The .458 Winchester Magnum – achieving any Hunting Demands – P1

The object of this series of articles is to demonstrate the truthfulness of the above proposition: The .458 Winchester Magnum is fully capable of achieving success in any dangerous game, big game, medium game or small game hunting situation with suitable handloads, and in the hands of capable and knowledgeable hunters. A “capable” hunter is one who can hit the target on the animal, and a “knowledgeable” hunter is one who knows the animal.

It’s not exactly “news” to say that the .458 Win Mag has been successfully used to harvest all of the mentioned classes of game. But the objection by some in using it for ALL classes is mostly due to two factors: 1) Perception and 2) Ignorance, which are twin sisters. We could switch their order.

Here’s something I wrote in Section One: BALLISTIC LOGIC of my manual on the .458 Winchester back in 2008:

While there are some extreme views regarding the usefulness of the 458 Winchester Magnum, from: “It’s too much gun for North American hunting”, to: “It’s not enough for Cape buffalo”, we should not be surprised if the majority of pundits want it pigeon-holed to specific use as a dangerous game cartridge only. “After all”, they opine, “for that reason it was created in ’56 by Winchester”. And that’s not the end of their history lesson either; they go on to remind us that the very first rifle chambered for it was the Winchester Model 70 “African”, no less. That should put an end to any further discussion of the matter!

However, I’m one among a growing number of patrons who thinks contrariwise.That’s not to say that I believe it will not do all that it was originally intended to do. That it works just fine in Africa and Alaska, few professionals will dispute, and they will certainly not get an argument from me. Still, some “authorities” strongly suggest that the 458 should be reserved to those places, and limited to specific species of unsafe game as well. When we have the nerve to pose a logical and so simple a question as “Why?”there’s a regurgitating of profound responses such as: “It’s too much gun”, or “It’s power isn’t needed”, or “Why use a cannon?”, or “A .30-06 will do the job just as well”, or “Why use a 458?” My comeback is: “Why not?” Such a slant represents a common attitude: “You’re out of your mind! How could you think differently than those who hold the accepted view of legendary opinion makers of the sport?” It seems too awkward to accept that big-bore enthusiasts — who make a thorough analysis of the 458 Winchester’s utility and put to the test the full range of it’s capabilities — will never pay dues to a club where members are expected to make a fuss over tired views only.

That the 458 Winchester should be reserved to guides and PHs in defence of their clients, as well as for clients who can afford safaris in Africa in pursuit of dangerous beasts, is perhaps the majority opinion. But let those who are negative of the wisdom of our thinking present first-hand evidence as to its unsoundness. This is not to suggest that other cartridges are not as good, or even better, for certain North American or African species under specific conditions, but simply that the 458 is more than adequate for any game animal, any where at any time when fittingly handloaded and used within a range of about 400 yards for certain non-dangerous species and any reasonable limit for the hazardous sort. But this analysis is not about judging the 458 on what others may or may not think — it doesn’t need that kind of defence, nor is it intimidated by a critical stance. It can stand scrutiny on its own!

That was a part of Section One: BALLISTIC LOGIC. Since then the manual was republished in 2011 and 2013 with updates and additions. I’m thinking of reviving the 2013 edition with more upgrades and additions since I ‘ve had a No.1 Ruger in .458 Winchester Magnum for the past two and one-half years. All of the previous material was based on comprehensive testing and use of a CZ 550.

Since the early times of the .458 Win, there have been considerable advancements and developments in both powders and bullets, as well as rethinking its aptitudes, that have allowed at least some of us to explore its full capabilities.

But the point of the current series is to demonstrate, once again, how versatile the 458 can really be. This will be through anecdotes and real-life testing, including some of the prodigious work by Dr. Ron Berry (RIP on the http://www.accuratereloading.com Big Bores forum).

Here is some of the latest he sent me, that can also be viewed at the Accurate Reloading Forums, Big Bores section and the .458 Winchester Magnum thread. (For a better view, right click on pics, then left click on “Open in new tab”, then left click on “new tab”.)

There’s a lot to study there. I’s about recent results for accurate, modest loads of a 400gr Speer fired from his Ruger No.1 in .458 Winchester Magnum using H4895 powder, Hornady cases and F215 primers. Following are the targets for the ten loads.

Notice the most accurate nodes, their muzzle velocity and grains of H4895:

I used the 400gr Speer bullet on my first black bear in the spring of 1989. That was from an 1895 Marlin in .45-70 at 1865 fps MV. Range to bear was 100 yards at a bait. Impact velocity was around 1535 fps. The two following pics represent those results:

The bullet hit just behind the right front shoulder and made an entrance cavity you could put your fist in. The trophy quality bear ran ten yards and piled up in some alders. I gave it another for insurance that wasn’t needed. That bullet was retrieved in offside armpit; the first was lost when the innards were removed in darkness.

The bullet retained 90.5% of original weight. It’s a soft bullet, so be cautious about its use. But it should be fine on game not more than 350 lbs depending on MV and impact speed.

Since my own .458 Win is a Ruger No.1, I should be able to duplicate Ron’s results — or come close. But the real point might be that the same (or similar) results from some other 400gr/.458″ projectiles might work better on tougher/larger game at 68 grains of H4895 and 2016 fps MV and 0.87 MOA. My plan is to test some other 400s this coming spring — the LORD willing!

Currently, my bear load is the 405gr Remington (no longer available, but I still have a good number) at 2083 fps average corrected MV that shoots sub-MOA. Recoil is 30 ft-lbs. That will be my bear load for the spring hunt in Haliburton Highlands. Range will be somewhere between 65 to 100 yards. That load is: 75 grs RL-15, WLRM primers, Hornady brass and 3.26″ COL.

That’s all for this week… And thanks to Ron for his contributions to this blog.

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

What is a MEDIUM Bore Rifle?

In our last, “What is a BIG BORE Rifle?” was again considered. Yet the truth of the matter is that while many are owned, a majority still think that the opportunities where they are needed outside Alaska or Africa are few. That being .40-calibers on up to whatever… maybe a .577 Nitro. Still, several astute hunters handload them for larger fauna around the world, even here in Canada and the USA. Why? Because they plum work on anything they’re pointed at, and are fun cartridges to work with, and challenges to the spirit and mind of hunters and sportsmen.

As you know by now, if you’ve followed my blogs for a period of time, BIG BORES, notably in .458-caliber is my favorite among them, as well as my overall favorite niche. More details will be coming up in my next article, including recent in-depth testing results by .458 Win Mag guru Dr. Ron Berry. As well, some pioneering results may be found in reading some of my “old” stuff since 2008.

< That’s my 9.3 x 62 Mauser — one of the best MEDIUMS .

But I do have some other favorites, particularly among the mediums. So what are MEDIUM-Bore rifles? One forum includes the .270 Winchester among them. But that doesn’t represent my thinking, nor the thinking of previous generations of North American or African hunters, nor sportsmen in general.

Hunters and authors of a more recent historical influence (post Second World War to the turn of the century) generally viewed “mediums” as plus .30-calibers able to produce in excess of 3000 ft-lbs at the muzzle from standard factory ammunition. The starting point of that being about .32-caliber (.323 or 8mm). While there have been many wildcats of that fame, yet the unpopular 8mm Remington Magnum might be a logical starting place. Prior to that, the .338 Winchester Magnum was often referred to as a “medium magnum” that produced in the neighborhood of 4000 ft-lbs of kinetic energy from factory loads. Handloads didn’t improve greatly on that. One author/sportsman, Al Miller, favored .35-caliber as a starting place for “mediums”. Initially, I followed that idea and later lowered my take to the .338 Winchester and 4000 ft-lbs at the muzzle. Then again, I relented to include any “standard” case of .338 to .375-caliber that would make at least 4000 ft-lbs from handloads, and they had to be recognized in at least three handloading manuals. Sorry if yours doesn’t make the cut, but I just can’t see the .357 “magnum” pistol round being fired in a rifle as a “medium” bore rifle round.

So we’ll start with .338-calibers that are generally found in reloading manuals, and making about 4000 ft-lbs as a “go” point. .338-calibers that make upwards of 5000 ft-lbs at the muzzle, I refer to as “Super Mediums” as in numbers like the .340 Weatherby, the .338 RUM and Lapua. They are in a class of their own but still NOT BIG BORES! And the .338-.378 Weatherby is, again, in a niche of its own!

When I’m referring to “MEDIUMS”, they include: the .338 Winchester Magnum; .330 Dakota; .350 Rem Mag;.35 Whelen; .358 Norma Magnum; 9.3 x 62; .375 H&H and .375 Ruger. And yes, I’ve gotten 4000 ft-lbs from both a .350 Rem Mag and a .35 Whelen. As stated, anything at or above 5000 ft-lbs of muzzle energy, I call “Super Mediums”. And anything over 3900 ft-lbs I’ll let in the fold. Arbitrary? Certainly! But I just can’t abide a .270 Win being classed as a “medium”, no matter who designates them as such!

So how do I refer to the .300 magnums and .323 (8mm) magnums that can make over 3500 ft-lbs and nearly 4000? “Sub-Medium Magnums”, of course! And the .270 Win and its ilk? They are “deer cartridges” … mostly!

Back to our theme on “MEDIUMS”

These are perhaps among the most useful rifle cartridges extant for a large variety of game from whitetails to most DG (“dangerous game”) under favorable conditions. They are not what I’d choose, however, in an elephant or Cape buffalo charge from a few yards, nor in having to go into the “pucker” brush for a followup on a wounded elephant, Cape buff, lion or bear. But for anything else they are near ideal at reasonable ranges and using premium bullets. Phil Shoemaker, an elite Master Guide in Alaska, has said he finds no great difference among them in effect on Alaska’s big bears with a proper hit and a good bullet. But he still prefers his “Old Ugly” in .458 Win if he has to go into thick bush for followup on a big wounded grizzly or brown bear!

< Shoemaker with his recent Cape buffalo, brain shot using “Old Ugly”.

I, of course, don’t have his experience, and I know any of them will kill bears, moose, elk or anything else with soft skin to a ton or more under particular conditions, but they wouldn’t be my choice as a general purpose DG rifle. Of course, all of them have killed lions and big bears efficiently, which in the case of lions, they could attain 500 lbs in males, and 1000 lbs or more in big bears. Again, under circumstances where guides and PH’s have control with backups. On my own, however, I feel very confident in using my 9.3 x 62 in bear hunting, but NOT alone in following up a wounded one in thick tangles or ravines. In the past, when and where a followup was necessary on black bears, I’ve often switched to an 1895 Marlin in .45-70. It went along as my backup rifle, and at times as my primary weapon. The .45-70 would stop a bear where the others might not!

My defensive weapon for scouting, baiting and followup on bears was an 1895 Marlin in .45-70. Since I no longer have that rifle it will be a 12ga firing Brenneke type slugs from a smooth bore at 1600 fps. This will be for close range work only. It’s a “security” type for personal protection around bears. It has an 18.5″ barrel, front and rear sights, weighs 7 lbs, pistol grip and 5+1 in a pump action. In hunting over bait it will be the .458 or 9.3 x 62. The 9.3 is a bolt-action with a clip holding 3 +1, but I’ve found that the 9.3 x 62 is NOT a stopper with body shots. I’ve killed three bears with it but they all travelled up to 20 yards or so before quitting. Twenty yards is sixty feet, and in thick bush on the edge of darkness you may nearly step on the bear before finding him. Hence the 12ga with Challenger slugs (the famous DGS-12 slug out of Italy and loaded in Quebec as “Challenger” — 492 grains at 1610 fps. I got 1620 fps from my former Mossberg 12ga, and great accuracy when the Polichoke was set at IC.) The 18.5″ barrel should give about 1550 fps, but will be tested in the spring for actual results. The .458 Ruger No.1 will not need a followup shot, or searching in thick alders if the 405gr Remington is placed through the lungs or shoulders.

But this is about MEDIUMS: The .338 Winchester Magnum

I’ve owned a couple of those, one with a 20″ barrel and the other sporting a 26″. Then I helped my son in the development of handloads for his with a 24″. So I’ve a pretty good idea of a .338 Win Mags capabilities. 225gr bullets would make about factory specs for a 24″ from my 20″ Sako. And 250s ran between 2600 and 2700 fps. The 250gr Sierra took the medal in speed at about 2715 fps and decent accuracy. The rifle went moose hunting in The North of our province and soaked up rain like a sponge! The two-piece stock was dismantled, and everything else to dry out the wood. Eventually it got traded for a M70 Winchester in .375 H&H.

The second .338 Win Mag was a Browning X-bolt SS with a 26″ tube that gave excellent accuracy and an MV of up to 2842 fps from the 250gr Hornady SP. It was purchased for rechambering to .340 Weatherby. As a .340 it made about 3000 fps from the 250gr Nosler Partition that also went on a moose hunt to the Far North of our province. That load took a good bull at 165 yards. The recoil was never noticed that was up around 54 ft-lbs KE. The rifle was also a delight to tote in that environment which was fairly open due to clear-cut logging. Its ballistics would have been good enough to 600 yards for a bull moose, still making over 2000 ft-lbs at impact. About 1000 handloads were put through it before it got traded for an M673 Remington in .350 Rem Mag.

The .350 Rem Mag needed work out of the box, but once that was sorted out it became one of the most accurate bolt-action rifles I’ve ever owned. Very fast, it was in shooting the 250gr Speer GS at an average of 2710 fps/4076 ft-lbs into a mean of 1/2″. It never killed anything though it went black bear hunting a few times. RL-15, Rem cases and WLRM primers produced those outstanding results. Having too-much heft and the silly rib on the barrel became distasteful over time. Other than that, it was a very capable rifle/cartridge combo.

My .35 Whelen was a Remington 7400 semi. I must say this from the start: It was accurate, strong and worked flawlessly, despite naysayers who profess no confidence in the Remington semi-autos. I NEVER had a glitch, even with “hot” loads! And NEVER did I make use of small base loading dies — they were “regular” RCBS. Moreover, due to the clip magazine that allowed long-seating of bullets, and a long throat, I could maximize bullet speeds using more RL-15 than the “books” allowed at a COL of 3.34″. I went up to 3.43″ which in effect was the same as employing a longer case. That rifle was used in a bear hunt, with success, using a 200gr Barnes-X bullet at 2835 fps/3569 ft-lbs.

Later, a single-shot NEF was purchased in .35 Whelen. With old brass loaded with the 250gr Hornady SP it registered 2556 fps on the very first try. And 2997 fps from the 200gr Hornady SP! But there was a problem with 100 new cases that had the shoulder too far back. I would have had to fire-form all of ’em, so returned the rifle to the dealer for another single-shot in .45-70. I’ve no doubt that the NEF in .35 Whelen would have been capable of at least 2650 fps from those 250s had it been kept. Those NEFs had heavy barrels. I’d owned a couple in .45-70.

And the 9.3 x 62 was a pleasant surprise! In looking for another .35 Whelen, I came home with a Tikka T3 Lite in 9.3 x62 Mauser. I’ve written much about it so will not rehash all that. But it deserves much praise as a MEDIUM. Handloads are the way to go if we want to get the best it has to offer. I started with RL-15 and a year later switched to RL-17 on the suggestion of a friend, and have never looked back. But I had to be prepared to go over 100% load density for serious improvement over RL-15. That meant ten grains more of RL-17 over the RL-15 load… BUT the improvement was there in ballistics — not better accuracy, but much better MV AND consistency in variable temperatures! Improvement in ballistics was 200 fps at the muzzle firing the 286gr Nosler into a regular sub-moa pattern when I was up for it. You know, a 286 Nosler at an ordinary +/- 2630 fps from a T3 “Lite” rifle has a rather quick recoil! But it sure worked “quickly” on a 6′ black bear at 68 yards!

<The bear without guts, the rifle and moi.

Having exposed my experience with four of the MEDIUMS, there yet remains three, only one of which I have considerable experience with in the development of handloads. Those three are: a .358 Norma Magnum, the .375 H&H and the .375 Ruger. All three can make in the neighborhood of 4500 ft-lbs at their muzzles — plus or minus depending on barrel lengths and components. Of those three, I’ve owned three .375 H&H’s, but never took game with either though an M70 Winchester went both bear and moose hunting. Yet extensive testing of handloads was done for each. In barrel lengths there was a 22″, a 24″, and a 26″, so that gave me a decent understanding of how barrel length affects MV in a .375 H&H.

The .358 Norma Magnum: I’ve never owned one, fired one or even seen one, but I read the manuals that share handloads. That varies greatly! For instance: the Nosler #6 manual shows a high of only 2628 fps for their 250gr Partition/3833 ft-lbs from a 24″ Lilja test barrel. That’s really no better than a 24″, .35 Whelen!

The case is very similar to the .338 Winchester Magnum, and in a pinch you could fire-form a .338 Win Mag case to serve as a .358 Norma case. And .358-caliber having improved efficiency over .338-caliber should at the very least equal or better the ballistics of a .338 Win firing 250s — all else equal. So, 2628 fps from the 250 Nosler is a mild load, whereas the 250 Nosler from a .338 Win is shown as giving 2780 fps/4290 ft-lbs from a 24″ Wiseman test barrel. That’s a difference of 152 fps and 457 ft-lbs favoring the .338 Winchester Magnum. But that’s hardly a true picture of what actual results should be! If one cartridge over the other in question, should show distinctions, they should favor the .358 Norma Magnum!

Hence, Hornady’s results are more realistic, and favor the Norma medium over the Winchester, as expected. Hornady gives their 250 grainers (RN and SP-RP Interlocs) 2800 fps/4351 ft-lbs from three powders: H4895, IMR 4320 and IMR 4350. And those are relatively modest amounts of powder, truly making the .358 Norma more efficient than the .338 Winchester. But, alas, the Norma is less popular being of foreign descent. Ammo, rifles and cases are scarce, but most of those obstacles can be overcome if for some personal reasons you want one, and have the $$$ to foot the bill.

The .375 H&H: As popular as it is, it has an identity crisis. Where does it precisely fit in our world of hunting? Mostly it is seen as an African cartridge and rifle with Alaska trying to catch up, but never quite attaining the status of a One-Rifle-Do-It-All in either place. Other .375s of the “magnum” class are said to be superior by a growing number of elitists. And numbers indicate that. It’s not that the historic .375 H&H hasn’t “done it all”, but, as in the case of the .30-06, there are doubters and adventurers who want from a little bit to a lot more for complete satisfaction. Hence: The .375 “Improved” versions on the same case, as well as some .375s in larger cases that hold more propellant. Then some lesser bore rifles will do as well, or better, where legal. And larger bores have, again, grown in popularity. Today, if I wanted or felt a need for a .375 magnum-class rifle it would be the H&H. But I don’t want or need any .375- cal .

Where I separate myself from Saeed and his class of .375 power, which is basically a RUM, would be in the use of a larger bore, namely the .458 Winchester Magnum. It will shoot a 300gr TSX at nearly 3000 fps, which is on a par with the .378 Weatherby, and overshadows the .375 RUM. Beyond all that, there are 350s, 400s, 450s, 500s and 550 gr projectiles readily available for a .458 magnum, including the Winchester that can easily attain and even surpass the .458 Lott, if so wanted for any situation.

<This was the registered speed at 15′ from the CHRONY shooting a 500gr Hornady RN Interloc from my 24″ Ruger No.1 in .458 Winchester Magnum. The powder was 81 grs H4895, 3.56″ COL, WLRM primers, and velocity corrected to MV was 2317 fps/5960 ft-lbs.

All in all, I think the .375 H&H fulfils the bill as a .375 adequately. From my 22″ I could achieve factory specs, and from the 26″ I attained what the RUM factory loads are said to achieve — +2700 fps from a 300 gr projectile with a book load as its basis.

Then, my 9.3 x 62 Mauser can walk in the “ordinary” shoes of a .375 H&H’s factory loads anyway — a fit that’s quite comfortable!

The .375 RUGER: It too can walk in the .375 H&H’s shoes, but after a few Safari miles it might prefer those over its own… maybe — maybe not.

There you have it: My take on The MEDIUMS

‘Til the next… The Great .458 Winchester Magnum in MEETING the DEMANDS of any B.G. HUNTING CONDITIONS

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

What is a BIG-BORE Rifle?

Yes, of course you’re right, I’ve previously written on this — in fact, a few times. But since the featured attraction of this site has to do with BIG BORES, why not again?

Actually, there are three main reasons for so doing:

1. Confusion

2. Arbitrary designation

3. Denial

So lets get started:

CONFUSION: “A failure to distinguish between things” -Webster. I think that’s an apt description of the situation. But it’s not entirely the fault of rifle shooters and hunters, oh no…. Manufacturers of rifles and their marketing branches must share the blame because Winchester, as one example, has designated some of their larger bore M94 lever-actions as “Big Bore”. So we have a situation where some shooters go online talking of their “big bore” .375 Winchester. There have actually been some readers and listeners who think that’s some kind of .375 H&H! I’m not kidding you!

< There is my late British friend’s “Big-Bore” .44 “magnum”. Did I say “magnum” at a mere 1800 ft-lbs KE? No, I didn’t but Remington promoted it as such.

ARBITRARY DESIGNATION: Then, there is at least one prominent owner of an Internet forum, who spends a lot of time in African Safaris, and also builds his own rifles and bullets, that lists his favorite cartridge as a BIG BORE under that section of his forums. It’s a .375 caliber nearly identical to the .375 RUM. Because he claims it will do whatever the BIG Bores can do in the field, he arbitrarily includes the .375 H&H or anything in that caliber suitable for African DG under the heading of BIG BORES. Of course, he’s the owner of the forum, so he can do as it pleases him… but I’m not constrained to agree.

<That’s a true BIG BORE over my shoulder — a CZ 550 in .458 Winchester Magnum.

Of course, my writings here are described as “a blog about big bores”, but I make distinctions in classes of rifles as I write. I have never considered ANY .375-caliber as a ‘Big Bore”. In my view, and that of historical writers, a true BIG BORE has two main features: 1) Size of hole in the bore (caliber), and 2) a minimum level of kinetic energy at the muzzle. Sure, the .378 Weatherby (actually a .375 caliber, but that was to distinguish it from their previous .375 Weatherby, having a much larger case for powder with the consequent increase in “power”) is capable of about 6000 ft-lbs at the muzzle from a 300gr bullet which matches some of the true BIG BORES in energy but NOT in momentum or cross-section area of the bullet that has ALWAYS been a very significant factor in the slaying of elephant, for example. Kinetic energy (KE) isn’t the MAIN factor in the killing of large or dangerous beasts — I believe that is generally understood in today’s hunting world. But there’s no denying that large bores shooting heavy-for-caliber, well constructed bullets, have a terminal effect on live game that surpasses predictions based on KE alone.

The .375 RUM isn’t far behind the .378 Weatherby in KE, and it’s based on the .404 Jeffery, same as the wildcat used by the owner of the forum previously mentioned. But even the .375 RUM has not been regarded in the media as a true BIG BORE. Plus, there has been at least one .375-caliber wildcat that made well over 5000 ft-lbs at the muzzle, and preceded the Weatherbys and the RUM. The .375 Barnes Supreme was based on a full length magnum case with a sharp shoulder to fire the Barnes 350gr at 2650 fps (5457 ft-lbs KE.), and was never regarded as a BIG BORE.

I’ve suggested .40-caliber and 4000 ft-lbs of kinetic energy at the muzzle as a starting point for BIG BORES, and that was the result of considerable research on the matter. So I’ll stick with it even though I know at one time even .40 calibers were called “small bores”…

DENIAL: If some idea, concept or statement is repeated often enough, in the media in particular, it eventually gains credence (like “fake news”). A well known Physics Professor won the Nobel Prize. In his acceptance speech he said something that rocked his audience. He declared that the common idea that you could get something from nothing “quickly” was entirely wrong! To get “something from nothing takes a looooong time”, he said! You have to be patient! Of course, that’s NOT science, but it ‘s evolutionary theory! 0+0=0, 0x0=0, 0/0=0, 0-0=0. Nothing + time = nothing, EVERY TIME!

<The Andromeda Galaxy, the closest galaxy to ours, the Milky Way Galaxy, of approximately the same size at over 2,000,000 light years from us. It has billions of stars and is one among billions of galaxies. A mere accident? (Image courtesy of a friend.)

Why is it that humans would rather believe fiction than TRUTH? True science says that for every EFFECT there IS a CAUSE! Creation IS an EFFECT! What or WHO is it’s cause? An infinitely small speck of energy (“singularity”) that’s too small to be seen or measured, resting for all eternity in “equilibrium” that decided to “blow up” one afternoon, 16,000,000,000 years ago, without reason or purpose, ultimately making all that exists in the universe, including intelligent life — does that really make sense? And I’m considered “not with it” because I believe the CAUSE is an ETERNAL CREATOR with limitless power, intelligence and personality.

Another fact of physics: a body at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by an outside force, and a body in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by an outside force. What or Who was that force? Surely NOT just a “higher power” without intellect, purpose or a plan!

The above example of DENIAL is the most vivid demonstration of “fake news” and believing “the lie” in the whole universe!

And “denial” of what a BIG BORE is and does, matters? Not in a larger or eternal scheme of things, but it is a very minor irritant when universal thinking shifts in favor of smaller bores as the answer… for what did you say? I think that “shift” is a revelation of a couple of things:

ONE: In a sophisticated digital world, men are becoming, or have become softies! And TWO: We are afraid of getting hurt, or experiencing pain, so we protect ourselves! One way is in choosing the right “gear”, including rifles that won’t “hurt us”. Last evening I addressed the issue of “recoil” on a forum. Some very good points were made by others except for a couple of areas which I touched on. But as a conclusion I mentioned my current age of 85, and had handloaded most common cartridges from the .22 Hornet to the .458 Win Mag, and had NEVER been hurt (damaged) by recoil, but I have significant hearing loss from muzzle blast, and that NOT from BIG BORES only! Muzzle blast is mostly the result of the PSI of escaping gases at the muzzle, which can be as much or more from a .243 Win as from a .458 Win! Please notice that I said “PSI” at the muzzle, not amount of gas. 11,000 psi at the muzzle is the same whether from a small bore or big bore. I defy anyone to tell the difference whether from a .243 or .458 from a mile away in thick forest.

<Notice the distance from the scope (it had a very good eye-relief of 5.5″); holding down on the forearm; pulling into the shoulder; the PAST magnum protector; the muffs and elbow protection — these are all important for lessening the effects of felt recoil from a BIG BORE.

There are many ways to mitigate the effects of recoil, and one of the most significant is a heavier rifle, which due to poor physical fitness we don’t want to deal with. May I mention what I suggested on that forum? Yes, of course: My favorite rifle is a Ruger No.1 in .458 Winchester Magnum. Prior to that it was a Ruger No.1 in .45-70 LT (LT = long throat) that could produce ballistics equivalent to a 22″ barrelled .458 Win Mag. — a 500gr Hornady at 2200 fps for example. That rifle weighed 8 lbs with a scope on board, and 8.4 with some ammo attached. It was my “favorite” rifle for twenty years! Did I say that? Yes I did. Two + years ago it got traded for the Ruger No.1 in .458 Win Mag. Why? Better ballistics? No, but because I wanted more weight in a similar rifle with the approximate same ballistics. That’s it — two pounds more weight meant a reduction of about 30% to 40% for equivalent loads!

Then, there are other ways to deal with a BIG BORES’ recoil: Reduced loads! In fact, I mentioned on that forum that my current .458 Win Mag has a variety of hunting loads I’ve developed for it that produces recoil anywhere between 27 ft-lbs all the way to 50 ft-lbs, if needed or wanted! That last number of 50 ft-lbs was 72 ft-lbs in my Ruger No.1 in .45-70 LT from a 500gr at 2210 fps/5422 ft-lbs (Actually, the average weight of those 500gr Hornardys was 503 grains, making the recoil slightly more as well as the KE at 5454 ft-lbs.) At the range I deal with the recoil this way: Posture – sitting up straight, and not more than 10 rounds per session (I bring other rifles along with less recoil, including a .22LR); a PAST magnum recoil pad over a folded-up terry-cloth towel, plus jacket makes 50 ft-lbs of recoil energy tolerable. Both ear plugs AND muffs employed in concert dampens blast to a “pop”. LOUD muzzle blast enhances the sense of “felt” recoil.

< This was my CZ 550 in .458 Win Mag that weighed 11.2 lbs ready. Notice it’s slung over my left shoulder. From there it was very easy and fast to get it into action. I shoot from my left side.

How do I deal with the extra 2 lbs weight of the No.1 Ruger in .458? A sling in walking about, on either shoulder (the same shoulder doesn’t need to be used under all conditions); port arms; cradle; hand carry, switching from one hand to the other; shotgun type carry. Of course, if I’m aware of a possible confrontation with a bear, I’ll be carrying a rifle in a ready position. Taking a break in sitting – especially where game might show up is also an option. In a blind I’m mostly sitting with the rifle leaning against something — but it never goes into a tree stand. I really don’t find much advantage to a light rifle over a heavy one. They both have advantages and disadvantages, the same as a short barrel verses a long barrel. But the No.1 Ruger with a 24″ barrel is only 40″ in overall length due to no magazine in the action. In that sense It’s almost a carbine! A so-called “heavy” rifle might be a tad slower in swinging or raising into action, but it’s more steady when it gets there than a rifle that weighs 6.5 lbs. It also handles recoil better, and stays on track for a second shot much better than an 8 lb .458 WM, for example.

Several hunters/shooters are in DENIAL over the use of BIG BORES, using the excuses of RECOIL and WEIGHT, when the real issue is lying to themselves about their physical and mental conditioning!

But the last argument that appears so convincing is that lesser cartridges and smaller bores will do today what was, perhaps, necessary in days of yore. Really?

Experience trumps theory… you agree?

My experience on black bears over the past three decades is convincing enough to cause me to say that the most effective caliber has been in .458″, which includes both .45-70s and .458 Win Mags. Lesser calibers and cartridges will certainly KILL bears, but they won’t necessarily STOP bears in a close confrontation unless the brain is hit or spinal cord severely damaged. I know that from experience.

Long may they live — well, they have actually: The .45-70 since 1873 = 147 years! And the Win Mag .458 since 1956 = 64 years! The reality that they are both still very popular should tell us something of their genius!

And they too have profited from our “sophisticated digital world”!

‘Til the next…

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

HUNTING PERSPECTIVES – P3

In this series of blogs it has been pointed out that several distinct motivations are involved in hunting activities, plus many others that may be less obvious but still influential in our outlook (perspective) and decision making processes of when to hunt, where and how, and what gear to bring along.

So far we’ve had a look at these prime motivations: Adventure, Challenge, Trophy hunting, Meat hunting and Sport hunting.

Next up are: (6) Healthy Living, (7) Involving others, and (8) Management of species.

HEALTHY LIVING

In P1 I listed this as one of my primary reasons for hunting. Starting out as a big game hunter in my early twenties, it was not even a minor concern. But I soon learned it would become an essential part of a healthy lifestyle not only for the body but also for a well-balanced and healthy mind. I was fresh out of college, joined my farther’s commercial fishing business for a month, then married my fiance, and a week later was called to pastor three country churches in central New Brunswick, which was a complete change in environment from being surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to a lumbering and agricultural setting. What all that amounted to was a total change in lifestyle, with new expectations and challenges at age 21. Don’t get me wrong, I was up for a new challenge but it was all very demanding to the point of near exhaustion by the time I reached 25. Fortunately, this was not only a woods working and farming area but also both hunting and fishing were common. So I began to enjoy those outdoor activities and greatly profited both physically and emotionally from them. I’d learned a simple but important lesson expressed in this old adage:”All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Without being aware of it, I’d become like my farther who was a “workaholic”.

And, from time to time since those early experiences, I’ve had reason to remember this truth: God has made us complex creatures of spirit, soul and body. If we neglect any of those, or abuse them, we’ll be in BIG trouble! (see the Apostle Paul’s prayer and advice on this in his first letter to the church at Thessalonica. 1 Thessalonians ch 5, vs 23 – 24 in the New Testament. Preferred reading in the New International Version or the New Living Translation. This is one of my favorite Scriptures!)

Sure, if we’re in poor shape physically and/or mentally, the strong temptation is to “hunt” on our computers or TVs. That’s dangerous! And pernicious! I’m afflicted with a particular form of arthritis (same as my farther and grandmother) from time to time, but I’ve found the best medicine is to be physically active, and the physical and mental activity that tempts me most is planning, preparing for and participating in hunting activities — three “sweet Ps” to nurture body, soul and spirit. Yes, these are the physical and immaterial parts of “being”. But there is no “walking about” in unspoiled landscapes like a “walk” with our LORD in his creation!

INVOLVING OTHERS

Just yesterday, I noted this on a box of Federal Premium 12 ga Turkey Loads on my shelf of 12 ga shotshells: “Remember to take a kid hunting”. Whatever the case, it was my “kids” that got me involved again in hunting activities after I’d become another “workaholic”! The “kids” were two sons in college, Brent and Phil. Since then, I’ve involved them as part of my hunting activities which has strengthened our bonds. Also, I’ve involved others from the community in deer, bear and moose hunts. There is an added sense of personal satisfaction in being a part of the joy that others experience from their hunting adventures in the great outdoors.

<My hunting buddy for many years helping with bear bait, the CO Ken.

MANAGEMENT OF SPECIES

From the standpoint of government wildlife biologists, and legislation related thereto, hunting is foremost a management tool for maintenance of the designated species. And, from time to time, culls or moratoriums have been implemented for management purposes. How much of such legislation is purely “political” is often difficult to ascertain, but it ‘s a known fact that it took place in the case of the closure of the Spring Bear Hunt here in Ontario in 1999.

Nonetheless, despite apparent mishandling of management tools by governments and their agencies, there’s no question regarding its importance in securing a future for hunting activities. We can only hope and pray that any future elected officials will be person’s of integrity, laying aside personal agendas or prejudices in seeking the best not only for the species but also for hunters.

Personally, I have some serious doubts over the future of hunting as a beneficial activity in the not-so-distant future as it’s very apparent that culture is shifting away not only from meat eating but the activity itself.

However, there’s currently some consolation that one dead bear can no longer hunt moose calves or sheep in a pasture! Ergo: I’m all for “the management of the species”.

What is NOT understood by the general public of “well doers” is that without hunting there is no way to control unthinking beasts from over populating themselves to the brink of starvation! Hence, silent culls have been implemented in southwest Ontario for control of the whitetail population that was destroying the ecosystem they, and other fauna, were dependent on for survival. What was WRONG about that was the government’s silence, which was discovered by hunters who told the media. And that’s not all… there was also a black bear cull where stinking corpses were heaped in a pile in the woods that attracted other creatures, and discovered by HUNTERS who wanted some answers!

The point? Government officials can be VERY dishonest and hypocritical when it serves THEIR INTERESTS!

The designation “political” has the lowest possible connotation when used of the CHARACTER and motives of a person! As hunters we should NEVER forget that!

Yet, there are still some honest Conservation Officers who go about their tasks with decorum and a clear conscience, doing what they do for the overall betterment of flora and fauna, as well as for the well-being of honest hunters in the chase. I know, because one of my best hunting friends was a CO until retirement a few years ago. One of the strengths of his character was integrity while recognising that all of those who hired him could not always be described as such.

Now, what about OUR motives as hunters? Can we afford to be honest about them?

I was a bit more than a little disturbed when I learned that a very prominent member of a sporting Internet forum confessed that the only reason for his African hunting of BG and DG was to test bullets, declaring he wouldn’t have hunted otherwise as he had no interest in hunting, as such! Certainly, the best “test” of bullets is in game animals, but could that be the highest legitimate reason for shooting game animals or dangerous game? It seems to me that could be discovered anyway in a much higher motive of harvesting game — which has been the main reason for this brief series on HUNTING PERSPECTIVES.

< These Nosler Partitions worked excellently on moose and bear, but the primary motivation was hunting not merely to “test” them.

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

HUNTING PERSPECTIVES – P2

How do you view hunting from your perspective? In P1 I mentioned eight possible perspectives and briefly reviewed three of them. Today (Christmas eve) we’ll continue with an overview of two more: MEAT HUNTING and SPORT HUNTING (or the sportsman hunter).

Before we do that, however, I just can’t forget “the reason for the season”. While the world has substituted gift giving and getting, Christmas trees and Santa for Christ the Son of the living God, we can easily renew our understanding of the FACTS historically recorded in the Four Gospels of the New Testament: The Gospels (good news) of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. I’d recommend reading the account by the apostle closest to Jesus Christ, the Gospel of John, chapter one. That should help in getting our lives in order and in preparation for His coming again! And that could be MUCH sooner than the world thinks — not as a babe in a manger but as the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD LORD OF LORDS” (from the last book of the BIBLE, Revelation ch. 19 – by the same Apostle John).

Now back to the mundane:

MEAT HUNTING (or, the meat hunter)

< The meat from this bear was distributed among four families, and the hide was auctioned for $350.

While there are still hunters who’s main objective is the harvesting of meat from game animals, it’s a “dying breed”. Please excuse the term, but the reality is that “hunting” would die with them if the only legal right to hunt game and predators depended on a primary motivation to gather meat for the family and/or survival. For many that is a secondary goal. And, possibly, for a majority it isn’t a motivation at all… or it’s a legal necessity at best. I know as a fact that of the approximate 100,000 annual applicants for a moose hunt in Ontario (my home province), whether as individuals or a member of a group, that despite the overall costs per individual, only about 30,000 tags are available and about 1/3 of that number will come home with a piece of meat (from a bull, cow or calf that was likely shot by a single member of a group of two to eight). From those statistics alone we have proof that the main objective of hunting for the vast majority of hunters isn’t meat gathering. Nor is that so for the hobby fisherman who releases most of his catch!

Taking home some meat for the freezer (that’s already overfull from the supermarket) sounds great for ease of conscience and satisfying legal demands (legislated by hypocrites) but 99% of us don’t need more protein in an extra freezer! So let’s get real about this! Sure there are those in a few remote areas (comparatively speaking) who can honestly profit from meat hunting or fishing, but they could noway financially support a provincial, state or federal department of natural resources. The hard truth is that governments of all jurisdictions are mostly dependant on the hard-earned dollars of hunters and fishermen (sportsmen and women) who want some change and excitement (adventure and challenge) in their otherwise boring lives! And that includes ME!

Plus, my wife doesn’t like “strange” meat. I’ve eaten bear, moose and deer meat in silence! She has tasted it all but prefers “grocery” meat, yet she does love fresh fish and bird meat! Still, I manage to share most of it with other family members, friends, neighbors and some needy souls.

Nonetheless, there are hunters whose freezers are filled with wild game, birds and fish. They are fortunate in many ways that allows them to fulfil both their dreams and needs. I salute them.

SPORT HUNTING

There’s no question that sport hunting has taken over hunting as a primary motivation. While other motivations may well be involved, the idea of hunting as a “sport” is the dominant perspective in all the paraphernalia available from manufacturers and found in outdoors stores. I made a list of the possibles in P1, but surely that was’t a full catalogue!

Sport hunting has not only it’s own motivation but also its unique nature somewhat distinct from or in addition to meat hunting and adventure hunting! In what way, you ask?

1. In justifying the purchase of $70,000 (in Canada) 4×4 pickups! Then add several ATVs, then add boats and motors, all-out camping equipment and camping trailers… the BEST of everything, nothing missing or lacking! “SPORT” anything implies “excess” of everything!
2. It’s not just “the hunt” but the total experience: It may be only a “once in a lifetime” thing, never to be repeated, or on to another “once in a lifetime” thing… or a few more things that become an addiction to experience something “new and different”.
3. The glamour of all “that equipment” that surpasses imagination or any “limited” previous equipment.< Was it a “sportsman” or “just a hunter” who shot this 550 lb bear?

I can still recall many details of a moose hunt in the “Far North” of our province. Our son, Phil, and I had travelled 1600 kilometres (1000 miles) in a compact 2-door Pontiac Sunbird, towing a borrowed large lawn-service trailer (that weighed 1000 lbs itself) loaded with everything needed for a week of camping in the bush. Not only that but the trunk was full all the way to the back of our two bucket seats in the driving compartment. We drove through the night during a nasty wind and rainfall storm. Late the next day we set up camp and tried to get some sleep in a pop-up tent that continuously was knocked down on us by wind gusts, and “poped back up” again. The next day (the day before the hunt could begin) we did scouting in the morning and found good-fresh sign. In the afternoon we drove over some of the myriad logging roads and came across a hunting camp about 10 Km from our camp. There, we were introduced to a “real” hunt camp with 7 or 8 hunters, high wall tents, 4×4 pickup trucks, ATVs, etc. It appeared they’d done little scouting as they hadn’t yet seen any “sign”, but one hunter wanted us to be introduced to his new rifle — a 7mm stainless Remington Magnum. A day later they did give us a hand in loading the bull onto our trailer for the trip home. They still hadn’t seen any “sign”, so we encouraged them to hunt the cow and calf that were with the bull when I shot it. That evening we left for the trip back home under a full moon, not knowing the final results of their hunt. Whatever the case, they had more than enough equipment and personnel to kill every moose within a hundred sq-miles several times over when all they really needed was a moose, a loaded rifle and a hunter who had more on his mind than his new rifle.

< This was a new CZ550 in .458 Win Mag. There often is a sense of real pleasure in a new hunt with a new rifle and caliber. But, nonetheless, it still needs to be proven in the field like the old Ford truck in the background that was nearly as old as I was — at least it appeared so.

I like new rifles and some useful equipment, but to make “new toys” the end game of a serious hunt with others in a hunt camp will result in some frustration, and perhaps anger on the part of one or more partners. I’m also more than a little angered at the presentation of videos of a “successful” hunt where the main object of the video is bragging over the headgear of the animal, as if the death of the animal was meaningless apart from its value in making the “sportsman” look great (in his own estimation if not that of others). That of course harkens back to “sport hunting for trophies”.

Yet, to be open and frank about hunting motives is often difficult for many hunters to reflect on or express. Often motives are mixed. In my case, sometimes I don’t want to hunt but I do to maintain a friendship or for the good of others who may depend on me for knowledge or leadership. Then, if I take time (usually during a hunt) to ask “Why am I doing this?”, there may actually be mixed motives. But getting the biggest deer or bear in the woods is not one of them. A “good” deer or bear, yes, but a so-called trophy isn’t close to being recognized in the back of my mind.

Again, my motives that are recognizable to me are adventure, challenge, outdoor activities, comradeship and healthful living. As to any others: the use of equipment, new or used, increased knowledge and experience, developing new skills or improving/keeping them — such as not getting lost, aiming and shooting live game (sometimes simulated as in toting a rifle in brush or rough areas, aiming at a stump, boulder or deadfall, etc.) So there are secondary motives, hence perspectives, associated with the primary ones.

I don’t regard myself as a “sportsman”, so-called, but rather “just a hunter”. If there were no social or material benefits in shooting bears, I wouldn’t do it. Bears are not just a nuisance — they are predators that kill other game animals and humans if so inclined. Moose populations have been drastically reduced in parts of our province by a dynamic increase in bear numbers. There’s documented evidence to support that! And, of course, that’s not the whole story… They are a potential threat to humans who move about in their general habitat. Moreover, as their numbers increase they learn that the backyards and farmlands of human populations have great and delicious free edibles that fatten them up for winter’s denning. And some of those edibles might include your pet goat, cat, lamb or…? Consequently, I’ve encouraged some deer and moose hunters to include a bear tag.

There’s no doubt that the element of potential danger is an attraction in the hunt of bear species. I’ll admit that factor as main in my strong inclination to hunt black bears. Again, that’s where part of the challenge aspect emerges for myself. If they were a non-dangerous species I wouldn’t hunt them for their meat. Nor would any other hunters that I’m aware of. I perceive them as a threat to the various deer species, and a possible threat to humans who simply go about their “business” in vacation areas, wildernesses or even on home turf when their numbers attain a level where so-called “natural” habitat can no longer adequately support them. Remember: All bears, including blacks, are first and foremost big and dangerous predators!

< This bear was taken on private farm property.

‘Til the next in the New Year…

Have a blessed Christmas and a healthy-happy New Year!

BOB MITCHELL

HUNTING PERSPECTIVES – P1

Sometime over 1/2 century ago I was given a gift of my maternal grandfather’s beautiful set of history volumes by my grandmother. He had deceased when I was a young lad, and my grandmother had kept them in his honour to present to one of his grandsons who might have an interest in their contents and cherish them. They became a fixed part of my library and were used for reference purposes from time to time since they went all the way back in history to the Babylonian Empire. Of course, that was also an important historical Biblical period for the nation of Israel which was my main interest in those volumes. Nonetheless they seemed an excellent resource from Biblical times up to World War 1, at which time the British historian’s volumes were published.

But what intrigued me in particular, since I’ve never been a specific student of history, though I’ve completed courses in both Biblical history and church history, (I’m a “futurist” in outlook) was the author’s commentary in the preface of Volume 1 explaining from where all historians tend to view historical times — their perspective on history influences both their slant and commentary — something akin to the media of our day. Any commentary, whether written or vocalized on history or current issues is influenced by today’s culture and biases, or that of the past.

PERSPECTIVE is a way of looking at any thing, matter, issue, philosophy, religion, or even the times in which we live. Its foundation may be based on quicksand or solid rock… or somewhere between. As it concerns hunting in particular, there are several possible, and practical, motivations and views — PERSPECTIVES.

Here are some general HUNTING PERSPECTIVES:

1. Adventure
2. Challenge
3. Trophies
4. Meat
5. Outdoor sports and equipment.
6. Healthy living.
7. Involving others in that which might benefit them as well as ourselves.< My British friend was intrigued by my bear hunting and wanted to get involved, so I set him up for it. He didn’t get a chance on a bear but claimed to have lost six inches around his waist after a week of hunting!
8. Management of species.

There may be others, but I believe those eight just about covers all motives and views. In my last blog I stated that hunting got me into handloading, not the other way around. Of course, that would also include all equipment related to hunting which, by the way, has become in our times a major industry.

Actually, there’s too much to complete a full list here, but included are rifles, muzzle loaders, handguns, scopes for those and viewing scopes, bullets, powder, cases, bows and equipment, binoculars, clothing, shoes, boots, scents, calls, shotguns and shells, stands and blinds, tents, camping equipment, canoes, boats and motors, trucks, vans, SUVs, ATVs, snow mobiles, travel bags, sleeping bags, and scores of other small items, etc.

As to which of those eight, or how many of them, got you involved in hunting would be an interesting topic on its own. . For now, I’ll start at the top and progress through the list as each blog permits. (Usually, each blog is somewhere between 1500 to 2000 words, with a few exceptions. I don’t yet know how many words might be involved in covering all eight potential HUNTING PERSPECTIVES, therefore, it’s currently unknown how many blogs this will take because thoughts, usually with an historical context, come to mind as I write.) So lets get goin’ with:

ADVENTURE

As an outlook on life this may be a motivation from childhood. It was so in my case. From the age of three I complained to Mom that I wasn’t allowed to roam our ten acre property like my older brothers! In Mom’s defence, she was busy with many chores when Dad was away either fishing or preparing to do so. And the ten acres were stretched along the shore line of a part of the Bay of Fundy with high tides that climbed up the cliffs just 40 yards behind our house — with no fence to keep me from deciding to venture to the edge, or beyond! When the tide was out, there was only sheer ragged rocks below to meet a fifty foot fall! I was “locked” into our back veranda! But to show my contempt for the spokes that seemed like jail to me, I kicked out a few! Then, because my mother liked my curly hair, I gave myself a haircut! The point of all this nonsense is that I most definitely was an ADVENTURER from birth!

Other than in HUNTING adventures, I also became an amature astronomer, building my own telescopes to venture into the heavens. As if that weren’t enough adventure, I became a devouté of racing — heaven forbid — thankfully I couldn’t afford much of that other than in watching TV or attending motorcycle races and LeMans sportscar races at our local Mosport International Speedway! And I bought my first motorcycle at the not so tender age of 42! But I still drive too fast — when I think I can get away with it — according to my conscience that is!

But, to get back to reality, my love for adventure has been, and is, primarily expressed in hunting. It’s in large part “the call of the wild”. While I enjoy the social and the “helping hand” aspect of having a hunting buddy along, yet I do prefer solo hunting as I always feel responsible for the welfare or those “others”. Being a pastor entails that sense 24/7, literally, and it’s hard to get away from that when your phone could ring at 3 a.m. with a crisis looming on the other end! So a great part of adventure is the sense of being an explorer of the unknown or unfamiliar — making new discoveries. It’s the blood of my ancestors from Europe who landed at Plymouth Rock flowing through my veins.

There has always been exploration and adventure into the unknown. The motives have been varied. Curiosity and knowledge have often compelled it, or ordered by an empire, or religious persecution (as in my ancestors’ case), or simply because it could be done and should be — as in new ventures in medical knowledge or latest technology.

In my case it was mainly adventure. Getting away from the demands and expectations of others so I could have my own thoughts and enjoy God’s creation to the fullest was also no small player in that pursuit.

CHALLENGE

Just living has its own challenges — do we need more than that? That’s sort of a “survival” mode. But there are challenges that change us, develop us and cause us to grow in our thinking and skill set, and ability to face threats fearlessly! Hunting is one of the most significant factors in developing and enhancing maturity — as long as we don’t get get caught up with those who look forward to their annual hunt “with the guys” as a weekend (or week) of drowning the challenges of life in alcohol or smoking weed (or worse)!

African safaris are usually the reward for successful entrepreneurship of the adventurist who wants a fresh challenge! Men in their 60s and 70s who have dreamed of big and dangerous African game can now afford to fulfil their dreams. It’s new, it’s fresh, and most importantly, it’s a BIG challenge! Especially is that true if Dugga Boy is on their hit list! Many of that age group have testified that above all else they want to face off with at least one of the Dangerous Five! And many return to take their second or eighth Cape Buffalo! Why? It’s a new and different challenge to their manhood, triumph over fear, and ability to successfully accomplish what few among millions have done. Plus — they can still shoot straight and hit the target with their own big gun! Though surrounded by the PH, game scout, trackers, camera man and gun bearer, there is still a sense of independence and “aloneness” when the sights are filled with the “enemy” that could kill, and the trigger is squeezed!

TROPHIES

While I’m not a “trophy hunter” per se, yet I have collected a few as memorials of a particular successful hunt. And I also have a few from Africa that belong to son Brent which he collected when living there, and shot with either a .22 LR single-shot or his 12 ga.

But I must admit that I have serious qualms over making that the prime focus of a hunt! And it seems that publications, videos and books have so over-emphasized “shooting a trophy” that it has become the main motivator of much hunting, as well as becoming a dominant economic factor for most businesses involved.

It is also the principle element that attracts an ill-proportioned degree of criticism from individuals and the media aimed at all hunters and hunting activities.

So, I must add that I wish there would be far less boasting and the presentation of the idea that “bigger is ALWAYS better”! Instead of asking: “How many points?”, or “How heavy was…”?, let’s try promoting the idea of “Did you enjoy your hunt?”, or “Was your hunt successful?”, or “Did you get refreshed from your time away?”

In other words: Let’s stress the hunt, its larger meaning, rather than “How much did your trophy score?” Surely, there are many other good reasons for hunting than just a need to get one’s name in the record books!

<Comradeship and bonding of father and son on a moose hunt to the far north of our province has had immense value to a lasting relationship. I’ve experienced the same thing in the same place with my second son, Phil. And we did score on a nice moose!

Frankly, I could care less if my name ever got on some trophy list or in a publication! And moreover is that so when I squeeze the trigger on any animal or bird. I’m thankful if it was a clean harvest. And “smaller” can be “trophies” too, when we consider all that was involved in the challenge. That’s why I’ve developed a particular love of black bear hunting! They pose particular challenges not offered in some other types — particularly a DIY type bear hunt.

Coming up…

HUNTING for MEAT!

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

Choosing the Right Load for Your Rifle – P3

So by now do you believe “the right load for your rifle” has been chosen? Based on what criteria? Has it been tested? Sighted in? And game taken with it? If not, then some of that “right load” might be wishful thinking!

This time around, without claiming to have answered every possible question, or dotted every “i”, I’ll share some (not “all”) thoughts on testing, sighting-in and harvesting game with “the right load” based on some personal experiences and common sense.

As a disclaimer, I’ll mention that the largest game I’ve taken is a mature bull moose and the smallest would be several score of groundhog, coons and at least one skunk. And, oh yes, quite a few birds with a shotgun and .22LR. The “sea gulls”? No laws or licenses existed in those days re: gulls, other vermin or most other small game (1950’s), not even for black bear if you possessed a deer license. A moose license was needed and available as was a license for ducks.

The moose was not shot with a .458, nor the groundhogs, but two .458s were used on bears as well as several .45-70s. In between the .458-calibers (that includes eight .45-70s as well as three in .458 Win (not all at the same time) and .22LRs, I’ve handloaded and used in hunting several dozen rifles from .22 Hornet to the .44 Rem Mag, including five in 7mm, at least a dozen in .30-cal, several in .338-cal, .35-cal and .375-cal, plus a few single cartridges such as the 7.62 x 54R, .270 Win and 9.3 x 62 Mauser. Many have handloaded more, and many far less.

As a note of clarification: I use the terms “handloading”, “handloads” and “handloader”, as opposed to “reloads” etc, because of assembling ammunition from fresh (never previously used) components to start with, and at times, if I already know how a particular load’s components will come together for a hunt, I’ll do it with new cases — so that’s obviously NOT a so-called “reload”. And even though I will use the same brass several times for “testing” and “practice”, they are not necessarily the same formula, so NOT “reloads” either, i.e., redoing the same thing over and over – which might honestly be designated as “reloaded” ammo, but in that way only.

< This is not a “reload”, but it is a handloaded 270gr Speer for my 9.3 x 62 Mauser.

Another matter: I use “handloads”, not “hand loads”, even though the American language (and other forms of English) don’t yet recognize “handloads” as a word. Yet, it has been historically used in literature for decades. So it’s past time for whoever decides what new words (and there are many because the English language is a dynamic language – not dormant) goes into dictionaries becomes aware of the familiar usage of terms in our hobby! Language today is quickly evolving to make it more efficient for those who do less reading and more watching of videos, etc.

Other than the Brazilian 7×57 and the mentioned borrowed rifles (.30-30 and .303 Brit.), every other centerfire rifle I’ve owned has been handloaded by myself for HUNTING purposes, and “best loads” were chosen, often after a prolonged testing process.

None of that is intended as boasting, but simply to establish some credibility at least.

TESTING

Handloaders try their home-brewed ammo at various ranges: their own and other private or public. Range distances and other possible conditions could vary significantly. Most of my trials have been on a private range at which I’ve been a member for over three decades. I’ve also done some on Crown Land and short ranges open to the public. And once I had a lengthy session at a military range in Nova Scotia.

Testing at a range is vitally important; I think on that point we’d all agree. As previously mentioned, a majority of handloaders seem firstly to be concerned over the accuracy of their loads. Most are guessing muzzle velocities, assuming book values to be close enough. At the private range that I attend, many are shooting to 200 and 300 yards, testing accuracy and trajectory. However, MV is still a guessing game… so also a bullet’s energy at any distance. A few, going on safari, practice with a known load of their own, or factory loads assumed to be what spin doctors claim. 99.9% of my cartridges are handloaded, but I did fire 1/2 box of Remington .35 Whelen 250gr RN CorLocs over my Chrony for verification and wanting some brass for handloads. They were advertised at 2400 fps/3197 ft-lbs — which is about 200 fps shy of decent handloads – but the average was 2247 fps/2803 ft-lbs! That’s plenty for whitetail at most ranges, or even big moose to 160 yards, but what about 200 to 400 yards? At 160 yards the kinetic energy would be 1774 ft-lbs but the bullet velocity would only be 1747 fps! Would that even be enough for bullet expansion?

Without testing that .35 Whelen factory load over my CHRONY, I might have assumed Remington’s published ballistics to be correct and gone afield for a “big” moose… at what range? A mature bull in our country can tip the scales at 1200 to 1400 lbs! It might have worked… then maybe NOT!

So testing for accuracy is “nice”, but that’s far from the whole story of a tested load that will perform as intended under ALL conditions!

And, by-the-way, a 250gr Weatherby cartridge in .340 Weatherby came within a hair of it’s promotion, at 2840 fps, advertised at 2850 fps. Still, that was 150 fps shy of my handloads!

A bullet’s performance in media at realistic impact speed is needed! Bullet companies test their products in ballistic gel followed (hopefully) by harvesting game of various sizes, angles and ranges. However, usually the reports are from professional writers of popular hunting/shooting/sports magazines and videos. Though there is a certain amount of value in all that, also a certain amount of cynicism is not an unhealthy attitude either until proven in “combat”! A rep at Barnes affirmed claims that all TSX’s would give some expansion down to an impact velocity of 1600 fps due to the hollow cavity being filled with tissue and blood. I shot a bear frontally using the 350gr TSX/.458″ at an MV of 2750 fps and impact at 100 yards of around 2400 fps. The bullet made exit in the right side flank with NO evidence of expansion! And it wasn’t a big bear but that bruin went the farthest of any I’ve ever shot with a .458″ bullet! And that bullet was never found after an intensive search.

In media, the 350gr TSX, (on the far right) at an impact speed approximating that into the bear, went through everything. Two were fired and one was “caught” by the final cardboard panel of the second box filled with dry hard cover books and glossy magazines, plus two wood planks — a total of 15.5 inches and retained 100% weight — which defeated a 500gr Speer GS (on far left which only penetrated 6″ and weighed 311 grs or 62% of initial weight) and a 500gr Hornady — (the one in the middle was a 350gr Hornady FP that only made 4″ of penetration and lost its core) there was really no comparison with the TSX still weighing more than the 500gr Speer GS! And I know that 350 TSX from a .458 Win was used in Australia to cull Asiatic buffalo, along with the 450gr Swift AF and Cutting Edge 420gr. It worked as well as the heavier bullets on over 100 buffalo! So, if you want a fast, penetrating .458″, it might be a challenge to beat the 350gr TSX!

EVALUATING

I evaluated the Weatherby .340 factory product against possibilities. Since that first product, Weatherby has upped the ante to 2950 fps for their factory .340 250gr ammo! Thus it is possible that some of today’s factory products come close to, or achieve actual promotions. That’s due in large part to some handloaders owning and using their chronographs! Cartridge making enterprises have been forced to be more honest in regard to their products!

Evaluating obviously includes internal and external ballistics, accuracy (and how much is needed) and BULLET PERFORMANCE! <There are three 286gr/9.3 mm Nosler Partitions from my 9.3 x 62 that went through this target at 100 yards. MV was 2600 + fps. That was not a final sight-in. It was adjusted to about 1.5″ high, dead-over-center (DOC). Those are 1″ squares.

SIGHTING IN

This should be done at a range if possible. And a ballistic computer program should be used when and where other means is unavailable. When I tested and sighted some rifles for hunting in Nova Scotia, apart from the military range at Bedford, the public ranges were limited to 75 yards. There was no way to certify trajectory apart from handloading manuals. Today, I use a downloaded program. Then there are others on the Net that are free, like Hornady. Yet, I still prefer to test trajectory at our range to at least 200 yards, and in some cases to 300, depending on expected actual hunting conditions. Knowing trajectory, after we have confirmed MV in the use of a chronograph, will also confirm the BC of the bullet by its drop at certain ranges.

Because I know very well the area of Crown Land in which I have done 90% of BG hunting over the past forty years, I usually sight-in at not more than + 1.5″ @ 100 yards. That means that even with the relatively slow MV of a .45-70 (for example) I could still take deer-size game at 175 yards without holdover.

So, once again, we must know the geographical area, the game, and ballistics of our “best load” for the intended game or predator.

HARVESTING GAME

That of course means retrieval of the game or predators that were shot.

None of us should be satisfied with lost or wounded game, or spoiled meat! Nonetheless it happens. Before we squeeze the trigger, we need to be certain of a clean harvest. Of course, sometimes circumstances beyond our control can shake our previous confidence. In a lifetime of hunting, I’ve wounded and lost two whitetail bucks and two black bears that I can honestly recall. And I can still see them in mind’s eye, recall the feelings and thought of not hunting ever again!

The main object in hunting is the game, not the gun!

I make handloads because I’m a hunter; I’m not a hunter because I make handloads… and that leads on to…

next: HUNTING PERSPECTIVES

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

Choosing the Best Load for Your Rifle – P2

It should be fairly obvious that expected results from handloads for a .30-30 will be very much different than for a .300 Winchester Magnum. The PURPOSE for each will also be distinct.

In my last blog, a list of ten steps to determine a rifle’s BEST load for its PURPOSE was itemized. So this week’s introduction to “the best load” for your rifle starts with:

A Rifle’s PURPOSE

Since this is a presentation on HUNTING LOADS from a hunting rifle, the need to settle in our minds what the intention is for a “best load” will be dependent on the game animal (or animals) to be pursued, and in what geographical context.

< The context here was a bear bait setup at 35 yards from this blind. The rifle was my CZ550 in .458 Win Mag. The load was a 350gr Barnes TSX that would leave the muzzle at 2750 fps. That was a former moose load for potential long-range shooting in N. Ontario. So it was a multi-purpose load that could be used on any North American game within any geographical context.

In P1 a summary of my experiences was given that ultimately led to handloading all centerfire rifles that would ever be personally owned. The Brazilian Mauser in 7 x 57 was actually my first owned high-power rifle. Prior to that I used my .22LR to terminate sea gulls, skunks and coons. A 12ga was added for big game and birds. Rifles for deer and “whatnots” were borrowed — which included a .30-30 and a .303 British Jungle Carbine (that was offered for sale to me for $35 in mint condition which, as a starting-out young pastor of several country churches, and having a young wife, I couldn’t afford!). So the PURPOSE of my own early-on rifles was for hunting whitetails with the possible addition of moose and predators (including wolf and black bear). Thus a rifle with sufficient “power” for the mentioned game was wanted. That would include both factory and handloaded ammo. At the time, a .30-06 seemed the logical choice and that’s where my handloading experience began — with two of them, the first a used military and the second an M70 sporter.

However, the reason (purpose) for the acquisition of rifles in many chamberings, that basically do the same things when handloads are applied, becomes blurred in our minds when “WANT” becomes the vague motivator! There are scores of thousands (perhaps millions) of rifles in safes that have no reason for existence other than “WANT” because “others” have the same! Many of these rarely see daylight or use! They collect dust that sticks to their oily surfaces in their dark prisons!

If the motive of these blogs is “BEST LOADS” for harvesting game or predators, then we exclude “Safe Queens”, collector choices, never-handloaded rifles, antiques, autos, and neglected “WANT” rifles.

THIS is about RIFLES to be used, or RIFLES already in use for hunting purposes.

The RIFLE

Of course, many would claim that one must first choose the cartridge and then the rifle in which it’s to be used. Whatever. In my own case I mostly chose both at the same time. As told already, my first and second actually owned were both military Mausers. The main reasons for that being that I was somewhat familiar with the cartridges (7×57 and .30-06) and the rifles were relatively cheap. I would not have chosen an unfamiliar foreign cartridge designation even in a beautiful sporter. But cost was the main factor, so those rifles came in chamberings of which I had some knowledge. But how did a military Mauser 98 get chambered in .30-06? To this day I haven’t a clue! I could, of course, speculate but your guess is as good as mine without knowing the facts. But that’s the one on which I was able to mount a scope as it had a bolt handle that wasn’t sticking straight out, but bent down by the side of the action. It was also the one that first experienced my handloads.

So, was the rifle or chambering first in order? Whatever your view on that, it was obvious that they came together as a package. And several other rifles in my ownership have come into possession in the same manner. In the case of the .45-70s, I was attracted to the whole concept of the 1895 Marlin chambered in .45-70. As to medium bores (.338 to .375), I’d say it was the cartridge first in some and the rifle first in others. As to Big Bores, it was definitely the cartridges — the .45-70 and .458 Win Mag. Still, I have to add that eventually I wanted a .45-70 in a Ruger No.1. Another .45-70 would not have come into my gun cabinet unless it were a Ruger No.1. Ergo: I’ve owned two with the second receiving an extended throat for the long bullets and more powder. And a few .300 magnums were chosen specifically because they were .300 magnums.

So there you have it.

Yet my reading of reports from “gun nuts” suggests that the acquisition of rifles may have several distinct motivations: the rifle, the caliber, the cartridge, the “want” factor, inherited from family or friends, a gift, etc.

But if chosen for a particular style of hunting — brush hunting of big game (BG) or dangerous game (DG) as an example, then the rifle will be first and an appropriate chambering second. In Alaska, among it’s guides and outfitters for dangerous game like grizzly/brown bear, a short-powerful carbine type is usual. That might be a Ruger Alaskan in .375 Ruger or .416 Ruger. On the other hand, it might also be one of the short Marlins in .45-70. Therefore the emphasis will be first on handiness and second on chambering. There are even some short and handy .338 Win Mags and 9.3 x 62s.

In such choices the motive is firstly on the rifle itself, and secondly on its cartridge.

The CARTRIDGE

It’s far too common to refer to the cartridge as “caliber” — which is a mistake! Caliber is the bore diameter of the barrel, but there’s a great difference in the chambering and power between a .35 Remington and a .35 Whelen! They are each .358 – caliber, but the .35 Whelen can make 4000 ft-lbs of kinetic energy at the muzzle (when handloaded), whereas the .35 Remington can make about one-half (1/2) or 50% of that! They have the same CALIBER but are distinctly different in CARTRIDGE! Cartridge being the entire package of case, primer, powder and bullet. The .35 Remington can shoot a 200gr from a 20″ barrel at about 2100 fps/1958 ft-lbs, whereas the .35 Whelen can shoot the same bullet at over 2800 fps, and I’ve come very close to 3000 fps from two .35 Whelens. That’s a KE of from about 3500 ft-lbs to almost 4000 ft-lbs – about 2x that of the .35 Rem.

Therefore, when we speak of cartridge, caliber is implied, but when speaking of caliber, the cartridge isn’t known unless it’s mentioned. There are at least five known commercial .416 calibers still being manufactured: Rigby, Ruger, Remington, Dakota, and Weatherby – all with distinct cases that can’t be exchanged for any other. Then there is a 6th that was a wildcat, then became a legit cartridge, and now isn’t even mentioned in literature or handloading manuals: My favorite of all, the .416 Taylor.

So what CARTRIDGE should you or I choose for a particular purpose and rifle?

The BULLET

Never in history has there been the sheer number of cartridges being manufactured by various companies such as Winchester, Federal, Hornady, Remington, etc. But that belies the thousands upon thousands of bullets being produced for handloaders of those cartridges. To pick one among the many to create a “best load” is a daunting task, which is an understating of the challenge!

Economics is also a serious consideration in the whole scheme of matters. The time is long gone when we could think of handloads as a cheap way to produce exceptional ammo for our rifles. And, added to that the entire cost of a safari, or a simple DIY week of hunting on your own terms, means serious expenditures when all is added or multiplied together.

There was a time when I was shooting several thousands of bullets down range at targets each year to determine “best loads” for hunting purposes, or “just because”. No longer! My costs for a full season of bear hunting (Sept 1 to Nov 30) (about 2x weekly until I got a bear) was less than $350. “Bait” was free. Now I’m at the range once a week shooting no more than 10 to 20 big-bore loads (about $3 per) plus about 30 to 50 .22LR (a total of about $2.50 for the bunch). Then gas at the equivalent of $4.50 per Imperial gallon, plus buying “bait”, plus, plus… You get the picture. So, it’s important to settle on a “best load” for my purposes without needless experimentation!

How do I do that, or how has it been done?

Research is cheap! Experience NOT so cheap! But both are needed. So I spend a lot of effort and time in research (reading reports and other data as well as discussion with others who know somethings I don’t yet know), and enough in shooting and testing.

Testing for bullet velocity, accuracy and expansion-penetration characteristics before going afield isn’t cheap either in time, effort or money — but MUCH better than the loss of an animal due to ignorance of the bullet’s qualities, or wounding a game animal!

The cheapest way to “approve” a bullet is in hearing or reading what others have to say. But those “others” — what do we know about them? What’s their motive in publishing a good report — it killed the game sought after?

And, what’s the motive of a bullet-making enterprise producing a near clone of what some other company has already done, declaring it to be “superior” than any others? The reality is that there are already too many on the market that do the same things equally well! And, besides all that, animals were “cleanly killed” with so-called “cup-and-core” bullets long before “premiums” came to the fore! Don’t misunderstand, I use and like Noslers and TSX’s, but Sierras, Speers and Hornadys have killed deer by the thousands, and you could throw in a few grizzlies, moose and elk as well!

The 250gr Speer HotCor in .358″ has had an enviable reputation on moose and grizzly from a .35 Whelen long before Nosler ever produced a 250gr Partition in .358. And the 200gr CorLoc made specifically for the .35 Remington has no doubt taken more than its share of Maine black bears!< a 200gr CorLoc from a good black bear

So, what’s the “best load” based on a bullet’s attributes?

Those anecdotes serve, I think, to expose some myths as well as to confirm some known truths:

1. The shooter must become familiar with his/her chosen bullet.
2. The handloaded bullet must perform as intended and expected.
3. The physical conditions for those expectations must be known and planned for prior to hunting season.

The above three points assume the hunter to be both an “advanced handloaded” and experienced hunter. He/she has done the requisite research, knows what to expect from personal experience, or the experience of others in whom he /she has confidence.

It has been rightly stressed that the bullet is the cheapest part of an expensive safari (or trip to Alaska for a brownie or moose). But there are “safaris” nearby that are far less demanding on our limited time and financial resources. The current load for my Ruger No.1 “Tropical” in .458 Winchester Magnum is a bullet that cost pennies! It’s the 5th from left in the above photo.

I recently did a ballistic profile of “that load” which shoots MOA. It’s the loaded cartridges on the butt stock of the Ruger No. 1. Here’s the data:

Rifle: Ruger Tropical in .458 Winchester Magnum (Photo is from last week’s hunting excursion. For a better view, right click on photo, then left click on Open in new tab, then left click on “new tab”)

Bullet: 405gr Remington; SD = .276; BC = .281

Case: Hornady

COL = 3.26″

Primer: WLRM

Powder: 75 grains RL-15

MV (muzzle velocity) = 2091 average fps/3932 ft-lbs (The rifle is capable of 6000 ft-lb from particular loads.)

100 yds = 1826 fps/ 2997 ft-lbs/ +3.68″/ 136.5 MTE (Mitchell Terminal Effect)

200 yds = 1586 fps/ 2261 ft-lbs/ -1.57″/ 103 MTE

300 yds = 1376 fps/ 1701 ft-lbs/ -20.74″/ 77.5 MTE

400 yds = 1080 fps/ 1050 ft-lbs/ -58.37″/ 47.8 MTE (I like 50 MTE for a 1200 lb moose, but that’s close enough.)

Is that my “best load”? It’s actual for my current intentions for that particular bullet from my Ruger No.1 in .458 Win Mag. Being a flat-point, it will surely kill a lot of big game (and small) to 400 yards and beyond, though knowledge of its ballistic profile and trajectory is essential.

Just for the interest of the curious: That 405gr could be pushed out the muzzle of the “Tropical” .458 Win Mag at over 2500 fps, but there’s no need for such an extravagant MV! Plus, that bullet isn’t constructed to withstand an impact of much over 2000 fps on large game. And, at the current MV, the recoil energy is a mere 31 ft-lbs compared to a potential of 51 ft-lbs (that includes the Mag-na-porting).

Is that my “best” load for the 405 Rem bullet, fulfilling my purposes in that context? I have utmost confidence in it based on previous use of that bullet on bear at 100 yards from about the same MV fired from an 1895 Marlin in .45-70. And it will not go where a 400 yard shot could be taken; 200 yards would be a very long shot for the area where the majority of my BG hunting is done. If I should ever go to the “Far North” of our province again, there are several other “best loads” that could be selected for more open country.

From an analysis of the above “best load” for my current purposes (and there are other “best loads” that could have been chosen) there are some takeaways that might be useful to others:

A- There are usually several options that will do the same “job” equally well.

B- Consideration of all factors involved: costs, recoil, long-term availability of components, rifle weight and handiness, accuracy, and familiarity with and confidence in both rifle and load are all equally important.

C- Knowledge of the geographical area.

D- Honesty and knowledge of our own abilities and physical status is more important than the “best load”.

Next: testing, evaluating, sighting-in and harvesting of game.

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

Choosing the Right Load for Your Rifle – P1

Many years ago when I was getting back into hunting after a prolonged break (due to further education, learning a new language, a travelling ministry, raising a young family and living in different Canadian Provinces) I purchased a still in its grease Brazilian Military Mauser chambered in 7 x 57. As I recall, the cost was $75 in a downtown Toronto “army surplus” store. When cleaned up from the original grease it was packed in, it was perhaps the most beautiful rifle I’ve ever owned. And that included the overall workmanship, bluing and handsome walnut full-stock.

I hadn’t yet become a handloader, nor was a scope setup possible without mutilating this beautiful piece of art work and mechanical engineering. So, because I wanted to hunt deer with it, I bought some CIL (Canadian) 7×57 Mauser ammo in 160gr, went to a gravel pit and sighted it in as best possible from an offhand stance into a piece of cardboard from about fifty yards. At the time, that seemed adequate for deer to one-hundred yards, more or less. That is until I found myself in a closely wooded area with a running buck that went on its way with nary a hair out of place! I couldn’t focus on the buck at 80 to 100 yards and the iron sights at the same time!

<Today, shooting a right-hand bolt action repeater with a scope is normal. In fact, I can work the action faster than on a left-hand bolt action. That was my CZ550 in .458 Win Mag.

There were at least a couple of problems! The most apparent being my blind right eye (a childhood accident). Nonetheless, I’d learned early on to use rifles and shotguns from my left side so didn’t consider that a major handicap. And the second problem being the long radius between rear and front sights that didn’t allow me to focus on both at the same time while also trying to pick up my target. We need two good eyes to do that! Then there was a measure of astigmatism in my left eye that caused me to wear glasses. I knew that if I intended to be a serious hunter of game, I needed a rifle with a scope. So, the two matters coincided that would solve the focus problem as well as knowing bullet trajectories.

I traded for a rifle on which I could mount a scope and became a handloader. That was another ex-military rifle chambered in .30-06, which was soon traded for a slightly used sporting M70 in .30-06 that resulted in me becoming not just “a handloader” but a dedicated one as a researcher and student of many rifles and cartridges, and a tester of powders, primers, cases and bullets. Hunting got me into this game, but science has kept me going for over forty years.

The main challenge, of course, for the dedicated handloader is finding what is the ultimate best among all those possible combinations of powders, primers, cases and bullets — and all in a single rifle! And if several rifles are involved, we multiply costs, time and work by that number. So this subject is presented to give some guidance where need may be felt or wanted.

With the multiplicity of newer powders and bullets, and if we include recent cartridges and rifles, all of that only adds to the potential challenge of coming up with a “best load” for a particular rifle in the hands of a relatively inexperienced handloader. Of course, “advanced handloaders” are also looking for new information and techniques that might provide better results for a stubborn rifle, or give further insights on resolving nagging issues.

The term “advanced handloaders” was used in reference to my reloading journal on .45-70s. A top ballistic engineer of a bullet making company commented to me: “Don’t they all think they are advanced handloaders?” Be that as it may, any of us could still be in a process of discovering what works “best” in a given rifle and cartridge for a perfect result in ballistic performance and effect on game. I tried a new powder in my 9.3 x 62 that was suggested by a friend that had not yet received public recognition in the media. I tried it, and it proved to be THE powder for my rifle and hunting loads that I’ve come to depend on for “best” results. But…

WHAT IS BEST?

What do we mean by “BEST” in a reloading/hunting context? The answers are still to come in several presentations.

BEST for a significant number of shooters/hunters is primarily dependant on perceived accuracy whether or not other aspects of ballistics are achieved.

About a dozen years ago, the talked about cartridge in sales and media was the historic 9.3 x 62 Mauser. At that time I bought my first (and only). Handloading data was skimpy or nonexistent from the usual sources, so I used knowledge gained from several years of handloading a .35 Whelen, .350 Rem Mag and .375 H&H, all of which responded very well to the use of RL-15. And the ballistic results in my Tikka T3 Lite in 9.3 x 62 was adequate, but not outstanding by any stretch. I also gave H414 a fair try with stellar accuracy but poor velocities in my estimation in making comparisons with former experiences in the .35 Whelen et al. So I settled in with 3/4 MOA from the 286gr Hornady at just a tad over 2400 fps….

That seemed “normal” from the vaunted 9.3 x 62 Mauser. On the net, others were praising their results in accuracy — even posting pics, giving data EXCEPT muzzle velocity! Hmm…

Matters were beginning to look a bit gloomy for this handloader with larger expectations. So I pushed matters to the limit in the use of RL-15 and attained 2460 fps and very good accuracy! Great! My mood was improving… until summer followed spring. As summer temps climbed so did pressure. But PSI became erratic with the accuracy following suite!

So, what is meant by “BEST” loads for hunting purposes in a particular rifle?

The “load” of RL-15 that produced +/- 2400 fps was consistently accurate but only adequate (minimal) for BG to about 250 yards. Was that my honest expectation in buying the 9.3 x 62 when I went looking for another .35 Whelen that was a capable 400 yard moose gun? And, I’d turned down a .338 RUM in favor of the Mauser at the same store, at the same price and time!

So, again, what is meant when we talk or write about “best loads” for a particular rifle and cartridge combo?

At this stage of acquired knowledge, I will be firm in MY expectations of ANY handload for a particular rifle that I own and under my control — the details of which will be expressed in upcoming articles.

I consider the following order to be logistical:

1. The Purpose
2. The Rifle
3. The Cartridge (chambering)
4. The Bullet
5. Muzzle Velocity (and recoil)
6. The Powder, Primer and Case
7. Testing for MV and Accuracy
8. Evaluation
9. Sighting-in
10. Harvesting of game

Consciously, or unconsciously, all of the above is involved in determining a “best load”, or loads. Small groups of three or five at 100 yards or metres is only a part of that process if the intent is the clean harvesting of a game animal or predator under all potential hunting conditions.

Til the next…

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

Tree Stand, Ground Blind or Improvisation? P3

“That bear” mentioned and pictured in P2 appears here in nocturnal fashion six hours later. Trail cams have immense value in revealing the history and actions of potential game to be taken during daylight hours.

We’ve had a general overview of a couple of techniques in hunting wild game and predators in the use of TREE STANDS and GROUND BLINDS. Of course, much more could have been said regarding other details. But the point of this exercise is to help us in the decision making process of what tactics to employ in a given situation, depending on the season and the game being chased in a particular location, whether on private property or government land.

Because there are potentially many variables involved in a particular hunt for a given species — or multiple species — we might decide that freedom to use any mode of hunting is the best tactic. That is, we may spend early morning in a ground blind and later , say around 11 am, to begin quietly roaming a wooded area followed by taking a rest in sitting on a handy deadfall or boulder, hoping for a whitetail to pass by. The style of hunting that gives freedom to do what could be considered as intuitive or “inspirational”, may be referred to as:

IMPROVISATIONAL

That is doing what we might consider necessary or important at that stage of the hunt, or because being “fixed” at a particular location doesn’t seem to be working, or just because we are a certain type that must “explore” (that’s me) or have a change from routine — that’s also me! In a cooperative deer hunt on Crown Land, I’ve often been the one who does the scouting for sign and the best locations. I’ve also made many decisions for the location of bear baits — largely because I learned how in eight hunts with an outfitter. I knew what to look for as the best habitat, and those who became partners over time were largely novices to bear hunting, or bait-hunting bears.

Then, there’s the curiosity factor — what’s over the next ridge? It might be better than the present location. Early, one bitter cold November morning, I was alone in hunting whitetail in the very rugged hills of Haliburton Highlands. A fresh snow had fallen over night, and after an hour of watching a thinly wooded area below me, I had this “urge” to move down to the old woods trail that would take me up over another high ridge, and then off the trail part way down this ridge to an outcrop of ledges where I set up to watch the bush below. There was a fresh set of tracks in the snow that went down into the thick-young conifers below. I could only see about 35 – 40 yards before my vision was swallowed up by that thick bush. I sat on my back-pack/hunting seat with my .300 Win Mag across my lap loaded with 180gr Hornadys. In no more than twenty minutes I heard the tell-tail muffled sound of crunching leaves beneath the snow by something moving up the ridge in my direction. In less than a minute a very fat 9-pointer appeared quartering towards me at around 30 yards! He collapsed at the sound of the shot that took him between neck and shoulder. By day’s end he was hanging in my garage.

If I’d not been flexible and followed my “instinct”, the garage would have been empty that night! And, if I’d been stubborn in refusing to move to a different location, I’d have missed a very important experience and lesson!

Intuitive thinking: What is it? What makes some people aware that they should take such and such an action, or not take it? Or that they have insight into a matter that others seem to lack? This is not emotional reaction or plunging ahead into something fearlessly without knowledge or awareness. Neither is it the result of thorough analysis! By times too much analysis can cause paralysis! And it’s not the result of communication with the dearly departed or aliens from outer space! It’s often referred to as a “gut feeling” that can’t always be explained to somebody else!

“Intuition” – “The direct knowing or learning of something without the conscious use of reasoning; immediate apprehension or understanding” – Webster’s NEW WORLD DICTIONARY

Some people have it, others don’t, it’s as simple as that!

How it works though, I think is critical, as making important decisions often hinge on its effective use. It’s not a matter of “flipping a coin”, or a worrisome disposition. Some are inclined to see “the glass half full or half empty” – no, it’s not even that! Some might say, for instance, “I knew that wasn’t going to work out well”, after the fact! But they’ll say that about anything that doesn’t “work out well”.

Intuition is having an awareness of what’s right and best between options that may each appear to have points in their favor. You know the expression: “Something smells rotten in Denmark”? Often it’s that person who has an awareness of a potential situation that’s not exactly what it appears to be! Or, on the other hand, it might be a person who senses a favorable opportunity that others are completely missing!

A Practical Awareness: Some places with hundreds of wild game — the warmer climes of our continent for example — needs little inspiration or intuition of where to go for certain species — if they can afford it. The same for particular African species. But the awareness of where to hunt and when, or not, for certain species that are scarce in a particular area, is the result of knowing the history of an area in regard to game populations, it’s ecology and any changes in habitat. For example, the area of Crown Land that I’ve traditionally hunted for white-tailed deer has dried up, relatively speaking, over the past few seasons. There are a number of factors involved. But recently I’ve noted logging activities in that area. That’s good news! Why? Just as logging on Vancouver Island results in the attraction of moose which feed on the tops of those freshly cut trees, as well as deer, and bear are attracted to the same areas because of fresh meat! Bear hunters on Vancouver Island walk those lumber trails and without fail come across several bears before the day is done! All such hunting activities are not the result of intuition but analysis and experience.

Yet intuitive people take in details that matter! It might be expressions on faces, tones of voices, little things that others don’t notice or seem to care about. This is “tucked away” and seemingly forgotten until a certain situation arises that triggers a “sense” — a “gut feeling” of what its significance is– for good or bad, right or wrong, profitable or otherwise. Certain hunters do that! Also successful entrepreneurs. It’s based on quiet observation of seemingly small matters at the time but its significance for the long haul is immediate in a critical situation or decision making. That’s one way of how I knew the best locations for bear-bait setups on Crown or private land. And I noticed the logging operation… Sure, other savvy hunters have also done so.

My first big game experiences for deer hunting involved a young giant of a man who was in charge of a logging operation. He, with his young wife and small children, came to a church where I was pastor. Knowing I was interested in hunting he invited me to their logging camp for a meal in the north-central part of New Brunswick, about an hour’s drive plus another mile on foot over a very rough trail. He said when they take down trees with their chain saws, deer are attracted by the sound, knowing they’ll have easy access to the tender tops of the hardwood trees. He added that they see them quite close most of the time. So after a hearty lunch with them, he directed me where to go toward the northwest until I came to an old mining road, then follow it to the west and I’d soon find a deer… And he was right! But that experience taught me to find the best deer hunting where they — the deer- find easy and ready nutrients. That’s near impossible for deer in an old forest with little new growth, or none at all. That’s not an example of intuition, but it might become so when pondering where to go hunting for any browsers! It’s also both interesting and informative to note that where one form of wildlife is abundant there will also be found several species. Wildlife attracts wildlife for several reasons — take Africa as a prime example. Predators are attracted to where cattle, sheep and other fauna are abundant, as another example.

Yes, I do prefer IMPROVISATION as a favoured mode of hunting. You may hate tree stands… do you know why? On two distinct cold days, I left my tree stand from which I was watching bear baits and went to my vehicle 165 yards away for a hot drink and another sweater under my jacket. On each occasion it was about the end of September (two distinct years) and late in the day — around 6 pm — when bears begin to stir. I was aware on both accounts that the timing was very bad, but it was a choice between freezing in the stand or relief in my van! So I chose the van for additional clothing, a warm drink and a break from boredom and stiff joints!

On the first of those delinquent misbehaves, I was somewhat jolted in my halfway return to the stand by my partner headed my way from his stand in a very excited, if not downright apprehensive, mood! He was making a serious effort to not cry alarm out loud, but I could hear his “loud” whispers from forty feet away! He was attempting to describe his apprehension at “the bear” – a big one – coming in his direction in an aggressive mood, while he was still in his tree stand as soon as I had left mine in the immediate vicinity! That became “intuitive” to me.

The second time was three years later when I was alone in my stand in the same line of trees, and got cold again. I left for warmer clothes and a hot drink in the van. I also turned on the radio. My departure lasted for about 1/2 hour. I knew that there was a good bear that arrived in the bush about 30 yards from my stand around 6 pm each time I was there. A red squirrel would give him away on schedule! But he’d not present himself to the bait site against the trees 85 yards distant as long as I was in my stand.

A view of the bait barrel at 85 yards from my tree stand. The bear was always about 30 yards to my left, hidden by the thick bush. If you want a better view, right click on pic, then left click on “Open in new tab”, then L click on new tab.

Before leaving my tree stand, I’d lower my rifle to the ground on a piece of yellow nylon rope with cartridge taken from the chamber and clip with three others in it. They went into my jacket pocket. At the bottom of the ladder I’d untie the cord from the rifle, rechamber a cartridge and press the loaded clip into place prior to walking to my van. In returning after about 1/2 hour break, I’d load the rifle again in case the bear might be spotted. At the bottom of the ladder I’d remove the one from the chamber and put the clip in my pocket, tie the rifle to the rope for pulling it up after seated in place again. But, I’d usually also look over my shoulder about halfway up to see over the brush in front of the stand in case of the bear being at the bait, thinking I’d gone home! Sure enough, with the rifle on the rope at the bottom, and the clip in my jacket pocket and a single cartridge in my other hand — there was the bear on the bait, and he was obviously very hurried in his activity!

Somehow, as quietly and quickly as possible, I got seated, pulled up the rifle, loaded the one cartridge, placed the rifle on the rest, aimed and fired, all in less than 20 seconds — with the rope still tied to the rifle!

The rifle was my 9.3 x 62 Mauser, and that’s all it took!<The bear next day being skinned by my partners. The hide fetched about $350 at an auction.

The lesson learned? Bears are opportunistic — so should we be! Some have suggested to have two hunters with one leaving late in the day so a reluctant bear will think he’s now safe! But I learned that a solo hunter can do the same thing with excellent results!

The point is that we need to be creative, flexible and, at times, “think outside the box”. Don’t get stuck with one way of doing something if it’s not working !

Til the next…

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL