Category Archives: Big Game Hunting

Articles about Big Game Hunting.

6.5 Creedmoor: Hornady 160 grain RN Load Data -Update On Seat Depth to Tighten Group

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It has been noted by African big game hunters that round and flat nose bullets, at moderate velocities and ranges under 150 yards, provide two important key killing parameters for big game hunting. First, round and flat nose bullets hit like a hammer, and deliver more energy on entrance and throughout the bullet path than a traditional jacketed spitzer. More often dropping game instantly. Secondly, it has been observed that round and flat nose bullets, at moderate velocities, tend to remain on the same path and not be deflected as easily as spitzers. For those reasons, I like round, flat nose, and semi-spitzer for short range brushy conditions like across Northeastern USA.

The 6. 5mm Hornady 160g is a true round nose with a worked up max load of 43 grains Winchester 760 powder delivering 2635 fps (24 inch barrel) via Labradar delivering a whopping 1879 ft-lbs at 100 yards per JBM Ballistics.

No pressure signs in my rifle, recalling that each rifle is different, so don’t assume that your rifle can handle this heavy load.  The Ballistic Coefficient is expected to be low, with round nose creating drag,  at .283 G1 BC. But its Sectional Density is a whopping .315 and that translates to best-of-the-best in penetration and mushrooming with the round nose. JBM Ballistic data for the 160g below out to 400 yards. The 160g delivers deer killing energy out to 300 yards. Nice! Even nicer is  a 1.2 inch Cold barrel 4 shot group below.

I shot targets in each quadrant and below is the sum of 4 shots, marked in pencil, at 100 yards with a cleaned and solvent degreased bore. I swabbed the bore with each shot with solvent degreaser, and waited 10 minutes between shots. The very first shot was the low 6 o’clock bullet. 

UPDATE-  Seating Depth resulting in a COL of 2.65 inches later was determined to significantly tighten 3 shot cold bore group to 1/2 inch. This round nose bullet apparently needs more space away from the rifling.

JBM Ballistic Calculated Table for 160 grain Round Nose Hornady below. Great power for brushy terrain short range with plenty of smack down energy. 

Calculated Table
Range Drop Drop Windage Windage Velocity Mach Energy Time Lead Lead
(yd) (in) (MOA) (in) (MOA) (ft/s) (none) (ft•lbs) (s) (in) (MOA)
0 -1.5 *** 0.0 *** 2635.0 2.454 2466.3 0.000 0.0 ***
50 -0.0 -0.1 0.3 0.7 2464.3 2.295 2157.1 0.059 2.1 4.0
100 -0.0 -0.0 1.4 1.3 2300.1 2.142 1879.3 0.122 4.3 4.1
150 -1.6 -1.0 3.3 2.1 2142.2 1.995 1630.1 0.189 6.7 4.2
200 -5.1 -2.4 6.1 2.9 1990.5 1.854 1407.4 0.262 9.2 4.4
250 -10.8 -4.1 9.8 3.7 1845.2 1.719 1209.4 0.340 12.0 4.6
300 -19.1 -6.1 14.7 4.7 1706.8 1.590 1034.8 0.425 15.0 4.8
350 -30.3 -8.3 20.7 5.7 1576.2 1.468 882.5 0.516 18.2 5.0
400 -45.1 -10.8 28.2 6.7 1454.3 1.355 751.3 0.615 21.7 5.2

Good Shooting!

© Copyright 2021

Reloading Data Sites to Remember

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For those who do research on line for hunting bullet load data you may already be aware of load data from the following sites from a powder perspective and a bullet perspective as well. Enjoy!

https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center   

The second site is Alliant Powder and similarly has rifle, pistol and shotgun load data.  https://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/index.aspx

Nosler has a load data site too for rifles that has great data for Nosler bullets. Click the Load Data below. 

https://load-data.nosler.com/

Speer also has rifle load data for Speer bullets below.

https://reloadingdata.speer.com/SpeerReloading/Rifle

Hornady has load data that has not been published in their handbook yet so it is limited.  In fact, the Hornady handbook #11 has loads and powders not shown even in their limited load data site.  Note: Hornady’s 11th Edition Handbook is specific to Hornady bullets. 

https://www.hornady.com/support/load-data/

There may be other sites I have not highlighted here but these sites cover much of the rifle load data except for companies that will not fully publish and desire you to purchase their handbook. 

Sierra has a limited load data site. 

https://sierrabullets.wordpress.com/category/load-data/

 

Cold Barrel Hunting Rifle Shots Only Count

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More and more we see a clean barrel bench rest “cold shot” shoot higher an inch or two and then as the barrel warms the shots group lower and tight. So some shooters call the first shot a flyer and are happy with the other group and adjust the scope for the group. Not so fast, if you are hunting, it was that first shot that counted. Two things are happening here. First is a clean barrel perhaps with some lubricant or cleaning agent adhering to the barrel affecting the cold shot. Second is the cold barrel shot itself. Veteran hunters advise taking a fouling shot or two and then with a cold barrel shoot for group marking the first shot as the one that counted and adjust the scope accordingly. That works with recent fouling shots and is my method. However, a recent article below experimented with fouling shots to find that they work. But the experiment also included a clean barrel that was finished with a barrel degreaser to remove any lube or residue and fired a cold barrel shot.  Check it out. We may learn something here.

https://www.outdoorlife.com/how-to-shoot-straight-with-cold-barrel/

Good Shooting!

 

Hunter Value of Hornady 6.5mm 160 grain InterLock Round Nose Loads in Forest Terrain

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This 6.5mm InterLock® Round Nose was designed for shorter ranges say under 150 yards in forest terrain on deer, bear and even moose. This round nose, maximizes delivered energy (like a hammer) more so than a spitzer for the same distances.  With some luck,  I did find some bullets on-line and made a purchase. One of the outstanding attributes of heavy 6.5mm bullets is that the Sectional Density (SD) of say 160 grain 6.5mm bullet is about 0.328. It translates to bullet penetration, in spades. Couple that wallop of penetration at the get-go with a round nose and you get a huge mushrooming bullet that acts like a plow that resists deflection and exits leaving a significant wound channel and blood trail that is easy to see.

I endeavored to find an accurate load for the Hornady 160 grain for my 6.5 Creedmoor rifle. I worked up and hand loaded 43 grains of WIN 760 powder per the 8th Edition Hornady Manual. and achieved a one inch group at 100 yards delivering over 2635 fps. This powder produces one of the fastest and accurate loads.  This is slow compared to say a 130 grain spitzer traveling at 2900 fps but the slower, heavier 160 grain has far more penetration on larger big game. The Swede’s use it on their moose in the 6.5×55 Mauser cartridge that is very similar to the 6.5 Creedmoor! Just keep your shots short to say 150 yards.

This bullet fills a niche for shorter range big game and I hope it stays. It is a great New England round in the northern spruce of New Hampshire or Maine for those who hand load the 6.5, like myself.

I have found that Hodgdon has a helpful on line load listing for Pistol, Rifle, and Shotgun by going to the reloading data center at https://imrpowder.com/

Below is an article I have written on Flat Nose and Round nose bullets that adds to your understanding.

Flat Nose and Round Nose Bullets for Big Game

There are new powders to try too. Have fun!

Good Shooting!

©Copyright 2021

 

 

Favorite Youth Deer Rifles and 6.5 Creedmoor

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My ideal youth rifle in deer hunting calibers begin with a rifle that fits the shooter, otherwise known as Length of Pull, aka LOP. Most bolt action deer rifles are not adjustable, but there are some manufacturers that offer that feature. Mossberg offers a bargain priced adjustable stock rifle for youth or small stature hunters called the PATRIOT Youth Scoped for around $360 dollars. Wow! https://www.mossberg.com/category/series/mossberg-patriot/mossberg-patriot-bantam/

So does Savage Arms, it’s called AccuFit and is more expensive than the Mossberg but has comb rise features that Mossberg does not have. 

I like them both but for a starter deer rifle for a budget minded parent, The Mossberg has it over the Savage. There are other LOP adjust rifles out there but these stand out in my mind. 

Now, what caliber to choose depends on whether you hand load or buy off-the-shelf ammo. Lets assume off-the-shelf ammo. Does your youngster shoot now? Lets assume yes. What caliber does he shoot? Ok he shoots a .22LR and your .223 AR on occasion. Great! This is a normal progression but has little recoil. Next is to determine recoil sensitivity.

If sensitive, think 243 Winchester at less than 10 lbs in recoil, but in 2 or 3 years this caliber and rifle will see less action as recoil sensitivity diminishes. I’d jump to 6.5 Creedmoor. Why the 6.5 Creedmoor? Bullets range from light recoiling 95 grains for varmint like the .243 Win. all the way to long range 140/142 grain for big game and even higher up to 160 grain for hand loading. Personally, I’d jump past the .243 and go for the 6.5. The 6.5 Creedmoor, in smart hunting circles, is known for lighter recoil thus better accuracy and maximum penetration on deer, elk and black bear up to moose. I have written extensively on the 6.5 Creedmoor caliber so check out my articles, like:

 

Why the 6.5 Caliber Resurgence?

or

6.5 Creedmoor – 16 Reasons to hunt with one! By Ed Hale

Now if you hand load the 6.5 can be loaded down easily and equally loaded up for bigger game. The 6.5 is a one big game rifle for youth, adults and seniors that delivers the accuracy, punch, and penetration for big game and easy on recoil. And the 6.5 Creedmoor, shoots flat, excels at long distance hunting too. A Nosler 142 grain AccuBond Long Range bullet -ABLR traveling at 2700 fps can achieve deer killing distances as far as 600 yards if the shooter practices at that range. Or an elk at 350 yards! Wow!

For those who are veteran hunters and not recoil sensitive there are many larger calibers we have learned to love over the years but the 6.5 is here to stay in my hunting safe. Love it! My rifle of choice is the Weatherby Vanguard Weatherguard in 6.5 Creedmoor for under $700 but the stock is not adjustable. 

Good Shooting!

©Copyright 2021

Islamorada: Hunting Black Fin Tuna and Mahi Mahi with Rod and Reel

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Out Hunting big Trophy fish with Dee Cee Charters and Captain Chuck, Islamorada, Florida April 29, 2021, with my twin brother Richard and nephew Rick. 

https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/1081?booking_persons=2&booking_children=0

April, they say, is not the best time for sailfish or marlin as you can chew up a day trolling and come up on the short end, so we concentrated on top water for Blackfin Tuna and Mahi.

Below, I caught the first Blackfin tuna of the trip.

Below is a big fight, a king  mackerel ate a smaller blackfin tuna we were reeling in and brother Richard had a real fight. The king got near the boat and spit the hook but wow, what a fight!

 

 

Let’s see what else bites!

Ed Hale – New Hampshire Rifleman-Editor in Chief

Glorious Morning Sunshine!

Morning has Broken! Glorious Day! Thank You Lord!

 

Below a 2 part video of my Mahi coming aboard.

 

 

Rick is a professional fisherman when he is not working in the Electronics industry. Loves to catch and eat Albacore Tuna and Pacific Salmon.

Tackle at the ready…

My First Fish a Blackfin Tuna

These Blackfin’s fight hard. Sea is getting heavy with 8-10 ft waves.

Ricks first Blackfin!

No Sir, you ain’t getting off my line!

Another on for the Cooler!

And Another Tuna

Say Ahhhhh….for the Camera.

Up close, such a beautiful Blackfin!

First Mahi of the day by yours truly. I love the colors!

Just having the time of my life! What a thrill!

Richard’s Picture perfect Blackfin Tuna! A gorgeous fish!

Another Mahi!

First Mate unhooking a Blackfin.

All fish were filleted. We ate some on the beach as Ed’s Sashimi Shooters and I took the rest home frozen.

I brought a soft thick zipper freezer bag to hold the frozen bagged tuna and mahi in my luggage. After 12 hours of travel, it was still frozen solid.

We had a spectacular time with Captain Chuck and the first mate. I would book a trip again!

Later after filleting by our first mate, I invented my own Blackfin Tuna Sashimi Shooter while on the beach with thin slices of cucumber on the bottom of a large shot glass or Dixie cup next some pickled ginger, a small 1/2″ square or so of raw tuna (sashimi), add wasabi paste to your liking,  another slice of ginger, topped off with avocado and add a teaspoon of soy sauce to the layers. Shoot the whole thing in your mouth and chew.  My eyes pop with the wasabi! Wash it down with your favorite beverage like beer or white wine. WOW! You can get fancy if you like with sesame seeds etc. if you like. But on the beach, a plateful those simple Sashimi shooters below took over a beach party with a pack of little Dixie cups full of the ingredients. Lots of smiles! Good Shootin’.

All the fish were frozen and taken on the plane to my home freezer. I had Sashimi Shooter’s for lunch while writing this article. Sooo Good!

Good Hunting!  Good Shootin’!

© Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved.

 

 

 

Scopes Can Fog Up On A Cold Weather Hunt – What to do?

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Ok you are sighted in with your scoped rifle and ready for your hunt. Are you really ready? I was out deer hunting locally with my scoped muzzleloader using an older scope I had in the closet. It was late September when my older scope was set up. It worked great at the range at 72 degrees. But on my local hunt, it was cold and raining/snowing.  I looked through the scope when I was on my stand and saw fog in the scope. Figuring I got the scope glass wet, I wiped the glass but it was still foggy.  As it turns out the scope had lost its gas filling.

So I am going on another cold weather hunt but way more expensive, with an older scope.

What to do?

I put my scope in the refrigerator for a few hours, months ahead of time. You should have a clear view through your scope. If not you need to contact your scope manufacturer as many scopes have  lifetime warranties. No fridge, or the scope is already mounted? Use ice cubes in a plastic bag around the scope to mimic the outdoor temperature.  

Give that a try…

Good Hunting!

 

 

The Venerable 30-06 in a T/C Encore Pro-Hunter with Nosler E-Tip

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The Nosler Expansion Tip (E-Tip) Hunting bullet is a copper alloy monolithic (solid) hollow point spitzer designed for long range but has both short and long range benefits. No, it does not have surface shock like a round or flat nose but it is capable amazing energy transfer and no lead to deal with.

As I said in my last article that round and flat nose are great brush busters however for bottleneck cartridges they are in very short supply at this time. It just so happens that I own a T/C Encore Pro Hunter Muzzle Loader and a 30-06 Springfield Interchangeable barrel. Honestly, I had it set up for muzzleloader and it shoots real sweet so I resisted making the conversion to 30-06 until now.  I gave in to the temptation because in my ammo cupboard I just happen to have some store bought Nosler 168 grain Expansion Tips (aka E-Tips) cartridges.  I successfully used them on a 350 pound wild boar hunt a few years back. The shot was 30 to 40 yards max.

I will show you what it did. Here is the entrance wound.

Busting through the super tough shield on both sides, here is the exit wound below! Keep in mind that the boars “shield”  forced the bullet to fully expand just on entrance and give up a ton of energy inside the animal before exiting. I would not expect this massive damage in a thin skinned whitetail.

Energy delivered was on the order of 2600 to 2700 ft-lbs. More than enough for Moose but you see the copper alloy stays together up to 95% intact says test data. These images are from the Nosler website; www.nosler.com

E-Tip Lead Free Bullet Mushroom Effect

Gel test below by Nosler.

Lets take it to the range! I knew that it was likely not going to shoot MOA because I remember mumbling about the 2 to 2.5 inch groups at 100 yards. Yep, that is what I got 2.5 inch groups at 100 yards. I did notice that the cold shot was dead on. Although I prefer moa accuracy, this works well for hunting in the thick stuff like the boar above. If I hand loaded this, I can get it to MOA for sure. The boar certainly did not know the difference!

Good Hunting!

©Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.5 Creedmoor Superformance Load Data with Lapua Mega 155 grain Soft Point Flat Nose

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As I have written in recent articles, round nose and flat point bullets in short range thick brush environments, can deliver more immediate impact energy to the big game you are hunting at shorter ranges under 200 yards than with some of the long range designed spitzer bullets. The reloading issue is, to get a round or flat nose bullet in a bottleneck cartridge, you must find the bullet and hand load it. Sadly, many round/flat nose bullets are no longer manufactured or are reduced to special manufacture runs. The Lapua Mega 155 grain flat points have a brass jacket and are very hard to find, if at all. The Lapua Reloading Manual is no longer available.

Accordingly, I had to determine the cartridge overall length – COL to the lands in my rifle,  which are 2.68 inches and then I back off the lands to 2.64 inches. I used a spent case and pinched the opening to hold a bullet marked with black magic marker and loaded it in the rifle and closed the bolt. Note: Hornady says COL Max is 2.8 inches for the spitzers. My max COL is much less. Caution: Each rifle may be different. These calculations and data are for my rifle only, a Weatherby Vanguard Weatherguard with a 24 inch barrel topped with a Leupold VX-3. 

My research of reloading data found that Sierra and Hornady had some data for 150, 153 grain and 160 grain bullets. Powders were typical, such as IMR 4350, H4350, IMR 4831 but one powder stood out, it was Hodgdon’s Superformance powder. The powder was published by Hornady for the 153 grain A-Tip Match up to 42. 9 grains max load providing 2650 fps. Superformance allowed me to work up a load safely to higher energy than the other powders but not at max load. 

I did so in half grain increments beginning with 39.5 grains and looking for any signs of overpressure like a really flat primer or gas leaks. I did so with 2 shots for each 1/2 grain increment followed by case and primer inspection, all was normal. I stopped at 41 grains and loaded three rounds for group. I did not chrono these but based on the 153 grain data by Hornady I was in the 2550 fps range. The primers were still rounded and not flattened.  Here is my group at 41 grains of Superformance at 75 yards, no wind. Looks like 1/2 inch group. Nice!

Below is the Trajectory and Energy table at 2550 fps. Delivered energy for elk is said to be 1500 ft-lbs, thus we are good for elk at 180 yards. 

This load is for Northern Whitetails with a flat-point, should mushroom very well. It will be devastating on a 300 pound whitetail buck at under 100 yards at 1800 to 1900 ft-lbs,  A Hammer in anyone’s book!

Calculated Table
Range Drop Drop Windage Windage Velocity Mach Energy Time Lead Lead
(yd) (in) (MOA) (in) (MOA) (ft/s) (none) (ft•lbs) (s) (in) (MOA)
0 -1.5 *** 0.0 *** 2550.0 2.375 2237.6 0.000 0.0 ***
25 -0.3 -1.2 0.1 0.2 2487.5 2.317 2129.2 0.030 1.0 4.0
50 0.5 1.0 0.3 0.5 2425.9 2.259 2025.1 0.060 2.1 4.1
75 1.0 1.3 0.6 0.8 2365.2 2.203 1925.0 0.092 3.2 4.1
100 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.0 2305.3 2.147 1828.8 0.124 4.4 4.2
125 0.8 0.6 1.7 1.3 2246.3 2.092 1736.4 0.157 5.5 4.2
150 -0.0 -0.0 2.5 1.6 2188.1 2.038 1647.6 0.191 6.7 4.3
175 -1.2 -0.7 3.4 1.9 2130.8 1.985 1562.4 0.225 7.9 4.3
200 -2.9 -1.4 4.5 2.2 2074.3 1.932 1480.6 0.261 9.2 4.4

 

I compared this Energy data to my earlier article on my downloaded .375 Ruger. See below. 

Speer Hot Core Semi-Spitzer 235 g 375 Ruger Downloaded for Big Northern Whitetails Or…

The 6.5 Creedmoor with the Lapua Mega 155 grain Flat Point is the clear winner for energy, and will mushroom on the entrance of the hide, but either cartridge and bullet will do the job well for the loads discussed. 

Good Hunting!

©Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved. 

Lost in Deep Woods or Just Turned Around – You Need to Think Clearly

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I was hunting deer with my brother and a friend in New Brunswick, Canada, up near Plaster Rock, years ago ( before Cell phones and GPS) along a logging trail the had ribbon marked offshoots. I found buck tracks crossing the logging trail and followed them beyond the ribbon marked trails. It was late afternoon, the terrain was mixed forest with small hills and hummocks. I prided myself in the past for memorizing my backtrail, often making it easy to find my way back. But here, I was interested in finding that buck.

It was getting dark and I had to call it quits when my nose detected tarsal gland scent. He is here, I thought. I stood looking at every bush, tree, sapling to find an antler, a nose, a tail but found none. Thoughts of getting out were taking over my deer focused brain, so I backtracked some and thought I recognized the small hillside. So I went over the hill. On the other side I did not recognize the terrain. What? It was at that moment when it dawned on me that I was turned around, lost my trail etc.

I could have kept going but I realized that I could easily parallel the logging trail and never cut it. Was I too far off the logging trail? No, I thought, but how best to get out?  My brother and friend were likely headed back to camp just 500 yards up the logging trail. I decided to stop and make a campfire as darkness fell. Luckily, I had a knife and camp hatchet and plenty of matches with me. Making the fire was easy with paper birch bark every where. I thought that guessing the direction to go was not in my best interest. I was thinking clearly. Sit tight, I thought, they will come and find me soon.

I was hunting with a 30-06 and had several rounds. One of the signals of a lost or turned around hunter is 3 spaced shots in sequence. I had a nice fire going and let off a single round at first. Then I heard a round fired in the distance. I returned fire. After several minutes I heard another round and I returned firing in the air.  It wasn’t long when I saw some flashlights and a lantern. All the while they  must be thinking I am sitting on a huge buck, but no, just enjoying my large campfire. You ok? “Yes, but I got turned around is all, and thought it best to just sit tight.” Good for you, we were not far from the logging trail.  All was well and some hot food. I was good to go.

Epilogue

I wasn’t lost but was feeling that creepy lost feeling even knowing I was not far off the trail. Staying calm was my priority. It is amazing how building a nice fire lifted my spirits, like having a friend.

I didn’t know it but I was using the STOP Method.

When you’re in a panic, your brain stops working, too. Thus, fear sets in and you can’t help making bad actions and judgment.

Stop what you’re doing at the moment and on that note, the acronym STOP really works well.

  • Sit. Stop what you’re doing and have a drink because a refreshing drink will help calm you down.
  • Think. Evaluate your situation so you can determine if you’re really lost or only feeling lost.
  • Observe. Look around you and evaluate the treats in your surroundings.
  • Plan. After determining your situation, you can now plan your next move or action.

On a deep woods hunt, plan first as if you are going to get lost or turned around. Others should know where you are. Carry enough ammo to use as a signal. Space Blankets and water will keep you warm by a fire and hydrated. For arguments sake lets assume no one is coming, because of poor planning. What do you do? Build a fire and a survival shelter nearby. Can you build a survival shelter, lean to, spruce bow tent?

If not I would read up on shelters…

Good Hunting!

©Copyright 2021