I've done a little shooting with 5 fallow through my freezer. A couple of hunting/fishing mates have asked me to join them on a HeliSika trip to Gold Creek. I only own a .303 which I have nailed a deer with at around 100m on iron sights.

I'm not in their league when it comes to shooting and they will most likely be carrying 300 Win Mags although I reckon my mate will defer to his 7mm Rem Mag. I've shot fallow on 7mm08 (my favourite), the forementioned 7mmRM,  0.223, 0.222 & my own WW1 survivor

I don't know zip about shooting sika but I understand they are a very sought after beastie. I now have a scope on my old rifle and can hit things at reasonable distances.

My mates have plenty of fire power and I know I can cadge a modern rifle off them  but it would be very cool to take my own rifle.

Any advice for Sika in November? It's partly open tussock which sounds like a long distance shoot and to be honest I would be happy to walk the whole three days without a shot. I would of course be happier to bring something home.

This is my rifle now with a stock I bought from Reloader Supplies (thanks Nirai), a budget scope and rings.



And this is what it can do at 55m with Winchester 180g rounds. I prefer 150g but 180g was all I could get at the time.



Is my rifle up to it? Any advice welcomed!

Concentrate on the bush and stalk it slow, like really slow. Sit and watch good areas if you have the wind right. They will stalk you so don't forget to look behind yourself as well as quite often they double back to catch your wind. They are awesome fun to hunt

Good luck, just tune up your three o a bit and you will be fine.

Your best chance at Gold Creek will be the bush edges. There are big open areas there so take binos and spend a lot of time looking. 

Double check your scope mounts are tight mate. Should be grouping better than that.

I like to use earmuffs when sighting in a cannon, it allows me to concentrate on shooting straight rather than waiting for that almighty boom.

letsgetem wrote: I don't know Gold Creek but if its got open country, a long range shot could be needed, say 200-300m. I suggest a closer grouping would be desirable. It appears its out to the right of centre, so needs to be adjusted back to the left.   Im used to zeroing approx. 40mm high at 100m. - that means its about dead on at 200m, And 100mm low at 300m. That group looks like its slightly high at 55m, which should mean roughly about 30-40mm high at 100m, which looks ok to me. But I would check that by firing a group at 100m.   By the way, I agree with the comment on using ear protection. It took just ONE shot for my hearing to be buggered, for good!

Good advice there LGEM & others. I fired of a few rounds at 100m on a bench with sand bags and stuff. I was getting 2 inch groups which I figure is ok for a rifle the age of mine. It was shooting right by one to two inches so I got that sorted and I'm pretty confident with my rifle now.My mates are taking a 300wWinMag and a 7mm RemMag so they will be fine for any long shots. I'll need to get close. I figure 200m is about my upper limit.

We are going to the Oamaru hut now.

We already have a trip booked Tagit. Where are staying in Oamaru hut on the private block.