“Shot & Stillness” put the budget-priced Aquilifer EP 5–25×56 FFP riflescope to the test. An Austrian-made precision rifle meets an affordable optic from China: “Shot & Stillness” firearms expert David mounted the Aquilifer EP 5–25×56 FFP on a Ritter & Stark SLX chambered in .308 Winchester. The brief range session delivered a surprising result—but also raised questions that only long-term testing can answer. The Ritter & Stark SLX has achieved near-legendary status among precision shooters. This modular rifle was manufactured in Carinthia, Austria, and its electrochemically produced barrels remain highly regarded for their accuracy. Our test rifle featured a 24-inch barrel in .308 Winchester—a solid platform for evaluating the tracking and repeatability of an unfamiliar riflescope. The Aquilifer, on the other hand, is not made in Austria. The company describes its products as American-designed and Chinese-manufactured. Aquilifer is a young direct-to-consumer brand that aims to deliver extensive features at comparatively affordable prices. Its name comes from the aquilifer, the eagle-bearer of a Roman legion. A Lot of Scope for Around €300 On paper, the EP 5–25×56 reads like a traditional long-range optic: a 5-to-25-power magnification range, 56mm objective lens, 34mm main tube, and an illuminated MRAD reticle in the first focal plane. Because the reticle sits in the first focal plane, it appears to grow and shrink with the image as magnification changes. Its measurements and holdover references therefore remain valid throughout the entire magnification range. The MIL-grid, or “Christmas tree,” reticle provides numerous reference marks for elevation and wind corrections. Each click equals 0.1 MRAD—roughly one centimeter at 100 meters, or 0.36 inch at 100 yards. The scope also offers side parallax adjustment, 11 illumination settings, and a zero-stop system that prevents the elevation turret from being dialed below a predetermined zero. According to Aquilifer, the optic measures 398 millimeters—or about 15.7 inches—and weighs 900 grams, or roughly 31.7 ounces. The stated field of view ranges from 7.6 to 1.5 meters at 100 meters, while eye relief is listed at 86 to 96 millimeters, or approximately 3.4 to 3.8 inches. Aquilifer also claims IP67 water resistance, nitrogen purging, shock resistance up to 1,500 G, and durability on rifles chambered as large as .50 BMG. These are manufacturer claims and have not been independently verified by us in a laboratory. A Surprisingly Strong First Impression David handles scopes across nearly every price category on a daily basis—from entry-level hunting optics to premium European glass costing several thousand dollars. Understandably, his first look at the Aquilifer came with a healthy dose of skepticism. Yet the mechanics made a good impression right out of the box. “The adjustments feel clean. Nothing scratches or grinds,” David noted. The 34mm tube, generously sized turrets, and overall construction also felt more substantial than the price suggested. The scope produced a respectable, contrast-rich image, the lens coatings appeared serviceable in daylight, and the side parallax adjustment worked smoothly. David also liked the illuminated Christmas-tree reticle. For fast shots in a hunting situation, however, its busy layout may take some getting used to. At lower magnification, it also appears relatively fine. Its real strength lies in precision shooting at known distances, where elevation and wind corrections can be made directly through the reticle. The affordable Aquilifer was mounted on a Ritter & Stark SLX precision rifle. Ten Clicks Up—and Back to Zero Once the Ritter & Stark was zeroed, David performed a brief tracking check. He dialed the elevation turret ten clicks up, fired a shot, and then returned it ten clicks to the original setting. The Aquilifer returned cleanly to the initial point of impact. Auf dem Schießstand überzeugte das Low-Budget-Zielfernrohr jedenfalls “The scope responds extremely well,” David said after the test. The SLX continued to produce a tight group, and there was no obvious optical or mechanical failure during this first range session. Still, the result needs to be kept in perspective. Dialing ten clicks up and then returning to zero is not the same as conducting a complete box test. A thorough evaluation would require repeatedly dialing both elevation and windage across a much larger portion of their travel, while precisely measuring the resulting point-of-impact shifts. We also do not yet know how the scope will perform after several hundred rounds or prolonged exposure to rain, freezing temperatures, and major temperature swings. As David openly acknowledged: “You can only say so much after a single trip to the range.” Too Heavy for a Lightweight Mountain Rifle At approximately 31.7 ounces, the Aquilifer is not intended for an ultralight mountain rifle. Add a substantial 34mm mount, and the complete optic package weighs around two pounds. Its 5-power minimum magnification also limits its usefulness at very close range or on moving game. On a heavy stand rifle, varmint rig, or dedicated precision rifle, the equation changes. In those applications, the large objective lens, high magnification, and FFP reticle can offer real advantages. At 25-power, however, the calculated exit pupil is only 2.24 millimeters. A 56mm objective lens alone does not guarantee outstanding low-light performance. That would need to be evaluated separately in direct comparison with established hunting scopes. When hunting at extended distances, magnification is only one part of the equation. Reliable bullet performance, wind reading, a stable shooting position, precise rangefinding, and the shooter’s ability remain far more important. A large scope cannot replace experience and disciplined judgment. The “Shot & Stillness” team plans to test the Aquilifer in real hunting conditions as well, including on an alpine chamois hunt. That should provide a clearer picture of how this interesting budget optic performs outside the controlled environment of a shooting range. Manufacturer Specifications Raise Questions A closer look at the Aquilifer product page reveals several inconsistencies. At one point, the exit pupil is listed as 86 to 96 millimeters—physically impossible and most likely an accidental duplication of the eye-relief specification. The stated total adjustment ranges of 17 MRAD for elevation and 26 MRAD for windage also deserve clearer documentation from the manufacturer. The warranty language is similarly broad. Aquilifer’s dedicated warranty page promises lifetime repair or replacement without proof of purchase, even for someone other than the original owner. The product page, however, refers to a limited lifetime warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship. The Price Is the Biggest Surprise At the time of testing, the Aquilifer was selling for roughly $299.99. The matching 34mm mount cost about $50. That puts the complete setup near $350—roughly what some premium manufacturers charge for the mount alone. “For $299, this is pretty unbelievable,” David said. That does not mean the Aquilifer is already on the same level as premium European optics. There are still no independent laboratory measurements, controlled comparison tests, or meaningful long-term data to support such a conclusion. But its first outing on a .308 Winchester was a success. The controls felt clean, the image was serviceable, and the point-of-impact adjustment worked as intended. For the price, the Aquilifer EP 5–25×56 FFP delivers a surprising amount of scope. Surprisingly Good—with Reservations The Aquilifer EP 5–25×56 FFP is not a traditional all-purpose hunting scope. It is large, heavy, and—with its tactical-style reticle—clearly designed around precision shooting at distance. On a Ritter & Stark SLX, a training rifle, or a powerful PCP air rifle, however, the concept makes sense. David’s first impression was considerably more positive than expected. “For this kind of money, it’s hard to go too far wrong,” he concluded. Still, one surprisingly strong showing at the range is not enough for an unconditional buy recommendation. Only a properly measured tracking test, low-light comparisons, and several hundred rounds will reveal whether this affordable sleeper can deliver lasting reliability. The Aquilifer EP 5–25×56 FFP is available at https://aquiliferopt.com?bg_ref=5VDb6F0nVR Use code SCHUSS15 for an additional 15 percent off.

Firearms expert David Mischkulnig takes a close look at the Sauer 101 GTI for Schuss & Stille. Mention GTI in Carinthia, Austria, and most people immediately think of lowered cars and the legendary gatherings around Lake Wörthersee. But this GTI comes from Isny, Germany. It wears laminated wood instead of a spoiler, and it was built to do one thing above all else: shoot accurately. Schuss & Stille firearms expert David Mischkulnig stripped down and tested the Sauer 101 GTI in .308 Winchester, then asked the question that matters: Is this traditional bolt-action rifle still worth its price today? Ten years is an interesting span of time in the firearms world. Long enough for a new rifle to become established. Short enough that a sound design can remain thoroughly relevant. The Sauer 101 GTI is a perfect example. The distinctive version with its laminated thumbhole stock appeared back in 2016. And although the Sauer 505 has since arrived as the company’s new premium flagship, the 101 GTI remains part of Sauer’s lineup in 2026. Sauer deliberately positions the entire 101 series as a traditional hunting rifle for hunters who don’t need a modular quick-change barrel system but still demand accuracy, a silky-smooth bolt throw, and high-quality workmanship. That description pretty much sums up what the 101 GTI is. And what it has no intention of becoming. The Stock Makes the GTI Gunsmith David is particularly impressed by the Sauer 101 GTI’s thumbhole stock. The stock is the first thing that grabs your attention. Dark brown laminated wood, a thumbhole design, steep pistol grip, and adjustable cheekpiece give the GTI a sportier appearance than a conventional hunting rifle while still looking considerably more refined than many modern synthetic-stocked guns. For David, the stock is one of the rifle’s biggest strengths. Laminated wood is heavier than a basic synthetic stock, but it comes with a major advantage. Multiple bonded layers of wood create an exceptionally rigid and dimensionally stable structure. Moisture and changing temperatures have far less effect on it than they can on traditional solid wood. Then there’s the ergonomics. The thumbhole is generously sized, the pistol grip sits at a comfortably steep angle, and the cheekpiece can be adjusted continuously for height. That makes it much easier to establish proper eye alignment behind the scope without forcing your head down into an unnatural position. Sauer itself emphasizes this adjustability as one of the defining features of the GTI. And you notice the difference during extended shooting sessions. The GTI doesn’t force the shooter to adapt to the rifle. The rifle adapts to the shooter. Rugged, but No Mountain Rifle Of course, that substantial laminated stock comes with a price in terms of weight. According to Sauer, the standard rifle weighs roughly 7.1 pounds without optics. This is not a dedicated lightweight mountain rifle for climbing 5,000 vertical feet before sunrise. But for hunting from a stand, stalking, or shooting from the bench, the additional mass isn’t necessarily a disadvantage. The rifle settles nicely. Whether shooting offhand or from a supported position, the GTI feels planted and composed rather than nervous. Classic Sauer Engineering Inside Mechanically, the Sauer 101 follows a comparatively traditional path. The bolt locks directly into the barrel with six locking lugs, allowing for a short 60-degree bolt lift. That keeps the bolt handle low during cycling and provides plenty of clearance beneath a low-mounted scope. Then there is the bolt itself. It has the remarkably smooth feel Sauer rifles have been known for across generations. This is where David gets almost nostalgic. The action reminds him of older Sauer rifles that have long since earned classic status. There is no unnecessary slop, no rough or sticky travel. The bolt simply glides through the receiver. The safety, however, is not a modern manual cocking system. Instead, Sauer uses its DURA SAFE direct firing-pin safety. The control sits at the rear of the bolt shroud and acts directly on the firing pin. Sauer’s “Safe Opener” feature also allows the bolt to be opened while the rifle remains on safe. It’s a functional, well-engineered system. But hunters accustomed to manual cocking mechanisms will notice the difference. EVER REST and HEAT LOCK Things get especially interesting beneath the stock. With its EVER REST bedding system, Sauer aims to provide a stable interface between the barreled action and the stock while minimizing unwanted stresses. The goal is consistent point of impact even when weather conditions change or the rifle is subjected to extended strings of fire. Then there is Sauer’s HEAT LOCK process. Barrel and receiver are thermally joined in an effort to minimize internal stresses in the assembly. The barrel itself is cold hammer forged at Sauer’s facility in Isny. Sauer advertises the 101 as capable of sub-MOA accuracy. That is less than one inch at 100 yards in theoretical terms. The EVER REST bedding system is designed to provide a stable, consistent interface between action and stock. .308 Winchester and a Handy Barrel Our test rifle was chambered in .308 Winchester, arguably one of the most versatile hunting cartridges on either side of the Atlantic. The standard GTI currently comes with a barrel of approximately 20 inches. A factory M15x1 muzzle thread makes suppressor installation straightforward where legally permitted. The detachable magazine holds five rounds in standard calibers. That combination suits the .308 Winchester very well. With a roughly 20-inch barrel, the rifle remains reasonably compact despite the substantial thumbhole stock. Even with a suppressor installed, overall length stays manageable. Our test rifle wore a Kahles Helia 2.4-12x56, a classic European hunting optic well suited to low-light stand hunting and stalking. David particularly likes the broad, match-style trigger on the Sauer 101 GTI. A Trigger David Likes The direct trigger comes from the factory set at approximately 2.1 pounds. That number alone isn’t especially remarkable. What stands out is the broad trigger shoe. David likes this design because it provides the pad of the trigger finger with a clearly defined and comfortable contact surface. The trigger is crisp, predictable, and breaks cleanly without trying to become an ultra-light competition trigger. For a hunting rifle, that is exactly how it should be. Then Comes the One-Euro Coin The Sauer 101 target. The shots at the upper left and lower right were fired while zeroing the rifle. At the shooting range, we care a lot less about the impressive names manufacturers give their engineering systems. What matters is what appears on the target. And the Sauer 101 GTI delivers. After zeroing the rifle, we fired several rounds of standard hunting ammunition. The resulting group was tight enough that David eventually pulled out a one-euro coin. t essentially covered the five-shot group. Those are the kinds of groups that tend to bring theoretical discussions about hunting accuracy to a quick end. Of course, a single group is not a scientific endurance test. Ammunition, barrel temperature, fouling condition, environmental factors, and the shooter all affect group size. But it clearly demonstrates the accuracy potential of this rifle. Our Sauer 101 GTI shoots. And it shoots very well. Then Comes the Uncomfortable Question: Price This is where things get interesting. Because the GTI is no longer inexpensive. According to Sauer’s official 2026 Austrian price list, the Sauer 101 GTI carries an MSRP of €3,407. By comparison, the Sauer 101 Classic XT starts at €2,445. That means Sauer charges a substantial premium for the GTI stock and configuration. David’s criticism is straightforward: “For a rifle without manual cocking and without a quick-change barrel system, it’s getting a little expensive.” And that is the central issue. Once a rifle crosses the €3,000 mark, many hunters begin expecting modular platforms, manual cocking systems, user-changeable barrels, or other premium-level features. The Sauer 101 GTI offers none of those things. A user-changeable barrel simply isn’t part of its design philosophy. This is a traditional bolt-action rifle. You buy it in one caliber, mount your scope, zero it, and hunt with it for years. In 2026, you can view that as a disadvantage. Or as refreshingly old-school. The Mounting System Divides Opinion, Too Our test rifle was fitted with Sauer’s HexaLock mounting system. It allows the optic to be removed, but it is not David’s favorite solution. Initial installation in particular requires careful setup so the system sits tension-free and locks consistently. Hunters looking for a simpler setup have other options. Sauer offers both HexaLock mounts and Picatinny rails with 0 or 20 MOA inclination for the Sauer 100 and 101. For a dedicated hunting rifle, David would personally prefer a properly installed fixed rail or another proven detachable mounting system. That, however, is largely a matter of personal preference. Why the Sauer 101 GTI Still Works he interesting thing about this rifle is that it doesn’t pretend to be younger than it is. No chassis. No AR-style grip. No quick-change barrel. No electronics. Instead, you get a cold-hammer-forged barrel, an excellent bolt throw, a crisp trigger, a highly stable laminated stock, and ergonomics that still feel thoroughly modern a decade after the GTI was introduced. Sauer even offers a left-handed version at no additional cost. Schuss & Stille Verdict: Expensive—but Damn Good The Sauer 101 GTI left the Schuss & Stille team almost completely convinced. The Sauer 101 GTI is not a cheap rifle. And hunters who expect manual cocking, interchangeable barrels, and maximum modularity for more than €3,000 will have perfectly good reasons to shop elsewhere. But anyone looking for a traditional, premium hunting rifle should not dismiss the 101 GTI too quickly. The laminated thumbhole stock is exceptionally well executed. The adjustable cheekpiece provides a genuine ergonomic advantage. The action cycles exactly the way you expect a Sauer to cycle. The broad direct trigger is excellent. And after seeing a five-shot group disappear beneath a one-euro coin, there isn’t much left to argue about when it comes to accuracy. In that sense, the 101 GTI is a little like the badge stamped on the rifle. It may no longer be the newest model in the parking lot. But when it matters, this GTI can still show the new machines exactly what it can do.

Are Knives Like the Extrema Ratio Satre and Versa Actually Suitable for Hunting? Extrema Ratio builds knives for the military, law enforcement, first responders, and professionals who need to trust their tools when things get serious. The Satre, Versa, Vipera, Venatus F, and BD4 Lucky Desert represent very different design philosophies. But at Schuss & Stille, we weren’t interested in figuring out which one looks the most tactical. We wanted to answer a much simpler question: Do these knives actually work for hunting? Most of us have a fairly traditional image of what a hunting knife should look like. A wooden handle. Maybe stag horn. A leather sheath. A broad, gently curved blade. These are designs that have been refined over generations, and nobody really needs an explanation of what they were built to do. Then you put an Extrema Ratio Versa next to one. Or a bright yellow Satre. Suddenly, the picture changes. The knives made by this Italian manufacturer from Prato look technical, minimalist, and in some cases unapologetically military. Dark steel, polymer sheaths, angular blade geometry, skeletonized handles—there isn’t much old-school hunting romance here. What there is, however, is plenty of function. And that’s exactly what makes Extrema Ratio interesting for hunters. Because once an animal is down, daylight is fading, your hands are wet, and the real work is just beginning, tradition matters a lot less. At that point, a knife simply has to cut. From Prato to the World Extrema Ratio was founded in 1997 in Prato, Italy, and has built its reputation primarily around professional-duty knives. The company develops and manufactures knives for military personnel, law enforcement, rescue services, and other professional users. Extrema Ratio is also registered as a NATO supplier. That background has a major influence on its designs. Durability, secure handling, tough materials, and practical carry systems usually rank much higher on the priority list than traditional elegance. The result is a lineup of knives that, at first glance, seems to have very little to do with hunting. Look again, however, and things become more interesting. For our field-oriented look at Extrema Ratio, we examined several very different designs: the Satre, Versa, Vipera, Venatus F, and BD4 Lucky Desert. Those five knives alone demonstrate that there really is no single “Extrema Ratio knife.” The Satre, for example, is available not only in yellow, but also in orange, black, gray, and silver. Satre: The Yellow Knife You Won’t Lose The Satre is probably the most unusual hunting knife in our lineup—at least visually. Our version is bright yellow. Almost alarmingly yellow. That might seem completely out of place in a military environment, but for hunters it has one very practical advantage: You can actually find it again. Anyone who has ever set down a dark-colored knife while field dressing an animal in tall grass, fallen leaves, or thick blueberry brush knows exactly what we mean. The yellow Satre doesn’t disappear quite so easily. Extrema Ratio describes the Satre as a small, lightweight, rugged fixed blade intended for survival, bushcraft, and EDC use. Its compact design does away with the bulky conventional handle found on most hunting knives. And in the field, that minimalist approach has real appeal. The knife is easy to control, and its Drop Point-inspired blade geometry is much closer to a traditional hunting profile than many other designs in the Extrema Ratio catalog. For small, deliberate cuts, the Satre feels surprisingly natural. But its greatest strength is also its limitation. That minimalist grip saves space and weight. During extended work on an animal, however, a properly shaped handle provides more comfort, leverage, and security. For us, that makes the Satre primarily one thing: An excellent compact field knife and backup blade—one you’re actually likely to have with you. Versa: A Hunting Knife That Doesn’t Look Like One The Versa takes the minimalist concept even further. Its stonewashed finish, skeletonized construction, and sharply angular blade geometry make it look more like a technical-purpose tool than a hunting knife. And that is precisely what makes it interesting. The Versa is exceptionally slim. It carries discreetly, takes up almost no room, and there is virtually nothing unnecessary in its design. Its Tanto-inspired blade geometry, however, also illustrates an important point: what makes sense for a tactical knife does not always translate perfectly to game processing. On a traditional hunting knife, we often want a pronounced belly in the cutting edge. That curved section makes long, controlled slicing and skinning strokes easier. The Versa requires a different technique. Its more angular geometry demands a little more attention, and it would not be our first choice for classic skinning work. But what you do get is an extremely compact tool for the hundred small jobs that come up during a day in the field. Cord. Packaging. Small branches. Food. Quick, precise cuts while working on game. The Versa does not try to imitate a traditional hunting knife. And we don’t think it should be judged as one. From left to right: BD4 Lucky Desert, S-THIL, Vipera und Venatus F. Vipera: The Hunter in Disguise Then there’s the Vipera. And suddenly the picture changes again. It still carries plenty of Extrema Ratio DNA—clean, functional, technical—but the blade looks much closer to what hunters have relied on for decades. The Vipera features an elongated Drop Point blade with a flat grind. Extrema Ratio positions it somewhere between tactical, survival, and outdoor use. Depending on the version, nitrogen-alloyed steels are used, while the knife itself remains impressively light at under 100 grams, or roughly 3.5 ounces. Schuss & Stille firearms technician Marcel Tisal. More than anything, it’s the blade shape that makes the difference. The tip is easy to control. The cutting edge offers enough belly to be useful. And compared with the Satre and Versa, the handle is much more substantial. That is exactly where Schuss & Stille firearms technician Marcel Tisal sees the greatest potential for hunters. “For hunting, the one I’d pick out of these knives is the Vipera,” Marcel says. And it’s easy to understand why. The Vipera does not try to look like a classic hunting knife. Yet from a functional standpoint, it comes surprisingly close to what we actually want when processing game: relatively low weight, a controllable blade, a proper handle, and a geometry that allows both precise cuts and longer slicing strokes. Put another way: With the Vipera, its tactical heritage begins to fade into the background. What remains is simply a useful tool. Venatus F: The True Hunting Knife Marcel’s assessment becomes even more interesting when you look at the Venatus F. Because this model is explicitly sold as a hunting knife. The Venatus F features a blade approximately 5.1 inches long made from Böhler N690 steel, a contoured G10 handle, and weighs about 6.7 ounces. Retailers clearly market it as a dedicated hunting knife. And it looks the part. Its more pronounced blade belly is far better suited to long slicing cuts than the Tanto geometry of the Versa. The full-size handle also provides substantially more support during extended work than the minimalist Satre and Versa designs. f you want the Extrema Ratio model that comes closest to a traditional hunting knife in terms of function, the Venatus is the obvious candidate. During field dressing and longer cutting tasks in particular, the larger handle offers clear ergonomic advantages. But the Venatus is also bigger and heavier. And that helps explain why the Vipera can still be the more compelling knife for everyday hunting. The knife that performs one specific job best does not always win. Sometimes the better knife is the one that cuts well enough, weighs almost nothing, carries easily—and is therefore actually with you when you need it. BD4 Lucky Desert: A Hunting Knife That Folds? The BD4 Lucky Desert introduces a completely different concept. It’s a folder. Its design clearly comes from the tactical world, combining a slim aluminum handle with a folding blade and pronounced guard elements. Fold it, drop it into a pocket, and you’re done. As a general-purpose field knife for smaller cutting jobs, that concept works extremely well. For actual game processing, however, we are more cautious about folders. Not because they don’t cut. Because of how they are built. Blood, fat, hair, and tissue can work their way into the pivot, locking mechanism, and internal spaces of a folding knife far more easily than with a simple fixed blade. A fixed-blade knife is much easier to clean thoroughly after the job is done. And when food hygiene and clean handling of wild game matter, that is not a trivial concern. For us, the BD4 Lucky Desert makes more sense as an all-purpose field knife than as a dedicated field-dressing knife. What a Hunting Knife Really Needs to Do This may be where many knife comparisons go wrong. We talk about steel. Rockwell hardness. Blade thickness. Coatings. Tanto versus Drop Point. But what makes a good hunting knife often comes down to much more basic questions. Can I control the tip? Will my hand slide forward? Does the handle still work when it’s wet? Can I clean the knife properly? Can I sharpen it again without specialized equipment? And most importantly: Will I actually have it with me when I need it? That final point is massively underrated. A large hunting knife with a beautiful stag-horn handle may be a wonderful piece of gear. But if its size and weight mean that it eventually gets left in the truck, perfect ergonomics don’t help much. That is where the Satre, Versa, and especially the Vipera begin to make a strong case for themselves. They barely take up any room. Tactical Doesn’t Automatically Mean Unsuitable for Hunting The term “tactical knife” triggers an almost automatic reaction among some hunters. Too aggressive. Too military. Too modern. But color and appearance tell us surprisingly little about whether a knife actually works for hunting. What matters is geometry and function. And in that respect, our five Extrema Ratio candidates are very different. Satre: Extremely compact, easy to control, and especially interesting as a backup knife. Versa: A fascinating minimalist tool, although its angular geometry makes it more specialized for hunting applications. Vipera: For Marcel Tisal, the best combination of low weight, a useful handle, and blade geometry that makes sense for game processing. Venatus F: The most traditional hunting concept of the group, with clear ergonomic advantages during longer jobs. BD4 Lucky Desert: An excellent compact folder for general field use, but not our first choice for intensive game processing because of the folding mechanism. In the End, Origin Doesn’t Matter After spending time with the Extrema Ratio lineup, one conclusion stands out: A tactical knife can make a very good hunting knife. But not every tactical knife becomes a good hunting knife simply because it is rugged. A soldier, a survivalist, and a hunter may ask very different things of a blade. Where a tactical user may value an extremely strong tip, a hunter may prefer more belly for skinning and slicing. Where maximum structural strength matters in one environment, a hunter may value light weight and precise blade control more. Where military users might want modular carry systems, after field dressing an animal our concern is usually much simpler: How quickly and thoroughly can we clean the knife? And that is exactly why the Vipera may be the most interesting knife of this entire group. It demonstrates that the line between tactical tool and hunting knife is far less distinct than appearances suggest. In the end, one thing matters: A knife doesn’t have to look like a hunting knife. It has to perform like one. Extrema Ratio knives are imported into Austria by GMG Austria, based in Salzburg, and are available through retailers such as Alpen Adria Jagd in Villach.

Every hunter knows the feeling: a chamois buck settles into the crosshairs—and suddenly your heart is pounding in your throat. The buck is standing broadside. The distance is right. The rifle is steady on the rest. Everything should be perfect. Then your pulse spikes. Your hands begin to tremble. And somehow the trigger feels heavier than it did just a few minutes ago. Almost every hunter knows some version of buck fever. But when does healthy excitement turn into anxiety? And why can even decades of hunting experience fail to protect us from it? Nika, huntress and psychologist for Shot & Stillness, explains what happens inside our heads when the moment of truth arrives. Maybe there are five seconds left. Your finger rests on the trigger. Through the scope, the animal is standing still. You have sighted in the rifle. You know the range. You have practiced the shooting position hundreds of times. And yet something happens that cannot be explained by the quality of your rifle—or the number of years you have hunted. Your heart rate climbs. Your breathing becomes shallow. The reticle begins to wander. Then one thought enters your mind: Don’t screw this up. And that is often where the trouble starts. “Many hunters believe that feeling nervous before the shot means they lack experience or confidence. That simply isn’t true,” says Nika. “The body is reacting to a situation that carries enormous importance for us. And precisely because that shot matters, our level of arousal rises.” When a Stag Sends Your Heart Rate Through the Roof Buck fever is more than an old hunting-camp story. It can actually be measured. Researchers followed 19 men and women during a real deer hunt and continuously recorded their cardiac activity. Fifteen of the 19 hunters experienced what English-speaking hunters commonly call buck fever—an intense burst of acute physiological arousal when game appeared or immediately before the shot. In seven hunters, heart rate briefly reached at least 85 percent of their age-predicted maximum. Red stag at a salt lick in Austria’s Carnic Alps. Image edited in Photoshop. What makes that remarkable is that the hunter does not have to be physically active at all. He may have been sitting motionless in a stand for several minutes, yet his body suddenly reacts as though someone flipped a switch. Stress hormones are released. The heart beats faster. Blood flow to the muscles increases. Attention and perception begin to change. The body prepares for action. “From an evolutionary standpoint, that response makes perfect sense,” Nika explains. “Our nervous system first asks: Is this situation important? Do I need to react? Only afterward does our conscious mind interpret what is happening. That’s why intense excitement, joy and fear can feel surprisingly similar in the body.” Buck fever, then, is not weakness. Quite the opposite. If an old chamois buck still makes your pulse jump after decades of hunting, that does not automatically mean you have a psychological problem. Maybe hunting simply still means something to you. The Ten Seconds That Matter Most What happens immediately before the shot may be even more interesting. In an experimental hunting simulation involving 60 hunters, researchers studied pupil response, skin conductance and participants’ subjective perception of time. Physiological arousal began as soon as the first deer appeared. During the ten seconds immediately before the shot, electrodermal activity increased significantly. Even more striking: time appeared to slow down. Many hunters know the sensation. A sequence that lasts only a few seconds in real time can remain in memory as though it unfolded in slow motion. The animal steps out. It pauses. It turns. The reticle settles behind the shoulder. And eventually the rifle fires. “Under high levels of arousal, our perception changes,” says Nika. “Attention can narrow dramatically onto individual stimuli. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It becomes a problem when the hunter stops processing the entire situation and starts thinking only: I have to shoot now.” That single sentence carries enormous weight in hunting. Because in the hunter’s mind, a possible shot has suddenly become a necessary shot. For Nika, hunting is about far more than filling a tag. She spends time in the field to step away from everyday noise, collect her thoughts and find quiet. Hunting, for her, is the counterweight to a hectic modern life. The Most Dangerous Thought: “I Cannot Miss” This is where buck fever can turn into performance anxiety. An experienced hunter knows how to shoot. Position, breathing, trigger control and follow-through have been repeated for years. Much of the process happens automatically, without consciously directing every muscle. But the more important the moment feels, the stronger the temptation becomes to suddenly take conscious control of an action that normally runs on instinct and routine. Am I really steady? Is the reticle exactly where it belongs? Am I pressing the trigger cleanly? What happens if I miss? Suddenly, the hunter begins thinking about movements his body already knows how to perform. Sports psychology has documented a related phenomenon in archery known as target panic. Experienced archers can suddenly become unable to execute movements that previously felt completely automatic. In one qualitative study, seasoned archers described a recurring cycle: their attention shifted increasingly toward the outcome of the shot. That created a stronger desire for control—which ultimately led to a loss of control. “The more I tell myself that I absolutely cannot miss, the more important the possibility of missing becomes in my mind,” Nika explains. “The brain is no longer focused on executing the process correctly. Instead, it becomes occupied with a possible negative outcome. And that creates additional pressure.” One bad shot can reinforce the pattern—especially when it is followed by a difficult or unsuccessful search for wounded game. When a Bad Shot Follows You Into the Stand Hunters talk endlessly about calibers, bullets and shot placement. They talk far less about this. An animal was wounded. The tracking job lasted for hours. Maybe it was recovered the next morning. Maybe it was never recovered at all. The next time the hunter climbs into a stand, he is no longer sitting there alone. The memory is sitting beside him. Similar performance blocks are known from several sports. They can involve severe anxiety, a feeling of freezing up and an inability to perform movements that were previously automatic. Sports psychology also cautions against overly simple explanations. These blocks can involve different psychological, physiological and, in some cases, neurological mechanisms. For hunters, the lesson is straightforward: Not every tremor is fear. Not every poor shot creates a mental block. But repeated thoughts about a previous mistake can absolutely influence the next shot. “Our brain learns associations very quickly,” says Nika. “If a particular situation becomes linked to an especially stressful experience, the next similar moment may immediately trigger the thought: I hope that doesn’t happen again. And that anticipatory anxiety creates tension all over again.” A vicious cycle can develop. The hunter wants to make an especially clean shot. So he tries to control everything more intensely. Because he is controlling everything, he notices every tiny movement. That makes him less confident. And because he feels less confident, he tries to control even more. Why Experience Still Matters There is good news: experience makes a difference. Just perhaps not in the way many hunters assume. In one study involving 127 armed British police officers, researchers compared less experienced shooters with seasoned marksmen under increased performance pressure. The less experienced shooters showed higher anxiety levels and heart rates, while their accuracy declined. The experienced shooters also showed a substantial rise in heart rate—but they were much better able to maintain their shooting performance. Put simply: The professional does not necessarily have a lower pulse. He simply shoots better with a high pulse. Research into visual attention during aiming supports the same idea. Scientists use the term Quiet Eye to describe the final stable visual fixation on a relevant target area immediately before a decisive movement. In many precision tasks, longer and more stable fixation is associated with improved performance. Anxiety, on the other hand, can shorten that phase. The difference between an elite performer and a beginner is therefore not just mechanical skill. It is also about where attention remains when pressure rises. “Routine doesn’t mean you stop feeling excitement,” says Nika. “Routine means you can still access a familiar process while you are excited.” Stop Fighting the Shakes Hunting without fear does not mean hunting without tension. Respect, nervousness—even trembling—can all be part of the shot. What matters is learning to recognize those sensations, interpret them correctly and remain capable of making a calm, responsible decision despite the pressure. So what should you do when the buck steps out and your knees suddenly feel weak? Perhaps something unexpected: Don’t fight it. At least not by telling yourself: This must not be happening. “If I notice that my heart is beating faster and at the same time tell myself I absolutely have to calm down, I create a second stressor,” Nika explains. “Now I’m not only dealing with the hunting situation. I’m also fighting my own physical reaction.” A better approach is to notice the arousal without immediately judging it. My heart rate is high. Fine. I’m excited. Fine. Now return to the process. Breathe. Build the position. Find the target. Press the trigger. Or: Don’t shoot. Because part of a stable shooting process is also knowing when to stop it. The Most Important Shot May Be the One You Never Take This is one of the fundamental differences between hunting and competitive shooting. At some point, the competitive shooter has to fire. The hunter does not. The animal can walk away. The buck may be there tomorrow. That stag may never be taken this season at all. “The ability to consciously decide not to shoot is psychologically incredibly important,” says Nika. “If a hunter believes he has to capitalize on every good opportunity, he becomes dependent on the outcome. But once he understands that aborting the shot is always possible—and perfectly acceptable—it removes a great deal of pressure.” That is also why hunting practice should involve more than shooting tiny groups from a bench. Hunters should practice from multiple field positions. With an elevated heart rate. After physical exertion. Under time pressure. From shooting sticks. Off a backpack. Prone, seated or braced against a tree. And they should also practice lowering the rifle. Reassessing the situation. Then mounting the rifle again only if the shot still makes sense. Can Breathing Techniques Help? Breathing exercises are frequently recommended in shooting sports. That advice is not entirely wrong—but don’t expect miracles. In a randomized study involving 67 participants, five minutes of slow diaphragmatic breathing before a pressured shooting task reduced certain aspects of self-reported cognitive anxiety. It did little, however, to improve heart rate or actual shooting performance. So once again, there is no psychological trick that can replace training. Breathing may help regulate arousal. But the foundation remains a repeatable shooting process. Nika sums it up in one sentence: “The calmest hunter is not automatically the best shot. The better hunter is the one who still knows exactly what to do when he isn’t calm.” Keep a Little Buck Fever Hunting is more than pulling a trigger. It is watching. Understanding. Waiting. And accepting responsibility. For Nika, it is often those quiet moments that hold the greatest value. Maybe our goal should not be to hunt completely without fear. Because hunting without any emotion at all would probably mean losing part of what makes it hunting in the first place. Your heart is allowed to beat faster when, after hours of glassing a distant mountainside, the old chamois buck finally stands up. Your hands are allowed to shake when, after three empty mornings, the mature stag finally materializes out of the fog. What matters is something else. The excitement does not make the decision. The hunter does. He knows when the shot is responsible. And just as importantly, he knows when to take his finger off the trigger.

Chamois buck photographed in the karst landscape of the Hochschwab massif More than 31,000 harvested chamois, twelve hunting seasons, and 28 hunting districts: A new scientific study from the Alps reveals a relationship that has received surprisingly little attention. Depending on the geology beneath their feet, chamois may wear down their teeth at different rates — potentially affecting aging, body condition, and even population dynamics. For hunters and wildlife managers, this is far more than an academic curiosity. Anyone who has hunted chamois for decades knows the classic factors used to evaluate a population: winter severity, forage availability, population density, disease, competition, sex ratio, and age structure. Climate change, too, is increasingly part of the equation. Yet one factor that chamois literally spend their entire lives standing on is rarely considered: the mountain itself. Not its steepness. Not its elevation. Its rock. A study published in 2025 by Italian scientists Roberta Chirichella and Marco Apollonio suggests that the underlying geology of chamois habitat may help determine how quickly the animals physically age. And the connection between rock and longevity appears in a place few hunters would think to look: the teeth. More Than 31,000 Harvested Chamois Studied The scale of the dataset is remarkable. The researchers analyzed data from more than 31,000 Alpine chamois harvested across the central and eastern Italian Alps. The animals had been legally taken over twelve consecutive hunting seasons between 2010 and 2021 in a total of 28 hunting districts. For 29,855 chamois, researchers had information including age and dressed body weight. In addition, they examined and measured the molars of 596 lower jaws. Of particular interest was the first molar — a tooth that performs a tremendous amount of mechanical work over the course of an animal’s life as it grinds and processes forage. In a sense, hunting provided the biological archive for a study that would have been nearly impossible to conduct on a living population at this scale. Researchers classified the animals’ habitats according to their underlying geology: limestone on one side, and silicate-rich or metamorphic rock on the other. What emerged was a striking pattern. Chamois in the Hohe Tauern, left, and the Northern Limestone Alps, right. Worth Knowing: Limestone, Silicate-Rich and Metamorphic Rock — Simply Explained Limestone consists primarily of calcium carbonate and forms many of the best-known mountain ranges and massifs in the Alps. Typical examples include the Dachstein, Hochschwab, Karwendel, and Julian Alps. Limestone mountains are often recognizable by their pale, rugged cliffs, karst plateaus, sinkholes, and caves. Common rock types include limestone and dolomite. Silicate-rich rocks contain a high proportion of silicate minerals. Examples include granite, gneiss, quartzite, and mica schist. These rocks are widespread throughout the Central Alps, including the Ötztal Alps, Silvretta, Zillertal Alps, and parts of the Hohe and Niedere Tauern. They generally form different soils — often more acidic than limestone soils — and therefore support different plant communities. Metamorphic rocks are rocks that have been transformed deep within the Earth’s crust by intense pressure and heat. Typical examples include gneiss, mica schist, quartzite, and marble. Large sections of the Hohe and Niedere Tauern, Ötztal Alps, Koralpe, and Kreuzeck Group consist of metamorphic rock. One important point: “silicate-rich” and “metamorphic” are not opposites. Gneiss or mica schist, for example, can be both metamorphic and rich in silicate minerals. Teeth Wear More Slowly on Limestone Among chamois of the same age and sex, molars from animals living on limestone showed, on average, less wear than those from animals inhabiting silicate-rich or metamorphic terrain. That does not necessarily mean limestone somehow gives chamois “better teeth.” Instead, geology alters the soil — and soil influences vegetation. According to the researchers, plant communities growing on silicate-rich and metamorphic soils may contain higher levels of so-called opaline silica and can be mechanically tougher. At the same time, the forage quality in these areas is described as lower. Over the years, chamois may therefore have to process vegetation that places greater mechanical stress on their grinding teeth. On limestone, by contrast, the researchers observed slower tooth wear. At first glance, that may sound like little more than an anatomical detail. For an old chamois, however, it may help determine what happens next. When the First Molar Is Worn Out At some point, a tooth is no longer simply old — it begins to lose its function. This is where one of the study’s most intriguing findings emerges. The researchers found that the pronounced decline in physical condition began at roughly the point when the first molar had become heavily or completely worn down. The consequence: The animals apparently became less efficient at taking in and utilizing forage. Body mass began to decline. That adds another dimension to what hunters mean when they talk about “an old chamois.” Chronological age alone may not fully describe an animal’s physical condition. Two chamois can be exactly the same age yet be in very different biological states — depending on how far their teeth have already worn down. And that wear appears to depend, at least in part, on where the animal has spent its life. Chamois photographed in the Southern Limestone Alps Bucks Age Earlier For chamois hunters, the difference between the sexes is equally interesting. The researchers found that physical decline associated with aging began earlier in bucks than in does. On limestone terrain, the decline in body mass appeared in bucks at around 11 years of age, while in does it did not occur until roughly 16 years. On silicate-rich or metamorphic terrain, that threshold shifted forward to approximately nine years for bucks and 13 years for does. Those are substantial differences. The researchers attribute this in part to the different life-history strategies of males and females. An old chamois buck pays a steep price for the rut every year. He must build reserves during the productive months, then burns through a significant portion of them just as the season turns toward winter — when forage becomes scarcer and environmental conditions increasingly harsh. Does also invest tremendous amounts of energy in reproduction and raising young, but that energetic cost is distributed differently throughout the year. The data therefore support something experienced chamois hunters have long observed in the mountains: An old buck can lose condition dramatically in a relatively short period of time. What this study adds is the possibility that the condition of his teeth may be one of the key factors behind that decline. Not Every Ten-Year-Old Chamois Is Biologically the Same Age This is where the research becomes especially relevant to hunting and wildlife management. Traditionally, chamois are classified heavily according to chronological age. Their horns allow for an unusually accurate estimation of age compared with many other game species. An eight-year-old buck is eight years old — whether he lives on limestone, schist, or ancient crystalline rock. Biologically, however, that does not necessarily mean the animals are in the same condition. The new study suggests that a buck living in habitat associated with greater tooth wear may enter senescence earlier than a buck of the same chronological age living somewhere else. That raises an intriguing question for hunters and managers: Do rigid age-class boundaries really make equal sense in every chamois habitat? The authors themselves point in this direction. They suggest that geology and the associated patterns of tooth wear should receive greater consideration in future adaptive management of chamois populations. Over time, that could potentially influence how harvest is distributed among age classes and how harvest quotas are structured. There is, however, an important caveat. The results do not mean hunters should automatically harvest older chamois in limestone country and younger animals in silicate-rich terrain. The study neither tested nor developed such a generalized harvest strategy. Instead, it provides another piece of the puzzle for understanding local chamois populations more precisely. Looking Into a Chamois’ Mouth May Become More Important Forest-dwelling chamois There is another potentially important lesson for hunters. The lower jaw of a harvested chamois may tell us far more about a population than we have traditionally asked it to. Horns are measured. Age is determined. Weight is recorded. In some areas, additional body-condition and health data are collected. Systematically recording tooth wear could add another valuable layer of information. If managers knew, over a period of years, at what age the molars of a particular population reached certain stages of wear — and when body weights of older animals simultaneously began to decline — they might be able to determine much more precisely when chamois in a specific habitat truly become biologically old. Not according to a textbook. But in that particular mountain range. That would be adaptive wildlife management in the truest sense. Heavier Does Not Automatically Mean Better nother detail from the study is important because it guards against oversimplification. Before the onset of senescence, chamois living on limestone were not necessarily heavier. In fact, animals from limestone habitats in the dataset had lower body weights before age-related decline than those from the combined silicate-rich and metamorphic areas. So the takeaway is not that limestone produces bigger or heavier chamois. The key difference appears to be how rapidly functional tooth wear progresses and when age-related physical decline begins. For hunters, that is an important distinction. Body weight alone does not tell the full story of a chamois population. The Mountain Shapes the Chamois for Life Doe with kids photographed in Austria’s Hochschwab region Chamois are one of those game species in which the influence of habitat is immediately visible. A chamois living in a rugged limestone massif leads a different life from one moving through dark crystalline cirques, mountain pine, and high alpine grassland. The possibility that these differences extend all the way down to the wear of individual molars adds an entirely new dimension to the concept of habitat quality. The mountain determines which plants grow. The plants determine what a chamois chews year after year. And the rate at which those teeth wear down may eventually determine how efficiently the animal can continue to feed. In the end, the study delivers a conclusion that will sound very familiar to experienced chamois hunters: You cannot understand chamois without understanding their mountain. The mountain’s influence may simply reach farther than we once thought. Perhaps the aging of a chamois is shaped not only by hard winters, the rut, disease, or hunting pressure. Perhaps it is also decided day after day, bite after bite — by the very rock beneath its feet.

Nika put the HEP Carbon Ultralight Silent through its paces for Shot & Stillness. Until now, Nika had never used a shooting stick while hunting. For Shot & Stillness, our hunter and psychologist took the HEP Carbon Ultralight Silent into the field for the first time. What initially seemed like one more piece of gear quickly won her over—especially with its low weight, intuitive handling, and the added stability it provided behind the rifle. Orange is not exactly the traditional color of hunting gear. Surrounded by loden, olive drab, and earth tones, the HEP Carbon Ultralight Silent certainly stands out. But the moment Nika picked it up, the color became secondary. What really caught her attention was the weight. Depending on the configuration, the shooting and trekking stick weighs from around 550 grams. It is built from high-strength carbon tubes using Toray T700 carbon fiber and was developed in Austria for the kind of hunting where every extra ounce eventually matters: stalking, mountain hunting, and long days covering ground. For Nika, the test was a first. She had never hunted with a shooting stick before, so the first few setups naturally felt unfamiliar. How do you open it? Where does the rifle sit? How should you position your body? That was where the first surprise came. After only a few attempts, what initially felt like a sequence of separate steps turned into one smooth movement: deploy the stick, set it, place the rifle, settle into position. What seemed complicated at first became intuitive remarkably quickly. Trekking Pole and Shooting Support in One The orange shooting stick certainly stands out. The real appeal of the HEP concept is that the Ultralight Silent is not designed solely as a shooting rest. While moving through the field, it doubles as a trekking and stalking pole. There is no separate shooting support hanging from the pack and no need to dig one out when an opportunity suddenly presents itself. That matters especially in steep country. After several hours of climbing, hunters tend to become very critical of every ounce they carry. A shooting stick that already earns its keep as a trekking pole during the ascent has a much easier time justifying its place in the loadout. HEP offers the stick in several lengths to match the hunter’s height. The details are also clearly designed with field use in mind. Carbon is lightweight and rigid, but bare carbon tubes can make an undesirable amount of noise when they knock together. To address that, the tubes are covered with a soft, abrasion-resistant protective coating that helps reduce noise while also improving grip. The Real Difference Shows Up Through the Scope The HEP really proves its value once the rifle is resting in it. Its design supports both the fore-end and rear portion of the rifle, creating substantially more stability than an unsupported standing position. Rubberized contact surfaces help prevent the rifle from slipping while protecting the stock at the same time. For Nika, this was the defining moment of the test. The reticle became noticeably steadier. Small movements caused by breathing, muscle tension, or changes in body position were still there, of course—but they became far easier to manage. And at that point, a lightweight piece of carbon gear becomes something directly connected to ethical shot placement. More stability does not mean difficult or excessively long shots suddenly become acceptable. Quite the opposite. A shooting stick is no substitute for practice, sound judgment, or knowing your personal limits. What it does is improve the shooting position for a shot that is already reasonable to take. More Stability Means More Confidence As a psychologist, Nika was particularly interested in what that added stability does to the shooter. When a hunter is fighting a constantly moving rifle, a significant amount of attention and physical effort goes into simply controlling the shooting position. With solid support, that burden is reduced considerably. That leaves more mental capacity for the things that really matter: the sight picture, the animal, the background, and the decision of when—or whether—to pull the trigger. For Nika, that is where the real safety benefit lies. It is not about giving a hunter the confidence to take every shot. It is about allowing an appropriate shot to be made with greater control. That distinction matters. Good equipment should not make a hunter more reckless. It should help make the hunter more precise. Practice Still Matters One thing became clear during the test: even an intuitive shooting stick should be practiced with before relying on it during a hunt. Nika’s first setups were deliberate. After several repetitions, those individual movements started to become automatic—and that is exactly where you want to be. When game appears, that is not the time to figure out how your shooting stick works. A few practice sessions in the field or at the range are time well spent. What surprised Nika most about the HEP Carbon Ultralight Silent was how quickly it started to feel like a natural part of her hunting setup. At roughly half a kilogram, with a quiet carbon construction and the ability to serve as both a trekking pole and a shooting support, the concept is particularly well suited to stalking and mountain hunting. Even more important than the technical specifications was what she experienced behind the rifle: how much steadier, calmer, and more controlled a hunting shot can become with proper support. For that reason, the orange HEP Carbon shooting stick will likely be joining Nika on quite a few more hunts. The HEP Carbon Ultralight Silent is available directly from HEP Carbon.

Schuss & Stille firearms expert David is visibly impressed by the Zero Compromise ZC420H riflescope. The Zero Compromise ZC420H costs as much as some rifles—scope included. Yet precision shooters have long sworn by the young Austrian optics brand Zero Compromise Optic. With the new ZC420H, the company from Lower Austria now wants to make its mark in the hunting world as well. But the most interesting story isn’t really about the scope. It’s about the people behind it. 800 Beers That’s how David Mischkulnig puts the price into perspective. “If you drink 800 fewer beers, you can afford a Zero Compromise,” says our firearms expert from Alpen Adria Jagd in Villach, grinning. You can debate the financing strategy. The price itself is harder to argue with. A ZC420H runs about €3,850 in Europe, depending on configuration and dealer—and in some cases, even more. That is a lot of money for a riflescope. A serious amount of money. For that kind of cash, you can buy a very respectable hunting rifle. Or a good scope plus enough ammunition to keep you busy for quite a while. And at that price, Zero Compromise Optic automatically finds itself competing in a world where names like Swarovski Optik, Kahles, Schmidt & Bender, and Nightforce have been setting standards for decades. There is one major difference, though. Zero Compromise Optic has only been around since 2018. And yet today, any serious long-range shooter knows the three letters ZCO. So how did a company from a small town in Lower Austria pull that off? An Overnight Success? Not Even Close At first glance, the Zero Compromise story sounds like a classic startup legend: a handful of enthusiasts launches a new optics company and decides it wants to build the best riflescopes in the world. The reality is less romantic—and far more interesting. From the beginning, ZCO was built by people who already knew the premium riflescope business extremely well. The Austrian company is headed by managing director Robert Artwohl. On the American side, ZCO works closely with Jeff Huber and his team in Idaho. The company describes itself as a small, dynamic group operating in Austria and the United States with one remarkably ambitious objective: Build the best riflescope in the world. Huber brought years of experience from the American premium-optics market. Industry reports have connected him with Nightforce and later with the development of Kahles’ business in the United States. Together with experienced optical engineers and mechanical specialists, that expertise became Zero Compromise Optic in 2018. That background also explains why ZCO never followed the usual path of a young optics company. There was no entry-level scope. No mid-priced product designed to build market share. No broad lineup filled with models at every possible price point. ZCO started at the top. The philosophy was essentially this: If something can be engineered better, make it better—even if doing so makes it more expensive. In that sense, the company name wasn’t marketing. It was the engineering brief. Made in Austria—And Not Just on the Box Zero Compromise Optic is based in Margarethen am Moos in Lower Austria, southeast of Vienna. Manufacturing takes place there as well, while development and engineering are carried out through close cooperation between specialists in Austria and the United States. That matters. In the optics industry, “Made in…” does not always mean that a substantial portion of the actual manufacturing takes place in that country. At ZCO, vertical integration is deliberately part of the concept. BEB Fertigungscenter GmbH also plays an important role and is closely connected with ZCO at the Austrian location. In recent years, significant investment has gone into both manufacturing capability and expansion of the facility. Artwohl has described the philosophy in remarkably straightforward terms: Only by maintaining tight control over engineering, components, manufacturing, assembly, and quality control can the company achieve the level of performance ZCO promises. That costs money. And that is where the explanation begins for the kind of prices hunters love to debate around the table. Why Build a 36mm Main Tube? The massive 36mm main tube. One detail says a lot about the way Zero Compromise approaches engineering: the massive 36mm main tube. Thirty millimeters is familiar. Thirty-four millimeters is now common in the precision-rifle world. Thirty-six millimeters initially sounds like yet another oddball tube diameter that forces the shooter to buy another set of rings. So why do it? Because more diameter gives the engineers more room to work. Not only for greater adjustment range, but also for larger optical and mechanical components. From the original ZC420 and ZC527 onward, that combination of adjustment travel, mechanical strength, and optical performance has been a central part of the ZCO concept. David puts it in less technical terms: “The more room the machinery inside has to work, the fewer compromises you have to make.” Then he offers the kind of durability test that probably does not appear in any ISO manual. His personal ZC420 rides on a Sako. The rifle has fallen over. More than once. One of the turrets has had its own encounters with reality, too. David’s verdict? “You could probably build a hunting stand with the thing. Then you’d still be able to shoot with it afterward.” That is obviously not an official ZCO test standard. But it does explain why the brand built such a strong reputation so quickly among long-range and precision-rifle shooters. In that world, mechanical repeatability is not a nice feature. It is a requirement. Long Range First. Hunting Next. The adjustment turrets are exceptionally precise. This is where the new ZC420H becomes interesting. For years, Zero Compromise felt like a brand designed primarily for people who enjoy ballistic tables, run advanced shooting apps, and hear the word “MIL” without thinking about the military—they immediately start counting clicks. ZCO became established in competition, professional, and long-range shooting circles. Large turrets, sophisticated reticles, huge adjustment ranges, and uncompromising mechanics fit perfectly into that environment. For the traditional hunter, all of that was technically fascinating—but sometimes more than necessary. ZCO recognized that. In 2026, the company introduced the new ZC420H Hunter. The basic platform is the proven ZC420, with 4-20x magnification and a 50mm objective. The goal was to preserve the core qualities while making the scope lighter, cleaner, and more hunting-oriented. ZCO claims approximately an 18-percent weight reduction compared with the original ZC420. The result weighs about 925 grams and measures roughly 328 millimeters in length. The 36mm main tube remains. This is not an ultralight mountain-hunting scope. But neither is it the “big brute,” as David affectionately calls his sporting ZC420. And that is precisely the point. ZCO did not try to turn the ZC420 into a delicate 500-gram hunting optic. Instead, the engineers removed weight where they believed hunters could live without it—not where it might compromise mechanical integrity. Fewer Turrets. More Hunting. The magnification range is 4x to 20x. The difference becomes especially obvious in the control layout. A competitive shooter wants immediate access to both elevation and windage correction. A hunting rifle has different priorities. Most hunters zero the windage once. Then they want it to stay there. Accordingly, the Hunter concept uses more compact controls and a turret arrangement better suited to field use. The windage adjustment is protected against accidental movement, while the elevation turret still allows precise, repeatable corrections. Adjustment is in 0.1 MRAD increments. For David, that is classic ZCO. You turn the turret. It clicks. And the shot actually moves exactly as much as the click said it would. That sounds obvious. It isn’t. Anyone who zeros a lot of riflescopes knows the difference between theoretical click values and a mechanism that delivers those movements consistently and repeatedly on target. “With other very good scopes, you can sometimes feel that the adjustment is a little softer or more vague,” David says. “With Zero Compromise, it’s just incredibly precise.” And that is where a significant part of those €3,800 is hiding. You cannot see it from the outside. A Scope Has to Do More Than Look Bright Of course, all that mechanical precision would be worthless if the optical performance did not match. The ZC420H features a 50mm objective and a stated light transmission of approximately 92 percent, along with high contrast, strong resolution, and intentionally natural color rendition. But numbers on a spec sheet tell only part of the story. What matters is what reaches the shooter’s eye. How cleanly does the scope separate fine detail? How well can you distinguish a dark animal against a dark background? How stable and clean is the image toward the edges? And perhaps most importantly: How quickly does your eye find the sight picture? That last point is something David particularly appreciates. “With some scopes, you really have to search for the image,” he says. “You get behind it, move a little left, right, forward, back. With the ZCO, I’m immediately in the image.” That sounds like a minor detail—until an animal steps out of cover and has no intention of waiting while your head, stock, and scope establish the perfect geometric relationship. In real hunting conditions, a generous and forgiving eyebox can be worth more than another decimal point in a transmission figure. The ZC420H impressed our firearms expert. More Magnification Does Not Automatically Mean Better Hunting The fact that the ZC420H reaches 20x magnification does not mean hunters should automatically shoot at 20x at 100 yards. Quite the opposite. David points to something that often gets lost in the age of ever-higher magnification: The hunt continues after the trigger breaks. The shooter should remain in the scope, manage recoil, and ideally see how the animal reacts to the shot. “If I shoot at 100 meters on 20-power, recoil immediately throws me off somewhere else,” David explains. “At six- or eight-power, I have much more field of view and can keep following the animal after the shot.” That is an important lesson. Twenty-power is an option. Not an obligation. A great hunting scope is not defined by how often you use maximum magnification. It is defined by how well it works at 6x, 12x, and 20x. A Hunting Face for a Precision Scope ZCO also understood something else: A red stag is not a PRS steel target. For the ZC420H, the company offers several reticle options, including the newly developed M1H Hunting Reticle, MOAH, and various MPCT configurations. The M1H follows a traditional hunting concept: guide the eye quickly toward the center without filling the field of view with a full ballistic Christmas tree. Shooters coming from the long-range world, meanwhile, can still select more complex reticles. It is a smart way of broadening the platform without stripping away the DNA that built the brand. An Illuminated Reticle That Thinks for Itself The illumination system follows the same philosophy. ZCO calls it Automatic Illumination Management, or AIM. The system reacts to the position and movement of the riflescope and can reduce or shut down illumination automatically when the rifle is set down or remains inactive for an extended period. It solves a problem nearly every hunter has experienced. You come home. Put the rifle in the safe. Then, on the next hunt, you discover that the illuminated dot has spent the last several days bravely lighting up the inside of the gun cabinet. Dead battery. ZCO apparently thought about that. It is a small detail. But good products are often defined by exactly those small details. €3,850—Can a Riflescope Really Be Worth That? And now we are back to the uncomfortable part. The price. You can talk about mechanical engineering, optical design, lens coatings, manufacturing tolerances, hardened components, and quality-control procedures. At the end of the day, the invoice still lands just under €4,000. Is it worth it? The wrong question is whether every hunter needs a ZC420H. Of course not. Most hunters do not need a hand-built rifle, a carbon-fiber stock, or probably half the equipment that somehow accumulates in a gun safe over the course of a lifetime. The more interesting question is this: Are you actually getting something technically exceptional for the money? That answer is easier. ZCO does not appear to be chasing maximum production volume. The company explicitly places quality, reliability, and service ahead of sheer output, and every riflescope is intended to be tested before leaving production. ZCO also emphasizes mechanical reliability, tracking accuracy, durability, and handling—not just optical design and coatings—as core characteristics of its scopes. Those things are expensive. The money is not simply paying for the words Zero Compromise engraved on the side. It is paying for the attempt to make sure one click today means exactly the same thing after a thousand rounds, a hard climb into the mountains, three days of rain, and perhaps one involuntary meeting between the rifle and the ground. Maybe the Name Really Is the Philosophy Zero Compromise Optic is an unusual success story. Not because an Austrian company builds expensive riflescopes. Other Austrian and European manufacturers already do that exceptionally well. What makes ZCO interesting is how quickly a company founded in 2018 earned credibility in places where trust normally takes years to build: among precision-rifle shooters, professional users, and people who depend on their optics when distances are long and conditions are poor. With the ZC420H, ZCO is now taking that DNA deeper into the hunting world. Less weight. Less tactical excess. More hunting-oriented controls. But still the 36mm tube, the sophisticated mechanics, and that almost stubborn refusal to make something cheaper simply because it would be easier to sell. David has a simpler explanation. He picks up his own ZCO, looks at it for a moment, and says: “I’ve had this scope for a long time. It’s been knocked over plenty of times and taken a beating—and I’ve basically never had to readjust anything. These things just work.” Maybe that is the real challenge for a riflescope costing nearly €4,000. It simply has to work. Every time. And if the price still bothers you, David already has the financing plan figured out. Eight hundred fewer beers. Zero Compromise, indeed.

Kite Optics Stabi One: This tiny companion can deliver a surprising advantage in the field. Some pieces of gear simply have to be experienced firsthand. The Schuss & Stille team put the KITE OPTICS STABI ONE through its paces – a compact monocular, barely larger than the palm of your hand and weighing almost nothing in your backpack, yet featuring technology usually reserved for much larger optical devices: active image stabilization. Our first reaction was naturally skeptical. Can such a small device really provide a genuine advantage for hunters? Can a 10× magnification actually be used effectively without a tripod? And is a compact monocular more than just a technical gadget? After several outings in the field – and especially during alpine chamois hunts – the answer is surprisingly clear: Yes. But with limitations. The concept behind the KITE STABI ONE is simple: maximum mobility with minimum weight. Especially during mountain hunts, every gram matters. Anyone climbing steep terrain for hours carefully considers which pieces of equipment truly deserve a place in the backpack. A quality binocular remains essential, but additional optics for specific situations are often left behind. This is exactly where the STABI ONE comes into play. It disappears easily into a jacket pocket and is always ready when needed. No tripod. No support system. No complicated setup. Simply switch it on, raise it to your eye, and start observing. And this spontaneous usability is perhaps its greatest strength. 10× Magnification Without the Shake? The biggest surprise comes from the image stabilization. Using 10× magnification handheld usually means every tiny movement becomes visible. Your heartbeat, breathing, and even slight hand tremors are amplified at higher magnification. The STABI ONE almost feels like a little piece of optical magic. Once the stabilization is activated, the image becomes noticeably calmer. The movement does not disappear completely, but the device transforms a shaky observation into a remarkably steady viewing experience. Especially when identifying game at longer distances, this advantage becomes obvious. You can stay on the animal longer, recognize details more easily, and experience less fatigue during extended glassing sessions. The Image Quality Is Surprisingly Good Of course, expectations need to remain realistic. A compact monocular cannot physically compete with a premium 42 mm or 50 mm hunting binocular. But here is where the STABI ONE impresses: For its size, the optical performance is remarkable. Colors appear natural, central sharpness is convincing, and the combination of 10× magnification and a stabilized image creates a level of usefulness that exceeds what the specifications alone might suggest. The small KITE performs at its best in daylight. During an alpine chamois hunt, where large mountain slopes need to be systematically searched, the STABI ONE shows exactly what it was designed for. Observing a young stag through the STABI ONE. The Unexpected Partner: Your Smartphone The STABI ONE paired with the adapter that uses a magnetic connection to repeatedly align the compact monocular precisely with the smartphone. The real “aha moment” came when we combined the STABI ONE with a smartphone. We used the KITE STABI ONE together with an iPhone 16 Pro – and were genuinely surprised by the possibilities. The setup: 10× optical magnification through the STABI ONE additional magnification through the smartphone camera steady image capture thanks to the built-in stabilization The results were impressive. During one test, we were able to observe a stag at approximately 430 meters (470 yards) distance. Naturally, the image quality cannot compete with a professional digiscoping setup using a spotting scope and adapter – but for a device of this size, the performance was remarkable. The real advantage is practicality: quickly documenting observations, capturing moments from the field, and preserving memorable encounters. Note: The stag images were captured using the STABI ONE and an iPhone 16 Pro and subsequently processed using Adobe Photoshop. Note: The images of the tree stump have not been digitally enhanced or edited. Where Physics Sets the Limits As impressive as the STABI ONE performs during daylight, the limitations of its compact design become apparent as light fades. At dusk, larger optics simply have more available light-gathering capability. The compact design means: smaller objective lenses reduced light transmission fewer reserves in low-light conditions While a premium hunting binocular with a large exit pupil can continue producing a bright, detailed image well into twilight, the STABI ONE gradually becomes darker and loses contrast. This is not a weakness of the device – it is simply physics. A lightweight companion cannot simultaneously offer ultra-low weight and the light-gathering ability of a large premium optic. The STABI ONE impressed the entire Schuss & Stille team. A Perfect Companion for Mountain Hunting? This is where we see the STABI ONE’s most exciting application. Especially during chamois hunting, every advantage counts. On the climb, every gram saved matters. When scanning distant slopes, the 10× magnification provides valuable reach. And once game is located, the stabilization helps the hunter remain calm, focused, and comfortable during extended observation. The KITE OPTICS STABI ONE is not a replacement for a full-size hunting binocular. But it does not try to be. It is a specialist. A lightweight, highly portable tool that provides a real advantage through its image stabilization. The combination of 10× magnification, a steady image, and smartphone compatibility makes it a fascinating companion – especially in alpine environments. Our verdict: The little giant of mountain optics. For daylight alpine hunting? A clear recommendation. The KITE OPTICS STABI ONE is available directly from the manufacturer (MSRP: €399) or from our friend and partner Alpen Adria Jagd & Sportwaffen in Villach, Austria.

This payment record from 1526 is considered the official starting point of Beretta’s company history and remains preserved in the State Archives of Venice to this day. In 1526, Bartolomeo Beretta delivered 185 arquebus barrels to the Arsenal of Venice. Five hundred years later, the Beretta name stands for far more than shotguns and pistols. It represents a global group of companies, centuries of Italian craftsmanship—and a corporate culture that left even our firearms expert David Mischkulnig deeply impressed. There are corporate anniversaries. And then there is Beretta. Any company that reaches 25, 50, or 100 years has every reason to be proud. At Beretta, even a century suddenly seems almost modest. In 2026, the company from Gardone Val Trompia celebrates 500 years of continuous history—half a millennium shaped by gunmaking, family heritage, wars, technological revolutions, social upheaval, and industrial progress. Our Shot & Stillness firearms expert, David Mischkulnig of Alpen Adria Jagd in Villach, Austria, traveled to Italy for the anniversary celebrations. And although he had visited Beretta several times before, his reaction was much the same as ever: genuine enthusiasm. “It’s incredible,” he says. “Definitely one of the best firearms manufacturers in the world. Extremely clean production, extremely precise—and at the same time, there is an unbelievable amount of tradition throughout the entire company.” But for Mischkulnig, something else matters even more: despite its size, Beretta does not feel like a faceless industrial corporation. “This isn’t some soulless company simply churning out guns, like certain other European manufacturers. You can see that traditional DNA reflected in the products. And they put enormous emphasis on making sure everything works exactly as it should.” It All Started With a Piece of Paper Beretta’s history can be dated with remarkable precision. On October 3, 1526, master gunmaker Bartolomeo Beretta of Gardone delivered 185 arquebus barrels to the Arsenal of the Republic of Venice. He was paid 296 ducats for the order. The corresponding payment record is still preserved in the State Archives of Venice and is regarded as the official starting point of the company’s history. Today, that seemingly ordinary document is almost as significant as some of the historic firearms produced by Beretta itself. It provides evidence of an extraordinary continuity: since 1526, the company has remained shaped and led by the same family—now in its 15th generation. Beretta describes itself as the world’s oldest active firearms manufacturer, while Beretta Holding goes even further, referring to the company as the world’s oldest continuously operating manufacturing enterprise. Put that into perspective. When Bartolomeo Beretta was shipping gun barrels to Venice, modern nation-states as we know them did not exist. There were no railroads, no electricity, and certainly no industrial mass production. Columbus’s first voyage across the Atlantic was only a few decades in the past. And in Gardone, men were already forging gun barrels. The Invoice in Venice The State Archives of Venice. That is precisely why David’s anniversary trip took him not only to Gardone Val Trompia, but also to Venice. There, the group was able to see the historic document on which Beretta’s official story begins. For a firearms dealer and hands-on gun enthusiast like Mischkulnig, this was more than ceremonial nostalgia. It created a direct link between today’s Beretta products and the world from which the company emerged. Walking through the narrow streets of Venice, surrounded by centuries-old architecture and visiting traditional Venetian mask makers, it became clear what Beretta appears to be trying to convey with its 500th anniversary. This is not simply about the number 500. It is about Italian craftsmanship as a cultural continuum. Traditional Venetian carnival masks are still created through numerous individual steps, guided by experience, judgment, and the human hand. Later, in Gardone, you encounter much the same philosophy. Only there, the materials are steel and walnut. Gardone Val Trompia: The Heart Still Beats in the Same Place Mention Beretta today and most shooters may first think of a Beretta 92 pistol, a DT11, a Silver Pigeon, or, more recently, the BRX1 straight-pull rifle. But to truly understand the company, you have to go to Gardone Val Trompia. Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta is still headquartered there today. David describes the facility with a single word: “Massive.” Inside the factory, modern machining centers, quality-control systems, and digital product development exist alongside traditional gunsmithing. Beretta conducts much of its research and development in-house—from engineering and simulation to prototyping and industrialization. The company currently reports more than 220 active patents, with roughly 1,400 patents filed over the course of its history. The numbers behind the historic name make one thing clear: today’s Beretta has little in common with the romantic image of a tiny artisan gun shop. According to Beretta Holding, Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta employs approximately 937 people, exports to around 80 countries, and produces roughly 1,500 firearms per day. Eighty-two employees work directly in research and development. And yet, within those very same walls, you still find engravers working steel by hand with hammer and chisel. That contrast is exactly what makes Beretta so fascinating. Between CNC Machines and the Engraver’s Chisel The Beretta logo: three arrows, three hits—and a philosophy that has accompanied the company for generations. The famous trademark traces its roots to the motto “Dare in Brocca,” coined by Italian poet Gabriele D’Annunzio—a phrase that essentially means to hit the mark. Inspired by naval warfare, the three-arrow symbol became Beretta’s official trademark in 1949 and has since become a visual representation of the precision associated with the Beretta name. For Mischkulnig, the visit to Beretta’s custom gun and engraving departments was therefore one of the most impressive parts of the entire trip. Here, firearms leave the world of purely functional tools and enter another realm altogether. At the Pietro Beretta Custom Atelier, highly exclusive one-off guns and limited-production pieces are created for individual customers. Stocks are fitted to the shooter. Wood is personally selected. Metal components receive extensive hand-finishing. Engraving can be tailored entirely to the customer’s wishes. According to Beretta, particularly elaborate projects can require an engraver to spend 1,000 hours or more on a single firearm. The result can be closer to fine art than conventional firearms production. A Beretta SO10 EELL, for example, may feature hunting scenes, landscapes, portraits, gold inlays, or enamel work. Even the leather cases for these guns are handcrafted in the Gardone atelier and individually fitted to each firearm. That helps explain David’s fascination. At Beretta, two worlds exist side by side. On one side: highly automated modern manufacturing. On the other: an engraver spending hour after hour working on only a few square inches of steel. Beretta Has Become Much Bigger Than Beretta Another thing quickly becomes apparent during a visit: when people talk about “Beretta” today, they have to distinguish between Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta and Beretta Holding. The northern Italian firearms manufacturer has evolved into one of the most important international groups in the hunting, shooting, optics, and ammunition industries. Today, Beretta Holding includes more than 50 companies, over 20 brands, and roughly 6,000 employees. For 2025, the group reports approximately €1.68 billion in revenue and €254 million in earnings. For hunters and shooters, its roster of brands reads almost like a walk through a very well-stocked gun store. Alongside Beretta, the group includes names such as Benelli, Franchi, Sako, Tikka, Steiner, Burris, Stoeger, Uberti, Chapuis Armes, Holland & Holland, and Hausken. Following the acquisition of the former RUAG Ammotec ammunition business, the group also includes major ammunition brands such as Norma, RWS, Geco, Rottweil, and SwissP. That means Beretta can now provide a substantial portion of virtually everything a hunter might need: rifle, shotgun, handgun, ammunition, optics, suppressor, apparel, and accessories. And much of it comes from brands that continue to operate with completely independent identities. Sako and Tikka: Finnish Precision Under Italian Ownership For hunters in particular, the Sako and Tikka side of Beretta Holding is especially interesting. Sako continues to represent Finnish bolt-action rifles and precision firearms, while Tikka rifles are also developed and manufactured by Sako in Finland. According to the manufacturer, every Tikka rifle must pass an accuracy test before leaving the factory and is required to shoot sub-MOA groups. This is where Beretta’s corporate strategy becomes particularly clear. The group does not necessarily absorb brands and erase their identities. Instead, their heritage and technical character remain intact. A Sako remains Finnish. A Benelli remains Italian. A Holland & Holland remains British. Beretta Holding simply provides the larger structure around them. Benelli: Italy’s Other Major Pillar With Benelli, the group also owns one of the world’s leading manufacturers of semiautomatic shotguns. Production remains in Urbino, Italy. Beretta Holding specifically describes Benelli as a technology-driven brand whose development and manufacturing are concentrated at that location. The coexistence of two major Italian firearms brands demonstrates just how broad the group has become. Beretta has traditionally been strong in over-under shotguns and pistols and is increasingly active in the rifle market. Benelli, meanwhile, has become synonymous around the world with semiautomatic shotguns. Franchi serves different price points and applications again. Together, the brands create an exceptionally broad portfolio within a single corporate group. Holland & Holland: When Even Beretta Buys Luxury At the opposite end of the spectrum sits Holland & Holland. The legendary London gunmaker has been part of the Beretta Group since 2021 and remains one of the most prestigious names in traditional British gunmaking. According to Beretta Holding, roughly 50 handcrafted guns are produced there each year. The fact that Beretta—a company that is itself practically synonymous with historic European gunmaking—would acquire a name like Holland & Holland says a great deal about the scale and ambition of the group. This is no longer merely about gaining market share. It is also about preserving expertise, tradition, and different schools of European gunmaking. Steiner, Burris, and Hausken Beretta has also built a substantial position in the optics and accessories market. Germany’s Steiner and American optics manufacturer Burris are both part of the group, as is Norwegian suppressor manufacturer Hausken. For the customer, the result is something close to an ecosystem: A rifle from Finland. Optics from Germany. Ammunition from Sweden or Germany. A suppressor from Norway. And ultimately, all of it belongs to the same corporate family. The Big Move: Norma, RWS, Geco, and Rottweil Beretta took a decisive strategic step in 2022, when Beretta Holding acquired the ammunition business of RUAG Ammotec. In a single transaction, 16 companies in 12 countries and approximately 2,700 employees joined the group. More importantly, some of Europe’s most recognizable ammunition brands moved under the Beretta umbrella: RWS, Norma, Geco, and Rottweil. The acquisition filled a major strategic gap. A company group that already manufactured firearms, optics, and accessories could now produce one of the most important consumable products in shooting and hunting: ammunition. At that point, Beretta had definitively evolved from a firearms manufacturer into a comprehensive hunting and shooting group. And Yet, a Shotgun Is Still a Shotgun The economic scale of Beretta Holding is impressive. Yet interestingly, that is not what David Mischkulnig talks about most. What fascinates him are different things. Clean workmanship. Fit. Finish. Wood. Machining. And one very simple question: Does the product work? During the visit, the group spent an entire day on the shooting range. They were able to test a variety of firearms and also attended product training sessions covering technical details, spare parts, and future developments. They were even shown upcoming products. Which ones? That is where David laughs. He is still under embargo. He will only reveal this much: new or revised models are planned within the shotgun lineup, and further developments in handguns were also presented. There are also updates to rifles that should prove interesting both for hunters and for shooters interested in longer-range applications. For now, he cannot say more. Which, of course, only makes us more curious. Beretta Is Celebrating Its Anniversary With New Guns, Too Beretta has already officially introduced several commemorative firearms for its 500th anniversary. Among them is the BRX1 500 Years Limited Edition. Exactly 1,526 rifles will be produced—a direct reference to the year in which Beretta’s documented history began. For the first time, the anniversary version of the straight-pull rifle comes standard with a walnut stock and fore-end, along with an elaborately decorated nickel-plated receiver. The 687 Silver Pigeon 500 Years is also being offered as a commemorative model. Beretta plans to produce 1,526 hunting versions and 1,526 sporting versions. Customers who purchase and register a new Beretta firearm in selected markets during 2026 may also receive a special anniversary medallion created specifically for the occasion. It was developed in cooperation with Italy’s official state mint and printing institute. Beretta, in other words, is not treating its 500th birthday as a single event. The anniversary stretches across an entire year of firearms, collectibles, apparel, and celebrations. How Does a Company Survive for 500 Years? Customers purchasing a Beretta during the anniversary year may receive this special 500th-anniversary medallion. Perhaps that is the most fascinating question of all. Beretta has watched kingdoms rise and fall. Wars. Revolutions. Industrialization. Two world wars. The digital age. And now artificial intelligence and additive manufacturing. So why is the company still here? Pietro Gussalli Beretta once summed up the philosophy behind the company in a simple idea: you may be old, but you must never become old. Innovation, in other words, is what allows tradition to survive. That thought may explain Beretta better than any anniversary film ever could. Tradition alone is not enough. A company that spends 500 years admiring its own past probably never reaches its 500th anniversary. Beretta, by contrast, continues to invest heavily in research, production technology, and new markets. In 2022 alone, group-wide research and development spending amounted to roughly €25 million, while manufacturing capacity was expanded and production processes continued to become increasingly digital. And That Is Exactly Why David Came Away Impressed Shot & Stillness firearms expert David Mischkulnig came away deeply impressed by Beretta, its products, and five centuries of gunmaking history. Which brings us back to David. After his trip to Italy, the number 500 is not what stayed with him most. What remains is the feeling that despite its enormous scale, Beretta still understands where it came from. “You can see that traditional DNA in every product,” he says. At first, that may sound almost sentimental. But once you have stood inside an engraving atelier where craftsmen work by hand while state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment operates only a few yards away, you begin to understand exactly what he means. Beretta appears to have learned something fundamental: Tradition does not mean keeping old technology alive simply because it is old. Tradition means passing on a standard. To the next generation. And to the next machine.

Schuss & Stille took the ThermTec Ventus 650L into the Austrian Alps for a real-world chamois hunt. Thermal imaging, 4K day and night vision, a laser rangefinder, photo and video recording—the ThermTec Ventus 650L is designed to replace several pieces of gear with one binocular-style unit. On paper, that sounds impressive. But how does a digital multispectral binocular perform in the very environment where premium European glass has ruled for decades? "Schuss & Stille" took the Ventus into the Austrian Alps on a summer chamois hunt—in broad daylight, in steep mountain terrain, and at distances that have little in common with the usual close-range thermal demonstrations. The valley is still dark when we start climbing. Above us, the mountains are little more than silhouettes against a slowly brightening sky. Step by step, we gain elevation. Chamois hunting rarely begins comfortably. It begins with heavy legs, wet grass, the first sweat building under your jacket, and the knowledge that every vertical foot you gain will eventually have to be descended again. Then the first light hits the peaks. It is early August in the Austrian Alps, chamois season is open, and somewhere between alpine scrub, rock bands, scree slopes, and shaded gullies, our quarry is out there. Along for the hunt is a piece of equipment that has generated a surprising amount of discussion lately: the ThermTec Ventus 650L. Thermtec Ventus 650L It is a digital multispectral binocular that combines a thermal imaging sensor, a high-resolution day/night channel, a laser rangefinder, and digital photo and video capability in one binocular-style housing. ThermTec equips the 650L with a 640×512 thermal sensor, a 12-micron pixel pitch, a NETD of less than 15 mK, and a 50mm F/1.0 thermal objective. The claimed thermal detection range reaches up to 2,600 meters. Running alongside it is a 12-megapixel digital channel with 3536×3536 resolution and a 50mm F/1.4 lens. Add to that a laser rangefinder reaching 1,000 meters, a 1600×1200 AMOLED display, and selectable 850nm and 940nm infrared illumination. That is a lot of technology. But spec sheets do not hunt. Why Test It on Chamois? Search YouTube for the Ventus 650L and you will find impressive footage: wild boar at close range, roe deer along a timber edge, red deer standing in open fields. Thermal images where every animal seems to leap off the screen. It looks spectacular. But if I have a boar standing 20 yards in front of me, how easily a thermal unit detects it is no longer the most interesting question. We wanted to know something else: What does this technology bring to the hunter when game is actually difficult to find? Not in a wildlife park. Not over bait. Not at 80 yards in the middle of a mowed field. We wanted to test it in the high mountains—among rock, shadow, alpine scrub, loose scree, broken terrain, and distances where an animal can become little more than a few pixels in your field of view. There was another reason this test interested us: we were hunting in full daylight. That is exactly where Swarovski, Leica, Zeiss, and Kahles optics traditionally dominate. Can a digital binocular genuinely compete here? Or does thermal imaging and 4K video become little more than a technical gimmick once the sun comes up? The First Aha Moment Comes on the Climb The answer arrives earlier than expected. Still on the ascent, we glass the opposite slope. The distance is substantial. Through a conventional binocular, we can make out shapes and terrain. Then we switch to thermal. Suddenly, something appears. A bright thermal signature sits in the middle of an otherwise inconspicuous patch of mountainside. We look again. Range it. 1,045 meters. More than a kilometer. Red deer. At that range the animal does not fill the screen. The image is not razor sharp. And there is no question that you cannot make a responsible identification based solely on the thermal channel at that distance. But that is not the point. The point is that we found the animal. Detection is where the Ventus is at its strongest. With a conventional binocular, the eye searches for patterns. It tries to separate the line of a back from a branch, notice movement between brush, or pick up a subtle change in color against the hillside. Thermal imaging works differently. It separates temperature differences. The animal is not necessarily rendered more beautifully. It is simply made more obvious. And in mountain country, that can make all the difference. The Ventus 650L carries a thermal sensitivity rating of NETD <15 mK. In simple terms, the lower the NETD value, the smaller the temperature differences the sensor can distinguish. That becomes particularly useful when thermal contrast is weak, humidity is high, or the background is cluttered and complex. ThermTec combines this with its TSR image-processing system and what the company describes as AI-assisted calibration. Chamois Hunting with the ThermTec Ventus 650L 50 Millimeters Instead of Wide Angle Within ThermTec’s Ventus lineup, the 650L is clearly the long-range model. Its 50mm thermal objective provides a field of view of 8.8 × 7 degrees, or roughly 15.4 × 12.3 meters at 100 meters. Native thermal magnification is 3.7×, with digital magnification extending to 14.8×. ThermTec rates the unit for up to 2,600 meters of theoretical detection range. The smaller Ventus 635L, with its 35mm objective, is more focused on offering a wider field of view. For chamois hunting, the 650L’s long-range orientation makes a lot of sense. You are not usually scanning thick cover at 40 yards. You are searching gullies. Alpine scrub. Rock bands. Opposite slopes. In that environment, range matters. 833 Grams of Technology in Your Hands The first thing you notice when you pick up the Ventus is that this is not a conventional 8×42. According to ThermTec, the unit weighs 833 grams and measures 164 × 127.6 × 73 millimeters. It carries an IP67 rating for protection against dust and temporary immersion. Interpupillary distance is adjustable from 60 to 72mm, with diopter correction up to ±5. Even so, the Ventus does not feel excessively bulky. Quite the opposite. Over several weeks of use, the ergonomics surprised us in a positive way. The housing feels solid in both hands, the thumbs naturally find their position underneath the body, and after a little familiarization the key controls can be operated without looking. One detail we particularly liked is the mechanical power switch. Off. Standby. On. During the hunt, we generally left the Ventus in the middle standby position. A quick flick of the switch brings it to life almost immediately. That sounds like a small thing. It is not. If a piece of hunting electronics makes you wait ten seconds every time you want to use it, even the most impressive technology eventually becomes frustrating. The Ventus behaves differently. Raise it. Switch it on. Glass. Two Channels, Two Focus Adjustments The controls follow a logical layout. The thermal and digital channels each have their own focus adjustment. That means there is a little more setup involved initially, but it also allows each channel to be focused independently for the distance you are observing. The central multifunction wheel handles magnification and menu navigation. Pressing or moving the control lets the user switch between imaging channels. Dedicated buttons handle rangefinding and photo/video recording. The Ventus also includes picture-in-picture, six thermal color palettes, heat tracking, a digital compass, electronic image stabilization, and 64GB of internal storage. Photos, video, and audio can all be recorded directly to the device. That sounds dangerously close to gadget overload. In the field, however, several of these features prove genuinely useful. The Rangefinder Is More Than an Add-On The integrated laser rangefinder was one of the biggest surprises of the test. ThermTec rates it to 1,000 meters with ±1 meter accuracy. The laser operates at 905nm and is Class 1. Nice on paper. Extremely useful in the mountains. Mountain terrain is notoriously deceptive when it comes to distance. Across valleys and between opposing slopes, familiar visual reference points disappear. An animal may stand below a terrain break with a deep gully behind it, and what looks like 220 meters can quickly turn into 300. Our chamois buck eventually appears at roughly 300 meters. One push of a button. Range confirmed. No reaching for a separate rangefinder. No pulling a second device from a pocket. No losing the animal and having to find it again. This is where you begin to understand why a multispectral binocular can be more than the sum of its sensors. And Then the Chamois Buck Appears We finally reach our glassing position. Now comes the part of chamois hunting that cannot be rushed. Sit. Watch. Wait. The mountain slowly begins to come alive. Marmots. A fox. Roe deer. Movement at different elevations. For a hunter, there may be few things better than simply watching wildlife move through its natural habitat without immediately having to turn that observation into a shot opportunity. Then he appears. A chamois buck. In a conventional camera image, he is part of the landscape: brown hide, gray rock, green vegetation. In thermal, things are different. The buck separates clearly from the background. Not because thermal imaging is magic, but because his body temperature differs from much of the terrain around him. The Ventus does this with its 640×512 sensor, 50mm thermal objective, and a 50Hz refresh rate. The image is displayed on a 0.5-inch AMOLED with 1600×1200 resolution. Three hundred meters is not a demonstration distance. It is hunting distance. And at that range, the system works. Where Thermal Imaging Starts to Struggle Our test also revealed the other side of the equation. Later in the day, the sun is high. Rock surfaces heat up. Slabs facing the sun absorb more energy than shaded surfaces. Hot rock and deep shade alternate across the mountain. Now the thermal image becomes much busier. A chamois standing in front of sun-heated rock can become significantly harder to separate thermally than an animal on cool ground early in the morning. Even a sub-15 mK sensor cannot change the laws of physics. That may be one of the most important takeaways from this test: Thermal imaging is not X-ray vision. It can make game incredibly easy to detect—but only when sufficient thermal contrast exists. When the rock is fully heated, it often makes sense to switch immediately to the digital daytime channel. The 4K Channel: Good—but Not Yet Swarovski Good This is where things get interesting. The Ventus digital channel uses a 12-megapixel, 3536×3536 sensor. Native optical magnification is 4×, with digital magnification up to 16×. Field of view is 8.1 × 8.1 degrees. At 4×, the daytime image is surprisingly pleasant. Colors look good. Contrast is respectable. Game animals are easy enough to recognize. Then you begin to zoom. Six power. Eight power. And this is where digital reality catches up. The image becomes increasingly processed. Fine textures soften. Hair detail and small rock structures begin to smear. The image-processing algorithm is trying to extract more information from the sensor, but digital magnification cannot create detail that was never captured in the first place. This is where a truly high-end conventional binocular still shows its strength. Glass is still glass. A premium optical binocular needs no processor, no battery, and no algorithm. It delivers a true optical image with excellent dynamic range, fine detail, and natural depth. The Ventus does not fully replace that yet. But the gap is getting smaller. And there is one obvious point in the Ventus’ favor: A Swarovski cannot see heat. At Night, the Concept Becomes Complete The IR illuminator sits on the underside of the Ventus and can be removed via a threaded wheel. A selector allows the user to switch between 940nm and 850nm illumination. Although our primary test took place during daylight, the Ventus is designed for an entirely different world after dark. At night, the digital sensor works in conjunction with the IR illuminator. ThermTec lists a range of up to 400 meters with 850nm and approximately 350 meters with 940nm. Generally speaking, 850nm offers greater range, but the emitter can produce a faint visible red glow. 940nm is more discreet, though range is slightly reduced. That leaves the hunter with three fundamentally different viewing tools in one unit: Driving roe buck recorded in digital night-vision mode at approximately 150 meters. Thermal imaging for fast game detection. Digital day/night imaging for identifying structure and detail. Laser rangefinding for immediate distance confirmation. Then add photo, video, audio, and a number of electronic assistance features. That combination—not any single headline feature—is what makes the Ventus interesting. Chest Harness Instead of Swinging from Your Neck In the mountains, practical usability is determined by more than sensor specifications. A device can be technically brilliant, but if it bangs against your chest on every uphill step or gets in the way when scrambling, eventually it ends up in the pack. The Ventus is carried in a chest pouch. The unit stays close to the body. Both hands remain free while climbing. Yet it can still be accessed within seconds. For a binocular in this weight class, that makes a lot of sense. Because 833 grams plus batteries is not something most hunters will want hanging from a traditional neck strap all day. Batteries: Common Rather Than Proprietary Power comes from two replaceable 18650 lithium-ion batteries. ThermTec claims approximately six hours of operating time. We like that setup. Not because six hours is extraordinary. For a full day in the mountains, it means you should probably carry spares. The advantage is the battery format itself. 18650 cells are widely available. For multi-day hunts, extra batteries are easy to carry, and you are not dependent on some built-in proprietary battery pack that becomes useless once empty. What Surprised Us Most After one or two months with the Ventus 650L, it is not the spectacular close-range thermal image that sticks with us. It is how natural the workflow eventually becomes. Scan the slope. Thermal. There is something. Switch to daylight. Identify. Range. 312 meters. Record. Keep watching. That workflow changes the way you search terrain. But the Ventus does not automatically replace a conventional binocular. Instead, it gives the hunter visual abilities a traditional binocular simply cannot provide. And that, to us, is its greatest strength. The Future Is Not Cheap All of this technology comes at a price. In Austria, the ThermTec Ventus 650L currently sells for roughly €3,600 to €3,700. That is serious money. So the obvious question becomes: Who actually needs one? For the hunter who spends most of his time watching a timber edge at 100 yards, a conventional binocular paired with a separate thermal monocular may still make more financial sense. But for hunters who regularly hunt large open properties, mountainous country, or dramatically changing light conditions—and who frequently use thermal, digital optics, and rangefinding—the Ventus offers an unusually compact all-in-one system. Not a Binocular Killer Yet—but It Is Getting Damn Close We went into the mountains with a simple question: Do you really need something like this? After the test, our answer is not “absolutely.” But it certainly is not “just a toy,” either. The ThermTec Ventus 650L impressed us most in situations where technology cannot be staged for the camera. On the early climb. Across an opposing slope. At 800 meters and beyond. When locating an animal quickly. When switching instantly between thermal and daylight channels. And when using a rangefinder that still performed impressively close to its stated maximum range. Its weakness appears exactly where the comparison against world-class optical glass becomes toughest: the digital daytime image at higher magnification and in difficult lighting. There is still room for improvement there. But that is exactly why this device is so interesting. Thermal sensors are getting better. Image processors are getting better. Displays are getting better. Algorithms are getting better. And if ThermTec—or another manufacturer—eventually brings the digital daytime channel of a system like this to the level of true premium European glass, the question will no longer be whether a multispectral binocular can replace a traditional hunting binocular. The question will be: When? The Ventus 650L is not quite there yet. But on our chamois hunt in the Austrian Alps, it showed us that the distance between traditional glass and the next generation of hunting optics may be a lot shorter than many traditionalists would like to believe. Transparency Note The ThermTec Ventus 650L was provided to Schuss & Stille on loan for this field test by ThermFox Austria, the Austrian importer and distributor of ThermTec products. The unit is also available from Alpen Adria Jagd & Sportwaffen in Villach. The loan of the test unit had no influence on the content, evaluation, or final verdict of this review.

David is impressed by the Mauser M18 Extreme: a straightforward hunting rifle that’s incredibly hard to break. Some hunting rifles only come out of the safe on bluebird days. Fine walnut stocks, beautifully polished actions, and glossy finishes that make every scratch feel like a personal loss. Then there are rifles like the Mauser M18 Extreme. This isn't a rifle built to spend its life in a gun safe. It's built for steep mountain hunts, relentless rain, freezing winter sits, and demanding tracking jobs. In short, it's designed for those days when your equipment simply has to work—no matter what Mother Nature throws at you. That was exactly the question Shot & Stillness firearms expert David set out to answer. Does the Mauser M18 Extreme truly live up to its name? Is it simply an affordable polymer-stocked rifle with a Cerakote finish, or does it carry the DNA of a manufacturer whose name has been synonymous with legendary firearms for well over a century? The Rifle That Changed Firearms History Mention the name Mauser, and one rifle immediately comes to mind: the legendary Mauser 98. Few bolt-action rifles have influenced modern sporting firearms as profoundly as Paul Mauser's revolutionary design. The story began in the late 19th century. Mauser introduced his first successful military rifles in the 1870s, but the real breakthrough came in 1898 with the introduction of the Gewehr 98. Its controlled-round feed, massive claw extractor, and three-safety-lug design quickly became the benchmark for reliability. Millions were produced, and even today many premium hunting rifles still borrow heavily from its engineering principles. But hunters have changed. Today's sportsmen expect lightweight rifles, suppressor-ready barrels, weather-resistant finishes, shorter overall length, and prices that don't put quality hunting rifles out of reach for newcomers. That changing market gave birth to the Mauser M18. When Mauser introduced the rifle in 2018, it deliberately marketed it as a "people's hunting rifle"—a no-nonsense bolt gun focused on reliability, accuracy, and rugged field performance instead of luxury. Rather than investing in expensive walnut stocks or overly complicated engineering, Mauser concentrated on what truly matters in the field: dependable function. Why "Extreme"? "I like rifles that can actually take a beating." — David One look at the rifle makes it clear that the M18 Extreme is built differently. Its gray Natural Stone polymer stock, fluted barrel, and Cerakote Tungsten finish immediately distinguish it from the standard M18. Mauser describes it as the all-weather member of the M18 family—a rifle engineered specifically for the harshest hunting conditions. Factory features include: Cerakote protective finish, Fluted barrel, M15x1 threaded muzzle, Weatherproof polymer stock, Soft-grip inserts for improved control. For David, that's exactly where the rifle shines. "I like rifles that can take abuse. Every hunter knows what happens in real life. Rain, mud, snow, climbing over rocks, falling on steep slopes—this is exactly what a rifle like this is built for." Mountain hunters know the reality. Rain turns into mud. Mud turns into grit. Snow melts into water. Sooner or later, every blued rifle starts showing its age. The M18 Extreme was designed to worry less about cosmetics—and more about getting the job done. Not a Safe Queen—A Working Rifle David has known the M18 since its original launch. He still remembers Mauser's first dealer presentation. Every rifle arrived inside a sealed wooden crate. Dealers weren't allowed to open them until the official launch time. "That was a pretty exciting moment," David recalls with a smile. The original M18 looked considerably simpler. Black polymer stock. No fluting. No Cerakote. Just a straightforward hunting rifle. Today's M18 Extreme feels far more refined. More modern. More durable. Yet it hasn't lost its original identity. As David puts it: "It's not meant to impress people. It's meant to work." And that's exactly what defines this rifle. No unnecessary gimmicks. No flashy machining. No expensive materials simply for the sake of appearance. Everything serves a practical purpose. The Stock: Simple—but Honest You can certainly tell where Mauser kept the price under control. The polymer stock isn't the most refined in its class. David doesn't hide his criticism. "You can definitely see where they saved a little money." Some molding lines and small finishing details could be cleaner. But once you're actually hunting, other characteristics become much more important than perfect cosmetics. The textured Soft-Grip panels provide excellent traction—even with wet gloves. The stock shoulders naturally. Recoil is well managed by the recoil pad. One feature David particularly appreciates is the large opening in the buttstock. It provides enough space to store a bore snake or compact cleaning kit—an often-overlooked detail that becomes incredibly useful after a rainy day in the mountains or following a long tracking job. Sometimes it's the simplest ideas that make the biggest difference in the field. Cerakote: More Than Just a Trend For decades, traditional blued steel was the standard for hunting rifles. But today's hunters expect more. Suppressors trap moisture. Short-barreled rifles spend more time in harsh terrain. Rain, snow, and mud have become everyday realities for mountain hunters. That's why Mauser chose a Cerakote ceramic coating for the M18 Extreme. Originally developed for military applications, Cerakote provides significantly better protection against corrosion, abrasion, and harsh weather than conventional bluing. Anyone who regularly hunts in wet conditions knows the problem. Moisture trapped beneath a suppressor or sling can quickly become the starting point for rust . David considers the Cerakote finish one of the rifle's greatest strengths. "If you hunt in every kind of weather, you'll appreciate Cerakote very quickly. You simply worry less when your rifle gets completely soaked." That doesn't mean the rifle is maintenance-free. David points out that dirt and lubricant can still mix inside the action. Like many coated bolt systems, neglecting regular cleaning can eventually create an abrasive paste that affects smooth operation. His advice is simple. "Wipe it clean after the hunt. It takes less than a minute, and the bolt runs smoothly again." Three Locking Lugs – A 60-Degree Bolt Throw The 60-degree bolt lift allows for lower scope mounting, providing improved clearance between the bolt handle and the optic while promoting a more natural cheek weld and faster target acquisition. At the heart of the M18 Extreme sits a modern three-lug bolt. Unlike the legendary Mauser 98, which locked using two massive front lugs, the M18 uses three locking lugs positioned around the bolt head. The result is a 60-degree bolt lift. That shorter bolt throw offers several practical advantages. Large scopes have more clearance. The bolt cycles faster. Low scope mounting becomes much easier. For David, this is one of the rifle's biggest selling points. "With a Picatinny rail I can mount the scope extremely low over the bore. That's exactly how I like it." A lower optic position naturally improves cheek weld and allows for faster target acquisition—especially during quick follow-up shots. A Practical Three-Position Safety Mauser equips the M18 Extreme with a classic three-position safety, a design trusted by hunters for generations. Position 1: Fire. Position 2: Trigger blocked while the bolt remains operational, allowing safe loading and unloading. Position 3: Both trigger and bolt are locked. David particularly appreciates the middle position. "I can unload the rifle safely without ever placing it in firing mode." It's a simple feature, but one that's especially valuable during driven hunts or when climbing into a vehicle at the end of the day. Cold Hammer-Forged Barrel Like many premium European manufacturers, Mauser relies on cold hammer-forged barrels. The manufacturing process produces exceptional durability and highly consistent internal dimensions. For the Extreme model, Mauser adds a fluted barrel. Fluting slightly reduces weight while increasing surface area for improved cooling. It also gives the rifle a distinctive appearance. Whether fluting noticeably improves accuracy remains a topic of debate among shooters. David takes a far more practical view. "Maybe—but it definitely looks great." Magazine and Practical Field Use The detachable polymer magazine also earned David's approval. It locks securely into place. Feeds reliably. Releases easily when needed. Just as importantly, the magazine release is well protected against accidental activation. That may sound like a small detail. But anyone who's spent a full day climbing steep mountain terrain understands how frustrating it would be to discover a missing magazine halfway through a hunt. Mit der Mauser M18 Extreme am Schießstand David testing the Mauser M18 Extreme at the shooting range. For this evaluation, David tested the Mauser M18 Extreme chambered in .308 Winchester. The rifle was fitted with a KAHLES Helia 2.4–12x56 mounted on a Picatinny rail with Recknagel AKM rings. Suppression duties were handled by a modular Mauser suppressor, while the test ammunition was Norma ODIN. As the shooting session progressed, the barrel became noticeably warm. Heat mirage rising from the suppressor made precise aiming increasingly difficult. Yet the rifle continued to produce remarkably consistent groups. David summed it up in his usual straightforward style. "This rifle simply shoots." Sometimes, that's all that needs to be said. Shot after shot landed close together. According to David, carefully fired three-shot groups could easily be covered with a 10-cent coin. Perhaps even more impressive than the absolute precision was its consistency. Many affordable hunting rifles begin to open their groups as barrel temperatures rise. The M18 Extreme showed very little point-of-impact shift, even after multiple consecutive strings. For a working hunting rifle in this price category, that's an excellent result. The Trigger The Mauser M18 Extreme's trigger is on the heavier side, but it breaks exceptionally clean, delivering the crisp and predictable feel hunters appreciate in the field. One aspect surprised David. Mauser lists the trigger pull weight at approximately 1,500 grams (3.3 pounds). Subjectively, it felt somewhat heavy. But it also broke exceptionally clean. "It's crisp. No creep. No overtravel. That's exactly what I want from a hunting trigger." Competitive precision shooters may prefer lighter trigger pulls. For practical hunting applications, however, David believes Mauser struck the right balance. Cold weather. Heavy gloves. Stress. A slightly heavier trigger can actually contribute to safer firearm handling under real hunting conditions. Where Does the M18 Extreme Fit? Today's bolt-action rifle market has never been more competitive. The Mauser M18 Extreme goes head-to-head with respected rifles including: Sauer 100 Tikka T3x Lite Bergara B14 Extreme Rössler Signature CZ 600 Winchester XPR Each offers outstanding accuracy. Each has its own strengths. Tikka is famous for its exceptionally smooth bolt. Bergara earns praise for its outstanding barrels. Sauer is known for refined bolt operation. Mauser focuses on rugged dependability. David sees today's market realistically. "Honestly, there aren't many bad hunting rifles anymore. The real differences are in the details—and in what matters most to you as a hunter." The Mauser M18 Extreme does exactly what it's designed to do. It delivers excellent accuracy, performs with unwavering reliability, and shrugs off rain, snow, mud, and the toughest field conditions without hesitation. In the end, that's exactly what serious hunters expect from a working hunting rifle—and the M18 Extreme delivers. Are There Any Weaknesses? Absolutely. The M18 Extreme isn't a luxury rifle. The polymer stock shows a few molding marks. Some finishing details could be cleaner. Several internal components are polymer instead of aluminum or steel. Hunters looking for hand-finished walnut stocks and premium machining may not find what they're looking for here. But Mauser never intended to build a collector's piece. This rifle was designed as a working tool. And good tools are meant to show honest wear. After spending considerable time behind the rifle, David's conclusion was remarkably clear. "The M18 Extreme does exactly what it's supposed to do. It shoots exceptionally well, it's reliable, and it handles rain, snow, mud, and hard hunting conditions without complaint. Honestly, that's everything I expect from a hunting rifle."

In Austria, the police can now also inspect whether hunting firearms are stored securely. Austria’s new firearms law is bringing hunting rifles and shotguns under closer police scrutiny. Hunters are expected to keep every document in order—but early inspections suggest that not every officer enforcing the new rules fully understands them yet. Two police officers are standing at the front door. They are there to conduct a firearms inspection. The gun safe is opened. Storage conditions are checked. Registered firearms are compared with the official records. In the past, inspections mainly focused on handguns, revolvers, and other Category B firearms. Now officers are also taking a closer look at the hunting rifles and shotguns inside the safe. So far, that seems reasonable enough. Then one of the officers asks to see the hunter’s license and the corresponding proof of payment. At first, that is not unusual either. In the Austrian state of Carinthia, a hunting license is only valid when accompanied by proof that the required fees for the current year have been paid. But then the officer makes a statement that leaves the hunter puzzled: “The payment receipt cannot be more than six months old.” That could be a problem. The hunting-license fee is not paid twice a year. It is paid once annually. Anyone who pays in January and is inspected in August will naturally have a receipt that is more than six months old. Does that suddenly make the hunting license invalid? Of course not. When Enforcement Falls Behind the Law The incident was reported to Schuss & Stille. Whether every word was spoken exactly as described cannot be independently verified after the fact. But the central issue is clear: Nothing in Carinthia’s hunting law states that the payment receipt may be no more than six months old. What the law requires is proof that the hunting-license fee, association membership fee, and mandatory hunting-liability insurance have been paid for the current calendar year. A hunter who pays everything properly in January still has the correct receipt in December. That makes this more than just an odd story from a firearms inspection. It reveals where Austria’s new gun law is still grinding against reality. The rules have changed. Inspections have expanded. Yet not every officer appears to fully understand how federal firearms law, state hunting law, and Austria’s different hunting-license systems fit together. That is not a reason to condemn the police as a whole. A patrol officer cannot be expected to carry an entire legal library in his head. Austria has one federal firearms law, nine separate state hunting laws, different hunting-license systems, and a long list of transitional provisions. Still, hunters have every right to expect that an inspection will be conducted according to the law as it actually exists—not according to a deadline that exists nowhere in the statute books. Will Every Hunting Gun Now Be Inspected? A great deal of half-knowledge is currently circulating about the new inspections. One distinction is especially important. Anyone who holds an Austrian firearms possession permit or firearms carry permit is subject to periodic reviews of legal reliability. These inspections generally take place every five years and are usually conducted by police on behalf of the firearms authority. During such an inspection, officers may now also examine the secure storage of existing Category C firearms. That means the inspection may no longer stop with a handgun or semi-automatic firearm. A bolt-action rifle, break-action rifle, or shotgun may also be included. But that does not mean every Austrian hunter should expect police at the door simply because he owns a deer rifle. A hunter who owns only Category C firearms under the authority of a valid hunting license does not automatically fall under the five-year inspection cycle for that reason alone. Owning a hunting rifle on the basis of a hunting license does not, by itself, trigger regular periodic inspections. The situation changes when the hunter also holds additional firearms permits, or when authorities have specific reasons to question the person’s legal reliability or the secure storage of the firearms. Put simply: If a hunter also holds a firearms possession permit or carry permit, police may inspect his rifles and shotguns during the regular review. If he owns only Category C firearms on the basis of his hunting license, police do not automatically show up every five years. That distinction matters. And every officer standing in front of an open gun safe should understand it. The Hunting License Becomes a Key Document Austria’s amended firearms law has been fully in force since April 28, 2026. As a general rule, acquiring and possessing Category C firearms now requires an appropriate legal authorization. Hunters, however, retain an important exemption. A valid hunting license still allows them to acquire, possess, and carry typical hunting firearms such as rifles and shotguns. In most cases, a separate firearms possession permit is not required. That gives the hunting license even greater importance. It is no longer merely the document that allows a hunter to enter the field. The legal authority to own and carry the firearms used in everyday hunting now depends directly on its validity. Suddenly, an ordinary payment receipt becomes an important piece of documentation. In Carinthia, for example, it is not enough to present the hunting license in its familiar green holder. The required payment records must accompany it. For most hunters, that requirement is nothing new. What is new is that these papers may now receive far more attention during a firearms inspection. A Four-Week Wait - even with a Hunting License The process of buying a firearm has changed as well. Anyone purchasing a firearm in a particular category for the first time must generally wait four weeks before taking possession of it. This so-called cooling-off period also applies, in principle, to hunters. Passing the hunting examination and holding a valid hunting license do not automatically allow a new rifle to leave the dealer’s shop on the day of purchase. For a newly licensed hunter, that can feel difficult to understand. He may have spent months preparing for the examination. He has studied wildlife biology, hunting law, firearms handling, and safety. He has passed the test, obtained his hunting license, and finally found the right rifle. Yet the rifle must still remain with the dealer for another four weeks. Lawmakers intend the waiting period to prevent impulsive firearm purchases during moments of personal crisis. Whether that rule serves the same purpose for a fully trained hunter as it does for an entirely unprepared first-time buyer remains open to debate. The requirement applies nonetheless. Private firearm sales have also become more formal. A rifle can no longer simply change hands in exchange for cash and a handshake. The transfer and registration must generally be handled through an authorized firearms dealer, who checks the buyer’s identity, legal eligibility, and whether a waiting period applies. Austria’s firearms law has therefore become more than simply stricter. Above all, it has become more bureaucratic. More Inspections Require Better Knowledge There is nothing inherently wrong with subjecting hunting firearms to closer scrutiny. A rifle remains a firearm whether it wears a fine walnut stock, a synthetic chassis, or an expensive European scope. Anyone who owns firearms has a duty to store them securely. There should be no serious debate about that within the hunting community. Inspections may even serve the interests of responsible gun owners. They separate those who take their obligations seriously from those who believe a loaded rifle behind the bedroom door qualifies as secure storage. But an inspection only works when both sides understand the rules. Hunters are expected to pay their license fees, register their firearms correctly, follow storage requirements, meet every deadline, and present the proper documentation. In return, they should be able to expect that an inspecting officer will not invent a six-month expiration period that does not exist in the law. During a firearms inspection, incorrect information is not a minor matter. The hunter is standing inside his own home with two police officers in front of him. The gun safe is open. Every statement carries added weight. When an officer declares that a document is invalid, few people will immediately pull the state hunting code from a desk drawer and begin a legal argument. Most hunters will first feel uncertain. That is precisely why the new law requires clear training, understandable instructions, and consistent inspection procedures—not only for gun owners, but also for the people responsible for enforcing it. This Is Not a Hunt for Police Mistakes It would be wrong to turn one incident into a sweeping story about an “uninformed police force.” Officers themselves face a difficult assignment. They are being asked to enforce a heavily revised firearms law that even experienced gun owners may struggle to understand without guidance. On top of that come state-specific hunting regulations that differ across Austria. The problem, therefore, may not rest entirely with the individual officer. It may also lie within a system that is quick to pass new obligations but slower to explain them clearly. A law is not successfully implemented simply because it appears in the Federal Law Gazette. It is successfully implemented when firearms authorities, police officers, dealers, hunters, and gun owners all understand the same rules—and apply them in the same way. Austria does not appear to be there yet. Trust Is a Two-Way-Street The hunting license remains a powerful document for Austrian hunters. It allows them to acquire, possess, and carry the firearms required for responsible hunting. That legal trust comes with obligations. Hunters must store their guns safely. They must keep their paperwork in order. And they must accept that firearm ownership may be subject to inspection. But trust works both ways. When the government expects citizens to know every deadline, it must ensure that the authorities enforcing those deadlines know the rules as well. When lawmakers expand inspections, they must prepare officers to conduct them properly. And when the state promises legal certainty, it cannot allow new requirements to be invented at the hunter’s front door.