One Shot One Kill applies to Hunters too. Use a Bipod or Tripod!

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Yes it is a sniper credo but it also applies to serious hunters. After the first shot in the field or woods, every animal knows. And if your game animal was not hit or vitally hit on the first shot you will rarely have a second shot. Color your animal gone or likely lost!

Ok how to improve?

First only take shots that are within your capability?

How do you know this?

By practicing and learning your limits. The kill zone of heart and lungs of a large whitetail buck for example is 8 inches but a doe is often much smaller and more like a 6 inch kill zone. I keep my shots in that zone when practicing off hand. My max range for off hand is about 50 yards. If I have time to brace against a tree or use shooting sticks, like I did in Africa, my confidence grows to 300 yards or more.

So finding a brace, such as shooting sticks or pods, helps make that first shot count!

When I take a stand and can see longer than 50 yards then I will employ a brace like shooting sticks or a bipod or monopod. My hunt in North Carolina a few years back placed me in a sorghum field with a 380 yard view. I had a spike buck on day three cross the field at nearly 300 yards. You can see my monopod in the photo below.

I had a monopod firmly strapped to my stand and took that spike with my Savage 7mm Rem Mag. I was meat hunting after 3 days of seeing not one deer!  If I didn’t have that pod, I would have been forced to pass on that shot. I hit the buck near top of the lungs and he fell like lightening but a moment later it stood and I placed a second shot just a few inches lower and put him in my freezer.

I have a Harris Bipod that is useless in northern NH hunting and the mono-pod walking stick which is nice but I think a larger lightweight telescoping bipod or even the tripod is a better answer, such as the bog-pod by Battenfield Technologies, Inc.

http://www.btibrands.com/brands/bog-pod/?archive=hunting-restsmonopods-bipods-tripods

Bog Gear Bog-Pod Shooting Stick SB-2 Sportsman's Bipod 735544

I show this brand because it so well thought out! Check it out at your local sporting goods store.

Make that first shot a kill shot like this Red Hartebeest below taken with bow.

Good Hunting!

© 2017

Weatherby Vanguard Weatherguard Coming Soon

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Vanguard® Weatherguard™

Above the Weatherby® Vanguard® Weatherguard™ is coming to New Hampshire Rifleman Magazine On-Line in 6.5 Creedmoor, one of my favorite cartridges. I chose this rifle to test for several reasons but it all boils down to value!  High quality and accuracy (guaranteed MOA accurate with Weatherby cartridges or top names) at a very acceptable cost. At an MSRP of $750 (much less at retail) this rifle appears to have it all. We shall see! Accordingly, we will put this rifle through its paces for accuracy and dependability for the all weather hunter.

Good Hunting! Check back soon!

 

Subsonic or Low Noise 22LR Ammo

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Over the years the neighbors moved in from the city, right? And If they hear even a supersonic 22 LR go off with a cracking sound then your neighbors are complaining. As a kid I had a bolt 22 that would take 22 short, long or long rifle. I need another one!

My backyard garden had chipmunks and red squirrels chewing on my plants and my house. What to do? I have had it! My bb gun is a pain-in-the-backside to pump and shoot every time.

I bought some subsonic ammo that wont make that cracking sound of breaking the sound barrier. This ammo speed is less than the speed of sound which at sea level is around 1120 to 1130 fps in the 60 to 70 degree F range. As temp goes up so does the speed needed to break the sound barrier. Ammo in the 1000 fps range is adequate. The problem then becomes one of diet in your particular rifle or pistol. Semi-Autos can be finicky and not eject and feed the next round so you need to experiment or shoot just one at a time, which is fine with me. The key is accuracy! At 25 yards I can hit the head of a chipmunk with a steady rest with Aguila SuperExtra subsonic 40 g heads.

But I really want to know what is out there so I tried CCI Quiet but my Marlin 22LR semi won’t even shoot them. There are video’s that say they work fine but you got to have a rifle that shoots them. Pistols are by their nature much louder so you may need hearing protection there for sure.

Next is 22LR Low Noise Ammo – This ammo is sold by many manufacturers like CCI Quiet, Remington and Winchester among many in the low-noise 770 fps or less

Here is a video series below on YouTube. The Ruger 10/22 seems to shoot well with many or bolt or lever action.

 

 

Experimentation is best but accuracy is key!

 

 

 

Most Read Article: The .270 Winchester vs. the 6.5 Creedmoor by Ed Hale

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My rifle article has the shooting world by the tail and read by tens of thousands around the world from New England to Alaska, and in South Africa. They just can’t get enough of it!!.

So here it is again below. Enjoy!!

http://www.nhrifleman.com/2017/03/10/the-270-winchester-vs-the-6-5-creedmoor-by-ed-hale/

Smith & Wesson to Sponsor 2017 NRA World Shooting Championship

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact:
Matt Spafford, Smith & Wesson Corp.

1-844-772-5159

media@smith-wesson.com

 

 

Smith & Wesson to Sponsor 2017 NRA World Shooting Championship

 

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., (September 13, 2017) – Smith & Wesson Corp. announced today that it will return as the Silver Sponsor for the 2017 NRA World Shooting Competition on September 14-16 at the Peacemaker National Training Center in Glengary, WV. The NRA World Shooting Championships are a unique shooting event, in which both professional and amateur shooters must only use pistols, rifles and shotguns provided by firearms manufacturers.

 

Matt Buckingham, President of Smith & Wesson, said, “Competing with manufacturer-supplied firearms presents a unique challenge for professional shooters, and allows amateur shooters to compete without the significant investment in equipment that would otherwise be required.  The NRA World Shooting Championships are a great way for new shooters to get a taste of the different shooting sports, and we are pleased to be able to support the NRA and help bring such a fun, diverse event to the shooting community.”

 

Professional and amateur shooters from around the world gather to test their skills at multiple disciplines, including pistol, rifle, shotgun, and combined firearms sports. There are two divisions, Professional and Amateur, consisting of 12 stages and 3 days of competition with a prize table worth over $250,000. The NRA Two-Gun Stage of the match will feature the Performance Center® M&P®15 Competition rifle, as well as the Performance Center® M&P®9 Pro Series® pistol for shooters to compete with during the stage.  Professional Shooters Doug Koenig and Jerry Miculek of Team Smith & Wesson will be competing at the event.

 

For more information about the 2017 NRA World Shooting Competition, please visit https://wsc.nra.org/

 

For more information about Smith & Wesson, please visit www.smith-wesson.com

 

 

About Smith & Wesson

Smith & Wesson Corp. is a provider of quality firearms for personal protection, target shooting and hunting in the global consumer and professional markets. Smith & Wesson is world famous for its handguns and long guns sold under the Smith & Wesson®, Performance Center®, M&P®, Thompson/Center Arms™, and Gemtech® brands.  Through its Manufacturing Services Division, Smith & Wesson Corp. also provides forging, machining, and precision plastic injection molding services to a wide variety of consumer goods companies. For more information on Smith & Wesson, call (800) 331-0852 or log on to www.smith-wesson.com.

 

 

 

To Shoot a Charging Bear with a S&W Model 69 in 44 Magnum?

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Have you practiced hitting  a 3 inch ball (the size of a bears brain) coming at you, undulating up and down at 20 miles an hour? I took some shots yesterday with the Smith & Wesson Model 69 Combat 44 magnum at just a  stationary target and I could only get one bullet, the first shot, in the kill zone out of 5 shots. See Video below.

But that was just initial practice. Serious practice with a moving target over time would be best. And you or I might reach the conclusion that we are not up for that task.

I saw a video where someone used a 1911 pistol in 45 ACP place more than one bullet in the brain kill zone however the 45 ACP is not Brown Bear medicine and would not likely penetrate the skull before the bear reached your body.

Brown bear experts suggest that a 12 gauge shotgun with slugs and 00 buckshot are best in brown bear country.

But on black bear here in New England the S&W Model 69 for general use on deer in regular gun season or bear is just fine say for an archery bear hunt where the bear is climbing the tree you are in and you want more protection than spray repellent.

So where does that leave us in our testing with the SW Model 69 Combat Magnum? I like the confidence I feel with a pistol in 44 Magnum on my hip and will share more on my carry of it in the deer woods this fall.

Note: during deer Muzzleloader or Bow season, you must have “license to carry permit with you” in addition to your muzzleloader/archery license or leave your pistol home.

Open Carry it during “regular”gun season if you like but if concealed under a jacket you need a “conceal carry permit”. When in doubt call NH F&G to get any questions answered before hitting the woods. Unless you have a conceal carry permit, you must unload your pistol while in a vehicle just like your rifle or shotgun. Bone up on pistol laws.

Be Safe! Good Shooting!

 

Thompson/Center’s World of Muzzleloading Series 2 Now on YouTube

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact:

Matt Spafford, Smith & Wesson Corp.

1-844-772-5159

media@smith-wesson.com

 

Thompson/Center Arms™ releases “World of Muzzleloading Series 2” on YouTube

 

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., (September 11, 2017)– Thompson/Center Arms today announced that it has released it’s new “World of Muzzleloading Series 2” instructional videos on YouTube, hosted by Gregg Ritz of Outdoor Channel’s Hunt Masters. Updated for 2017, the “World of Muzzleloading Series 2” YouTube series provides current techniques, product recommendations and insights to help educate viewers on how to hunt safely in the field using today’s muzzleloaders.

 

Gregg Ritz of Outdoor Channel’s Hunt Masters, said, “For the last three decades, I have been pursuing big game around the world with a muzzleloader and have fired countless rounds at the range. A large portion of my hunting career has been spent using a muzzleloader and I am excited to be able to share my knowledge of the sport to help both new and experienced hunters enhance their skillset with a muzzleloader.  The “World of Muzzleloading Series 2” provides tips and techniques for those new to the sport, as well as plenty of refresher knowledge for experienced muzzleloading enthusiasts.”

 

Thompson/Center Arms has been known as America’s Master Gunmaker® since 1967 and has been producing muzzleloaders since 1970. Thompson/Center Arms manufactures a diverse line of muzzleloaders suitable for every level of shooter, ranging from the affordable T/C® Impact!™ to the premium T/C Encore® Pro Hunter XT™.

 

Danielle Sanville, Brand Manager for Thompson/Center Arms, said, “Thompson/Center has a long history of innovation in the firearms industry and our products have been trusted by hunters across North America for over 50 years. The “World of Muzzleloading Series 2” was designed to help those looking to get involved in the sport, as well as to offer tips and tricks to those who are experienced with a muzzleloader and looking to hone their skills. We hope this video series helps inspire our customers to get out and enjoy the sport of muzzleloading.”

 

To view Thompson/Center’s “World of Muzzleloading Series 2” videos, click here.

 

For more information, follow Thompson/Center Arms on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, or visit the website at www.tcarms.com.

About Smith & Wesson

Smith & Wesson Corp. is a provider of quality firearms for personal protection, target shooting and hunting in the global consumer and professional markets. Smith & Wesson is world famous for its handguns and long guns sold under the Smith & Wesson®, Performance Center®, M&P®, Thompson/Center Arms™, and Gemtech® brands.  Through its Manufacturing Services Division, Smith & Wesson Corp. also provides forging, machining, and precision plastic injection molding services to a wide variety of consumer goods companies. For more information on Smith & Wesson, call (800) 331-0852 or log on to www.smith-wesson.com.

 

Flood Victims Deal with Their Submerged Ammunition -SAAMI Responds

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Thanks to the NSSF – National Shooting Sports Foundation I share a  link they provided:

http://www3.nssf.org/share/pdf/SAAMI-Ammunition_Exposed_to_Water.pdf

An Excerpt from the PDF above.

“Regarding ammunition that has been submerged in water for any period of time, there are too many variables that would need to be considered such as the cartridge type (e.g., rimfire, shotshell, centerfire rifle, centerfire handgun); depth of the water; length of time the cartridges were submerged; are the primers on the cartridges sealed providing some degree of water resistance? what contaminates may have been in the water that might affect the powder charge or priming compound? and many others. ”

In short, the Sporting Arms and Manufacturing Institute, Inc. does not recommend use of ammo submerged in flooded areas and to dispose of it by contacting your local law enforcement office.

 

Testing the S&W Model 69 Combat Magnum in 44 Magnum for Bear Back-Up – Updated

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The key to any back up weapon, or any weapon for that matter, is to easily access it and shoot accurately.  No matter how powerful the cartridge and gun are, if you miss, or wound a bear that is charging such as a brown bear or grizzly or large black bear, you could soon be dead and likely dinner.

Enter the S&W Model 69 Combat  Magnum with a 2.75 inch barrel and Red embedded composite front sight.  This S&W Combat magnum shoots 5 rounds and has a very smooth double action and can be shot in single action as well. This week I shot 240 grain soft point in Remington 44 magnum and 300 grain hollow point at 8 yards and a few shots at 25 yards. Below is the 8 yard target. The first three shots are at 6 oclock in the center two bullets are from the 300 grain loads. The cluster to the right was double action with the 300 grain heads and but more recoil.

At 25 yards I fired a few rounds single action with 240 grain and 300 grain and hit a small metal plate each time. I really like this Model 69! The grip is adequate for the recoil but could be better. The straight back recoil allows me to get on target faster. The sights and barrel length are excellent for a back up side arm for bear or a closer shot at deer.

The size of a black bears brain is around 3 inches (2.54 cm/inch) front to back. Accordingly, I would suggest that you be able to place a bullet accurately there is imperative. From the front the nasal cavity just below and between the eyes is a good bet and from the side the skull forward below the ears and behind the eyes.

 

Image result for bear anatomy shot placement in brain

 

More later.

Good Shooting!

© 2017

 

 

 

Seeking a Weatherby Vanguard to Test – Update

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For those that want a hard hunting rifle, a Weatherby®, in the Vanguard® Series is supposed to be hard to beat for quality and cost effectiveness. It is guaranteed Sub-MOA out of the box. We have inquired to test one in 6.5 Creedmoor. The MSRP for these exceptional rifles begin around $600 but have see them for under $600 and go up from there. Below is the Vanguard Synthetic. I will keep you informed…

Looks very positive at this time! The process is under way!