Favourite kit for newbie

[sir-lamp-alot]

Forget the thermal if you need a thermal for recreational roe stalking you need to learn more
Forget the dial the distance scope if you need to use any type of hold over for recreational roe stalking you need to try harder or prepare for it to all go horribly wrong a 8x56 scope from ziess or scmidt and bender will be some of the best money you could spend
Your knife will be fine Im sure just learn how to sharpen it it doesnt have to be massive ive dealt with plenty of roe with a little 3" opinel
As for sticks the less legs you have the harder it will be to learn but ultimately the better you will become, ive used quad sticks for years but I cant shot freehand for toffee
Your Howa in 6.5 will do the job fine just spend the time to find a round it likes

 

[Jamie956]

Thanks for reply

Maybe I shouldn't of mentioned Thermal and stalking in the same thread, I want to know about them because I want one anyway for other shooting. The rifle won't jyst be for stalking, I don't intend to dial when stalking I just wondered if anyone could recommend scopes that give glass quality good for low light but also dial reliably when I do want them to

Cheers

J

 

[Devon Stalker]

Chest rig for binoculars that has option to accommodate rangefinder and thermal pouches

Could you/anyone recommend one of these please?

 

[Mungo]

Could you/anyone recommend one of these please?

This is a ‘what flavour of ice cream is best’ question. I’m afraid it’s very much a matter of trying them and finding one you like!

I really like the FHF one, and think it’s much the best I’ve tried. Unfortunately, they don’t deliver to the UK

 

[Jamie956]

Can anyone recommend shops that I can go and look and try things rather buy off the net and hope its OK, using York as base, I'm sure il be familiar with most but ya just never know

Cheers

J

 

[GnZ]

Hi all

This is not a thread asking what all the kit is you carry, just advice on certain bits of it

Although for different reasons I haven’t managed to get on my first deer yet in 8 months of going with people, I’m hoping to soon be putting together a stalking kit of my own mainly for roe, so I’m asking your advice on what make/model of things you like, and what you would avoid

I know it’s a lot to do with personal preference but sometimes cheap kit can be surprising and ‘deer’ doesn’t always guarantee better does it. I think I’m already decided on rifle and caliber but the things I’m keen to find out about are

Scope- I would like something with reasonable glass for low light but also something that will dial/track/re-zero reliably for when I want to but no need to be too fancy for the sake of it

Thermal- I have absolutely no experience here at all, I like the look of the shape of things like the pulsar xm38 as it looks like it will go in the average pocket as it will not only be used for stalking, but needs to be good enough for that obviously, and by the way what sort of ranges do different thermals pick out deer?

Knife- I’m a man so have plenty of knives but one lad I’ve been out with had an eka swingblade, and another suggested a browning kodiac, and lets face it it’s an excuse to buy another

Sticks- I have never shot off quad sticks but have tried them a couple of times and think they would be what I want, but I’ve also tried the primos tripod thingy with the trigger for quick adjustment...ideas please

Backpack/roe sack- i may well start with just a liner in my military Bergen but all ideas welcome

And lastly, where to get them all in the york area, I’m familiar with most gunshops round me but there may be places I don’t know of

I know it might be an odd thread, or been asked before but I’m hoping you can point me in the direction of some useful kit

Thank you

J

I have had some superb results with a delta stryker scope recently. I put around 2k of 50cal through it for work before slapping on my 308win. It hasnt missed a beat. Great price for the glass quality.

 

[sy247]

Scope: Schmidt and Bender 8x56 Klassik
Binos: Vortex Viper 8x42HD or secondhand Swaroski, Zeiss, Leica etc.
Sticks: Viperflex
Knife: Mora

You don't need thermal or a backpack.

I would make sure you've got good waterproof boots and good clothing. Doesn't have to be expensive. I have used mainly surplus Army and walking gear.

Spend your money on stalking with a good guide. You will learn a lot.

 

[308tikka]

My recommendations arent for the thousands of quid you could spend on rifle, scope binos, rangefinder, thermals and sticks... ive cone to the conclusion they all do the same job more or less so go with what you can afford and like holding in your hands.

If you are woodland stalking Id really recommend a large climbing loop - you can wrap it round telegraph poles/trees/fenceposts to do suspended gralloch and is much easier to drag out animals with, looped back on itself round neck. About £7 on amazon. Much cheaper than Napier tree hugger which is actually a good idea.

buy cutproof gloves, possibly also a wrist protector. Theres a reason why butchers protect themselves.

decathlon-the hunters blood bag-2munty or a roe -discreet, lightweight and cheap.

Decathlon, tray liner-excellent.

a good small folding saw, and several head torches.... knife is v personal decision. I used hultafors and they are great for the money but once you use a quality knife it makes the gralloch so much easier. I use a casstrom micarta handle-super sharp-less accidents, see above.....

Folding gut knife handy for speedy grallochs.

 

[Rasputin]

Eka swing blade their fish one nice thin blade and super easy to clean and sharpen. Quad sticks essential imho and also x2 for climbing loops they cost peanuts and you can drag hang anything on them. Lidl XL wheelie chests make great carcass trays for the car and you can get pretty much anything up to a small red stag in them.

Guns and optics just get what you want and can afford I don’t think theirs bad kit these days in that area. Save the most you can for stalking.

 

[Milligan]

It’s interesting that people are leaving their bipods at home and just using quad sticks, it’s something I’ve already thought about and would be happy to do when practiced up with the sticks, so what are the cheaper ‘copy’ quad sticks like, are they quiet and well built or do you really get what you pay for?

I like the idea of a chest setup, never come across one but will be thinking about that one

Now for the thermal bit...il be getting one at some point but as I said not just for stalking, in fact it will do less stalking than anything else. I have absolutely no experience with them and I don’t know if what I want exists but I’d like something that will fit in my pocket but pick out things like pigeons in trees, rabbits in grass, foxes, and of course deer. Would I see a lot of difference in the longer ones and if so then what would be better?

Thanks for the help so far

J

4 garden canes from b&q and link here Monkey Sticks !!