Rifle Shooter – July 2019

http://www.rifleshootermagazine.co.uk 33

Weight watcher

Q

Which is better suited to foxing, a heavy

or light bullet? Presumably a heavy

bullet has more knockdown?

A

MARK RIPLEY replies: It depends more

on the type of shooting you are doing or

rather the ranges you are shooting.

Both have advantages and disadvantages

over each other. A light bullet has the ability to

fly faster and with less drop than a heavier

bullet and on reaching its target will be more

explosive with fragmentation, particularly when

travelling over the 3,000 fps mark.

The downside to this is that the wind can

knock the bullet around more at longer ranges.

Also at longer ranges, the bullet has less

‘splash’ on the ground, making it harder to

spot misses.

I feel a heavier bullet is better for long-range

foxing where bullet drop can simply be

corrected by holdover or dialling in and will be

more forgiving for the biggest variable, which is

the wind.

If I’m foxing at night, I prefer to use a lighter

bullet as I keep the ranges within 300 yards

and the ability to accurately range targets at

night can be difficult. For example, a 53gr

bullet from my .223 with a 200-yard zero

(about an inch high at 100 yards) allows me to

point and shoot out to around 250 yards, then

a little hold over the shoulder of a fox at 300

yards is all that’s needed.

PICTURE:

CERVUS CREATIVE

The eyes have it

Q

What is the best option for

hunting binoculars? I want to have

maximum light gathering capability, but

don’t want to be weighed down by carrying a

massive optic around all day. Are the modern,

compact, lightweight binoculars good enough

for deerstalking?

A

DOM HOLTAM replies: The simple

truth, as with all optical solutions, is

that there is no perfect ‘do everything’

solution. If you shoot from a high seat or are

tackling wild boar under the moon, some big

old 8x56s take a lot of beating. Would I want

to lug them around on a hill stalk? No.

Modern compact binoculars are fantastic. I

have been using compacts from both Kite and

Leupold in recent months and have been

impressed by the build quality, image

brightness and, most of all, the pocket-sized

convenience. Great for travelling and also for

taking to sports events or out on a hike.

Personally, I have always favoured a 42mm

objective and either a 10x or 8x magnification

• with a general preference for 8x for the wider
  field of view. I still do quite a high percentage
  of my shooting at dawn or dusk and find the
  42s more than capable in that situation. I also
  find them comfortable for a long day on the hill


• although I always ditch the strap and use a
  binocular harness instead. For many years, I
  have used the S4 Gear Lockdown harness
  and it is secure, durable and comfy.
  There are lots of variables and ultimately
  you need to make a decision based on the
  type of shooting you do. But I’d recommend

spending the most you can afford – you

spend a lot of time looking through binos

compared to riflescopes and good binoculars

will help get more deer on the deck. Plus, with

care, they will give you literally decades of

reliable service.

Nocturnal perfection

Q

I’d like to know: should you have an

NV scope on your rifle alongside a

thermal spotting scope or just a

thermal scope? Or should you always use a

lamp for definite identification of quarry?

A

CHRIS PARKIN replies: Although I still

use the lamp for shooting rats with

the airgun, my preferred set-up for

foxes is now a thermal spotter and digital

night vision riflescope. The handheld spotter

is less hassle to lug around and used in far

more circumstances. I use them just like

binoculars in daylight, when walking or from

the vehicle to initially detect likely quarry,

before the gun ever has to be taken out of

its slip.

The great joy of thermal is the ability to see

and watch quarry without any interference

and watching the movement and

mannerisms allows a good deal of

identification to occur long before you go

‘live’ for a shot. The lamp requires far more

speed and skill because every millisecond

the light is in the quarry’s eyes, spooking

them, is important.

Thermal riflescopes are very nice, but if I

could only have one thermal tool, the

riflescope would not be it – I’m still a believer

in closing the distance without risk of errant

long shots in total darkness, aiming at a

distant hot dot. I am far more comfortable

and accurate making shots with night vision,

even comparatively low-cost items like the

Yukon Photon with a good illuminator, than I

am with scopes at five times the price. That

illuminator only needs to be flicked on for the

final second or so. Spotting through a

thermal riflescope carries questionable

safety ethics with what you are unknowingly

pointing a rifle at before identification. It’s

also more bulky and cumbersome.

It’s worth mentioning that any electronic

tool with internal display will dampen your

night vision for several hours – using one eye

on the monocular and the same on the

riflescope leaves the other eye stronger.

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PICTURE:

CHRIS PARKIN

PICTURE:

DOM HOLTAM