. The latter shot 0.85-0.95” groups for three shots at 100 yards for 3023fps/3045 ft/lbs; impressive for a 150-grain bullet! Reload-wise it would be nice to try some lighter loads with the 1 in 12 rifling twist barrel. Hornady’s 110-grain V-MAX shot ¾” groups with a max load of 45-grains of RL10X powder producing 3353 fps/2745 ft/ lbs. The 125-grain Nosler Ballistic Tips gave healthy, ½”groups for 3099 fps with 40-grains of H4198. 150-grain bullets are more the staple of any .308 Win and this Nimrod liked the SSTs with a mid load of 44.5-grains of Varget, giving a mild 2778 fps/2571 ft/lbs energy and ½” groups. The best reload went to the 165-grain Sierra Game Kings, with 47-grains of Vit N540 giving 0.45”, 3-shot groups and 2759 fps/2788 ft/lbs, a good deer load with excellent controlled expansion.

CONCLUSION

Sako type extractor and inset plunger ejector situated in the bolt head with three locking lugs

FOR Well made, ammo –friendly and shootable

The Nimrod is well designed with a smooth bolt and positive cartridge delivery and good detachable mag system, which is further enhanced by the excellent Lothar Walther barrel. Accuracy was not only excellent but consistent and dependable in all field conditions. A good trigger makes all the

AGAINST Very little

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

VERDICT A quality rifle at a very good price Serious ability

Accuracy International folding stock design is certainly versatile, if not to your liking, then a GRS stock can be substituted

difference too and the folding stock offers the convenience of a smaller package or carriage, yet maintains that Tactical look which is ever popular. Prices start at £2175 and so offers performance at a good price, more calibres will be added in the future.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ■ Name ■ Type ■ Calibre ■ Capacity ■ Length ■ Barrel length ■ Weight ■ Finish ■ Stock ■ Sights ■ Trigger ■ Price ■ Contact

Nimrod Rifles Bolt Action 308 on test 5 & 10 DM (AI detachable) 46” 25” 9.85lbs Matt Nitrided phosphate AI folding Picatinny scope rail Single stage adjustable £2175 Muzzle brake from £120 Sporting Services, 01342 716427, 07860 219902 JMS Arms 07771 962121 Quickload and MAE sound moderators Schmidt and Bender scopes

Services

Designed & engineered in the UK without compromise

Nimrod action with integral piccatinny rail, (Rem700 footprint) CNC machined for Sporting Services in Germany. Stainless steel match barrels by Lothar Walther and available in calibres: .223 Rem, .243 Win, 6.5 x47 Lapua, .260 Rem, .308 Win and .300Win Mag.

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Evo FTR Bipod

Tac-Rings

Uni-Mounts SS04.16/18/f

Sporting

Specialist Firearms & Equipment

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Competition Rifle Stocks

Tactical Rifle Stocks Every McMillan stock features precision accuracy built with Hunting Rifle Stocks the toughness of a tank. What's more, McMillan offers more styles, more colours, more options and more customisations than any other manufacturer. So you can set up your custom rifle exactly the way you want. Never accept second place. Put a McMillan stock in your hands and feel the difference that quality can make. Benchrest Rifle Stocks Glenswinton, Parton, Castle Douglas DG7 3NL, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 1644 470223. Fax: +44 (0) 1644 470227 www.jacksonrifles.com

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FIREARMS | NORMA FACTORY VISIT

e n fi n m a d

! O M M A

Norma’s latest creations TIPSTRIKE and ECOSTRIKE spring from 114 years of production!

Pete Moore takes some time off from shooting big moose to check out one of Europe’s oldest ammunition producers

t was in1902 that Norma Amotfors was established by its founder Ivar Engar in Sweden, (who ironically was Norwegian) in the tiny village of Charlottenberg, which is literally a spit away from the Norwegian/ Swedish border and as they say a legend was born. One that has grown into one of the most respected names in ammunition and component production and usage! There were three Engar brothers; Johan, Lars and Ivar who were all shooters, and for firearms and ammunition the late 19th century was a transitional time. The advantages of the emergent smaller bores and smokeless propellants meant greater range, power and accuracy potential.

JACKET ON! But to achieve this; the old, full lead bullet was not good enough, and with that the need for jacketed bullets as we know them today was born! Which would have a massive affect on both civilian and military shooting requirements for the foreseeable future. The brothers who were members of the Norwegian Sharp Shooters Movement decided to get in on the ground floor and started producing jacketed bullets. Norma Amotfors was started in 1894 in Oslo, Norway, which proved fortuitous as the Scandinavian countries were just changing to the new smokeless, 6.5x55mm calibre in the

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emergent Mauser and Krag rifle systems of the time. The smallbore, smokeless powder revolution finished off hand loaders who up until then had used lead. But Norma’s place in the market would soon allow them to buy jacketed bullets to reload in the new calibres appearing. As an aside the company name was derived from an opera by Vincenzo Bellini, favoured by Lars Engar; I always thought it had something to do with the word Norway! Reading the history indicates that their project started off with experimentation and looking at or copying other designs and concepts. Given the new nature of jacketed

NORMA FACTORY VISIT | FIREARMS

The factory offers a modern production facility

Norma then as now is the top choice for all professional shooters

Now that’s a cartridge collection; this is every calibre Norma has ever produced

bullets in general it seemed likely that the brothers perhaps did not know that much about what they were trying to achieve. However, after what must have been a time of trial and error they got it right! Their ballistic engineer Karl Wang hit upon the idea of turning the bullet up against a steady rest, which allowed for a precise tail section, which is what steers the projectile. This also produced the first boat tail base as we know it today and proved their secret weapon in the production of quality projectiles.

SWEDISH CONNECTION

machines to increase production. They had arrived and were soon noted as equal to the other international ammunition producers, with Olympic and other records being set with their products. They also helped the Swedish government plant at Raufoss with a huge order for the Turkish military of 40 million rounds of 8mm Mauser and stripper clips as they could not cope on their own! In the 1920s and 30’s Norma started making hunting ammunition for the first time, with mixed success often having to buy in cases from RWS and other manufacturers. But they eventually got their own production sorted and then as now have the major portion of the Scandinavian sporting market as well as internationally. Through the intervening years the fortunes of Norma fluctuated as did the worlds and they made all sorts of ammo and cases for both military

and civilian use, plus cases for the Swedish Bofors, 40mm anti aircraft cannon By the Second World War production was at its highest and after the war things were scaled down a lot.

WEATHERBY Post 1945 Norma continued its role of producing top quality target, hunting and military ammunition. In the 1950s the Swedish target market was huge and from a country of just 7 million, there were 2,300 shooting clubs consuming over 40 million rounds per annum. Again the wheel was about to turn and raise Norma high, as a certain Roy Weatherby turned up in 1953 with some fire-formed cases asking them to produce his range of ammunition and magnum calibres. A role they still do today, as they

By 1901 Norma started exporting their bullets to other Scandinavian countries and it was then the Swedish Sharp Shooters Movement got interested and asked them to consider building a factory in Sweden hence the Charlottenberg connection. As well as bullets they also offered reloading equipment and primers to their product line. By the end of that year they now had four employees and had produced 225,500 bullets. Standing in the new factory today and looking at their production counter on bullets, cases and complete ammo, which runs into millions of units; it was a case of ‘small acorns grow into big oak trees’! In 1911 they started building and expanding and have been on this site ever since. By 1914 they were buying once-fired military cases as well as traded-in brass from shooting clubs and reconditioning and reloading them for the civilian market. By 1917 they were making their own, new factory ammo which offered an affordable and quality product. The next move in 1922 was installing two German reloading

“Again the wheel was about to turn and raise Norma high, as a certain Roy Weatherby turned up in 1953”

CEO: Paul-Erik Toivo

Fredrik Broström - Sales and Marketing

Norma’s clock, shows production levels; not too bad…

FIREARMS | NORMA FACTORY VISIT

It may be old but this vintage 1940s machine along with others is still capable of doing the business alongside it’s more modern counterparts!

do for other prestigious gun makers such as Blaser. Nils Kvale head of ballistics said this of the calibres they developed for Weatherby: “He wanted Norma to make his cases like women’s shoes; larger on the inside than on the outside!” This new direction naturally lead Norma to develop some of their own magnums and I have shot a few, but the one that does it for me is the 338 Norma Magnum; which is a well behaved powerhouse of a cartridge. I liken it to a 375 H&H but in a shorter and more efficient package that will fit standard actions. Of course no discussion of the company would be complete without mentioning their glorious PH range of ammo – nickel cased for reliable feed and extraction, premium bullets for specific needs and the most elegant packaging I have ever seen. Boxes of 10 with each round nesting in an individual slot with a red flock lining, plus bullet placement guide details. Not to forget they also helped develop factory ammo for many iconic guns like the 44 AutoMag and the 10mm Auto Bren TEN pistols amongst others! With mergers and splits with other foreign and domestic companies and different owners and CEO’s Norma has changed over the years. However, what has not is what they do best; producing top quality ammo and components along with loading data for all manner of shooting needs.

dates back to the 1940s yet is still turning out quality product. But it was odd to see this retro technology alongside modern automated systems both chunking out quality ammo of all types. The tour started in the board room, where the CEO Paul-Erik Toivo and Fredrik Broström, Sales and Marketing Manager filled us in on the company. Sitting down at the board room table it took me a minute to realise it was shaped like a giant cartridge case; cool! The history of Norma is all around you with old black and white and modern colour pictures of famous shooters with their trophies, along with what must be the largest ammo collection I have ever seen. Which is a visual and historical record of every calibre they have made! However, they are not resting on their laurels, which they could so easily do as names like Diamond Line and Jadgmatch as others are trusted worldwide. But they are also developing new bullets such as the TIPSTRIKE and the non-lead ECOSTRIKE and manufacture the 6xc match cartridge too.

WALK ABOUT The invite to attend Norma’s prestigious moose hunt last year was a real treat for me, which I wrote up for the February issue. However, we also got the chance to go around the factory. Like many ammunition manufacturers Norma is a blend of old and modern technology, some of the machinery

Pimp my ride; check out that number plate!

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TIPSTRIKE Bullet designed to fly right and retain mass

SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS Entering the factory you get hit with that lovely machine smell. The staff seem very dedicated and we were shown the various processes of how bullets and cases were made. Walking past a huge box of virgin 6.5x55 brass made me want to scoop some up! I already mentioned the PH (Professional Hunter) line of dangerous game ammo and I was surprised to hear that it’s all loaded by hand in small batches. Logical I suppose as it’s expensive and not a high production item, though for the job it has to do the personal touch pays dividends! The reloading side uses both old and new machines, with everything being checked, adjusted and overhauled constantly to ensure a 100% product. They have a massive powder store in the roof of the loading building, which meters small and precise amounts down to the machines. This is done for safety reasons as if something were to occur the main bulk storage is protected. The staff were happy to answer my questions and dedicated to their jobs. I got the feeling it’s like an extended family too as the majority of both men and women there are keen hunters and shooters. This was born out in the moose hunt as Paul-Erik Toivo and Fredrik Broström were right there beside us along with the sales team of Amund and Kenneth Skoglund and Anders Brolund. It was plain to see they were as keen to hunt as we were. Shooting and socializing with these people as well as seeing what they do and using their products, just reinforces what I have known for many years; Norma makes some damn fine ammunition! My thanks to all concerned for what turned out to be not only a great hunting experience, but also a very enjoyable visit all round! Contact; www.norma.cc

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FIREARMS | PCD

COLD

’m no fair weather hunter; but if anybody thought I was going out in the kind of weather we’ve been getting over the past couple of months - no chance! In my area there have been floods, and it’s impossible to enter any ground with a tractor, let alone my 4x4. Walking the ground as I do would be too hard a slog, not only that but all I have in my armoury is a Tikka all-weather, not a spear gun and flippers! I’ve never known it to be so bad; even the ducks are wearing plastic macks!

BROKEN CHAIN It’s not just the heavy, continuous downpours, but the longer lasting after effects; for instance worms have been drowned and everybody knows how valuable they are, not just for the soil but as a reliable food source, so that’s one link in the chain broken. The weather is worse than it was a few years ago, when if the rain didn’t kill the ground-nesting birds or eggs the cold did! Vets started to get large numbers of pets through their doors and then the warnings appeared on TV. At least it’s not nesting time, but no matter what the weather’s like, the fox still has to go out foraging for food, looking for easier and more reliable ways of securing a meal. Either by raiding the farm buildings or becoming bolder and going into town, joining the already booming population of urban foxes. Some of which are forced to stay out longer, giving people a glimpse at something they would not normally see.

WET WEATHER DRILLS Though I have been out foxing in heavy rain and been successful (or lucky), as everybody knows lamping in the rain reflects the beam back, bringing your field of view right down and when you look through the scope it’s even worse! I find I am more successful sitting it out and waiting for the rain to stop, if it’s heavy that is. But as soon as it does, I have to get out or I will lose the chance, as the fox will be waiting for the very same opportunity, Foxes are an all-year pest so hot or cold you need beoncan be Thetosnow your game both predator’s and quarry’s undoing or success, as tracking is made a lot easier

Howard Heywood reckons that snow is a fox’s enemy, as it makes them easier to track 88

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

PCD | FIREARMS especially after such a long period of heavy rain dodging the weather to secure a meal. Keeping a close eye on the weather is a must or I risk losing that window of opportunity, as it may only be for one or two nights before the rain comes in again. So, to say it’s been hard trying to dodge the weather and juggle my work commitments would be an understatement! I didn’t really get a break until it snowed, but it didn’t stop until the early hours in the morning, just like rain. Lamping in falling snow would be fruitless, though the following evening looked more promising…

Switching from hand-held lamp to gun-mounted, I readied for the shot, it had been a long night!

The snow can be both predator’s and quarry’s undoing or success, as tracking is made a lot easier

Wasting no time, I picked up my 6BR and my favourite lamping kit – a Cluson Clu Briter spotlight and Trio pro gunlight and headed out to a large valley bordering two large moors. Though it was a dark night with the build up of clouds, I must have stuck out like a flea on a blanket and with only remnants’ of dry stone walls to break up my silhouette it was going to be hard! When deer stalking, if you crouch or bend down it makes it harder for the deer to recognise you as a threat and the same goes for whatever you’re hunting. But there’s no way I could walk round like that all night! Likewise, I couldn’t walk the bottom of the valley, as that would mean I would be shooting up towards the skyline. The only way I could cover the ground while trying to keep a low profile was to try and keep below the skyline, walking slow from one bit of sparse cover to another. Things like a clump of reeds are enough to help break up your silhouette, but despite my best efforts all I came across were tracks in the fresh snow, one set crossing over another. But they all seemed to be heading in the same general direction, towards two neighbouring farms.

wonder if they had already seen me, and sneaked off before I could target them? If that was the case, the only fox I was likely to see would be one making off in the distance. With this in mind, I decided to head over the hill and onto the farm lane, walking back towards the farm. At least the dry stone walls along the lane would give me all the cover I would need, though I would have fewer opportunities to lamp, due to the lay of the land. Normally, I would pick an ambush point and wait, not using a lamp at all, but that’s best with a clear sky increasing my field of view. But being over cast and wanting to cover as much ground as possible, I was perhaps a little too keen. Being my first outing for weeks, the one valuable bit of knowledge I gained was I now knew where the fox was travelling from and too. Information that would help me through the year to keep their numbers down.

DON’T LOOK BACK! SEEK AND FIND If I were to carry on in the direction I was going I would no doubt pick up a fox in the beam. But only seeing tracks made me

I made it to the lane without picking up any eye shine and stood by the gate for 30 minutes, lamping occasionally and still nothing; even without seeing the tracks, I

know it was there! The night was so quiet and still with no eye shine from even a rabbit! Still feeling positive, I set off, picking my way up the lane, stopping each time I came to a low part in the wall or gate where I could lamp from. I got to within 100 yards from where I had left my car, when I picked up a flash of eye shine against a broken down stone wall, then nothing. I started to lamp from where I first picked up the eyes, widening the circle, when I picked it up 150 yards out from the wall going uphill and I immediately switched from hand held lamp to scope- mounted lamp. In the time it took me to do that, the fox had travelled a further 50 yards up hill! Knowing I would have to be quick to get a shot, I followed it through the scope, hoping it would stop before it got to the top. The one thing I daren’t do was to squeak, as that would put it into full flight, as it knew I was there. Hoping that it would stop and take one last look back before disappearing over the hill, and in true textbook style it did within seconds. Big mistake; I placed the cross hairs on its chest, touched the trigger and it was all over, 100 yards from where I set off four a half hours ago.

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6BR AND GUN LIGHT

FIREARMS | PRODUCT TEST TIMNEY CALVIN ELITE TRIGGER Price

£193.30

On the Pull! We look at a new Timney trigger for those wanting to up their game

CONTACT: Hannam’s Reloading Ltd, 01977 681 639 www. hannamsreloading. com

FOR Practical design Easy to fit at home with basic tools

AGAINST Getting close to a Jewell in price

VERDICT A definite update for any Rem 700 Safety functions 100%

imney have made great triggers for a range of rifles for many years but their Calvin Elite comes along at a time of fierce competition in the market and for Remington 700 and their clones, this is a tough area to crack! The trigger features a Carbon Nitride coating on the sears. It’s a thermochemical process to diffuse nitrogen and carbon into the surface of ferrous metals and is substantially harder than hardened tool steel. Long-term wear is reduced and corrosion protection improved. Harder materials are better for grinding to a sharp defined edge which allows closer tolerances for a fine release and pull weight as low as 8oz. All internals are A2 tool steel before coating, encased in a

SL-Series

Jet-Z™

“It felt crisp and predictable so compared to the standard ‘post safety recall’ modified Rem unit, was a joy to shoot, halving group sizes easily!”

gold-anodized 6061 T6 shell. The double sear design offers full adjustment for engagement, over-travel, and pull weights from 8oz-2.5lbs. Full instructions are supplied. With a slender smooth

blade even at measured 200-grams (8oz), it felt crisp and predictable so compared to the standard ‘post safety recall’ modified Rem unit, was a joy to shoot, halving group sizes easily!

North Star

We Stock the following ASE UTRA Sound Moderators: Jet-Z CQB & Compact; SL-series (SL5, SL6, SL7); NorthStar; DualFifty; BoreLock System

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FIREARMS | HUNTING STORY

PART 2

Second fox of the weekend. Even better than the first!

rats, hares, sheep and a few unknowns. It got to the point that whenever I closed my eyes I was convinced I had thermal vision. The images from the hours of spotting burned into my retina! This was repeated when I went to bed that night, my dreams were all in thermal!

TARGET!

FOOD THEN FOXES Ed Jackson continues his education on his hunting trip to Scotland

eturning from the ducks, we headed back to Graeme’s house to get the shotguns cleaned and to get the foxing gear together. We had been invited to Mark’s for some food and then a night shooting on a local estate. We arrived and met the estate’s gamekeeper and indulged in some home baked/made game pizzas, which were truly excellent. He had his own pizza oven in his garden! I can’t tell you how tired I was at this point and I was feeling really rough but I was excited to get out there.

CATCH PHRASE! We piled into the truck with Mark at the helm, Tony was on the rifle and Graeme and myself would be using the spotters. The mission was simple, to get Tony a fox! We navigated along the network of tracks

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

linking all the fields together; they just seemed endless, as there was so much land! The same process took place as before, we would find a heat source and then try and identify it. There were tons of hares about, which made this task quite challenging and this is when Graeme’s catch phrase was born. “110% sure that’s a fox, oh wait, no it’s a hare” The amount of ground we covered in such a short time was staggering. The variety of wildlife/different heat sources we saw was great. We had deer, standing up and lying down, and pheasants in trees,

After a few good hours we spotted a fox, and it was in range at around 100m. Tony struggled to get the rifle steady on the rest, due to the angle, so decided to go out and use the bonnet, which was a risk as the fox could easily scarper but it remained still. Taking his time (which seemed like an eternity while watching through the spotter!) the familiar report of rifle filtered through the cab; a miss! The advantages of using thermal and sound moderators remained. Although running, the fox still was not sure what had just happened, so Graeme and Mark were confident we would get a second chance. We followed the track in the direction the fox had run, scanning for its heat source. It was not long before we found it again. Unfortunately it was out of range and not accessible to the truck, so Tony and Mark decided to stalk into it, which seemed to be staying put at the top of field. This particular fox was not going to make things easy and with one of the XD38S spotters out of batteries and the other low, they took the Apex with them. Graeme and I watched the fox from the track below. I was getting some good use of the Pulsar Recon, as it still had full batteries. If you are in the market for an affordable night vision monocular I highly recommend looking at one of these. We checked Tony and Mark’s progress with the spotter and they looked as if they were in position, I decided to turn the 400 IR illuminator off on the Recon and see if I could pick up the IR from Tony’s Xsearcher. Sure enough, there was a long beam arcing across the field, with a bright spot in the middle that would be the fox then. It was clear after quite some time, that even though they had the fox in their sights, they were not happy with the shot. I decided the best course of action was to

You can make out Tony's IR beam crossing the field and reflecting off the fox in the centre

HUNTING STORY | FIREARMS have a nap in the truck. At least 2 hours after the stalk began I was woken up by the sound of a rifle shot, so I went back to sleep and waited for Mark and Tony to return. A tap on the window and a fox in hand; the .243 round had found its target. Tony had got his fox!

After scanning the landscape with the bino's, Paul spotted a fox

IT ONLY GETS BETTER! Up at 6am and it was my last day in Scotland, Paul was taking me deer stalking, my first ever! I was excited, not that you could tell at this point! My cold and cough had a firm grip on me by now, the last thing I wanted was to have a coughing fit and scare all the wildlife within a 5 mile radius away! We arrived at our destination and Paul talked me through the plan and the land that we were on. Using Paul’s thermal spotter, we scanned the side of a hill and the open ground in front of it while waiting for the sun to rise. The plan was to spot a deer and then dismount and move into position while the sun was coming up; there was no sign of any deer. Paul

ED JACKSON SAYS:

m a e b g n lo a s a w re e th , h “Sure enoug eld, with a bright spot arcing across the fiwould be the fox then” in the middle that

FIREARMS | HUNTING STORY s

explained that with the very mild weather our intended quarry may have fed at night instead. Paul also devised a plan B, taking the wind into consideration. We would park up and stalk through the woods, sweeping round so we would come out of the forest into the ground behind the hill, as the deer regularly move from one side of the hill to the other.

On our way to high ground, which would be our shooting position

SORTED We sorted the kit out and I was happy! Following Paul, we made our way into the forest over some wet ground, scanning with the thermal as we went. We manoeuvred ourselves, trying to catch a roe doe as they moved across the gaps between the trees where they feed. I can’t describe how hard it was moving across tough ground, carrying kit, while trying to keep my breathing steady so that I didn’t cough. As we moved along, Paul was pointing out signs of the resident deer, we found tracks, flat grass where they had been laying down and fresh droppings. It was all looking very positive! Paul eventually spotted a roe but unfortunately it had just finished crossing the gap we were in, moving silently out of sight into the woods. The second sighting was a buck, which had obviously detected us first and was already off when I got eyes on. Gracefully and silently shifting it in the other direction!

300 M We arrived at the edge of the wood and the ground behind the hill, maybe we would find something here. It was then that Paul spotted a ginger flash through his bino’s! A fox about 300m away having a good sniff about. We decided to stalk towards it,

moving to some high ground. I did have to stifle a coughing fit first though! As the Roe were not playing ball I was very happy to have a go at a fox in daylight, especially now we were in the open and I could see the fantastic landscape. Most of the scenery I had seen so far this trip was through night vision or thermal! We had closed the gap on the fox and were in a perfect position on high ground aiming down on him, which was by this point moving along the side of the hill. I crawled into position and tried to set up but it was not quite right, my training at Orion firearms kicked in, never force an uncomfortable position! Just a few corrections and I was 100% happy, so I adjusted the scope to get a clear picture and got a bead on him. It was trotting along at a good pace so I asked Paul if he could give it a quick squeak. It stopped, I fired and it fell, 131 meters, a nice clean

shot right where I aimed, with a perfect backstop. I could not have been happier, safe and clean. I swear I shoot better when I am tired, as I was so relaxed behind that rifle, what a day and what a great finish to my trip to Scotland.

FINAL THOUGHTS A truly fantastic experience all round and the hospitality I received during this trip was second to none. I was made to feel very welcome by everyone involved. As a novice shooter I gained a lot of valuable experience especially with all the Pulsar equipment that Tony brought along! I can conclude from my experiences that if you shoot on a regular basis and have plenty of land to cover like Mark, Graeme and Paul, then you will love the XD38S, I guarantee you. A great weekend, with great people in a great country; maybe I can go back for a Roe!

I couldn’t have asked for a better position to take my shot from

The last photo after an excellent meal

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FIREARMS | GUN TEST

Any of you thought Tikka just made sporting rifles? Bruce Potts looks at a modern classic

Different

mousetrap T

he Tikka M65 is one of my favourite sporting rifles, along with its smaller brother the Tikka M55 but the M65A is a completely different beast, despite the single letter addition to its name. It’s a rare animal these days and much sought after due to its quirky design and use in classic sniping competitions but primarily due to its incredible accuracy. Introduced by the Tikkakoski arms manufacturer of Finland in 1988, the M65A model was a radical departure from their

usual sporting and Biathlon styled rifles. Yes it was originally designed as a potential Sniper rifle for the Police and Military but it has seen uses for long range Varminting and even stalking! This model was only produced in 7.62 NATO, so .308 Win shoots fine. Every rifle uses specially selected parts for best accuracy potential and the M65A had some really interesting design features to the bolt and action in particular. It looks ungainly but in fact it is comfortable to shoot, superbly

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

accurate but very difficult to find now, as they had a short production run due to the high costs of manufacture.

WEIRDO! Really odd or weird looking best describes the M65A appearance but it`s all for a good purpose. The barrel and action are why it shoots so well. Factory-selected for internal uniformity, it’s 24” long, with a heavy varmint profile for rigidity and the rifling pitch is 1 in 12” twist rate for the NATO rounds. The barrel

GUN TEST | FIREARMS Adjustable butt section is handy and unusually shaped but a little short for me!

Sabotted rounds as well as .308 sub-sonics, are good fun to shoot in the M65A Nimrod scope has windage adjustments to left side, German/Austrian optics are superb with a range finding reticule

EYE-CATCHING FURNITURE

made of Polyarylamid, that the rear of the bolt rides in. This in turn sits in the action and as the bolt is operated, it literally glides in this superb slick bush. This is also aided by Tikka`s larger than normal plastic bolt knob, to give a good hold. But there’s more; the trigger is a 2-stage marvel. The first is smooth and the second adjustable from 800 grams to 3KG and breaks like glass. The blade too can be repositioned for a perfect feel by a small adjusting Allen screw.

is also free floated along its entire length, mainly due to the unique way the action is bedded. It’s all steel, with a flat bottom and instead of directly sitting into the void as on conventional rifles, the M65A uses a separate aluminium chassis system instead. This provides a large flat surface area for the stock to attach to and also allows the entire barrel to free float, this all adds up to better accuracy in any climatic conditions. The action itself is also note worthy! This model uses the patented synthetic bush

Like all Tikkas, the magazine is quick detachable; the release is by twin sprung buttons either side of the mag well at the base. It shows a single-column, 5-shot box, as used on Tikka’s M55 Biathlon model but not the M65 Biathlon as you would think. The stock is the most radical feature and a real eye catcher. It’s actually made in three parts, utilising traditional walnut with aluminium inserts. The forend section is hollowed out to reduce weight and has a bedded supporting screw section and accessory rail underneath for a bipod attachment. The second section is the pistol grip with a stippled finish; it has an embedded aluminium tube that forms the support for the butt section and recoil pad. It offers an adjustable length of pull (LOP). The walnut cheek piece is separate and clamps to this and is also height-adjustable with three screws. It looks a bit odd but is superbly comfortable and can be set up to pretty much suit any shooter’s anatomy, or optic. I have used several Tikka M65A models over the years and all have been superbly accurate but you do need to check a few

FIREARMS | GUN TEST s

RELOADS BULLET MAKE

This M65A shot very well with the Remington Premier Match ammo, note French Lizard jacket adopted by Israeli Special Forces who used the Nimrod scope on their Galil, 7.62NATO sniper

points. Due to their modular system of manufacture not all sections might have been the original ones and can be swapped. It`s not really a problem but the walnut sections might not match which is a give a way. Also, due to the separate cheek piece section, it is quite thin, as it sits over a metal slider and so check there are no splits caused by mishandling or over tightening the securing bolts. Finally, the pistol grip can also crack if the rifle has been dropped but apart from these points, the M65A is a true classic of its time- the late eighties.

IN THE FIELD It has to be said that the M65A is a bit ungainly, as it certainly is muzzle heavy at 45” long and that’s without a sound moderator fitted but most people will shoot this off a bipod anyway, so no probs. I love the stock look but in use for me, being a bit of a gangly git, I find that even with the cheekpiece in its rear most position, the length of pull is too short! This means you are a bit cramped and for me your cheek sits very far forward on the wood, but despite this the upright pistol grip and rear hand hold for the supporting hand gives a rock solid hold. That bolt is silky smooth and feed from the single stack mag is totally reliable and positive with a solid lock up, aided by the oversized bolt knob. The trigger too is a gem, Tikkas are usually and certainly a contributing factor to the great accuracy. With its 1 in 12” twist and 24” floated barrel ammo selection is important! I shot many types of factory ammunition through this M65A and all weights from 110 to 165-grains shot very well, even the heavier 180-grain loads stabilised well in the slower twist rate. Best though by a long shot were

FACTORY RWS Hornady Norma Remington S&B

100

BULLET WEIGHT GRAINS 150gr 150gr 150gr 168gr 180gr

BULLET TYPE

RELOAD DATA

Speer

BULLET WEIGHT GRAINS 110 gr

MUZZLE VELOCITY FPS 3088

Spire SP

Hornady

150gr

InterBond

Sierra

165gr

GameKing

Hornady

180gr

SST

47.5gr of IMR 4895 powder 46.25gr of Varget 2792 powder 46.0gr of Vit N150 2606 powder 43.5gr CFE 223 2493 powder

MUZZLE ENERGY FT/LBS. 2330 2597 2489 2485

Remington’s Match grade 168-grain, that printed tiny, 3-shot, near touching groups at 100 yards. At 300 yards, the M65A was still capable of 3”, which is pretty impressive for what is in reality an old timer and that’s with factory ammo!

GOOD FOR AN OLD TIMER! Run through QuickTarget ballistics program and zeroed at 100 yds, you have this trajectory out to 600 yds. You are -3.9” low at 200, -14.7” at 300, -33.4” at 400, -62.5” at 500yds and -103.4”at 600. Reload wise, 3-shots touching is hard to improve on, so it was really an exercise in cheapening the rounds for the same accuracy or for sporting use. Although the light Speer 110-grain bullets shot sub-0.5” groups, the Sierra 165-grain Game Kings clover-leafed groups with a load of 46-grains of Vit N 150 powder. Just for fun, as there is no sound moderator fitted, I also shot some sabotted rounds. I reload these with a 6-grain .30 cal sabot and a 55-grain, .224 centrefire bullet, over 47.5-grains of IMR 4198 producing 4123 fps and 3-shot groups of 1” at 100 yards. Scope wise I had to fit a contemporary model, so opted for the superb and equally rare Israeli Nimrod 6x40. These were used on the Israeli Galil ARM, 7.6 NATO semi auto sniper rifles and sported German optics with unusual sight adjustments calibrated specifically for the .308 Win M118 mil-spec round. That’s not the unusual part but what is,

Synthetic bush makes the bolt travel even smoother, check it’s not cracked on second hand rifles though!

BULLET TYPE

MUZZLE VELOCITY FPS

MUZZLE ENERGY FT/LBS.

T Mantel SST Ballistic Tip Match King BTHP Soft Point

2872 2994 2800 2631 2477

2748 2986 2612 2583 2453

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

Rem Premier Match at 100 yards, who needs to reload?

is the siting of the windage adjustment turret on the left of the scope, where illumination or parallax adjustments usually sit. In fact it’s a far better placement, as on a bipod you can adjust in the aim with minimal movement.

CONCLUSION Compared to the price of some new ‘tactical’ rifles on offer these days, the Tikka M65A seems a bit of a bargain for sub £1000, especially as it gains in value every year as a classic. It’s a lot more fun to shoot than the host of identical, modem, sniper-type guns and every bit as accurate if the previous owner has not mullered the barrel with bad, none existent or poor cleaning. But it has to be said that spares are nonexistent or at least hard to find although some common parts from Tikka M698 rifles can be made to fit. But don`t lose the magazine, as these are very hard to find especially the 10-shot version. Having said that, if you are after a .308 Win and just fancy something a bit different, then the Tikka M65A, despite its name, is very different indeed! Rifles are no longer in manufacture but are still around, so it’s probably best to search on dedicated firearms sites. Plus, and like any other rifle, you could get it re-barrelled in an identical build with the option of other 308 head-based calibres like 243, 7mm-08 or even 6.5 Creedmoor or 260 Rem.

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Sako Laminate Stainless 6.5x55 New ....................................£1495 Sako 75 Varmint .308 S/H ......................................................£1000 Sako 75 Hunter 22-250 S/H .....................................................£795 Blaser R8 Professional Success .308 New ............................£2950 Blaser R93 Black 6.5x55 S/H.................................................£1950 Sauer 202 Classic .243 S/H ...................................................£1195 Winchester Supergrade 30-06/12g S/H ..................................£895 Merkel Drilling 12g/7x57r S/H ................................................£1895 Tikka T3 Light .308 New ..........................................................£795 Tikka T3 Light .223 New ..........................................................£795 Tikka T3 Hunter 25-06 S/H Package .....................................£1395 CZ Brno 7x64 S/H Package.....................................................£695 Parker Hale 6mm Remington S/H ...........................................£345 Browning X-Bolt Stainless Stalker .308/.243/.223...................£895 Remington 700 Tactical .223 S/H ............................................£595 Weatherby Vanguard Sub MOA .308 New...............................£845 Steyr Mannlicher Pro Hunter .223 New ..................................£845 Ruger 10/22 Synthetic Stainless .22 New................................£395 Browning T-Bolt Varmint .22/.17HMR New .............................£495 Browning T-Bolt Composite .22/.17HMR New ........................£475 CZ 455 Varmint .22LR/.17HMR New Package.........................£625

101

FIREARMS | PRODUCT TEST BROWNING BIG GAME CLOTHING Prices: Parka XPO Pro

£295 Bib XPO Pro Green

£195

Fleece cap £26 Mittens £42

Mittens with a secret, note the interior full finger gloves that can be exposed by peeling back the mitt

Xtreme Performance Pete Moore reacquaints himself with some of the best commercial hunting clothing out there

CONTACT: BWM (Browning UK), 01235 514550 (for nearest dealer) [emailprotected]

www.browning.eu

PO stands for Xtended Performance Outwear and is one of Browning’s most successful clothing lines. I’ve been using their parka and pants for ages and am impressed by the ability to keep me warm and dry both inside and out! Adding to this is their latest Big Game parka and what they call bibs, which we know better as salopettes!

BUILT The parka is available in Mossy Oak’s blaze orange camo (MOBLZ) or green. The build is 100% Polyester with a PU membrane along with their Pre-Vent water/windproof breathable membrane and 3M Thinsulate insulation. This really does what it says on the tin! The build is conventional with a central opening closed by a double-ended zip and twin storm flaps with press studs. Stowage consist of two, massive, treble-entry box pockets up front, the main has a magnetic flap (better than Velcro) with a smaller one on top with pull-out

FOR Top quality and practical clothing range

Bibs detail, note the zip-off mid section

AGAINST A tad pricey

VERDICT XPO clothing just got better A serious investment in protection and comfort

102

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

Browning’s latest Big Game parka and bibs just got a whole lot better

ammo carriers and side slots. Above are two large Napoleon-types and two massive hand-warmers. In both cases these are closed with waterproof zips. At the rear is a double-entry game pocket with the same system. Inside is a fixed, fleece lining and a single, zipped breast pocket with a drawcord at the waist. The collar is a full, stand-up type with fleece lining. The zip-on hood is improved with a semi peak, twin drawcords to cinch it tight and press stud keepers for the side flaps that secure it around the lower face; it’s also fully fleece-lined. With non-slip shoulder pads for sling the only Velcro on the whole thing is the cuff adjusters.

BIB PANTS? The trousers are green and use the same build spec, with generous cargo pockets with magnetic flap on the left and a waterproof zip on the right, there’s two deep pockets up front too. The lower legs are zipped to allow

easy ON/OFF over boots. Closure is by zip and press stud and there are big belt loops with a gripping strip inside to stop your shirt coming out. The seat is black and waterproof. Around the top is a full-length zip, which the removable bib front and back is attached. For extreme weather this offers extra protection around the midriff and small of the back and is to be appreciated; especially when stand shooting! The sides are elasticated and integral braces are included, closure at the front is by Velcro; unlike saloppettes when you don’t need it, it is removable!

EXTRAS Browning also included a set of mittens, which can be un-zipped to reveal thin inner gloves. It keeps your pinkies warm, then peel back the outer mitt to shoot; clever! Adding to this was a fleece-lined baseball cap with pull down ear/neck protector in MOBLZ; another great winter warmer!

Wilson & Wilson (Fieldsports) Ltd. Telegraph Hill, Laundry Road, Minster, Ramsgate, Kent CT12 4HL

Tel: 01843 822242 Fax No: 01843 821162 Registered Firearms Dealer No. 276 Kent. Ring for current pricing Pro Melt 22lb Furness........................................................£458.00 Pro 2000 Progressive Press................................................£619.00 Pro 2000 Shell plate.............................................................£35.30 Rockchucker Supreme Kit.................................................£412.50 Piggy Back 3 Press Conversion.........................................£474.50 Rock Chucker Press...........................................................£187.00 Turret Press Reloading Kit ................................................£534.00 Tungsten Carbide Die Sets (Pistol)......................................£59.00 Standard Rifle Die Sets FL..................................................£39.55 Cowboy Action Dies ............................................................£64.00 Competition Dies ...............................................................£121.30 APS Bench Prime Tool ......................................................£116.60 APS Press Prime Tool..........................................................£74.50 APS Strip Loader.................................................................£35.60 Autoprime Tool ..................................................................£100.20 NEW Speer No 14 Reloading Manual ................................£31.95 Lyman 1200 Turbo Tumbler.................................................£56.99 Uniflow Powder Measure.....................................................£97.50 Powder Measure Stand.........................................................£30.75 Powder Trickler....................................................................£21.90 Uniflow Micrometer Ad Just Screw LG or SM...................£48.40 Uniflow Small Cylinder.......................................................£34.90 Lube Die ..............................................................................£36.90 Trim Pro Power Assembly 220V Kit .................................£367.60 Scales 5-0-2..........................................................................£83.60 Scales 5-0-5..........................................................................£62.79 Charge Master Combo.......................................................£447.95 RCPS Load CD..................................................................£102.25 Lock Out Die .......................................................................£54.00 Accessories Base Plate ........................................................£37.80 Primer Pocket Swager .........................................................£36.90 Case Master Measurement Tool.........................................£131.75 Trim Pro Case Trimmer Kit...............................................£119.90 Trim Pro ...............................................................................£97.50 Scale Check Weights Deluxe ...............................................£55.70 Primer Pocket Brush Combo ...............................................£17.25 Lubra Matic Sizing Press...................................................£193.70 Bullet Moulds Pistol/Rifle from ..........................................£80.40 Mould Handles.....................................................................£41.10 Deburing Tool ......................................................................£23.20 Unusual RCBS dies: ring for pricing and availability

PISTOLS .22 GSG 1911 LBP............................................................£450.00

RIFLES .17 HMR CZ 455 Thumbhole S/C.....................................£505.00 .17 HMR Browning T-bolt S/C Comp 16.5" .....................£480.00 .17 HMR Browning TBolt Comp S/C 22" ........................£445.00 .17 HMR Browning T-Bolt SS Tar/Var Lam stock ............£579.00 .22 WMR CZ 453 Premium S/C .......................................£670.00 .22 Browning Buckmark Sporter.......................................£540.00 .22 Browning T-Bolt Target 19" S/C..................................£539.00 .22 Ruger 10/22 Target ......................................................£636.00 .22 Ruger 10/22 Deluxe.....................................................£428.00 .22 Ruger 10/22 Standard ..................................................£357.00 .22 Henry Lever Action .....................................................£420.00 .22 Norinco Mini Mauser ..................................................£345.00 .22 Chiappa M1 Carbine S/A ............................................£360.00 .22/250 Tikka T3 Lite S/S S/C...........................................£919.00 .22/250 Browning Eclipse M100 Thumbhole stock S/C...£990.00 .22/250 Winchester 70 Stealth S/C....................................£878.00 .22/250 Winchester Mod70 Classic S/C..........................£555.00 .223 Browning XBolt Fluted S/C ......................................£938.00 .223 Browning ABolt BOSS..............................................£820.00 .223 Tikka T3 Super Varmint S/C...................................£1,125.00 .223 Browning A-bolt compo S/C .....................................£555.00 .243 Browning XBolt Fluted S/C ......................................£938.00 .243 Browning XBolt Hunter S/C L/H..............................£785.00 .243 Browning A-bolt compo S/C .....................................£555.00 .243 Winchester 70 Coyote Light S/C ...............................£778.00 .243 Winchester 70 Classic inc. scope & mounts S/C...£588.00 .243 Winchester 70 Stealth S/C .........................................£878.00 .243 WSSM Winchester 70 Featherlight S/C.................£524.00 .243 WSSM Browning A Bolt Medalian S/C .................£620.00 .243/6.5 x 55/.308 Browning SF Varmint GRS...................£1,346 6.5 x 55 Tikka T3 Syn S/S S/C..........................................£919.00 6.5 x 55 Mauser MO3 GD7 S/H inc mod ......................£3,999.00 .270 Browning XBolt S/S Fluted S/C................................£938.00 .38/357 Chiappa Underlever ..............................................£599.00 .38-55 Winchester 94 trails end takedown......................£1,050.00 .306 Browning XBolt S/S S/C...........................................£763.00 .308 Browning XBolt Hunter Montecarlo.........................£985.00 .308 Zoli Pro 1900 Custom M/B....................................£2,510.00 30-06 & .308 Browning Maral 5-pull.............................£1,960.00 .308 Browning GRS Varmint adg stock .........................£1,345.00 .308 Winchester SPR ......................................................£1,995.00 .308 Winchester M70 Stealth.............................................£943.00 .308 Browning Xbolt Stainless Stalker S/C.......................£763.00 .308 Browning TCT tactical fluted S/C.............................£985.00 375 H & H CZ550 deluxe................................................£1037.85 375 H & H Winchester Mod 70 Safari............................£1016.50

SAFARI SPECIAL

30-06 Chapuis double rifle inc 30mm rings ..............................................................£3600.00 30.06 Zoli O/U express double rifle...£4500.00 338WM Winchester Mod 70 Rifle, custom shop, one of 125 in the World .£3450.00 .416 Rigby BRNO 550......................£987.00 8x57 Browning 525 double rifle .....£2999.00 8x57 Browning CCS 25 double rifle with 30mm swing off mounts..................£9999.00 9.3x74R Merkel 161 EDA S/B/S ......£12,472.00 470 Capstick Winchester Model 70 Custom House 1 of 15 .......................................£3,999.00 NEW Merkel Safari Double Rifles 470 NE Ejector Merkel 160 AEDA...£17,999.00 470 NE Ejector Merkel 140 AEDA......£9999.00 416 Rigby Ejector Merkel 140 AEDA .£9999.00 375 H&H Ejector Merkel 140 AEDA..£9999.00 (All above with Apel swing-off 30ml ring mounts, and 1.25-4x24 Elite Illuminated scope)

.44 Rossi Underlever..........................................................£502.00 450 M Winchester Mod 94 M/B Take Down .................£1,186.00 38-55 Winchester Mod 94 M/B Take Down...................£1,050.00

SHOTGUNS 12g Chapuis S/B/S RPG Silver Action Multi Choke .....£2,500.00 12g Chapuis S/B/S RPG Case Hardened Action Multi Choke...£2,500.00 12g Chapuis S/B/S Artisan RD Multi Choke.................£5,739.00 12g Chapuis O/U Artisan RD Multi Choke ...................£5,456.00 12g Chapuis O/U C35 Multi Choke ...............................£2,300.00 12g Browning 725 Grade 5 30"......................................£4,071.00 12g 525 Browning Ultra XT Hi rib ................................£2,625.00 12g 725 Browning Hunter Inv........................................£1,875.00 12g 725 Browning Sporter Inv .......................................£1,948.00 12g B525 Hunter Prestige 28"........................................£3,630.00 12g Browning Maxus Synthetic 31/2" camo....................£1,135.00 12 gauge Browning 525 Premium Gold Inv....................£1711.45 12 gauge Miroku Mk70 Sport Inv ...................................£1292.25 12g Browning Maxus G3 Premium.................................£1363.00 12g Miroku MK70 Sporter INV......................................£1343.10 12g Miroku MK38 Sporter INV......................................£1343.10 12g Winchester Select Sporting.......................................£1146.00 12g Winchester Energy Sporting ADJ.............................£1422.00 12g Winchester SX3 8 Shot...............................................£972.00 12g Browning Ultra Prestige XS, adj cheek....................£3045.00 12g Browning Fusion Evolve INV ..................................£1110.00 12g Browning Heritage Sporter 28 & 30".......................£4999.00 12g Browning 1 million Sporter......................................£3999.00 12g Winchester Super x 3 31⁄2" camo .................................£969.00 12g Zoli Z Expedition.....................................................£4,275.00 12g Zoli Z Embassador EL.............................................£9,898.00 12g Browning Ultra 525 XSH ........................................£2,775.00 12g Browning 525 Prestige Grade 4...............................£3,862.00 12g Browning 525 Sporter L/H......................................£1,605.00 12g Miroku MK38 Grade 6............................................£3,149.00 12g Browning 725 Hunter GR-1 ....................................£2,041.00 20g Browning 525 Sporter Elite INV.............................£2,300.00 20g Browning 525 INV Prestige .....................................£3638.00 20g Browning Heritage...................................................£4,999.00 20g Bettinsoli Diamond Silver ..........................................£824.20 28g Miroku MK70 Inv 30".............................................£1,400.00 28g Browning 525 Hunter ..............................................£1,666.00 12g Hatsan Marine 28"......................................................£435.00 12g Hatsan Missione 28"...................................................£460.00 12g Hatsan PS....................................................................£325.00 20g Hatsan Muddy Girl .....................................................£366.00

NEW WINCHESTER BRASS CASES

per 100 .17 Rem (Remington) ..........................................................£46.20 .22 Hornet S&B ...................................................................£36.15 .22 .250 ................................................................................£56.25 .25 Auto primed S & B........................................................£19.00 25.06 Hornady .....................................................................£77.00 30 Carbine PMC ..................................................................£21.70 32 Auto.................................................................................£24.60 32 S&W ...............................................................................£26.45 32.20.....................................................................................£46.50 380 Auto...............................................................................£18.60 9mm Luger S&B..................................................................£15.85 10mm-..................................................................................£29.90 38 Special.............................................................................£18.50 .357 Magnum.......................................................................£24.95 .41 Remington Magnum ......................................................£42.50 .44 Special............................................................................£21.95 .44 Magnum.........................................................................£27.45 .44.40....................................................................................£38.30 .45 auto.................................................................................£29.15

RELOADERS SPECIAL PURCHASE .224 55 grain FMJ ..................................................£67.00 per 500 .308 147 FMJ..........................................................£77.80 per 500 8 ml 196 FMJ .......................................................£104.50 per 500 .308 180 FMJ..........................................................£98.70 per 500 .303 180g FMJ........................................................£90.00 per 500

BARNES SPECIAL .224 36+50g Varmint Grenade ...............................£12.50 per 100 .224 45g TSX..........................................................£28.80 per 100 .270 MRX...............................................................£60.00 per 100 6mm Varmint Grenade............................................£15.00 per 100 7mm TSX................................................................£37.00 per 100 7mm MRX..............................................................£62.00 per 100 PLEASE PHONE FOR OTHER CALIBRES

ACCURATE 500grms No.2......................................................................................£35.00 No.5......................................................................................£35.00 No.7......................................................................................£35.00 No.9......................................................................................£35.00 No. 1680...............................................................................£36.50 No. 2230...............................................................................£36.50 No. 2460...............................................................................£36.50 No. 3100...............................................................................£36.50 No. 4350...............................................................................£36.50 No. 2015...............................................................................£36.50 No. 2520...............................................................................£36.50 No. 5744...............................................................................£36.50 Solo 1000 .............................................................................£36.50 Alliant Pistol Powders ................................................£33.50 Alliant Blue Dot/Steel ................................................£35.00 Alliant 2400................................................................£36.50 Reloader 7, 15, 19 and 22, 25 ....................................£39.50

777 FFG ...............................................................................£41.00 777 FFFG ...................................................................£41.00 Pyrodex P ...............................................................£30.50 Pyrodex RS ..........................................................................£29.00 Pyrodex Select .....................................................................£35.10

Opening Hours: 9.30am-5.30pm Monday to Friday. Open Saturdays 9.30am-4.00pm www.wilsonandwilsonfieldsports.co.uk

168 IMR POWDERS EXAMPLES 4759......................................................................................£39.50 .3031.....................................................................................£41.00 4985......................................................................................£41.00 4831......................................................................................£41.00 4198......................................................................................£41.00 4227......................................................................................£41.00 4320......................................................................................£41.00 4064......................................................................................£41.00 4350......................................................................................£41.00 4828......................................................................................£41.00 4895......................................................................................£41.00 7828 Shortcut ......................................................................£41.00 Trail Boss .............................................................................£23.00

HOGDENS POWDERS EXAMPLES H380.....................................................................................£38.00 H4895...................................................................................£41.00 H4831 S/C............................................................................£39.50 H4350...................................................................................£41.00 H4198...................................................................................£41.00 H322.....................................................................................£41.00 H1000...................................................................................£41.00 Varget.............................................................................................£41.00 H414...............................................................................................£38.00 H335...............................................................................................£38.00 BLC2..............................................................................................£38.00 HP38...............................................................................................£33.50 HS6.................................................................................................£36.50 50BMG..........................................................................................£40.50 Hybrid 100V ..........................................................................£39.50 Titewad...........................................................................................£29.00 Retumbo.........................................................................................£41.00 Benchmark.....................................................................................£41.00 Titegroup........................................................................................£32.00 Superforance..................................................................................£39.50 Leverevolution ...............................................................................£39.50 CFE223 ..........................................................................................£38.00

AMMUNITION (RIFLE) IN STOCK .................................................................per 100 9.3 x 62 762 x 54 .220 Swift .223 Winchester .223 WSSM 22.250 Winchester 25.06 Winchester .270 Winchester 6.5 x 55 Swedish 300 Win Mag 30.30 Winchester .308 Winchester 8 x 57 JR (S&B) .375 H&H FMJ .375 H&H Fed 470 NE Federal

12 gauge Slug 9.3 x 72 .22 Hornet .223 Remington 32.20 Winchester .257 Roberts .270 Federal .300 Win Mag 300 Win Mag 30.06 Springfield .308 Winchester 8 x 57 JS (S&B) 375 Winchester .375 H&H PP .416 Rigby

9.3 x 74 .222 REM .243 Winchester .243 WSSM .270 Winchester 7x64 Breneck .300 WSM 300 H&H 303 British S&B 308 Gold Medal 8mm Mauser 8 x 57 JRS (S&B) .375 H&H Winchester .375 H&H 300g Nosler .458 Win Mag 5.56 Mag

PLEASE CALL FOR LATEST PRICES Errors & Omissions Excepted

BAUSCH & LOMB/ BUSHNELL ELITE 3200 (inc. Rainguard) 1.5 - 4.5 x 32 Firefly ..£324.00 3 - 9 x 50 Multi X........£304.25

ELITE 4200 (inc. Rainguard) 4 - 16 x 40 Multi X ....£516.00 6 - 24 x 40 Mildot ......£533.00 8 - 32 x 40 Mildot ......£565.00 1.25 - 4 x 24 illumin. 4A ....................................£468.00 ELITE 6500 4.5 - 30x50 MilDot ....................................£711.00 2.5 - 16 x 50 MilDot ..£775.00 2.5 - 16 x 42 MilDot ..£720.00 4.5 - 30 x 50 Mildot....£711.00 1-6.5 x 24 Illumin A4 ......£775

TACTICAL 3 - 12 x 44 illumin. BTR MIL ....................................£780.00 1 - 8.5 x 24 illumin. BT22 34mm tube ................£825.00 3.5 - 21 x 50 G2DMR 34mm tube ................£925.00 4.5 - 30 x 50 Mildot....£720.00

SS04.16/23/d

RCBS RELOADING EQUIPMENT EXAMPLES

.45 Long Colt Starline .........................................................£29.80 204 Ruger Winchester...................................................................£38.55 .220 Swift Remington..........................................................£61.00 .222 Rem..............................................................................£38.00 .223.......................................................................................£37.10 .223 WSSM..........................................................................£80.50 .243 WSSM..........................................................................£80.90 .243.......................................................................................£51.80 .243 S&B .............................................................................£41.70 .257 Roberts.........................................................................£55.50 6mm Rem.............................................................................£49.90 6.5 x 55 Winchester .............................................................£70.25 6.5x55 PMC.........................................................................£55.00 7.08.......................................................................................£65.00 7mm Mag.............................................................................£67.95 .270.......................................................................................£54.90 300 WSM.............................................................................£86.70 .303 British S&B .................................................................£38.90 30.06 Springfield .................................................................£55.25 762 x 39 S&B ......................................................................£36.90 8x57 JRS S&B.....................................................................£48.50 8x57 JS S&B........................................................................£45.00 300 Win Mag .......................................................................£87.70 300 H&H Norma ...............................................................£104.55 .308 Lapua ...........................................................................£50.20 338 Win Mag .......................................................................£84.65 .338 Lapua (Norma)...........................................................£170.00 30.30 Win.............................................................................£48.50 38.55 Win.............................................................................£61.00 348 Win................................................................................£97.35 358 Win................................................................................£76.20 9.3x64 RWS .......................................................................£107.20 9.3x72 R S&B....................................................................£116.20 9.3x74R..............................................................................£116.00 375 Win................................................................................£65.70 375 H&H ............................................................................£85.00 38.40.....................................................................................£45.00 45-120 Norma....................................................................£189.90 45.70 Govt ...........................................................................£83.25 .416 Rigby Norma Brass....................................................£247.70 .444 Hornady cases..............................................................£95.00 .458 Win Mag ......................................................................£88.30 .470 Nitro Express (Norma) ..............................................£372.90 762x54r ................................................................................£38.85 .450 Hornady cases..............................................................£99.90

WORKSHOP | CASE HISTORY

CASE HISTORIES: 7.62X25 TOKAREV

Bottle Necked

BABY! Wheelwrite takes a look at a pistol calibre that spans three incarnations

hilst the Americans claim this prolific inventor as their own, German born Hugo Borchardt was based in Berlin when he developed the grandparent cartridge we are looking at here. His was the 7.65x25 Borchardt, developed for use in his Model C-93 semi-auto pistol. Dimensionally identical but with more grunt the 7.63x25mm Mauser morphed out of this 1893 design. The third and final iteration is our topic for the month, the 7.62x25mm Tokarev. This multi-role, rimless, bottleneck pistol round was introduced to the Soviet military in 1930. Indeed, it was really nothing more than a stoked up version of the much older (1896) DWM Mauser design. The Russian connection went back to around the turn of the century as the Mauser cartridge had been widely used with imported models of their legendary C96 semi-auto pistol as the side-arm of choice for officers in the Imperial Russian Army. By the 1910’s the

The Russi

an Rocke

t -7.62x25

Russians were producing their own ammo under licence.

USSR GOES DIY With technical advances in propellants, ballistics and firearms engineering it was inevitable that these Mauser products would be replaced. Furthermore, the post revolutionary USSR was on a dedicated course of self-sufficiency. The need to provide ammunition for new semi-automatic and sub-machine guns led to a proposal in 1929 to develop the Mauser cartridge. It resulted in the Model 1930 7.62mm Pistol Cartridge, aka 7.62x25 Tokarev. Its military nature was immediately evident with the first version based upon a Berdan primed, lacquered steel case fitted with an 87-grain FMJ bullet that achieved around 1400 fps. The first pistol developed for this ‘new’ cartridge was the TT-30. However, as its nomenclature implies, it was soon replaced by the remarkable TT-33. I bought my first one in the early 1980’s and while visually comparable to the Browning Hi-Power, it owed more to the functionality of his other masterpiece, the Colt 1911.

BANG GOES MY C96 Typically producing 20% more grunt than its parent, the Tokarev is physically interchangeable with the Mauser; indeed, during WWII the German forces used captured TT-33’s with their own ammo. However, the reverse process - using Russian ammo in the C96 – proved a potential recipe for destructive disaster. From the original cartridge, a raft of military and commercial designs evolved. Subsonic, incendiary, armour piercing and tracer variants now

Tokarev

exist. Some are not as they appear, with copper-washed steel projectiles easily confused with traditional lead cored round nosed FMJ’s. Most now employ Boxer primers and use a range of bullets from 85 to 115-grains. Shootable ammo currently includes Privi Partizan, Sellier & Bellot, Winchester, ‘Red Army’ surplus, Wolf, Fiocchi and Romanian ‘spam can’ surplus.

HOME BREW AND SECTION 7 If once fired brass from any of the listed ammo makers does not float your boat, then un-primed Starline brass is currently listed. Mixing and matching brass is never a good idea but with Tokarev cases the capacity from one maker to another varies to a point of potential danger. For data and tools, Lee are the best bet, although RCBS also list a die set. Fast powders are the order of the day, Hi-Skor 700X was my favourite but Bullseye is also ideally suited. RN FMJ pills are best but hard cast lead will get the job done. So, what to shoot? Both the TT-30 and TT-33 pistols are of significance but holding and using them under Section 7(3) for Historical Importance or Technical Interest may be the only way forward. Do not despair, you can shoot the Tokarev in your bolt action rifle – well, some of them. For less than $25 each, chamber inserts are available for use in most rifles chambered for 7.62x54R and .303 British. As the inserts are a pressure bearing calibre change they will need a variation or grant.

N EXT MONTH 224 BOZ

104

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

19 6 7SPUD RELOADING SUPPLIES LTD

Shooting & Reloading Supplies 1000’s of products in stock! March Gen II Custom Scope Rings £147.50

Redding Big Boss 2 Press £195.00

Redding Versa Pak Pro Reloading Kit £530.00

Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph £110.00

Insize Digital Thickness Gauge £67.50

Sinclair Benchrest Forend Rail Adapter £42.00

Forster Coax Priming Tool £79.00

Extreme Rebel 17 Wet Tumbler 220 Volt Kit £298.99

Lyman Case/Media Separator £38.00

Le Chameau Vierzonord £135.00

L E Wilson Stainless Neck Sizing Dies - £78.00

L E Wilson Seating Dies £53.00

March 8-80 x 56 MOA Scope £2,553.00 – £3,037.44

Redding XT Trimmer Lathe £98.00

SCHMIDT AND BENDER 8 X56 30MM TUBE A7 £395.00

K&M Neck Turners £78.00

AIM Range Mat £82.35

SPECIAL OFFER Schmidt & Bender

Guardian Canterbury Luxian Shotgun Slip £85.00

Lyman Ultimate Case Prep Kit £120.00

Tipton 1 Piece Deluxe Carbon Fiber Cleaning Rod £44.00–£55.00

MTM Gun Vice £43.00

JB Bore Cleaning Compound £10.50

Lyman Borecam Digital Borescope £265.00

NEW – Bushing Type Full Length Sizing Die £90.00

Peli Gun Cases – 1700 Range 20% OFF RRP

Protektor Deluxe Bumble Bee W/Handle (1/2" Gap) £87.00

Ballistic Performance of Rifle Bullets Edition by Brian Litz £45.00

Zirkon Sand £4.25 per kilo

A3 Weather Writer £57.00

Krazy Kloth £5.50

Bore-tips x6 £5.25

Hornady Amax Bullets £28.00–£100.00

K&M Priming Tool w/o Gauge £55.00

K&M Arbor Press £108.50

Coax Press £320.00

Ridgeline Norwester Shooters Fleece Olive £42.99

Ridgeline Roar Pant Olive £99.99

GRS Stocks – Berserk £340.00

GRS Stocks – Bolthorn £1,250.00

Farley Coaxial II F-Class Front Rest with Magnum Base) £1,325.00

Tel: 01263 732740 Mob: 07879 468878 www.1967spud.com E-mail: [emailprotected] Trade accounts welcome

SS04.16/35/p

*Prices subject to change at any time

RELOADING

SHOW ME YOURS! Wheelwrite considers reliable loading data and where to get it!

usually specify details of the test receiver. Hodgdon/IMR generously limit their details to just the length of the barrel – presumably a test receiver! Only Hodgdon/IMR and Lee quote pressures for all or most of their data, whilst Lyman pressure data is patchy.

here can be few of us who do not own at least one loading manual or use at least one source online. Most of us probably access many more than that, but how do we know if it is accurate or best suited to our needs? Let me be clear, I’m not for one moment suggesting that any of the information is intentionally wrong, misleading or dangerous; just that from one source to another it can vary to a surprising degree. So saying, internet data from forums and unknown scribes should be treated with caution. The safest bet is to always corroborate this with that from a second independent source.

COMPRESSED CRITERIA

SAMPLE CALIBRES To illustrate the differences and similarities between manuals, we’ll take a look at the way they treat the same sample calibres in half a dozen different publications. To cover the spectrum, I’ve used 308 Win, 223 Rem and 22 Hornet. Rationalising the data has required a degree of compromise, as not all of the selected propellants and projectiles are covered by all the manuals, but enough information remains to make the results valid. As a reference point we need to factor in the quoted pressures, where specified, and compare them with SAAMI/CIP figures. The max load data is drawn from Speer, Sierra, Lyman, Nosler, Lee and Hodgdon/ IMR. The bullets and propellants have been selected to give the most representative spread of weights, velocity, propellant brand and relative burning rate.

Reloading data, times change and so does the information and components supplied!

is IMR4166, one of three propellants in their new Enduron range already in a store near you. The others being IMR 4451 and IMR 7977. All are small kernel extruded designs that include the copper fouling eliminator (CFE) first seen in their CFE223. The manuals quote details of the barrel employed, whether a rifle or a test receiver and the length, although some are less specific. Sierra, Speer, and Hornady actually name the make and model of the rifle for many of their data, whilst Lyman and Nosler

LEARNING ON THE MOVE Whilst extracting this data, a number of anomalies and interesting coincidences appeared. The Lee manual seems to lift a lot, if not all of its information from the publications of the major powder and bullet brands, and why not? Harder to understand was the fact that the brand new Hodgdon/ IMR 2016 Annual Manual still quotes data for their dropped Hodgdon H4227, as well as for their extant IMR 4227. More current is the presence in the same document for their disappearing Varget. Its replacement, built from technically more advanced ingredients

106

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

Do you dribble or drop it really makes a difference?

Most indicate whether a load is compressed, whilst Nosler go a stage further, usefully quoting the load density. Lyman seem to have a slight aversion to ATK/Alliant – amongst the popular rifle cartridges the data for their range of powders is surprisingly limited. As a caveat, they do quote more expansively for Alliant pistol and fast rifle products. The make of brass employed is also important, since there are notable variations in capacity between the brands. As a rule of thumb I assume that, amongst the popular commercial makers, Winchester will have the greatest capacity, with Norma often at the other end of the spectrum. With the older brass, originally designed for use with black powder, variations in capacity are not much of an issue. However, some modern iterations, especially those that have evolved from modern wildcats and with loading densities approaching or exceeding 100%, capacity is very much an issue – as it can impact upon pressure.

ARE YOU LEGAL? Checking my records, I could only find a couple of my loads that actually came close to matching the published figures from any of the manuals. I generally avoid max loads unless the work is experimental, so some interpolation was necessary. A few were faster, but on average my recorded velocities were as much as 8% less. This then illustrates an important issue, compliance with the Law! Simply assembling a recipe quoted in a manual for use on game could leave you with egg on your face; if the actual velocity of your load is below that quoted you may not be achieving the legal minimum energy. The same consideration must be applied to factory ammo – if the quoted velocity on the box is only marginally higher than the legal minimum for the given bullet weight, a chrono test using your rifle is

essential. For a fragile old fart like me the risk is real, as I always endeavour to produce the most accurate load with the least recoil, thereby saving my shoulder, my rifles and my wallet.

22 HORNET SAAMI MAP FOR VARIOUS BULLET WEIGHTS 22 Hornet 22 Hornet

45 46

2655 2655

430 430

441 441

457 457

223 SAAMI MAP FOR VARIOUS BULLET WEIGHTS PRESSURE LIMITS (PSI/100)*

VALUABLE CONCLUSIONS SAAMI do not publish MAP (Maximum Average Pressure) for every bullet weight in every calibre, so it is not always possible to make a meaningful comparison with the data in the manuals. With the .22 Hornet SAAMI quote a CUP of 43,000 for the 45-grain bullet. Hodgdon/IMR get bang on that limit with their 2503 fps, 10.4-grains of H110 in a Winchester case. Transfer that load to a thicker walled, lower capacity brand and you’ll possibly be over the top. If the load is quoted as a compressed charge, remember to use a funnel with a drop tube or you may have trouble seating the bullet to the desired depth. Do not assume that Hodgdon and IMR powders with the same number have the same performance. Take another look at our .22 Hornet, 45-grain example. Their new manual quotes a MAX compressed charge of 10.5-grains of IMR 4198, giving 2010 fps and a pressure of 20,100 CUP, whilst 11.5-grains of Hodgdon H4198 is a MAX compressed charge giving 2400 fps and a pressure of 32,000 CUP. The IMR is obviously a much bulkier powder and, by interpolation, slightly less potent. Remember that primer performance can influence the quality of deflagration and therefore the resulting pressure and velocity.

MAKING SENSE Making sense of claimed velocity for a given recipe can be aided by taking the barrel

CARTRIDGE 222 Rem 222 Rem 223 Rem 223 Rem 223 Rem

BULLET WT. GRS. 50-52 55 53 55 60

VELOCITY IN FT/S MEAN INSTR. @15’ (±90) 3110 3000 3305 3215 3200

MAXIMUM AVERAGE PRESSURE (MAP) 500 500 550 550 550

MAXIMUM PROBABLE LOT MEAN (MPLM) 513 513 564 564 564

308 SAAMI MAP FOR VARIOUS BULLET WEIGHTS SECTION I - CHARACTERISTICS DATACENTERFIRE RIFLE VELOCITY AND PRESSURE DATA - CENTERFIRE RIFLE CARTRIDGES PRESSURE LIMITS (PSI/100) *

CARTRIDGE 308 Win 308 Win 308 Win 308 Win 308 Win

BULLET WT. GRS. 55 (Saboted) 110 125 150 165-168

VELOCITY IN FT/S MEAN INSTR. @15’ (±90) 3750 3150 3030 2800 2670

MAXIMUM AVERAGE PRESSURE (MAP) 520 620 620 620 620

VELOCITY CHANGE WITH BARREL LENGTH CENTERFIRE RIFLE VELOCITY VS. BARREL LENGTH MUZZLE VELOCITY RANGE OF BARREL LENGTH TO WHICH RANGE FT/S DATA APPLIES (INCHES) Up to 2000 20-26 2001-2500 20-26 2501-3000 20-26 3001-3500 20-26 3501-4000 20-26

length into account. Whilst the relationship between the propellant burn rate, bullet weight, forcement pressure and barrel length will create subtle variables in a specific rifle, SAAMI produce a ballpark guide for easy calculation. A copy is

MAXIMUM PROBABLE SAMPLE MEAN (MPSM) 532 532 585 585 585

VELOCITY & PRESSURE TRANSDUCER

MAXIMUM PROBABLE LOT MEAN (MPLM) 533 636 636 636 636

MAXIMUM PROBABLE SAMPLE MEAN (MPSM) 553 660 660 660 660

APPROXIMATE CHANGE IN VELOCITY FOR EACH 1 INCH CHANGE IN BARREL LENGTH FT/S 5 10 20 30 40

pictured. The conclusion; never use a single source of date, especially if you are loading a calibre for the first time or are working at the upper limits of pressure. Make comparisons and do the maths.

SPREADSHEET OF MAX LOAD AND VELOCITY DATA FOR THE THREE CALIBRES CALIBRE

.308 Winchester

BULLET

POWDER SPEER LOAD VEL fps 46.0 2916

SIERRA LOAD VEL fps 46.2 3000

46.0 50.0

2922 3062

46.5 47.5

3100 3000

IMR 4350 Hodgdon Viht N140 Reloader 15 45gn Spitzer SP IMR Hodgdon H4895 Viht N13 Reloader 7

49.0 H4350 46.0 47.0 4895

2571

48.9

2750

24.5 20.0

3263 3059

69/70gnSpitzer IMR 4895 Hodgdon H4895 Viht N135 Hodgdon H335 40gn Spire IMR 4198 Hodgdon Viht N110

24.5

2826

125on Spitzer

IMR 4895 Hodgdon H4895 Viht N135 Reloader 15

165gn Spitzer

.223 Remington

.22 Hornet

45gn Spitzer SP IMR 4227 Hodgdon H4227 Viht N110 50gn Spitzer SP Hodgdon H110 Viht N120

22.5 24.5 11.0 H4198 8.5

2744 2812 27.0

2661 2812 2368 2457

43.1 3404 27.2 26.1 24.2

3500 3600 3600

25.5

3100

25.7

3000

POWDER CHARGE & QUOTED VELOCITY LYMAN NOSLER LEE LOAD VEL fps LOAD VEL fps LOAD VEL fps 47.0 3003 45.5 3010 49.0 3127 46.5 3088 47.2 3048

50.0

2666

43.5

2638

28.1

3420

2700

25.0

25.5

50.0 44.5 44.0

2792 2695 2820

2994

2490 2667 2780

27.5 27.0 21.8

3454 3563 3375

25.0

2997

23.5

2867

11.5 9.5

2488 2585

9.8 8.8

2484 2371

10.0 10.7

2422 2237

2355

9.2

2627

10.0

2660

11.5

2652

11.5

2650

8.5

2422

8.8

2472

9.5

2418

9.5

2549

Extreme %

6.00 47.0 44.9 45.5

2896

11.5

HODGDON/IMR LOAD VEL fps 51 .8 3185 49.0 3127

7.00 27.5

3454

24.5 25.0

2917 2997

11.5

2488

9.8

2484 5.80

10.0

2422

5.00 E&OE

107

WORKSHOP | WILDCATTING Bruce Potts considers an early wildcat that has become a factory staple for many varmint hunters

Legs

Stretching your E

ither a 222 or 223 Remington for vermin or fox needs at mid ranges is more than sufficient, but sometimes a cartridge with a little longer legs in the velocity department is helpful. The 22-250 Remington in my view is certainly the best of the 22 centrefires in terms of versatility and out right ballistics. True, the .220 Swift is regarded as the king as far as velocity goes but the 22-250 can be loaded to be as good if not better velocity wise and is certainly more flexible when it comes to reloading. It’s certainly the choice of those wanting blistering velocity combined with good accuracy and very humane ‘on target’ performance at extreme range.

3750 fps. Despite a good following amongst many enlightened shooters, it was not until 1965 when Remington, who knew a good thing when they saw it, actually legitimised the wildcat in to a factory round. As expected, when any wildcat is officially adopted, its popularity soars. Factory ammunition and cheap brass for reloading allowed shooters to exploit the advantages of the 22-250 over the 222 Remington in terms of velocity which were obvious! At least a 475-650 fps advantage was evident from

good handloads and although more powder was burnt, less efficiently than the smaller cases, accuracy was still excellent. As with all things, even the 22-250 gets wildcatted into the AK Improved version for more horsepower, necked up .30 cal or down to .20 cal. Best of all is changing from the slower twist factory normal rifling twist of 1 in 14” for lighter bullet weights and going for a fast twist 1 in 8 for heavy streamline little torpedoes, that really gets the job done on crows at extreme ranges.

L to R: 222 Rem, 223 Rem, 22 Satan, 22-250, 220 Swift and 22-284

PERFORMANCE

HISTORY As so often in shooting histories, the 22-250 started life as a wildcat deriving its origins back as far as 1915. The parent calibre was the mild 250 Savage designed for deer use, but after much modification it evolved into a necked down version to 22 calibre and was capable of pushing a 50-grain bullet at over

108

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

Coupled with a high magnification, quality scope and handloads, the 22-250 can take corvids and foxes at 400 yds with authority. As with most benefits, there are pitfalls also, obviously more powder is necessary to achieve these inflated ballistics and that in turn brings problems in the form of more recoil, throat erosion, noise, increased bore wear and muzzle flash/jump. Even in a heavy barrelled rifle, unless it is fitted with a sound

WILDCATTING | WORKSHOP RELOADS ■ Lightweights MANUFACTURER Hornady NTX Fully silenced MAE .22-250 varminter is deadly at any range

BULLET WEIGHT 35gr

Barnes Varmint Grenades Hornady V-Max

36gr

Nosler Ballistic Tip

50gr

Berger FB Varmint

50gr

Speer Hollow Point

52gr

40gr

■ Heavier MANUFACTURER BULLET WEIGHT Hornady V-Max or SP 55gr

Get the load right and the .22-250 really sings down range, 40-grain V-MAX at over 4000 fps, yahoo!

Sierra Game King

55gr

Nosler Partition

60gr

A-Max

75gr Not stable

RELOAD DATA 38.0 grains of RL15 powder 39.0 gr 38.0 grains of IMR 3031 powder 36.0 grains of RL15 37.0gr 36.0gr of Vit N140 powder 36.5gr 35.0gr of IMR 4064 powder 36.0gr 36.5gr of Varget 37.0gr 35.5 gr of Alliant RL15 36.0gr 37.0gr RELOAD DATA 36.0gr of IMR 4007 SSC 37.0gr 37.5gr 34.0gr of Varget powder 35.0gr 36.0gr of Vit N150 powder 36.5gr 38.0 grains of H414 powder 38.5 gr 34.0gr of Hybrid 100V

Bullets from 35 to 90-grains with the correct barrel are possible with the 22-250, vermin, fox or deer are all in its sights where legal

MUZZLE VELOCITY FPS 4206

MUZZLE ENERGY FT/LBS. 1375

4318 4388

1449 1496

3992 4102 3730 3775 3649 3748 3742 3791 3654 3705 3806

1415 1494 1545 1582 1478 1560 1555 1596 1483 1524 1608

MUZZLE VELOCITY FPS 3417 3516 3566 3581 3677 3510 3558 3492 3541 3114

MUZZLE ENERGY FT/LBS. 1426 1510 1553 1566 1651 1505 1546 1625 1671 1615

Hornady NTX 30-grain bullets are better than the Barnes Varmint Grenades, which I have never really got to shoot well! However the NTX, with their non-toxic credentials, achieve good velocities with matching accuracy. A maximum load of 39-grains of Alliant RL15 achieves 4318 fps/1449 ft/lbs and 0.75” groups at 100 yards. This light bullets shoots flat as a pancake and shows excellent terminal effect! There are disadvantages too, as, being small, it loses energy quicker than heavier weights and is more susceptible to wind deflection but at realistic ranges it can be compensated for with practice.

40-GRAIN RANGE

as you can load it from reduced velocity, through to 222 Rem levels and right up to Swift-type performance and retaining accuracy along the way!

WHICH LOADS? Starting with the non-lead bullet, these are real screamers ballistically, but care must be taken in using lighter weights, as they can come apart as the centrifugal force of the rifling imparts its spin. That’s why a 1 in 14” twist is mild and allows good velocity with less pressure and torque on the projectile!

moderator or muzzle brake, the target will disappear from view under recoil. So calling your shots is not as easy. Despite these detractions, the 22-250 certainly remains popular amongst vermin shooters in this country and with the correct bullets makes a good Roe rifle in Scotland and small species deer gun in England, so double duty. Its ability to reach way out there and connect with small targets at extreme range is very challenging and the authority at which those 40 and 50-grain bullets expand on crows is also reassuring. I like its versatility;

The best light bullets have to be in the 40-grain range; here good velocities coupled to flat trajectories are dynamite on distant crows. Best all-rounder here has to be the Hornady V-MAX, with a max load of 37-grains of RL15 will achieve 4102 fps/1494 ft/lbs from a 24” barrel. The 50 and 52-grain range are the ideal fox weight, that make excellent longer-range loads too, as well as being more than capable for Roe in Scotland or small species Muntjac or Chinese Water deer in England. Nosler Ballistic Tip 50s, as well as Berger Flat Base varmint bullets, shot sub 0.5” groups. The Noslers liked the Vit N140 for 3775 fps, whereas the Berger`s preferred IMR 4064 for 3748 fps. Personally, for deer with a small .22 centrefire, I prefer 55 or 60 grain Noslers. Sierra`s 55-grain Game Kings in this rifle liked 35-grains of Varget for 3677 fps/1651

109

WORKSHOP | WILDCATTING s The 22-250 is a flexible round to load for reduced loads, all the way up to fast steppers and heavies with the right twist rate

Factory or reload, the .22-250 cartridge although a bit old fashioned these days still has a lot to offer!

ft/lbs and this weight gives predictable accuracy, good wind bucking properties combined with reliable performance on varmints, foxes or deer are legal. As with all bullet choice, be sure to match the type i.e. thick, thin jacket, hollow or soft point, to the game you are after, as heavier types will not expand predictably on small varmints such as crows or rabbits.

GETTING HEAVY Of course, there are heavier bullets available; 60, 70, 80 or even 90-grains. Trouble is the slow 1 in 14 twist will not stabilise these types, which is where a custom 22-250 or AK version with a fast 1 in 8” twist makes sense. I tried some 75-grain A-MAX that work well in my .22 Satan round, but although velocity was fine at 3114 fps/1615 ft/lbs energy accuracy was poor! The Sako I used really liked Nosler 60-grainers, a load of 38-grains of Hodgdon

H414 achieved 3492 fps/1625 ft/lbs energy and 0.5” groups. With all 22-250 loads, seating depth is crucial, which can make a big difference in pressures, as you are burning a lot of powder down a small hole! So take care at seating depth and how far off the lands you place your bullets, as other rifles in the same cartridge may exhibit higher pressures. You also do not have to run your 22-250 at full throttle either and so reduced loads become appealing for some quiet closer range vermin work, further enhancing its versatility. A load of 18-grains of H 4198 with a 50-grain Sierra Blitz King gives a healthy 2404 fps/640 ft/lbs, 20-grains ups the velocity to 2625 fps/765 ft/lbs, great for around the farms and sound moderator use.

FACTORY FIRST!

The 22-250 responded well to lead-free ammo, at the end of the test I tried some new Nosler 40-grain; the hoody tells the tale

110

Do not think that you have to reload to achieve these ballistics, commercial manufacturers offer the shooter a comprehensive range of loads, which span all the available bullets weights. Factory ammunition these days is very good! Running data through QuickTarget achieved an accurate down range ballistic chart for bullet drop compensation and wind drift. The 22-250 certainly has the advantage

SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

compared to a 223 for longer range use with lighter bullets. A 50-grainer travelling at 3785 fps zeroed at 100 yards is 1.2” low at 200, 6.4” at 300 and 38” at 500. A 223 with the same weight bullet is 2.3” low at 200 and 53.4” at 500 yds!

CONCLUSIONS The .22-250, despite its age, continues to offer excellent performance and inherent accuracy to today’s shooters. It is a very versatile and flexible cartridge, offering a range of bullet weights and velocity spectrums and with a good range of factory ammunition and reloading components will be around for many years to come. Many shooters will be happy with the smaller .222 or .223 Rem and that’s fine, whilst others just can’t resist the .22-250’s longer range credentials or even the weird .22-284 barrel burners or newer and very efficient .20 calibre vermin rounds.

CONTACTS Norman Clarks, reloading supplies Edgar Brothers Hornady, Powders Henry Krank, Sierra bullets JMS Arms, Quickload/Quicktarget www.quickload.co.uk

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ZEISS SPORTS OPTICS

SS04.16/2/d

SS04.16/3/d