Driven boar- preference’s

[wildfowler86]

Having just started to set up a rig for driven work. I’m wondering whether aimpoint or low power dot or Ill ret scope is best? What’s your preference and why to the lads who have done a fair bit? I have used aimpoint and like it, having shot a few boar, but my background is shotgun so it’s very instinctive. But with range or open country would a low power dot scope be ‘better’?

 

[levigsp]

for me there is no question, aimpoint hands down.

 

[wildfowler86]

for me there is no question, aimpoint hands down.

Hello frank .... no doubting with that username! B

 

[Border]

A 1-6 or 1-8 illuminated reticle scope may be more versatile.

 

[Sash]

Purely for driven boar (and if you HAVE to have an optic - I use iron sights), an Aimpoint is very good.
But if there is a significant amount of shooting >100m (where I shoot in France, there is almost none), then you might appreciate a low-power variable scope.
And, if so, an illuminated dot might cover both bases.

 

[beaver]

Zeiss V8 1.1-8 x 30 illuminated dot , best all round scope i have used for driven hunting.

 

[Lateral]

Having just started to set up a rig for driven work. I’m wondering whether aimpoint or low power dot or Ill ret scope is best? What’s your preference and why to the lads who have done a fair bit? I have used aimpoint and like it, having shot a few boar, but my background is shotgun so it’s very instinctive. But with range or open country would a low power dot scope be ‘better’?

There is no right, or wrong, just personal preference !

On more open ground, I prefer a a low powered scope, on close pegs, I switch to an Aimpoint, and if I know the hunt I'm going to well, and know pegs can be very close, 5-30yds I'll take a SxS double, open sights.

I hated the Aimpoint when I first bought one (Micro H-2) but this was on a Blaser, and I pound it sat too far forward for me. I then tried a friends H34L, and ended up buying one. Personally, I do think they take a bit of getting used to.

If possible, once we get paroled, I'd suggest getting a few people who shoot driven, or want to, to book Holland & Holland shooting cinema, in Northwood, and make sure you have a selection of sights to try, so you can see what you feel comfortable using.

It will also depend on budget, and how ofted you plan on shooting driven, or if you can use the sight/scope for stalking too.


I'm always wanting to get to H&H for some practise, and would happily meet you down there, and bring a few options along.

 

[Jagare]

I have a aimpoint for the Mauser but i mainly us a 1-4x22 Meopta R1 K-dot. On the double rifle I have a S&B Exos 1-8x24 with just the FD. I think it The 0 reticle. I can't see a time when I'm going to use it on more than 4x. It do's have the CC setting that turns it into a aimpoint type sight. I find it stays on 2x for most of the time but thats just my personal preference. I practice my off hand shooting with the .22 and the scope set on 4x shooting with both eyes open so both eyes open comes second nature on driven days

 

[Heym SR20]

I have tried aim-points and red dots - can’t get on with them at all. A scope has a much clearer sight picture. Don’t be tempted to get a large 1-6 or 8x x 20 30 mm tubed scope. They are probably OK on an AR black tactical but they ruin the handling of a decent rifle.

The best scope is a small and light 1-4x20 on a 1” tube. Something like a little Leupold with a Pigplex reticle.

It can be mounted low, shot with both eyes open with a wide field of view.

It needs to a detachable mount so you can use a bigger optic if needs be, but truth be told you can shoot out to 150 or 200 with a 4x scope easily enough.

 

[J Shave]

Aimpoint , there easy to use & very accurate once confident your be capable of shooting at 100 yards driven game plus .

 

[Jamouk]

Have got a swaro with flex change (red circle in centre of optic) and and a blaser RD17 (basically an aimpoint) and the RD17 wins everytime target acquisition a lot easier i find ... if anyone hasnt tried the H&H cinema for driven for a bit of fun i highly reccomend it when we are allowed to of course (nb take two rifles if poss .. they have a tempered air machine to cool barrels down but you have to wait)

 

[tusker]

Iron sights for me, tried low power scopes but never got on with them. Just think shotgun shooting
Tusker

 

[Lateral]

A lot of hunters abroad use scopes with a far higher mag, than most of us would even contemplate. It's what they have, they have limited funds, and they just get on with it. Some very well, some, not so much.

When I bought a Blaser, I bought a Z8i 1.7-13x42 for stalking, but I found I couldn't fit the Z6i 1-6x24, and get the eye relief I needed.

Rather than spend out on another scope, I picked up the Aimpoint cheap, to swap over, if I thought the peg suited it better. I found I rarely swapped over, I got used to the 1.7, and whilst it is more difficult to acquire a target, I manage. To be fair, I do a fair bit of driven, which clearly helps.

A couple of hours at H&H, is money really well spent, because it doesn't matter what I like to use, or anyone else on here, it's about what the individual prefers, or, can justify !

 

[Magnificent 7]

Have got a swaro with flex change (red circle in centre of optic) and and a blaser RD17 (basically an aimpoint) and the RD17 wins everytime target acquisition a lot easier i find ... if anyone hasnt tried the H&H cinema for driven for a bit of fun i highly reccomend it when we are allowed to of course (nb take two rifles if poss .. they have a tempered air machine to cool barrels down but you have to wait)

Jamo let me know when you go again ill come along for a go sounds good craic

 

[Jamouk]

Yes was good fun they have over 1000 different scenes can do boar , buffalo etc was 120 quid for an hour from memory

 

[Lateral]

£150.00ph for one, + £25.00 for each additional person.

 

[kimh]

I'm right-handed,
Over there - 270 with left-handed bolt and low mag Leupold (I will have to look what it is)
Here - 30-06 O/U combination with 12g (Slug) if needed, Open sights preferred but it has a rail to clip Aim point/low mag/etc on but for my UK Boar work I'm Open sighted

 

[wildfowler86]

There is no right, or wrong, just personal preference !

On more open ground, I prefer a a low powered scope, on close pegs, I switch to an Aimpoint, and if I know the hunt I'm going to well, and know pegs can be very close, 5-30yds I'll take a SxS double, open sights.

I hated the Aimpoint when I first bought one (Micro H-2) but this was on a Blaser, and I pound it sat too far forward for me. I then tried a friends H34L, and ended up buying one. Personally, I do think they take a bit of getting used to.

If possible, once we get paroled, I'd suggest getting a few people who shoot driven, or want to, to book Holland & Holland shooting cinema, in Northwood, and make sure you have a selection of sights to try, so you can see what you feel comfortable using.

It will also depend on budget, and how ofted you plan on shooting driven, or if you can use the sight/scope for stalking too.


I'm always wanting to get to H&H for some practise, and would happily meet you down there, and bring a few options along.

A nice gesture. Thanks yes I would certainly be up for meeting up with some lads off here to have a session at H&H and weigh up pros and cons of different tech

I’ve practiced with aimpoint and I am extremely confident with that set up on running target... guess I should trial the low mag scope to see how it fairs in comparison

 

[Corvid8x57]

Agree with the trip to H&H - a wonderful confidence booster and shared between 3 would still give you a good amount of shooting. I got through about 100 rounds in my hour by myself which needed some recovery time. Take gloves! The Swarovski scope with the illuminated ring is very good & intuitive, as is the red dot.

 

[Mick9abf]

I’d say you need to decide how much your willing to pay but if your shelling out for enough driven days it’s not worth ‘ruining the boat for a ha’penny of tar’ or whatever the old saying is and spending the money

If budget wasn’t an issue I’d go rail or swing off mounts with Aimpoint for tight stands and the likes of a Schmidt Stratos like what McLeods are advertising on here for £999 which cranks down to 2.5 mag and gives you flexibility or a Swaro 1-6x24 illuminated if you can find one secondhand (maybe £600-750).

It really depends on the topography where you go. I’ve used a variable quite often and it’s been handy on open stands particularly with stuff a bit further out that isn’t shifting fast with the added bonus you can climb straight into a highseat at night to sit under the moon. That said anything 50-80m with a lot of timber/cover and I’d want the aimpoint.

A decision I’ve faced over the years and just bit the bullet and got both eventually. I went for the variable option first which I worked away with and got my own aimpoint later using interest free credit on Klarna from optics warehouse so I didn’t really notice it.

What I would say is if you start looking for cheaper options just be careful as some aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. I did this with a Delta mini dot thinking it would fit the bill and wasn’t happy with it at all.