Picked up my new CZ 452 in .17hmr a couple of weekends ago, and after shooting it in on various days (some for hours) over 50m, 75m and 100m targets it was time to take it out into the field and see how it really went.

I had been hunting this small patch with a .22lr over the recent months with mixed success, it’s a 20 acre paddock with a tree gully down the middle with rising slopes on three sides of the paddock, much like an amphitheatre.  In the middle of the gully there is erosion and numerous blackberry bushes.  Around the slopes of the paddock are four individual warrens that had been ferreted six weeks ago.

With the magazine full of Hornady V-Max bullets I headed out around 7pm, it was duskish because the slopes hide the sun and I knew there wouldn’t be too many opportunities.  After tackling a few fences I was near the prime area when a rabbit sprang from the tall grass and ran directly to one of the warrens on the slope, I was sure it would go straight in; instead it stopped just inside leaving its ears and head out of cover.  It was 50 yards away and the first go with the CZ, I lined it up in the scope and BANG...it was gone with a thud.  Made my way to the warren, there is lay stopped in its tracks, shot through the skull.

I was pretty happy with the result and moved on into the gully.  Not much was happening and just as I was ready to move on I spotted another one, again this one moved under the cover of a blackberry bush.  I could see the head through the light coverage of the bush, lined it up and BANG...just missed from around 80 yards.

I hung around the area waiting for more, however with no sign.  Overall, it was great to get the first out of the way on the new rifle, I will take the 50% strike rate for the day and it was great to get some fresh air.