Terry Doe has a question for online boasters

After reading yet another irresponsible boast on social media about the ability of someone to shoot quarry at stupid ranges with a sub-12ft/lb rifle, I feel it’s my weary duty to have my say on this matter … again.

Anyone who has known me or my contributions to the airgun media over the years will be well aware, probably to the point of nausea, of my abhorrence of the self-proclaimed “long rangers”, when it comes to hunting with legal limit air rifles. Yet, here I go again, on the basis of what I consider necessity. Please allow me to reset the scene.

I’ve read claims of quarry being taken with sub-12ft/lb rifles at ranges that are absolutely ridiculous. Some of the claimants are quite clearly deluded, others are flat-out liars and a few are genuine.

Now, here’s the problem. Despatching a rabbit with a perfectly placed headshot at 60 yards, and even beyond, is perfectly possible with a sub-12ft/lb rifle. What isn’t possible is doing so consistently, under hunting conditions.

Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself, using paper targets and to keep it real, make sure you reproduce as closely as possible the hunting demands of that shot. First, set out five targets at between 50 and 60 yards and, let’s be generous, draw a 30mm diameter bullseye on each.

Now, using the stances you use in the hunting field, take a single shot at each target. Remember, unless you shoot from a bench in the hunting field, there’s no point in taking this test from a shooting bench.

The same applies to the sitting and prone positions, or leaning against a tree, unless you always use those stances when hunting. This is entirely about what you can do, consistently, first shot, in the hunting field, not what you eventually achieve down on your club range.

Most importantly of all, you must be brutally honest with yourself about your results. Hunting must be as near a “one shot, one kill” pursuit as it’s humanly possible to make it, and pulling off the odd mega-range attempt breaks our unbreakable rule.

I say again; those ultra-long shots are possible, but unless you’re good enough to get them right, time after time, they point more to your shame than your credit.

By the way, I’ve shot with some of the best air rifle marksmen on this planet, and I’ve never met anyone who can honestly claim to be consistently able to take their quarry cleanly at 60-plus yards with a legal limit rifle. If you really are that person, I’m easy to contact, and I’d dearly love to meet you.

Meanwhile, train yourselves to be as good as you can possibly be, but be honest about your abilities in the hunting field. You owe that to your sport, your quarry and yourself.