THE PRONGHORN ANTELOPE is not the most difficult of beasts to hunt, but there is an increasingly widespread misconception that taking one involves shooting at distances just short of an Olympic marathon course. You can do this if you wish. You can even call it hunting if you want to; it's still a free country…sort of. But the facts are much different.
No goats this year on the wall , saw one that had a harem protecting his flanks. Never got closer than 500 yardsd without them moving on, and moving quicly too. He was a real trophy, 18 inch I reckoned. and quite a spread. The 250 put some hurt on the coyotes in the area though. With the bipod, a 6-24 Grand Slam scope we were able to take them out to 550 yards.
In the beginning (1990), there was Brian Sipe, and he dwelt in the town of Kalispell in the land of Montana, and he labored as a gunsmith. And then sayeth he, “I could use a good source of barrels, so I might as well make my own,” and the people who used them made a joyful noise, but yea, it was not enough, for there was a shortage of good, controlled-feed actions abroad in the land, so once again did Sipe do it himself, and thus the Model 1999 action came to be. And in that year of 19 and 99 was born the Montana Rifle Co.
Save your cash for hunting the species and time to get in the field. Buy a Savage Model 16 with the accustock and accutrigeer in one of the calibers they offer. Also the Howa made Weatherby Vanguard is a real working man's rifle as well. I have one in 300 WSM , the sub MOA model that shoots with my Remington 40X for five shot groups at 200 yards. Neither my Savage model 16 or the Weatherby cost me over $400. so I could spend a bit more on optics; the Leupold European scopes, to get a stiffer, 30 MM tube on top of theses rifles. Leupold also provided a customized mil dot reticle on the 4-12x40 Euro scope for $75 plus shipping and handling. A grat combo that provides me confidence to extend my range to 400-500 yards when coupled with my proven handloads and a haris bi pod. My handloads are RL 22, 190 grain Hornady SST's ,and Federal nickle brass.
My father could reach into the pocket of his wool pants and pull out a wooden match, already lit. His trick, magic to a small boy, remains one of the most indelible images I have of nights around the campfire. Today, match light has flickered out in favor of the soulless flame of the butane lighter, but a simple stick of wood with a certain mix of chemicals in the head remains one of the most practical tools for starting fire. Nothing else has saved as many lives of those who desperately needed a flame to fend off the cold.
Dryer lint balled up and coated liberally with vasiline makes grea tinder. Light, can double as a swab to treat a cut, and will burn for several minutes. I also have used the REI Stormproof matches. I really like the idea of making the strike any where waterproof with my wifes clear nail polish. I use her remover to clean scope ring screws to make them remain tight in the application and then coatthe heads of screws with polish to keep them clean and tight on the go forward.
THE PRONGHORN ANTELOPE is not the most difficult of beasts to hunt, but there is an increasingly widespread misconception that taking one involves shooting at distances just short of an Olympic marathon course. You can do this if you wish. You can even call it hunting if you want to; it's still a free country…sort of. But the facts are much different.
I WILL BE TRYING OUT A NEW ROUND, A NEW RIFLE, SAVAGE MODEL 16 SS, IN SAVAGE 250-3000 ON ANTELOPE THIS YEAR. HANDLOADING 117 GRAIN HORNADY SST'S WITH 40.5 GRAINS OF H4350 EXT AND 3 SHOT GROUPS ARE NICKLE SIZED AT 100 YARDS AND SILVER DOLLAR SIZED AT 250. THIS SHOULD BE FUN. THIS ROUND WAS DEVELOPED IN EARLY 1900'S BY A BALLISTICIAN NAMED NEWTON, TO BE THE FIRST SMOKELESS PWDER CARTRIDGE TO HIT 3000 FPS. MINE CHRNOS SLIGHTLY HIGER THAN 3K, AND THE ACCUSTOCK ACCUTRIGGER COMBO MADE ME THINK THIS WOULD BE A WINNER. IT IS, LITTLE OR NO RECOIL AND VERY ACCURATE. HARRIS BI POD COMPLETES THE OUTFIT, ALONG WITH LEUPOLD QR MOUNTS, LEUPOLD EUROPEAN SCOPE (30 MM TUBE AND MIL DOT RETICLE) AND BUSHNELL 3200 ELITE WITH THEIR PROPRIETARY LONG DISTANCE RETICLE AS MY BACK UP SIGHTING SYSTEM.I FIGURED I AM ZEROED AT 250 YARDS SINCE IT SHOOTS 3.00 " HIGH AT 100 YDS. WILL LET YOU KNOW HOW I FARED
The movies have the Oscars; magazines have the ASME Awards. Every year, a panel of screeners and judges from the American Society of Magazine Editors meets at Columbia University to pick the best work in 20 different categories—Best Design, photography, essay, reporting, etc. The awards are called Ellies, because the statuettes look a little like elephants, or spiders, depending on your world view. This year there were 1,707 entries in 20 categories from 350 magazines.
I have been a reader since the 50's and accolades and awards are long overdue. Ted Trueblood would be proud; keep up the hard work writting about the things we love and the challenges that we can take in the fields and streams of this great country.
My 1949 Pre 64 Winchester in 270 is wearing a Accurate Innovations stock these days to take advantage of their full stock metal bedding system and laminate like stok make up. The rifle looks and shoots great, it is the rifle I took the Mulie in the accompanying picture. I do not think in my taste or opion I can find a better bolt action rifle. It is hefty, but helps reduce felt recoil and increases accuracy IMHO. I like the back up iron sights. The bolt movement is smooth, the extractor has never failed and the trigger is crisp with no creep or over travel. It is my favorite hunting rifle and I own several others,i,e, Weatherby, Browning, Kimber ,Remington, Ruger, Savage, Sako, Stevens and Steyer.They are fine shooters but the pre 64 Winchester Model 70 Bolt action is special to my shooting preferences.
In 1965 I worked up my first handload, took myself to the range, and sat cowering behind the rifle for five minutes before I got the nerve to pull the trigger. I was convinced that I was about to splatter important parts of my person up and down the firing line.
Lee makes fine starter kits. I have RCBS, Lee, Redding, Hornady and Lyman products in my reloading room. I principally use a Lee Handloader press for most of my relaoding though I have other O frame and C frame type presses. For Bolt actions I principally use collet dies and brass fired in my rifles for relaoding or new brass for the hard to find 348 Win, 358 Win, and 7WSM. Hornady, Nosler, Sierra and Speer are my principal projectiles. I use Varget and Reloader powder and CCI primers when I can find them. I measure every round with a digital scale. I get very strong results by staying on the low to mid range of the recomended powder weights. I own several rel;oading manuals and compare their information along with subscribing to AMMOGUIDE. IMake sure you can have quiet and concentration is a must to relaod. Mistakes are not end of the wold. get a bullet puller and a little wasted powder on the floor is no big deal. Keep your area neat and clean. I use a plastic disposable (very thin) vegtable cutting board to place under my clamped down equopment that keeps things neat and cleans up easy.
What the heck is going on with primers. I do not get this hoarding or cut back in manufacture. Feels and smells like conspiracy stuff.
I believe the picture is real. It is dead night, black out and deer can be walked up on at night in those conditions. I know, I was coming out of a tree stand one evening, as quiet as I could possibly move,on a dirt path, rubber bottom pacs, wool clothes,so as not to spook any game that may be heading to or from bedding area/feeding spot, keep pressure off for another day's hunt, etc. I walked up on a buck, could not and did see him, and when he snorted he could not have ben more than 5 (five) feet in front of me and went crashing through the ticket to my right. I stopped dead in my tracks, got out my red beame and notivced his last tracks were about 4 feeet from me, showing a sharp weight shift (to jump) and based on the tracks we had been heading the same diretion. Honestly, I do not know who was more startled, but I know who ran off first to get away.
Knowledgeable gun salesmen are kind of rare. I know several, but it seems like bozos outnumber the good guys.
For instance, recently I found a nice Valmet O/U in the used gun aisle of a large retailer. It was a 12 gauge, and its 26-inch barrels ruled it out for me, but Valmets are neat guns, made in Finland and with the same sliding top latch action as a Krieghoff. I’ve heard them called “the poor man’s K-80” and as I am relatively poor and need a K-80, I was intrigued.
We had a Bass Pro open up in our area a little over three years ago. I thought I might find a part time gig a Bass pro in the firearm dept an enjoyable way to spend 20-25 hours per week. I met with a gentleman that was going to be the department manager. I explained to him I am the coordinator for and teach Hunter Ed in SW Florida, am a NRA Certified coach in two disciplines, NRA instructor in 12 other disciplines and worked part time winters and full time summers helping clean, restore, stock, etc. in a gunsmith shop in Cincinnati the 60's,shot skeet and broke bread for 20 years with a five time world champion (lots of stories) and worked retail through college in various Hardeware stores that were better stocked for repair and replace than any home Depot, Lowes, etc. and sold firearms in those days. The interviewer became edgy when he found out that I had experience and when I asked questions about their philosphy on assisting customers, such as fitting fireams, or educating customers on rifle actions, ammunition, etc.he lost interest in the interview. I do not shop there and support our local gunsmiths instead. I tell the same thing to all my HE students, of which their were about 400 last year, and probably 1000 over past three years. One of the local gunsmiths recently called and thanked me for the referrals after one of my Hunter Ed classes. I doubt that would have ever happened from any of the big box stores. There is a lot of overhead in those places and they are not the bastions of good or reliable outdoor information as they would have you believe.
In response to relaoding supplies at a low point, try supporting your local gun shop or gun shows. I have been able to find reloading supplies at both as of last week.
Welcome to Field & Stream
Search
jmeerpohl
Comments
Choosing the Right Rifle for Pronghorn Antelope14
THE PRONGHORN ANTELOPE is not the most difficult of beasts to hunt, but there is an increasingly widespread misconception that taking one involves shooting at distances just short of an Olympic marathon course. You can do this if you wish. You can even call it hunting if you want to; it's still a free country…sort of. But the facts are much different.
No goats this year on the wall , saw one that had a harem protecting his flanks. Never got closer than 500 yardsd without them moving on, and moving quicly too. He was a real trophy, 18 inch I reckoned. and quite a spread. The 250 put some hurt on the coyotes in the area though. With the bipod, a 6-24 Grand Slam scope we were able to take them out to 550 yards.
A Top-Notch Working Rifle: David Petzal Reviews the Montana Rifle Company Model 1999 Ridgeline43
In the beginning (1990), there was Brian Sipe, and he dwelt in the town of Kalispell in the land of Montana, and he labored as a gunsmith. And then sayeth he, “I could use a good source of barrels, so I might as well make my own,” and the people who used them made a joyful noise, but yea, it was not enough, for there was a shortage of good, controlled-feed actions abroad in the land, so once again did Sipe do it himself, and thus the Model 1999 action came to be. And in that year of 19 and 99 was born the Montana Rifle Co.
Save your cash for hunting the species and time to get in the field. Buy a Savage Model 16 with the accustock and accutrigeer in one of the calibers they offer. Also the Howa made Weatherby Vanguard is a real working man's rifle as well. I have one in 300 WSM , the sub MOA model that shoots with my Remington 40X for five shot groups at 200 yards. Neither my Savage model 16 or the Weatherby cost me over $400. so I could spend a bit more on optics; the Leupold European scopes, to get a stiffer, 30 MM tube on top of theses rifles. Leupold also provided a customized mil dot reticle on the 4-12x40 Euro scope for $75 plus shipping and handling. A grat combo that provides me confidence to extend my range to 400-500 yards when coupled with my proven handloads and a haris bi pod. My handloads are RL 22, 190 grain Hornady SST's ,and Federal nickle brass.
Strike Anywhere: The Best Matches for Survival Situations26
My father could reach into the pocket of his wool pants and pull out a wooden match, already lit. His trick, magic to a small boy, remains one of the most indelible images I have of nights around the campfire. Today, match light has flickered out in favor of the soulless flame of the butane lighter, but a simple stick of wood with a certain mix of chemicals in the head remains one of the most practical tools for starting fire. Nothing else has saved as many lives of those who desperately needed a flame to fend off the cold.
Dryer lint balled up and coated liberally with vasiline makes grea tinder. Light, can double as a swab to treat a cut, and will burn for several minutes. I also have used the REI Stormproof matches. I really like the idea of making the strike any where waterproof with my wifes clear nail polish. I use her remover to clean scope ring screws to make them remain tight in the application and then coatthe heads of screws with polish to keep them clean and tight on the go forward.
Choosing the Right Rifle for Pronghorn Antelope14
THE PRONGHORN ANTELOPE is not the most difficult of beasts to hunt, but there is an increasingly widespread misconception that taking one involves shooting at distances just short of an Olympic marathon course. You can do this if you wish. You can even call it hunting if you want to; it's still a free country…sort of. But the facts are much different.
I WILL BE TRYING OUT A NEW ROUND, A NEW RIFLE, SAVAGE MODEL 16 SS, IN SAVAGE 250-3000 ON ANTELOPE THIS YEAR. HANDLOADING 117 GRAIN HORNADY SST'S WITH 40.5 GRAINS OF H4350 EXT AND 3 SHOT GROUPS ARE NICKLE SIZED AT 100 YARDS AND SILVER DOLLAR SIZED AT 250. THIS SHOULD BE FUN. THIS ROUND WAS DEVELOPED IN EARLY 1900'S BY A BALLISTICIAN NAMED NEWTON, TO BE THE FIRST SMOKELESS PWDER CARTRIDGE TO HIT 3000 FPS. MINE CHRNOS SLIGHTLY HIGER THAN 3K, AND THE ACCUSTOCK ACCUTRIGGER COMBO MADE ME THINK THIS WOULD BE A WINNER. IT IS, LITTLE OR NO RECOIL AND VERY ACCURATE. HARRIS BI POD COMPLETES THE OUTFIT, ALONG WITH LEUPOLD QR MOUNTS, LEUPOLD EUROPEAN SCOPE (30 MM TUBE AND MIL DOT RETICLE) AND BUSHNELL 3200 ELITE WITH THEIR PROPRIETARY LONG DISTANCE RETICLE AS MY BACK UP SIGHTING SYSTEM.I FIGURED I AM ZEROED AT 250 YARDS SINCE IT SHOOTS 3.00 " HIGH AT 100 YDS. WILL LET YOU KNOW HOW I FARED
Petzal: At Long Last43
The movies have the Oscars; magazines have the ASME Awards. Every year, a panel of screeners and judges from the American Society of Magazine Editors meets at Columbia University to pick the best work in 20 different categories—Best Design, photography, essay, reporting, etc. The awards are called Ellies, because the statuettes look a little like elephants, or spiders, depending on your world view. This year there were 1,707 entries in 20 categories from 350 magazines.
I have been a reader since the 50's and accolades and awards are long overdue. Ted Trueblood would be proud; keep up the hard work writting about the things we love and the challenges that we can take in the fields and streams of this great country.
The 50 Best Guns Ever Made57
My 1949 Pre 64 Winchester in 270 is wearing a Accurate Innovations stock these days to take advantage of their full stock metal bedding system and laminate like stok make up. The rifle looks and shoots great, it is the rifle I took the Mulie in the accompanying picture. I do not think in my taste or opion I can find a better bolt action rifle. It is hefty, but helps reduce felt recoil and increases accuracy IMHO. I like the back up iron sights. The bolt movement is smooth, the extractor has never failed and the trigger is crisp with no creep or over travel. It is my favorite hunting rifle and I own several others,i,e, Weatherby, Browning, Kimber ,Remington, Ruger, Savage, Sako, Stevens and Steyer.They are fine shooters but the pre 64 Winchester Model 70 Bolt action is special to my shooting preferences.
How Handloading Can Improve Your Love Life75
In 1965 I worked up my first handload, took myself to the range, and sat cowering behind the rifle for five minutes before I got the nerve to pull the trigger. I was convinced that I was about to splatter important parts of my person up and down the firing line.
Lee makes fine starter kits. I have RCBS, Lee, Redding, Hornady and Lyman products in my reloading room. I principally use a Lee Handloader press for most of my relaoding though I have other O frame and C frame type presses. For Bolt actions I principally use collet dies and brass fired in my rifles for relaoding or new brass for the hard to find 348 Win, 358 Win, and 7WSM. Hornady, Nosler, Sierra and Speer are my principal projectiles. I use Varget and Reloader powder and CCI primers when I can find them. I measure every round with a digital scale. I get very strong results by staying on the low to mid range of the recomended powder weights. I own several rel;oading manuals and compare their information along with subscribing to AMMOGUIDE. IMake sure you can have quiet and concentration is a must to relaod. Mistakes are not end of the wold. get a bullet puller and a little wasted powder on the floor is no big deal. Keep your area neat and clean. I use a plastic disposable (very thin) vegtable cutting board to place under my clamped down equopment that keeps things neat and cleans up easy. What the heck is going on with primers. I do not get this hoarding or cut back in manufacture. Feels and smells like conspiracy stuff.
Dead Deer Walking?43
I believe the picture is real. It is dead night, black out and deer can be walked up on at night in those conditions. I know, I was coming out of a tree stand one evening, as quiet as I could possibly move,on a dirt path, rubber bottom pacs, wool clothes,so as not to spook any game that may be heading to or from bedding area/feeding spot, keep pressure off for another day's hunt, etc. I walked up on a buck, could not and did see him, and when he snorted he could not have ben more than 5 (five) feet in front of me and went crashing through the ticket to my right. I stopped dead in my tracks, got out my red beame and notivced his last tracks were about 4 feeet from me, showing a sharp weight shift (to jump) and based on the tracks we had been heading the same diretion. Honestly, I do not know who was more startled, but I know who ran off first to get away.
Bourjaily: A Good Gun Salesman is Hard To Find104
Knowledgeable gun salesmen are kind of rare. I know several, but it seems like bozos outnumber the good guys.
For instance, recently I found a nice Valmet O/U in the used gun aisle of a large retailer. It was a 12 gauge, and its 26-inch barrels ruled it out for me, but Valmets are neat guns, made in Finland and with the same sliding top latch action as a Krieghoff. I’ve heard them called “the poor man’s K-80” and as I am relatively poor and need a K-80, I was intrigued.
We had a Bass Pro open up in our area a little over three years ago. I thought I might find a part time gig a Bass pro in the firearm dept an enjoyable way to spend 20-25 hours per week. I met with a gentleman that was going to be the department manager. I explained to him I am the coordinator for and teach Hunter Ed in SW Florida, am a NRA Certified coach in two disciplines, NRA instructor in 12 other disciplines and worked part time winters and full time summers helping clean, restore, stock, etc. in a gunsmith shop in Cincinnati the 60's,shot skeet and broke bread for 20 years with a five time world champion (lots of stories) and worked retail through college in various Hardeware stores that were better stocked for repair and replace than any home Depot, Lowes, etc. and sold firearms in those days. The interviewer became edgy when he found out that I had experience and when I asked questions about their philosphy on assisting customers, such as fitting fireams, or educating customers on rifle actions, ammunition, etc.he lost interest in the interview. I do not shop there and support our local gunsmiths instead. I tell the same thing to all my HE students, of which their were about 400 last year, and probably 1000 over past three years. One of the local gunsmiths recently called and thanked me for the referrals after one of my Hunter Ed classes. I doubt that would have ever happened from any of the big box stores. There is a lot of overhead in those places and they are not the bastions of good or reliable outdoor information as they would have you believe.
Further Testing on the Shaw Mark VII36
(or, ARE YOU SHAW IT'S THAT GOOD?)
In response to relaoding supplies at a low point, try supporting your local gun shop or gun shows. I have been able to find reloading supplies at both as of last week.
ADVERTISEMENT
Today on Field & Stream
Visit Our Sister Sites at Bonnier Corporation
FieldandStream.com is part of the Bonnier Outdoor Group Network
Copyright © 2009 Bonnier Corp. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.