Mat Manning heads out on a roving foray with his sights set on destructive grey squirrels

May 13, 2019

Stalking springtime squirrels

What better way to enjoy the countryside as late spring rolls into early summer than with a rove around the woods? A rove around the woods with an air rifle, perhaps.

Much of my grey squirrel control is done from a static position using feeding stations. Getting the greedy rodents queuing up for grain or peanuts and then sniping them from a hide is without a doubt the most effective way to control this destructive pest with an air rifle. Nonetheless, being cooped up inside a camo screen can get monotonous and you can learn a lot about your shoot by spending a few hours trekking around.

My latest outing saw me out and about on a lovely spring morning – the sun was just about poking through the clouds and the air was full of birdsong. The abundance of birds on this estate is thanks in no small part to the landowner’s commitment to the control of grey squirrels, and between us we managed to account for around 200 last winter.

But any number of remaining grey squirrels is too many, and the purpose of this outing was to keep the tally rolling by finding promising places to site a couple of new feeding stations. Although it was a recon trip, I had my Daystate Red Wolf with me as I didn’t want to miss out on any chances. When set on full power, this .22 calibre air rifle produces a muzzle energy of over 30ft/lb, which means it still delivers clean kills at ranges beyond those I usually expect to be shooting over when ambushing squirrels.

The first block of woodland I covered was a sad example of the damage caused by grey squirrels. This small area of hardwood was planted about 20 years ago and all of the trees are stunted and deformed as a result of bark stripping by grey squirrels. The damage has been detrimental to the wildlife and timber value of the trees, many of which have been completely killed. That amounts to a serious financial loss for the landowner and an immeasurable loss of habitat for native wildlife.

As I moved into the next bock of woodland, a mix of mature oak, ash and beech with a scattering of softwoods, I caught a glimpse of one of the offending squirrels. The acrobatic little rodent had clearly spotted me, and leapt from the top of one tree across to the outstretched branch of another in a bid to escape. It stopped foolishly soon, though, and lingered on a branch about 35m away. I shouldered the Red Wolf, steadied myself as I framed the squirrel in the crosshairs of my MTC Mamba Lite scope, and then dropped it with a whack to the head. That’s on less squirrel wreaking havoc in the woods, and one that won’t be munching through my peanuts when the feeding stations are in situ.

A short while later I saw another squirrel clambering through the treetops. It didn’t hang around to offer me a shot but the sighting confirmed that this area would certainly make a productive site for one of my feeders.

Spotting squirrels and getting shots at them before they clock you and clear off isn’t easy when the trees are in leaf but it can be done. A windless day is an advantage as it makes it easier to see and hear the subtle sights and sounds that can betray the presence of a bushy-tail. My preferred tactic is to move slowly through the woods, pausing every few steps so I can scan for these clues. Sometimes you’ll spot a squirrel clinging to a tree trunk or huddled in the cleft of a branch but the signs are often more subtle. Look out for shaking branches as squirrels clamber through the treetops and listen very carefully for the rustle of moving leaves or the distinctive click of claws on hard bark.

The second and last squirrel I managed to bag during my brief foray actually gave itself away by making a branch spring and quiver as it hopped from one whippy bough to another. The tell-tale shaking branch was unmissable and I soon spotted the offender scrambling along a branch. I clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth and the startled rodent froze at the sudden sound. That brief pause gave me just enough time to line up a shot that landed a 16-grain Rangemaster Sovereign right between its eye and ear, sending it tumbling through the branches and down onto the woodland floor with a thud.

Two grey squirrels is not a big bag by anyone’s standards but they all count, and that short outing resulted in two less of these opportunist rodents stripping bark and helping themselves to the contents of birds’ nests during this year’s nesting season. It had been a thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours, and I was also taking home some welcome free-range meat for the pot. Furthermore, I had noted some very promising-looking places to set up my feeding stations, which will hopefully enable me to account for many more of these destructive rodents over the coming weeks and months.

Northern Shooting Show 2019

May 7, 2019

For the 2019 Northern shooting show the group of companies that makes up the Daystate, Brocock and MTC Optics group is really pulling out all the stops to make it the biggest and best show ever.

Have a go range: you can come along and shoot one of the very latest rifles from Daystate or Brocock

Hunter Filed Target Have a go range. In conjunction with the HFT Masters team, come along and receive expert tuition on a Brocock or Daystate Rifles

The company also has a 110 square metre display in hall 2 showing the latest and the greatest for the three companies: be sure to check out the Daystate Genus Limited Edition – on display in the UK for the first time, the Brocock Concept Lite – the latest concept rifle from this go-ahead company as well as 3 new scopes from MTC Optics.

For more information visit the Northern Shooting Show web site

See you there!

Cumbrian Red Squirrel Ranger Jerry Moss with a Huntsman Regal – amongst the flowers!

April 22, 2019

Spring is upon us

Spring is upon us the nights are getting longer, and in the UK we are just about starting to get some better weather. Here is Cumbrian Red Squirrel Ranger Jerry Moss with a Huntsman Regal – amongst the flowers!

Mat Manning shares some top tips to help air rifle hunters put more woodpigeons in the bag

April 3, 2019

Shooting Woodpigeons at the Roost

Late winter into early spring is the prime season for airgun shooters to target woodpigeons around their woodland roosts. Harsh weather conditions cause the birds to gather in large flocks so it’s possible to encounter them in good numbers if you manage to locate their favourite places to bed down for the night. But the clock is ticking; the new flush of springtime growth is just around the corner, so get out now before emerging leaves make it tricky to spot birds up in the treetops.

Successful roost shooting hinges on location and timing – it really is about being in the right place at the right time. Most woods have areas where woodpigeons like to roost but some places will be a lot more popular than others. Just like us, woodpigeons like to be warm and comfortable when they settle down for a night’s sleep. Look for the most sheltered areas. Start by investigating the side of the wood that’s most sheltered from prevailing winds. Then look for the tree and plant species that offer the most protection. Firs and pines are popular with roosting pigeons as they offer shelter when other trees are devoid of leaves.

Thick patches of ivy also make for good roosting sites as their dense, waxy foliage offers excellent protection from rain, sleet and cold winds.Ivy also has the added attraction of offering a food source in the shape of its hard berries at a time of year when nourishment can be hard for birds to find.

102 — Ivy is a popular plant with pigeons as it offers food and shelter during the sparse months of winter and early spring.

Don’t just look up into the trees when seeking out an active roosting site. Study the ground, too, because the leaf litter beneath the pigeons’ favourite perches will often be splattered with droppings.

When it comes to timing, woodpigeons usually start flighting in to roost a couple of hours before nightfall. I like to get into position early enough to avoid spooking any early arrivals if possible. It can be difficult to get clear shots at birds once they’re tucked up in the cover of dense conifers. Fortunately, they tend to pitch into taller, more open trees such as oaks and ashes before fluttering down to roost, so I tend to position myself so I can cover these trees in order to improve my chances.

101 — Rather than building a hide, Mat uses natural cover and camouflage clothing so he can keep mobile.

Woodpigeons are extremely sharp-eyed birds, so concealment is very important if you want them to pitch close enough to offer you a shot. Hide-building doesn’t usually offer a solution because you need to be able to move quickly and quietly if the birds refuse to flight to the trees around you.

Camouflage clothing can make a big difference, though. Try not to get too caught up in camouflage patterns – anything that helps to break up your outline and blend in with the natural surroundings should work. The important thing is to cover up your face and hands because patches of light skin can really spook flighty woodpigeons. Remember also to make the most of natural cover because the backdrop created by a tree trunk or dense bush will give your camo clothing something to work against.

When it comes to choosing hardware and optics, precision is the prime consideration. The best way to ensure clean kills on woodpigeons is to take them with head shots or a solid strike to the head/lung area, and that demands a considerable degree of accuracy.

I have coupled my Daystate Red Wolf with an MTC Mamba Lite scope and Daystate Rangemaster Sovereign pellets, and the result is pellet-on-pellet accuracy out to 30m and beyond when taking rested shots in calm conditions. Precise shooting in the field is a different matter altogether so make sure you put in plenty of practice, not just from easy stances but also from standing and kneeling positions.

104 — A silenced air rifle is a great tool for discreetly sniping woodpigeons when they flight in to roost.

When I’m in the woods and see pigeons approaching, I get my gun into my shoulder and keep dead still. Having the gun shouldered cuts down on movement once the birds have dropped in. It can make a big difference as woodpigeons have a habit of spooking at the slightest disturbance. It’s at this point that using a tree trunk for cover can bring an added advantage, because you can also use it for support when taking shots. Even if you don’t actually nestle your gun against the tree, leaning your shoulder in for added stability makes it a lot easier to keep the crosshairs steady.

106 — Mat walks in to make the retrieve after dropping a woodpigeon with his Daystate Red Wolf.

As I mentioned earlier, head shots are my preference but pigeons can also be cleanly felled with a strike to the heart and lung area. Don’t aim straight for the chest, though, as the thick layer of muscle and bone can be almost impenetrable. Aim instead to land your pellet just beneath the fold of the wing at a slight sideways angle. If pigeons come in low, offering shots at a fairly flat angle, and are facing away from you, a shot between the shoulders will give the pellet a very clear route to the heart and lung area.

Keep still and quiet, and choose your shots carefully, and the birds should keep on coming – especially if your airgun is fitted with a decent silencer. Even if you don’t make a huge tally, bags or two or three birds make a useful contribution to crop protection and will also supply you with some excellent meat for the table.

107 — Even modest bags of pigeon assist with pest control and provide delicious meat for the table.

Cold Weather Squirrel Control- Mat Manning

February 1, 2019

Hunters who stay in because it’s cold outside are missing out on a vital time to keep grey squirrels in check, as Mat Manning explains…

Airgun hunters in the UK can make a massive contribution to conservation by controlling grey squirrels, and they should be doing it right through the year.

Much fuss is made of the damage this destructive introduced species has caused to our fragile native population of red squirrels but its impact on other indigenous wildlife is too often overlooked. Grey squirrels predate on the eggs and chicks of songbirds, and their habit of dominating natural food supplies is almost certain to be harmful to dormice. Add that to the wildlife habitat depletion and massive cost to the forestry industry (hundreds of millions of pounds every year) caused by grey squirrels’ relentless bark-stripping, and it’s a classic example of the unforeseen upset that so often occurs when an alien species is introduced to an ecosystem.

101 copy — The humble pheasant feeder can be a serious attraction to squirrels during winter.

Winter is one of the best times for keeping grey squirrels in check. Ignore what some people say about these rodents hibernating through periods of cold weather – it’s nothing but a myth. Grey squirrels don’t like getting wet but they do venture out in sub-zero temperatures. In fact, cold weather should improve your chances because it puts an edge on squirrels’ hunger and makes them even more inclined to spend the daylight hours foraging for food.

Setting up a feeding station is a great way to optimise your winter hunting time by drawing squirrels to a predetermined spot. And you don’t even have to set up your own hopper if you share your ground with a game shoot because pheasant feeders act like a magnet to squirrels.

It’s not difficult to understand the appeal. Gamekeepers tend to put out most feed during the winter months – right when natural food is starting to run low. Squirrels are notoriously greedy and soon home in on easy pickings, so grain put out to stop pheasants from straying is simply irresistible to them.

102 copy — Squirrels soon home in on an easy meal, and that includes grain put out by gamekeepers.

I managed to bag a few squirrels by targeting a pheasant feeder earlier this week. I was actually out checking up on my own peanut-filled feeding stations when I spooked not one but two squirrels from beneath one of the gamekeeper’s hoppers.

My feeders had only been set up for a few days and the squirrels had yet to take much of an interest in them. However, I wasn’t going to pass up on the opportunity to nail one or two around their more established feed sources.

I had my Daystate Red Wolf slug over my shoulder. Although it’s an adult-sized air rifle, it is deceptively light, which makes it perfect for carrying around on my woodland rounds. And it’s always useful to have it close to hand in order to make the most of chances like this one.

It was a cold day and I felt confident that the squirrels I had spooked from the feeder, and hopefully one or two more, would soon be back for another munch. I didn’t have any hide-building gear with me, although I didn’t really think I needed it. Squirrels are usually quite bold when they’re distracted by an easy food source, and I also felt that the disturbance caused by building a makeshift hide would do more harm than good.

104 copy — With the squirrels distracted by rich pickings, Mat was confident that natural cover would provide sufficient concealment.

Relying on natural cover to keep me hidden, I settled down into the undergrowth about 25 metres from the feeder. I was sure that the undergrowth and dappled shade would be sufficient to keep me concealed from incoming bushy-tails, although I did put on a headnet to cover up the pale skin of my face.

The ruse worked, and it wasn’t long before a squirrel decided to put in an appearance. I was watching a robin scratching up grain from beneath the feeder when it suddenly fluttered off into the rhododendrons and began to utter an alarm call. Seconds later, my eye caught a flash of silvery grey as a squirrel slipped down a tree trunk close to the feeder and scuttled over to dine on the grain.

103 copy — Mat has achieved great results by matching his Red Wolf with Rangemaster Sovereign pellets.

I watched the fidgety squirrel through my MTC Mamba Lite scope as it darted back and forth, picking small morsels up from the ground. It eventually sat up and hunched over to nibble at a larger grain. The momentary pause presented me with a side-on view of the static squirrel’s head. I settled the crosshairs onto the unsuspecting bushy-tail’s skull and rolled it over with a shot that echoed around the woods as the pellet hit home.

I’ve tried numerous pellets through my .22 Red Wolf, and have currently settled on Daystate Rangemaster Sovereigns. At its full power 35ft/lb, they don’t group quite as tightly as heavier pellets at extreme range but their accuracy is still impressive and they have a very flat trajectory. This power and pellet combination has proved itself countless times during woodland hunts, but being able to wind down to 16ft/lb also means that I’m able to use the same combo for other applications.

105 copy — A grain-raiding squirrel arrives at the feeder and Mat lines up for the shot.

Back to the squirrel hunt, and I decided to leave the first addition to the day’s bag where it fell to avoid spooking others by breaking cover. It proved to be a good move when another squirrel started chattering from the treetops about 30 metres away and was promptly added to the bag.

My ambush was limited to just over an hour as I was only out on my pre-work rounds, and I had a long day in the office ahead of me. Nonetheless, I managed to add one more grain-raiding squirrel to make it a trio before heading home for breakfast. That’s three less squirrels causing trouble in that particular woodland, and proof indeed that it is certainly worth targeting this most destructive of pests during periods of cold weather.

107 copy — This trio of squirrels made the mistake of venturing out in the cold when Mat was lurking with his Red Wolf.

Daystate Ltd’s 40th Anniversary Celebration

December 10, 2018

A 40^th birthday is well worth marking and we certainly celebrated ours in style. On Monday the 3^rd of December we welcomed some 50 friends, colleagues and members of the press to the wonderful Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds to remember the company’s illustrious past and open a window into its bright future.

On display were some 50 classic Daystate models that we all remember well, alongside some unusual ones that few of the visitors had ever seen. There was also a chance to see the first ever successful airgun, the Girandoni, that was in fact a weapon of war. This was on loan from the armoury and is just one of some 29,000 guns they hold as the UK collection of firearms. Many present had never seen one of these in the flesh and were clearly delighted to have had this rare opportunity given to them.

The Girandoni Air Rifle, earliest example of PCP technology.

Perhaps the star of the show was the Red Wolf that recently won the American Field Target competition in Arizona, USA, which is one part of the wildly successful Extreme Bench Rest competition. In fact, Red Wolf rifles won more events than any other gun at this year’s competition. It’s rare for such a new gun to win at this level, as competitors like time to learn any new product but the Red Wolf was a winner straight from the box. In that one room was the earliest successful airgun and the very latest competition-winning technology, demonstrating just how far the airgun has come.

Lloyd Schober of Blackpool Air Rifles with the original Daystate prototype.

Rebecca Draper of Draper's Air Guns with a Red Wolf

The icing on the cake was the launch of the limited-edition Genus, which is the latest stunning evolution of the superb HR Huntsman Regal. Among its many desirable features are a laminated stock, custom engraving and the first sighting of our new 0dB silencer system.

Carl Harlow Solware — Carl Harlow of Solware with Daystate No. 1

Richard Lowndes admiring his grandfather's gun.

Nigel Allen discusses the collection with Terry Doe and Gareth Egarr

We also announced our new Daystate Airgunners’ Support Pack. A program designed to give support to both vloggers, budding journalists, hunters and competition shooters. Working alongside Brocock and MTC Optics this program is designed to deliver rifles and scopes into the hands of those that need support to further their careers in the airgun world.

It was a great day, enjoyed by all, to celebrate everything we have come to stand for, namely

The World’s Finest Air Guns

Extreme Domination for the Red Wolf

October 19, 2018

Extreme Benchrest 2018, Mesa Arizona

Now in its eighth year and established as one of the most prestigious air rifle target events on the international shooting calendar, the 2018 Extreme Benchrest Championships took place in Arizona, United States from Thursday 11^th October. Hosted by premier distribution and retail giant, Airguns of Arizona, the now-famous desert ranges saw 160 airgun shooters from across the globe compete shoulder to shoulder for the high-value prizes up for grabs in the various disciplines held over the course of the four-day competition.

With Extreme Benchrest attracting the best of the best, both shooters and their equipment are pushed to the very limits of precision. It’s therefore rare to see any one air rifle dominate at all levels – but 2018’s event saw one gun rise unerringly to the fore: the Daystate Red Wolf!

Alvaro Lopez takes aim at the Extreme Benchrest.

With an already proven pedigree in the hunting field since the launch of this new rifle at the beginning of the year, we were hopeful the Red Wolf would fare well in Extreme American Field Target disciplines. But with the high-precision event attracting so many other stellar air rifles by necessity, even we could not predict the impressive haul of victories the new Red Wolf would ultimately amass in the hands of some of the world’s finest marksmen.

The first result to come in for the Daystate was in Field Target, where shooters battled it out over a difficult course of knockdowns laid out to a very testing 100 yards. Ultimately, it was Airgun Nation’s Michael Wendt who emerged victorious, with his Red wolf carding a maximum score no less – 40 out of 40! Despite a field littered with high profile shooters and famous airgun brands, Daystate then went on to lock-out the entire podium, with Red Wolf shooters Ben Spencer and Tony Turchetta joining Wendt for the medals ceremony!

Michael Wendt from Airgun Nation, out of the American Field Target Course.

Next was 50-metre Benchrest – a target-based competition based on precision and consistency. Historically, this has been the preserve of other air rifle manufacturers, but 2018 saw a complete turnaround. The three top places not only went to Daystate shooters, but winner Sandy Corcorran, and runners-up Dan Fujimagari and Ken Hicks Jr. each used a Red Wolf to beat the gusty winds, carding scores of 707, 706 and 701 respectively. Another Red Wolf lock-out!

With hunting and target orientated courses already being tamed by the Red Wolf, next up was the Speed Silhouette discipline, which tests not only the shooter’s loading dexterity, but also the speed at which they can acquire and then drop the metal knockdowns under pressure of the clock. Adding to the speed-shooting spectacle this year was the wind and torrential rain that had turned the hot, dry desert ranges into an even tougher arena than ever. Yet despite challenging climatic conditions, one air rifle was to emerge to the fore – yes… the electronic Daystate! No fewer than seven of the 10 finalists took up their position with a Daystate in their shoulder, Red Wolves being the dominant force among them. Again, first, second and third places in the Pro Class went to competitors shooting a Red Wolf, with winner Michel Wendt being joined on the rostrum with runners-up, Tom Adams and John Bugakis.

Wolf Pack Line up for Silo Final — The Wolf Pack line up for the Knockdown Silo Final.

Finally, the Championships’ Extreme Benchrest finale. With a prize pot of $5,000, it’s the event everyone wants to win, but not one for the faint-hearted. Two qualifying shoots at 75 metres whittle the field down to a 30-man final, where everything’s to play for at the extended range of 100 metres. As if that’s not extreme enough, a howling wind and the earlier monsoon-like conditions conspired to make 2018’s competition one of the toughest ever. It would take a special shooter, and a special rifle, to take victory…

The dominant grip of Daystate’s 2018 Red Wolf flagship was to be broken in the final. Against all the odds – the extreme conditions and the threat of no fewer than 12 Red Wolf shooters taking their places in the Pro Class Final – it was a rifle from Daystate’s sister company that scooped the spoils. Claudio Flores from Patagonia Airguns steered his Brocock Bantam Sniper HR to win the Championships’ top gun prize, and take a very well-earned cheque for $5,000 back home to his native Chile.

100 yard Benchrest Final — 100 Yard Extreme Benchrest Results

With all the results in other Competitions could now be decided. The Gilbert Grand for the best result with a .22 rifle was won by Claudio Flores.

The One Gun Challenge sponsored by Daystate in which competitors must use the same gun for all disciplines was again won by Airgun Nation’s Michael Wendt.

team pic with Claudio Flores — Tony Belas, Mauro Marocchi, Claudio Flores, Michele Marocchi and Gianbattista Sabatti.

Airguns of Arizona’s 2018 Championships proved, once again, why Extreme Benchrest is such a prestigious tournament for the world’s elite air rifle marksmen. It’s an event that encompasses extreme challenge with extreme excitement, but where the emphasis is on extreme precision.

Ultimately, only the best of the best will cut it. In 2018, the results made one thing extremely clear: the Daystate Red Wolf is the unrivalled choice of winners.

Lauren Red Wolf — Former World Champion Lauren Parsons and her Daystate Red Wolf

For a full round up of all the results please visit www.extremebenchrest.com

Give Yourself a Rest- Mat Manning

October 12, 2018

Modern pre-charged air rifles are capable of blistering accuracy and the electronic Daystate Red Wolf really does take precision to another level.

Match it with the right ammo and a bipod and this airgun is more than capable of landing pellet on pellet at 30 metres and beyond.

The Red Wolf’s sophisticated internals result in an extremely fast lock time, greatly reducing the lag between the shooter pressing the trigger and the pellet leaving the barrel. A faster lock time means there’s less chance of the tiny wobbles from your body affecting your aim, effectively making it easier to shoot accurately.

This enhanced potential for precision is easy to exploit when you’re shooting on a range but, even with all the benefits this gun brings, it’s not quite so simple in the field. The fact is that the shooter is almost always the weakest link in the accuracy chain. Whether standing, kneeling or sitting, it’s very difficult to completely overcome the tiny movements caused by the swaying of your body, your breathing and even your pulse.

102 — Shooting prone and utilising the support of a bipod is a great way to extract optimum accuracy from a precision air rifle.

To fully exploit the accuracy potential of my air rifles when I’m out hunting, I take full advantage of any opportunity to take leaning shots; using trees, gates and fences for added support whenever possible. To really get the most of a gun like the Red Wolf at long range, you can’t beat shooting from the prone position with the support of a bipod. Shooting prone gets your centre of gravity as low as you possibly can, making it virtually impossible for your body to sway, and the stability provided by the bipod makes it a lot easier to hold the crosshairs dead on target when using a scope at higher magnification.

Unlike the Daystate Pulsar, the Red Wolf doesn’t come with an integral accessory rail for bipod attachment. Fitting the stock with a quick-release stud is a simple job, though, and creates a secure fixing point for a bipod and also a sling.

Red Wolf Bipod — Fit the Red Wolf’s stock with a quick release stud and it’s easy to clip a bipod on and off.

With the rabbits on one of my permissions getting more and more wary as they grow older, long-range sniping from the support of a bipod is by far the best way to bring them to book. My favourite approach is to lay in wait and pick off unsuspecting bunnies as they emerge to feed at the end of the day.

You have to set up in the right place for these tactics to work. It’s important that rabbits venture out within range because all the stealthy advantages of setting up an ambush will be lost if you are forced to create noise and movement by trying to creep in closer for the shot.

Look for places that you know are frequented by rabbits. The obvious sites to target are those where you have actually spotted rabbits but there are other clues that can steer you in the right direction. Rabbit burrows are a clear sign of their presence – you want to find ones with clear openings and plenty of excavated soil to confirm recent activity. Droppings are another useful calling card to guide you to the right place – fresh ones are dark and moist. Other, subtler signs include runs through brambles and other undergrowth, and very close-cropped grass where rabbits have been feeding around field margins.

104 — The added stability of a bipod makes it easier to keep the crosshairs steady when you wind up the magnification.

Once I’ve located a place where I expect to encounter rabbits, I try to set up within striking distance and with the wind blowing towards me. This ensures that any scent I am carrying from the human world is carried away from the rabbits rather than towards them.

If there are rabbits out when you arrive, try to resist the urge to stalk them. Instead, simply stroll across the field to your chosen position. Moving in this way, you will look more like a walker than a predator, and the rabbits are more likely to have the confidence to venture back out as a result.

You don’t need a hide or a blind for this sort of ambush because shooting from the prone position keeps you down off the skyline. I sometimes wear a camouflage head net for added concealment but it is not essential. The vital thing is to keep still and quiet.

Mat Manning Shooting — A rabbit creeps out from the undergrowth and Mat lines up for the shot.

This approach takes patience but you should be rewarded with relatively straightforward shots. More often than not, the rabbits won’t even know you’re there, and shooting from a fixed position means you can work out ranges to set markers such as trees, gates and fence posts as soon as you arrive so you can use them as reference points when chances come along.

Prone Shooting — The prone position helps with concealment by keeping your profile low.

One problem with shooting from the prone position is that shots can sometimes be hampered by low-lying cover, especially when rabbits have their heads down feeding. If I can’t get a clear shot at a rabbit that has its head down among the grass, I either make a squeaking sound through pursed lips or click my tongue against the roof of my mouth. The noise is usually enough to make rabbits sit bolt upright with ears pricked. In this position, they tend to offer a very clear target.

These tactics work best in relatively calm conditions, as a stiff breeze will make it difficult to judge where the pellet is going to strike at longer range. It’s also important to put in plenty of practice. Perfect your prone shooting on paper targets on the range, and you’ll know exactly which aim-points on your scope’s reticle you need to use over varying distances.

Airgun Accuracy — Match your airgun with the right pellet and put in the practice, and a bipod can really boost long-range accuracy.

Squirrel Ranger – Richard Saunders

September 14, 2018

The (Almost) Lone Ranger

For some airgun hunters, a walk in the woods is not just the pursuit of a pastime but the execution of a critically important role. Take, for example, those entrusted with the protection of fragile pockets of native red squirrels against the threat posed by the grey invader. Or people like Colin Fallows, a ranger charged not with protecting red squirrels, but valuable trees.

As part of a team of three, he patrols a 25-hectare forest in Oxfordshire that is the site of globally funded research projects into techniques to improve the sustainability and cultivation of hardwood species to increase timber production and improve woodland habitat.

Over the last 35 years, more than 60,000 oak, ash, cherry, beech and walnut trees have been planted in the woods, inadvertently providing an ideal habitat for grey squirrels. Their bark-stripping antics wreak havoc and compromise timber values by deforming branches and even killing entire trees.

With professional pest control too expensive, and other control methods dismissed for practical and humane reasons, keeping a check on the squirrel population is entrusted to the rangers and their air rifles.

With the success of costly research projects on the line, and the need to report the number of squirrels he shoots each week, ranger Colin has to make sure that every shot counts. He follows a strict practice regime, spending hours on the range shooting at exactly 16 metres – the distance over which he hunts in the woods.

With so much land to cover, he’s developed an approach in which he erects a small peanut feeder in each new location and monitors it with a trail camera. By using the footage and the frequency with which he has to replenish the peanuts, Colin is able to gauge the immediate squirrel population.

Only when there is evidence of squirrels, and he feels they have come to accept the feeder as a regular source of food they can trust, does he plan his shooting sessions.

Huntsman in Hide — A few creature comforts makes spending time in a hide a little easier and helps ensure every shot counts

I joined him one morning during the summer heatwave, though it was pleasantly cool when we met at 4.00 am. To maximise concealment, the ranger uses a pop-up hide. Inside he sits on a comfortable fishing chair behind a camping table upon which he places his rifle on a butt rest and bipod. Outside a wind meter feeds information directly to an app on his phone to tell him how much windage to allow for.

Following a procession of birds including Jays, which Colin left alone as they do not damage the trees, and woodpeckers that do but are protected, a couple of squirrels put in an appearance.

It was a little after 5.00am and the sun had barely risen. One of the squirrels held back, high up on a tree, but the other made a direct approach towards the feeder. Sitting in my own hide and armed only with a camera, I sensed Colin waiting for it to climb up the tree and start munching on the free offerings. Instead it began eating the peanuts that had fallen onto the ground.

The ranger waited for the squirrel to select another nut and settle on its haunches to nibble away. I held my breath, waiting for the shot. Colin duly obliged and the whisper quiet cough of his rifle was followed instantly by the meaty impact of the pellet.

The squirrel rolled over, kicked a couple of times and then lay still, hit squarely in the head.

The other squirrel, still up its tree, froze, tail twitching in alarm. I could see the muzzle of Colin’s Huntsman Regal as he tried to find a clear path for his pellet. However, within a few seconds, the squirrel started moving towards us, then went past and up a tree to disappear into the woods.

Though he has shot as many as 17 squirrels in a session, that one proved to be our only success of the day, but as the ranger explained, the relative lack of the squirrels proves that he and his ranger colleagues are doing their job.

Range Finding with mil Bracketing- Nigel Allen

September 5, 2018

HOW TO RANGE-FIND WITH MIL BASED CROSSHAIRS

Airgunners may be missing this trick with their mil-dot scopes

Riflescopes that feature a mil-dot reticle are in vogue, with many scope manufacturers developing their own crosshair designs to incorporate ‘mil’ spacings (not always signified by dots). Airgunners favour mil-dot optics primarily because they tie in so well with a pellet’s trajectory, which follows a more pronounced flightpath than a high-powered bullet fired from a rifle. An airgun pellet is also more susceptible to wind drift. With so many aiming points to reference in the sight picture of a mil-dot scope, the airgun shooter can therefore easily make allowances for holdover, holdunder and windage when lining up the shot.

Yet using mil-dots solely for aiming purposes isn’t really taking full advantage of the concept behind the system. Indeed, it’s likely that most airgunners are missing a trick with such scopes.

mil dot reticule — Figure 1. Standard type mil-dot crosshair. The spacing between each dot is equivalent to one milliradian, or 1 mil

The mil-dot system was primarily developed for range-finding in military applications, where bracketing a target between the dots could provide a rough and ready estimation of its downrange distance. While there’s no denying their effectiveness as a multi-aimpoint crosshair for airgun use, the principles behind the system also make it an ideal tool for determining how far away your target is. So, for the airgun shooter, looking down a mil-dot scope offers the best of two worlds: plenty of aiming stadia and an integrated range-finding system!

WHAT IS A MIL?

Mil-dot reticles are so called because they revolve around a unit of angular measurement known as a milliradian, or ‘mil’ for short. One mil equates to 36 inches at 1,000 yards; more easily converted in metric as 10cm (100mm) at 100 metres. Being angular, the measurement value of a mil will change over distance, although its relationship is a linear constant. For example, one mil will equate to 20cm at 200m (double that of the 100m measurement), 5cm at 50m (half that of the 100m measurement) and so on.

For most airgun shooting scenarios, distances are commonly 50 metres and below, but the mil-dot system still translates well. The table in figure 2 shows the benefit of working in metric values; if you wanted to know the value of a mil at 25 metres, for example, it doesn’t need much brain power to work out that it would be 25mm!

Mil Chart — Figure 2. The measurement of a mil is dependent on distance, but it’s easy to remember!

Besides dots, mil measurements are often represented by short stadia incorporated into the crosshair’s design, giving the shooter a kind of ruler to measure by. As there are advantages to measuring in smaller increments, advanced reticles like MTC Optics’ SCB2 and AMD also offer the shooter measuring marks in half-mil steps. By halving the measurement reference of a mil, smart crosshairs like MTC’s provide an even more precise aiming and range-finding system.

BRACKETING

If you know the size of your target, you can quickly gauge its distance by simply ‘bracketing’ it between the mil (or half-mil) marks on your scope’s reticle and taking a note of how many of these it spans. Conveniently, you can undertake this as part of the aiming process, making it a speedy affair.

Take this scenario as an example (figure 3). You’re lining up on a bird pest, perched on a branch an unknown distance in front of you. The bird measures approximately 200mm from beak to branch. So, because it ‘brackets’ between a five-mil spacing on your MTC scope’s SCB2 graduated crosshair, you can confidently estimate its range to be 40 metres. How? Through a dead easy formula: target size divided by mil spacings. In other words: 200mm divided by 5 mils… equals 40m.

Take another example – a feeding rabbit. You approximate the top of its body to be 150mm off the grass and can bracket it between three mil spacings. So, 150 ÷ 3 = 50; the rabbit is around 50 metres away. Handily, you can then select the aiming dot or stadia relevant to that distance on your scope’s crosshair to allow for holdover. Easy!

The half-mil system comes into its own for much smaller targets, such as the ‘kill area’ of a knock-down silhouette, where bracketing measurements need to be far more precise. As such, half-mil reticles are favoured by outdoor competition shooters, though the range-finding calculation is the same.

Suppose you are aiming at a metal silhouette with a 12mm diameter ‘kill’ disc. If you can bracket the disc between a single half-mil spacing, then the distance of the target from you must therefore be 12 ÷ 0.5 = 24 metres. Likewise, if you can bracket it between three half-mil spacings (i.e. 1.5 mils), then its range must be 12 ÷ 1.5 = 8 metres (figure 4).

Given how easy the milliradian formula is, making a spur of the moment range calculation is quick as well as accurate. However, why not print off the table in figure 5 to keep in the pocket of your shooting jacket for an always-at-hand reminder?

table — Figure 5: Assess the size of your target to then easily estimate its range based on the number of mil spacings it can be bracketed by. The quick calculation is: distance (mtrs) = target size (mm) divided by number of mils

BRACKETING WITH ZOOM SCOPES

As simple as the mil bracketing system is to range-find with, there is something to be aware of if you have a variable power scope: the focal plane where the scope’s reticle is located. Scopes fall into two types, those where the reticle is in the first focal plane (FFP) and those where it is in the second focal plane (SFP) – see here.

With a FFP scope, both the target size and reticle remain in proportion to each other, regardless of the magnification you set. Therefore, you can use the bracketing system to range-find your target on any magnification with these scope types.

However, with a SFP scope, you can only accurately use the bracketing system on one magnification setting: the ‘true’ power. Though this is often 10x magnification, it can vary between scope manufacturers and models, so it’s an important number to know on your own telly. If, for example, your scope’s mil-dot crosshair is ‘true at 10x’, but you always shoot on 12x power, you will have to wind down the magnification to 10x when range-finding using the bracketing method.

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