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Forum Index > Rifles general discussion > When I Don't Listen

When I Don't Listen

05 Jun 2021
@ 02:43 pm (GMT)

Lane Salvato

I've tried hard in my setup and in my practicing to follow Nathan's advice. That said there has been one thing I've not been able to do right. He suggested that I have one standard cartridge and one magnum and practice with both. Sound advice! Makes all the sense in the world.

The problem is that I just love guns and I love calibers. So instead of my 308 and my 338, I've ended up with too many.

My 308 is tuned up the best and it's the one that gets the most practice when ammo is available. But by golly that's my weakness. Does anyone else share this weakness? Or do I owe Nathan an apology??

Replies

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10 Jun 2021
@ 11:29 am (GMT)

Nathan Foster

Re: When I Don't Listen
Hi Lane, I do have a few readers who have gone the other way and have narrowed their kit down to just the one rifle, generally either a .280 (or .280 AI) or a .30-06 rifle, sporting weight with medium power optics.

Of course, being that you own both a .280 and .30-06, it kind of muddies the waters a bit. But a Texan with just one gun would be kind of like a Dodge Charger with an electric motor, just doesn't seem right.
11 Jun 2021
@ 12:23 am (GMT)

John D Hays - New Mexico

Re: When I Don't Listen

As the late, great David Bowie’s commented, “Too much is never enough.”

And, of course, John Lennon advised, “Happiness is a warm gun.”

Who am I to argue?
11 Jun 2021
@ 04:22 am (GMT)

Frank Vallich

Re: When I Don't Listen
For ungulates I've narrowed the calibre to .308. Two rifles though. Open sights for 0 - 150 yards and scoped for the maximum of 600 yards (Have thoroughly enjoyed improving my distance targeting). No magnum (yet?). This may change as I'm foraging out to the mountains this year.
11 Jun 2021
@ 07:19 am (GMT)

Scott Struif

Re: When I Don't Listen
600 yards on an ungulate seems like a stretch with a 308, but with a frangible bullet I suppose it’s possible. At that range, I wouldn’t trust a 30-06 . . . you’re pretty much lobbing the projectile. I leave hunting at those ranges to the experts . . . wouldn’t attempt it myself.
11 Jun 2021
@ 09:08 am (GMT)

Frank Vallich

Re: When I Don't Listen
I'm not an X(unknown quantity) spert(drip under pressure) yet the168 gr. Federal Berger Hybrid Hunter spits out with consistent groups down range. Using the last of the Hornady ELD X for continued weekly practice. I was impressed with the ELDX. The Hornady are a slightly longer bullet at 178 gr. The 168s provide the consistency for the scoped rifle. No added tip to front of bullet. Has the look of a match grade. Long narrow cutline usually have minimal wind. One lessened variance for down range accuracy. I might even go 650 yards for an elk. Would be difficult not to attempt!



12 Jun 2021
@ 09:52 am (GMT)

David Lenzi

Re: When I Don't Listen
I keep telling myself to do this... I attempted it briefly, standardized on .30 cal even. I had a nice K31 for iron sighted fun, a a M70 that I slowly customized. Then I bought a target rifle... and another project rifle... and another project rifle. Now I find myself looking to off load some of those project guns.

I really like .30-06... I'd do it again, but as an AI, just on GP (because if I'm going to get a custom barrel, why not get one that'll be easier on brass for loading a give my marginally better performance?).

.30-06 considerations below:
I consider the -06 to by 600 yd capable, even in my hands. I load the 195 TMK to 2675 fps --> 78 inches of drop w/ 200 yd zero. 2650 fps --> 80 inches of drop, 2700 fps --> 76 inches of drop. Quality hand loads should be within that ES without issue.
12 Jun 2021
@ 10:01 am (GMT)

Scott Struif

Re: When I Don't Listen
Frank, I checked the LR Cartridges book to see if a 650-yard shot on an elk is feasible with a 308. Yes, it is! But the book gives you max range / max animal-weight (with a given bullet - an ELD-X - as you pointed out). Just because something is feasible doesn’t mean it’s OK to attempt, unless you know what you’re doing.
12 Jun 2021
@ 01:14 pm (GMT)

Lane Salvato

Re: When I Don't Listen
Quote:
Hi Lane, I do have a few readers who have gone the other way and have narrowed their kit down to just the one rifle, generally either a .280 (or .280 AI) or a .30-06 rifle, sporting weight with medium power optics.

Of course, being that you own both a .280 and .30-06, it kind of muddies the waters a bit. But a Texan with just one gun would be kind of like a Dodge Charger with an electric motor, just doesn't seem right.


That's so true Nathan! I like the 280 AI the best because it's close enough to the 270 which I used all my life but better ballistics, etc. Problem is now it's difficult for components. Enter then 308 and 30-06. If I'd started with the 30-06 I would stick with it but since I started with the 308 at least for now I have to stick with it. When things ease up I'll definitely want to play with the 280 AI. Great for open country but fine for brush and smaller species as well. As you know Texas is the second biggest state with the second smallest white-tails (Thank you South Florida!)
03 Jul 2021
@ 09:19 am (GMT)

Ryan Nafe

Re: When I Don't Listen
For my own viewpoint on this, I tend to prefer to keep things simple and have a similar setup to what Nathan recommends. Mainly for training purposes and just not getting overwhelmed in general, information overload is a very real problem for me.

At the moment I’m basically completely set up, with the exception of a dedicated pistol or revolver for hunting:

Handguns:

- Glock 27 .40 cal for maximum concealment and ease of carry, using various 180 grain hollow points at ~950 FPS

- S&W 629 Performance Center 2.625” barrel .44 Mag for more power and accuracy when necessary, currently set up with a 185 grain lead hollow point at an average MV of 1,300 FPS

Shotguns:

- A Winchester SXP 12 gauge with 18” barrel and fiber optic bead, with interchangeable chokes. Useable for both defensive purposes as well as hunting small game, varmints, and all sorts of birds. #4 buckshot, 00 buckshot, and #5 birdshot all pattern beautifully with a few different brands/loads of each shot size from one of two chokes I have. It’s just a workhorse beater gun that’ll simply get the job done and since the entire bore and chamber are hard-chrome plated, weather and cleaning concerns are very minimal.


Rifles:

- .22 LR Savage MkII FV-SR, a basic .22 bolt action that prints .25” groups at 25 yards with several types of ammo.

- A basic .25-06 Savage 110 as a spare deer rifle and short-range varmint rifle.

- the new-to-me Winchester 1895 in .270 as a brush/woods gun.

- My 7mm Rem Mag Remington 700 SPS I’ve got set up with a TriggerTech trigger, decent wood laminate/aluminum block stock, and solid Sightron scope on Warne Mountain Tech rings and rail. This is basically the do-all rifle, though I’m strongly considering getting an HS Precision PSV stock and their DBM kit with several spare magazines, I think it would turn it into a true all-around rifle.




Of course I’d like to have more guns and am currently eyeing some Uberti 1873 or 1866 lever actions for a really cool cowboy gun, but overall I’m pretty well served by the current setup. If I’m being honest with myself, there’s really no niche that the current arsenal can’t fill, especially considering that Whitetail Deer and Black Bear are likely to be the only two species of medium/large game I’ll ever hunt. Black Bear here can get up to 500 or even 600 pounds, but it’s still feasible to kill them cleanly with the 7mm Rem Mag or .270 if projectiles and shot placement are sound.

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