S_S_2015_05_

24 SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

GENERAL | THE 2015 BRITISH SHOOTING SHOW

T

his year’s British Shooting Show saw
Editor Pete Moore offer me the
opportunity to report on all the items
at the show that specifi cally drew my
attention, not just the precision and tactical
market. The one target I had on my radar
from the word GO, was the new Bolthorn
stock/chassis system from the GRS stable.
Oscar Haugen was pleased to show me the
design that is being made so suit Howa
and Tikka from the word go, not just the
usual Remington 700 clones, which will
follow in April. It’s a straightforward bolt-on
system offering AICS magazine
compatibility and adjustability in all critical
ergonomics to polish off the already
superbly balanced tracking design of the
unit, one is lined up for test! Importers
Highland Outdoors were also showing new
Ridgeline clothing, the smock styles
becoming more and more popular for their
heat retention and water shrugging
properties, I like them, especially for static
hunting where the body chills quickly as you
can layer up underneath without fear of
excessive bulkiness

I MUST SEE THESE!
I have been chasing Minox optics ever
since my fi rst shooting show and Ian Spicer
has promised me some to test after
overcoming supply problems. I have shot a
few prototypes in the tactical ranges and
been utterly impressed by both image
quality and mechanical specifi cation but
was strongly drawn to the spotting scopes
they had to show. They were early
prototypes with 2nd focal plane mil
reticules which on full production versions
will be placed in the 1st focal plane for
decisive shooter/spotter coordination when
shooting and viewing splash at long ranges.
I was pleasantly shocked at the suggested
prices, the value for money looks to be
outstanding, as I really liked what I saw and
hope these ones really do arrive on the
market near these prices. I shall also run a
big 5-25 Tac scope test and Pete has lined
up one of the refi ned 1-8x scopes for his
‘Black rifl e’ AR specialism.
What may well be the highlight of the
show from me, was Bergara’s B14 sporting
rifl e. On the surface nothing spectacular
but close inspection shows stylish design

and excellent handling with synthetic, or

walnut stocks at a spectacular price. What

really stands out to me was a stock in either

material, designed stiff enough to free-fl oat

the barrel ALL the time, a lovely palm swell

of modest proportion and perhaps most

honourably, a close, but not identical

approach to the cloned Remington action,

showing thoughtful updates suitable for a

sporting rifl e. The bolt handle and knob is

proportioned perfectly for fast operation with

compact size and an extractor claw integral

to the bolt face lug, not the old Remy circlip.

With Monte-Carlo cheekpiece design I saw

and handled this rifl e with one single

opinion; at these prices, how can it fail to

Parkin’s Picks

Bergara's new B14 surely cannot fail! It’s a

superb package!

Schmidt & Bender are apparently back, let's see what the T96 can do

Oscar Haugen from GRS with the latest

Bolthorn Chassis, it looks good!

“What may well be the

highlight of the show from

me, was Bergara’s B14

sporting rifl e. On the surface

nothing spectacular but

close inspection

shows stylish design and

excellent handling”