Stuart Wilson has bagged a Haenel Jaeger 10 Varmint Sporter .308 Win on long-term test, which means plenty of opportunity to take it out after roe deer…
Some time ago, I reviewed the Haenel Jaeger in .243 Win. I enjoyed the rifle and was keen to try to take it on a hunting outing. Unfortunately, time curtailed those efforts and I didn’t get the chance to take any deer using that Haenel. However, I managed to secure a Jaeger Pro Varmint .308 Win for an extended period, giving me plenty of chances to get this rifle properly into the field.
I have some Lapua 150gn Mega ammunition, and the rifle is topped with a Meopta MeoStar 2.5-15x56 illuminated. Up front, a Brügger & Thomet moderator tames the noise and a little of the recoil.
After booking on to my stalking lands north of the border for the weekend, I had a few days to get the rifle zeroed to get familiar with it and the new scope. A quick assembly session saw the Warne mounts secure the scope to the Haenel’s Weaver rail. I checked for eye relief and made sure the reticle was plumb.
On first impressions I much prefer this standard synthetic stock. The rubberised finish of the last Haenel was fine but shouldering this stock makes it obvious that this version is more practical and should prove more durable.
When checking for eye relief – something I usually do with the rifle rested on a bipod while sitting at a table – you get a good feel for the dimensions and the areas of the rifle you will be holding. The length of pull is good and the forend is effective at pulling the rifle securely back into your shoulder. The butt-pad is soft and forgiving, but the real winner in this configuration is the adjustable cheekpiece.
The ability to get your cheek higher when needed to comfortably view through the scope is a great feature – it is possible to manage, but once you have tried adjusting a cheekpiece and felt the difference in both handling and shooting, I will be reluctant to go back.
The Haenel Jaeger Varmint Sporter adjustable would be the type of rifle that I would lean towards – semi-weight barrel, threaded for a moderator (M15x1), synthetic stock, with the added benefit of an adjustable cheekpiece. With a muzzle-mounted moderator the length does increase – it’s not unbalanced nor unwieldy, but I noticed the added length.
My own preference would usually be for a reflex-style moderator. That said, with the rifle, scope and moderator assembled, then with a bipod underslung and a basic unpadded sling, the whole combo sits on my shoulder effortlessly. It does not rotate back as some rifles
