Short, handy, robust, fast, variable – and safe. These are the characteristics that tracking and traversing shooters expect from the rifle they use to break through the thicket. The Jaeger NXT comes with a central dowry: The rifle is – unusually in this price range – a genuine hand cocking device that can be safely carried even in difficult terrain with an uncocked action. The rifle thus remains relaxed until shortly before the shot – an important safety advantage for fellow hunters, dogs and the shooter himself. A simple safety device is not enough, especially when stumbling, walking at the lowest speed and getting stuck are part of the job.

Hand cocking: carry safely uncocked, shoot at lightning speed

Nevertheless, the kickdown chamber handle can be used to get the rifle ready to fire at lightning speed: Simply push forwards and the system is cocked and ready to fire. With an additional chamber lock lever, the bolt handle can also be completely blocked if required. And the 5-round magazine is secured against loss as standard with a patented extra lock.

A further weighty argument for hunters who are experienced in undergrowth: the iSight system for variable sights takes into account the different needs of stand shooters, walk-through shooters and gun dog handlers in a single rifle.

iSight and sling swivel system: super variable

In the Tracker variant, the iSight system opens up all target-oriented options on the barrel: the front sight can be completely removed or mounted in a recessed position with a single screw (M3, hexagon socket). The muzzle thread (M15x1) can also be fitted with a standard silencer when the front sight is set back – this protects the hearing of man and dog when firing short shots with open sights. Anything is possible: The rifle can be used without open sights if the overbarrel silencer is screwed onto the muzzle thread. Advantage: Combined with red dot optics, nothing irritating protrudes into the line of sight.

Short barrel and four sling swivel sockets

Haenel has further perfected the rifle for the intended use with a special ‘support structure’ and a short barrel (470 mm barrel length): The front tracker sling swivel mount also utilises the muzzle thread; it is simply screwed on and then sits securely on the left. It corresponds with the sling swivel bushing on the left side of the buttstock, in which the push-button system is locked. The classic sling swivel sockets at the bottom of the fore-end and buttstock are retained and increase the options for engaging the push-button sling as required.

And some more data on handling: with the 19-millimeter semi-weighted barrel, the rifle has a short overall length of 99 centimeters. Combined with the robust wood compound stock (FSC-certified composite wood), this straight-pull repeater weighs around 3.1 kilograms unloaded. The rifle will be available at market launch in .308 Win. and 8x57IS calibers.