The "Perfect" Lightweight Stalking Rifle

[topscots1]

I heard from an old boy that made a career of shooting at similar organic targets then training others to do it that more often than not the shots are walked in, is that the case? If so that wouldn’t work with deer.
But agree 400 yards isn’t that far!

It would depend on the guy behind the rifle, and the conditions that the individual and rifle had been exposed to. From a nice comfortable position with a recently check zeroed rifle first round hits would be expected. From a drainage ditch, with mountain on your back and blowing out your axxe then people are human, misses happen. The amount of idiots volunteering and there abilities also have an effect, the wiser ones stayed far out. The idiots got closer. Some remarkable shots have been made both at distance and against multiple or moving targets, sometimes both.

And I agree attempting to walk shots In on Deer is not bright, to be fair most deer are smarter than most people.

 

[25 Sharps]

It would depend on the guy behind the rifle, and the conditions that the individual and rifle had been exposed to. From a nice comfortable position with a recently check zeroed rifle first round hits would be expected. From a drainage ditch, with mountain on your back and blowing out your axxe then people are human, misses happen. The amount of idiots volunteering and there abilities also have an effect, the wiser ones stayed far out. The idiots got closer. Some remarkable shots have been made both at distance and against multiple or moving targets, sometimes both.

And I agree attempting to walk shots In on Deer is not bright, to be fair most deer are smarter than most people.

He was talking longer shots 800 yards plus, basically it’s not like it is in the films, 1 shot head shots all the time. Said it was best to wait until the target was talking to their mate and distracted.

Deer don’t chat I guess!

 

[topscots1]

He was talking longer shots 800 yards plus, basically it’s not like it is in the films, 1 shot head shots all the time. Said it was best to wait until the target was talking to their mate and distracted.

Deer don’t chat I guess!

Longer shots of 800 metres plus are achievable, with the current kit actually fairly easy, precorded data on the side of your stock or memorised, dial the correct clicks from a range confirmed with a rangefinder, read wind with the kestrel, estimate wind at target and on the way, ideally having checked that rifles zero and collected data in the correct environment. The shooting is not the difficult part. It is what goes on around the shooting, most people can be taught to shoot long range. Headshots are not the norm, in fact a rarity unless that is the part of the body visible, a lot of the times people are aiming through the hole in a wall that the rifle is firing through. Remember in modern times there has to be a reason to shoot, chatting to someone isn't a reason, people are only shot at that are shooting at you generally.

 

[Deermanagement]

Oh dear me after reading this thread from page one today and looking at the photos I have to say that " for all of these wonderful rifles it was extremely hard to find(see) any evidence of them being carried much at all"

Equipment can be used but looked after....... sold a .243 last year that I used for nearly 20 years. After several hundred deer, it still looked very good. The end of the barrel was a bit polished from taking it in and out of the rifle case, likewise the Swaro 8x50 Habicht.

A shabby rifle does not prove how often it's been used, just how shabbily it's been treated

 

[John Gryphon]

A shabby rifle does not prove how often it's been used, just how shabbily it's been treated

Not quite so,when the blueing has worn off with stalking/handling/carrying for years it has nothing to do with mistreating. WINK WINK!

 

[finnbear270]

I have a stalking / hunting friend whose first act with a new or other rifle that comes to him, is to remove the wood & fit a composite/plastic stock, ... on sale or gift, the timber is put back, so , knocks & dings can be no indicator at all.

 

[John Gryphon]

that comes to him, is to remove the wood & fit a composite/plastic stock, ... on sale or gift, the timber is put back, so , knocks & dings can be no indicator at all.

Thats quite common too, i hear the words now " just look at the wood,there isnt a mark on the rifle,i`ve only had it out a few times"

 

[willyroe]

For reds I use a Tikka T3 Hunter in .30-06 with an ASE sl5 mod. Very light but a heavy kick.

 

[awmc]

I was just thinking similar, some very pretty rifles with zero marks from regular use?!

Hey Walt and Blue, give us a chance
Only got the rifle in June
Guess I need to talk more about walking shots into organic targets at 800 metres, say crude stuff about the wife and smack the rifle up. Or the other way round

 

[awmc]

Hey Walt and Blue, give us a chance
Only got the rifle in June
Guess I need to talk more about walking shots into organic targets at 800 metres, say crude stuff about the wife and smack the rifle up. Or the other way round

No photo of the rifle this time because I’d set it up as a belay for the capstan winch to give it a few dings

 

[.308 bloke]

Not my point at all, my point is this was supposed to be a stalking rifle, a 400 yard shot is not stalking its long range sniping at live animals.

Neil.

'stalking', 'sniping' and 'long range' are all relative terms. If you specifically enjoy getting close then more power to you.
However, if 400 is simply beyond your ability then don't attempt it. But don't lecture those of us who can actually shoot and are capable of it.

 

[tarponhead]

I love the look of the K95, but £4-8K! How about a lever action in .30-30, .357 or .44 mag, for the same lightweight and pointable handling?

Anyone try the Bergara Apex? I'm thinking about a lightweight woodland stalker in an appropriate calibre but with a max 20" barrel - my Bergara B14 in 6.5 swede is great but too long at 24" plus Mod. What would 20" in 6.5 do to performance? Not keen on .308.

 

[deeangeo]

I love the look of the K95, but £4-8K! Absolutely worth every penny... How about a lever action in .30-30, .357 or .44 mag, for the same lightweight and pointable handling?

Anyone try the Bergara Apex? I'm thinking about a lightweight woodland stalker in an appropriate calibre but with a max 20" barrel - my Bergara B14 in 6.5 swede is great but too long at 24" plus Mod. What would 20" in 6.5 do to performance? Not keen on .308.

 

[tikka_madras]

Thats quite common too, i hear the words now " just look at the wood,there isnt a mark on the rifle,i`ve only had it out a few times"

“And by the way, I’ve got a very battered old plastic stock which might just fit it if you want it as a backup”

 

[Hornet 6]

However, if 400 is simply beyond your ability then don't attempt it. But don't lecture those of us who can actually shoot and are capable of it.

Its not beyond me at all, and is fine for paper or steel targets if that floats your boat.
But a 400 yard shot at deer is not stalking, in my book, or in many others books.

Neil.

 

[Smellydog]

Used 30/30 leverguns for years. Great for woodlands.

The Winchester 94 comes up like a shotgun.

 

[.308 bloke]

Its not beyond me at all, and is fine for paper or steel targets if that floats your boat.
But a 400 yard shot at deer is not stalking, in my book, or in many others books.

Neil.

If it's genuinely within your ability then it's perfectly ethical and of course it's deer stalking.
If you don't like it, or just can't do it, don't give others a hard time about it.

 

[Deermanagement]

You don’t very often find bench conditions in the field so that limits my comfortable range....and it has to be comfortable.

The next issue for me, even if I am comfortable and I know where the bullet Is going, is do I know where the target will be when the bullet gets there? There are a number of delays before impact, trigger control and its timing following your decision to shoot are a couple, distance is another. Let’s say the average bullet takes just over half a second to cover 400 yds on top of the initial delays.
Unless there’s no option, for me it’s straight forward.

 

[Muir]

'stalking', 'sniping' and 'long range' are all relative terms. If you specifically enjoy getting close then more power to you.
However, if 400 is simply beyond your ability then don't attempt it. But don't lecture those of us who can actually shoot and are capable of it.

I was talking hunting with a guy at work this past month and he boasted that he regularly shoots deer at 300 plus. I told him that the farthest I've shot a deer in years was about 225 yards. I told him of a hunt i was on several years ago when I spotted a herd of mule deer feeding in a snow storm about 400 yards off. I spent an hour getting to within 100 yard of them even though I had a rifle with enough horsepower to shoot one as they stood. When he asked why I bothered, I told him because I could.~Muir

 

[John Gryphon]

When he asked why I bothered, I told him because I could.~Muir

He didn't know the definition of stalking then it seems.