For those of you who hunt red stag, roebuck and wild boar, what calibers do you use and in what rifle? What kind of sights and reticles if you use a scope?

I use a Ruger 77 in 338 Win Mag. Leupold 3-9x40 with duplex reticle for use in daylight and a Leupold 4,5-14x50 with heavy duplex for hunting at night. I would actually prefer a German Nr. 4 reticle for bad light conditions, the posts are thicker than in the heavy duplex.

Roe deer 6.5x55 or 7x64;
Red deer I hunted a bull with 7x64, next time I'll use a 9.3x62;
Wild Boar, normally 9.36x62.
My rifles are scoped in this way:
6.5x55 Swaroski 6x ret N� 4
7x64 Schmidt&Bender 1,5-6x42 ret N�1
9.3x62 Schmidt&Bender 4x ret N� 4
bye

Db Bill

7X57 boltaction. for roe and fallow and other game. 1,5-6X42 of close up and a 2,5-10X50 for dusk or dawn hunts.

270 win boltaction for roe deer and fallow. scope 3-13X50. reticle german 1

300 wby. 3-12X50 for night hunt for wildboar and other game. Reticle 4 with illumination

9,3X62, mauser bolt action. 1,5-5 for close driven hunts on all types game. Fitted with open sights with white inserts.

/ JOHAN

- drive hunt (Red deer, Roedeer, Wild Boar) : FN-Browning o/u in 9,3x74R + Swarovski 1,25-4x24 (battue reticle), K98 Scout in 9,3x62+ Leupold 2X EER (duplex) ;
- stalking :
Red Deer, Wild Boar : Blaser R93, .300 Win Mag + Swarovski 2,5-10x42 (reticle 4), Rem 700 Sendero, .300 Win Mag + Leupold Vari X-III 3,5-10x50 (duplex), Win 70 custom, .338 Win Mag + Swarovski 1,5-6x42 (reticle 4).
Roedeer : Sauer 202 in 7x64 + Swarovski 1,5-6x42(reticle 4A).

Winchester bolt action ss 270 win for almost everything i shot. (Roebuck, red deer stags and hinds, mountain ghoat, warthogs, Impala, kudu and 3 dogs) : Scope leupold Vari XII 3-9 - 40 (duplex). A very, very good scope for the money!
I also used a steyr 308 with Kahles scope and this caliber is very versatile! On My scout rifle 308 win i will trie a aimpoint comp XD.
If you can only have one rifle, a 9,3 x 62 would be a very wise purchase but a 270 or 7 x 57 is also very good for most of the game a European hunter shoots.
Dirk scout from the monkey b-country

[ 06-12-2003, 23:29: Message edited by: dirk_scout ]

Seems like a 30-06 with premium bullets (Nosler Partition & Swift A-Frame) in weights of 150, 180, and 200 grains would do them all.

Dirk,

Isn't that Steyr .308 a lovely bit of kit... I shot my friends one a while back topped with his Swarovski 8x50 habicht... now I'm saving my pennies so I can take on some of the boar that have made their way into my part of the country. It makes most things come over all sleepy rather suddenly , and pushes through a bit better than my .243. In addition to that it feels like it is half the weight which is a big consideration if you are carrying it about for a 6hr stint...

Currently I use a Sako Forester .243 topped with a Swarovski 8x56 Habicht. Took the scope out lamping for the first time last night and I could see through it just with the light of the fullish moon and pick out the reticle just about. With the lamp it was like shooting at midday!!

Mainly see Fallow and Sika here, plus a few reds.
I use a Tikka 270win with a Schmitt & Bender 8x56, No 7 Reticule.
Brian.

For roe deer 6,5 x 57 (and fox and coon) in a Mauser with a S&B Scope 12x56

Red deer and boar 9,3x62 with a ZEISS Variopoint 1,5-6x42

At the moment my gunsmith creates my dream rifle
in 9,3 x 70(!!) but it will take some months

Burkhard

For muntjac, roe and fallow:-
6mm rem takedown/Swarovski 6x42/4a - Mon-Fri on way to or from work
6.5x55/Swarovski 6x42/4a - all other times

For all deer and travel in the UK:-
7x57/Swarovski 6x42/4

Travel outside UK for bigger animals:-
9.3x62/Swarovski 1.5-6x42/4a

Since I don`t hunt myself , I`ll list what my father uses(or what I talked him into ....)
Roe deer : H&R .22 Jet with a 6x Nickel scope
Red deer and Boars : depending on the type of hunting he does , Marlin in 444 Marlin with Aimpoint 3000 ,Blaser Over/Under in 12 gauge 3" and 9,3x74 R with a Red Dot or a Zeiss 3-12x56.
Alpine hunting at longer distances , Mauser in 6,5x68 with a 8x Zeiss (I think it`s a 50mm dia.)

Carcano91

My gunsmith can do the job too.
Mauser standart action
Lothar Walther Barrel
The problem at the moment ist the reamer, but will will find one.

Burkhard

I do not know offhand whether Triebel can lease reamers. However, a standard length action is unsuitable IMHO for the 9,3 x 70. Even if the cartridge can be tweaked to fit (barely), the extensive reworking of receiver and magazine box is not a reasonable or overly safe undertaking - but see the various threads on this very subject by more experienced gunsmiths here in the fora.

Weidmannsheil,
Carcano

Roe and fallow .243 with 6x42 4a- Zrak Harris.
Fallow and west country Red .308 with 1.5-6x42 Docter with cross hairs.7a?

9,3x62 for the lot of them. Switched to 285 grs once for a rut hunt on red stag, used 247 grs RWS Cone Point for most everything though. Love it!

Schmidt and Bender 2,5-10x56 scope on a Sauer 200 rifle, reticle 4. Would gladly switch to something 3-9x42...I find that the advantage of the 56 mm scopes over the 42's in a good quality scope is negligable, especially since I find my eyes giving up at least 15 minutes earlier these days than they did a few years ago (at dusk).

Frans

If I were to give advice on a caliber to use on european game, I would keep it single and advice the usage of either the 308Win or the 30-06.

Regards

I use my 308 or 8x57IR and is sufficient no matter roe or boar.

Best regards

Georg & Sauenjaeger: 308 or 8x57I(R)S both great all-around choices! Basically equivalent to my (sentimental?) favorite - the .30-06. Not enough difference in the field to waste time discussing.
- mike

Rifle: Mannlicher-Schoenauer 1950 8x60 Magnum; scope nickel 1-4x20 with German #1. For roe deer, beaver and black grouse also Brno Fox .222 Rem; scope Swarovski 6x42, German #1.

Drilling: 12/12/6.5x57R; scope zeiss 4x32, German #1.

Fritz

I think you got more than enough of opinions already. However, since you mentioned wild boar I would go for a caliber with a rather large diameter and heavy bullets. The wild boar is by far the toughest of the animals you listed. Personally I spent my money on a .375 H&H Magnum, which has limited recoil and is versatile as few. You don't have to worry about meat damage if you choose the proper bullet.

/Roland

For roe deer the 6,5x57 (R) is just wonderful. For pigs the 30/06 or a 8x57 I(R)S with a good bullet is sufficient. Even a 120 kg hog is not a buffalo.

Regarding optics everything has been said already. When hunting at dawn or at night, get a big scope and the best quality you can afford. If you can�t afford it, buy a used scope, Zeiss, Svarovski or similar. I am somewhat reluctant to admit it but an illuminated recticle seems to be the way of the future for hog hunting at night...

For Roe and Rein deer: Brno 601 in 308 Win. Hornady 165 gr. SP, Leupold VXIII 3,5-10x50.

For Red deer: Ruger M77 MK II in 35 Whelen.
Nosler 250 gr.PT, Leupold VXIII 2.5-8x36.

For Moose: Ruger M77 MK II in 338 Win mag.
Nosler 250 gr PT, Leupold VXIII 1,75-6x32.

The last two overlapp each other, and the bullets are most likely to change to Swift A Frame 250 gr. and Woodleihg 300 gr. just for a try

Pretty Americaniced I guess, but that�s the way I was brought up with half my family "over there ", and I�m comfortable the way it is.

I haven't hunted boar, but for roe, red deer and moose, I use a remington 700 ADL in 308 winchester, it has a new HS stock.

I use 12g/185grain laupa mega factory loadings. I have a 3-9x50 Weaver scope.

I don't think I would hesitate going boar hunting with my gun

Johan

Hi,

All animal including roedeer and bigger i use my .280Remington often with Nosler Partition 150 or 160grs topped with a Zeizz 2.5-10x50 and for smaller I use .222Remington.

.280Remington Sweden

For all deers (roe, red and rein) I'm using my Schultz & Larsen with the 7x64 Brenneke barrel put on, but for moose I change to a barrel in 9.3x62. I have two Schmidt & Bender 3-12x42 one for each calibre. The 9.3 barrel is new for this season so I haven�t tried on animals it yet.

Nice site you lead tomjac, I think I have seen your name at Robsoft-forum.
I have a little homepage for the .280Remington:
http://communities.msn.se/280RemingtonSweden

I have got shut of all my big and small calibres and just recently got a 243.
But,I found the 6PPC the best for Roe and Fox.
For small vermin the 22/250 and for Red Stag the 30/06,with 150g blts.
The 243 is a unknown quantity for me I am on a learning curve at the moment.
I shot 3 Red stags in 2 minutes with a borrowed one at 80,150 and 270 yards and they all went down as though struck by lightning.
All were shot in the right place and although not a scientific test I think the 243 is only a marginal calibre when,
1/The game is to big for the calibre or,
2/You're are not using the appropriate bullet or,
3/When you shoot it in the arse.

Rob T.

Fallow Buck,
Good grief! Last time I read a Shooting Times, boar were mostly in Bristol. Now you say they're approachin' London? Adaptable buggers, ain't they! Y'know we have the same problem here in California. Nothin' else eats 'em and they breed like bunnies. Used to be you couldn't shoot more than one a day, though there was no closed season. Now the bag limit is however many y'can fit in the truck! My partner and I shoot one each year, feed the hams to m'students and eat the rest until the next season. If I had a bigger family, I'd shoot a lot more.

Tomjac;

Looks like an excellent discussion site. Now if I just spoke Nordski I would really enjoy it.

Some of my ancestors spoke it, but alas it was not handed down.

:Gun: 375 Holland & Holland, 91 years young. Bullet: 270 grains. Scope: Gerhardt (Nickel Supra) variable in 2.5 x 12. Reticle 1 (illuminated). Shot several red stags and scores of big boars. Anything keeps in the same place when hit!

Hey Sarge,

Yep the boar are about in Sussex. We had a few farms in the area that closed down recently and although they tried to wipe them out befor taking down the fences, a few were bound to get through. We don't shoot them on our peice as I 'd like to have a few around for as long as the farmer doesn't mind.

The season before last, my mate on his essex pheasant shoot shot five young boar. I didn't see them but I have nop reason to doubt him. Their diggings can make a real mess of a crop if they are left to their own devices.

Buck,
Well, they'll be no getting rid of them once they're established so you might as well develop a taste for them. Even the loose puma, etc. in Wales won't be able to make a dent in their numbers. Now here in the dry West, we had a terrible drought the winter of '01-'02. The piglets that would have been born the next year would be this year's crop and it must have been a BAD year. I just came back from a hunt. We hunted hard for three days until we saw any and those were either moving too fast, too far away or both! Next year will be better. The barley crop wasn't enough to harvest so the farmers took the insurance money and left the crop for the game. There are so many rabbits and mice that the coyotes should leave the antelope alone for a year or so, so all the game should be in good order next year. Must be nice to have water.

Good hunting.

Oldsarge,

Just a quick follow up on your comment about the Puma in Wales...if your taking about one of the more publised incidents where a guy had his dog (a whippet?) killed in his yard by what was supposed to be a big cat after a short struggle, there was a follow up to that.

If I recall correctly, hair was taken from the dead whippets teeth on the basis that it was likely to belong the attacker.

However DNA tests showed that it was a mixture of dog hair and badger hair....I don't recall whether the dog hair came from the whippet itsself or from another dog, and I think the story died a death at that point....

Three days a week I quite beleive there are big cats here in the UK, three days I don't and on the seventh day I am plain confused!

Regards,

Pete

My (current) rifles:

1. 6.5x55 Custom LH Medwell & Perrett/ Ron Wharton.
Swarovski 3-9x36 4a.
Roe/Muntjac - 100 grain Ballistic tips
Red/Fallow/Sika 160 grain Hornady RN

2. 8x57 LH Heym SR21.
Swarovski 1.25-4x24 Battue.
Anything driven i.e. Reds in Austria or Boar. African Plains Game/ Bushveld. 200 grain Barnes X.

3. 375H&H. Custom LH by Ron Wharton (from Rigby) on a Johannsen double square bridge magnum Mauser action.
All the above. 300 grain Barnes X.

[ 07-29-2003, 16:40: Message edited by: Deerdogs ]

Hi here is what i use.

6,5x55 for all availeble game in sweden.

Bye

-Sauer 90 - 30.06 with Zeiss 1,5-6x42
Used it for wild boar in Portugal for some years.
Also for plains game in SA with Remingto Balistic Tip 165 grns.Great bullet.Lousy shell.

-Blaser R93 9,3x62 with Zeiss 2,5-10x50/3-12x56(IR)
Wild boar "montaria" and wild boar by moonlight.
Used it in Namibia on plains game with hand-loads(GPA 236? grns).Good results.

-Blaser R93 300WM - Zeiss 2,5-10x50 - Namibia, Tanzania, for plains game. Barnes X, GPA (hand-loads).Good results.

-Dakota 76 African grade .416 Rigby. Svarovski 1,25-4x24/Zeiss 1,1-4x24 Used it in Tanzania for Buff with Federal Premium (woodleight).

-CZ 602 .375 H&H Mag. - Leopold 3-9x40 - Developed very accurate loads with Hornady bullets. Waiting for a chance to use it in Africa.

- Kriegoff 9,3x74 -Svarovski 1,25-4x24/Zeiss 1,1-4x24 Wild boar "montaria".I am in love with it. Blaser 93 9,3x62 is becoming jealous.

- Voer .243 for roe deer.On waite.

- Ruger 77 MK II 7mm RemMag -Leopold 3-4x40 - for Red deer. On waite.

-Voer 9,3x64. My last projet. Starting to develope loads in a short time. Will take to Africa for buff/plains game.

B.Martins

Pete,
I have the same problem with Sasquatch and I don't even live in the Pacific Northwest. What little I think I know about the British Big Cats is the occasional story on the BBC website. Nothing like it ever gets into our news. On the other hand, Conventional Wisdom says that the cougar is only found in the Western US these days . . . until hair with felis concolour DNA in it showed up in Vermont so I suspect that your position is perfectly logical under the circumstances.