Part of the fun of equipment intensive outdoor activities is fine tuning your “kit” over years of testing
Excluding the stuff that didn’t work as expected
Fettling the stuff that was almost there but not quite
Constantly acquiring stuff to solve a problem in the field.
Some of the things I want don’t exist!
I have been forced to bastardise products to try and make do
Rifle slips for use on the hill that allow carrying small amounts of other things in a convenient and comfortable package for example!!
Many of the products I now sell in the shop are the result of years of product testing!
Notably many of the things I refuse to sell in the shop are also as a result of this testing!!
The products are usually great and I sell them
They are not great “because” I sell them!
Over the last year I have made some significant changes to my own personal stalking kit.
Rifle-
I have always had a .270 for open hill stalking.
I grew up shooting one. It’s just the thing you used.
Apart from a period where I enjoyed the use of a 300wm, even then I always still felt like I had left someone behind and almost felt guilty, like leaving the dog at home when going shooting!
Always came back to the .270.
But I had a couple of issues, operator derived errors and a couple of product failures (action screw came loose, scope died on me, accuracy issues....)
Then one day a chap brought a tikka t3 varmint 20” in .308 to me
Wanted to get rid as he was giving up
I bought it from him and as with most of the used rifles I test shot it.
As it happens at 200m on a range day.
I grabbed a block of factory HPS Targetmaster
I ended up putting 50 rounds through it!
3x 15 round groups and 5 for a mate who wanted a shot or two.
I was astounded at how easy it was to shoot and more importantly was it’s level of accuracy.
Three 15 round groups of less than 3/4” with the odd flyer. Well under 0.5moa
I had an epiphany!
WTF was I doing running a .270 for deer and a 6mmBR for plinking and target?!?!
Neither one as accurate and the big standard tikka I was now holding.
Bullet bitten both were sold.
The .308 was now to be my one rifle for stalking and targets
(apart from the .222 which I will never sell, the other .270 I restored which I will never sell, the .338LM I am enjoying and all the rimfires I have, apart from those!)
Cue 9m later
I have a gun I can use for walk about stalking in woodland with the use of a Niggeloh twin strap sling, open hill stalking, long range plinking, target shooting in stalking disciplines.
I have fitted it with flush cups in the side of the butt so it sits flat on my back.
It’s got a small pic rail under the fore-end for my Chinese knock off atlas bipod that comes on and off in seconds.
It wears one of (IMO) the best mods on the market, light, sleek, quiet, resilient, short forward protrusion.
The Freyr&Devik F280
I am utterly sold on short barrels! Would chop this to 16” if I could guarantee it’s accurcy once chopped.
Having shot this thing at 1000yds it’s not the barrel that is the limiting factor!!
Having shot several 0.1-0.2moa groups with several brands of factory Ammo I can’t even be bothered reload for it!
It’s the rifle I used to assist the South East BDS team to a momentous win at the recent Interbranch shoot!
Where it not only held its own but beat numerous semi and full custom set ups.
Practicing at range with the rifle you stalk with is no brainier
It’s not about pushing the range, it’s mucb more about reducing the margin for error at the same ranges.
Not putting up with 1” when 1/4” is possible
Not expecting 2” at 200yds when you know it can do 3/4”.
Scope choice came next
Needed to be low enough mag to allow woodland and low light
Needed to be high enough mag to allow easy 1000yd target acquisition
Ideally illuminated as I often do a bit of fixing after stalking.
Target turrets for dialling either covered or uncovered
Reticule that matches the use and the turret graduations.
And critically not to break the bank.
Less than a grand, ideally much less!
Used or new.
I am a self confessed scope magpie
I buy and use more scopes and keep changing even when things aren’t broken!
Have had Zeiss, Schmidt, Swarovski, Doctor, Leupold, Delta, Vortex, Nikko, Hawke, Kahles,
I am now the proud owner of three Sightrons!
3-10x56 IR Siii on my .222 #4a
6-24x50 ir Siii on the Tikka .308 varmint LRMOA2
8-32x56 ir Siii on my Sako TRG .338 LRMOA2
They tick more boxes on my spec list than any other brand
They are bomb proof
The reticule choices match my needs
The MOA stadia allow quick holdover or windage adjustments
Vital as my small brain can’t do windage dialling on the fly!!
I dial elevation and adjust windage with holds on the stadia.
I have wound this thing up and down to 1000yds elevation and back to 100m taking shots in between
It tracks flawlessly
The only thing I would add is a lockable turrets and possibly a zero stop, but it has a zero indicator that is hard to screw up!
Sling is taken care of with the niggeloh twin strap
But I don’t use a sling when in the open hill
I use a slip/bag
Next issue!
I have tried slips with an additional bag for food/Ammo/water/clothing etc
No combinations have ever ticked all the boxes, either not fitting, uncomfortable, noisy, too big, too small, too short, too long etc etc
A few weeks ago a friend of mine gave me a Webtex rucksack slip
Smaller, slimmer and lighter than a drag bag from any makers I have come across
Multi point sling attachment so you can sling it low down away from the head (it’s a 20” remember)
Two small pockets that can take a small flask/bottle of water/a knife/torch/drag sling etc
One large pocket that can take a rolled up fleece/coat.
One flat pocket with zip at the barrel end that can take ammo/gloves slim stuff
It has two handles to carry like a bag
This one has had an extension to the muzzle end that can be rolled up or opened to fit a moderator without removing the rifle from the bag.
It fits all my criteria!!!! All of them and I am demanding in my requirements
My only complaint
It’s cut to take a scoped rifle but puts the bolt knob in the back of the wearer!!
I need an opposite handed version!!
For now I put rifle in with bolt open, bolt out or back to front!!
Binos-
No change there
I traded in my rangefinder and old binos years ago
Leica Geovid HD-B no contest!
The glass suits my eyes better than any of the big brands
The LRF is the best on the market
I’ve tested most of them and did a back to back/ side by side comparison of these against the EL range years ago.
Will take an awful lot for me to change now.
Knife-
Mora
They just work!
£10!
Buy ten and put them in every bag, coat, car!!
Extraction
For roe I have two methods
1) Decathlon body bag - takes two roe
Can be slung over shoulder
Rolls up into a large can of beer size
Hose out after use
2) leather strap with two metal loops
Handbag a single row and sling over shoulder!
Red deer
Double shoulder sling (yes I know some people think they are dangerous but I have been injured by the antlers of dead deer more than I have had issues of dead deer dragging me off a hillside!! You can slip off the sling with a simple twist and allow the loops to slide off the shoulder)
The sling is attached to 12ft of ratchet strap
I’ve the years I have tried numerous grades of rope
This packs flatter, doesn’t stretch, is designed for high tensile work and is stronger.
Clothing.
Everyone’s favourite argument about which boots and jackets are best
Lot more subjective depending on shape, size, activity level, do you run hot or cold!?
For years I have worn a mixture of modern layers and old school wool!
Jackets have been Barbour gore tex models, Ridge Line, Harkila, North face among others
Under layers included merino base layers, scruffy shirts, holey jumpers and occasional hoodies!
Trousers included tweed Breeks, goretex breeks, goretex trousers, cotton Fjallraven trousers, etc
Boots are boots
Some are more comfortable after 10 miles
Some leak after 1/2 mile
I wear gore tex socks now
Wouldn’t go without them
I wear them in wellies for warmth and comfort
I wear them in boots for the same
It’s a bonus that they keep my feet dry when the boots inevitably fail!!
I got a pair of berghaus yeti gaiters for my 21 birthday to go with the 4 season hiking boots that went with them.
24 years on they are still going strong
Three re-randings and I now run them on boots that don’t accommodate the rand which has long since split meaning the sit on top of the boot like spats!
Gaiters that gpnon like socks in seconds
It’s taken me 30 years to get my head round combining products that were designed to go together!!
I relatively recently came across the Stoney Creek brand.
I like it so much I decided to go against my better judgement and significant lack of space in the shop to start sell clothing !
These Kiwis know a bit about shorty weather and have a very good approach to layers/insulation/waterproofs.
The last 5 days saw me test three items of their range in some of the weirdest and nastiest weather I have seen in one day.
One minute it’s 20deg and blazing sun
Next minute it’s 7deg, mist reducing visibility to 50 yds and then horizontal rain...
I have been using the Tundra jacket and trousers which are shell jackets with no lining or insulation.
I struggle with waterproofs as I run hot.
It’s the Geordie in me from being born in Newcastle! I can deal with the cold pretty well.
Having to climb hills in anything remotely warm means I am sweating like the proverbial in seconds
Venting and dumping heat is the order of the day when ascending
Merino base layers have transformed that
They keep you warm even when wet
They dry very quickly
They will sweat away from the body
Next I needed a suitable mid layer.
I don’t usually get on with fleece materials as I usually find them far too hot
However having tried the Stoney Creek Twin zip shirt it has a number of features that I really like
The sleeves have a “shirt” cuff that can be left open, buttoned up, rolled up loosely
Very good for venting heat
The front zip is long enough to expose most of the chest
Again good for venting
It’s long and covers the waist by some 6” on me
Worn with only a merino base layer I wore it without a jacket on dry days
It was windproof and kept me warm when the temp dropped but was easily stowed when it was too warm to wear.
Next up, shitty wet days!
Wednesday was miserable in Mull
Constant rain and mist and drizzle
I decided to test the Tundra trousers
Like the jacket they are shell over trousers
Cut like jeans or normal trousers, lots of people wear leggings under them
I wore thin cotton Fjallraven trousers
They were a little hot in the climb up to the top but quickly dried or felt dry with the quick drying/wicking trousers underneath.
However when sitting to spy, kneeling, crawling, standing in driving rain they were invaluable and the day would have been made much more miserable without them.
By contrast I have a pair of Harkila pro hunters, they are much hotter to walk in but critically did not respond well to lots of kneeling in sodden peat bogs!!
They leaked at the knees when under pressure
It’s early days but the Tundra trousers showed no signs of leaking even after of literally hours of kneeling in water.
This particular day I chose to stow the mod layer in the large pocket of the bag and just west the merino base layer under the Tundra jacket
Warm enough sitting in driving rain
Cool enough when sweating my ass off climbing up hill.
When really hot I stowed the jacket across the bottom of the rucksack straps and let the wind dry the sweaty merino base layer.
This jacket has a fixed hood
Normally I can’t stand hoods opting for a decent hat and a collar that fits close to the neck on all but the worst weather
Folding or removable hoods are not quick to deploy and often don’t fit very well
Still not sold on the idea of fixed hoods but the Tundra hood has a compression design that shrinks the food onto your head pulling back without reducing field of view, ability to hear of turn your head/look up without going blind! It’s more of a hat than a hood!
The Tundra is Stoney Creek’s most waterproof jacket according to their catalogue and it certainly has not failed in that department in the two month beating I have given it
Some really nice features.
The ridged reverse edge seam in the inside zip flap allows you to run it on just the poppers without the zip closed for venting but without allowing water to run in PST the edge.
The front vertical pocket zip is waterproof with a small hood over the zip closet when closed.
The shoulders have rubberised grip nobbles on the top to stop straps and slings slipping off.
The side pockets are also vertical and placed in the same position as your side trouser pockets on a pair of suit trousers
They sit well with a rucksack in place
My only complaint would be if left open they can get damp
Just zip the up!!
They would benefit from the reverse double seam utilised inside the front zip.
Length is perfect
You can sait down on the tail without getting your arse wet!!
The last day of this trip saw the worst weather
Setting off mid morning by 4pm we were in place effectively pinned down by Hinds at 60yds and a drop in the wind that meant all but the slowest movement resulted in intolerable noise from the squelching and kit dragging on the heather!
The mist came down and then the temperature followed suit!
45 minutes of sitting in puddles in the pest and heather, alternating sitting, kneeling, lying, crawling around for position and view as we hoped for the still roaring and prancing stag that was alternating between being hidden in the mist at 400+ yds and coming tantalising within range but never standing
45 mins to sit in the rain is a long time
To do it sweaty and cooling rapidly makes it worse
Had I been getting wet from the outside as well I have no doubt I would not have been able to get into position and maintain a solid platform to take a shot at around 220 yds
As it was I was effectively lying in water but dry.
A rarity on previous Mull trips.
As it was shot was taken
Stag fell
Only when we approached the stag did we realise the sheer size of it!
A successful trip all round
Dog was less impressed with the weather and lack of canine wet weather gear!!
Excluding the stuff that didn’t work as expected
Fettling the stuff that was almost there but not quite
Constantly acquiring stuff to solve a problem in the field.
Some of the things I want don’t exist!
I have been forced to bastardise products to try and make do
Rifle slips for use on the hill that allow carrying small amounts of other things in a convenient and comfortable package for example!!
Many of the products I now sell in the shop are the result of years of product testing!
Notably many of the things I refuse to sell in the shop are also as a result of this testing!!
The products are usually great and I sell them
They are not great “because” I sell them!
Over the last year I have made some significant changes to my own personal stalking kit.
Rifle-
I have always had a .270 for open hill stalking.
I grew up shooting one. It’s just the thing you used.
Apart from a period where I enjoyed the use of a 300wm, even then I always still felt like I had left someone behind and almost felt guilty, like leaving the dog at home when going shooting!
Always came back to the .270.
But I had a couple of issues, operator derived errors and a couple of product failures (action screw came loose, scope died on me, accuracy issues....)
Then one day a chap brought a tikka t3 varmint 20” in .308 to me
Wanted to get rid as he was giving up
I bought it from him and as with most of the used rifles I test shot it.
As it happens at 200m on a range day.
I grabbed a block of factory HPS Targetmaster
I ended up putting 50 rounds through it!
3x 15 round groups and 5 for a mate who wanted a shot or two.
I was astounded at how easy it was to shoot and more importantly was it’s level of accuracy.
Three 15 round groups of less than 3/4” with the odd flyer. Well under 0.5moa
I had an epiphany!
WTF was I doing running a .270 for deer and a 6mmBR for plinking and target?!?!
Neither one as accurate and the big standard tikka I was now holding.
Bullet bitten both were sold.
The .308 was now to be my one rifle for stalking and targets
(apart from the .222 which I will never sell, the other .270 I restored which I will never sell, the .338LM I am enjoying and all the rimfires I have, apart from those!)
Cue 9m later
I have a gun I can use for walk about stalking in woodland with the use of a Niggeloh twin strap sling, open hill stalking, long range plinking, target shooting in stalking disciplines.
I have fitted it with flush cups in the side of the butt so it sits flat on my back.
It’s got a small pic rail under the fore-end for my Chinese knock off atlas bipod that comes on and off in seconds.
It wears one of (IMO) the best mods on the market, light, sleek, quiet, resilient, short forward protrusion.
The Freyr&Devik F280
I am utterly sold on short barrels! Would chop this to 16” if I could guarantee it’s accurcy once chopped.
Having shot this thing at 1000yds it’s not the barrel that is the limiting factor!!
Having shot several 0.1-0.2moa groups with several brands of factory Ammo I can’t even be bothered reload for it!
It’s the rifle I used to assist the South East BDS team to a momentous win at the recent Interbranch shoot!
Where it not only held its own but beat numerous semi and full custom set ups.
Practicing at range with the rifle you stalk with is no brainier
It’s not about pushing the range, it’s mucb more about reducing the margin for error at the same ranges.
Not putting up with 1” when 1/4” is possible
Not expecting 2” at 200yds when you know it can do 3/4”.
Scope choice came next
Needed to be low enough mag to allow woodland and low light
Needed to be high enough mag to allow easy 1000yd target acquisition
Ideally illuminated as I often do a bit of fixing after stalking.
Target turrets for dialling either covered or uncovered
Reticule that matches the use and the turret graduations.
And critically not to break the bank.
Less than a grand, ideally much less!
Used or new.
I am a self confessed scope magpie
I buy and use more scopes and keep changing even when things aren’t broken!
Have had Zeiss, Schmidt, Swarovski, Doctor, Leupold, Delta, Vortex, Nikko, Hawke, Kahles,
I am now the proud owner of three Sightrons!
3-10x56 IR Siii on my .222 #4a
6-24x50 ir Siii on the Tikka .308 varmint LRMOA2
8-32x56 ir Siii on my Sako TRG .338 LRMOA2
They tick more boxes on my spec list than any other brand
They are bomb proof
The reticule choices match my needs
The MOA stadia allow quick holdover or windage adjustments
Vital as my small brain can’t do windage dialling on the fly!!
I dial elevation and adjust windage with holds on the stadia.
I have wound this thing up and down to 1000yds elevation and back to 100m taking shots in between
It tracks flawlessly
The only thing I would add is a lockable turrets and possibly a zero stop, but it has a zero indicator that is hard to screw up!
Sling is taken care of with the niggeloh twin strap
But I don’t use a sling when in the open hill
I use a slip/bag
Next issue!
I have tried slips with an additional bag for food/Ammo/water/clothing etc
No combinations have ever ticked all the boxes, either not fitting, uncomfortable, noisy, too big, too small, too short, too long etc etc
A few weeks ago a friend of mine gave me a Webtex rucksack slip
Smaller, slimmer and lighter than a drag bag from any makers I have come across
Multi point sling attachment so you can sling it low down away from the head (it’s a 20” remember)
Two small pockets that can take a small flask/bottle of water/a knife/torch/drag sling etc
One large pocket that can take a rolled up fleece/coat.
One flat pocket with zip at the barrel end that can take ammo/gloves slim stuff
It has two handles to carry like a bag
This one has had an extension to the muzzle end that can be rolled up or opened to fit a moderator without removing the rifle from the bag.
It fits all my criteria!!!! All of them and I am demanding in my requirements
My only complaint
It’s cut to take a scoped rifle but puts the bolt knob in the back of the wearer!!
I need an opposite handed version!!
For now I put rifle in with bolt open, bolt out or back to front!!
Binos-
No change there
I traded in my rangefinder and old binos years ago
Leica Geovid HD-B no contest!
The glass suits my eyes better than any of the big brands
The LRF is the best on the market
I’ve tested most of them and did a back to back/ side by side comparison of these against the EL range years ago.
Will take an awful lot for me to change now.
Knife-
Mora
They just work!
£10!
Buy ten and put them in every bag, coat, car!!
Extraction
For roe I have two methods
1) Decathlon body bag - takes two roe
Can be slung over shoulder
Rolls up into a large can of beer size
Hose out after use
2) leather strap with two metal loops
Handbag a single row and sling over shoulder!
Red deer
Double shoulder sling (yes I know some people think they are dangerous but I have been injured by the antlers of dead deer more than I have had issues of dead deer dragging me off a hillside!! You can slip off the sling with a simple twist and allow the loops to slide off the shoulder)
The sling is attached to 12ft of ratchet strap
I’ve the years I have tried numerous grades of rope
This packs flatter, doesn’t stretch, is designed for high tensile work and is stronger.
Clothing.
Everyone’s favourite argument about which boots and jackets are best
Lot more subjective depending on shape, size, activity level, do you run hot or cold!?
For years I have worn a mixture of modern layers and old school wool!
Jackets have been Barbour gore tex models, Ridge Line, Harkila, North face among others
Under layers included merino base layers, scruffy shirts, holey jumpers and occasional hoodies!
Trousers included tweed Breeks, goretex breeks, goretex trousers, cotton Fjallraven trousers, etc
Boots are boots
Some are more comfortable after 10 miles
Some leak after 1/2 mile
I wear gore tex socks now
Wouldn’t go without them
I wear them in wellies for warmth and comfort
I wear them in boots for the same
It’s a bonus that they keep my feet dry when the boots inevitably fail!!
I got a pair of berghaus yeti gaiters for my 21 birthday to go with the 4 season hiking boots that went with them.
24 years on they are still going strong
Three re-randings and I now run them on boots that don’t accommodate the rand which has long since split meaning the sit on top of the boot like spats!
Gaiters that gpnon like socks in seconds
It’s taken me 30 years to get my head round combining products that were designed to go together!!
I relatively recently came across the Stoney Creek brand.
I like it so much I decided to go against my better judgement and significant lack of space in the shop to start sell clothing !
These Kiwis know a bit about shorty weather and have a very good approach to layers/insulation/waterproofs.
The last 5 days saw me test three items of their range in some of the weirdest and nastiest weather I have seen in one day.
One minute it’s 20deg and blazing sun
Next minute it’s 7deg, mist reducing visibility to 50 yds and then horizontal rain...
I have been using the Tundra jacket and trousers which are shell jackets with no lining or insulation.
I struggle with waterproofs as I run hot.
It’s the Geordie in me from being born in Newcastle! I can deal with the cold pretty well.
Having to climb hills in anything remotely warm means I am sweating like the proverbial in seconds
Venting and dumping heat is the order of the day when ascending
Merino base layers have transformed that
They keep you warm even when wet
They dry very quickly
They will sweat away from the body
Next I needed a suitable mid layer.
I don’t usually get on with fleece materials as I usually find them far too hot
However having tried the Stoney Creek Twin zip shirt it has a number of features that I really like
The sleeves have a “shirt” cuff that can be left open, buttoned up, rolled up loosely
Very good for venting heat
The front zip is long enough to expose most of the chest
Again good for venting
It’s long and covers the waist by some 6” on me
Worn with only a merino base layer I wore it without a jacket on dry days
It was windproof and kept me warm when the temp dropped but was easily stowed when it was too warm to wear.
Next up, shitty wet days!
Wednesday was miserable in Mull
Constant rain and mist and drizzle
I decided to test the Tundra trousers
Like the jacket they are shell over trousers
Cut like jeans or normal trousers, lots of people wear leggings under them
I wore thin cotton Fjallraven trousers
They were a little hot in the climb up to the top but quickly dried or felt dry with the quick drying/wicking trousers underneath.
However when sitting to spy, kneeling, crawling, standing in driving rain they were invaluable and the day would have been made much more miserable without them.
By contrast I have a pair of Harkila pro hunters, they are much hotter to walk in but critically did not respond well to lots of kneeling in sodden peat bogs!!
They leaked at the knees when under pressure
It’s early days but the Tundra trousers showed no signs of leaking even after of literally hours of kneeling in water.
This particular day I chose to stow the mod layer in the large pocket of the bag and just west the merino base layer under the Tundra jacket
Warm enough sitting in driving rain
Cool enough when sweating my ass off climbing up hill.
When really hot I stowed the jacket across the bottom of the rucksack straps and let the wind dry the sweaty merino base layer.
This jacket has a fixed hood
Normally I can’t stand hoods opting for a decent hat and a collar that fits close to the neck on all but the worst weather
Folding or removable hoods are not quick to deploy and often don’t fit very well
Still not sold on the idea of fixed hoods but the Tundra hood has a compression design that shrinks the food onto your head pulling back without reducing field of view, ability to hear of turn your head/look up without going blind! It’s more of a hat than a hood!
The Tundra is Stoney Creek’s most waterproof jacket according to their catalogue and it certainly has not failed in that department in the two month beating I have given it
Some really nice features.
The ridged reverse edge seam in the inside zip flap allows you to run it on just the poppers without the zip closed for venting but without allowing water to run in PST the edge.
The front vertical pocket zip is waterproof with a small hood over the zip closet when closed.
The shoulders have rubberised grip nobbles on the top to stop straps and slings slipping off.
The side pockets are also vertical and placed in the same position as your side trouser pockets on a pair of suit trousers
They sit well with a rucksack in place
My only complaint would be if left open they can get damp
Just zip the up!!
They would benefit from the reverse double seam utilised inside the front zip.
Length is perfect
You can sait down on the tail without getting your arse wet!!
The last day of this trip saw the worst weather
Setting off mid morning by 4pm we were in place effectively pinned down by Hinds at 60yds and a drop in the wind that meant all but the slowest movement resulted in intolerable noise from the squelching and kit dragging on the heather!
The mist came down and then the temperature followed suit!
45 minutes of sitting in puddles in the pest and heather, alternating sitting, kneeling, lying, crawling around for position and view as we hoped for the still roaring and prancing stag that was alternating between being hidden in the mist at 400+ yds and coming tantalising within range but never standing
45 mins to sit in the rain is a long time
To do it sweaty and cooling rapidly makes it worse
Had I been getting wet from the outside as well I have no doubt I would not have been able to get into position and maintain a solid platform to take a shot at around 220 yds
As it was I was effectively lying in water but dry.
A rarity on previous Mull trips.
As it was shot was taken
Stag fell
Only when we approached the stag did we realise the sheer size of it!
A successful trip all round
Dog was less impressed with the weather and lack of canine wet weather gear!!
