GREAT
GEAR
WI T H A T O U C H O F A D R E N A L I N E
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Great Gear
CHARACTERISTICS
For a successful driven hunt, you
need the right equipment.
Dedicated rifl escopes for
driven hunts all share the
same characteristics. Th eir
magnifi cation starts at 1x more
or less, allowing the shooter to
shoot with both eyes open.
All share, some even more
than others, a large fi eld of
view. Th ey all have rather small
objective lenses, since driven
hunting is carried out in the
daylight, eliminating the need
for big light-gathering objectives.
What’s more, these scopes all
feature a powerful, bright
day-time red dot clearly visible
in the center of the reticle.
ZOOM RANGE
With driven hunt scopes, the
magnifi cation usually starts at
one, although Swarovski recently
launched a scope starting at
0.75x zoom. Usually the range
goes up to 4x, 6x or even 8x.
As a driven game hunter,
you will need to be clear about
the most suitable zoom range,
depending on the type of terrain
you hunt in. Hunting in densely
wooded areas requires diff erent
scope characteristics than
participating in a monteria on
the wide open plains of Spain.
FIELD OF VIEW
Th is is measured in metres at 100
metres and is the amount of view
you see through your scope from
right to left at that distance. As
magnifi cation is increased, the
fi eld of view (FOV) goes down.
As magnifi cation is decreased,
the FOV goes up.
For instance, a typical driven
hunt rifl escope such as the
Meopta Meostar R2 1-6x24
with a variable zoom of 1x to
6x has an FOV at 100 metres of
close to 38 metres at 1x zoom,
while at 6x, the FOV decreases
to 6.3 metres at 100 metres.
RETICLE
With beaters and dogs fl ushing
the game towards you, things can
happen very fast. In contrast to
stalking rifl escopes, the reticle
for a driven hunt rifl escope
should not be too fi ne, as to
avoid being slowed down
searching for it in the heat of the
moment.
A red dot in the centre of the
reticle is also highly appreciated
for fast target acquisition. Th e
brightness of the dot has to be
powerful enough to ensure its
visibility, even in bright daylight
or snow.
ERGONOMICS
Often overlooked, great
ergonomics are vital for a driven
hunt rifl escope. A half turn
should suffi ce to cover the entire
zoom range.
Some manufacturers even
off er rifl escopes with standard,
or optional, throw levers to
adjust the magnifi cation even
more easily and quickly. Th e red
dot should be easy and quick to
switch on, even when wearing
thick gloves.
SOME EXAMPLES
Split-second decisions call for a
rifl escope that delivers rapid and
precise accuracy.
Th e Meopta MeoStar
R2 1-6x24 RD combines a
generously wide FOV combined
with a dedicated driven hunting
K-Dot 2 reticle and true 1x
magnifi cation, allowing the
hunter to quickly acquire his/her
target and place the shot when
time is of the essence.
Because of its zoom range, the
Zeiss V8 1.1–8x30 is the most
versatile driven hunt scope in the
entire Zeiss product line-up. Th e
1.1x magnifi cation is ideal for
target acquisition with
both eyes open and allows you
to fi re accurate shots over long
distances, as well as quick shots
at short distances.
Th e Leica Magnus 1-6.3x24i
combines a compact design with
versatility and a wide FOV of 44
metres at 100 metres. Th anks to
a large exit pupil and a crisply
defi ned, extremely bright red
dot, it guarantees extremely fast
and accurate target location,
especially with running game.
Th e rifl escope features a
generously wide 1 to 6.3x zoom
range, and a smart, automatic
power-off function.
When Swarovski introduced
its new Z8i 0,75-6x 20 L at
the IWA show this spring,
the shooting world became
acquainted with a sophisticated
optical system that combines
both an 8:1 zoom ratio
with a slim 30mm tube, and
thanks to the Viewplus 0.75x
magnifi cation, this rifl escope
off ers 30 per cent more FOV.
Th is Z8i impresses with its
FOV, which is important for
maintaining an overview in
rapidly changing situations.
In continental Europe,
driven big game is a highly
popular type of hunting,
where species such as wild boar,
red and roe deer and moufl on
are driven towards a shooting
party by beaters and/or dogs.
Close encounters are frequent and
fast, so instinctive shooting is a must.
We look into the rifl escopes specifically
tailored for this sport…
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