If you convert one without the proper licensing paperwork, you should put your family and career plans on hold for an extended stay at the Crossbar Hotel.

Properly managed timber harvest improves habitat and browse for a variety of species including deer, elk, and grouse. There is little to eat underneath evergreen canopies. National Forests were not chartered to be a playground for ATV's and offroaders either. I have not seen issues where I live and play, but can't speak for every place. Maintained NFS roads provide good access to a lot of land around our parts.

Ri-damn-diculous, in a word!

Chrony F1 is what I have. Compares accurately to the high dollar one at the range.

I would never give a plug nickel to that voodoo state in the first place. Obama is giving my money to them anyway.

Usually the wind is blowing from the opposite direction from that which your hat is rolling..

"I've been to a bunch of rodeos, a dozen county fairs, two hog callin's, and a mule pullin', and I still haven't heard bullsh1$ like that!"

All the Sportsman's Warehouse stores in WA, Northern OR, and I thought Montana had closed over a year ago and were bought by a Canadian outfit that operates those 13 stores as Wholesale Sports. There are 3v WS in Western Washington and seem to be somewhat better stocked than SW was. Billings SW closed due to failed lease negotiations or sos the story goes. All the employees worth beans left the Burlington, WA store. Why they thought they could open and compete in the same towns with Cabela's is beyond me...

I think I need to move to Idaho out of liberal Western Washington! Too many moving targets here anyway...

Mossy Oak Duck Blind (also works well in sage country) and Realtree max-4

Bob Maybe you can sell me a house when I get out of Washington!

Federal 165 grain Barnes Triple Shock X-bullet. Bang-flop everytime.

The child is mirroring what he sees on TV or hears at home. The father needs a butt whupping, assuming this is not a fairy tale.

We always hunted squirrels with a shotgun since a hunting outing targeted dove, squirrels, rabbits, and crows. If I were only hunting tree rats now, it would be with a .22LR.

I have a Bushnell spotting scope that I received as a gift a few years ago. It is too bulky to hunt with and it's OK at the range, but at higher power, the resolution is poor and not much use late in the day. I have a Burris compact spotting scope that I use sometimes that works well. I let the wife's school kids play with the Bushnell looking at the swans and birds. I'd say a decent quality spotting scope starts out at about $1,200.

Del, Not surprising 007 Use the Barnes data to start. I had pressure issues with the Federal GM215M primers they call out. Problem went away after using WLRM and CCI 250's. crm3006 Federal .35 Whelen 225 gr Trophy Bonded's actually averages 2,623 in my rifle vice the 2,600 fps advertised by Federal.

Whatever #4 or #5 heavy loads your gun patterns well will do fine

Some of the guys do that. I don't, just preference. I think hunting traditions are great and hold a lot of meaning to hunters. I have a few rituals for hunting season, but shaving, or not, isn't a part of it. My friend Dave does not shave until his deer and elk are hanging. I always wish him quick success because he looks scruffy with his whiskers! LOL

I take pictures with my iPhone on every hunt. Have not taken it fishing yet. Probably 100 per year, of which I'll keep 20-ish.

We run a lot of Sellier & Bellot and Federal XM193 through AR's with no problems. PMC and the Russian brands are dirty residue-wise. The Tula is just plain crap. HSM is good stuff, too. Remington and Winchester .223 is good, but not cheap.

What Del said :)

deerhound34 It is quite apparent "how you were raised" from your ranting. Personally I could care less how pissed off you are about anything. Why the attack and criticism? If you have a Question or Answer, post it here. Otherwise, take your rudeness to Backlash and Blowback on Message Boards or back where you came from. You sound like a thoughtless brat.

Sounds like the gun counter salesman's rifle that I had to fix last month! I'm still waiting for my "borrowed" chainsaw to jump itself back in the son's pickup and ride over to our place...

While most of my rifles wear variable power scopes, they are pretty much fixed power in the field. I usually set my variable somewhere between 3x and 5x depending on where I am hunting at the moment. I eldom if ever change a scope setting in the field. Most of the time, you have 3 seconds to shoot at an animal before they move, bust you, or you get shaky. I never waste that time messing with scope setting. Spot, decide, shoot. I would never feel handicapped with a 4x or 6x fixed power scope. I do like the higher power for ange work.

'tangowithme' You are obviously new here, so I will be direct. What the hell does a biker looking dude with a Maltese Cross have to do with anti-semitism or Nazism? Get educated and get a grip. I saw the ad and I thought it was stupid, but not offensive. Would I buy my insurance from some tatooed biker? Probably not, but that is just their marketing going after a segment.

Dittos, Happy!

My only experience was an unpleasant one. LOL

Not to discourage you from buying a new shotgun, but why not just paint the 870? Unless it has some sentimental value, why not just do it yourself for about $20 for a H-S camo spray paint kit? You said it was an 870 Express, so there isn't exactly collector value there unless it is a Wingmaster instead of an Express. I painted mine myself and have had several positive comments from the guys and no complaints from the turkeys or geese. Just a thought...

Del, Don't use data for Nosler Partitions, Hornady, or other soft jacketed bullets with Barnes Triple Shocks or TTSX. Start with the loads in the Barnes manual #4 and use LR primers.

Join the Marines. If you're good enough, they'll issue you one! Want to be one, or just a wannabe?

While I don't care for most of the hunting and fishing shows, I watch them sometimes. There are some real clowns on some of those shows. I can hardly stand to watch Roger Ragland because it is so poorly done. And that Lee and Tiffany show with her ragging on everyone and bragging all the time! Geez, that is the reason you get away to go hunting, not bring that crap with you! I like Duck Commander for the entertainment value! Phil is one duck killin' dude!

LMAO!

Sako for consistency and price/value.

I have witnessed what the venerable .348 Winchester will do on deer and elk when loaded with Barnes Originals and factory loads. It is an excellent short to medium range cartridge in a lever rifle. Great dark timber cartridge! If I ever see one at a decent price, I will snatch up a Winchester Model 71. However, it is not a quantum leap from my .358 Win Savage 99. The .325 WSM looks like a pretty good round on paper, but not enough better than my .35 Whelen when loaded with 200+ grain bullets. I have to say that since I have never seen one in the field. The .325 WSM and .300 WSM are the only two WSM offerings that I personally would consider buying, not that there is anything inherently wrong with the others, JMO. I would venture to say that either one will put the smack down on anything hit properly!

Exactly

Let's see What the Lord God Almighty says about it: Leviticus 19:28 says, “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.” Yet DEATH is the number one theme of tattoos! References from tattoo books again reveal this as a fact: Death and darkness have always been a classic tattoo theme – skulls, snakes, demons. You make the call!

I think the .300 WSM will be around a long time, unlike some of the other short fat's.

Fix your computer and stop the multiple posts.

'The Beguiled'

Smart money would never go into a firefight with an unknown number of assailants. Get the G-2 then go!

I agree with Cgull. Take the blind and leave a No Trespassing sign in its place.

Ditto on RL 19, 22, and RL 25. Have not used RL 17. BTW, are RL 19 and RL 22 sensitive to extremely cold temps?

The .357 Remington Magnum is good all around, but I'm not sure about back up defense against a PO'd wild pig. Sure works on fat razorbacks.

Lucky sucker!

Clever idea!

Most 2-7x33mm to 40mm scopes have the best (widest) field of view when set to their lowest power setting and enough magnification for longer shooting at deer sized targets. There are so many good scopes out there, so you have to pick a price point and go from there. An excellent choice under $200 would be a new Redfield, Sightron S-II, or Nikon. The sky is the limit above that!

The .357 over any gauge is one of the more rare models. Most are .22LR or .222 Rem over 12 or 20 ga shotgun. $50 is about right for a Model 24 in excellent condition. What model of 24 is it? Like 24-S, 24-V, 24-D?

I am sort of mentoring 2 boys (and their Dad) in hunting. The boys are 17 and 13 now and I have been working with them for 2 years. My wife teaches all 4 kids and we know the family well. Dad is a doctor with limited time, but he has taken up waterfowl hunting to spend more time with his boys! I seldom take the boys without Dad along. They have the resources for all the gear, but Dad makes them earn it themselves. What a wise man he is! I have just felt honored to be able to pass a little something along. Now the teenage girls want to start hunting! Maybe Mom's next! The oldest boy is the only person who can handle my big black dawg other than me and my son since the dawg is quite contrary sometimes. I get a bigger thrill out of them shooting a bird than shooting it myself. I always hold my shots until they have fired at least once.

Good for you! Kudos

If it is a Lazzeroni it is likely an eye popper!

The King is in the house ......35W

Look on the internet address bar and see if you have a little icon that looks like a broken page on the right side that comes up "Compatability mode" when you roll over it. Click that and try again.

Y'all know my answer so I won't post it here! I ditched my .338 Winchester M-70 synthetic stocked rifle in favor of the King in 1989! I think it was the combination of stock design, relative lack of accuracy, and 250 grain loads that did me in with the .338 WM. Hey, Del I'll rent you mine! LOL

It is an oddball configuration and would leave it right there unless it was really cheap. Lack of aftermarket magazines, accessories, etc will send that rig the way of the dodo and passenger pidgeon in short order. Get yourself an AR or bolt gun. The triggers on those pumps are not very workable or adjustable either.

Either will Git 'Er Done!

Make that 2 TONS! In the hands of the average hunter, a .223 centerfire is inadequate when cheap FMJ ammo is around for use by the ninnies. That is why many states have rules that require a .24 / 6mm caliber minimum with expanding bullets. Big O I would dispute your statement that .22's have killed more deer than anything. The .30-30, .30-06, and .35 Remington have put more deer on the meat pole than all the .22 centerfires combined. I'm with 007 for exactly the reasons he stated. In the hands of an experienced hunter/shooter with the right bullet, a .223 or .22-250 is certainly adequate, but not legal in many places. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. WMH

7mm Weatherby Magnum or .300 Weatherby or faster equivalent and lots of practice at shooting at MOP targets at that range....in the wind. And don't believe all the long range tales you hear. Verrify your range with a rangefinder and learn how to dope the wind. A guy I hunted with last week missed a mule deer 5 TIMES at 505 yards before finally hitting him (bang flop). In the 15-20 mph crosswind he needed 22-25 inches of correction with what he was shooting. When I asked him how much did he dope the wind, he answered, "Oh, I forgot about that." to which I replied, "How much do you think you should have applied". He had no clue.

What is the difference if he or she is black or white? Thugz is thugz.

Hard to shoot a figment of your imagination.....

Since he is a family friend, I would be honest with him and tell him that even though he paid $629 for it, it is not a collectible rifle and has not appreciated in value and being used, it is worth $550 to you. If he is a friend, I would not try to beat him up on the deal. If he needs $600 for financial reasons, let him sell it elsewhere unless you are willing to pay $600. If he is hard up for cash, he will never forget that he sold it to you for less than he really needed. No reason to bust up a friendship over $50.00. Now if he is just selling to finance another toy, that's different. Just offer him straight up the $550 and tell him you had rather not dicker with friends if he comes back with anything other than "yes".

All good info. I doubt you will save money on most cartridges unless you shoot a lot of ammo per year. I have some old calibers that ammo is not in abundance for or is very pricey; like 7mm Weatherby, .35 Whelen, .358 Winchester, .257 Roberts, etc. While I load for my .308 and .30-06, I doubt I save money enough on those to offset cost of reloading gear. I just saw an article in this month's Outdoor Life that compared the cost of reloading shotshells vice factory prices. Not much savings there unless you shoot a lot of clays. With the amount of ammo I shoot every year, I am not in it because of monetary savings. I do it because I CAN!

Del That rig should not kick anymore than my .35 Whelen with 225 grain loads. That Limbsaver made the felt recoil quite manageable. Those factory butt pads, i hesitate to call them recoil pads, on the 700 Classics are like a steel butt plate when it comes to felt recoil reduction. I think I would buy a take off stock off of eBay for modification and leave the factory stock intact for resale value. That's what I did.

I use green

The rest of the action will roll snake eyes before the barrel wears out!

Wow! nice fish!

I would buy almost any shotgun other than a Mossberg or one made in China. I have seen more problems in the field with them than all others combined. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but if you use them as much as my hunting group does, you will soon find out what the issues are. They are not called "Mossturds" for no reason. Check out T's post above this one....

You will have to try a few and see. I have a 700 ADL .308 and it shoots 150 grain Corelokt factory ammo just great and Speer Grand Slam and Hot Core 150's just fine.

Here's Your Sign , genius!

The deer and elk I have shot have not complained nor come back to life, so I guess what I'm using works.

Del Let me know if Happy doesn't come up with something out of his closet in the next week or two. WMH

Just think of the ones who winded you and you never saw! Ha ha ha. Scent A Way and Scent Killer laundry wash.

Ol' Deathwind and Ka-Wham are the only 2 I have named.

I use Lee stuff too, along with RCBS. I use Lee hand presses often, except for resizing magnum cases. I almost always use it for bullet seating and crimping. I like the touch you miss with larger presses. Just me, I'm not a high volume loader.

Never heard of that brand, but then again I don't buy rifle scopes at Wal-Mart. I do get my name brand automotive supplies and occasionally trap loads there when they are on sale.

Let's don't start this one again. How many times have we answered theis question? I have your "Sign" ready...

Sounds like someone needs to go out and cut a fresh peach tree switch again.

If you were paying for it, I would take one of the new high -end Leupolds or Kahles. I already have what I can pay for! :-)

Arcamedies Learn to spell, boy! I figured you for a socialist Democrat looking at the many websites and blogs where you post! You can't even spell Archimedes! you are about as far flung from the Greek namesake as one could get! To heck with a tolerant reception for a socialist scumbag. Here's some Beech Nut in your eye, boy!

I think I'll sit this one out. :-)

1-4x Leupold VX-II

I think mine will still shoot Minute of NVA out to about 300 yards.

Go with a larger caliber " for deer on up" . The .243 is a good deer and varmint rifle and precious little else.

Use the the Tru-Glo magnetic rib sight. That way you can use it when you get a different shotgun.

Sounds like little brother is on your account/computer.

My hunting buddy put the bang-flop on a 4x4 mule deer last year at an honest 503 yards with a 162 grain SST fired from his 7mm Weatherby Magnum. I've seen them come apart on elk and found jacket and core under the off-side hide and in the innards, but that was on a very dead elk! Based on what I have witnessed, I would say that it is an excellent deer bullet. Not so sure about the SST being a perfect bullet for elk since I prefer a full penetration that is more likely with a TSX, Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, A-Frame, or similar bonded core bullet. JMHO

Duck gun, goose gun, pheasant gun, grouse gun, quail gun, trap gun, pest gun, front door gun (SxS), bedroom gun, truck gun... let's see that's 10. A good round number since I don't hunt deer with a shotgun!

I just worked on a Howa with the Hogue stock and I liked it. The rifle was new, so I can't comment on durability. It seemed to be a nice all-weather rig.

Alright, here goes: 2 lb ground elk 1 Walla Walla sweet onion Brown meat in olive oil and add chopped onions in a large skillet Add 1 packet Annie's organic chili seasoning and garlic powder and sea salt to taste Combine into crock pot: 1 can fire roasted tomatoes with green chiles 2 cans fire roasted tomatoes crushed kind Substitute 1 can of the regular fire roasted tomatoes with chipotle or add 1 can of Healthy Valley Chili with chipotle, or small can chipotle. 1 can of pinto beans 1 can black beans 1 can kidney beans Get it going and add chili powder, garlic salt, or hot sauce to taste.

Ed J. What was the price range if you don't mind my asking?

#4 or #5 Federal 3 1/2 inch, 2 1/4 oz. plated shot = bang flop.

Ditch the Mossberg.

'Neck What's wrong with a nice rack? I'm partial to mass myself.

Lee's Modern Reloading is a very good starter book. It contains a lot of the "why and wherefore's" not always present in other manuals. Lots of good basic info and reasonably priced under $20. All the bullet manufacturers also have excellent guides too.

I would never pay someone to help him get rid of a nuisance species. I might gladly foot the bill for my food, lodging, gas, and license, but certainly not pay to hunt and get rid of his problems. His land, his problem...

Snow Geese aren't too shabby either.

Rylie Just email the webmaster and explain your situation and I'm sure Nate will straighten things out. I think he is in the process of revamping the blog and points thing. Just post good questions and answers and let this be a learning experience. We have enough wiseass's on here to do us a lifetime already.

Is this a trick question?

Beekeeper probably has that recipe buried in a Mason jar out in the dog pen. That's where he said my chili recipe was.

I would bet that it has a lot to do with who's sponsoring the show. Seems like everyone is hunting with one and I have yet to see one in the field or know anyone who has one. I believe it's a commercial thing.

Just turned 60. Still a cast-iron stud! LOL Just kidding! (not about the age) Like Beekeeper, not bulletproof anymore - just trying to dodge 'em.

Get one of the rifles Beekeeper mentioned above in .30-06 or 7mm Remington Magnum. You'll have everything but varmints covered.

Sign the WA Mtnhunter-Ursus Peace Accord. Translated: I leave the bears alone and they leave me alone. I don't hunt them and they don't hunt me. Good treaty so far. I think I have scared more of them than they have me.

Both true. I fired an old 8 Gauge double back in the Sixties. Don't remember what brand it was, possibly 'mule'. 28's are becoming more popular with classes of skeet and trap for those guns. Light recoil, pricey ammo.

Remington 700 Classic .35 Whelen, an old friend indeed.

I am not sure what a Black Cloud Snow Goose load is, but I have shot plenty of Black Cloud BB and BBB at snows. I have killed just about as many with regular steel shot Federal and Winchester Dry Loks. It is pretty pricey and does not pattern well from some of my choke tubes.

So did Winchester. That would be Ted Williams branded stuff at Sears.

Looks like you have been getting "Short Changed"! According to the Federal Reserve website and my precise measurement, the U.S. dollar (actually all denominations) bill is 6 1/8" long. Older bills will actually measure about 6 1/16 due to wrinkling and shrinkage of the rag paper. But 6" is way good enough measuring fish!

OHH ...and that, my friend, was the underlying cause of the War of Northern Aggression.....

Do you shoot with eyeglasses? My son wears glasses and can consistently shoot 2-2 1/2 inch groups with his 7mm Rem Mag rifle that I can shoot 1 inch groups with (on a good day). The center of his groups are always clustered about the point of zero! Way the heck better than MOP! Darn good enough! May not win a gold medal, but the elk never know the difference. If I shoot with my glasses on, I manage 2-3 inch groups sometimes with a MOA rifle, too. So that may be the issue here.

I have used Remington 9 1/2 Large Rifle Primers on and off for years and never had a problem with them. Del in KS uses them too and just worked up some really good loads with Ramshot TAC and Remington primers. That is a fair price. Have you ever had a Remington round not go bang? Neither have I!

Forget WD-40. Start with a cotton rag like an old t-shirt with Remoil or similar and rub the oil in and just keep at it until the rust does not show anymore. If that does not work get some 0000 steel wool with some Remoil or similar on it and lightly buff it off. Keep the steel wool lightly oiled during the process. You might have to do it several times before all the rust is gone. Keep using clean steel wool and remove all traces and oil ater each scrub. If that doesn't do it, it might be time for a rust remover, which will remove the bluing too.

Yes, by a good gunsmith. That is not a switch barrel candidate like Savage 110 series rifles.

Ditto on hengst and blackdawgz's answers

Clay Cooper is the only one that I know of on here that has mentioned having a Savage ML. Maybe he can help.

I would never recommend a single action revolver for a truck gun (assuming that means personal defense) nor an autoloader for a first pistol. And here's why: Although you seem to be an experienced and level headed guy from your many posts, but due to your age, you probably don't have the years of training to be immediately proficient with either a SA or autoloader. Also, a double action revolver is about as foolproof and reliable a handgun as it gets. The .357 mag is a fine choice for a first gun since you can get .38 Spl loads/reloads much cheaper and with less recoil than full house magnums. Get the Smith&Wesson or Ruger GP100 (good gun, but I don't personally care for their looks) of your choice. Practice, practice, practice and then consider a more complex autoloader. When it come to hammer time, nothing beats a DA wheelgun. Just my opinion, of course.

I am not much into the AR thing, but I have a Bushmaster heavy barrel 'Dissipator' and it shhots better than I do. A quality made unit. I would bet that the Remington IS a Bushmaster since they now own Bushmaster....

Might be ok for a squeaking bathroom door hinge......

Must not be happening. I did not see anyone waving signs on the overpasses or setting themselves on fire?

I'm with 'shane' on this one. Why would you want a .223 lever gun? It's not a plinking or a woods cartridge. Why not a bolt rifle or an AR? It doesn't make sense that's why only Browning makes one! BTW, neither Savage nor Ruger make a centerfire lever action currently.

Fanny pack? Cool? Hmmm...

If you can't afford the newer Leupold VX-3 series, try a Sightron S-II (not the cheaper S-I). It is a very good scope for the money. I like mine.

My Ruger Model 77 was built in 1976. It shoots well and I have had no problems with it. I am not sure it would be a fair comparison to the current crop of Ruger rifles, good or bad.

I suggest you leave the grass carp alone. Not much of a good eating fish and probably stocked into the lake for weed control. JMO

I am on a local watershed council and there are too many ways to list. Get involved with your local conservation district and learn how everyone can help out. If you are a true sportsman, you will find ways to help leave the environment a little better than you found it without being an environazi. One thing we all should do is be mindful of oil and fluid leaks on our vehicles and repair as necessary. Homeowners should also make sure their septic system and drains are working properly as designed.

A 200 gr Accubond really sucks up powder capacity in a .300 Win Mag. Might as well be shooting a 180 gr .30-06 or .35 Whelen.

My M-77 Ruger .257 Roberts (1976 model) shoots well, but I don't have any other Ruger rifles to compare it to. The two Remington M-700's that I own are tack drivers, a 1966 .308 Win and a 1988 .35 Whelen. The rest of my bolt guns are Weatherby Mark V's - all shooters. I would not be afraid to buy either rifle.

I think the 7mm-08 would be fine for elk out to 300 yards or so. Just like any rifle, shot placement is the key!

I would choose the 870 based on long term reliability over the Mossberg 500. Also, the BPS is harder to completely disassemble than the other two. you can buy a NEW 870 for less than $400.

Remington 700 or Weatherby Mark V. You can find deals on a used Weatherby Mark V if you look hard enough.

There is a Joke thread on Message Boards.

Any 200 grain slug departing at 2,900 fps+ will kick the crap out of you in a light rifle! LOL I love TAC in my .308 Win. I have used Hunter in my .257 Roberts with good results too. PS: That's why I was looking for .300 Savage recipe's with TAC.

OHH Not to dispute your post, but BAD LUCK is the operative word I think. With the same bullet construction, I don't think 15 grains of bullet weight makes a measurable difference one way or the other. The difference between a 150 and 180 gr. is a bit more of a performance difference. I've only shot a couple of deer years ago with 150 gr Core Lokts and one cow elk with a 200 grain Core Lokt, so I am not a Core Lokt expert. I have only shot one little piggie (javelina) in my life, so I don't know what is the best medicine for hogs, but I'm betting that my 165 gr Triple Shocks out of the '06 will turn out the lights right now! Best regards WMH

I am and don't care who knows it!

HOUSECAT CALL! I am about to fall out of my chair LMAO on that one! It sounds like an idea whose time has come! I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing with you!!!! I bet it would work. I can hear it now...Meeeoooww

The deer will walk away for a nap while you are fumbling around with all that! LOL

I'm not sure you will be the one asking the questions.

What about a .270 Weatherby?

Sounds suspicious to me. I don't think any solvent or lubricant is good for ammo. But stored in the same room shold not affect it. If the paper box is not oil stained, it probably is not an issue. One thing I do know, never lube magazines of revolver chambers with Break Free CLP or similar. It has the potential to penetrate ammo.

hi_tail Congratulations on your best all-around rifle! Shoot often, clean even more often!

All the time for field cleaning. Hey Brittle That is one fine pup you have there. Looks just like my Lab who is almost three now. Check out those feet!

Good deal! I'm glad you have a rifle to be happy with. Good luck hunting. practice often!

Danner boots Weatherby Mark V rifle Buck knives Nikon rangefinder Leupold/Burris scopes Cabela's clothing Garmin GPS Barnes TSX bullets/Federal Premium ammo Silva compass Big black dog If I didn't think it was good, I would not use it...

Anything that will shoot a 3" 12 gauge shell, including single shots, that have a full choke or screw in choke tube.

I have used Federal #5's for years. Seems like I'll never use those two boxes up one shot at a time!

Hydostatic shock is real, but the position of the heart valves cannot mean beans since it is impossible to predict the timing and measure the effect. More egghead BS. Hit them in the vitals with a rapidly expanding bullet that penetrates deep for pass through and the shock at impact, loss of blood pressure, and failure of the lungs will incapacitate almost immediately if not sooner!

We give you an AAA+++ for effort! Thanks for representing the crowd!

I'd say that if you hit a 6" target twice in the center at that range that you are ready to go deer hunting withthat rifle! That is pretty good shooting.

NM You misinterpreted the data. In van Zwoll's video, he never said the .30-06 was the best elk cartridge or that it outperformed the 7mm mags. The exit polls quoted said that the .30-06 was most popular, not "BEST". Obama was the most popular, but the best? Yes, they both work very well.

Not at all. A little overkill for hunters.

Well, I think you can't go wrong with either one in practical terms. I've been hunting with a .35 Whelen for years and a .300 Whelen for few too. I have never killed an elk with my 7mm Weatherby, but hope to this year. I have seen a truckload of elk taken with 7mm magnums, so that is an effective elk getter no matter what the critics say. Tough bullets are worth the cost when hunting elk.

"Weatherby" is never a wrong answer for "What is a good rifle for...?"

matt wasson said "and yes the bickering, well, enough is enough." Yes, I'm done. Folks on here can do as they please. I was on the planet 58 years, 2 wars, a dozen county fairs, 6 rodeos, a hog callin', and a mule pullin' without the bull$%^@ from his a$$. Not until a full confession of the BS like the man he sys he is will it be OK again. If the subject in question thinks he has done nothing wrong, well that's his perogative too. I'm out of it, I don't need it.

I'm certain to be disputed by well respected folks on here, but the .35 Whelen IS The King of the '06 derivatives! I get an average of 2,623 fps MV with Federal factory loaded 225 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw's over the chronograph. The Remington factory loads don't come close to advertised velocity. I have fired Nosler custom 225 gr Partitions with less accuracy than the TBBC. I have bang-flopped several mule deer and killed bull elk out to 308 laser measured yards with it. I have never recovered a TBBC fired from my .35 Whelen - all pass through soon to be dead animals with massive wound channels. The .338-'06 may have better numbers in the books, but in my book, 'Hail to the King .35'! Step aside boys, the King is in the house!

My buddy Dave, who is AWOL from the hunt this year (thank him or cuss him), has a pair of Alpen binoculars that are as good as any I've seen. I think they make stuff to hit price points, good and not so good. Brunton makes some good binocs, too. Check out the Echo series 8x42. That is a favorite of birders and my wife got a pair last year and I just had to have a pair! I found the Brunton's online at a ridiculous price.

HUH?

When a politician tells you it's raining, it's more than likely him or her peeing on your shoe to cover other misdeeds and corruption.

Be careful that if your barely seated bullet "grabs" the rifling it will give longer than actual readingsif it pulls the bullet out slightly. Barnes bullets may shoot better if seated .050 off the lands to start out with.

We all hunt with "used" guns!

In a normal week, once maybe. Hunting, about once per day. So maybe about 70 - 80 times per year max. Like A Rock!

2-7x and 3-9x on various rifles. I keep them set at 4x unless I need extra magnification. I will shoot at 7 or 9x at the range.

Listen guys. Don't buy the Rifleman scope or the VX-I series. Hold out, save, or buy used and get a VX-II or VX-3. You will be glad you did. If you can't, buy yourself a Sightron S-II series, not the S-I scopes. Stay away from the entry level scopes from every manufacturer. If you can find a used upgraded Leupold, go for it. The warranty is good no matter where you got the scope. I have bought almost every Leupold scope I own 'used' from Ebay or elsewhere online at deep discounts. Never had a problem with Leupolds.

Cabela's for hunting gear. Bass Pro's Redhead line of clothing and stuff really sucks, poor quality and fits poorly IMO. I don't buy fishing tackle online, but Bass Pro is probably OK there.

Au contraire, moosebreath. The .30-30 is NOT one of the greatest elk hunting rifles by any stretch of the imagination. More like 100 to 150 yards. The .30-30 does not even have 1,000 Ft/Lbs of energy at 200 yards. Can you kill an elk with it at 200 yards? Sure, but it is nowhere near ideal or great.

Antietam

.30-06, 7mm or .300 magnums, and up.

What shane said...

I see no reason why a .45-70 wouldn't take elk at 150-200 yards. It might be a chore hitting him without the use of a rangefinder past that due to the trajectory curve.

I hunted everything with a .308 Win for years, but would favor the .30-06 or .300 mags for elk only. Real answer = D) All of the above.

As another poster put it a while back. "One that belongs to someone else" ! LOL

I have owned 4 Chevys, 1 Ford, 1 IHC Scout (totalled by son grrr...) and they have all been good outfits. I have one Chev Z71 with 286,000 miles and still going strong and my son has my old Chevy with 320,000 miles on it. I personally don't like the looks of any of the new pickups.

Glad to pass it on!

I really like my Bushmaster. Song dogs beware! Excellent rig!

ishawooa "Blondie" Tuco's name for The Man with No Name in "The Good, the bad, and the Ugly". Nicht war? WMH

My buddy told me that there has been lots of turkey activity in NW Arkansas, but I'm not sure if he knows what he's talking about however.

hengst, Brother, we feel your pain. So do the other dogs in "the pack". Everytime one of ours has passed away, the others act weird and grieve for a long time. Tough but equally correct decisions are sometimes very painful. Lucky we don't have to do it too often. WMH

Down right tropical here in the Great Pacific Northwest. Had to mow my lawn on Saturday in a t-shirt. El Nino -- I love it.

Field mouse at 15 feet.

Maybe the webmaster could email him asking him to post something so we know he is not MIA? Wmh

My brother has refinished s bunch of old Stevens and Savage shotguns and rifles that had the old painted on finish. He uses Minwax stain/poly all in one stuff. Not for the purist, but he has made some beaters look real nice. He gave me a Stevens .410 pump that looks as good as new money. I don't have his woodworking talents, so I just admire his work.

I have an 870 12 gauge 3 1/2" Super Mag with 26" barrle that works fine waterfowl, easy to handle in the turkey woods, and trap range. There have been thousands of rounds fired through it over the past 10 years or so. You don't necesarily need the 3 1/2" model, but the 870 is my pick of the litter of the ones you listed. Not a Mossberg fan myself.

Post a lot. Answer questions, post photos.

C) and they took more than a "boy" to carry!

Bee Do you have any good .300 Savage loads, particularly with TAC?

Rylie You are getting closer to a nomination for the Claxton Coppermouth Award for Literary Excellence.

I think the X-Bolts are nice rifles, but you can buy 2.5 Savage's with plastic trigger and bottom "metal" for that price. The finish on them is excellent and if they are like A-Bolts, pretty darn good shooters too. If I were spending $850 for a rifle, I would buy a good used Weatherby Mark V in that caliber. You might even find one new for a couple bucks more with the plain synthetic stock. Like the sign on the auto junk yard sez: "We all drive with used parts". Likewise, we all hunt with used rifles. Weatherby will repair or replace anything that won't shoot 1 1/2" groups. I personally would never spend that kind of money on any rifle with plastic parts. JMHO

7+ years Army, 1 year Army NG, 15+ years Navy - all active except the ANG year.

BrigMarine I just have to ask: Are you IN the Brig or just WORK there? Or is there something else to your handle? Just curious that's all.

Reckon he could make us a hot elk call?

I would personally never use the phrase 'knockdown power' for either of those cartridges. Either will kill a song dog if you hit him in the vitals with it.

From what I remember, they are a challenge to keep clean and odorless. Maybe the new ones are better.

Why would you not want a Weatherby action? Strongest made!

I would take the advice above and measure the bullet diameter of several bullets you have and compare. In an interference fit like the bullet in the fired case mouth, 0.0005" or 0.001" can make a difference in how tight the fit is. I tried to look up the SAAMI spec for .277 bullets, but the link I had was busted. May be a quality control issue with Hornady or Winchester. Surprise there?

I would use the Lee Factory Crimp die to put a light crimp on it due to the short neck on that case. Outlaw said it right.

Check or have someone qualified check your scope mounts. Does it shoot to zero now? If not, rezero and if it will not maintain zero, have another rifleman shoot it to eliminate you as a source. Missing your mark is not uncommon in the hunt. Just check it out again at the range and let us know how it goes. Congratulations on your deer! See, it was not all bad!

I heard someone call Clay Cooper that once, I think.

Go get a Honda Foreman with manual everything, period. More doo-dads equals more stuff to break.

Now, if they would only nuke our #1 Sh&% Stirrer, things would be great. Thanks to Nate and his crew at F&S.

I don't think many folks own one.

tightliner09 I think you have been had by your buddy's internet legend of sorts. Sounds like a good game plan though!

I have 3 un-scoped rifles, a .30-30 buck horn sight, .358 Winchester Lyman peep/aperture sight, and .300 Savage with semi-buckhorn sight. I do prefer them in brushy areas and dark timber for sure.

I have been on here 2 1/2 years, but Del, Clay, Beekeeper, Dr. Ralph, Yohan, ChevJim, Jim in NC, ralph the rifleman, ishawooa, and others were here long before me. I cant recall when the format changed, but I was here then I think. Also, I used to go by 'Mtnhunter' and another blogger long gone was PO'd because he thought I poached his name. Might have been a "ghost" just harassing me (imagine that). Added WA about the time the format changed.

Congratulations!

1. powder charges individually weighed 2. powder from same lot/cannister 3. bullets weighed for consistency 4. primers from the same lot# 5. Brass ofthe same mfgr neck sized.

rlowe357 Typical Labrador Retriever! LOL I have worked hard to keep my Lab from being a bird thief, but it is just in the genes I guess. Let another dog get close to his bird stack and there is trouble ahead for sure. Somebody is getting growled at or worse, period.

'Neck The anti's might deface the magazine in the racks if that dead old wolf was on the cover! Once upon a time there were different covers for subscriptions and store racks for one of the magazines, I can't remember which one now. BTW, Good job, Robert! WMH

Sourdough Dave, We have a couple of more that need a hot needle as well.....

Libertyfirst Sorry situation you are in there. I would take this up with the mayor and council or police commissioner or whatever civilian is in charge of those yahoos. I have noticed overthe years that ther is a huge gulf in professionalism between city police and state troopers. Sort of like the guys at Quickie Lube versus the Ford dealership.

Weatherby Mark V Lighweight Sporter in .30-06 Springfield, mainly because my wife gave it to me.

i think any of the previous answers are good advice, although I don't budget for beer in my hunting trips and neither should you. Guns + beer = trouble.

Del / Richard F On private land south of Craig near Hamilton. We are hunting 2nd Rifle Combined season. Our group has hunted there for 9 years I think. I have only hunted there 5 years. This will be my 6th year and I think Lance's 9th year, but he skipped at least 2 that I know of , 2008 and one before 2004, don't remember which year since I wasn't there. The 3rd Season would be my preference, but the owner and family hunts 3rd season and there are no deer tags in 4th season usually. Last year was the only year I did not get a shot on an elk. My turn in the barrel. WMH

I'll back you up with my .35 Whelen any day! LOL

If there wren't any fourwheelers, fat old lazy farts like Clay Cooper could not go shooting deer at 600 yards.

crm3006 I thought 'Blackhawk Down" was not too bad. Worth a rental.

Shoot straight, shoot often! Welcome back

No. What is it?

Any firearm used in extreme cold should be cleaned thoroughly removing all grease and oil and only a very thin coat of a teflon based oil like RemOil reapplied to critical surfaces, like bolt lugs, and then wiped clean. Maybe a better dose of dry lube like graphite if it is an autoloader or a lot of shooting is anticipated. Also, even dry powdery snow and moisture from your hands can cause a bolt to freeze. Also, leave your rifles outside in a case to prevent condensation from your warm(er) tent or lodging. If it's that cold, I'm not out there!

Like Beekeper said, the 7mm-08 is a great deer round with light recoil with the lighter weight bullets and can easily "step up" with heavier loads. a friend of mine bought his duaghter a Model 7 in 7mm-08 a few years ago and she handles it just fine and she is under 5' and I bet she doesn't weigh 90 lbs soaking wet even though she was 17 at the time. A .243 is OK if you are never hunting anything larger than whitetails.

They are fun to lay lots of brass on the ground, but not very accurate for the most part. At open sight range they are acceptable, but definitely not a long range varminter. "Pattern" describes the groups my neighbor's Mini 14 shoots. After I tried to get it sighted in and found that about a 4" group was all that it would do, he let his Air Force Academy Cadet grandson have a go at it thinking that he had some pixie dust bestowed upon him at the Colorado School for Wayward Boys, but alas, the groups did not improve.

jwallen Great idea! Our friend Happy Myles is a modest gentleman who, unlike some of the regulars on here, does not try to make us all think that he is the Original American Action Hero. His advice and commentary is sincere and alway on point and I would love for F&S to engage him to write a Blog or column in the rag. Unlike some of the Range Monkeys that blab on here and are an expert on everything, I too would love to hear more of his stories! Are you listening Mr. Myles? b/r WMH

I never, ever, never exceed published loads by the powder or bullet manufacturer, period. Why tempt fate?

I'm not so sure about '06 loads outperforming a 7mm magnum, but either the '06 or 7 mm Rem mag is s great choice for the one rifle hunter. My '06 would be the last to leave my collection.

NY blatantly disregards the 2nd Amendment rights of its residents. Burris broke the stupid law that should not be a law to begin with. There is a larger issue than carrying without a permit. There should always be stiff penalties for committing violent crimes with any firearm, but simply carrying one should not be criminal but encouraged.

So Skeeb Where did you get the cash for all those Sako's , since by your previous post you are still in highschool? Inquiring minds would like to know....

I know that an Arkansas Mealymouthed Cur dog won't hunt. I had a bluetick that I ran with my neighbor's Redbone's when I was a teenager. I let him have the dog when I got drafted since my folks didn't want to take care of him. Coon hunting and stock car racing kept me busy!

Old Federal or Sears ammo?

Lee's Modern Reloading, Barnes Reloading Manual No. 4, IMR manual.

No more than a couple of hours at his age. Be sure you let him out to do his business right after he eats.

I just got mine last night and it was great! I will re-read it tonight and talk to you more about it. Cheers, WMH

"Here's your sign", dipstick!

Never had that happen. I usually hunt farther back off the road than they are willing to walk anyway. I also never park my outfit in a spot that gives my honey hole away anyhow. I park and take a circuitous route to my spot so I don't give it away to the nimrods.

Wow! Huge question there. For pass shooting, I like to use #1 or #2's. Over dekes I prefer #3 steel. I like the 12 gauge for versatility and ammo choices. I usually use 3" shells for ducks, 3 1/2 for geese sometimes. Lots of good gun choices out there. My favorite pump gun is a Remington 870, but the Benelli's are great too. I have an older S&W 1000 Super 12 Waterfowler that I like to use as well. Any good 12 gauge that fits you and has removable choke tubes is fine. I would stay away from the adjustable chokes as they tend to rust and freeze up. JMHO of course. "idduckhntr" can also give you some good pointers if he reads this post.

Double Naught Seven Just like some lies and deception on here. They are always exposed in time. Some sooner, some later..... I'm thinking that I might get a Nobel Prize because I'm contemplating whirled peas. Worked for Obama. Ha!

The only fault of a .30-06 is that it is not really the best for any one thing because it is so good at everything! Hard to go wrong with an '06!

Kill lots of deer. You'll get over it. Look, decide, shoot.

Honker You should never advocate the use of a scope to "scan" anywhere. That is what binoculars and spotting scopes are for....

I hunt in WA, but usually in E. WA since it is usually very rainy in W. WA during deer season. GMU 101 and 105 by Kettle Falls and the Colville area have been my favorites for many years, but I have not hunted there in 5 years. The units over in the Okanogan are usually good for a mix of whitetails and mule deer, too. I usually apply for special permit hunts outside of the general season and they are usually all good. For elk, the 336. 340, 346 are usually fair depending on the weather driving the elk down from up high. I think there are more elk hunters than elk in any given spot. I gave up except on permit hunts and hunt in Colorado mostly for elk. The best place to kill elk is where there are lots of elk. The next best spot is where there are lots of elk.

My wife paid $1,040 for a Weatherby Mark V in 2002 as a gift to me. In today's dollars it would be $1,240. Almost to the penny what a new one costs today. The $389 I paid for my .35 Whelen in 1989 would be adjusted for inflation to $673 today. I believe you can still buy a M700 CDL in .35 Whelen for about that amount new. (CPI calculator, U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics) And that doesn't count the Leupold's perched atop both of them either.

SPOT emergency locator, pump 12 gauge, fire starter.

Exactly twice. bobcat trapper 95 has it right. In most scoped high power rifles, once between about 20 to 30 yards depending on scope height and zero distance and another at your point of zero range.

I do believe that was my old friend Roy D. Mercer! Notice the punk talking trash long after the old man departed the bus. Also note that the little chicken choker didn't follow him off the bus! He's lucky that old man didn't stomp a mud hole in his axe and walk it dry.

If you had to ask, you better go with the .30-06....

None. A .25 caliber is marginal for elk. Clay and others will disagree for sure, but that's just me. .277 caliber is the starting point for elk. Show me one prominent gun or hunting writer who recommends .25 calibers and I will retract my statement. I don't mean some johnny-come-lately either.

Same shot as those idiots who shoot at movemnt and sound.........?

What is a gun stand?

If a .30-06 or 7mm mag is a bit much for your taste, why not a 7x57 Mauser, 7mm-08, 6.5x55 Swede, or the good for anything .308 Winchester? The .270 is definitely a deer killer, but as previously posted, it is not the solution for not blowing large holes in deer. Shot placement is... I don't think a .270 is ever a bad choice for a deer rifle. I have never been a die-hard .270 or 7mm magnum fan. I do have a 7mm Weatherby, but it is more of a project toy rather than an ideal for _____ rifle.

No, not yet. April 6th deadline for Colorado and the end of May for Washington. 2010 CO regs just came out and WA are not yet published.

"If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise." Well put! Mine (dog, not me) is very "buff" as one of the teenage girls calls him.

The Savage is a good rifle for a decent price. Stay away from the "combo deals'. None of them come with a decent scope and usually have lesser quality mounts. Those cheap Bushnell, Simmons, and Tasco scopes aren't worth taking home.

Yes, no, all of the above.

Hard to beat a Labrador retriever.

A large C-ration can like fruit cocktail or ham and limas was attached where the ammo can was designed to be attached to the feed side of the action. It was called the "pig" due to weighing 22.5 pounds (really almost 23) without a belt attached. More like 25 with a 100 round starter belt in the feed tray. Never heard other nicknames except cursing that "heavy mofo". Everybody LOVED it when it was time to rock n' roll! I can still hear the chatter....

Just like the imbeciles who feel the need to give ten one line answers instead of one ten line answer. Two answers is acceptable sometimes if one recalls something they wanted to add after hitting SUBMIT, but some take this to an annoyance level. JMHO

Hey, 2Poppa Where you been?

You might also try one of the $399 Weatherby VANGUARDS in any of the above caliber. From .25-06 to .30-06, no bad choice.

Ditto on 'Beekeeper', 'Clay Cooper' and "007's" remarks above. With an appropriate bullet/load, the .308 Winchester is capable of taking any game out to 300+ yards (maybe not much farther is very practical). Back in the many years when I owned only one centerfire rifle, the .308 Win was it! Killed my first mule deer, (western) whitetail, and elk with a Model 700 ADL beater that I bought at a gun show for $200. It is a MOA shooter with handloads and Remington Core-lokts. I have never been a .270 or 7mm fan until recently warming up to a 7mm Weatherby Magnum. I have four .308 bore rifles, each in a differnt cartridge. But don't let anyone tell you that a .270 is not super duper deer rifle.

I cannot attest to the knockdown power of the .300 Win mag, but can tell you from personal experience that the .35 Whelen is capable of taking all N. American game animals with the appropriate load at the proper range. I don't know how you measure knockdown power, but the .35 Whelen sure has put game on the ground as big as bull elk at out to 308 yards for me. Most deer and elk have been bang flops or nearly so. Dakotaman has some good tips above also.

You didn't skin Brent out of that Winchester did you?

2Poppa Where you been?

I don't think I want that image seared into my brain anytime soon.....

Good eye there, Sailor! To make a long story as short as possible, I entered the US Army at the request of my friends and neighbors via the Selective Service Board (draft) in 1969. Following infantry and airborne training, I had an exotic vacation to Southeast Asia and several other garden spots. I got out of the Army in 1978 and went back to school to complete a degree. Bored with civilian life, I tried to get back into the Army in an officer program but had no luck at that. I went in the Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer with a SpecWar option to be executed after my first sea tour in 1982. I could not pass the dive physical due to inner ear issues and problems with a knee, so EOD or Seal was off the table. I served the next 16 years on a frigate, three destroyers, a mine countermeasures ship, and various other staff jobs including the Sandbox until I retired from the USN in 1998. If I had known we were about to start another good scrap in the sandbox, I might have stayed a while. My wife of nearly 38 years keeps asking me when am I going to decide what I want to be when I grow up. And that there pilgrim is the rest of the story. It's your banner now! Carry it proudly! PS: Once a paratrooper, always a paratrooper! WMH

Never saw a 185 grain Corelokt. 180, 165, and 150 is all that I have seen. Federal 165 or 180 grain Barnes TSX or MRX hands down.

Good question! Maybe a little copy cat marketing?

Listen guys, no way that soft lead pellets or plastic rat shot caps can ruin rifling in a steel barrel. Either might foul the bore a little and require good solvent and brushing, which you should do anyways. As always, a dirty bore can trap moisture and turn residue into corrosion. Keep 'em clean and shoot often!

Any metal to mettle contact will cause wear over time. Use a good bore guide to prevent damage to the crown or chamber throat. A coated steel rod will not damage rifling. Wipe off any rod after each pass. Good tips above, too.

I can only speak for myself, but I have NEVER had one of my handloads misfire, period. I have had a couple of Hornady and PMC factory loads misfire, however. I load my own for the cartridges that are either very expensive or not available with the bullet I wish to shoot. 7mm Weatherby and .358 Winchester come to mind immediately. I also don't load for my .30-06 for hunting loads because I found a perfect load that shoots extemely well. I do handload those for practice. Same for my .35 Whelen. Misfires in handloads are usually caused by improper headspace or improperly seated primers. Once in a while you might get a bad primer.

You stand tall, Sailor! We are proud of you!

I have shot Winchester factory ammo in my .358 Winchester before I started handloading, but mostly shot Remington factory loads in other rifles. I have two Remington rifles, three Savages, two Weatherby's, and 2 Ruger's. Just sold the only Winchester I owned, but it is a real shooter too. I have never owned a Winchester shotgun, only Remington and S&W. I like Winchester Silvertip revolver ammo for .38 Spl +P. I use lots of Winchester brass for handloading - good stuff. I don't care for Remington steel shot, but I like Winchester Dry-Lok steel.

hengst We are hunting the Craig area during 2nd Combined Rifle season again this year. It's GAME ON! from now until October! No pronghorn, however. :-(

Black Lab. Matter of fact, he's outside right now (10:00 PM) barking at coyotes keeping them run off he property. GOOD DOG! He'll get a little milk when he comes back in, too.

The 0.020" of bullet diameter is not the issue. Neither is velocity. Bullet weight is almost double with a 100 gr .243 versus a 55 gr .223 centerfire. Weight equals mass and mass plus velocity equals penetration. Most states require an expanding bullet for good reason. Full metal jackets penetrate well, but don't usually cause enough vital organ damage to quickly dispatch game animals. There are plenty of folks on here that just love the .243 and a few that are vocal proponents of teh .223 Rem or .22-250 as a deer cartridge. I am not among either group. I am not fond of the .243 and am of the opinion that the .223 caliber is not an adequate deer cartridge. We have heard all the arguments for and against way too many times. I'm just glad that .223's are not allowed in the states that I hunt in so I don't have to deal with the issue. You'll just have to make up your own mind about it. Hopefully you won't leave a trail of wounded suffering deer in your wake.

shane I think every caliber that a Savage 99 has been made in is a great deer gun, except maybe the .22 high Power and the .410 shotgun combo barrel model. The three that we have are all good shooters: .300 Savage, .308 Win, and .358 Winchester. Ww591, Just an editorial comment on your post. I agree with your statement: "People who have never shot a 7mm mag will tell you about how its way too much power and it will blow the deer in half...". Many (not all) of the folks who bash 7mm magnums either have a) Never used one extensively, b) Never fired one, c) Have no idea what they are yacking about, or d) All of the above a, b, & c. For the best all around deer killer it might be a close race between a .30-30 and F-150! LOL

The brass is nominally the same, but often needs neck sizing and trimming to length before loading. Winchester & Remington brass is good. Norma and Lapua is a little better quality, but more expensive.

That is pretty obvious to me.

Maybe the school bus for some 3 R's! LOL

Why did the web weenies delete that post?

By Jove, that must have been Bill and Hillary's secret! Sure wasn't his brains or her looks. Ha

Git 'er done, son. We're with you in spirit, if not in person! WMH

Never been on a moose hunt, but always have string and a zip tie to tie on the tag. You said shoe string, not boot lace?

First line in the book..."Call me Ishmael", one of the most famous lines in American literature. I should re-read Moby Dick soon.

Good one!

B

Not a Mossberg shotgun fan, so I doubt that I would buy their rifles either. Might check to see the availability of mounts and such forthe Mossberg. Everybody makes stuff for Savage/Stevens rifles. But, like the man said, fit and feel is something you must consider. Good luck!

I've was getting by with a Remington 700 ADL in .308 Win for years until I got a .257 Roberts among my current crop of rifles. I have owned 4 rifles in that caliber and everyone was a shooter: A Savage 110 that my pastor has now, a Remington 722 that I sold to a collector, a Winchester M-70 that I just sold, and a 200th Year of American Liberyy edition Ruger Model 77 that I gto from a hunting buddy that I will keep. I'm not big on rifles smaller than .25 caliber for hunting, but that's just me. I think all the advice from the others above is pretty good.

You been reading Foxworthy? NOW we know why out esteemed schizophreniac lives in NW Arkansas! Good one HunterDue.

A) John Moses Browning. Also worked with FN folks and improved the design that became the Browning Hi-Power.

All for the death penalty in heinous cases.

Say him post the other day. He's around somewhere.

For you and your namesake, I would postulate about 125 yards or so.

Sack it up!

Anything from a .22LR to .505 Jeffrey will do.

Shooting a man's dog just because he was chasing something, which is a dog's nature, is plain sick bordering on mental illness. Packs of feral dogs is another matter. Shoot my dog and I'll give you a cure for your terminal illness.

40+ years

Ducks Unlimited, Life Member NRA, and RMEF, not REMF like some on here! (Sorry, I could not resist!)

We're gonna fix that this year! (Fingers crossed)

Finish details only. Same design, same everything. The Wingmaster is just a deluxe model. You will pay more for the extra machining and polishing steps and the nicer wood finish. Paint sticks to the Express better! LOL

Good luck with Hornady. I have not had much accuracy success, but some shoot everything so well.

"Brave, BACK!" You waterfowlers would understand...

As I have posted before, when I only owned one rifle, it was a Remington 700 in .308 Win. I hunted elk, deer, bears (before the peace treaty), etc with it. I know a bunch of folks that still use the .308 exclusively and will usually reply "Why?" if you ask them about getting another rifle. If I could only keep one rifle, it would be a hard choice between that one and my .30-06.

The aroma of an open intestine will usually motivate a more careful shot placement next time and more attention to detail while wielding the gutting knife! LOL Suck it up boys!

I'll have to stir the pile and state boldly once again that the .243 Winchester is the finest little boy's and ladies rifle ever made regardless of manufacture.

Mossberg forearms are notorious for breaking. Another reason I would never own another one. Extractors/springs are weak also. Shoot as much as we do and you'll see. I see several guys every year hunting ducks without a forearm on the mossturds. I like the safety on Mossbergs and not much else.

Moishe Huh? What'd you say? Marlin Man Seriously, wear your hearing protection at all times when shooting. The few, if ever, times you might have to use a handgun in the real deal won't affect your hearing. During practice, I wear foam earplugs and quality shooting ear muffs. I have enough hearing loss already.

Sorry about your loss. It is never easy to lose a good friend or loved one. The grieving process is different for most of us, so there is no stock answer to making it easier. Just be thankful for the time you had and remember the great times you had.

What caliber are you thinking about? Some Mauser 98 actions are not strong enough for some loads. I would take a look at E.R. Shaw, Weatherby, Remington Custom Shop, and Montana Rifle and customize one of their production-type rifles. Since it is a custom job you are after, it's hard to say. "libertyfirst" I have fed my Remington 700's sideways, upside down, and backwards to test then and they feed everytime for me.

Don't get the wood stock model. Prone to splitting for some reason. Two friends have split their foregrips lately. Hard to find a replacement.

Hardly any fasteners that you will find at the home improvement stores or general hardware shops are fine machine thread or properly heat treated. Go to e-gunparts.com or your local gunsmith.

Federal Speed-Shok and Winchester Dry-Lok No. 1, 2, BB, BBB steel.

Selling If it is a .300 Savage in good condition with no cracks in the stock, rotary magazine (not detachable clip magazine), good case coloring on the lever, etc., it would bring $400 minimum. If in a more rare caliber like .250-3000 Savage, .284 Winchester, it could bring up to about a grand. Like MLH said, lots of variables for that model's value. Hang on to it unless you really need to sell it as they seem to increase in value every year. MLH You can't have my .358 Win Model 99! It is a 99F, lever safety, Monte Carlo butt stock, early '60's production, aftermarket Lyman aperture sight. Got it for a real bargain price of $275 about 7 years ago.

God Bless our troops!

I use a Stoney Point Explorer monopod that doubles as a walking stick and camera/spotter platform as well as a shooting stick. I like its multi-purpose utility. I suppose bipods are ok if they suit your purpose, not mine.

As I have posted before, one of our elk group shoots a .270WSM A-Bolt and it kills elk and deer just fine. It does have quite a bit of blast, much like a 7mm Rem mag. I only shot it twice and the recoil did not seem bad to me. Stock design and recoil pads have a lot to do with felt recoil. The hardest kicking rifle I ever shot was a Winchester M70 .338 Win mag with a synthetic stock. That dude went back to the dealer on trade! The recoil was more than I wanted to tolerate. I hear others bitching about the recoil of the Weatherby magnums all the time. My 7mm Weatherby Magnum Mark V kicks no more than my .30-06 to me. If you are going to shoot a magnum, might as well be a real Weatherby Magnum, eh 2Poppa?

Bee And I thought that was to keep out of the high BS on here.....LOL SH

I use a non-scoped Savage 99 hunting timber where most shot aer under a hundred yards. One has an aperture sight and the other one needs one!

Another tactic you might use is to watch the flock with your binoculars and see which way they are marching in their feeding. Then position yourself in the direction they are headed and wait for them to come closer to you. You might also put the sneak on them as close as possible on the downwind side of the flock. Birds joining will usually approach into the wind, barring other factors disturbing them. Good luck!

I like Winchester Dry-Lok steel loads and shoot them a lot. I handload most of my rifle ammo, so don't count on me for your next meal!

Yeah, all hat, no cattle....

Hunter Education courses generally stress that autoloaders and lever actions are not the best action types for new hunters and shooters. Pump shotguns and bolt rifles are inherently safer and less complicated to operate safely. Price is generally lower also. I have been hunting 50 + years and I still hunt about 50-50 with autoloading and pump shotguns even today. Saw a couple of guys cussing and struggling to fix some malfunctions (including my son) on Sunday. So as not to offend anyone's brand loyalty and family heritage, I will just state that they were not Remington pump guns.

Must be RCBS.

Take more time to deer hunt after elk season is over. Tough to do when the black dawg is gnawing at my leg wanting to go retrieve some geese and ducks.

Any of the aftermarket choke tubes that have the little tabs or "ears" inside to strip or retard the wad defeats the purpose of the Black Cloud wad design. Patternmaster and others make tubes designed for BC loads. Or just use the smooth tubes that came with your gun and try it.

Neither are man-stoppers, but both are very deadly on homo sapiens. A double tap from a .32 ACP hollow point or Hydroschock or similar will dispatch an opponent. A bigger faster bullet is usually "better", but not necessarily required.

Nah, nobody would kidnap a smelly old fisherman crazy enough to sit on a slab of ice.

Hope we helped you narrow it down some. There are sometimes too many choices! For proven performance, I would select the Barnes TSX or TBBC. The GMX is new and similar to the Barnes TTSX and I have ended my quest to ever use Hornady factory loads again.

I have the Extended Range ported c/t for my 870 Super magnum 3 1/2 inch 12 ga. Does not pattern woth beans with Black Cloud shells. Good with most other large steel shot.

I hear what you are saying, but I don't have pictures of every animal or experience in digital format either. I also don't want to post a whole bunch of personal info on the site either. Taking pictures of my mounts or rifles isn't much proof of anything since I could put any old picture on the board. I'm with Sourdough Dave. I don't owe anyone proof of squat. People who know me know the truth. The rest can take it for what it's worth or ignore it. JMHO

Federal Gold is a match target bullet not designed for hunting. Check the Federal Cartridge website for recommendations concerning that bullet. Match bullets do not generally have controlled expansion features and will either stay together and just punch a clean hole or fragment and not give the desired penetration. Check the ammo manufacturer's websites and catalogs. Most have excellent recommendations for cartridge use. FMJ's and match bullets are not designed for hunting. Good luck!

Looks like someone has an alter ego issue and a new "handle". Wonder who the Crusty OL NCO might be with his one shining star? LMAO Get a life!

If that bullet went through the heart, she was not going far. But you don't know that when they take off! If they are still on their feet, I'm still shooting too! The only elk or deer I ever lost was from a shoulder (?) hit that I was so confident of that I failed to follow up with another shot while he was still in range. Never again......

Is this somehow related to Titan ICBM's, shooting ranges, or hunting pachyderms?

Good outfit. I have bought stuff from them and Mid South Shooters Supply with no prolems. I don't buy much from Cabela's since they opened stores in the state and now hav to pay sales tax AND shipping. No thanks. Midway USA ia also very good.

Hornady factory ammo is crap. Their bullet components other than the Interbond are OK.

What? No Clay Cooper wisdom on the .25-06? Quick, check the VA Hospital!

That's some rocket science right there.

dangerousgame Where in the world do you get your outrageous B.S.? You won't outrun a bobcat nor a coyote! Neither are "big game"as you call them, only varmints! LOL How old are you? 13? You are as full of it as a Christmas goose!

Happened to me yesterday too, Skeeb Gremlins.....

Think Weatherby

I had some old stock Federal Steel BB's fail to feed due to bulging shot through the side of the hull near the crimp. They just went in the chamber with good rounds in the magazine of my autoloader.

I'm not Clay Cooper ( I thank the Lord for that!), but I will give you my two cents worth on Hornady factory loaded ammunition. In my experience and personal observations, the Hornady ammo is substandard. It shoots poorly in two of my rifles and two of my hunting friends stopped using it because of accuracy issues. They both had used it for years. I had 2 misfires out of a box of Light Magnum 30-06 and 1 from a .257 Roberts load. I assure you there was nothing wrong with either rifle. I think it was due to improper headspace of the brass. Their brass is crappy and dirty looking as well. Hornady makes good bullets for reloading, but I will never buy their loaded ammo again, regardless of how much advertising they do or magazine articles they "sponsor", or bullhockey is written on here. A Federal loaded Barnes Triple Shock or Nosler Partition will get 'er done. Remington's Bonded Core Lokt Ultra or Swift Scirocco are good too.

I hunted elk with a .308 Win when I was even more destitute than I am today. With the fine bullets available today, it is fine. From what I have heard, a moose is not as tough to kill as an elk. Just keep your shots inside the 300 yard line and you will have a better chance of hitting vitals and all will drop dead if you take out heart or lungs.

Well Happy, it sure gets harder every year. Ever since my right knee has gone bad, it has been more of a challenge. I used to run 1.5 miles 3 days a week and walk one to two miles with the dogs most other days. One of my challenges has been to keep my weight down. I'm 6'5 (last time I checked) and weighed 242 this morning. My goal is 220 by July and 210 by November. My regimen now is walking 2 miles a day with my dogs, 30 minutes on the treadmill uphill mode, light situps and pushups. With the pushups, start doing them with hands on the wall or kitchen counter gradually placing your hands lower towards the horizontal as reps increase over time. I had a nasty fall on the ice before Christmas and am just getting back on the drill after gaining 10 pounds since hunting season. I quit smoking 15 years ago and pretty much leave the booze alone anymore, although I still enjoy a drink of good scotch or Tennessee sour mash whiskey once in a while. I leave the fast food alone except in a pinch and try to eat whole foods and organic when I can. I seem to feel much better that way. This old paratrooper ain't what he used to be either.

I just have to give the PC "green" answer here, since the intruder is likely to be a liberal, Obama-supporting scumbag. I would not want him to be subjected to any of the toxic lead that his ilk want to ban or to a dog bite that might send him to the Emergency Room for treatment at taxpayer expense. Instead, I would dose him with 12 gauge 3" magnum, 1 3/8 ounce load of steel shot BB's delivered from the slug barrel of my 870.

Sharkfin LMAO

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

They are both fine scopes. Get the one you like best and go practice. I am somewhat apprehensive about Leupold's quality now seeing how many models and numbers of scopes that the make annually, but I own a slew of theem with no complaints so far.

Schmidt and Bender scopes are way above Leupold in another class altogether.

Similar to a Crusty Old NCO, but real Navy!

the cowboy Maybe they should have joined something less stressful like the ......never mind.

Clay As Beekeeper's radio host quoted, "My big old butt!" I have to call you on that one. A 175 Nosler Partition has a BC of .519 and when launched at 2,860 fps (factory load velocity data) MV, it is moving 1,299 fps at 1,000 yards and drops -313 inches from a 200 yard zero. Your .30-06 190 gr example is only moving 1,128 fps at 1,000 yards with your Hornady BT (BC .491) with a MV of 2,700 fps and it drops -377 inches at that range. You will have to "push" your MV over 2,950 with the .30-06 to catch up with that 7mm RM load, way the heck over any loads I've seen for the .30-06. That is a lot of pixie dust. Show me the money!

Just like a headache, you don't miss it when it's gone.

Aren't most of the new Chevy trucks made in Mexico? The one I saw sitting in front of Costco was...

Yes, the Democrats are firmly in control of the State government and Seattle metro area is just as liberal as San Francisco! I think there are more "partners" there than anywhere else on the Left Coast. Keep in mind that we have had 7 police officers gunned down in the last 3 months, hence the knee jerk reaction.

.45 ACP, .38 Special SWC, 81mm Mortar, 4.2" Mortar, 5"-54 Naval Gun, 105 mm Howitzer, 16" Naval Gun, USS Missouri BB-63 to name a few. Got to have the angle of light just right for pistol rounds.

That is a often used catch phrase in the toothless redneck vocabulary...

Up A good deer will show even with the gate up! LOL

My son has 2 and he seems to have more trouble with them with extracting and feeding than I do with my remington and S&W.

There ain't a porker out there taht can't be whacked by a 7mm Barnes TSX or banded Solid!

The ethical hunt challenge to be enjoyed is relative to the method and weapon used. Both stalking close nad long range shooting have their places. Enjoy the hunt and take ethical shots within the capabilities of your weapon and your personal skills and all will be good!

Can you qualify that statement, please? LMAO

Del Happy Birthday again! Somebody better come up with a box call pretty soon.....or an E.R. Shaw A good whirl through "Tiger Land" at Fort Polk, LA circa 1968 might do world's of good....

First name Alvin......

Goodbye, farewell, Auf Weidersehen, adieu, Adios, cya ......

Why don't you try not setting skunks on fire? Most folks ignore dumb posts and don't pay much attention until you have earned some respect. Try it, you'll like it.

Deer used to eat everything in our garden and the shrubery until I got my Lab. Now deer won't come near. Has nothing to do with seeing dogs or chasing. It's all about the scent.

The only thing you should do is call 911 and be prepared for your neighbor to put you on his $h1t list for calling the cops.

Good idea, Skeeb. Haven't seen you for a while. +1

tennesseedeerhunter Why don't you try sharing some of your vast knowledge of the outdoors and shooting with the rest of us. That is why most of us are here; to share and to learn, not points or whatever. Hang in there! Some of the young guys on here started out sideways and sort of matured instead of firing off stuff that a simple Google search would answer. I know you can find Google, Bing, or your state's fish and wildlife department's website if you can find this one!

The best advice is to take her to the gun shop and let her try mounting the shotgun for length of pull and balance. The very best advice is to buy a popular model with good resale and just "loan" it to her when you go shooting. Because when you break up or she loses interest in shooting, you can sell or trade the gun. Hard to do that when she keeps the "gift". Oh, I know that won't happen to you, but stranger things have happened! LOL Sometimes that "I do" changes to " No you can't"

Maybe it was that ham and cheese sandwich in your pocket that they were after! LOL

Daisy pump action BB gun!

I agree. Somewhere out there, there are several villages missing their idiots. I hope they reclaim them soon. If ignored, the little trolls will usually go away.

You don't have to delete anything, just go away and nobody will ever know the difference.

Not a fish, just an idiot....

Backstraps in the pan!

Gunshot wounds are not pain free I assure you. Being sliced with something very sharp is not so painful for a little while.

I guess all the experts who write the columns for F&S, OL, and such are not as smart as they thought they were.

If your sister wants to know, why don't you explain it if you know what one is? If you don't know what a coyote is , please say so. That is nothing to be ashamed of. I never knew what one was until I moved out West either. Only Wile E. on Roadrunner cartoons! LOL Just be up front with no games and excuses.

Might as well have the best.... C.C. Filson Co. , Seattle Washington 1897

He may be known for many things, but I'm betting that "Great" won't be one of them....

Nah, all the time they spend posting dumb stuff on here is time not spent mucking up something somewhere else!

No way. Show me the birth certificate not the teleprompter.

Don't watch too much Larry the Cable Guy. You might bump into Bill Engval and get "Your Sign".

Here's youe sign!

Remington 700 in .308 Win. Now, .30-06 Weatherby Mk V.

Ditto on huntnow's comment.

Well, all I can add is that like most children, the kiddy offenders will lose interest when the newest game or blog comes around and leve the forum for it's intended purpose. Thank goodness for short attention spans!

Biologically there is no difference, the Black Labs don't show dirt as bad!

I have a .358 Winchester and the recoil is not exactly "mild" for a short action cartridge, even with 200 grain bullets. "Mild" compared to a .338 Win Mag maybe. As a matter of fact, Chuck Hawk's Rifle recoil table listthe .338 Fed 210 gr at 20.9 ftlbs and the .358 Win with 200 gr at 21.9 ftlbs, both more than the 7MM Weatherby Magnum and the .30-06 Spfld. Check it out: http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

Almost every one of my long guns is stored in a Gun Sock or Sackup brand silicone impregnated sock case (inside the gunsafe). Cuts down on nicks and dings.

There are points? Can I redeeem them for Frequent Flyer Miles?

I build paper airplanes to pay the bills.