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For many years the debate has raged about which caliber is best in the brush. Equally debated is if any caliber is good in the brush. When most writers refer to the brush, generally they refer to Northern Tier states and whitetail deer. Brush, however covers a good deal of the Country. Brush is defined as bushes and young trees densely packed in a particular geographic area. For this topic, I am going to stick with Northern states, as their topography is covered with more brushy areas, on average.

 

In the past couple of decades, gun and ammo folk have tried to develop the quintessential brush rifle test. While some had a basis of merit, most have been dismal inconclusive events. The problem is staging a test where all calibers pass through the exact same amount of brush enroute to a target. Then what is the correct distance from the brush to the target? Distances as much as 20 yards from the brush have been used. Arguably, to more equate to our brush situations, the target should be , if not in the brush,  directly beside the brush. What we face is a whitetail standing up in a patch of juniper or prickly ash at a distance of less than fifty yards. Here is the real test.

 

As for the staged tests, probably one of the better was conducted by the late Jack O’Connor in 1962. Having hunted the brushy draws of the Southwest and evergreen mazes in Maine, he was uniquely qualified to do the test, although he mentioned the inequality in the amount of brush encountered by various rounds. After all the rounds were fired, a characteristic of a brush-penetrating rifle became prominent. Heavy blunt bullets deflect less. Odd to me that all of the various experts did not arrive at that realization without the shallow tests that were run, except then they would noit have gotten to shoot up all that ammo…hmmm. Yes, the 12 gauge was the overall winner in the majority of tests done with the 45/70 (405 Govt) and 35 Remington (200 Grain) finishing at the top of rifles.

 

Basic physics tells us that a cone-shaped object traveling at a rapid rate will deflect in the opposite direction from whatever part of the cone contacts an obstruction. While a round or blunt object will exert more energy into moving the obstruction out of the way. See, all us rural, agricultural, earthy folks already realized that. Had we been able to afford fancy weapons, we would have still reached for the Savage 99, Winchester 94 or Marlin 336 (yeah I know there some Winchester 88’s there, too) in 30/30, 35 Remington, 32 Special, 38-55, and 32-40. We did that because these calibers have filled larders for 150 years.

 

Now for the Ron Spomers out there that claim no bullet is any better than any other in the brush…I understand somebody has declared him an expert. Opinionated yes…expert is up for debate. The same guy that says a fixed 6 power scope is the ideal heavy cover optic says pointed bullets enjoy as much success going through brush as any other bullet. According to Spomer it is a matter of luck in getting past brush. O’Connor would have a field day with him. O’Connor, the proponent of very light magnification scopes with wide fields-of-views, came up with a new round to be chambered in a quick handling lever or pump action rifle. He proposed taking the 8X57 and necking it up to 338 cal. Loaded with 225 or 250 grain round nose bullets. Writer Jim Carmichael, O’Connor’s long time friend and colleague, dubbed the round the 338X57 O’Connor. If only someone had built it. The round would have tooted along at 2500FPS and destroyed anything in its way.

 

We have a version of what O’Connor envisioned in the 338 Federal, although not widely chambered yet. The round is too fast for O’Connor’s taste, causing more recoil than necessary, but does it produce! If a good pump or Marlin lever gets chambered in 338 Federal I will be at the front of the line.

 

When you head outside – take a youngster with you and pass it forward. God Bless.

Tags: Lever Action Pump Action WInchester O'Conor Carmichael

Fall…Time to Pick The…Lint?

 

This year, I have decided to do something a little earlier than normal.  I am going to talk about getting ready for the upcoming deer seasons. Ah, not so fast. If you think I am referring to all the redundant rhetoric about rifles, calibers, sighting in and what’s new to buy, you are way off the mark.

 

I am referring to is the one thing that makes a man’s skin crawl…going hunting and admitting he is lost!

 

Seriously, having been a member of a search and rescue unit, I know first-hand that many men will not acknowledge the situation they are in when it confronts them.  Women seem to be a little more even-headed in such times. Sorry guys…it’s the truth. I know most hunter’s go afield with little other than their rifles (and of course their clothes). Some may take a candy bar or a sandwich. Some may take a thermos of coffee. But few are prepared to spend the night in the woods, either by design or by accident.

 

Every hunter is not Lanny Benoit, willing to spend as many nights in the woods as necessary to get that big buck he has been tracking. But there you are, looking at tracks at least 7 inches long. The marks in the snow from his antler tines are over two feet wide. Heart pumping, off you go. “If a Benoit can do this, so can I.” you say to yourself. A glance at your watch…”noon…plenty of time left.” You dog those tracks, your tracks right on top of his (you haven’t been listening to Lanny talk about tracking). You check your watch…”oh oh…4 o’clock. An hour of daylight left. Now what? Which way is the truck? It looks like a storm. Man am I hungry.” 

 

This happens a lot more than you think. Be prepared this year, without spending a ton of dough. Now for the lint.  You all have thrown a bunch of dryer lint in the trash. This year, take a quart plastic bag and fill it with that dried lint. Lint burns hot and fast and only adds a couple of ounces to your pack. Also include a couple of different methods of lighting the lint, wax-covered matches, wind-proof lighter or the such are perfect. A fire can be a life saver.

 

With fall in the air, take a few minutes and go on line. Look at Sportsman’s Guide, Cheaper Than Dirt or Sierra Trading Post and stock up on your emergency needs. None of these places will rob you. You can pick up decent first aid kits for under 15 bucks. Space sportsman’s blankets (the shiny ones that say they can save your life) are around $2.00 each. I carry six. They weigh nothing, but six gives me enough to make a shelter and still cover myself up with. Carry a half-dozen nutrition bars (I know they taste like molasses flavored deer dung, but they have lots of energy) and a package of hotdogs. Don’t forget to take some water or coffee with you.

 

You never get lost?

 

Several years ago, in Maine, a hunter left his camper for a short hunt. He told his companions he was headed to the top of a hill in the distance, about ½ mile as the crow flies. It was 6:00 AM. At dark, his friends were becoming concerned. By 10:00 PM, they decided to call for help. Around 11:00 PM eight friends and neighbors with lanterns and flashlights tried to find the lost hunter. It was late in November and a cold spell was in full force. Lows were expected in the single digits. Exhausted, the group came back in at daylight. A rescue team was called (which should have been the first call). They brought cold-trail dogs with them.

 

At 10:00 AM, they found where the hunter had been on top of the hill. They found where he headed north down the hill, instead of east. At 1:00 PM they found his outer jacket. At 2:30 they found his back pack, with a full thermos of coffee in it (this small amount of liquid might have altered the outcome). At 3:00 they found his sweater and rifle. At 4:00 the hunter was spotted sitting down and leaning against a tree. As it turned out, in his panicked and dehydrated wanderings, he had ended up back within a hundred yards of the road, within eyesight of his pickup truck. He was a 15 year veteran hunter. A little foresight would have saved his life. But he was not prepared and panicked.      .

 

Take emergency supplies with you, topo map, compass and/or GPS and maybe an EBay walkie-talkie. Be ready for a safe year. When you head outdoors, take a youngster with you and pass it forward. Remember enjoy the outdoors…but do it cheaply. God Bless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey y’all. This time I am going to be writing about optics.  There is nothing better to startan argument with than optics. But before we start the arguing; I have a couple of items.  They deal with the trip to sporting goods store and the possible nightmare that awaits.

 

It was always the practice that quality sporting goods store employed personnel that were trained or at least had experience in the items that they were in care of. Then came big box mentality and a new meaning for customer service. I am sure many of you have agonized, trying to get a simple question answered about a product you were interested in, only to have the clerk tell you they were filling in at the Sporting Goods counter, usually they were in the golf shoe department…aahhhhhhh!

 

I guess I would not be a good marketing person, because if a person did not know anything about Sporting Goods…they would not be in there. Just last week I was in a large chain Sporting Goods store looking through the rifles, for a steal. I do find them every once in a while. I wanted to see a particular weapon and asked the clerk for assistance. His name tag indicated he was the Hunting Lodge Manager…ok…so could I see the 799 Remington that was advertised? Well, his response was “Ah, is that a rifle or shotgun?” Friends that is your clue to leave immediately and look for a local mom and pop shop to spend your hard earned money at. I cannot fathom a store or chain of stores so ignorant to have a totally unqualified person in charge of selling lethal weapons. How can they answer an inexperienced person’s questions if they do not know the answer themselves? All too often, they simply  fabricate a plausible and believeable answer, even if it is out of left field.

 

I have observed this a number of times. It reminds me of a used car lot in the late 1960’s. All the clerk needs is the yellow and green plaid sports coat.

 

“Do we have deer rifles? Of course we do! We have some of the best deer rifles in the county. This is a Winchester…(he looks down)…I’m sorry, Remington. It’s the long hours, I swear sometimes I don’t even know my own name. That’s why I wear a name tag…hahahaha…This rifle is in 338 Winchester Magnum, perfect for whitetail deer and it’s on sale! Why yes, your 12 year-old will be to handle this little beauty. I sold one of these to a lady at my church just last week and she loves it!”

 

No sir, I will be happy to pay a few dollars more to get the service I expect when hunting items are concerned. No one wants to spend less on anything than I do. But there are times that spending less actually costs more. If you know exactly what you are looking for and how to properly use it, then the big box store can, sometimes, save you money. What many people do not realize is that quite a bit of the “sale” merchandise can very well be last year’s stock from some other store or warehouse. Buying left-over merchandise only makes sense if the priced cut is dramatic. I am not objectionable to buying certain outdated items, as long as that item is not scents, attractants or other items that lose there potency with time, which is why many scent manufacturers tell you to discard the scents at the end of your hunting season. Come next season, they have lost their punch. You have to ask the clerk if they are fresh for this year. If you are lucky, some manufacturers, that they carry, date their products.

 

I am about 5 Maine miles off my topic for this column. A Maine mile can be anywhere from a mile to 15 miles, depending on who gave you the directions! “It’s abow ta mile, ayuh”

 

Now folks are thinking about new optics for hunting season, instead of last January when those optics were collecting dust on the store shelves. That’s okay, optics are necessary for many folks, me among them. Where the arguing comes in is over which optics are “best”. Good grief, how I despise that word. Best for who? The only person who can say what optics are best for you is…you. Do not listen to some guy on a hunting channel that says his scope is the “best”…he is paid to say that. Do not listen to some friend who tells you what you should buy. And especially do not listen to the kid from the golf shoe department telling you which one is the “best” buy.

 

I am asked that very question all the time. My answer is always the same. I can only give you an idea of the optics, in your price range, that I find are good quality and will do the job. I would do that if I worked for the big box store. Tell me a range for your optic budget and I will suggest some for you to physically look through. See which one suits you best, as far as clarity and brightness. That’s what it boils down to folks. Forget the ads and hype. Yes Zeiss scopes, generally, are superior in optic quality to a low end scope from anyone. Does that mean you should run out and buy a Zeiss…not at all. Optics, more than many items, are priced according to the quality of the process that produced the lenses (the optic in optics). But if you have $50, $150, $350, whatever your budget says you can spend, to buy a scope or binoculars, it is imperative to find items in that range, pick them up and look through them. Then you can make an intelligent decision. “These will work,” I am attempting to put together some optics in the various price ranges and let you know what I feel about them. All this will be is a guide. How they look to me may not be how they look to you. Here is a quick case and point: Back in the late 80’s, a gunshop owner friend of mine convinced me to order a Leupold 3-9X40 Vari-x II for $349. He said it is the “best” scope going. Ok, I ordered it and he mounted it for me. I sighted in on an overcast day, but I felt the scope was a little dark and had a brownish tinge to it. I mentioned this to my friend who told me it was a design feature, great in snowy conditions. I have not purchased anything there since and the Leupold went down the road. Those scopes and the models that followed enjoy a large fan base. But, my eyesight does not match up with them.

 

A couple of years ago, I needed a cheap scope for my son’s muzzleloader. He could only hunt a couple of days (he is in the Army and was in Afghanistan at the time). I went on EBay and won a BSA Catseye 3.5-10X44 and installed it on Tyler’s smokepole. I was shocked! It is extremely bright, extremely clear, adjusts perfectly and was $35!! The scope works so well, Tyler wants it left on his gun. Sure, I might have gotten lucky. But I would have still felt better if it were not as good than I felt with a $350 scope I could not use!

 

That is what prompted me to put together a “guide”. That and listening to a clerk at the big box store tell a customer he should buy the Nikon 4-12, that was on special (it was over-priced to begin with and now they were scrambling to sell it). He looked the customer in the eyes and said “You are new to hunting, then yes sir, THIS is the perfect scope. Sight it in at a 100 yards and, look here, see where it is marked 4, 5, 6, right up to 12? Well, there you go. You see a deer up to 400 yards just hold right on him. Further than that, just match how far you think he is with the number on this ring, right up tom 1200 yards.” You cannot make up something like that. 1968 Used Car Salesman, alright. “Yes sir, this little beauty will do everything you want a car to do, and at the best price in town, my word on it. I will even throw in a hat, breeze and tunes at no charge. Whadda ya say?”  In case you were not around then, hat, breeze and tunes translates vinyl top, air conditioning and radio. 

 

When you head outdoors, take a youngster with you. Remember, enjoy the outdoors, just do it cheaply. God Bless.

 

 

Tags: Optics Sale Scopes

 

Hey y’all.

 

Last time I spoke about “good” hunting rifles that hunters on a budget should consider. I appreciate the response I received. It seems there is no shortage of folks who cannot spend $900 – 1200 on a hunting rifle. The problem has been getting reliable comparisons and information on weapons in the working person’s spendable range. I did hear from a couple folks that thought I was off base and that quality firearms are not expensive because they hold their value, are built better, last longer blah, blah, blah. Of course they are built better…but the point is that if you cannot afford to buy one without taking food off your families’ table, you are not going to buy one of the those high dollar pieces.

 

Don’t misunderstand me. If you can afford a custom rifle, fine, go for it. This article is not about you. My CamoSpace friend, Bob Hart, builds some sweet custom rifles that shoot incredibly well. But you are not going to get one for $400-500. The situation is that a working class family has a need to purchase a rifle for Dad or a son or daughter just starting out. I gave some excellent alternatives for them last time. Today, I am going even further down the firearm evolution scale and talk about what can be bought to hunt deer with for LESS than $200. I swear I just heard someone say they would not be caught dead with a deer rifle that costs less than $200. For the record there are some excellent deer/pronghorn/elk class rifles available in that range. I see them every day. I am talking about good, well made bolt action rifles. The guns I am referring to saw their reputations built over two world wars, in dreadful conditions and in many corners of the world.

 

Ahhh, he’s talking about those dadgum military rifles….

 

YES, by George, I am. When you have made a science out of hunting and fishing on a budget (for nearly fifty years), you leave no stone unturned. All it takes is a little research. One of those military actions is the most copied action ever made, the Model 98 Mauser. Keep in mind, saying 98 Mauser is like saying Chevrolet. It doesn’t really narrow down what we are referring to, but is a starting point. Variations and a few predecessors of the 98 are available today for less than $200, if you shop around. The calibers will vary from 7X57, 8X57, 7.65 Argentine, 6.5 X55 Swedish, 7.5  Swiss, 308 Winchester and 30-06. Any of these calibers are commercially available and very lethal. If you pick up one of these weapons in full military dress, you will probably remove some of the excess wood to lighten the rifle. The sights that come on these weapons are adjustable out to over 1000 yards and are very accurate and serviceable. A couple of my favorites are the Model 95 Chilean Mauser (produced by Lowe in Berlin) in a 7X57 carbine and the K31 Swiss in 7.5 mm. The Swiss has the original straight pull bolt, now used commercially by Mauser and Blaser (pronounced like Mauser). It is fast, fool proof and utilized on an extremely accurate firearm. The caliber is fine for deer and deer-sized game out to 300 yards, for the average hunter. The little 7X57 carbine is a joy to carry and 300 yards is a piece of cake. Eleanor O’Connor, wife of legendary outdoor writer Jack O’Connor, used a 7x57 to take virtually all major game animals around the world, including an elephant. This is not to say that a 7X57 is that powerful, on the contrary. It is a testament that its excellent power can be used to its maximum because of its mild recoil and barrel jump. You may remember that Jack, the consummate champion of the 270, equaled his wife’s feat (except for the elephant) with his Winchester 270.

 

Another favorite in this category is the 7.65 Argentine. Most often it is found in the Model 1891. Well made, very accurate but like the Mosin-Nagant K-31 Swiss, the 1891 has a fixed box magazine that extends down to near the base of the trigger guard. It doesn’t  affect function; it merely uglies the weapon up a bit. If you can locate a decent Model 1909 Argentine, it offers a truncated magazine (how about that fancy word – truncated - just means flush to the rifle stock). This is a boon if you want to put an after market stock on and dress it up a bit. These rifles are mostly German built, but there were some external contracts given to produce the rifle. The Argentine and Peruvian versions are considered by most military enthusiasts to be the preferred Argentines. If you can grab a good Model 1891 that has not been altered, you can have it sent direct to your house (California and New York residents check your state laws). It does not come under the 1968 Gun Control act as it was made prior to 1898 and is not considered made for modern ammo. The caliber fits the bill on deer and with some handloading and tweaking can be serviceable on elk out to 300-350 yards. The variable with the 7.65 and the other military calibers is if a bullet is produced that is designed for thicker skinned animals like the elk.  At this writing I could make an elk rifle out of any of the above calibers.

 

Next on the list is the 303 British. It is most often found in the Lee Enfield SMLE version. The caliber is a bit below 308 in power; however Hornady offers a light magnum 303 British that puts it solidly in the factory 308 range.  This is a good deer load but the 139 grain bullet is lacking muscle for elk, etc. Factory loaded 174 grain loads out to 200 yards (basically muzzle loader range) will dispatch an elk. The weapons are very well made and are still available inexpensively. Again, it may come with a beat up military wood stock, but you can dress that stock up easily. A difference from the Mausers, I believe that the Enfield’s cock-on-close cannot be altered to the cock-on-open.  But I do not find that a problem.

 

My ultimate favorite in the military class is usually the cheapest to purchase and most unknown. However, lately it has become very collectable, in certain versions. The caliber is 7.62X54R, or as I call it….the 308 Russian. The rifle is the Mosin-Nagant bolt rifle co-developed by a Belgian and a Russian. These are extremely well made and very dependable. Every one that I have fired has been very accurate. The round falls between 308 and 30-06 in power. The most common models are the model 91/30 and model 44.

The 91/30 is a full length rifle with a 29 inch barrel. The model 44 is the Russian version, with folding bayonet affixed to the muzzle. Either can be bought for under $100 and require very little to be huntable. However, the bayonet on the 44 is troublesome, at best, to neatly remove. The model 38 Finnish does not have the bayonet and makes for less work. All the variants of the 44 are carbines with 16 inch barrels.

 

They will flat shoot at 300 yards with the military ramp iron sights that come on them. I did this with five consequtive rounds from a Model 44 at the city range in Las Cruces, NM. I simply slid the well-marked sight ramp up to the number “3”  (300 yards), laid the front sight blade in the slotted rear sight and carefully squeezed. All five rounds hit the silhouette target (a ram) behind the shoulder. These guns are starting to be discovered, however. In a few years the Russians will get their due on building quality weapons in the WWII era, as they have for the ones they now produce.

 

One thing that all of these weapons have in common and can be a stumbling block is the triggers. They all employ a two-stage works-regardless-of-how-much-mud-is-in-it trigger. These triggers can be annoyingly stiff with a long trigger pull. The problem is very easily correct on most of them by a 6/48 screw. If you get one or have one and needs help on the trigger, contact me and I will be glad to help. There are after market triggers available, but you know how much I hate to spend money.

 

Should you want to use a scope, all of these weapons have scope mounts readily available, although the rifle will have to be drilled and tapped. Virtually anyone can afford one of these pieces. They may not be pretty, but they sure beat not hunting. I would have no reservations taking any of these models hunting for any game animals in North America, except perhaps the biggest bears. Lets face it, if your pick up looks like it escaped from the junk yard and people hand you money when you stand beside it at Winn Dixie…you really don’t  mind that your deer rifle won’t win any beauty contests. All you know is that it cost very little and killed the buck in the back of that prize pickup. That’s being a Frugal sportsman.  An, hey, if you already have one or seven of these rifles, let me know about yours.

 

 

 

Tags: Hunt Rifles Deer Inexpensive

 

Hey y’all. Sorry about no new blog last week. Unfortunately I was reacting adversely to the up and down weather. However, I am back up to speed and raring to go. Today’s blog is designed to give you some good ideas and, hopefully start a few arguments.

 

In my regular America’s Frugal Sportsman monthly column I mentioned about finding deals on firearms. A number of folks posed the same question to me: What is the best cheap gun? I have been around long enough not to step into that one. Once a writer invokes the word “best” he is proclaiming superior knowledge on that subject. The readers, many times, will disagree with the expert in whole or in part. I proclaim no superior knowledge on any matter except, possibly, collecting ex-wives.

 

Instead, I am going to talk about a different method of examining the same question. I will address what are some “good” cheap weapons. That way, you get my opinion without being insulted. A number of TV hosts should adopt the same principle. What folks are interested in is what weapons they can obtain at a reasonable price that would serve their purpose. Now this is a category I am eager to address.

 

The first thing the prospective buyer should do is answer some basic questions: What is your budget?  Who is the gun for? Are they experienced in the handling of firearms? What amount of felt recoil will they be able to tolerate? What type of game will be hunted with it? What type of sights will be necessary? There are other questions, but these are the main ones that need to be addressed. If you find a great deal on a 338 Winchester Magnum and your 14 year-old needs a deer rifle, the deal is not necessarily good because the caliber is over kill and most 14 year-olds cannot  withstand the recoil of this round.  A deal is not always purely about money. Many hunters get caught by this, which explains why a lot of firearms are for sale in the classifieds. There is any number of mismatch pieces available. Those are guns with too much scope or insufficient scope mounted on them, rifles with magazines missing (a magazine can run over $50 real quickly), a weapon with a “slight’ crack in the stock (unless you are competent to properly repair the crack avoid this weapon unless the price is incredibly low), the bore is dark but just needs cleaning (I would only buy it after I saw it clean) or other qualifying statements you see in an add. Again, everything is relative. If an ad offers a $500 gun for $150, even if unfixable, the weapon should be able to sell for more than that just for the useable parts. But those do not come along that often.

 

So what do I feel are some “good” cheap rifles? Well, now we need to know a budget. In the $200 to $450 range, you will find many acceptable pieces. In that range I would look for a Savage or a Ruger first. The Savage has an undeniable reputation of being ugly but shooting exceptionally well. It’s sort of like finding an unattractive person to date, but they cook, clean wild game and own a 4X4. Rugers are better looking but do not command the price of a used Winchester or Remington. Is that deserved? Not to me, personally, but to many it is. Next would be a top brand weapon that was mistreated, i.e., scratches, exterior rust, adjustment caps missing off the scope. These obvious indicators drive down perceived value. On the other hand, if you are handy and can clean the weapon up or resurface the stock, then you can get a real deal. If you have to pay someone to do repairs on the for sale firearm, be extremely cautious and by low, very low.

 

It comes with a scope…man, what a piece of bait that statement is. There are a lot of very poor quality scopes on the market that do not add any value to the weapon. Dealers call them throw-aways. Their best purpose is to hold a window up. If the gun has a low end scope (if you are unsure…ask someone), bargain as if there were no scope on the gun. If it is a decent scope, ask the seller if they will warranty the scope. I always do that. If they are unwilling to warranty the scope then it is not worth what they thought it was. I hear someone saying “I’m not going to ask anyone that. They’ll think I am an idiot.”  Guess what, you walk away with a gun you paid too much for and you know what the seller thinks? “Idiot”  So as long as I am going to be an idiot, I might as well be an idiot with extra money in my pocket.

 

Buying in person is always best. That way you can check the mechanical workings of the weapon making sure that the bolt functions properly, the safety engages, the clip is there and functions properly and the scope is clear and undamaged. If you purchase online, as I often do, or are purchasing through an out-of-state ad, you must have window of opportunity to examine the gun, usually three days. If the seller is unwilling to extend the privilege of inspecting the weapon subject to returning it, stay away from that purchase. Without a written examination clause in the purchase, you would have no legal grounds to recoup your money, should the weapon, indeed, be faulty beyond reasonable repair.

 

Those are just some brief ideas. Next time I will be talking about some “good” weapons that can be purchased in the $150 or less range. I love being cheap…I mean frugal.

 

Remember, when you go outdoors this summer, take a youngster with you.  God Bless

 

Hollister

 

 

Tags: Hunting Optics Guns Discount

Summer’s Here

Hey y’all. Now that summer has finally made it and the 4^th of July is almost on us, many of you will, no doubt, turn your thinking to getting your bows, rifles, muzzle loaders and slug guns sited in. Although the weather is nicer and you can shoot in short-sleeved shirts, this can be a misleading time of the year.

Without exception, every fall one or more of my friends has a horror story about missing a clean shot in deer season. One had trouble drawing his bow in his tree stand. Another had a problem shouldering his rifle properly. And then there is the one who had trouble acquiring his target in his scope. Do any of these fit you or someone you know? You would be surprised to find out how many people will answer yes to one of these scenarios. The culprit…those short-sleeve shirts! If you are not surprised, you probably have had it happen to you.

When you sight in a weapon, you should wear what you will most likely hunt in, coveralls, camo suit, winter coat or whatever. Maybe that’s why some people prefer to wait until the chilly days of fall to sight in. The reason for this is very simple. With light clothing, your firearm will fit you a certain way. It comes up to your shoulder in a particular manner. The rifle or shotgun fits your cheek in a particular manner. Your line of sight through the scope is also in a particular manner. There you are shooting little tiny groups on your 100 yard target, once you were sited in, and feeling wonderful.

Deer season comes along and you are faced with a decent shot on a nice buck…and you blow it. Infuriated, you blame your scope, your rifle, your dog…everything but what most likely is the villain here…bulky clothes. Actually, I should say clothes that are bulkier than the t-shirt you were wearing when you sited in. All those extra layers of warmth are also extra layers of cloth and insulation. Your weapon cannot possibly fit you the same as it did in the summer. Not being able to see through the scope easily is the biggest offender in this drama. Depending on your hunting clothes your cheek could be as much as an inch different in placement than it was in the summer. The next most common is the rifle butt hanging up in the armpit of your coat as you try to shoulder it. A good friend of mine missed a chance at huge buck in the Rangeley Lake area of Maine because of this. By the time he had the weapon in position, the big white tail had vanished.

I know I usually am telling you ways to save money, but being frugal applies to time and aggravation, as well. If I can save time and aggravation, I have then done something worthwhile. I am going to give you a couple ideas to do exactly that and make sure you don’t blow the shot of a lifetime. First, check your rifle or shotgun’s recoil pad (if it has one). If it is an inch thick, consider reducing it to a half inch pad. Then come fall, the weapon will come to the shoulder much easier. I have seen a rifle need an inch and ¼ reduction in length of pull to accommodate for the difference in summer and deer season clothing. Set your length of pull for hunting and adjust for target shooting in warmer weather. This will save a lot of aggravation. This is easily done with a slip on recoil reducer for your shoulder. These are available at most sporting goods stores and through most of the catalogs. Do this and your favorite rifle or shotgun will not let you down.

As for archery equipment, unfortunately, there is no quick and easy fix. That’s why a lot of folks have a bow that they shoot with all summer and then have a hunting bow. But that means spending more money…and you know how I feel about that. So, take your only bow and sight it in for summer, shoot merrily away until about late August and then put on the hunting clothes and resite the bow for hunting season. This will let you avoid not being able to get your site picture properly and save you buying a second bow. It’s definitely worth the few minutes time it takes to readjust your site pins.

Sighting in distance is easier for archery equipment. The normal is 10, 20,30 and 40 yards, although some of the folks with the new high tech bows and carbon arrows with little tiny broad heads tell me they are good to 80 yards. Remind me not to hunt with them. The best way to get land closed to our use is to wound some deer and not be able to recover them or have some farmer cut a farm tire (or one of his kids) on an arrow that was flung too far. Be a better hunter and keep your range reasonable.

Now rifles, on the other hand, are a different sort entirely. There are many experts, all with different ideas as to what the best way to sight in is. Here I go saving you something, again. This time, I am going to save you ammo and unnecessary exercise.

Years ago, I read an article in Outdoor Life, by a fellow named Wooten (I believe his first name was Jim) entitled Point of Aim Sighting. Point of aim simply means that you put your crosshairs on the deer, elk or whatever and squeeze the trigger. Well in the last 30 some years, that article has saved me countless steps and countless ammo. I am a believer in testing theories put forth by experts prior to accepting them as valid. So I tested Mr. Wooten’s theory, which was quite to the point. He suggested sighting in at 25 yards. He cautioned that his method will require a rock solid shooting rest (he recommended the Lohman Shooting Vice). After firing the first round at 25 yards, rather than adjust crosshairs (or whatever reticle you are using) to move the bullet hole to the center of the target, sight on the center of the target and move the crosshairs so that they center on your bullet hole. That’s it, you’re done. You are now dead on at 25 yards and according to Wooten, if you use a 30-06 you will be about 1 ½ inches high at 100 yards an back on zero between 215 and 230 yards, depending on load.

I tried this on several different calibers and found it to 100% accurate. Dead on at 25 yards is good for most Northeast white tail hunters, where shots seldom exceed 200 yards. If you have one of the hot new short magnums or a 300 Win Mag (probably my favorite all around caliber), you might want to add one step to the sight in procedure. After sighting your crosshairs in on your bullet hole, on the 25 yard target, lower your crosshairs ( for newer hunters, this means the center aiming point of whatever reticle you happen to be using) one inch (about 8 clicks if your scope is ¼ minute clicks. You will now have a point of aim from 25 to about 300 yards. In other words, you now will be able to hold right on the vitals anywhere within that range. A shot at a 300 yard target, using your hunting load, will tell you exactly. From experience, I can tell you that you will be somewhere between right on and 3 inches low. 3 low inches at 300 yards will put your animal down, if you are holding in the center of the vitals (which most of us try to do at that range).

There, I have saved you a lot of ammo and lot of trudging back and forth to the target. I always get a chuckle out of that one. I will be beside some guy at the range. He fires his group, looks through his expensive spotting scope then walks down to look at the target.

I urge you to try this method, if you don’t already use it.

That’s all I have for now, but I hope you get the idea. Practice does NOT make perfect…proper practice makes perfect. Hey, when you hit the outdoors this summer, take a youngster along. It’s good for both of you. And remember, enjoy the outdoors…just do it cheaply. God Bless.

Hollister DeLong

America's Frugal Sportsman

Tags: Hunting Archery Optics

Hey y'all. There is one upside to this ecomony situation...there are a lot of sports and recreation items for sale at some very low prices. In my regular monthly column in Outdoors Magazine (www.outdoorsmagazine.net) I show people how to enjoy the outdoors without spending a lot of money. If you check the classified ads where you live, or check them out online, you will see a ton of stuff being sold cheap.

I have found everything from guns and fishing equipment to RV's at bargain basement prices. Especially noticeable are for sale ads about anything that uses gas. The rediculously high gas prices are causing a lot of folks to dump their toys. What that means to me is bargain time!

One example was a 24' cuddy cabin aluminum fishing boat, motor and trailer. This setup should sell for around $11,000 in a normal economy. It's a 94 model in real good shape ( according to the photos ). This rig can be towed by a 1/2 ton truck or compaact truck fairly easily due to the lower weight of an aluminum boat. But, the owner obviously wants to sell it as he listed it for $7500! We all know that the listed price is usually negotiable as well.

I picked up one of my favorite military rifles, a Mosin Nagant, last week for $95.00. They are fun to dress up and most of them shoot exceptionally well. The 7.62X54R is an excellent caliber, falling between a 308 and 30/06 in ballistics. Also their is a ton of cheap non-corrosive ammo available to go shooting with. This particular weapon already has had the bolt altered, has a composite stock and also is equipped with a Leepers 3-9X40 scope. The bolt conversion, scope mount and stock are a package that retails for around $90. Depending on where purchased, the scope is in the $50 range and is a decent cheap scope. To get the rifle already equipped with these goodies and pay less than just the add-ons cost qualifies as a deal.

If you take the time to look around, you will find deals on everything. If you are going to be needing something for your outdoors pursuits, start looking now while people are in shock over the ecomomy and gas prices. Once they get used to paying more, they will not be as anxious to sell off their toys.  Check you local ads then go to your computer and enter "classified ads" in your browser. You may be amazed at the choices that come up. Jump in and browse around.

A lot of you will realize that guns can be purchased from an online or out-of-town source by having the weapon sent to an FFL holder in your town, subject to your local and state laws. Most areas allow black powder long weapons to be sent directly to an individual 21 ywaers of age or older. Some jurisdictions look upon a black powder pistol the same as they would any other handgun. New York, where I currently live, does not allow an individual to receive any handgun directly. An FFL holder must handle all handgun transactions and the individual must have a NY state pistol permit to purchase any handgun. Check your local laws to avoid an trouble from the Gestapo where you live.

Have fun with your classified ad browsing and let me know if you score a really good deal!

Blessings,

Hollister DeLong

America's Frugal Sportsman

Tags: Hunting Fishing Classified Ads Recreation