Category Archives: Big Game Hunting

Articles about Big Game Hunting.

Prediction – 6.5 Creedmoor Cartridge will overshadow the .243 Winchester by Ed Hale

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I owned a .243 Winchester and tested a few Rifles in that Caliber for my New Hampshire Rifleman Magazine. I loved the accuracy and low recoil but it always nagged at me that bullet weight and CXP Criteria Limited the Cartridge to deer size game. Hornady’s HIT’s Calculator does the same. I entered 110 grains bullet, .243 diameter and velocity 2700 fps at impact and got a HIT value of 790 making it a medium game deer cartridge or smaller.

http://www.hornady.com/hits/calculator

On the other hand with the 6.5 Creedmoor at 129 grains and Impact at 2700 fps it puts me into large game for 100 yard impact velocities with very similar low recoil. Further, that the sectional density SD of the .243 Winchester is .242 or less and does not have enough weight for its diameter to “reliably” penetrate sufficiently on larger game such as elk.

I tested rifles with 6.5 Creedmoor and found them easy to shoot and low recoil yet todays bullet advances make it ideal for both target and hunting with the 140 to 143 grain bullet on big game above deer. But I still consider it for thin skinned game like elk and big black bear and close-up, under 100 yards for big moose broadside only. Where it shines is long range! With an extremely low drag bullet it is fantastic for energy retention. I own a Ruger American Predator in 6.5 Creedmoor and simply love its accuracy and low recoil yet can take a broadside moose in the right hands with good shot placement. Accordingly, I sold my .243 Winchester.

See the Chuck Hawks website below on Sectional Density

http://www.chuckhawks.com/sd.htm

In the case of the 6.5 Creedmoor the SD is .287 with a 140 grain bullet providing ample penetration for its weight vs diameter on CXP 3 size game and the 143 grain Hornady ELD-X nearly places it in the Winchester CXP-4 category.

The 6.5 Creedmoor was created for Target and beats the .308 round in long range competition but with Low Drag Ammo the 6.5 Creedmoor shines in Long Range Hunting for Big Game like Elk and African Plains Game like Kudu and game under the Eland.

Recommended Energies for Moose are 2500 ft-lbs but that hasn’t stopped the .270 and 30-06 hunters from using these rifle cartridges on Moose at over 100 yards and believe the 6.5 Creedmoor will kill moose cleanly at 100 yards or less with a well placed broadside shot.

There is one attribute that Jack O’Connor, a great hunting mentor,  would be greatly pleased with, and that is low recoil, thus allowing for very accurate bullet placement. This he discussed this incessantly in regard to the .270 Winchester with 130 grain bullets.

In conclusion the .243 Winchester’s recoil as compared to the 6.5 Creedmoor is a little less but so is its limit on game hunted. Thus I predict over time the 6.5 Creedmoor which is supremely accurate and delivers CXP3 energy and high SD for deep penetration will overtake the .243 in future sales but will not erase the  millions of rifles chambered in 243 Winchester for CXP2 or less size game.

© 2017 All Rights Reserved.

 

 

 

Highlight- The Remington 783 Rifle comes with a Scope for How Much?

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Since 2013 the Remington Model 783 has come down in price and includes a 3-9x40mm Scope ready to shoot. Price – around $340.00 to $400.00 with scope. Can you say Wow! Just several years back you’d pay $800.00 to $1000 or more for the Rifle alone…And for a bit more it comes in Camo too!

I have not shot this rifle but coming from Remington you should have great aspirations for at least 1 MOA or better if you hand load. It has so many features that I get dizzy reading about them all for that price! A new hunter has only to buy his ammo and head to the range! An exceptional value for a budget conscious hunter! Read more at the Remington site below.

https://www.remington.com/rifles/bolt-action/model-783/model-783-scoped

Adjustable Trigger

Great Recoil Reduction 54% Super Cell

Dual Pillar Bedding

Free Float Barrel

Cartridges – Just about anything up to 300 Winchester Magnum.

GOOD HUNTING! GOOD SHOOTING!

 

Russian Boar Forensic Lung and Heart of Nosler E-Tip 30-06 168 grain

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This video is a Forensic exam ( I use that term loosely)  as I recorded on video, demonstrates for the hunter first and foremost that the  Nosler E- Tip was devastating on this 350 pound Russian Boars lungs and heart.  Second that hitting the heart for me was a testament to study of wild boar anatomy before the hunt as I wrote in articles more than a month ago. As you can see it was a perfect double lung hit with the reward of striking the heart as well making for a fast clean kill.

© 2017

 

Why Hunt Russian Boar?

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Why hunt Russian boar in Maine woods, like I did at Skinner Bog Hunt Park? I answered that when I put 100 pounds of the best meat I have eaten, in my freezer and to provide for my family and friends.

This high fence hunt is a way to keep interest in the ability to kill for food and understand that someone must kill for you to live. Might as well be me! And I love to cook and eat what I catch too! Skinner Bog has deer and elk too.

http://www.skinnerbogdeerfarm.com/russian-boar-hunts/

I prefer to hunt deer, bear, turkey and other large game but when my budget and time off work are meager, I will do what I love best, one way or another. I just love to Hunt!

I like to eat what I kill, my dad taught me to garden and to hunt to self provide. He and his parents lived through the depression and the protein menu was often beans and what game you brought home of any and all types.

Russian Boar hunting in a high fence hunt often provides an opportunity to shoot but, in my opinion, it is not a guarantee. You, the hunter, must have a measure of skill. It can be harder or easier to kill your boar depending on how you like to hunt such as stand hunts over food where you wait for the boar to come to you. Still Hunting in the dead of winter is my favorite time and method because you are using your senses of sight, sound and smell. It takes more skill to still hunt in thick cover where you have to read sign and determine the age of the tracks and droppings. I hope to hunt them next with my bow to up the challenge.

The chances of getting a  shot at these boar are extremely good in high fence hunting because of forage and silage provide to feed these boar create windows of going to or coming from a feeding area in the deep woods.

Ok, so why high fence hunt these animals at all? Why not just get your pork at the supermarket? First of all the meat is darker and redder than pork so you can’t get it at the local store.  It is for the same reason that a hunter hunts deer. Hunters like me like to hunt and they like to eat and cook (chef) what they catch or harvest and I like to know what my animal ate, how it lived in a wild setting, and see that this animal was harvested and utilized fully for its nutrition. I was doubly rewarded when I decide to butcher the animal at home and cut it up to my liking and of course I learned so much about the meat and use of the fat.

I highly recommend a hunt of this type if you want to provide for yourself instead of the supermarket because your chances of bringing home the some of the best meat you will ever eat are so terrific.

Good Hunting!

© 2017

Skinner Bog Maine Russian Boar Hunt:TC Pro Hunter with Nosler E-Tips and a Leupold Scope by Ed Hale

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It was Monday February 6th, 2017 at near noon when I left for my Maine Russian Boar hunt. It took me a bit over 3 hours to get to Dixmont, Maine, were Skinner Bog Hunt Park is located. I promised my friends at Nosler that I would “take” a Russian boar with Nosler E-Tips and gave me a chance to shoot the TC Pro Hunter Single shot rifle in 30-06 Springfield with my favorite scope, a Leupold VX-6 3-18 x 44mm

Skinner Bog Hunt Park

http://www.skinnerbogdeerfarm.com/russian-boar-hunts/

Skinner Bog Hunt Park is owned and operated by Jeremy Bilodeau who has a passion for hunting Whitetail deer as well as his hunt park operation which has game animals such as the Russian Boar, mixed wild boar breeds, Red deer, Sika deer, Fallow deer and Elk. Give Jeremy a call at the website if you want more info or to book your own hunt.

When I arrived, I was greeted by Jeremy at the main camp and taken to my bunk area where I spread out my gear and relaxed before dinner.

Here is a shot of the living area wall back at camp with all of the family whitetails taken.

All deer on the walls were taken by Jeremy and his 2 sons. Food and drink was provided for by the lodge and was treated to a first night steak dinner and some grilled wild pig along with Asparagus and Scalloped Potato. The wild pig was a cross breed from the park and delicious.

I was to hunt the larger 400 acre park in the morning for a long standing wild group of very wary Russian boar. We got out to the park on his large side by side 4 wheeler. Temperatures were hovering in the 12 to 16 degree range so we bundled up. I was shooting the TC Pro Hunter Single Shot in 30-06 Springfield with Nosler E- Tips, the E is for Expanding. An all gilding copper bullet that Expands on contact and stays together.

I thought I was well prepared until we started “still hunting” on a fluffy 3 inches of new snow on frozen compressed ice snowpack underneath, except I was not very still. My boots were not able to grip the snowpack and it was like I was on an undulating skating rink where I slipped and fell many times. Just a week earlier Jeremy and his client put up a nice Russian boar in the same area we were hunting, hoping to cut fresh tracks. We covered many acres of what should have been prime bedding area and came up with not one new track. But there are at least 25 animals in the half square mile park. Of course we could see where the animals had been just days before, but you can’t eat tracks as my dad used to say.  Jeremy suggested we take a break, concerned for my slipping and sliding and I said directly; “I’m fine…don’t need a break.” I was determined to not let the slipping get the best of me and continued our hunt in hopes seeing new sign. My pride was perhaps bruised more than I was.  We stopped off at the deep woods guest cabin that sleeps 6,  to see inside it and make sure the scope was still on.

Sure enough it got banged enough to shoot 9 inches to the right, at 100 yards. A few adjustments and we were back on target.

Ok, nuf’-o-that,  we decided to have some lunch and shift gears to a different spot in the park. Jeremy rustled up a pair of Trex™ Ice traction slip-on’s (below), and that did the trick.

Trex™ Ice Traction Device (05831)

Renewed and refreshed Jeremy led me to a different area. It wasn’t long as we pushed through the spruce, we could see legs of animals ahead of us. Jeremy said “Red deer” as they melted into the backdrop. I heard them but did not see them.  As we moved along we heard a grunt, then another; a parade of Wild boar, both large and small were moving away at about 50 yards. Jeremy, earlier stated that several Russian  boar are here as well as mixed breeds. I wanted a Russian boar to write about and serve to my friends and family for dinner!

Jeremy and I followed from a safe distance and the boar began to root around oblivious to us. We got into position for a shot in the first available opening but all we could see was the back end of the boar. Then the big Russian swapped ends and headed straight at us. We froze momentarily in hopes it would not see us, then like a dart the boar went left quartering away at 35 yards but the smaller boar were milling around, and the equally large boar was nearby making a shot impossible.

Then, two more small inquisitive boar came up behind us so we gave them plenty of room, knowing we would end up in a better shooting position anyhow.

The smaller boar were bold as all get-out, not sure what they would do, so we move away.

Finally in the thick spruce the Russian boar was alone and we were in  position just 15 yards away and was broadside. Jeremy whispered; “Clear!” I was already aiming and ready. Boom! I could see the tissue tight behind the boars shoulder give a puff and ran away to the left and down an opening where, in just 30 yards, it collapsed. Perfect Shot Ed!, said Jeremy! We high fived a few times as she collapsed just 30 yards down a small hill. It was a mad house of all the boar grunting that stood around it and in a protection circle and the other big Russian was popping his teeth as a warning.

We stayed at a distance to ensure the boar was indeed dead for a few minutes and then went into recovery mode back at camp with a 4 wheel vehicle and a plastic toboggan. We got the big Russian all loaded up and away from the other boar and found a spot for a photo shoot with the boar, my TC Pro Hunter Rifle, Leupold VX-6 Scope and the Nosler 30-06 with 168g Copper E-Tips that brought this Russian boar down in a hurry.

Now the process of skinning and quartering is underway below. Look at all that fat!

Here is where the Nosler E-Tip, (E for expanding) all copper bullet did on entrance. The bullet encountered the thick skin on the shoulder called the “shield” and the E-Tip opened (expanded) on the shield as it punched through the ribs with a quarter size hole on entry. The bullet shredded the lungs and took a chunk from the heart and exited with a golf ball size hole. And not a trace of the copper to be found!!! Wow! Now that is a bullet! I will be feeding some of this to my little grandkids and feel confident that there are no lead fragments as it is all copper and resists fragmentation.

Jeremy suggested we leave the halves to cool in the 16 degree weather.

I used a power reciprocating saw with a new blade they call the Ax. Did a fine job cutting bone! Look at that fat marbling will ya!

It is Thursday, I killed the boar on Tuesday afternoon.  I cut up half of the boar during the Northeaster Blizzard we were having here in New Hampshire. In the blizzard I heated up the grill and barbecued these puppies in Balsamic and Fig Vinegar, salt and pepper till crispy and about 140 or so internal temp. Look at those snow flakes!

So after all those  driven miles, all the falls in the snow and slick ice woods at Skinner Bog in Maine, here is the dinner I created;

Grilled Balsamic Russian boar chops with Broccolini , Crisp Apple and Bread Stuffing and Newfoundland Partridge Berry /Blueberry Jam on the side. Wow! And a Stella Beer to wash it down. Magnificent!!! The fat was blackened and crispy, meat tender and very flavorful and non gamey. Restaurant quality!

Thanks so much Jeremy, It was a blast! I will be back!!!

A big hat tip to my friends at Nosler and the E-Tip, Thompson Center for such a fine rifle and Leupold for its famous VX-6 3-18x44mm scope.

Good Hunting!

Copyright © 2017

 

 

 

 

 

Rifle Cartridges and Historical Perspectives for Hunting North American Game by Ed Hale

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Any rifle cartridge that can come close to, or better than the 30-06 Springfield in energy and speed can take all North American Game. Lesser cartridges exist to hunt deer and black bear only.

I was never a fan of the 30-30 because the Marlin I was exposed to as a youth had a bad firing pin and sometimes would not fire. In analysis it could have been a lubricant issue in 6 degree weather. Never the less, I was not a fan but history shows it is magnificent on deer size game.

The .243 Winchester with 100 grain bullets is fabulous on deer in open terrain out to 300 yards and recoils little. It’s limitation, I believe, is that a small branch in the way can damage the path and delivered energy.

Most of the local New England clubs saw the .270 Winchester and 30-06 as a Cartridge that was not only available but it could be used on Yukon Moose and Brown bear, though many would prefer “more gun.” Especially those who wound the bear and he decides to come for you. Then a bazooka would be just fine, right! Truth be told, they are good performers but on a scale of good, better, best they were just “good” on really big game. On my upcoming Russian Boar hunt, the 30-06 is in the “better to best” category.

“Better” for big bears and moose are above the 30-06 cartridge beginning with the .300 Winchester Magnum. The problem was that the 300 Win. Mag. and larger kicked like a mule, and some after being pummeled, just sold their purchases to go back to a lighter rifle. Then along comes the Simms Recoil pads and Pachmayr Decelerator pads that often reduce felt recoil by 50%. Next is the .338 and .358 Norma Magnum. I owned a .338 Winchester Magnum and have no experience with the .358 so I will leave that for others.

I found that I could shoot my Ruger M77 in .338 Winchester Magnum and Nosler 250 grain Partitions with my T-shirt on, as long as I was not Bench Resting. Here is  my Record Book Kudu with the Ruger M77 in .338 Winchester Magnum and hand loaded Nosler 250 grain Partition bullets. One Shot, one Kill.

Magnums could be easily tamed with these recoil pads. Jim Carmichael of Outdoor Life killed Cape Buffalo with the .338 Winchester Magnum. Hand loading gives a lot of versatility.

Years later, I purchased the Ruger M77 African in .375 Ruger which, when loaded down can take small game to deer, then loaded up to bear, moose, bison and cape buffalo. It is perhaps the most versatile cartridge I own for shots out to 300 yards with a Nosler 260 grain AccuBond. Further for elk size game out to 600 yards if you practice with a laser rangefinder. Left is a Nosler AccuBond and right is a monolithic alloy solid for dangerous game. At 100 yards the impact is nearly identical.

Today there are numerous cartridges that are available such as the new 6 mm and 6.5 Creedmoor for deer and elk which are thin skinned. I have written extensively on the 6.5 Creedmoor and believe it to be the most accurate in its CXP class.

From the website below;

“Winchester calls these “CXP” classes, from CXP1 through CXP4, and has registered CXP as a trademark. CXP stands for “Controlled eXpansion Performance.” Federal lists Usage numbers from 1 through 4 for rifle hunting ammunition. With or without the CXP designation, the numbers 1 through 4 represent the same four basic types of game in both ammunition catalogs.”

See CXP classification by Chuck Hawks on bullets and game for a detailed look.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/cxp.htm

 

Bullet construction and material have made great strides like the copper bullets, partitions, and bonded bullets. Bullet engineering has manifested itself in its ability to be manufactured economically in copper, and bonded with lots of followers so really it is not just about the cartridge but the bullet and its construction as well.

Good Shooting!

© 2017

Countdown to my Russian Boar Hunt in Maine by Ed Hale

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Just a week away from the Super Bowl and the next day begins the short journey to the deep woods of Maine with a friend to hunt the prehistoric Russian Boar on a hunt park with long razor sharp tusks to eat or kill whatever it desires for food. It is one mean looking, some say ugly, tusked animal that widely roamed Europe since the Pleistocene Period of over 2 million years ago along with the Wooly Mammoth. The Alpha male of the species can grow to unheard of sizes far in excess of 600 – 800 lbs and grow tusks over 6 inches long. Below is an image (courtesy of Bing.com Images) of a mature Russian Boar. He looks to tip the scales of over 300 pounds.

Image result for pictures of russian boar

Lots of ham and sausage here but may be too big for better eating. I may want a smaller tastier boar but I will wait till my animal is down with my TC Pro Hunter 30-06 Springfield single shot using 168 grain Nosler E-Tips ( see my articles on E-Tips). I am also thinking of taking my Hoyt Compound Bow too for perhaps other game but we shall see.

The key here is a respectable representative of the Russian Boar that is good eating as I will be butchering this animal at home over the remainder of the week if I get one. Look for my series of articles on the hunt and the food prep end like hams and sausage and burger and ribs for the “barbecue”.  If this hunt is as fun as I think then I will be back next year.

© 2017

Nosler Expansion -Tip Bullet – All Gilding Copper – Kills Fast – Fragment Resistant

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I have been a fan of Nosler Rifle Products for Hunters from the get-go. In particular the Nosler E-Tip (Expansion Tip) bullet I write about time and time again. It is not like the pure copper bullets that can smear copper in some barrels.  The E-Tip is solid gilding copper like a harder copper alloy bullet jacket. It has a hollow cavity that expands (controlled Expansion) like the petals of a banana into a perfect mushroom below. I know the words E-Tip aren’t glamorous like “Hammer” or such but in fact you can say that it is like a hammer that gets created upon touching skin and tissue. It plows through the toughest tissue and bone and stays together. It creates large wound channels for vital blood to flow rapidly and kills quickly for fast recovery of downed game. I have seen it.

If you are like me, I like to eat all of my wild game, not cut hunks of meat that are likely fragmented with bullet pieces from my big game meat. If you haven’t used the E-Tip you are missing something big. Nosler sells them loaded up in your caliber or as heads to reload.

Give them a try you will be glad you did!

 

New BELLM Trigger for TC Pro Hunter -update

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UPDATE : I had trouble installing the new spring for the trigger so I am sending the frame to BELLM to do the work.

As  most of you know, I tested the TC Pro Hunter 50 cal. Muzzleloader/30-06 Springfield Rifle Combo this summer and fall…and I bought it! The cheek rest and ammo pouch is an add on of mine.

I love the combination as I can now buy barrels for shotgun and other calibers for it. The only thing that can be significantly improved upon is the trigger. So I ordered the G2 kit below from the new website. http://1gunshop.com/catalog/?ret_id=1485279

G2 Trigger Job and Spring Kits

I want the trigger pull in the 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 pound range so Kurt from the 1gunshop set me up for it. The kit should be here soon so I can install and test it before my Russian Boar Hunt.

In addition I will test the trigger with Nosler’s 30-06 Springfield 168 grain E-Tip that Zach Waterman of Nosler is sending me.

E-TIp Lead Free Ammunition Banner

 

along with Leupold’s VX-6 zoom scope. It has a lighted crosshair too…

Good Hunting!

© 2017

 

Nosler E-Tip and AccuBond Bullet – Best in Class! by Ed Hale

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We all enjoy eating our wild game don’t we! I have shot Nosler E-Tips in my game and into media (fir planks) and find that the bullet flairs into petals for the E-Tip and stays together. It is a gilding copper bullet that will leave less copper in your barrel rifling than other bullet manufacturers.

In a deer hunt in 2015, I killed a spike buck at 300 yards with my test gun, a Savage 11/111 in 7mm Remington Magnum’Leupold VX-6 combo, loaded with 140grain Nosler E-Tips. Below is the exit wound.

 

I shot once a bit high and got full penetration, the deer fell like lighting but stood up moments later. The second shot was 4 inches lower through the lower ribs and shoulder and exited. The deer fell in its tracks for good!  No trace of either bullet was found and I liked the fact that there was no chance of lead fragmentation from a bone strike that I have seen in my non bonded cheaper bullets of other manufacture. In bone strikes of early deer kills, I had to cut a large chunk of meat around the bullet path as lead and copper fragments were seen.

AccuBond Bullets are designed where the lead is bonded to the copper and stays together BIGLY, while other bullets come apart.  The AccuBond keeps the lead together much more so, thus I believe it is also best in Class.

The AccuBond has been produced as an “all range” bullet, for near and far. Below is a 800 lb Bison I took with a 260 grain AccuBond with my Ruger M77 African Rifle and VX-3 Leupold Scope at 100 yards quartering away. The bullet entered the last rib and angled forward through the heart and lungs and exited after busting the opposite shoulder. The buffalo dropped in its tracks! No fragments found around the bullet path or wound site.

Another AccuBond Kill was a nice Moose with the same rifle and load.

 

For those who are shooting beyond 500 yards there is the Long Range AccuBond which has one of the highest Ballistic Coefficients for its bonded design as a hunting bullet. See the video below.

I have not had an opportunity to shoot this LRAB as I have no immediate need to hunt that long a range at this time, but if I do, you know I will use this bullet.

In closing, I have had more meat, and less fragment damage with the E-Tip and AccuBond than any hunting bullet EVER!.

UPDATE – My good friend Zach Waterman at Nosler is sending me Nosler gilding copper E-Tips to use on my upcoming Russian Boar Hunt so we can again see how a shoulder hit on a big game animal can still be accomplished with little or no fragmentation and no lead in the meat.

Good Hunting!

© 2017