Ok not Invisible but very well camouflaged I said: but to game animals a shiny barrel or stock is like putting a reflective mirror on it! I bet that Game from far away as 600 -1000 yards and more yards can notice it. Duh! Do you like camouflage on your turkey shotgun? Why not your rifle too if it has a synthetic stock. I have been putting camo on my rifles for years with high quality camo tape. My wood stocked rifles got removable camo tape on the barrel and help me get closer to wary game while on my African Safari.

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Now you can camo your whole rifle, shotgun, scope, truck and more. I like Mossy Oak Graphics at their website below are video instructions how to camo your rifle.

http://www.mossyoakgraphics.com/rifle-wrap-mossy-oak-camo-skin

Another camo method I have used below on my wooden stocked rifles  is  McNett Camo Form™ Protective Camouflage Gun Wraps and they are easily put on and easily removed. It is very thick and protective too.

Allen Company offers Cloth Camo tape. One of the most cost effective hunting purchases you will ever make. Ok your gonna hunt Brown Bear with a Mirror barrel and stocked Rifle? And get one right? Ok you might, but with a un-mirrored camo barrel you maybe could have shot a real record brown bear instead of an OK bear. Hunting trophy game is measured in covering the minutia of what could spook the game. Smell, sight, sound etc. Or seeing a keeper buck instead of a fork horn.

Don’t forget to camo your scope too. I will be doing that this fall as I have not in the past. Why? Cause I was not thinking clearly! More on Camo for game…© 2105

The long awaited Savage model 11/111 Long Range Rifle in 7mm Remington Magnum has arrived and in excellent shape thanks to the heavy double boxing methods they use.

The scope mount bases on the rifle are a Weaver style with slotted bases. I will be testing this rifle with the VX-6 3-18 44mm CDS Illuminated Boone and Crockett as the add says ZERO TO 600 IN ONE SECOND. This is not just a scope it is a  visionary light amplifying, magnifying, crystal clear to count antler points and scope your game from zero to 600 yards before squeezing the trigger kinda scope. Yea but it is not for everyone, it is for the hunter that wants it all, the very best in spades, anywhere on the Planet. More on it too!

Installation of the scope, which has a 30mm tube requires rings that will fit the Weaver base and high enough for the 44mm Objective lens to clear. My friends at Leupold are fast shipping a pair of correctly fitting rings so I can begin testing. Patience is a virtue and a good hunter must have patience. I hope to be at the range next week with it. I am hand loading rounds for it according to SAAMI specifications.

More Soon! I do have plans for this rifle and Scope combo that are equal to the tasks they can accomplish.

Thanks to my friends at State Line Guns Ammo and Archery, an FFL dealer, for receiving my rifle and the FFL paperwork.  http://www.statelineguns.com/ I highly recommend them, fast, friendly and knowledgeable!

Ed Hale – Editor/ Owner

What a great day in the sunshine of my own back yard to get my grand kids interested in archery and bow hunting. Here is Christian (9) and Joshua (8) trying for a kill shot on a whitetail target.

Today there are inexpensive ways to get youth involved in Archery. Fiberglass starter bows for 30 dollars or less. Arrows for $2.50 each. A hip quiver for 2.50 each and there you have it. Pull weights are 10 to 25 pounds and in many cases an arm guard or finger tab is optional.

The object lesson here is safety; safe bow and arrow handling, how to shoot beside each other, and how not to run to get your arrows. They have sharp points so with some attention to shooting form, pointing arrows always down range, we can then have lots of fun. The quiver gives a sense of pride as they collect their arrows for the next shot. And when they hit the target give a hoot for their success!  I am grooming these kids as future hunters so I have found youtube video’s of youth hunters taking their first deer.

And I had a blast teaching them! © 2015

Yup, Obama is at it again! See NRA/ILA website below for details.

Stop Obama’s Planned Gag Order on Firearm-Related Speech

https://www.nraila.org/articles/20150605/stop-obamas-planned-gag-order-on-firearm-related-speech

From NRA website: “Time is of the essence! Public comment will be accepted on the proposed gag order until August 3, 2015. Comments may be submitted online at regulations.gov or via e-mail at DDTCPublicComments@state.gov with the subject line, ‘‘ITAR Amendment—Revisions to Definitions; Data Transmission and Storage.”

Finally, please contact your U.S. Senators and Member of Congress. Urge them to oppose the State Department’s attempt to censor online speech concerning the technical aspects of firearms and ammunition. Use the “Write Your Lawmakers” feature on our website or call the Congressional Switchboard at (202) 225-3121.

Here is a copy of my email letter below. You may use any part of it.

TO: DDTCPublicComments@state.gov

Subject: ITAR Amendment—Revisions to Definitions; Data Transmission and Storage.”

Body of Letter:

“Re: ITAR Amendment Restriction on Firearms Communication and Free Speech

It is my understanding that the public may comment on this International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) amendment until August 3, 2015. With the new proposal published on June 3, the State Department claims to be “clarifying” the rules concerning “technical data” posted online or otherwise “released” into the “public domain.” To the contrary, however, the proposal would institute a massive new prior restraint on free speech. This is because all such releases would require the “authorization” of the government before they occurred. The cumbersome and time-consuming process of obtaining such authorizations, moreover, would make online communication about certain technical aspects of firearms and ammunition essentially impossible.

The new International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) Amendment regulation introduced June 3, 2015 is “in fact” a breech of the First and Second Amendment of the Constitution of United States. I strongly disagree with the amendment and urge you to follow the Constitution.

The Amendment will damage freedom and the ability to communicate among “We the People” set forth in the Constitution under free speech and access to technical aspects on websites for firearms purchases and websites and blogs, web forums and video’s. Further, that I have contacted my Senators and Congressman and state legislators in this regard.

Sincerely,

Big Texas loves big Guns! Back some time ago I wrote prolifically about the .375 Ruger and a reader from Texas named Alan L. He read the article I wrote entitled; “Hand Loading the .375 Ruger for Deer, Bear, Moose and Cape Buffalo” and proceeded to purchase the Ruger M77 Hawkeye in .375 Ruger and he has never looked back.

He has changed the stock to a synthetic McMillan Stock, a personal preference, see the photo below and had it professionally bedded and accurized by Hill Country Rifles in New Braunfels, TX.

My Ruger M77 Hawkeye in .375 Ruger is exactly as I received it from a dealer. It shot sub MOA out of the box and I never looked back either. I love my .375 Ruger! Shooting it is really fun!

He reloads the .375 Ruger the same as I have with hand loads that are customized to the game he hunts. From small game, varmints to deer at 38-55 Winchester velocities, to 2600 fps for wild hogs, and on the higher level with 300 grain Dangerous game bullets including solids, what ever game on the Planet he wishes to hunt. In Texas, wild hogs can gore the hunter with tusks making a close encounter one of dangerous game.

The .375 Ruger on large ornery wild hogs is good medicine when confronted with a charge. For those who believe that recoil is severe, you are wrong when the recoil pad is a Pachmayr decelerator or a Sim’s SVL recoil pad. These pads reduce felt recoil around 50 % making them feel more like a 30-06 instead. If you can’t shoot an ’06 then the best advice is to stay out of the Hog woods.

I would use a round soft nose bullet for Hogs. The soft round nose will expand largely and drive the expanded bullet like a freight train wrecking bone and tissue in its path in such a devastating way as to put the lights out on a hog like it was struck by lightning. Big hole in, a barn door hole coming out. A bullet like the 270 grain Round Nose traveling at 2600 fps delivers over 4000 ft-lb at the muzzle. Amazingly the .375 Ruger that I own and that Alan owns are both sub Minute of Angle accurate; that is to say grouping three bullets in less than 1 inch at 100 yards for heavy bone crushing loads. That is the Ruger hammer forged barrel. I have hunted and killed Moose and deer with the .375 Ruger and after 50 years of hunting and reloading it is truly impressive when the shooter can reload his or her own custom loads with impeccable accuracy over a wide range of bullets and powders.

The key to shooting any rifle is that you must place the bullet in a vital area to do its job. Shooting a big Hog in the foot ain’t gonna do that, so practice. Alan says he chose a scope a Meopta Meostar 1.5-6 x 42. This allows the shooter the ability to shoot at 5 feet using 1.5x and still see the animal in focus to shoot, a great scope choice.

If you are interested in one rifle for the Planet then see your Ruger dealer and check out the Ruger at http://ruger.com/products/HawkeyeAfrican/models.html

© 2015

.I took the NH Hunter Course in the early 1960’s and did not have a Cert. Number. I want to hunt in southern states that have more deer, but some states now require a Hunter or Bowhunter Cert. Number. If you don’t have one then you need to get one by taking the new NH Hunter course. I needed a Hunter Cert Number.

After some grumbling, I took it in stride and took the updated course. I believe the On-Line Course and the Field Day was great. Instructors worked hard to instill the safety and ethics that is so critical to hunting’s future. There is the traditional course with more hands-on would be even better for a young hunter and that still exists. A NH Conservation Officer steps you through the new rules and regs and answers important questions. You can log on today and take the on line course like I did and then attend a field day or take a longer (think its 3 day course) too which is more hands-on. As a former Hunter Ed Instructor I aced the tests and learned alot too as well a getting a refresher.  Go for it…take the plunge and go hunting in NH or any state.

Check it out at  http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/hunting/hunter-ed.html

A Great Idea From Ruger!

http://www.ruger.com/micros/2million/index.html

Ruger Quote: “Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. has pledged to donate $2 for each new Ruger firearm sold between the 2015 and 2016 NRA Annual Meetings, with the goal of giving $4,000,000. Ruger’s donation will benefit the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA). Established in 1975, NRA-ILA is committed to preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals to purchase, possess, and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.”

On Thursday June 4, 2015 I took the Ruger M77 Hawkeye Predator for its first foray at the 600 yard range at Nashua, New Hampshire. It performed outstandingly well.

The Scope used was the Leupold Gold Ring VX-6 3-18x44mm with the B&C Reticle. At 600 yards I turned the scope up to 18x and adjusted the focal plane for 600 yards. The target was clear and crisp with the x ring visible. In the target image below the small blue circle represents an unknown shooter at an unknown distance. The larger circle represents shots taken with the Creedmoor.  Initial hits were far to the right so I walked the shots left with three windage adjustments. One minute (4 clicks) equals 6 inched at 600 yards. By the time I was scoring in the ten ring I ran out of bullets. Without a doubt, nearly all the shots would have been in the 10x ring if the rifle was already adjusted left. This rifle is impressive with these hunting bullets and can only get better with a heavy target bullet with some additional powder tests this rifle will shoot groups like those far below. The Creedmoor will do it with less recoil too. For someone that wants an all around rifle for hunting big game like deer, bear, and elk, varmints or f-class target, I give this Ruger a big thumbs up. It is not obvious at first glance but with the laminate stock and stainless barrel it would make a great rifle for a pack-in hunt in any weather. The stock won’t swell in wet weather and the barrel will not rust! Retail is around $800 and a bargain! 

The Ruger M77 Hawkeye Predator in the 6.5 Creedmoor is a winner expecially when topped with the Leupold VX-6 in 3-18x44mm.  The Scope will handle any weather on the planet and any caliber you wish to use and retails for $1100 on sale. See the article on the VX-6 in NH Rifleman.

600 yard target

Interestingly a woman target shooter shot a SIG Sauer Rifle in 308 Winchester with a LR Scope, she was shooting A-Max bullets from Hornady which are known for their high ballistic coefficient and for target shooting. This is what a good 600 yard group looks like when you have done your homework on the Rifle, Scope, Bullet, Powder and practice. I congratulated her on this terrific group seen below on this F Class target.

If you want to read this in context with the other articles, look back in the website history for the first article and read forward.  Good Shooting! © 2015

At the end of March 2015, Savage Arms agreed to send the 11/111 Long Range Hunter in 7mm Remington Magnum to New Hampshire Rifleman Magazine for testing. Recent email with Savage is encouraging so stay tuned.

If you are following my writing on the 6.5 Creedmoor tests, I had great luck with more 100 yard tests reloading for third time with same Hornady brass which has stiffened some, making it easier to press the bullet into the cartridge.

Even thought the SAAMI Max Cartridge Overall Lenth (COL) is 2.825 this does not aid the reloader much in finding the best COL.  I knew from previous tests with this particular rifle (every rifle is different) the 120 grain Sierra Pro-Hunter flat base bullet flies well at 2.53 inches COL (and poorly at 2.70 inches so I loaded two (three shot) groups today 6 rounds with 2.65 inches COL where the bullet was seated totally into the neck.Group 1 was 1.5 inches Group 2 was 3/4 inch. It is possible that one of group 1 shots was errant and due to a slight pull of the trigger. Group 3 and 4 was shot at COL of 2.60 and measured 1 inch for group 3 and 5/8′ for group 4. Based on this data, I am confident that best COL length is between 2.53 and 2.60 resulting in sub MOA performance. A bullet seated less than 2.53 is near to the curved o-give. I would perhaps settle on just less than 2.60, say 2.58 for future tests on the Sierra 120 grain. Speed is 2892 fps at the muzzle. Below is the calculation of performance to 300 yards on deer size game. Max Point blank range is 278 yards where the bullet stays within a 6 inch circle when zeroed at 238 yards. Bullet energy at 278 yards is 1322 ft lbs. Plenty nuff energy for a whitetail hit in the heart/lung area but must account some for a light 10 mph wind that can throw the bullet off course by 7 inches left or right. Vertical error is around 2 inches at max range from a bench rest. In the field you will need a good rest to take a shot at that range and practice, practice, practice. Check out the JBM Ballistics data below. http://www.jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin/jbmtraj-5.1.cgi. A side note on the size of a bullseye with the Leupold VX-6 Scope. I ran out of preprinted targets so I used copy paper and scribbled a circle bull at 1/2 inch but the crosshairs filled the bull and the target center disapeared. Thus your bull should be larger than 1/2 inch (perhaps 1 to 1.5 inches) to be seen correctly so that the shooter knows that the crosshair is in the center of it. Shooting a fly at 100 yards would be difficult indeed, but since we are not shooting flies negates the matter. I do like the VX-6 bold crosshairs very much as they stand out clearly.