Recommend Badger a huntin' rifle...

[daman]

Zastava sporter in 6.5x55?

http://www.zastava-arms.rs/en/civilianp ... 0-standard

Cheap as chips mauser, nice to handle, traditional looks so as not to scare the tweedies. They've been making them for a while, so they're pretty reliable. And you won't get upset if you want to trade up in a few years :-)

I have one in .308 and while I'm not on the deer yet, I'm (as our colonial friends say) lovin' it.

[daman]

- when y'all use the term 'stalking' (where I would say 'hunting'), does its use imply only deer, or is it used in a wider sense for all hunting?

Hunting over here generally means wearing funny cloths and riding around on horses following a pack of dogs.
Stalking generally means deer
Shooting means birds and what you would call varmints.

[meles meles]

And slug hunting is popular amongst our species...

[meles meles]

The Zastava M85 full stock looks very nice..



Even Dromia might approve.

[Browning_grrl]

- when y'all use the term 'stalking' (where I would say 'hunting'), does its use imply only deer, or is it used in a wider sense for all hunting?

Hunting over here generally means wearing funny cloths and riding around on horses following a pack of dogs.
Stalking generally means deer
Shooting means birds and what you would call varmints.

I am curious on a couple of points, hope y'all don't consider these to be 'nuisance' questions, coz they're legit:

- when y'all use the term 'stalking' (where I would say 'hunting'), does its use imply only deer, or is it used in a wider sense for all hunting?

- are all your deer hunts done in open country over ranges longer than, say, 100 meters? Or, is there hunting in much closer, denser cover, where, over here, I might well use a 12 ga with a scope and fully-rifled barrel with slugs?

e.g. (one of my deer rigs...)



Thanks. :)

A pump action with rifled barrel = 5 years prison
Slug hunting not legal in the UK; use of shorguns for deer shooting is VERY restricted....basically land-owners using buckshot in VERY limited scenarios ONLY

Ok, thank you both for that. I was unaware. :)

[Scotsgun]

Dromia talks a lot of sense. It's the optics which will cost you.

I often despair at the inexperienced or those more easily influenced by the numpty media writers who are sponsored by the big companies. If I had a fiver for every guy who's approached me with the latest rifle, usually with all the bells and whistles yet can't seem to get consistent shots.

A stalking kit must be correctly prepared and tuned. To that end, I'd much rather buy a well prepared older rifle on a proven action which has been sourced by a knowledgeable gunshots, topped with a quality scope known for its poor light ability and permanently fixed with decent lapped scope rings.
I've stalked and 'controlled' a lot of deer (there is a difference) and my immediate impulse when reaching into my safe is to reach for my Tikka M65. A rifle built when they were noted for craftsmanship rather than CNC ability, complete with a solid non-tupperware stock on the tried and proven mauser action. Much like Dromia's ParkerHales. It's not ammo fussy, I don't get worried about getting it wet and don't have a problem dragging it through gross, mud, s*** and heather.
I also own a merkel. I bought it when forced to get rid of my motorbikes due to injury. It is a lovely rifle but I wouldn't dream of treating it the same. Nor would I trust it to perform faultlessly like the Tikka.

I'd say save your money for the optics and buying a few quality stalks with real experienced estate stalkers who'll teach you to stalk . Someone who's livelihood depends on getting you into quality deer. Whilst there, have a butcher's at their rifle. You won't find the newest tactical toy in some obscure calibre.

Stalking is about the skill in getting into the deer unnoticed, selecting the deer to cull and even occasionally getting back out without disturbance, should you decide not to shoot. Most of your shots will be sub 200yrs so any MOA rifle will do. The actual shot is the easy bit; it's everything before and after that takes a lifetime to learn. Once you master that, come tell me how because I'm still bloody learning - every single time I stalk.

[tackb]

Oh Dromia wouldn't approve of that version of the Charlie G ! Back in his day it was the old Mk 1a with wooden grips and a steel tube. None of this filament overwound aramid stuff with a thermal imager on top !

I'm guessing PIAT ?

[meles meles]

Dromia talks a lot of sense. It's the optics which will cost you.

We have some nice second paw, but still very effective, Pecars that we plan to use. We don't expect to shoot at more than 100 mards, and consider 6.5x55 Swe perfectly good for the job.

[Dougan]

our 1905 Charlie G did just fine on the shooting tests. We could have it drilled and tapped for mounts, then stick one of our second paw Pecars on it. However, we don't really fancy butchering a fine old rifle, and think it deserves better than to be dragged and scratched about in the rain and forest. Plastic and stainless might be modern but we wouldn't cry if we got it wet and battered.

I got a HI-LUX 2 - 7 x 32 scout scope for my 1909 6.5 Swedish to do some load testing - up to 200 yards it's as good as most modern .308s...

...With it's accuracy, reliability and reasonably flat trajectory, I reckon it would make a good deer and boar rifle...but like yourself I don't like the thought of damaging it.

[saddler]

Oh Dromia wouldn't approve of that version of the Charlie G ! Back in his day it was the old Mk 1a with wooden grips and a steel tube. None of this filament overwound aramid stuff with a thermal imager on top !

I'm guessing PIAT ?

Way off!
Not just wrong decade. ...almost a different century.

The clue is in the name....Carl Gustaff