The MEDAL HUNTER

Rikard, what attracted you to hunting and the shooting sports?

Alm: I used to accompany my father and grandfather hunting when I was a child. It was then that I discovered my early passion for nature, game and guns, and I had my first Swedish hunting license in my pocket by the age of 15. I discovered sport shooting through hunting. I really wanted to become an accurate marksman, which is why I practiced often at our local shooting range. Once there was some sort of match that I wasn’t even registered in, but they let me shoot anyway. At the end of the day, I was the one with the top score!

“Our local shooting range had a match that I wasn’t even registered in. They let me shoot anyway, and I wound up with the top score.”

What has been your greatest success in sport shooting?

Alm: Winning the silver medal in ‘Running Moose’ at the 2017 Nordic Combined Game Shooting Championship. I shot fifth place overall against about 140 of the best shooters from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark.

What is your next goal?

Alm: The European Combined Game Shooting Championship – I would love to be able to stand on that podium!

Moving from match shooting to field shooting, what is your fondest hunting memory?

Alm: One highlight was bagging my very first moose. I was out with two other hunters and a Jämthund (Swedish Elkhound). After a couple of hours, some moose began to approach my position but split up just before they reached my blind. Some turned away, but a big shovelhead bull continued heading straight for me. The bull then stopped between two trees, standing broadside to me. I shot as soon as his shoulder was visible. I was thrilled to have taken a moose with 12 tines – a really heavy bull for this region. I generally find moose hunting to be extremely thrilling. For me, it is the experience itself that matters – like killing my bull cleanly with a single shot from my SAUER 404.

What other types of hunting count among your favorites?

Alm: Stalking roe deer in the summer. After work, I often go to the woods to enjoy the fresh air, glass the wide-open spaces of my homeland of southern Sweden and then stalk the game. The feeling that you get with this primeval hunting style – feeling as if you are a part of nature and have regained your inner peace – is simply priceless. For me, it is not so much about a successful hunt but about relaxation. I see it as a real privilege that I can just pick up my rifle and go hunting.

For many hunters, shooting from the standing unsupported position is a real challenge, especially with running game. Do you have any tips for them?

Alm: Without a doubt, the most important thing is to practice dry-firing on a regular basis, and also to have a rifle that fits you perfectly. Whenever possible, I train every evening after I come home from work. I pick out a prominent target, the smallest one I can find. Then I try to ‘bag’ it as cleanly as possible – with an unloaded gun, of course!

What is the most important thing when it comes to shooting standing unsupported?

Alm: I regularly take part in dry-fire training. First, I stand comfortably facing the target. When I am shooting rifles, I lock my knees so that my muscles remain relaxed. I then raise the rifle towards the target. Before I am even close to the target, I begin to apply uniform pressure to the trigger until I have taken up about half of the trigger pull weight. As soon as I begin to close in on the target from below, I release the shot while following through with a constant upward motion. This is clearly more stable than poking around for the target. Try it the next time you are at the range!

So, what does your training look like? Do you maybe have a ‘Running Moose’ range in your back yard?

Alm: (laughs) No, I am afraid I have no room for that. But I don’t need it to practice, either. The straight lines in a room are actually ideal for training to shoot at moving game. For example, I like to use table edges or baseboard moldings where I can mark a spot with something such as a beer coaster. I then attempt to follow this line as closely as possible while I pull the trigger under constant motion until I am on target or, in this case, on the beer coaster.

“Straight lines are perfect for training to shoot at moving targets.”

And what is your approach to shooting moving targets?

Alm: I use the same technique: I overtake the target from behind until I have the lead that I will require for reaching the correct point of aim for hitting the target. I then follow the target and increase pressure on the trigger until the shot surprises me. My arms and upper body remain stiff: All of the movement comes from my hips.

In your opinion, why is it so important for a shooter to have a perfectly-fitted stock?

Alm: Through training, my rifle and I become a single unit. The rifle must adapt to me, not the other way around. Not only can I adjust my S 404 SYNCHRO XT to fit me, but I can adjust it to fit the discipline I am competing in. That starts with the height-adjustable cheek piece and ends with the trigger. The correct comb height and head position are determined by whether you are shooting from a prone, standing, or sitting position. Thanks to the height-adjustable comb, I can adjust the rifle not only to fit me but also to fit the match I am shooting.

Do you also take advantage of the adaptability of the 404’s trigger?

Alm: Of course! I usually have my trigger set at 750 grams. For long-range shooting, I prefer the 550-gram pull weight. I love the 1000-gram setting for driven game hunting: It simply offers me more safety and control. On top of that, some competitions require trigger pull weights of 1000 grams. The lightning-fast weight selection and crisp trigger pull of the SAUER 404 were decisive purchasing criteria for me.

Which calibers do you shoot?

Alm: For hunter-style matches and when hunting roe deer, I use the .223 Rem and the 6.5×55. For moose hunting, I use the 8x68S. That caliber would also be my first choice for hunting overseas. The quick barrel-changing capabilities of the SAUER 404 really are first-class: I only need one stock, one scope and one action, yet I still have a selection of several different calibers.

How do you pull off such consistently good scores under competitive shooting conditions?

Alm: Calm, calm, calm. Trust in yourself and in your rifle are the prerequisites for peace and tranquility – even under stressful circumstances.

If you had to choose between hunting and sport shooting, which one would you say is your favorite?

Alm: Whew. Hunting and sport shooting are so intertwined to me that I could no sooner live without one than the other.