Craig-P
21-10-2009, 12:07 PM
Anyway, I carried on to the course and managed the rifle with ease. In all honesty, the full length steel tube would’ve possibly been a bit much for me to handle, as I’m used to lightweight hunting rifles – and possibly because I’m not a bodybuilder like Shaun.
Shaun’s carbine cylinder gives this rifle a weight of 8.2 pounds. Combined with a 3 pound scope on top, I found it perfect to hold steadily on aim and solid in the standing position ( yep, I got all cocky and did standing shots and everything!)
So under the watchful eye of the rifles’ creator and a small gathering of people admiring the rifle ( and witnessing my return to field target shooting ), I went around the course…and cleared it. Straight up, every target fell – well, barring one but that was near the end and by that time I’d got all full of myself and attempted a forty odd yard target with a little kill – standing when it was designated as a sitter ( I’ll never learn :rolleyes: ) but I was absolutely made up.
Fair enough, with a top flight FT scope on top of a rifle, with all of the ranges and aim points marked on, makes shooting ‘easier’. But there weren’t any other scores touching mine that day and this rifle genuinely does give you that confidence factor that goes a long way to making everything just tick for you. The rifle then went around the course again in the hands of a potential customer, proving the shot count and ended up on the plinking range, knocking all sorts of stuff over with ease.
So there you are, a brand new rifle from ISP. It’s a league apart in looks to the traditional lines of the Spartan rifles they make but identical in handmade manner. Incidentally, This Spartan (http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL447/2190111/22639311/376427669.jpg) had just come in for it’s annual service that the owner insists on having – bit of a difference in style isn’t there?! CLICK (http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL447/2190111/22639311/376427667.jpg)
Judging by the advance orders I’ve seen from household named shooters, it’s going to be a big hit on the FT scene.
Stock options go to renowned woodsmiths like Paul Wilson, Gary Cane and Steve Lanaman or you can plead with ISP to make one for you. However I know Shaun and Ivan are concentrating on making the actions.
There are tons of options available when ordering, including, cylinder lengths, colour of anodising, calibre ( although I can’t see many ordering this in .25 ), true left handed versions are also available and Shaun is also experimenting with a titanium tubed model, which will save even more weight.
At around the £1,800.00 mark for action only, it’s aimed to compete with the serious top end stuff – and it does that with ease having being refined over years and made to a standard, not a price. They’re totally handmade and released to the customer when they’re ‘right’.
I’ve gone the full distance and put an order in for one myself. I’m having a HFT, sporter styled version and will be returning to the circuit to enjoy the countrywide shoots. I always enjoyed it in the early days and with the ever-inflating costs of full bore ammo, it makes perfect sense. Now I know I’m skint but hopefully Shaun will make it slowly, giving me time to save a bit :D
Cheers, Craig
Shaun’s carbine cylinder gives this rifle a weight of 8.2 pounds. Combined with a 3 pound scope on top, I found it perfect to hold steadily on aim and solid in the standing position ( yep, I got all cocky and did standing shots and everything!)
So under the watchful eye of the rifles’ creator and a small gathering of people admiring the rifle ( and witnessing my return to field target shooting ), I went around the course…and cleared it. Straight up, every target fell – well, barring one but that was near the end and by that time I’d got all full of myself and attempted a forty odd yard target with a little kill – standing when it was designated as a sitter ( I’ll never learn :rolleyes: ) but I was absolutely made up.
Fair enough, with a top flight FT scope on top of a rifle, with all of the ranges and aim points marked on, makes shooting ‘easier’. But there weren’t any other scores touching mine that day and this rifle genuinely does give you that confidence factor that goes a long way to making everything just tick for you. The rifle then went around the course again in the hands of a potential customer, proving the shot count and ended up on the plinking range, knocking all sorts of stuff over with ease.
So there you are, a brand new rifle from ISP. It’s a league apart in looks to the traditional lines of the Spartan rifles they make but identical in handmade manner. Incidentally, This Spartan (http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL447/2190111/22639311/376427669.jpg) had just come in for it’s annual service that the owner insists on having – bit of a difference in style isn’t there?! CLICK (http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL447/2190111/22639311/376427667.jpg)
Judging by the advance orders I’ve seen from household named shooters, it’s going to be a big hit on the FT scene.
Stock options go to renowned woodsmiths like Paul Wilson, Gary Cane and Steve Lanaman or you can plead with ISP to make one for you. However I know Shaun and Ivan are concentrating on making the actions.
There are tons of options available when ordering, including, cylinder lengths, colour of anodising, calibre ( although I can’t see many ordering this in .25 ), true left handed versions are also available and Shaun is also experimenting with a titanium tubed model, which will save even more weight.
At around the £1,800.00 mark for action only, it’s aimed to compete with the serious top end stuff – and it does that with ease having being refined over years and made to a standard, not a price. They’re totally handmade and released to the customer when they’re ‘right’.
I’ve gone the full distance and put an order in for one myself. I’m having a HFT, sporter styled version and will be returning to the circuit to enjoy the countrywide shoots. I always enjoyed it in the early days and with the ever-inflating costs of full bore ammo, it makes perfect sense. Now I know I’m skint but hopefully Shaun will make it slowly, giving me time to save a bit :D
Cheers, Craig