When I first went on driven boar hunting trips (starting many years ago in Croatia) I used an illuminated reticle Schmidt-Bender 1.1-4 x 24 because that was what much more experienced hunters than me recommended I should buy for that lark. It was essentially a red-dot sight with the reticle being a lone dot within a circle, there being no post or cross-hairs in that particular model
It sat atop a Blaser R93 in .308w - and plenty of folk do ok with that sort of an outfit, but, I never really grew fond of the combo even though I used it 3-4 times a year for a number of years and killed a few beasts with it.
Following a break from driven hunts I returned to them but this time with a bolt action rifle (I had sold the Blaser and got myself a "real" rifle again) sporting a lovely Swarovski Z8i 1.7-13 x 42.
I found that a much more pleasant rig to use, the rifle had a nice weight and swung well plus it fitted me better than the Blaser.
As for the Swaro scope, at minimum magnification it's perfectly possible to shoot with both eyes open and to use the illuminated & adjustable central dot as a pseudo red-dot scope.
I also liked the fact that the combo seemed to me to be a bit more versatile than my previous kit cos of the extra magnification and larger objective lense
The fella I sold the SB scope to still loves it and uses it regularly, likewise the fella who bought my Blaser - so maybe it's a matter of personal taste as much as anything.
Other friends of mine swear by aimpoints or other red-dot optics but I've never really liked them - again, maybe just personal preference.
However, the best thing I ever did was to get myself to a shooting cinema a few times and practice shooting at moving targets- that did more to improve my shooting abilities than all the expensive kit I've bought or borrowed over the years
Totally agree, Im working in Germany at the moment and I hunt regularly here, i will be out on driven game next week, ive got two suitable rifles that I use, one is my .30-06 Schultz and larsen with a Swarovski 1.25-4 x 24 Habicht illuminated ret scope on apel swing off mounts with a Zeiss Diavari 2.5-10 x52 non illuminated ret. The other is my RPA woodland stalker rifle in .308 with a 2.5-10x50 Schmidt and bender polar T96 on it that illuminated.
Both very different setups, but I can shoot both of them on driven game equally as well and so I normally just take which ever one I feel like on the day . Benefits of the schultz with the 1.25-4 x24 is that it’s got a larger field of view and I shoot it without the sound moderator and it isn’t a thumb hole stock so it’s very nice for fast close range woodland shots.
Benefits of the RPA with the 2.5-10 is that it’s got loads more magnification, it’s so short at 400mm barrel length , that it’s actually a nice rifle to handle and shoot freehand with a mod on it.
Where the schultz and larsen comes into its own wearing the 1.25-4x24 is when I’m doing days where I’m walking through as opposed to standing or sitting somewhere. It’s a lighter and more compact rifle and any shots I take are at under 30 m.
If I’m a guest on a driven shoot where I don’t know the ground, I’d always take the RPA with its 25-10 polar or the Schultz and larsen wearing it’s Zeiss Diavari 2.5-10 x52 as, chances are , it will be more likely that I need more magnification than 4 power. Sometimes I Stick the 125-4x24 in my pocket but I rarely bother putting it on.
Don’t be fooled by the scene’s in wild boar fever / Aimpoint advert. etc, most of the shots that I’ve had presented and taken are not high speed swing through jobs, they are far more comfortable momentarily static game animals or moving at a slow trot where a wide field of view in your scope is not anywhere as helpful as an opportunity for a decent bit of magnification. Remember, you need to be certain of the age sex and condition of your animals before taking a shot, you won’t have time to be using bins most likely. If you have a few wild boar moving through, you will be making your final selection while looking through your scope. My 2.5 - 10 scopes are nearly always up on 4 or 6 x magnification for this reason. Some of my most memorable driven game hunting has been where I was sat with my back to the Forrest’s looking out over large fields, scope wound up to 10 x and I can take my time , make my choice and roll one or more off at longer range. Over 10 years ago I had one occasion where I had to roll over a running Überläufer at 280 m on a big wide hilly field of winter wheat, Id not have been doing that with one of those Aimpoint jobs.
Don’t underestimate how well you can shoot with your current set up. Go and stick 20 or 40 cartridges through your rifle over a regular period of time- freehand, static shots and moving, or take a static target and swing through and shoot it if you don’t have a decent moving game range available to you. I’m lucky here as my range is in the next village to me under 10 minutes away. Best investment for you is buying £100 to 200 worth of very cheap range cartridges and practice with them before you go out.
Hope that’s of help .
Kindest regards, Olaf
