5.26.2025
At the historic Domaine de Sandricourt, French hunting journalists gathered to experience Aimpoint’s ACRO S-2 during a lifelike simulation of traditional bird hunting.
French driven hunt in English style – with a Swedish red dot on the shotgun
When Aimpoint’s French distributor Humbert hosted a full-day event at Domaine de Sandricourt just north of Paris, the focus was on shotgun shooting, Acro® S-2, and good company. Ten French hunting journalists were invited to experience the red dot sight in a practical setting – through a simulated driven shoot in the French tradition.
Sandricourt is something of an icon in French hunting circles – a historic estate of 1,500 hectares of mixed forest and farmland. The estate offers hunting for pheasants, partridge and wild boar, but during this event, clay pigeons were the target. The format was a battue simulée – a form of driven clay shooting, designed to mirror a traditional game shoot.
The day began with a short presentation from Aimpoint, followed by a practical demonstration of ACRO S-2 by training manager Axel Martinsson. Participants were then transported out to various drives in the rolling landscape.
"It's hard – but good"
The clays proved to be challenging. They came in flushes, they flew high, and they moved fast. Aurélien Legrand, a hunting journalist and seasoned sport shooter, was among the participants.
– It was only my second time using the ACRO S-2, and it was quite difficult to adapt my shooting. I’m used to a different style. But it’s a really great product – especially for high, straight-flying birds like ducks or pigeons, he said.
Aurélien writes regularly for La Revue Nationale de la Chasse, Le Chasseur Français and Grand Gibier, and mainly hunts migratory birds like snipe and dove – a segment where the ACRO S-2 could find its place.
"A way of life, not a sport"
Kevin De Rorre, editor at the same magazines, also found that the ACRO S-2 made things easier:
– It helps you focus on the target, especially against the sky. There’s just one visual plane to think about, and it’s efficient, he said.
Kevin prefers small game and bird hunting, and describes hunting not as a hobby but as a lifestyle:
– It’s not a sport to me. It’s a way of life. Every day I think about nature, wildlife, and hunting. It’s part of who I am.
When asked about his dream hunt, he replied:
– Sea ducks in Alaska. Wild birds in a wild landscape – there’s something mystical about it.
"A whole new field of vision"
Carole Voute, director of the Beretta Gallery in Paris, tried the ACRO S-2 for the first time and highlighted the benefit of shooting with both eyes open:
– It gives a sense of security, especially for beginners or for those whose dominant eye doesn’t match their shooting side. You get a much broader view. We’re almost half-blind when we close one eye, really.
Carole has hunted in France, Scotland, and Northern Europe. She mentioned the capercaillie as her dream bird – a beautiful species that she’s only had in her store so far, thanks to a customer who donated one of his trophies.
"Sandricourt was my goal"
That the event took place at Sandricourt was no coincidence. Hunting here carries a long practical and cultural history. The estate has been owned by the same Anglo-American family since the early 1900s, a legacy that is visible in both its architecture and its gamekeeping. English gamekeepers have been a tradition here for generations – and that tradition continues.
Today, Steven Toft serves as head gamekeeper at Sandricourt. He’s held the role for three years, but the estate has been on his radar much longer.
– I always wanted to work here. It’s been a goal of mine for a long time, he said.
Steven leads a team of three gamekeepers and is ultimately responsible for the wild boar, partridge, and especially the pheasant shoots. In July, one of the busiest seasons begins: the pheasants are released into the estate’s nine large pens, where they can fly freely and grow accustomed to the landscape. Unlike many other estates, which release birds for each individual shoot, Sandricourt does it all in one go – a method that requires more work but results in birds that are stronger, faster, and truly part of the terrain.
The rest of the year is spent preparing. Habitats must be maintained, predators controlled, dogs trained – and the birds conditioned to return. That last part is done using a whistle: a single, consistent tone associated with food, repeated daily. Over time, the birds learn to return at the sound. It’s a simple routine, but a vital one – helping to keep the pheasants close without domesticating them.
For Aimpoint, the day was a chance to show how the ACRO S-2 can become a natural part of upland hunting – combining speed, instinct, and clarity in the kind of shooting where those qualities matter most.
ACRO S-2 in Focus
The ACRO S-2 was the star of the day. This compact red dot sight with a 9 MOA dot is specially designed for shotguns and is suited for both hunting and sport shooting. Its low-profile mount allows for a natural swing and clear lead, while the red dot helps shooters acquire their target quickly – especially in situations where instinctive shooting is key. During the event, the sight was used on simulated drives mimicking pheasant and partridge.
