Welcome

Many years ago, a reader at a game fair boasted about shooting rabbits with a sub-12ft/lb air rifle out to 80 yards. At that range the risk of wounding the rabbit was far too high. All that said about him was that his stalking skills were poor. It turned out that it was his range estimation that needed work.

I tested this by getting him to point out an object he thought was 80 metres away, I then used a rangefinder to see it was 35 metres away, not 80. The young man was a bit disgruntled. Trying to save his feelings I said:“You are poor at range estimation, but better at stalking than I thought.”

Far too often long shots are thought to represent shooting prowess, but as Peter Theobald says in his article, “Maximum range” (page 22) it’s just irresponsible. Peter is a very good Shot and he is right that there is no glory in stretching your barrels.

No matter what you shoot with, make sure you can estimate range and show restraint when you see quarry beyond 40 to 50 metres. Here endeth the lesson!

I hope you enjoy this month’s magazine.

Matt Clark, Editor