I have been on the Hide for a few years, mostly playing with rimfire precision rifles for use as trainers and smallbore competitions. But, I have always been a centerfire shooter for hunting, home defense, SHTF moments, etc. As a hunter, my world has been expanding to Africa. Having completed my 1st safari this summer, I was in the process of prepping a new pair of rifles for a future hunt in 2025. I went about it as if I was prepping a pair of precision rifles here but with my eye on their intended use. For long range plains game at distances running from 50y out to 300y (typical) and 400y practical max for practice, etc I selected a nice old vintage Husqvarna Swedish Mauser in 30-06. This is the Imperial model. I wanted a FFP scope of moderate power with good turrets and acceptable glass. Since I had one sitting on the bench unused, I mounted the Arken EPL4 4-16x. For dangerous game, specifically Cape Buffalo, I was to use a lovely ER Shaw custom P14 Enfield in 375HH topped with a 1-6x Kahles K16i. It would not be planned to use on anything past 100y but I wanted to know my dope out to at least 300y. Both these are exceptionally accurate rifles as hunting rifles go. Both were used rifles but had not seen that much use (typical of hunting rifles).
After testing loads and choosing the ammo for the trip, I went about verifying the dope in my ballistics app so I could refine as needed. The 30-06 shot all ammo well but liked the Remington 180g Swift Scirocco loads best. It was consistently running about 1/2" for three shots at 100y. Dope was amazingly close all the way out to 400y where it recorded a three shot group on steel that was 2.25" . It was great fun to ring the 6" and 4" plates at 400y on the first shot for each. That will work for anything I need it to. Could I find a better scope than the Arken? Maybe, but for what I plan to do with it, the Arken is near perfect. I do not love their reticle for hunting. It needs a heavier center cross to aid quick acquisition in cluttered backgrounds but, I think it will still work OK. Should know better after deer season. PLus, I use Arkens on several other precision rifles and despite their lower price point, they fight well above their weight class in the real world. Rugged and reliable.
The 375HH was zeroed at 100y but just for grins I shot it at 200/300/400y to record the drops and general precision at those ranges. This rifle will shoot its best loads to just under 1" at 100y with occasional groups of about 1/2" with the best ammo. It will be running 300g Barnes TSX for most large game and 300G Swift A-Frames loaded to the same velocity as the Barnes for use on Buffalo and then carry a pair of 300g Woodleigh Hydro solids in the bottom of the mag if the buff wants to cop an attitude. I shot only a two shot group at 400y on a steel IPSC plate. I could hear and see the plate move from each impact but could not see the POI in the scope or even in a 24x optic from another rifle. That was odd. I only fired two simply because those cartridges are pricey and after 8-10 shots from the bench it gets tiresome to shoot. When finished I drove down range to pull my tgts and walked up to examine the steel plates at 400y. The 375HH grouped both shots into a group that was under 2" at 400y. I was using a 3mil hold over. The app called for 2.8mil. The shots hit about 6" high and 4" to the right. I won't be shooting game with it at that distance but it is nice to know it was grouping like that considering how imprecise my aim can be with only 6x to work with.
I plan to deer hunt with the Swede this fall to vet it further but as of now am pretty pleased with the results. Most shots in Africa would be less than 300y. I use my rimfire to practice shooting off sticks since that is a perishable skill and lots of practice builds confidence and confidence helps the hunter to maintain a calm and business like demeanor when called upon to make a critical shot. Am looking forward to next year. I know these are not really precision rifles in the classic sense but if they can shoot that well, what is your definition of precision?
