•••
CO L U M N
How do I make my
HUNTING RIFLE MORE ACCURATE?
THE HUNTING SEASON
OFFICIALLY STARTED ON
1 MAY. I AM SURE ALL THE
RIFLES HAVE BEEN TAKEN
OUT AND CHECKED AND
THAT HUNTING TRIPS
HAVE BEEN PLANNED IN
THE FINEST DETAIL.
L
34
et’s look at how to zero your
rifle before you depart on
your hunting trip.
Firstly you have to decide where
you are going to hunt. Why is it
important? Well, if you are going
to hunt in the Free State the game
will be further away and you will
have to shoot over longer distances
(200 m and further). The terrain
will determine the hunting distances.
I seldom shoot further than
150 m in the bushveld. You will
therefore understand that your
rifle will have to be set for different
distances, depending on where you
are going to hunt.
I usually spend time on the
shooting range before leaving on a
hunting trip.
I check my
rifle thoroughly,
make sure that
everything, such
as the telescope, is
attached properly.
I have heard of a lot
of guys whose hunting
excursions went really bad due to
a loose telescope. Make sure that
everything is attached properly
before you zero your rifle.
I suggest that, if you are going
to hunt in the Free State, you
should set your rifle for 200 m.
Should you hunt in the bushveld,
it should be set for 100 m. If you
are in doubt, contact the owner
of the farm and enquire about the
distances and conditions. Game
has become very expensive and
good preparation translates to a
good hunting experience.
After having zeroed your rifle
on the shooting range, make sure
that your gun-bag is of a good
quality, obviously for safety reasons. Many a hunter has arrived at
the hunting ground only to realise
that the telescope had been damaged during transport.
Lastly, when arriving at the
hunting farm, get permission
PART 8
JACO KRUGER
from the owner to fire a
few shots before the hunt.
Most owners of hunting
farms actually insist upon this.
The above has a dual purpose.
It ensures that your hunting distance is still set correctly and that
your rifle was not damaged during
transport.
Many hunters regard this as
unnecessary, but believe me, they
don’t think of the latter reason
when firing test shots.
It prepares the shot mentally
for the hunt, so make sure that
you are satisfied that your settings
are correct and do not leave before
you are entirely satisfied.
It brings self-confidence, which
is essential during the hunt.
Enjoy your hunting excursion
and, as the man from Potch says,
don’t shake so much that you miss
the target!
Enjoy the hunting season.
Jaco Kruger obtained his national
colours in Benchrest shooting and represented his county on numerous occasions.
He is also an active SA Hunter member.
Legally Armed, in association with Martin & Visser Attorneys, offer
for the past 11 years, amongst others, the following services:
MOTIVATIONS FOR:
• any type of firearm licence
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2004 - 2015
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[email protected]
www.legallyarmed.co.za
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