Deer hunting with a handgun offers a new way to pursue deer for many who have never given it a try. Here are five handguns that are great for deer hunting whether you are new to handgun hunting or have been doing it for years.
Before looking at the guns perhaps a brief look at deer hunting cartridges should be in order. While a number of cartridges exist for deer hunting with handguns, the traditional .357, .41, and .44 Magnum are good choices due to wide availability of proven ammunition and reloading components at a reasonable cost. Before making any purchase, check out your state's regulations for handgun cartridge minimums and other restrictions (barrel length, etc.). Also, whenever possible shoot a few handguns to get the feel of them before investing hundreds of dollars or even more.
Perhaps the most effective handgun for deer hunting is the Thompson Center Contender. Various models exist, but the standard pistol is a simple break open single shot pistol that can handle not only the traditional handgun cartridges mentioned above but also many 'rifle' cartridges such as the 30-30 Winchester and 45-70 Government. The current model, the Contender G2 starts around the 550 dollar area.
The Ruger Blackhawk is a traditional hunting revolver and another great choice. Ruger has a great reputation for making quality firearms of all sorts and the Blackhawk is one of their best. The Ruger Blackhawk is a traditional six shot single action revolver. A standard blued Ruger Blackhawk will start around the 400 dollar mark.
For those preferring a double action revolver, Ruger offers the Redhawk and the Super Redhawk. The Super Redhawk has an extended frame for stronger scope mounting (with integral scope mounts). The Redhawk costs about $600 with the Super Redhawk starting more in the $700 range.
While semi-automatic pistols aren't common for deer hunting there are choices in this segment as well. Magnum Research's Desert Eagle is a costly pistol at $1400 or so but it is an interesting choice for deer hunting.
For those looking for an inexpensive deer hunting handgun, check out the Comanche Revolver. The Comanche Revolver retails for about $250 and often less. While Taurus and Rossi are better known as inexpensive revolver manufacturers (and should be considered) the Comanche is considerably less expensive. Buying a used revolver is another choice not to be overlooked.
While all of these handguns will work for deer hunting, there are literally scores of other handguns that will work as well. And in addition to the traditional calibers listed above there are also many other cartridges that are great for hunting. Just like with rifle hunting there are numerous choices for gun and cartridge.
Handgun hunting for deer is a great way to add a new experience to your deer hunting.
Saturday, August 16, 2014
10 of the Greatest Songs for the Redneck in Us All
Redneck songs run deep in my blood. Growing up in rural West Virginia in the early '80s, Hank Williams Jr. was king (actually, he still is). Charlie Daniels, David Allan Coe, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and many others played the music I grew up hearing. To a kid growing up in the sticks they were speaking directly to me and my life. But regardless of whether you grew up at the end of a dirt road or in a big city apartment, Redneck music offers something for us all. Freedom, individualism, and rebellion are all causes with which we can relate. Here are 10 great songs to listen to the next time you are feeling a little country.
"Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd has to start the list. Whether you are from Alabama or California this song just makes you think of the south. Lazy hot days on a river bank, sitting in the shade on the back porch, or working in the field, this song makes me want to go home.
"A Country Boy Can Survive" by Hank Williams Jr. Perhaps the greatest song ever written. Take care of yourself and those you love. What more can you say? His Daddy and son (Hank III) aren't bad either (understatement of the year).
I'll also throw in Hank Jr's "If Heaven Ain't a Lot Like Dixie". I remember being jolted from a near sleep in Church one Sunday when the preacher said we need to learn to get along with people cause it's going to be crowded in Heaven. Heaven for me will be every morning is the first day of buck season and the trout biting every evening. I'll have some dogs, my family, Mountain Dew, and every weekend watch the West Virginia University Mountaineers kicking some butt. But I don't want it to be crowded.
"If That Ain't Country", "Long Haired Redneck", "Son of the South", "You Never Even Called Me By My Name" are all being placed in my 10. David Allan Coe probably has more great up tempo Redneck songs than anyone else.
"Thank God I'm a Country Boy" by John Denver isn't very Rednecky at first glance, but it fits into the culture well if you give it a close listen. Hard work and good fun are Redneck to the core.
"A Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash is a great Redneck song. Regardless of how much Rednecks hate their family members it can always be worked out in a drunken bar fight. Ahh the good times.
"Long Haired Country Boy" by Charlie Daniels wraps the whole thing up pretty well. How much better would the country be if we all lived by "I don't want much of nothing' at all if I can't get it by myself"?
"Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd has to start the list. Whether you are from Alabama or California this song just makes you think of the south. Lazy hot days on a river bank, sitting in the shade on the back porch, or working in the field, this song makes me want to go home.
"A Country Boy Can Survive" by Hank Williams Jr. Perhaps the greatest song ever written. Take care of yourself and those you love. What more can you say? His Daddy and son (Hank III) aren't bad either (understatement of the year).
I'll also throw in Hank Jr's "If Heaven Ain't a Lot Like Dixie". I remember being jolted from a near sleep in Church one Sunday when the preacher said we need to learn to get along with people cause it's going to be crowded in Heaven. Heaven for me will be every morning is the first day of buck season and the trout biting every evening. I'll have some dogs, my family, Mountain Dew, and every weekend watch the West Virginia University Mountaineers kicking some butt. But I don't want it to be crowded.
"If That Ain't Country", "Long Haired Redneck", "Son of the South", "You Never Even Called Me By My Name" are all being placed in my 10. David Allan Coe probably has more great up tempo Redneck songs than anyone else.
"Thank God I'm a Country Boy" by John Denver isn't very Rednecky at first glance, but it fits into the culture well if you give it a close listen. Hard work and good fun are Redneck to the core.
"A Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash is a great Redneck song. Regardless of how much Rednecks hate their family members it can always be worked out in a drunken bar fight. Ahh the good times.
"Long Haired Country Boy" by Charlie Daniels wraps the whole thing up pretty well. How much better would the country be if we all lived by "I don't want much of nothing' at all if I can't get it by myself"?
Advantages and Disadvantages of Bolt Action Shotguns
The bolt action shotgun is an odd gun. I first saw one in the gun rack of an older friend and quickly decided that I needed to have one. Unfortunately, the bolt action shotgun was forced to get in line behind scores of other guns that I 'need' as well. The shotgun in the rack was a JC Higgins that had seen a lot of use. He still used it from time to time, but it was no longer a regular in the field.
It seems that the bolt action shotgun was produced as a low cost repeater in the early 1900's and had quite a following. Mossberg, Savage, and Marlin were among he larger producers and these companies also made bolt action shotguns for stores under their brand name. For those on a budget buying store branded firearms is a great way to get your hands on an old gun. Bolt action shotguns and other guns branded with Sears, JC Higgins, or others usually differ by the stamp on the barrel and perhaps the quality of the wood stock.
Bolt action shotguns were actually quite useful and found their way into duck blinds and deer hunting camps across America. The bolt action shotgun offered more safety and reliability than early and inexpensive pumps and autoloaders. For hunting ducks and deer, where a split second follow up shot is not necessarily needed as it can be with smaller game birds, the bolt action shotgun fit a need at an economical price.
When it came to deer hunting with a shotgun, the bolt action shotgun made a lot of sense decades ago. Newly manufactured bolt action shotguns were safe to fire slugs while grandpa's single shot or double might not have been. And as the bolt action rifle was becoming more common in the deer woods, it made sense for a youngster to learn with a bolt action rifle. In fact, the bolt action rifle's popularity was a good reason (then and now) for the bolt action shotgun to exist.
A few year's ago the bolt action shotgun seemed to have a rebirth of popularity as new and improved shotgun slugs came onto the market. The bolt action shotgun allows for a stable and simple mounting platform for scoped sights and its workings were familiar to deer hunters who had grown up hunting with bolt action rifles. However, the bolt action shotgun's popularity again waned due to the production of economical pumps and semi-automatics that could be fired faster (which in the hands of many is usually more of a liability than an asset).
If you are interested in owning a bolt action shotgun, here is some great news. The inexpensive shotguns were produced in large numbers and continue to be very inexpensive. As almost everyone now hunts with a pump or semi-auto the bolt guns have very little demand and are listed for low prices. If a hunter or shooter does their homework they can expect to pick up a bolt action shotgun from Mossberg, Marlin, Savage, or others for about $100 or so. Not a bad price for an interesting and functional gun to add to your collection. And yes, the bolt action shotgun will still work well for hunting for deer, turkey, ducks, geese, squirrels, rabbits, and virtually whatever else you want to hunt.
It seems that the bolt action shotgun was produced as a low cost repeater in the early 1900's and had quite a following. Mossberg, Savage, and Marlin were among he larger producers and these companies also made bolt action shotguns for stores under their brand name. For those on a budget buying store branded firearms is a great way to get your hands on an old gun. Bolt action shotguns and other guns branded with Sears, JC Higgins, or others usually differ by the stamp on the barrel and perhaps the quality of the wood stock.
Bolt action shotguns were actually quite useful and found their way into duck blinds and deer hunting camps across America. The bolt action shotgun offered more safety and reliability than early and inexpensive pumps and autoloaders. For hunting ducks and deer, where a split second follow up shot is not necessarily needed as it can be with smaller game birds, the bolt action shotgun fit a need at an economical price.
When it came to deer hunting with a shotgun, the bolt action shotgun made a lot of sense decades ago. Newly manufactured bolt action shotguns were safe to fire slugs while grandpa's single shot or double might not have been. And as the bolt action rifle was becoming more common in the deer woods, it made sense for a youngster to learn with a bolt action rifle. In fact, the bolt action rifle's popularity was a good reason (then and now) for the bolt action shotgun to exist.
A few year's ago the bolt action shotgun seemed to have a rebirth of popularity as new and improved shotgun slugs came onto the market. The bolt action shotgun allows for a stable and simple mounting platform for scoped sights and its workings were familiar to deer hunters who had grown up hunting with bolt action rifles. However, the bolt action shotgun's popularity again waned due to the production of economical pumps and semi-automatics that could be fired faster (which in the hands of many is usually more of a liability than an asset).
If you are interested in owning a bolt action shotgun, here is some great news. The inexpensive shotguns were produced in large numbers and continue to be very inexpensive. As almost everyone now hunts with a pump or semi-auto the bolt guns have very little demand and are listed for low prices. If a hunter or shooter does their homework they can expect to pick up a bolt action shotgun from Mossberg, Marlin, Savage, or others for about $100 or so. Not a bad price for an interesting and functional gun to add to your collection. And yes, the bolt action shotgun will still work well for hunting for deer, turkey, ducks, geese, squirrels, rabbits, and virtually whatever else you want to hunt.
Gun Review of the Ruger Mini-14 in .223
The Ruger Mini-14 has been around for a long time. I personally have a fondness for the tried and true rather than the fancy and new. A gun such as the Mini-14 has been around long enough to have the bugs worked out and to have proven itself as a reliable and useful firearm. The slick little Mini-14 handles well, points like an extension of your arm, and is not picky about ammunition. Did I mention it is a blast to shoot as well? While shooting fast is pretty much nothing more than a good way to miss, it is still a lot of fun to quickly churn up a hillside in the direction of a pop can or other suitable target. Inexpensive ammo is just perfect for this use of the Ruger Mini-14.
Back to a more serious subject, the Ruger Mini-14 is fitted with a ghost ring aperture (peep) sight in the rear and a protected front sight. The protected front sight makes the Ruger Mini-14 ideal for keeping behind the door or throwing into the truck while on the farm. Though I find the plain wood stock of the Ruger Mini-14 quite appealing, it too is made for ruggedness and not beauty further adding to the Mini-14's usefulness as a work gun. In fact a scratch or two on a gun's stock just adds character. The Mini-14 has an M1 Garand style safety that is well placed and useful.
The Ruger Mini-14 was fired for functioning and some attempt was also made to shoot it for accuracy. There was no problem with functioning from any of the ammunition types that were along for the shoot. And yes I did quickly churn up a hillside in the direction of a soda pop can with the Mini-14 just for giggles. With the ghost ring rear sight I found that target acquisition was very quick. The large front sight and even its protective flanges seem to help as well in getting things lined up quickly. Accuracy with the setup and my eyes resulted in groups from about 1 inch to 1 and a half inches at 50 yards. I'm sure adding a scope would improve things but I like the Mini-14's sleek look without the mounted optics.
As far as a plinking gun, the Ruger Mini-14 is clearly ideal for a centerfire rifle. Recoil is very light, ammo is fairly cheap and common, and the gun is very sturdy. For varmint hunting the Mini-14 would be great for calling or other times when the shots are close. The Mini-14 was not designed for precise accuracy at 400 yards. As a survival gun the Ruger Mini-14 is about ideal as well as long as you don't have to survive in an area with large beasts that need taming. Trying to stop a grizzly bear with a .223 is not a task many would look forward to. Though many will get all bent out of shape, the .223 in careful hands can certainly put a deer or two in the freezer.
The Ruger Mini-14 is a great gun for many purposes and is a lot of fun as well.
Back to a more serious subject, the Ruger Mini-14 is fitted with a ghost ring aperture (peep) sight in the rear and a protected front sight. The protected front sight makes the Ruger Mini-14 ideal for keeping behind the door or throwing into the truck while on the farm. Though I find the plain wood stock of the Ruger Mini-14 quite appealing, it too is made for ruggedness and not beauty further adding to the Mini-14's usefulness as a work gun. In fact a scratch or two on a gun's stock just adds character. The Mini-14 has an M1 Garand style safety that is well placed and useful.
The Ruger Mini-14 was fired for functioning and some attempt was also made to shoot it for accuracy. There was no problem with functioning from any of the ammunition types that were along for the shoot. And yes I did quickly churn up a hillside in the direction of a soda pop can with the Mini-14 just for giggles. With the ghost ring rear sight I found that target acquisition was very quick. The large front sight and even its protective flanges seem to help as well in getting things lined up quickly. Accuracy with the setup and my eyes resulted in groups from about 1 inch to 1 and a half inches at 50 yards. I'm sure adding a scope would improve things but I like the Mini-14's sleek look without the mounted optics.
As far as a plinking gun, the Ruger Mini-14 is clearly ideal for a centerfire rifle. Recoil is very light, ammo is fairly cheap and common, and the gun is very sturdy. For varmint hunting the Mini-14 would be great for calling or other times when the shots are close. The Mini-14 was not designed for precise accuracy at 400 yards. As a survival gun the Ruger Mini-14 is about ideal as well as long as you don't have to survive in an area with large beasts that need taming. Trying to stop a grizzly bear with a .223 is not a task many would look forward to. Though many will get all bent out of shape, the .223 in careful hands can certainly put a deer or two in the freezer.
The Ruger Mini-14 is a great gun for many purposes and is a lot of fun as well.
Gun Review of the Weatherby Vanguard
The Weatherby Vanguard is Weatherby's entry level rifle. The Weatherby Vanguard is much more economical than the Mark V or other Weatherby offerings. The Weatherby Vanguard is available for just under $400 in my area, which is about half of the price of the Weatherby Mark V. The Weatherby Vanguard compares in price to the Remington Model 700 and is cheaper than the Winchester Model 70. Upgrading to a walnut stock over a synthetic stock will add a hundred dollars or so the price of the Vanguard. However in true Weatherby fashion the Vanguard does not come in plain looking wood, but rather the finely finished wood that Weatherby is known for producing. The great looking wood stock makes the Vanguard a great buy for those who prefer real wood. The less expensive Vanguard Sporter provides a rosewood forend piece, while the more expensive Deluxe model provides both a rosewood forend piece and grip cap with maple spacers.
The Weatherby Vanguard is based upon a Howa action but the other parts are Weatherby. One of the best features of the Weatherby Vanguard rifle is the accuracy guarantee. Weatherby guarantees that the Vanguard rifle will shoot into less than 1 ½ inches at 100 yards. While 1 ½ inches is not great accuracy it is more than enough for hunting purposes. In any case, the handful of Weatherby Vanguard rifles that I have shot all did much better than an 1 ½ group. The Weatherby Vanguard offers a number of calibers for most hunting purposes running from the .223 Remington to the .338 Winchester Magnum. My primary complaint about the Weatherby Vanguard is that it is only offered in two Weatherby Magnum calibers: the .257 Weatherby Magnum and the .300 Weatherby Magnum. The Weatherby Vanguard weighs about 7 ½ pounds and feature 24 inch barrels. Triggers on the Weatherby Vanguard are fully adjustable and are set at the factory at about 3 pounds. A carbine version of the rifle is available with a 20 inch barrel in short action calibers which would make a great woods rifle.
Firing the Weatherby Vanguard shows the great fit and mechanics of the rifle. The action is smooth, the rifle points well, and the trigger is crisp. Handling the Weatherby Vanguard in the field is great as well. While the 24 inch barrel adds some length to the gun, it still balances and feels good in the hands.
The Weatherby Vanguard offers a high quality rifle at a reasonable price. If you are in the market for a great hunting rifle, the Weatherby Vanguard especially in the wood stock models offers a great value.
The Weatherby Vanguard is based upon a Howa action but the other parts are Weatherby. One of the best features of the Weatherby Vanguard rifle is the accuracy guarantee. Weatherby guarantees that the Vanguard rifle will shoot into less than 1 ½ inches at 100 yards. While 1 ½ inches is not great accuracy it is more than enough for hunting purposes. In any case, the handful of Weatherby Vanguard rifles that I have shot all did much better than an 1 ½ group. The Weatherby Vanguard offers a number of calibers for most hunting purposes running from the .223 Remington to the .338 Winchester Magnum. My primary complaint about the Weatherby Vanguard is that it is only offered in two Weatherby Magnum calibers: the .257 Weatherby Magnum and the .300 Weatherby Magnum. The Weatherby Vanguard weighs about 7 ½ pounds and feature 24 inch barrels. Triggers on the Weatherby Vanguard are fully adjustable and are set at the factory at about 3 pounds. A carbine version of the rifle is available with a 20 inch barrel in short action calibers which would make a great woods rifle.
Firing the Weatherby Vanguard shows the great fit and mechanics of the rifle. The action is smooth, the rifle points well, and the trigger is crisp. Handling the Weatherby Vanguard in the field is great as well. While the 24 inch barrel adds some length to the gun, it still balances and feels good in the hands.
The Weatherby Vanguard offers a high quality rifle at a reasonable price. If you are in the market for a great hunting rifle, the Weatherby Vanguard especially in the wood stock models offers a great value.
Hunting with the Affordable Stoeger Uplander Shotgun
The Stoeger Uplander is a side by side shotgun that combines quality and dependability with an affordable price. While the side by side was once a popular shotgun choice of the American hunter, over time the pump, semi-automatic, and over under shotguns have taken its place in most squirrel woods, bird fields and duck blinds. But the side by side is still a great choice for hunters. The Stoeger Uplander is based upon a traditional English design according to their website (stoegerindustries.com). Having the look of a much more expensive shotgun, the Stoeger Uplander is priced at just over $300 for the standard version while the fancier Uplander Supreme goes for $125 more or so. The standard Uplander comes with screw in chokes for the 12 and 20 gauge offerings (fixed choke in 16 and 28 gauge and .410).
The Stoeger Uplander tested was in 12 gauge with 28 inch barrel, though the 12 and 20 gauge shotguns are available in 26 and 28 inch. The Stoeger Uplander weighs just over 7 pounds which is about the same as a comparable gauge pump action shotgun. While those who are accustomed to fine English double guns might find flaw with the aesthesis of the shotgun, the Stoeger Uplander looks good to me. There were no serious flaws in wood to metal fit and the wood's finish had a nice look. The checkering on the Stoeger Uplander was well placed for field use and comfortable to a bare hand. Being more used to shooting single shots and pumps, I was expecting the double to feel big and wide in the hands, but it actually felt fairly normal though the forearm piece was wider than a pump's foreend.
One thing that those used to single shot shotguns will note is the Stoeger Uplander is equipped with extractors not ejectors. This means that opening the shotgun results in the shells only being pushed backward for hand removal instead of the more familiar ejection of the shell. While this is something to get used to it is actually pretty useful when opening a loaded gun and for those who save their shells for reloading. After using the Stoeger Uplander for a few trips while rabbit hunting I actually came to prefer the extractor system. During the rabbit hunts, safety dictated the gun needed to be opened for crossing fences and crawling under brush and the extractors made this process a bit easier.
I found the Stoeger Uplander to handle and shoot well. While I bought the gun during hunting season and did little shooting at paper, the barrels seemed to both shoot reasonably to the same the point and patterned well. The Stoeger Uplander performed well taking a dozen or so rabbits and a few squirrels.
The Stoeger Uplander tested was in 12 gauge with 28 inch barrel, though the 12 and 20 gauge shotguns are available in 26 and 28 inch. The Stoeger Uplander weighs just over 7 pounds which is about the same as a comparable gauge pump action shotgun. While those who are accustomed to fine English double guns might find flaw with the aesthesis of the shotgun, the Stoeger Uplander looks good to me. There were no serious flaws in wood to metal fit and the wood's finish had a nice look. The checkering on the Stoeger Uplander was well placed for field use and comfortable to a bare hand. Being more used to shooting single shots and pumps, I was expecting the double to feel big and wide in the hands, but it actually felt fairly normal though the forearm piece was wider than a pump's foreend.
One thing that those used to single shot shotguns will note is the Stoeger Uplander is equipped with extractors not ejectors. This means that opening the shotgun results in the shells only being pushed backward for hand removal instead of the more familiar ejection of the shell. While this is something to get used to it is actually pretty useful when opening a loaded gun and for those who save their shells for reloading. After using the Stoeger Uplander for a few trips while rabbit hunting I actually came to prefer the extractor system. During the rabbit hunts, safety dictated the gun needed to be opened for crossing fences and crawling under brush and the extractors made this process a bit easier.
I found the Stoeger Uplander to handle and shoot well. While I bought the gun during hunting season and did little shooting at paper, the barrels seemed to both shoot reasonably to the same the point and patterned well. The Stoeger Uplander performed well taking a dozen or so rabbits and a few squirrels.
Review of the CCI Velocitor .22 LR Ammunition
The CCI Velocitor is an interesting .22 Long Rifle ammunition. The CCI Velocitor uses a standard 40 grain bullet, but reports to offer a surprisingly high 1435 feet per second, or about 200 feet per second above the standard .22 LR loading. Keep in mind that most hyper velocity ammunition achieves their increase in speed in a much lighter bullet, while the CCI Velocitor uses the standard 40 grain bullet. The 40 grain bullet used by the CCI Velocitor is a plated lead bullet with a small hollow point. The standard weight hollow point bullet suggests that this would be a great choice for hunting, particularly larger animals such as raccoons, coyotes, and ground hogs.
I gave the CCI Velocitor a try in two guns: a Marlin Model 60 semi-automatic rifle and a H&R Revolver. Neither gun is particularly picky about what it shoots in regards to functioning, but the revolver likes the slower loads over the hyper velocity choices. I was interested to see if the full sized 40 grain bullet would shoot better in it than the normal hyper velocity loads with smaller bullets. Given that the shorter barrel of the pistol does not generate as high a velocity as a rifle, I would certainly prefer to use a more powerful loading in the revolver for hunting squirrels.
Shooting the rifle at 50 yards turned in some good groups. While the old gun prefers some other ammunition over the CCI Velocitor accuracy was certainly acceptable for hunting. Groups were around the one inch range, which is good enough to hit a squirrel's head. With this good of accuracy, the CCI Velocitor would seem a good choice for me and my Marlin if I choose to use it for larger animals. Accuracy for hunting with the revolver was iffy at best, admittedly the H&R Revolver is not exactly a tack driver, but is fun to shoot. The revolver did shoot the CCI Velocitor better than many hyper velocity loads, but on average groups pushed two inches at 25 yards. As an aside, I did not notice the CCI Velocitor being noticeably louder than other .22 LR ammo in the revolver, which is quite loud with all ammo.
At least in my test rifle, the CCI Velocitor shot well. Given the higher velocity and bullet design it should make a fine loading for small game hunters and varmint hunters who choose to use a rimfire. In my area the CCI Velocitor runs about $5 for a box of 50. The costs will keep it from being a good choice for general plinking, but the cost is acceptable for hunting ammunition.
I gave the CCI Velocitor a try in two guns: a Marlin Model 60 semi-automatic rifle and a H&R Revolver. Neither gun is particularly picky about what it shoots in regards to functioning, but the revolver likes the slower loads over the hyper velocity choices. I was interested to see if the full sized 40 grain bullet would shoot better in it than the normal hyper velocity loads with smaller bullets. Given that the shorter barrel of the pistol does not generate as high a velocity as a rifle, I would certainly prefer to use a more powerful loading in the revolver for hunting squirrels.
Shooting the rifle at 50 yards turned in some good groups. While the old gun prefers some other ammunition over the CCI Velocitor accuracy was certainly acceptable for hunting. Groups were around the one inch range, which is good enough to hit a squirrel's head. With this good of accuracy, the CCI Velocitor would seem a good choice for me and my Marlin if I choose to use it for larger animals. Accuracy for hunting with the revolver was iffy at best, admittedly the H&R Revolver is not exactly a tack driver, but is fun to shoot. The revolver did shoot the CCI Velocitor better than many hyper velocity loads, but on average groups pushed two inches at 25 yards. As an aside, I did not notice the CCI Velocitor being noticeably louder than other .22 LR ammo in the revolver, which is quite loud with all ammo.
At least in my test rifle, the CCI Velocitor shot well. Given the higher velocity and bullet design it should make a fine loading for small game hunters and varmint hunters who choose to use a rimfire. In my area the CCI Velocitor runs about $5 for a box of 50. The costs will keep it from being a good choice for general plinking, but the cost is acceptable for hunting ammunition.
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