First Impressions of the Perfect North Island Rifle

Well, the new rifle arrived last Monday, but I’ve had to wait until today for the first shot (I doubt the neighbours in Takapuna would appreciate 240 grain slugs flying into the mangroves!). Rifle shot really well, it’s been a few years since I’ve used a .44 Magnum, and that was in a single shot break open rifle with a 20 inch barrel. Firing the .44 slug out of a 13 inch barrel certainly increases the noise! Somewhere between a shotgun and .223 Remington in the decibel ratings…as for the kick, it gives a good shove, probably a bit more than a .223 as there’s a larger heavier bullet leaving the barrel (albeit at 2000 fps slower), feels a bit like a 410 or 20 gauge shotgun, definitely doesn’t feel like a rifle.As for use in the bush, well shooting of the deck of a house doesn’t give you a feel for how it’s going to preform in the bush, however, it’s short, light and easy to point. Will fit in the pack, making it easy to walk into the huts, over the shoulder (if I fit a sling) it won’t even rise above my shoulder so won’t snag on the bush…I reckon I might have just found the perfect North Island bush gun.