Reader, Jimmy Squires, is concerned that his interest in a carbine rifle could be off target. He says: ‘My hunting buddy uses a Walther Reign, and having tried it, I really want to buy one. My problem is, I’m concerned that such a short rifle can’t be as clinically accurate as a full-length one. After all, you don’t see Olympic paper target shooters using carbines and bullpups. I hope I’m not being daft, but can you offer a bit of reassurance before I part with my hard-earned money?’

HORSES FOR COURSES

Jimmy, your concern is anything but ‘daft’, and I can offer reassurance. Let’s begin by examining the comparison you’ve made between carbines and target rifles, and more importantly, the circumstances under which they’re used.

Target rifles are used under controlled conditions, where training can develop the required techniques and timing needed for success. The target is inanimate, its position doesn’t change, wind and weather are not a factor, and 

the shooter has a known time in which to take a series of shots, with the stance remaining the same throughout. A rifle, perfectly balanced for the shooter’s stance, technique and the type of target being shot, is an obvious advantage. Now consider the hunter’s situation.

A hunter will be out in all weather conditions, over vastly differing terrain, where shots will be taken at all sorts of ranges and angles, and from a variety of stances. The need for clinical accuracy is still paramount, but that’s where the similarity between hunting and paper target shooting ends.

HANDLING

Hunting rifles need to be ‘fast handling’, in that the transition from being carried to being shouldered and on target must be swift and smooth. No such requirement exists for paper target rifles, because paper targets will hang around as long as you want them to, unlike live quarry. It’s this fast-handling quality, teamed with the bullpup’s ‘pointability’, that has made them so popular, and effective, in the hunting field.

FIVE SECONDS FOR SUCCESS

Provided you’ve done your training on a variety of inanimate targets, set at the ranges you’ll use in the field, and using the stances you rely on, it should take you no longer that five seconds to release an accurate shot. Yes, a buffeting wind, or your quarry moving position, or simply the need to re-compose the shot, can delay matters, but in general, five seconds is all the time you need to apply correct hold, breath control, trigger technique, and the all-important follow-through, and connect cleanly with your target.

Many shooters find that a carbine or bullpup helps this process, in addition to being far more convenient when shooting in confined conditions, such as from a hide, the cab of a vehicle, or around farm machinery.

TEST IT YOURSELF

Remember, too, that carbines and bullpups are thoroughly tested for accuracy and performance during their pre-production development, and a session on a benchrest will assure you that the Walther Reign will produce the accuracy. Jimmy, I’d stop worrying about the Reign’s accuracy, and concentrate fully on training yourself to make the most of it. All the best!