FIELD TEST

Now the important part, how does it shoot? I fitted a new Leupold Mark 3HD 8-24x50mm rifle scope in Tier-one mounts that provided very clear optics with side parallax too, resulting in pinsharp aiming at any magnification.

The Crossover is all about performance on game so I only tested a few rounds to ascertain the accuracy of the rifle as the roe rut was on and I was eager to get amongst them. At 100 yards the Sako 123-grain gamehead bullets, my favourite, shot tight 0.95in three-shot clusters at 2,991fps for 2,444ft/lb. This will continue to be a really good round for roe, until the lead ban comes into force.

The Hornady 150-grain SST, as usual, shot fast – 2,888fps and 2,779ft/lb from the 22in barrel – though I have had faster from 20in barrels. They managed good 1.0in groups, while the lead-free Winchester Extreme Points shot just over the inch – very good for leadfree. The best reload went to the Sierra Pro-hunter 125-gr HP bullets, producing 2,905fps and 2,343ft/lb with 44.25gr of Vit N133 and 0.75in groups. However, I wanted to test the Winchester lead-free as I have had some very interesting results on the range; live game should confirm these promising signs.

At first light on the Surrey Hills, where my son had previously shot a magnificent platinum roebuck, I sat nestled into the field margin overlooking the freshly cut stubble and ideal rutting territory. Sure enough, a lone doe appeared followed by a magnificent buck in hot pursuit. They were chasing away from me at 125 yards but my buttolo call convinced him I was prettier. He came bounding in to around 80 yards where the Lithgow harvested a superb trophy – all within 30 minutes of sitting down.