Hello, Novice here. All advice welcome

[big bang]

Wish I’d timed this to chip in with VSS. 270 is of course Thor’s choice. But you wouldn’t go wrong even with a 243. Easy to shoot, fallow no worries at all, plenty of lead free that works fine whatever people say. Pretty much the same applies to 6.5cm, etc etc. get a calibre you like the sound of down on your application and get on with shooting.

I can only think of one person who has never changed and will never change their first rifle (my brother) but you’ll probably end up with a spare or something that has some features you hadn’t though of, so don’t get too stressed choosing a rifle as long as the idea of it makes you smile. They all more or less work!!

My final bit of advice, which i rarely take myself, is don’t use the time not shooting to over complicate your plan to harvest deer. Once you’ve got a rifle and it shoots fine, get about and shoot it.

Fully planning to get out there as soon as I can, and as much as I can. I like the idea of minimalist kit. Do most people have a thermal these days? I was told this was the case but they’re expensive, and would worry that the ‘cheap’ (c.a. £400!) would be crap

 

[big bang]

No, 56mm isn't necessary.
50mm is about the maximum that's useful.
Anything above that is largely a sales gimmick to appeal to the "bigger must be better" mentality that many buyers have.

Perfect! Can save a little weight and the extra pennies can go towards some paid stalks. Thanks VSS

 

[tackb]

Fully planning to get out there as soon as I can, and as much as I can. I like the idea of minimalist kit. Do most people have a thermal these days? I was told this was the case but they’re expensive, and would worry that the ‘cheap’ (c.a. £400!) would be crap

minimalist kit is the way forward , by and large we all start with way too much until we realise we just don't need it all !

thermal can help but is defo not needed , rifle / ammo / knife / binos are the essentials

 

[Essexsussex]

Fully planning to get out there as soon as I can, and as much as I can. I like the idea of minimalist kit. Do most people have a thermal these days? I was told this was the case but they’re expensive, and would worry that the ‘cheap’ (c.a. £400!) would be crap

I bought a used thermal a few years into my stalking life. It’s really useful if you have last-light woodland scenarios, I wouldn’t have bothered if I was only hill stalking but for Sussex fallow it’s been handy. But if you’ll be in a high seat or with a pro stalker all the time, no rush.

For info mine is an axiom key and was about that price. It’s perfectly adequate. Don’t think anything new at that price will be up to much. Although the longer you put off a purchase the better kit you’ll get for your cash as tech improves.

 

[big bang]

Thanks guys, you’ve all been really helpful. should have signed up months ago. I appreciate you all bearing with me, you’ve probably heard a lot of my questions many times before

 

[big bang]

minimalist kit is the way forward , by and large we all start with way too much until we realise we just don't need it all !

thermal can help but is defo not needed , rifle / ammo / knife / binos are the essentials

I’ve got 2 out of the 4, so half way there

 

[Mike1979]

I don't believe you. Your profile says Powys

Bugger...you caught me out....we also bark at the moon and drink from muddy puddles a step up from the folk in N Wales

 

[Mike1979]

Start with what you can afford mate. You dont need new and you dont need fancy...that comes later..along with bankruptcy

 

[tackb]

I’ve got 2 out of the 4, so half way there

honestly , people over do it !

you do not need a 1/4moa rifle to kill deer

you do not need a huge tactical adjustable scope to kill deer

you do not need a £500 custom knife for the gralloch

you do not need massive £2000 binoculars (or a range finder) to kill deer

you do not need the latest £1000 camo or tweed suit to kill deer

you do not need a handle bar moustache or deer stalker hat to kill deer (unless your a member of the st huberts buggers)

that said , i have it all except the st huberts nonsense !

so get a rifle in a deer calibre (not 270!) a mora knife and some binos plus some suitable ammo that will group under 2moa and crack on !

 

[Essexsussex]

honestly , people over do it !

you do not need a 1/4moa rifle to kill deer

you do not need a huge tactical adjustable scope to kill deer

you do not need a £500 custom knife for the gralloch

you do not need massive £2000 binoculars (or a range finder) to kill deer

you do not need the latest £1000 camo or tweed suit to kill deer

you do not need a handle bar moustache or deer stalker hat to kill deer (unless your a member of the st huberts buggers)

that said , i have it all except the st huberts nonsense !

so get a rifle in a deer calibre (not 270!) a mora knife and some binos plus some suitable ammo that will group under 2moa and crack on !

Maybe make some B&Q sticks (or pick up my spare pair FOC if you ever pass Haywards Heath - I have a v smart modern version now thanks to this forum!)

 

[Tim.243]

honestly , people over do it !

you do not need a 1/4moa rifle to kill deer

you do not need a huge tactical adjustable scope to kill deer

you do not need a £500 custom knife for the gralloch

you do not need massive £2000 binoculars (or a range finder) to kill deer

you do not need the latest £1000 camo or tweed suit to kill deer

you do not need a handle bar moustache or deer stalker hat to kill deer (unless your a member of the st huberts buggers)

that said , i have it all except the st huberts nonsense !

so get a rifle in a deer calibre (not 270!) a mora knife and some binos plus some suitable ammo that will group under 2moa and crack on !

@big bang
You will need somewhere to put your deer! This often is never mentioned as people are tripping over with kit ideas also not everyone has a stone shed down the garden. No good shooting deer without a cold/fly free unit, drinks chillers are ideal.
I would put a working unit high on your list as they are essential as they give you the time we are always short of.
Not many households in the country don't have a fridge/freezer!
Good luck

 

[Essexsussex]

@big bang
You will need somewhere to put your deer! This often is never mentioned as people are tripping over with kit ideas also not everyone has a stone shed down the garden. No good shooting deer without a cold/fly free unit, drinks chillers are ideal.
I would put a working unit high on your list as they are essential as they give you the time we are always short of.
Not many households in the country don't have a fridge/freezer!
Good luck

This was a game changer for me as I started shooting my own permissions rather than helping others out. But I have a tall fridge I can get a fallow in, if I shoot two or more I’m checking the night time temps to see what the plan has to be!

If paid stalking you’ll get away without.

 

[Tim.243]

This was a game changer for me as I started shooting my own permissions rather than helping others out. But I have a tall fridge I can get a fallow in, if I shoot two or more I’m checking the night time temps to see what the plan has to be!

If paid stalking you’ll get away without.

Yes, with the lower deer prices I have noticed guides offering deals with the stalk so bringing one home then you won't deal with it that night. Tall fridge/chiller is a must in my book, I have just bought a new compressor for my 2007 chiller and my friend will fit it as it is so handy for small deer.

 

[KimE]

Sage advice! I’ll show this thread to my wife. Jokes aside, I was trying to talk myself out of the Swaro z6i / Zeiss v6 but I fear that I must heed your advice .

Is a 56mm objective lens necessary / advisable? I’m assuming I’ll be there for the hour before sun rise and the hour after sunset.

After 20-25 years age your pupil are not able to expand enough to take in all light from a 56 mm lens.

 

[big bang]

After 20-25 years age your pupil are not able to expand enough to take in all light from a 56 mm lens.

Sadly my pupils are older than that (by some way). Upside is a few quid saved by getting a 50mm

 

[big bang]

@big bang
You will need somewhere to put your deer! This often is never mentioned as people are tripping over with kit ideas also not everyone has a stone shed down the garden. No good shooting deer without a cold/fly free unit, drinks chillers are ideal.
I would put a working unit high on your list as they are essential as they give you the time we are always short of.
Not many households in the country don't have a fridge/freezer!
Good luck

Excellent point @Tim.243 . Could pick up a cheapo tall fridge for a couple of hundred but would I need to put a frame inside to take the weight? Could anyone share a pic of their fridge units to give me an idea of what mods I need to make? Thanks for the advice

 

[big bang]

This was a game changer for me as I started shooting my own permissions rather than helping others out. But I have a tall fridge I can get a fallow in, if I shoot two or more I’m checking the night time temps to see what the plan has to be!

If paid stalking you’ll get away without.

if it’s a warm night would you have to process them that night?

 

[Tim.243]

Excellent point @Tim.243 . Could pick up a cheapo tall fridge for a couple of hundred but would I need to put a frame inside to take the weight? Could anyone share a pic of their fridge units to give me an idea of what mods I need to make? Thanks for the advice

They are very strong with just a bar across the mouldings, Drinks chillers have shelf mouldings nearly to the top.
66kg was the heaviest one in mine just on a single bar of 25x25mm.
Just do a search for fridges on here.

 

[big bang]

Start with what you can afford mate. You dont need new and you dont need fancy...that comes later..along with bankruptcy

My Mrs told me I had to be sensible but didn’t put any limits on it… whoops

 

[big bang]

Maybe make some B&Q sticks (or pick up my spare pair FOC if you ever pass Haywards Heath - I have a v smart modern version now thanks to this forum!)

Really kind of you, am not often that way tbh but really appreciate the offer. Completely forgot about sticks