Find the Right Stalking Rifle and Calibre

We’ve come up with four of the best all-round rifles on the market today, all of which can be relied upon time after time, whether you are on the hill after a stag, in the woods after a roe or even if you decide on an international jaunt for wild boar or something a little larger… 

In the British Isles, the laws vary depending on whether you are in Scotland, Northern Ireland or England and Wales. When choosing your calibre you need to take into account a few things –  ballistics and the down-range performance (i.e. how the bullet behaves when it hits its target) should come first and foremost. Better by far to use a slightly larger calibre on a roe deer than find you have bought the perfect roe rifle but can’t use it on a red, fallow or sika, for example.

Another important factor is, of course, your ammunition. When you do buy a new rifle, unless you are going to homeload, you should test the rifle with a variety of factory rounds to find which perform best in terms of accuracy. All the major brands are worth trying: RWS, Winchester, Norma and Hornady. Remember that if you do decide to switch ammunition, you may need to adjust the zero on your rifle slightly. 

Four top choices of all-round stalking rifles and calibre

Browning X-Bolt Hunter Eclipse in 6.5x55
With a thumbhole stock, you’ll have a very stable platform from which to shoot, as well as an incredibly natural grip. The Monte Carlo cheekpiece is great for eye-to-scope alignment and a laminate stock that can withstand tough weather. The low-lustre blued finish to barrel reduces glare. The calibre 6.5x55 is hugely popular on the Continent, adaptable in terms of ammunition to suit all European species as well as most plains game. 
RRP: £999
www.browning.eu 

Merkel Helix Alpinist in .30-06
A special edition of the Merkel Helix made for the Wild Boar Fever DVD series, this is a highly adaptable rifle, thanks to its adjustable comb. The stock is a green soft-touch one, offering great grip in all weathers, and the modular build allows you to switch barrels. An integrated Weaver rail means there is no need for rail or bases to attach a scope. The .30-06 is a great calibre for all EU countries and ideal for much of the plains game you’ll encounter in Africa, too, and with a huge range of choice for ammunition, you can adapt the weight of the bullet depending on the size of your quarry. 
RRP: £3,475
www.vikingarms.com

Sako 85 Stainless Synthetic in .308
One of the most popular rifles from Sako, the 85 Stainless Synthetic is effortless to operate and has one of the firmest holds. The five-round fully metal magazine feeds the three-lug bolt with total control. Black grip areas against the black satin-like stock create a stunning profile. The stainless steel barrel, complete with muzzle thread and receiver are non-reflective, and are highly durable in any weather conditions. The .308 as a calibre is one of the most widely used and, with the right choice of ammunition, won’t do too much damage to roe or even muntjac and Chinese water deer, while still having plenty of energy to deal with larger species. 
RRP: £1,950 
www.gmk.co.uk

Sauer 100 Classic in 6.5 Creedmore
Sauer’s newest rifle series, the 100, is an entry-level from this premium manufacturer. It’s not a modular rifle, but is uncompromising in quality, with all the parts manufactured in this German gunmaker’s factory. The Classic has a neutral cast so is suited both right and left-handed shooters, the barrel is cold-hammer forged, and with an adjustable trigger you can ensure the weight is set at your comfort level. A dark-stained beechwood stock is both practical and offers a classic rifle look. The calibre, 6.5 Creedmore, has a high ballistic co-efficient, retaining excellent density and energy downrange – as good if not better than the trusty .308. 
RRP: £750
www.blaser-sporting.co.uk