In an attempt to stave off the onset of cabin fever brought on by the snow and heavy rain of late, with just the occasional visit to the supermarket for human company, I decided it was time to fit the rifle sling, that had come courtesy of Father Christmas.

The Jack Pyke sling came complete with quick release clips to fit into the supplied front and rear sling spigots. To fit the spigots, I first removed the two screws fixing the stock to the rifle action, then pushed the two apart at the trigger assy. I have a deep bench vice and first placed the rifle butt in a cloth before just nipping up in the vice. Being a two part plastic moulding there is a convenient mould line to work to. I marked and dotted with a centre punch the rear spigot point position 3 inches (75 mm) from the underside butt end. I then drilled a 3/32 inch (2 mm) pilot hole, before opening up with a 5/32 inch (4 mm) drill to suit the self tapping spigot. I used a drill to form a T to screw the longer rear spigot into it’s hole, stopping when the spigot hole was at 90 degrees to the butt in the final turn of the self tapper. I repeated the exercise for the front spigot, drilling the hole 1 and 1/2 inches (40 mm) from the front of the stock, fitting the shorter spigot. Fitting the sling then took minutes with the quick release clips.

A bright, cold, but windy day gave me the opportunity to get out and try the sling and also test the trigger, which had received further attention from the valve grinding paste, removing more rough edges from the rubbing surfaces. It’s pull is now smoothe and defined, although the trigger spring could do with some easing. The sling carried the 4lb rifle comfortably on my shoulder, while allowing the Magtech to be brought up to the firing position easily. I had intended to just shoot some targets away from the horses at the equestrian centre, but as I left the confines of the stables, the field ahead was covered with feeding wood pigeons. I raised the rifle and selected a pigeon thirty yards away, just as they were about to launch, the sling giving a firm support to the front of the rifle from my left shoulder. The .22 hit with a smack between the shoulders and rolled the bird in a burst of white feathers. The remaining flock headed for the safety of the woods, while I retrieved and debreasted my prize.

I set a target at 50 yards, the Magtech zero and fired a clip rested, grouping most shots around an inch with a couple outside, OK for this rifle in the wind. The trigger felt good. I then tried standing shots with the sling giving support and firing three shot bursts and was pleased to hit the target within a two inch group, just right for a rabbit chest shot.

With less than an hour before I needed to collect my wife from a shopping expedition, I decided to circle back to check out any recent burrowing from the local rabbits in the water logged ground, noting their positions for dryer days. I saw no rabbits, but woodies were beginning to fly in to roost along my hedgerow and I waited beneath an oak for some to settle, before stepping out from the cover of a holly bush and downing one with a perfect shot up through the crop. Breast removed, it was time to go. I kicked myself for spooking two more pigeons, that had settled into the tree. When will I learn to look up before moving off?