What does Darrell carry in his pack?

 

1. My Lightning Strike Fire Starter. Without a doubt, the most important item to carry. It keeps me warm in an emergency, can be used to make a signal fire or cook the day's kill if necessary. I add extra tinder (my new NAPALM Tinder). More about this item
2. Knife and flashlight. Who hunts without a knife, Vegans? I dine on protein, so I carry a knife. I carry two knives in face: my hunting knife and a Swiss Army “Camper” model. I like the MINI Army tech flashlight which uses “AA” batteries and is quite bright, waterproof and long lasting. I carry two extra “AA” batteries.
3. Shelter Tarp. I carry a rip-stop nylon tarp that I can use to make a shelter in tough conditions. Grommets all around allow great tie-downs.
4. MINI Hatchet and SILKY Saw. These two items can be used to make a small house/shelter, gather large amounts of fire wood and quarter up large animals, if need be. If I plan on spending the night, I take my pruning shears, I can use these to cut cedar/fir boughs to make a comfortable bed in a hurry. They are much faster than any other tool in my pack.
5. Aluminum tent stakes (6) and 20 Penny Nails (4). Can be used to build a shelter, hang items, etc. Handy but not absolute.
6. LARGE heavy-duty plastic garbage bags. I carry the HEFTY brand large plastic bags/ they can be used to protect meat, serve as quickie rain gear, or can be used to keep warm if you can't get a fire going.
7. Small Zip-Lock bags. I carry two 1-gallon bags and four HD/freezer quart bags. Buy Zip-Lock brand not cheap junk.
8. Para-Cord. I carry a lot of para-cord and use different colors for specific applications. Carry at least 50 feet of cord. I carry 3 different colors totaling around 125 feet.
9. Tin cup. (actually stainless steel) used to cook in, gather water, or beg for alms.
10. Small First Aid Kit containing the following: Band-Aids, Neosporin, Benadryl, Tylenol and alcohol wipes. One Quick-Clot bandage, which I hope I never need to use.
11. Field dressing kit. Latex gloves, handi-wipes, paper towels.
12. Wool stocking cap, compass, water bottle, Rhino radio/GPS, and ResQ-Link beacon. Hopefully I never have to use either.
13. Ammo Tote allowing me to carry and extra 20 rounds of ammunition. Going afield with just the ammo in your gun is a BAD IDEA!!! This item in our store
14. Some optional items to consider. Small marine flare for signaling in the event of rescue. Drinking straw water filter. These are essential items if you are using this pack as a bug-out bag! An addition would be a 12×12 inch square of Reynolds Aluminum foil. Use the thick heavy duty material, use it to signal in an emergency and also as a fire pit when necessary.

Our recent Africa hunt gave us the opportunity to test a variety of bullets and monitor killing effectiveness, penetration and weight retention. Everyone shot reasonable cartridges, there were no Testosterone fueled MAGNUMS. Todd shot his 260 Rem. 140 NABs, Gene and Jacob shot 308s with 168 SMKs and 165 NBTs, Cliff shot a 6.5 SAUM with the New Hornady 143 ELD-X bullet, Xavier shot a 284 with 168 Bergers, Jonathan and I shot a 6.5 Creedmoor with the Hornady 140 gr. MATCH bullet.

We shot a total of 123 animals. Springbuck, warthogs, impala, hartebeest, blesbuck, wildebeest, kudu and eland. So there was quite a variety of animals to test on. Ranges varied from 25 yards to 585 yards.

All bullets killed animals as would be expected and shot placement continues to play an important role in ones success. Having said that, some bullets did perform better than others and here are the results.

6.5 140 gr. Nosler Accu-bond. 22 animals killed, excellent penetration, even on eland and kudu. Very few bullets recovered as most were complete pass-thru's with good exit wounds. 5-Star rating.

168 Sierra Matchking. Contrary to Sierra's claim that this is a MATCH bullet, not a game bullet, it still kills quite well. Penetration seems sufficient, although there were few exits on the larger animals, internal organ damage was superb. Animals were shot to 400 yds with this bullet. 4-Star rating.

Gene Kelly with a nice blesbuck, Gene and Jacob shot Sierra's and Nosler BTs.

165 Nosler Ballistic Tip. A great killer on all accounts with over 20 animals killed. Numerous pass-thru's on springbuck, warthogs, blesbuck and kudu. Bullets recovered still retained lead core and jacket. 4 Star rating.

Gene and Jacob with a nice wildebeest. This dynamic-duo used 308s and shot over 40 animals. No magnums required here! Great father and son time in the field

143 Hornady ELD-X. Cliff shot a lot of animals with this bullet and the results were sporadic. It did kill well with many DRT's, however when bullets were recovered the lead core always separated from the jacket. Internal damage was good, yet there were few pass-thru's even on medium sized animals. This bullet has an EXCELLENT BC, (.62) which is important and if Hornady can find a better way to bond the core, this bullet will give the Nosler Accu-bond a run for its money! As many of you know, I'm quite a fan of EXIT wounds in the event you lose sight of the animal.

Being able to follow a blood trail is VERY important and failure to find “blood” often leads to a lost animal if one's tracking skills are marginal. 3.8 – 4.0 Star rating.

Cliff Neuse with a blue wildebeest. Cliff used a hot-rod 6.5 SAUM and 143 gr. Hornady ELD-X bullets loaded by Copper Creek ammunition. Cliff likes to travel in “FAST” company and this rifle/cartridge performed quite well!

168 Berger. Xavier shot this bullet in his 284 and smoked lots of animals. His shots were often less than 200 yds and most all of his animals were one-shot kills. At close distance the ability to place the bullet exactly where you want it is often quite easy. Xavier is a good shot and his PH was quite pleased with his performance. Berger bullets seldom exit, again posing a problem if you lose sight of the animal.

Xavier with a nice eland. Below are a pair of nice warthogs! Xavier used a tri-pod and a Hog Saddle to make several of his shots. His 284 and Berger bullets proved quite deadly…

140 Hornady ELD MATCH. I'm a big fan of the 6.5 Creedmoor and wanted to use this bullet to see how well it worked in a hunting environment. Accuracy was exceptional and it did kill well when I did my part. I tried to “stretch” the barrel a bit on several animals to see the results. We killed numerous springbuck between 300 and 585 yds. I hit the 585 one a bit low and he require additional shots at 480 yds.
Jonathan killed several in the 435-475 yard range with complete pass-thru's. On larger animals, warthogs, blesbucks, kudu and eland, pass-thru's were few and far between. Internal damage was good, however, many of the bullets found had separated from the jacket and failed to penetrate even to the far side of the animal.

Jonathan with a nice impala. Jonathan shot quite well during the hunt, maybe good genetics has something to do with it…

I shot a large waterbuck (600 plus lbs) at 505 yds thru the heart, he required a second shot at 550 that put him on the ground. My eland was an excellent heart-lung shot at 425 yds and required two additional shots, one at 450 and 475 yds. No pass-thru's. While this is considered a match bullet, its make-up is very similar to the 143 gr. hunting bullet but it shoots much better, at least in my rifle. I think the jacket separation is the problem with these bullets as one cannot tell the difference between the two (140s and 143s) when the jackets are found, both designs separate.

My waterbuck shot thru the heart at 505 yds. I put a second-round in him at 550 yds. It might not have been necessary, but why take a chance on packing an animal any farther than you have to.

While my shots were farther on the average than the rest of the crew, in testing I will give this bullet a 3.75 Star rating. I hoping that Hornady will respond with some more R&D to take these bullets to the NEXT level. With its high BC and excellent accuracy, the only thing missing is a better bonded core to offer better penetration.

Our ALUMNI SHOOT in South Africa went off without a hitch.

Students Todd Fisher, Xavier Carillo, Gene and Jacob Kelly, Cliff Neuse and Jonathan Holland joined us on this world class hunt. We hunted in the Orange Free State with my longtime friend and PH Hein Funk.

2016 Alumni Team.
Back row L-R Todd, Gene, Jacob, Cliff, Jonathan, Hein, Darrell, Rosita, Ann and Xavier

Once zero's were confirmed we divide up in pairs and headed into the Savanna. The region is very arid with rolling hills and plenty of rock outcroppings. Mornings were cool, with temps in the mid-high 30s, warming in the afternoon to 65-70 degrees.
The area we hunted encompasses roughly 90,000 acres and it was refreshing to never see another hunter during the day. Each pair of hunters had their own region to hunt and daily walks were 6-11 miles a day.

Typical terrain we hunted in. Large vistas, rolling hills and plenty of rocks.
Perfect spot and stalk opportunities.

Todd Fisher made the comment one night that a trip like this offered the “new hunter” a chance to gain decades worth of hunt experience (if he/she hunted in the States and had to draw tags) in the 10 days we were there. If you bought the 10 day, 24 animal package, there was never a day that you did not see at least 50-100 animals of different species and have the opportunity to shoot at least 2 animals per day. This amounts to a lot of stalking practice, paying close attention to the wind, walking quiet and other field craft skills. How many North American hunts offer such opportunities and experience?
Evenings were spent telling hunting stories and dining on superb meals prepared by Hein's wife Marietjie.

 

 

Breakfast was served at 6:30 AM and most hunters hit the road by 7:00 and did not return until dark. Lunch was served in the field. All hunts were spot and stalk, there was no shooting from a vehicle.

Gourmet meals for dinner every night, Weight gain anyone?

 

By Darrell Holland

 

In our formative years while perched atop our parents or grandparents lap, we listened to the story of Hansel and Gretel and how they attempted to find their way home via the bread crumb trail. We've all used a similar method to find our way back to camp or where we parked in that mega parking lot late at night. Finding the car or our way back to camp can take minutes to hours and unless complicated by failing light or wild animals the adventure can be rather uneventful. Time being the only boring factor to contend with. There is however another bread crumb trail, one that is not told in Fairy Tales and is often kept secret from our peers. It however can be as important, if not more so, than finding our car or our way back to camp. It all depends on how we are hard wired and how serious we take our sport. The long range shooter who has never experienced a full rotational error, either hasn't shot much, or is telling a “big windy”. When this calamity strikes, shooter's go through all sorts of contortions to correct this grievous error. Usually a trip to the range or an impromptu 100 yard target is set up and half a box of shells later, the rifle's zero is confirmed. A sigh of relief is uttered usually accented with a few adult adjectives and a vow to never missdial again. We've all been there if we are honest with ourselves. I know a few of you have pushed your chair away from the monitor and shouted “Not Me”!!!! Why, I count those little hash marks on the turret and “Never “ lose my way. While good in theory, it doesn't seem to work 100 % of the time! Your viewing angle of the turret, the thread pitch and or number of minutes of angle per revolution can distort our view. Let's listen in on a familiar conversation: Virgil, she looks sorta like three and a half hash marks to me, are you sure it its 4 tick marks? Well now, wait just a minute, if I scrunch my head down real close to the stock I can get four hash marks, but I gotta really bury my face down hard on the comb? Sound familiar??? You be it does, I've heard about every version of the above scenario while teaching students at our long range shooting school. Yeah but those are newbies, anybody worth his salt can tell three and a half hash marks from four. Okay, would you be willing to shoot an egg off your child's head at 100 yards after I twisted and turned your windage and elevation knobs multiple revolutions? Didn't think so!!!! Here however is a method that is fool proof and in William Tell fashion, provides you with the confidence to make the shot each and every time, allowing your gene pool to continue. Once the rifle is “ZEROED” and the windage/elevation knobs slipped to “0”, simply turn both dials “clockwise” counting the revolutions and minutes until they bottom out. Using a label marker or metal marking pen, write that number on the top of the knob. See accompanying photo. Do the same with the windage knob.

By applying an adhesive sticker or using a metal marking pen (I prefer yellow or white) to our windage elevation knob, as shown in the photo, we can always find our way home. The elevation knob requires 3 revolutions and 2 minutes of angle to find my initial zero. The windage knob requires 2 revolutions and 8 minutes to zero. This simple method allows the shooter to find his or her way home should they get lost in a sea of dialing

 

Using the above method you will NEVER encounter a full revolution error. Anytime you are in doubt, simply turn the dial “clockwise” until it stops and reverse the revolutions/minutes to your initial zero. This bread crumb trail is easy to remember and fool proof, even at night. Simply remember the total number of minutes and multiply by four if you are using .250 clicks. Feel the click and start counting…. By applying an adhesive sticker or using a metal marking pen (I prefer yellow or white) to our windage elevation knob, as shown in the photo, we can always find our way home. The elevation knob requires 3 revolutions and 2 minutes of angle to find my initial zero. The windage knob requires 2 revolutions and 8 minutes to zero. This simple method allows the shooter to find his or her way home should they get lost in a sea of dialing. Home alone and lonely? Grab the rifle ( a man's second best friend) turn out the lights, bottom things out and count those clicks., When you've reached the “magic number” turn on the lights and check your progress? Gain confidence and say good-bye to being lost at the dials!

 

Until next time, remember: Knowledge is Power!

 

Most respectfully.

Darrell Holland Holland's Shooters Supply

By Darrell Holland

 

Rifle cant is a common problem for many shooters, especially those you have a “Natural” cant when holding the rifle. More than not the rifle scope is mounted by eye, once the proper eye relief is found. “She looks pretty good to me” and screws are tightened. The more sophisticated types purchase the” level level” gadgets and attempt to level the ejection port and top of the scope turret. While good in theory , it is not always a precise way to mount your scope guaranteeing your scope reticle is perpendicular to the bore. Years ago I developed a unique fixture to “SOLVE” those pesky scope mounting issues. Numerous customers watched me mounting their scope using this fixure and encouraged me to offer it to the public. This fixture is very simple to use and a perfect job can be had even by the mechanically challenged. Forget about fumbling with the vise twisting and torqueing the rifle to level the scope base. We've all been through that frustrating procedure. Mount the rifle in the fixture and tighten the clamp, set the magnetic level on the base and make sure it is 90 degrees to the base. Use the adjustment screw to bring the base into “EXACT” level, remove the level and attach the scope rings. Note: You can lap scope rings prior to this step. Be sure and clean all abrasive material from the rings, hot soapy water works best with water soluble lapping compound.

 

 

With the rifle held securely in the fixture, one simply turns the adjustment screw (upper right hand corner) until the scope base is absolutely level. We are now ready to mount our rings and align our scope reticle with the plumb bob we have hung across the room. Tighten ring caps uniformly

 

Hang the plumb bob across the room ( supplied with the fixture) and set the rifle scope in the ring saddles. Attach the ring caps and loosely snug the screws to gently hold the scope in place. Rotate the scope until the reticle aligns itself with the plumb bob. Tighten the screws. Now is a good time to add a scope level ensuring reticle perpendicularity in the field. While the rifle is still in the fixture insert the collimator and align the grid with the reticle. View the grid thru the scope and dial 30 minutes of elevation making sure the reticle is tracking parallel to the collimator. If everything is working correctly you may remove the rifle from the fixture. Don't trust your scope mounting to the kid behind the counter at Wal-mart. This fixture will pay for itself in no time at all. For more information contact Holland's Shooter Supply at 541-439-5155.

 

Holland's Scope Mounting fixture complete with all the bells and whistles. Magnetic level, plumb bob, grip cloth, nylon spacer block and forend shim. Everything you need to do a perfect job for yourself and friends.

 

Being self-sufficient in simple gunsmithing techniques can save you money and time.

 

Until next time,

Respectfully,

Darrell Holland Holland's Shooter Supply

By

Loop-Hole Louie

 

For many hunters the time allotted for hunting is just too short. With busy work schedules and domestic duties at the home front, we find ourselves severely short changed in pursuit of our favorite hobby, Hunting!

For each of us, the dreadful circumstances are as different and unique as the individuals involved. A common denominator however does occur, one that we can all associate with. In our youth many of us were irresponsible, foot loose and fancy free, may be a better adjective to describe our carefree lifestyle however. I can remember one year hunting for 30 continuous days and never having to answer to anyone! These “Testosterone based Marathons” hold fond memories, sleeping in the truck, eating cold sandwiches for days on end. These character building years make for great stories around the campfire. These stories become yardsticks by which we judge other hunters.

Then hormones changed. My pursuits and stalking abilities were focused on another kind of dear. As in most relationships everything is hunky-dory for the first few years, then Reality sets in. Jobs, mortgages, 401 K's, summerhouses, and one, possibly two tax deductions arrive on the scene. Let's face it, our lives have changed. In most cases a 7-10 year cycle takes place before we begin to reflect on our loss of freedom. Some may refer to this as a second childhood, most however, prefer to describe it as making the most out of the years we have left. I firmly believe we are only given so many hunting seasons and should make every effort to maximize time in the field.

For those of us that married “wisely” this lusting of our miss-spent youth is tolerated by our better half. They often shake their head in what we take for a nod of approval and off we go into the wild blue yonder. Many wives possess the uncanny ability to sense our outdoor calling and grant us the necessary time to decompress before we self-destruct in our fast paced society.

How many of us have a friend or acquaintance that is not so fortunate? He is put on a short leash and has more restrictions imposed on him than a UN peace treaty. We secretly pity these poor souls wherever they may reside, and offer our condolences for their lot in life. True friends however, never leave friends twisting in the wind. A True Friend comes to the aid of his fellow hunter wherever he may be, for deep down, we all fear the karmic recourse of failing to aid and assist our comrade in arms.

What better way to spring a friend from the chains that bind him than a Perfect Hunting Excuse!

We've all used them; in fact, they came in pretty handy at different times in our lives. Remember in the fourth grade when the dog ate our homework? Or the 7^th grade, when our report card got left in our pants pocket and failed to survive the wash? Usually the older and more mature we become, the more sophisticated and elaborate the excuses. It's now time to activate our “Creative Juices” and gain a few extra days in the field. Lets pull out the stops as we explore the Machiavellian world of 10 Perfect Excuses for More Hunting Time.

In most cases just a few “extra days” in the field are all that is necessary to bring home success. Much like the gambler who has an addiction, just a few more dollars is all that is needed to take home the “Big One”. Unlike the gambler, we know for a fact the above to be true. With the advent of the cell phone we can call from remote hunting areas (and not waste time driving into town to make the same call) as well as, use the “You're breaking up, I can barely hear you routine, when things get sticky. Hunters worldwide owe a debt of gratitude to the inventor of the cell phone.

Excuse # 1 Road washed out!

 

This excuse works well in virtually every part of the country, more so in rugged or mountainous terrain. The conversation sounds something like this: Hey honey, it's me. Can you hear me? You are not going to believe what I just witnessed. I was driving out of this steep canyon when the road ahead of me slid down to the creek. If I had been 100 yards further ahead I may have been killed; my heart is still racing from the experience! I talked to the Forest Ranger and he assures me the road crew will have the road fixed in two to three days? The back way out? Yes, I asked about that, the Ranger said it was 90 miles over extremely rough 4 wheel drive roads. I doubt if our 2-wheel drive truck would make it? Assure her you'll be fine spending the night in the truck. This excuse will easily grant you 2-3 additional days of hunting, as well as laying the groundwork for a new 4x4 truck that comes next hunting season.

 

Excuse # 2 Broken down vehicle.

 

This excuse requires a little malice of forethought. While traveling to your hunting destination call home and complain about the truck not running quite right? Assure the little woman that is probably the fuel and not to worry. In order to gain the maximum amount of days from this excuse plan on being home on Saturday. Call late Friday night and explain that a fellow hunter has towed you into town and the mechanic claim the “ electronic spark advance modulator” has failed. It will be Monday before he can order a new one and by all likelihood you'll be home by the end of the week. The good news, the mechanic remembers receiving a recall flyer for this particular problem and the parts are supplied free from the factory. There is a modest installation charge however. She'll be relieved you are safe and the electronic spark advance modulator won't overdraw the checking account. Good for 4-5 days of additional hunting.

 

Excuse # 3 Missing hunter.

 

Every year hunters get lost in the woods. This year is no exception!

Once you've found the bedding grounds for the “Old Mossy Horned Buck” you'll need an extra few days to plot his demise. Here's how to gain those badly needed couple of days.

Call home and explain to her that a young hunter has been reported missing and you've been asked by Search & Rescue to stay a few extra days to help in the search for the missing boy. The terrain is very rough and they need all the able bodied men they can find. This will appeal to her maternal instincts and cement her vision of you as a hero. Warning! Do not use this excuse if you are out of shape and cannot see your feet when you are standing. She won't buy the able-bodied man routine!

Excuse #4 Sick hunting partner.

 

Again a little forethought is in order. Call home on the second day of the hunt and describe the wonderful hunting partner you've met at the service station while getting gas. He's invited you to hunt with him on some private ground his uncle owns. Assure her he's not a serial killer out on parole (no, his name is not Corona or Berkowitz) and you'll be fine in his company. Towards the end of your “allotted time” call home and tell her your hunting partner has fallen extremely ill (possible food poisoning, or better yet giardia) and you'll need a few extra days to make sure he is well and fit enough to travel home. This is an easy 2-day excuse.

 

Excuse # 5 TSA road block

 

The Travel Security Administration is an easy excuse. Those burley, bullet head shaped authoritarians can ruin anyone's return trip. Tell the “Misses” you've been detained at a roadblock and because you have firearms and ammunition in your possession, you are being detained for further questioning. Sound agitated, (who wouldn't be) at your dilemma and fake the cell phone being taken away by a TSA ogre. Hey, Hey... Give me back my phone you brute, then hang up. You've gotta love modern technology! Add 1-2 days to your hunt.

 

Excuse # 6 Injured yourself.

 

This is an excuse many of you have had lots of practice with. Remember when you called the boss and in a hoarse, anemic voice, whispered how sick you were and you'd be in as soon as the fever subsided? Only to revive as soon as the phone hung up? Grabbing the golf bag and heading out to the green did indeed make you feel better...

Same routine here. Call home and in a voice reminiscent of a death bed confession, tell her of your harrowing escape from death, when the trail you were walking on gave way and you plummeted several hundred feet down the hillside. Keep it simple, tell her you need to take more Tylenol and you'll be home as soon as the swelling subsides. Throw in a few groans for good measure. Good for at least 2 additional hunt days.

 

Excuse # 7 Kidnapped by Environmentalists.

 

Use this excuse if she reads the Enquirer, or has an infatuation with Area 51 and Alien Abductions.

Sound hurried on the phone and describe how you've kidnapped by environmental extremists and you are certain you can escape in 2-3 days. Warn her against calling the police as this may agitate your captors and decrease your chances of escape. Tell her you love her and hang up...

 

Excuse # 8 Freak snow storm...

 

We've all experienced freak storms in our lifetime. Hunters are no exception and with Global Warming on the rise who knows what to expect? Drop a few hints prior to leaving the homestead, that bad weather has been predicted in your hunt area. At the appropriate time call and comment on the “whiteout” conditions you are experiencing and the road crews are unable to plow the roads for several days. Never fail to tell her how cold you are and the new sleeping bag you purchased from Cabelas is a lifesaver. Create sound effects by using short blowing and whistling sounds to imitate a severe storm in progress. Use the old standby; You're breaking up I can barely hear you between the wind and storm sound effects.

 

Excuse # 9 Wounded the Big One.....

 

Everyone likes a success story. In an excited voice call home and describe the monster bull elk you've shot and wounded. As an ethical hunter you'll need to take up the trial in the morning and find the animal before the wolves do. She'll easily grant you the additional time necessary to chase down your quarry and bring home the bacon. Don't forget to describe the terrible tracking conditions and rough terrain your are encountering (over windfall and brush so thick you are actually crawling on your hands and knees) You are certain that you'll find him, he is hit pretty hard, but it may take a few days to pack him out once he's found. Tell her you need to go as its getting dark and you need to make camp for the night. If you succeed in harvesting an animal with the “extra leave you been granted”, don't forget to shoot it twice. A crafty hunter must pay attention to details!

 

Excuse # 10 Blocked road.

 

If you are from the big city, you'll appreciate this one. Hey hon, you won't believe what has happened. This California hunter with a horse trailer has it jack-knifed in the road, the trailer is hanging over the cliff and the horses are freaking out! There is no way you can get around him; he has the whole road blocked. He is walking out to the highway and plans on hitchhiking into town. Hopefully he can find a tow truck to come out and pull him back on the road. He has asked me to stay with the horses and try to keep them calm. This excuse will pull on her equestrian heartstrings and she'll sympathize with the terrible conditions you are forced to witness. Guaranteed to garner you at least 1-2 days.

Well, there you have it, 10 excuses to grant you more time in the field. Don't abuse them and don't use the same excuse twice in a row, she'll get wise to you and your hunting days will be over. Most importantly, burn this article after reading it, if it falls into the wrong hands you'll need to take up a new hobby.

 

Until next time.....

 

Loophole Louie

By

Darrell Holland

 

The engine of the Super Cub sputtered at bit as the pilot leaned the fuel mixture in preparation for a smooth landing on Indian Head lake in Northern Alberta. The leaves had started to blush with color and a heavy frost was still visible in the shaded meadows surrounding the lake. The beavers had been working overtime, as numerous dams and ponds were present on the southern end of the lake.

Josh Williams, age 50, was hardly a newcomer to fly-in hunts, yet he braced his feet against the floor and tightened his jaw as his guide and pilot Pat Murphy touched the float plane down within 100 yards of the shore line. Revving the prop, Pat turned the plane 90 degrees, and eased the Cub into shallower water alongside the makeshift dock.

This would be Josh's third trip to Alberta in search of a trophy mule deer. The 10-day hunt should allow enough time to locate, stalk and harvest a trophy animal. Previous trips had been unsuccessful; good deer were spotted, but a shot was out of the question. Josh had hoped to end his streak of bad luck and score on a nice buck. The two quickly unloaded the plane and prepared to settle in for the night.

If weather reports we accurate, they could look forward to cold temperatures and a possible snow flurry the following week. Pat knew the area quite well because he flew numerous fishermen into the lake during the spring. During these trips he had spotted what appeared to be several nice bucks in the next drainage to the east. He felt confident that he could get Josh within shooting distance, since the terrain offered great stalking opportunities. The rock outcroppings and quaky patches were ideal habitat for mule deer, especially big bucks.

The familiar incessant buzzing of the alarm brought both men out of a deep sleep. Josh shifted in his sleeping bag and started to reflect on the hunt. Doubts and regret crept into his mind. It had been a hard eight days of hiking, glassing and scouring thousands of acres in search of a trophy buck. Had he been foolish passing on a nice 28 inch buck the day before? The buck had a good spread, but the mass was not there. He had not come to Alberta a third time to shoot a second rate buck. Today would be the ninth day of hunting; maybe today his luck would change. He pushed the tent flap aside and was greeted by 4 inches of new snow. For once the weather report had bee accurate.

With lunches packed and a thermos of hot coffee between them, the two me headed for a series of rocky outcroppings where they had seen deer earlier in the week. With the change in the weather, Pat had hoped the deer would be out feeding at first light. The extreme cold and powdery snow made for quiet walking. The two hunters removed their daypacks and settled in for a few hours of glassing from the rim.

“They must be bedded down tight”, Pat commented. “Must be”, Josh replied. “Where could they be hiding”, he asked? Pat suggested they wait for the sun to break over the mountain and warm things up. “Maybe that will get the deer moving? If not, we'll hunt that patch of dark timber to our left”.

Suddenly a slight reflection caught Josh's attention. He glassed that same patch of timber minutes earlier and did not remember seeing anything. He checked the focus on his binoculars and stared intently into the black timber. The sun's rays were penetrating the deep shadows as he caught movement. The movement soon materialized into a huge buck with deep forks and tremendous mass. Josh was looking at the buck of a lifetime.

“Pat, I've got one and he's a dandy”, whispered Josh. “Look just to the left of the big windfall in that dark patch of timber. He's on the right hand side”. Don't waste any time Josh; nail him before he gets away, he thought. The 10 and ½ pound rifle felt as light as a feather as Josh adjusted his pack for a rest. He'd been glassing for almost an hour, but his heart was pounding harder now than it had been after the steep climb to the rim. He was having a hard time keeping the reticle steady on the bedded buck. Snowflakes were landing on the eyepiece lens, Josh raised his head and tried blowing them away, but his hot breath fogged the lens. “Damn it”, he whispered. Pat turned to see Josh trying to wipe away the fog with his glove. He knew from experience that he needed to calm his client. “Be cool”, he whispered. “Take your time, don't blow it now....”.

By now the buck had honed in on the hunters' location. With ears forward and muscles tensed, a split second was all that was required to make his escape. Josh finally cleared a dime size area in the lens from which to see. Exhaling and steadying for the shot, he focused the cross hairs just behind the buck's shoulder. “Squeeze the trigger; squeeze the trigger” he said to himself. Josh had learned this lesson the hard way years ago when he flinched on a big bull in the Selway. He was determined not to make that mistake again.

A Boone and Crocket buck was a mere 200 yards away. In a heartbeat it would be over and the trophy buck he longed for would be his. He felt the trigger break, but a slight hesitation and an “audible click” interrupted the customary rifles report.

The adult adjectives flowed freely and a fumbled cycling of the bolt prevented a second round from being chambered before the buck sprang from his bed and vanished in the timber.

Sound familiar? You bet it does! Every year hundreds of hunters take to the field unprepared for the task at hand. Having spent hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on a dream hunt, only to have it end in failure. Are you going to be the next member to join this growing fraternity?

In over 30 years of hunting around the world, I've been quite fortunate to have never experienced a rifle failure. I've had modest scope failures (fogging) but it didn't result in a missed or wounded animal.

Can a hunter have 30 years of good luck? Or is there a method; a way of eliminating mechanical failures when we go afield in pursuit of big game?

Let's take a look at what foiled our unlucky hunter. The slight hesitation and “audible click” was a failure to fire, resulting from none other than poor rifle maintenance. No doubt, a sticky or gummed up firing pin and spring being responsible for our trophy buck living another day.

 

Firing Pin Assemblies

 

These simple mechanisms can cause a majority of our problems. Firing pin protrusion should be a minimum of .050 to a maximum .065 protrusion from the bolt face. The pin tip should be hemispherical in shape. The firing pin body and spring should be free of grease and oil. Eliminate the WD-40 and 3in1 oil from your cleaning supplies. These two magnets for dust and dirt have been responsible for countless failures in the field. In their stead, try a dry film lubricant. I prefer a dry molybdenum disulfide spray. It will never become sticky or gum up under harsh conditions.

 

Trigger Mechanisms

 

Many do-it-yourselfers spray oils and magic love potions into their trigger groups in a feeble attempt to reduce those horrendous factory trigger pulls and to offer some resistance to rust. Keep in mind rusty trigger parts (sears and triggers) are few and far between. These parts are usually machined from high carbon or tool steels and heat-treated to a Rockwell of 60 plus on the “C” scale. Due to this hardness, rust is not really a concern warranting oiling of the trigger mechanism. Often times the sear and trigger are plated or hard chromed to slicken sear surfaces. This plating also inhibits corrosion.

Under NO circumstances should one attempt to oil or grease the trigger for improved performance. Oils and greases simply attract dirt and dust and over time will ultimately result in a mechanical failure that seems directly proportionate to the size and quality of the horned trophy hunted.

The Remington 700 and Browning “A-Bolt type triggers are what we call enclosed trigger mechanisms. If not maintained, they account for many mechanical failures in the field. The Model 98 and Winchester Model 70, on the other hand, are what we refer to as an exposed trigger group. The Mauser design has been field tested under the worst possible conditions; wind, rain, sleet, snow and freezing Eastern Front conditions have little effect on this proven design. While these triggers may not be as light and crisp as the 700 series of triggers, they are less prone to problems if you are slack in your maintenance regimen.

 

Cleaning and Maintenance

 

With the advent of stainless steel rifles and hypnotic Madison Avenue advertising, we have brainwashed the “Stainless Generation” into believing that a maintenance free rifle has finally arrived, liberating them from the tiresome cleaning chores of the past. Nothing could be further from the truth! Every rifle, regardless of its metallurgical make-up needs to be given a little TLC from time to time. This involves removing the barreled action from the stock, cleaning the barrel, and lubing the cocking cam and locking lugs. The entire above-mentioned details can be accomplished by anyone who can screw a nut on a bolt. Believe it or not, barrel cleaning is quite a detailed procedure and we will save it for a future article. Let's remain focused on the action, bolt and trigger for now.

Virtually every small hamlet or village has an auto parts house or Wal-Mart close by. These outlets can easily provide the specialized products required to keep your “Shootin' Iron” in good working condition. An aerosol can of Carburetor Choke cleaner will remove the gum and sludge that can accumulate in the trigger and firing pin assemblies. The combination of toluene and acetone quickly dissolves the most stubborn build-up of 3-in-1 oil; WD-40 and dust, rendering the aforementioned parts squeaky clean. Use this product to clean your trigger group at least once a year.

Our next item to purchase is a can of dry molybdenum disulfide spray. This dry film lubricant is great for the firing pin assembly and acts as a corrosion preventative as well. It is best applied to a clean surface. I like to warm the parts to be coated using a hair drier until they are warm to the touch. I then spray a uniform coating over the pin assembly and inside the bolt body. A can or M/D spray should last the average hunter/shooter several years.

 

Cocking Cams and Locking Lugs

 

These are two of the most overlooked areas for maintenance with most shooters. These are the only two areas that we apply a generous amount of grease and anti-seize compound without fear of causing a mechanical failure.

The locking seats in the receiver and the locking lugs should mate well in a good rifle. We've all heard of lapping the lugs for better contact. When we increase the contact area between the lugs and the locking seats in the receiver, we need an anti-seize compound to prevent galling. This galling occurs when the two surfaces are dry and under pressure, either from tight headspace or firing pin spring tension on the bolt. A thin film of anti-seize compound on the backside of the locking lugs prevents this galling from occurring. Grease does not work as well and should not be used as a substitute, unless it's an emergency.

Cocking cams require sticky high-pressure grease to keep them in working order. Again, galling occurs when these surfaces are dry and excessive spring pressure/tension is present in the cocking stroke on our bolt action rifle. It is a good idea to have the cocking cam and cocking piece polished as well (smoother surfaces work better) These modifications, along with a little cam grease, will eliminate galling and hard cocking. I've seen galling so severe that the shooter was bending the bolt handle trying to cock the rifle. Holland's Shooter Supply offers a nice kit containing cam grease and anti-seize compound. These round sealed tins will last the hunter for years and fit nicely in your cleaning box.

 

Action Screws and Scope Mounts

 

We often hear complaints of loose action screws and wobbly scope mounts. Really? Being aware of your rifles scope mounts and action screws seems elementary to some, but every year we hear tales of woe as to how a loose scope mount cost the hunter a buck of a lifetime! Get into the habit of checking the rifle prior to going to the range for zero confirmation. This simple check can save a lot of grief as well as ammunition.

Action screws should be torqued uniformly. On pillar bedded rifles 50-55 inch pounds is best. On aluminum bedding blocks as seen in Remington, Winchester and Weatherby rifles, 60-65 inch pounds is best. Always tighten the front and rear screws the same. On 3-screw guns like the Winchester Model 70 and Ruger 77's, tighten the front and rear screws the same and just snug the middle screw. Over tightening the middle screw can affect the bedding and accuracy of the rifle. Make sure the action screws, when properly tightened, do not interfere with the closing of the bolt. If you feel a slight hesitation, or if the bolt fails to close, it is an indicator that the front guard screw is protruding into the locking recess, which will prevent the bolt from closing completely. This can be disastrous to accuracy. Filing or grinding the screw shorter will remedy the problem.

 

Getting a Perfect Zero

 

Confirming our rifles zero should go without saying, yet countless hunters go afield with the confidence that their rifle is dead on without actually confirming their zero. How many of you have heard the following: “Hells Bells, why I sighted the rifle in last season and never fired a shot. Its gotta be zeroed. Besides, these new shells are expensive and I've only a half box left!” Sounds like a caption to a Far Side cartoon. I can't wait to hear the stories at the end of the season.

Without exception, you should confirm your zero prior to hunting. Should you stumble or fall, check your zero. What are the odds of the maid fessing up to the rifle clattering to the floor when she is cleaning the closet? It doesn't take much of a bump to move our point of impact several inches at 100 yds. On a recent trip to Africa, I confirmed zero twice in as many days and was damn glad on the second time, since the rifle's point of impact had indeed changed. Failure to do so would have resulted in a 6-inch error at 200 yds. Knowing that you have confirmed a perfect zero gives you confidence in your rifle. Failure to do so can result in a long march back to camp.

Each and every time we remove the barreled action from the stock we should check the rifles zero. Anytime we tamper with scope mounts or screws, confirm zero. Slip, stumble or fall with the rifle, confirm zero.

In closing, I'd like to leave you with a final thought. Know your limitations! If you are not comfortable with shots over 400 yards, stalk and get closer. It is better to pass on a difficult or iffy shot; wounding or losing an animal is a poor way to end the season.

Until next time...

 

Respectfully,

Darrell Holland

 

By Darrell Holland The admission and or use of the F word is not socially acceptable in long range hunting/shooting circles. Pride, egos, testosterone levels are all put on the line each and every time we shoulder a rifle in the presence of another male species. We tend to stand a little taller, our chest measurements increase and we possess a little more bravado than usual when in the presence of firearms. Looking through a medical dictionary I was at a loss to find a specific disease associated with this anomaly. Then it hit me, it is a compounding of other similar diseases, with this realization I had struck pay dirt. “Banty-rooster-itis” – is described as a clouding of judgement, an egotistical preservation of ones pride and all that matters in life. It is often used in clinical comparisons with the F Word. This affliction is known throughout the civilized world and affects over 200,000,000 men world wide! Clinical studies show 99% of all men are in a state of denial when the F word is mentioned. Many feel that advancements in technology and lack of range time are to blame. Asking your doctor for a 30 day supply of Cialis is not the answer. While the problem usually starts below the belt, the cure is found higher up on the skeletal frame. Flinching is as common as brown eyes and gray hair. We ALL do it at one time or another, and many folks do it ALL the time! Our individual nervous systems vary and the tolerance levels for pain and noise are equally varied. Technology is partly to blame for such epidemic numbers, most shooters are over-gunned and would do well to step down a caliber or two and regain their manhood. Some afflicted shooters claim the following; I only flinch occasionally when I'm shooting at paper. When it comes to big game hunting I never flinch or miss, why I don't even feel the recoil... Apparently they have a built in switch that they can somehow turn off when game is viewed thru the scope. Wanna make a million dollars? Isolate that gene/switch combination and shooters will line up for miles to purchase one, not because they need it, but because they believe in the charity you are sharing profits with.... Swamp land anyone???? Flinching is really mind over matter. Convincing the mind that it doesn't matter is the tough part. We have thousands of miles of nerves in our bodies, oddly enough they are connected to the trigger finger and brain. The sequential thought process goes something like this: Alright Joe, take it one step at a time, you never flinch. The cross hairs dance on the target and your trigger finger makes its approach toward the trigger. As it gets close, a distraction enters the thought process. Joe, there is going to be a loud noise and vicious kick as soon as you touch that trigger, be careful! I've done this before, trust me! But You never flinch, so you ignore the warning. You control the urge to “get it over with”. Your finger finally touches the trigger, the brain overrides all other thoughts. JOE, it screams!!!! I told you its going to get noisy and a terrible kick is going to follow, DO IT NOW!!!! The brain wins, as soon as the cross hairs waver past the bulls-eye, the intensity of the warning increases and Joe jerks the trigger to the obvious warning/conclusion from the brain. The noise and recoil are followed by; I told you Soooo! After just a few shots this brainwashing takes root and every time Joe's finger touches the trigger the same warning/response occurs. The vicious recoil masks the obvious tightening of shoulder and pectoral muscles, the blinking of eyes and the raising of Joe's head from the stock in anticipation of what's next! Luckily for Joe, his friends can't eavesdrop on the conversation he was having with his brain. If they could, Joe just might take up fishing instead? This process occurs in virtually all shooters, especially younger shooters who's dad wants to impress his friends that Joe Jr. can handle a 300 Win. Mag at age 12. How the Brain Works. Despite the fact that Joe was born two weeks premature, the brain cannot think two conscious thoughts at a time. We have not evolved to the point that we can process multiple thoughts simultaneously. We must be able to control a single thought and remain focused on the task at hand. This is harder than it seems, try focusing intently on something and see how long it takes for another thought to interrupt? Not long was it??? The brain is the enemy when it comes to shooting and a difficult adversary it is. A common solution is to try and time the shot with our wobbly hold. Okay, here it comes by the bulls-eye, NOW, screams the brain and in response (second thought process) the trigger finger yanks the rifle rearward discharging the round. Often the results are less than desirable, when we do hit the bulls-eye we pat ourselves on the back and applaud our superb timing and brain function. Life is good and we've conquered our demons. Madison Avenue hasn't helped the shooter either. The BIG MAGNUMS are more rifle than 95% of the shooters can handle under field conditions. Keep in mind the animals we shoot for food and display are not bullet proof, contrary to popular belief, they bleed an die just like they did a hundred years ago. Being competent with a given rifle is far more important than impressive ballistics and poor shoot-ability. High velocity misses never put a steak in the freezer.

Tony Cavallo with a nice antelope buck. Range 674 Yards – 6mm XC 107 Grain Sierra Matchking at 2950 fps. The F_ _ _ _ _ word did not apply to Tony! The Cure, Give Me The Cure The cure is much easier said than done. First of all, you need to raise your hand and admit that you do indeed flinch. You can do this in a dark room or closet if it helps. The admission much like being an “excessive social drinker” (alcoholic) is your first step. Hi, I'm Joe and I flinch... Second, break-out a small caliber rifle from the gun cabinet and practice dry firing 50-100 rounds a day over the next two weeks. Some of you may even want to use an accurate 22 rimfire, don't laugh, I've seen shooters flinch when using a rimfire! The destination is all that matters, not how we got there. Note* be sure the cross hairs remain on the target after the trigger breaks. Practice a smooth and almost subconscious trigger squeeze while FOCUSING intently on the target. Take the rifle to the range and from the bench shoot four, 5shot groups, focusing intently on the target, just like your dry fire practice. The thought process should go something like this; aim, touch the trigger and say; I'm in control of when the rifle fires. Maintain pressure on the trigger and repeat the same “Mantra”. Do this several times while in your “natural respiratory pause” prior to shooting. YOU are indeed who will decide when the rifle will fire. When the brain tries to intervene, stop and start the process over. If the 8 pound rifle is calling your Bluff, get up from the bench take a few deep breaths, puff up your chest and have another try. We are looking for “Control over the Rifle” you are the “ALPHA Male” you can do this! We must lock-out the thought process that the noise and recoil are going to hurt us. We've been conditioned (brainwashed) for years that its going to hurt and be very loud when we pull/yank the trigger. This has become a programmed response in our shooting. DO IT QUICK and get it over with is no longer in our vocabulary. Our aiming focus should be so intense as to burn a hole in the target, nothing else should intervene. If it does, start over again! We are now subconsciously compressing the trigger while intensely focusing on the target and before we realize it the gun has fired! Whew!!! We did it, the gun fired as if on its own and the bullet hit the 10 ring. That wasn't bad was it? Now, do it over again for the remaining 19 shots, being honest with yourself as to when and who decided when the gun fired? Was it you, or did the brain sneak in and take control? Don't cheat, there is nothing to be gained by cheating. When you can shoot 20 rounds without a hitch from the bench, its time to shoot prone from your pack or bi-pod. Past experience has told us how well the rifle shoots from the bench, now it is up to us to do the same from the prone position. Use the same focus and aiming intensity as you did from the bench, nothing changes. Do a few dry runs for practice, did the cross hairs jump off target when the trigger broke? Hmm?? Was the brain involved, were you in control of the rifle? Be honest, progress cannot be made if we are cheating. When we can shoot to the same degree of accuracy prone, as from the bench, we have made some serious progress in overcoming our affliction. We can now move up in caliber, ( if we drew the coveted dinosaur tag in South Dakota) but do so gradually, the brain is going to be harder to fool, it remembers the noise and recoil from the Remington Ultra Mag. We may not be able to do two things at once, but the brain does have a memory as to what happened the last time we shot the RUM. That Weatherby eye tattoo will be hard to forget. Dry fire and practice holding the trigger squeeze with a loaded round in the chamber, building control over WHO is going to decide WHEN the gun fires. Fire two to three rounds and go back to shooting your lighter recoiling rifle. DO NOT burn 20 rounds thru the big cannon and ruin the progress we've made over the past few weeks. A gradual build-up is required to overcome the increased recoil and cranial intervention. It will take weeks to overcome a bad flinch enabling you to shoot to your rifle's potential. Be patient, be honest and don't get in a hurry. Don't blow your progress by shooting your friends new wonder magnum, watch him and remind him that the recoil appears to be mild. ( tisk tisk) You've spent a lot of money and time training yourself to overcome the flinch, do not let peer pressure set you back. Cowboy up and maintain your discipline! Precision shooting is a perishable skill, continue your dry fire practice sessions and range shooting of 20 rounds per outing. Perfect practice is far more important than vast numbers of rounds expended down range. Continued shooting beyond your control count will only result in the BRAIN getting in the way and destroying your progress. Its like being “B slapped” in the face, you may take the first one without blinking, but guaranteed after the 10th you be anticipating the pain and noise and both eyes are going to slam shut before being hit. Any takers? Shooting is a personal sport and we judge our success based on our peers. Its nice to be on top and have the best score of the day, staying there takes lots of practice and acknowledging your short comings. You may not want to admit to your friends that you flinch, and that's fine. But when you look in the mirror or go to sleep at night you know you have a problem, seek the solutions listed above. Your only other option is a frontal lobotomy and we can discuss that in a future article.

 

Until then, be safe and In Control.

 

Respectfully,

Darrell Holland

By Darrell Holland Those immortal words spoken years ago still captivate our attention any time we hear them. Nothing can be more irritating than having a problem in the field with our equipment, or a failure on our part in understanding how it works? Lets explore a few of the problems encountered and the remedies required to pull our “peanuts” from the fire! Set your ego aside and join me as we delve into several common “mistakes” that shooter's encounter, causing them untold grief and lack of confidence in their equipment. Problem: All data cards and software suck, some use G-1 math and others use G-7 to calculate drop and drift. I'm hear to tell ya that the information they provide is not accurate. Why at 1000 yds I need to add/subtract 2 MOA to my dope to hit the x-ring! My zero's are perfect, my SD's are single digit and I'm shooting the best rifle and scope money can buy! We've all heard that sob story, or, may have uttered those same words ourselves. Let's look at what usually is the cure and how simple it is to apply. Cure: The math used to calculate drop and drift is far more accurate than any rifle on the line given accurate information i.e. muzzle velocity, ballistic coefficient, temperature, altitude, Barometric Pressure and humidity. So what gives? Usually, and I've helped folks with this problem for years, is that they fail to check actual elevation values in their scope. Calm down, I hear grumbling in the peanut gallery from many of you. Why, I shoot a NIGHTFORCE, Leupold, Zeiss or Schmidt & Bender rifle scope!! “Aint nothin” wrong my scope!!!! Oh Really??? While these are indeed the best scopes in the industry, how may of you have ever checked the ACTUAL “click value” over the ENTIRE trajectory curve of your data card? Probably not many of you? We all trust the elevation and windage knobs with the same fervency of our local Pastor. But did we ever CHECK???? Take a tall target backer and draw a plumb line on the face. Zero the rifle EXACTLY at 100 yds and begin to elevate the point of impact for a measured 15 MOA 30 MOA and 45 MOA. ** Be sure and multiply the minute of angle value by 1.047** ( True minute of angle). So, a 30 MOA correction should elevate the bullet precisely 31.41 inches at 100 yds. and a 45 MOA correction should read 47.115 inches. Not all of you, but a few of you, should see a problem when doing this. Over the years I've tested several brands of scopes and found discrepancies as mentioned above. The importance of validating your scopes tracking is of vital importance if you are really serious about your shooting. Do not take your scopes “click values” for granted. As Josef Stalin once said: TRUST but CHECK!!!! Problem: My ammunition shoots like a champ at 100 yds. under home court conditions, 80 degrees, B/P 29.53", 1500' elevation, humidity 50%, but when I went to my friends house in Montana in the dead of winter it was embarrassing. What went wrong? Cure: Load development and powder choice is more than not the problem. You developed a great load at 80 degrees, at let's say, 3000 fps. When in Montana, the temperature dropped to 30 degrees and so did your velocity. This caused a drastic change in barrel harmonics and your group went to “Hell in a Handbasket”. Try using the Hodgdon Series of Extreme Powders for better results; these include the following powders: H-322 H-4895 Varget H-4350 H-4831 H-1000 and Retumbo. These powder selections offer the least temperature sensitivity and will provide the most consistent velocities over an extreme range of temperatures. Test your ammunition by putting it in the freezer overnight and shooting it over your chronograph the following morning. ** Be sure to transport it to the range encased in ice and a small cooler. Use a thermometer to record ammunition temperature prior to firing. Note the velocity changes and act accordingly.

Montana Buck – 463 Yards – Rifle 308 Winchester 168 Grain Sierra Matchking Problem: I'll often get erratic shots when shooting from field positions. The shot goes left/right or high/low for no explained reason? When I shoot from the bench, I seldom if ever experience this? Cure: Your shooting/body position is the problem. Its doubtful that a “field gremlin” has taken refuge in your rifle, remove the bolt and do a visual check to confirm. More importantly, note the butt position on your shoulder, is it in the pocket? Do you have a firm grip on the rifle? Are you pulling the rifle straight back into the shoulder pocket, or is there lateral pressure as well? Is the trigger finger compressing the trigger straight back into the shoulder pocket? Is the rear swivel stud hanging up on your field bag? Is the rifle tracking properly during recoil? Is your breathing cycle consistent? Field positions can be tough given terrain difficulties. Be certain that all of the above suggestions are in check and that you are not shooting while breathing (causing vertical dispersion) Be sure that the rifle is tracking perfectly for at least 3/8 of an inch without interruption from the ground or shooter (which can cause both vertical and horizontal errors). Go over your mental check list before each shot. Focus intently on the target and let the trigger squeeze become a sympathetic movement. On a positive note; your table manners at the bench are pretty good. Most shooters shoot better from the bench than field positions. Bench groups provide a yardstick to match when shooting prone bi-pod or over your pack. When you can duplicate your rifle's bench accuracy from field positions, you know you are doing everything right! Problem: I get inconsistent chambering with my reloads. Some close easy, while others are kinda hard? Cure: Sizing your brass is the problem! While many folks like to neck size, I prefer to F/L size of all my brass and bump the shoulder back .001 of an inch. By doing so, we eliminate the occasional “snug” loaded round and have more consistency in our ammunition. I use a slug of barrel steel and chamber it for the parent cartridge. By inserting the sized case into this gauge I can accurately measure and adjust my sizing die to bump the shoulder back any amount desired. Note*** Be sure to check the OAL of your brass as well, oftentimes shooters neglect to trim their brass and the out of spec. OAL can cause the tight chambering. Problem: Accuracy falls off in my rifle after 20 rounds or so. I let the barrel cool between groups but that doesn't seem to help? Cure: Spare the rod and soil the barrel. Your barrel is obviously fouled and a good cleaning is in order. Most shooters do not clean their rifle properly or have determined the “FOUL OUT” point with their rifle. Shoot 5 shot groups letting the barrel cool between groups and when the group size is such that you are no longer happy with the accuracy, it is time to clean. This will vary from rifle to rifle. Powder, bearing surface of the bullet , barrel condition/quality all play a part. When accuracy degrades, be it 10 rounds or 35 rounds, this becomes your cleaning interval for that rifle. When it is time to clean, use plenty of elbow grease. We recommend 60-80 strokes of a good ammonia solvent ( Barnes CR-10) adding more solvent every 10 strokes. Every 60-80 rounds use Witches Brew Copper Remover to remove the stubborn copper and carbon in the barrel. If you have access to a bore scope, use it to determine if this cleaning regimen is proper for your barrel. Forget about wet patches, spermicide foaming cleaners and other gimmicks, scrubbing with good solvents and the use of a copper bronze brush is the best way to maintain accuracy. Problem: My “Testosterone Magnum” has quit shooting, the barrel is clean, but it refuses to shoot. I've only shot 6-700 rounds thru the gun. Cure: It may be time for a new tube? Most “Newbie's” think barrels last forever, well think again. That 338 Lapua you necked to 25 caliber will not last very long. When you are burning 80-110 grains of powder, throat erosion and heat checking are major concerns. Have the barrel bore-scoped to determine the throat condition. If it looks like a dry lake bed you're in trouble. When patching the bore, if you feel the patch snag and drag in the throat area, this too is an indicator of a worn barrel. Buck up and have it replaced, its the cost of entertainment and the price we all pay for our shooting pleasure.* Note a 308 Winchester is good for around 3500-4000 rounds before accuracy starts to drop off. A 257 STW around 600-700 rounds and its toast. Its not a bad idea to build a practice rifle in a milder caliber allowing longer life before re-barreling. A 6mm BR, Dasher, 7-08 or 308 are good rounds to choose when barrel life, mild recoil, and cost effective ammunition are a consideration. Remember; the shooting techniques are the same and practice does make perfect when that shot of a lifetime presents itself.

 

Until next time.....

 

Respectfully,

Darrell Holland