Deermanagement
Well-Known Member
Just been watching a video from Cervus UK where from an enclosed high seat in Germany, a red calf was missed twice clean at 130m, following a successful shot the day before. "Maybe the scope was bumped", maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. It was a borrowed rifle left undoubtedly with someone else the night before?
Anyway, last week whilst out one evening, I made the wrong decision, choosing to wait by a gateway at one end of a field rather than sitting in what is probably my favourite seat at the other end. Mistake number one and the one that hurt was to lean my rifle, a Carbonwolf against a half round rail pinned from a post to the gate. Long story short, the rail was pinned in the centre only, resulting in a heavy fall for the rifle onto it's side, the windage turret of the 3-18x50 Z6i. It's not a light rifle and it went down heavy with a clatter, lightly scratching my LP titanium moderator on barbed wire as it fell.
Was I not happy, and after looking at it,trying to ascertain any damage and what to do for the next 1/2 hour, limit my range, retire etc., 2 prickets moved out of the wood and crossed some 70 yds in front of the seat I should have gone too. If I had gone there, I would have likely taken the 2 prickets and not scratched the mod
So staying on until the next morning, I went to check zero after dark at a 100 yrd, First shot just right, elevation spot on, adjusted 3 clicks left and the second was around 7mm left of centre, so left it there. Out next morning, no prickets offered a shot, only a Stag and a Fallow buck, both at close range, but not something I was looking to take. After stalking, I set up the quad to use the rack as a bench rest at 250 yds, with the light wind directly behind me. Result was spot on elevation, moving windage back 1 click. So after this fall, 2 clicks change was required, a good advert for optilocks and even an alloy Swarovski.
I remember 2 real bumps with an optilock mounted, steel Habicht Swarovski on a heavy barrelled Tikka, that only required a click or two on the one occasion. I'm not convinved the Z6i will take the same punishment the Habicht would take but at least it pleasantly surprised me.
Best rig for punishment....... steel mounts and steel scope
And should a rifle loose zero under normal conditions, maybe taking light knocks? No it shouldn't. If it does move with anything less that hard knocks, there's something likely not quite right....... bedding, looses screws, dodgy scope or mounts 
Anyway, last week whilst out one evening, I made the wrong decision, choosing to wait by a gateway at one end of a field rather than sitting in what is probably my favourite seat at the other end. Mistake number one and the one that hurt was to lean my rifle, a Carbonwolf against a half round rail pinned from a post to the gate. Long story short, the rail was pinned in the centre only, resulting in a heavy fall for the rifle onto it's side, the windage turret of the 3-18x50 Z6i. It's not a light rifle and it went down heavy with a clatter, lightly scratching my LP titanium moderator on barbed wire as it fell.
Was I not happy, and after looking at it,trying to ascertain any damage and what to do for the next 1/2 hour, limit my range, retire etc., 2 prickets moved out of the wood and crossed some 70 yds in front of the seat I should have gone too. If I had gone there, I would have likely taken the 2 prickets and not scratched the mod
So staying on until the next morning, I went to check zero after dark at a 100 yrd, First shot just right, elevation spot on, adjusted 3 clicks left and the second was around 7mm left of centre, so left it there. Out next morning, no prickets offered a shot, only a Stag and a Fallow buck, both at close range, but not something I was looking to take. After stalking, I set up the quad to use the rack as a bench rest at 250 yds, with the light wind directly behind me. Result was spot on elevation, moving windage back 1 click. So after this fall, 2 clicks change was required, a good advert for optilocks and even an alloy Swarovski.I remember 2 real bumps with an optilock mounted, steel Habicht Swarovski on a heavy barrelled Tikka, that only required a click or two on the one occasion. I'm not convinved the Z6i will take the same punishment the Habicht would take but at least it pleasantly surprised me.
Best rig for punishment....... steel mounts and steel scope
And should a rifle loose zero under normal conditions, maybe taking light knocks? No it shouldn't. If it does move with anything less that hard knocks, there's something likely not quite right....... bedding, looses screws, dodgy scope or mounts 
