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.
Review of Winchester Wildcat .22 Long Rifle Ammunition
The Winchester Wildcat is a popular .22 Long Rifle loading that has been around for quite a few years. The familiar white box is a common companion for many shooters around the country. Even though hyper velocity hollow point .22 loadings are most commonly used for hunting, the Winchester Wildcat has its fans. The Winchester Wildcat .22 LR ammo fires a conventional 40 grain round nose lead bullet.
According to information from Winchester's website (www.winchester.com) the Wildcat fires its 40 grain bullet at 1255 feet per second. At one hundred yards it is moving along at 1017 feet per second. Compared against a popular hyper velocity load such as the CCI Stinger which reaches a muzzle velocity of 1640 with a 32 grain bullet, the Winchester Wildcat seems pretty tame. But the standard round nose lead bullet has taken a lot of rabbits and squirrels over the years and should not be dismissed as obsolete for rimfire hunting. Shot placement is always more important than bullet design or velocity when it comes to hunting effectiveness, if you can hit what you are shooting at with a round nose then use it. This is especially true given the current high cost and scarcity of hyper velocity ammunition compared against the standard or high velocity loads.
I recently went out to shoot a few boxes of Winchester Wildcat .22 LR and the results are as follows. The guns used to test the Winchester Wildcat were a Marlin autoloader and an old Mossberg bolt action. I also shot a few rounds through my revolver, but as I didn't have too many Winchester Wildcats to shoot I saved the bulk of them for the rifles. Both rifles shot the Winchester Wildcat well, but not spectacularly. I should state that certainly accuracy was good enough for squirrel and rabbit hunting out to 50 yards or so. Given that 22's are prone to shoot some ammunition well and others poorly, every .22 shooter or hunter needs to try a lot of different loadings to find what works best in their guns.
Given that the Winchester Wildcat is still available at a reasonable price (at least in my area when you can find them), hunters and shooters need to give it a look. Buy a box of 50 and give the Wildcat a test in your guns. If they shoot well go back and get some more. Though I assume (or perhaps hope) that the current scarcity of ammunition will pass, those who find a good shooting load for their guns should stock up on them while they can. Especially since rimfire ammunition can't be reloaded you might as well have a supply of them on hand.
According to information from Winchester's website (www.winchester.com) the Wildcat fires its 40 grain bullet at 1255 feet per second. At one hundred yards it is moving along at 1017 feet per second. Compared against a popular hyper velocity load such as the CCI Stinger which reaches a muzzle velocity of 1640 with a 32 grain bullet, the Winchester Wildcat seems pretty tame. But the standard round nose lead bullet has taken a lot of rabbits and squirrels over the years and should not be dismissed as obsolete for rimfire hunting. Shot placement is always more important than bullet design or velocity when it comes to hunting effectiveness, if you can hit what you are shooting at with a round nose then use it. This is especially true given the current high cost and scarcity of hyper velocity ammunition compared against the standard or high velocity loads.
I recently went out to shoot a few boxes of Winchester Wildcat .22 LR and the results are as follows. The guns used to test the Winchester Wildcat were a Marlin autoloader and an old Mossberg bolt action. I also shot a few rounds through my revolver, but as I didn't have too many Winchester Wildcats to shoot I saved the bulk of them for the rifles. Both rifles shot the Winchester Wildcat well, but not spectacularly. I should state that certainly accuracy was good enough for squirrel and rabbit hunting out to 50 yards or so. Given that 22's are prone to shoot some ammunition well and others poorly, every .22 shooter or hunter needs to try a lot of different loadings to find what works best in their guns.
Given that the Winchester Wildcat is still available at a reasonable price (at least in my area when you can find them), hunters and shooters need to give it a look. Buy a box of 50 and give the Wildcat a test in your guns. If they shoot well go back and get some more. Though I assume (or perhaps hope) that the current scarcity of ammunition will pass, those who find a good shooting load for their guns should stock up on them while they can. Especially since rimfire ammunition can't be reloaded you might as well have a supply of them on hand.
Gun Review: H&R Ultra Slug Hunter
The H&R Ultra Slug Hunter is a single shot rifled shotgun designed for firing slugs while hunting big game. Those familiar with the Harrington & Richardson or New England Firearm (NEF) line of single shot shotguns or rifles with find the Ultra Slug Hunter to be a familiar tool for hunting. The simple line of break open shotguns and rifles is built around a proven system that has stood the test of time and has long been known for affordability and durability. The H&R Ultra Slug Hunter is just another in the long line of inexpensive firearms from H&R 1871. With a price of about $250 the H&R Ultra Slug Hunter provides an affordable choice for those hunting with slugs. While a number of versions are available the two of primary consideration is the standard weight and the Ultra Light.
The Ultra Slug Hunter tips the scales in the 9 pound range for the 12 gauge while the Ultra Light Slug Hunter weighs in at just over 5 pounds. The Ultra Light is a much more pleasant to carry in the field while hunting but the trade off is a more substantial felt recoil. The simple design of the H&R Ultra Slug Hunter is familiar to many hunters in the United States, but here is a review of the basics of operation. The H&R Ultra Slug Hunter is a single shot break open shotgun. A release lever on the right side of the exposed hammer opens the action as the barrel pivots away from the action via a hinge. The exposed breech of the barrel is then loaded by simply sliding in a cartridge. The action is then closed by raising the barrel which pivots the action closed. The exposed hammer is then cocked manually when you are ready to fire. The H&R Ultra Slug Hunter features a transfer bar under the hammer which means the shotgun will not accidentally fire from a strike to the hammer. The transfer bar is only in place for the hammer to hit the firing pin when the trigger is depressed. In addition to the Ultra Slug I have a couple of smooth bore H&R shotguns as well as an NEF Handi-Rifle and the reliable action has never failed to eject or work properly in any way.
While I have tried a fair variety of slugs in the H&R Ultra Slug Hunter, I have yet to shoot a 3 shot group under 2 inches which many claim is indeed possible. Admittedly I have not shot many groups due to the cost of the slugs and as I rifle hunt in my home state and only will use the slug gun on infrequent trips to a neighboring state that does not allow rifles. However, almost every slug load tried shot into at least 3 inches or slightly more which is certainly accurate enough for deer hunting.
The H&R Ultra Slug Hunter is a great value for deer hunters whether they are new to hunting or slug hunting or have been doing it for years and are simply in the market for a new gun.
The Ultra Slug Hunter tips the scales in the 9 pound range for the 12 gauge while the Ultra Light Slug Hunter weighs in at just over 5 pounds. The Ultra Light is a much more pleasant to carry in the field while hunting but the trade off is a more substantial felt recoil. The simple design of the H&R Ultra Slug Hunter is familiar to many hunters in the United States, but here is a review of the basics of operation. The H&R Ultra Slug Hunter is a single shot break open shotgun. A release lever on the right side of the exposed hammer opens the action as the barrel pivots away from the action via a hinge. The exposed breech of the barrel is then loaded by simply sliding in a cartridge. The action is then closed by raising the barrel which pivots the action closed. The exposed hammer is then cocked manually when you are ready to fire. The H&R Ultra Slug Hunter features a transfer bar under the hammer which means the shotgun will not accidentally fire from a strike to the hammer. The transfer bar is only in place for the hammer to hit the firing pin when the trigger is depressed. In addition to the Ultra Slug I have a couple of smooth bore H&R shotguns as well as an NEF Handi-Rifle and the reliable action has never failed to eject or work properly in any way.
While I have tried a fair variety of slugs in the H&R Ultra Slug Hunter, I have yet to shoot a 3 shot group under 2 inches which many claim is indeed possible. Admittedly I have not shot many groups due to the cost of the slugs and as I rifle hunt in my home state and only will use the slug gun on infrequent trips to a neighboring state that does not allow rifles. However, almost every slug load tried shot into at least 3 inches or slightly more which is certainly accurate enough for deer hunting.
The H&R Ultra Slug Hunter is a great value for deer hunters whether they are new to hunting or slug hunting or have been doing it for years and are simply in the market for a new gun.
10 Tips for Whitetail Deer Bow Hunting
Bow hunting for whitetail deer is a great way to spend time in the woods as well as a great way to fill the freezer with venison. Bow season generally provides an opportunity for hunters to spend time in the woods without much competition. The combination of a n exciting hunt and some alone time in the woods makes bow hunting for whitetail deer a great experience. Here are ten tips to improve your deer hunting this year.
The most important tip by far is to practice, practice, and practice some more. While a bow is not difficult to shoot it is certainly harder than a gun. Add the excitement of the hunt and mistakes can happen.
Be certain to practice with your hunting broadheads as they will fly different than field points. Many manufacturer's make practice points that fly just like the actual hunting point.
Have your bow set to a reasonable draw weight. Many deer hunters set their bow's to the highest draw weight. The most important factor in bow hunting is shot placement. Be comfortable drawing, holding, and shooting your bow. If you can't handle the maximum draw weight then lower it.
Check out your hunting clothes before heading to the woods to bow hunt for deer. Bulky clothes can get in the way of the bow string. Get these problems worked out before going hunting.
Practice determining range for your shots. Though all shots at deer with a bow are short range estimating range with a bow is of key importance.
If you are going to be bow hunting from a ground stand or tree stand, measure distance from the stand and learn the distances or place markers.
While most bow hunters take care of their own camouflage well, many will overlook their bow. Look at your bow from the front and side and be certain there are no shiny surfaces or unnecessarily bright colors. Arrow fletching that is colorful is helpful in watching the arrow on the way to the deer and finding the arrow. Don't worry too much about the bright fletching just keep movements slow.
Have a plan for what you are going to do with the things you carry into the woods. Having a pair of binoculars, grunt call, and other things hanging around your neck is fine when rifle hunting, but it can be a disaster while bow hunting. Items hanging around your neck can get tangled in the string throwing off your shot and can even cause injury to the hunter.
The final tip is to never take shots that aren't almost certain. Sometimes things go wrong but don't take a shot you are not comfortable with taking. Trying to finish off a wounded deer with a bow can be an ordeal. Take only good shots and lessen the chance of this happening to you.
Bow hunting for deer is a great way to hunt and can be an efficient way. Get plenty of practice and be 100% prepared when you hit the woods.
The most important tip by far is to practice, practice, and practice some more. While a bow is not difficult to shoot it is certainly harder than a gun. Add the excitement of the hunt and mistakes can happen.
Be certain to practice with your hunting broadheads as they will fly different than field points. Many manufacturer's make practice points that fly just like the actual hunting point.
Have your bow set to a reasonable draw weight. Many deer hunters set their bow's to the highest draw weight. The most important factor in bow hunting is shot placement. Be comfortable drawing, holding, and shooting your bow. If you can't handle the maximum draw weight then lower it.
Check out your hunting clothes before heading to the woods to bow hunt for deer. Bulky clothes can get in the way of the bow string. Get these problems worked out before going hunting.
Practice determining range for your shots. Though all shots at deer with a bow are short range estimating range with a bow is of key importance.
If you are going to be bow hunting from a ground stand or tree stand, measure distance from the stand and learn the distances or place markers.
While most bow hunters take care of their own camouflage well, many will overlook their bow. Look at your bow from the front and side and be certain there are no shiny surfaces or unnecessarily bright colors. Arrow fletching that is colorful is helpful in watching the arrow on the way to the deer and finding the arrow. Don't worry too much about the bright fletching just keep movements slow.
Have a plan for what you are going to do with the things you carry into the woods. Having a pair of binoculars, grunt call, and other things hanging around your neck is fine when rifle hunting, but it can be a disaster while bow hunting. Items hanging around your neck can get tangled in the string throwing off your shot and can even cause injury to the hunter.
The final tip is to never take shots that aren't almost certain. Sometimes things go wrong but don't take a shot you are not comfortable with taking. Trying to finish off a wounded deer with a bow can be an ordeal. Take only good shots and lessen the chance of this happening to you.
Bow hunting for deer is a great way to hunt and can be an efficient way. Get plenty of practice and be 100% prepared when you hit the woods.
Review of the Marlin Glenfield Model 20 .22 Rifle
The Glenfield Model 20 was made by Marlin Firearms as an inexpensive entry level .22. Marlin produced the Glenfield line of rifles as a less expensive version of their popular rifles. In addition to the Glenfield line, Marlin produced store brand guns under other names such as Montgomery Wards's Western Field, Sear's J.C. Higgins, J.C. Penney's Foremost, Western Auto's Revelation, etc. All of these gun are generally identical to the Marlin branded guns with the exception of finish and appearance. Some guns had lower quality stocks, were absent white line spacers, etc. The Marlin made Glenfield Model 20 is a pretty plain looking gun with the exception of a pressed in groundhog or woodchuck on the grip of the stock. While I doubt that the Marlin Glenfield Model 20's stock is actually walnut, it does have a nice dark walnut appearance.
The Marlin Glenfield Model 20 states that it handles .22 short, long, and long rifle. However, I have never ran anything through the magazine except .22 LR so I am uncertain if the others will feed through the magazine. The detachable magazine holds 7 rounds of .22 LR ammunition. Typical of many magazines it begins to be difficult to load after the first 4 or 5 rounds. My only serious complaint about the Marlin Glenfield Model 20 is that the magazine is difficult to insert into the gun. While it may be just specific to my gun (it is about 30 years old after all) the magazine must be jiggled into place. The mechanical workings of the rifle are simple and straight forward. The bolt works smoothly and the trigger is pretty good considering the inexpensive nature of this inexpensive .22 rifle. Though the sights are a bit rough they are perfectly useable for tearing up cans and obtaining squirrels, rabbits, and other small game for the pot. The Marlin Glenfield Model 20 is grooved to accept a scope. A large thumb operated safety is located just behind the bolt handle.
The Marlin Glenfield Model 20 is not picky about ammunition. All of the various (and usually cheap!) .22 ammo that I have run through it shoots reasonably well and cycles fine.
According to information that I found on the internet it appears that the Marlin Glenfield Model 20 in my collection was made in the late 1970s. I am uncertain if all the specifics of my gun listed above were produced throughout the entire model's run, but the standard mechanisms were probably unchanged. In any case a Marlin Glenfield Model 20 can be purchased for well under a hundred dollars. Check the bore to assure it has been reasonably well cared for and you should have a great and useful gun for hunting or plinking.
The Marlin Glenfield Model 20 states that it handles .22 short, long, and long rifle. However, I have never ran anything through the magazine except .22 LR so I am uncertain if the others will feed through the magazine. The detachable magazine holds 7 rounds of .22 LR ammunition. Typical of many magazines it begins to be difficult to load after the first 4 or 5 rounds. My only serious complaint about the Marlin Glenfield Model 20 is that the magazine is difficult to insert into the gun. While it may be just specific to my gun (it is about 30 years old after all) the magazine must be jiggled into place. The mechanical workings of the rifle are simple and straight forward. The bolt works smoothly and the trigger is pretty good considering the inexpensive nature of this inexpensive .22 rifle. Though the sights are a bit rough they are perfectly useable for tearing up cans and obtaining squirrels, rabbits, and other small game for the pot. The Marlin Glenfield Model 20 is grooved to accept a scope. A large thumb operated safety is located just behind the bolt handle.
The Marlin Glenfield Model 20 is not picky about ammunition. All of the various (and usually cheap!) .22 ammo that I have run through it shoots reasonably well and cycles fine.
According to information that I found on the internet it appears that the Marlin Glenfield Model 20 in my collection was made in the late 1970s. I am uncertain if all the specifics of my gun listed above were produced throughout the entire model's run, but the standard mechanisms were probably unchanged. In any case a Marlin Glenfield Model 20 can be purchased for well under a hundred dollars. Check the bore to assure it has been reasonably well cared for and you should have a great and useful gun for hunting or plinking.
Gun Review of the Harrington & Richardson 949 .22 Revolver
The Harrington & Richardson Model 949 is a double action revolver that was produced by H&R in Gardner, Massachusetts. Various models were made, but the H&R Model 949 used in this review features blued metal (with the exception of the hammer) and one piece wood grips. Though the 949 has the appearance of a standard 'Old West' single action revolver, the 949's cylinder holds 9 rounds of .22 Long Rifle ammunition and fires double action. The H&R Model 949 also will safely fire .22 Long and .22 Short ammunition.
The H&R Model 949 is loaded through a loading gate on the right side of the gun. Pulling the hammer back one click will free the cylinder to rotate, the loading gate is opened and the cylinder can be loaded. There could be more room to load ammo into the cylinder but it is not too difficult. Spent rounds are ejected via a manual ejector rod running underneath the barrel. Everything locks up well and feels sturdy, through probably a few thousand rounds of use I've had no mechanical problems with the H&R Model 949. The wide trigger has a short pull when fired single action and though the double action pull is very long and heavy it is surprisingly smooth. The trigger actually pushes a small arm that is visible that releases the hammer, it makes no difference to the shooter but thought I'd mention it. Due to the presence of a transfer bar the gun cannot be fired by 'fanning' the hammer with the trigger pulled. However the transfer bar is an essential safety item as it is difficult to line up the 9 shot cylinder to make the hammer rest over an empty chamber. Sights on the H&R Model 949 are fairly good. The rear sight is adjustable for drift, but not elevation. The large front blade lines up well in the rear sight allowing for precise aiming.
The H&R Model 949 shows a definite preference for certain .22 ammunition types and loadings. In general, the H&R Model 949 shoots 40 grain standard velocity ammunition better than other types of ammunition. 1 inch groups at 25 yards is about the best that can be expected in my experience. This level of accuracy is good enough for small game and varmint hunting as long as shots are kept close.
The H&R Model 949 is a rugged and fun gun to shoot. While .22 ammo has gone up a lot in price recently, an afternoon can still be passed shooting targets and cans without breaking the bank. The H&R Model 949 can be found used in the $200 to $300 range.
The H&R Model 949 is loaded through a loading gate on the right side of the gun. Pulling the hammer back one click will free the cylinder to rotate, the loading gate is opened and the cylinder can be loaded. There could be more room to load ammo into the cylinder but it is not too difficult. Spent rounds are ejected via a manual ejector rod running underneath the barrel. Everything locks up well and feels sturdy, through probably a few thousand rounds of use I've had no mechanical problems with the H&R Model 949. The wide trigger has a short pull when fired single action and though the double action pull is very long and heavy it is surprisingly smooth. The trigger actually pushes a small arm that is visible that releases the hammer, it makes no difference to the shooter but thought I'd mention it. Due to the presence of a transfer bar the gun cannot be fired by 'fanning' the hammer with the trigger pulled. However the transfer bar is an essential safety item as it is difficult to line up the 9 shot cylinder to make the hammer rest over an empty chamber. Sights on the H&R Model 949 are fairly good. The rear sight is adjustable for drift, but not elevation. The large front blade lines up well in the rear sight allowing for precise aiming.
The H&R Model 949 shows a definite preference for certain .22 ammunition types and loadings. In general, the H&R Model 949 shoots 40 grain standard velocity ammunition better than other types of ammunition. 1 inch groups at 25 yards is about the best that can be expected in my experience. This level of accuracy is good enough for small game and varmint hunting as long as shots are kept close.
The H&R Model 949 is a rugged and fun gun to shoot. While .22 ammo has gone up a lot in price recently, an afternoon can still be passed shooting targets and cans without breaking the bank. The H&R Model 949 can be found used in the $200 to $300 range.
Review of the Taurus PT-22 .22 LR Pistol
The Taurus PT-22 is a compact .22 LR pistol that is designed for use as a backup gun for police officers and others and for concealed carry usage. The Taurus PT-22 is a semi-automatic pistol that works on a blowback action with a pop up barrel. The pistol has a spurless exposed hammer and fires only double action. Weighing in at about 12 ounces (unloaded) and measuring just over 5 inches in length and just over 4 inches in height, the Taurus PT-22 certainly fits the bill as a lightweight backup gun that is easily concealable.
The Taurus PT-22 is an easy to operate pistol. On the left side of the gun are three controls: the safety, magazine release, and barrel release. With the controls being on the left side this would make the pistol difficult to operate for left handers. The two position safety located near the back of the slide hit both positions securely. The safety lever is fairly large making it easier to operate. The magazine release located between the grip panel and the trigger operated easily as well. The barrel release which allows the barrel to tip up for easy loading (the slide is stiff and has no hold open lever) is located above the rear of the trigger guard and operated well also. The sights on the Taurus PT-22 are sufficient for a pocket pistol and very slight to reduce hang-ups in a holster. The hardwood grip panels are very attractive (for what that is worth on a defense pistol!).
The biggest knock on the Taurus PT-22 for personal defense purposes is the pistol being chambered in .22 LR. While the 22 Long Rifle is hardly a powerful self defense round, it does have a number of factors that make it appealing. Ammunition for the .22 Long Rifle is very inexpensive to purchase and easy to find. While some semi-automatics are picky as to what ammo functions the best, the wide variety of .22 LR ammo means that a shooter should be able to find one that functions well in their gun. The .22 Long Rifle even produces more energy than the .25 ACP which is commonly offered in similar size pistols (Taurus offers a .25 ACP as well). Even in such a small pistol as the Taurus, the .22 LR offers no significant recoil. As the Taurus PT-22 is designed primarily for a last resort weapon, the .22 LR is certainly better than nothing. An owner of the Taurus PT-22 or any other semi-automatic .22 should buy an assortment of ammo and choose what works best in their gun. I would recommend starting with copper plated ammunition to reduce lead fouling and the harder copper coated bullets might feed better than the softer lead bullets. Some examples of copper plated ammo in the .22 LR include the CCI Mini-Mag and Federal Game-Shok.
I fired the Taurus PT-22 with Federal's inexpensive American Eagle ammunition loaded with a 38 grain plated hollowpoint. I shot a 40 round box through the pistol without any problems. However, though I have found 'duds' to be pretty uncommon with .22 LR ammo, it happens more often with inexpensive ammunition in my experience which would make me leery of using the American Eagle ammo in a pocket pistol being used for defense. The trigger pull was extremely long but again this is of little concern considering the pistol's designed use.
For a last ditch backup pistol, the Taurus PT-22 seems well suited. Though not ideal for a concealed carry pistol, the Taurus PT-22 will serve this purpose if the pistol needs to be very small or offer little recoil to provide confidence to the shooter.
The Taurus PT-22 is an easy to operate pistol. On the left side of the gun are three controls: the safety, magazine release, and barrel release. With the controls being on the left side this would make the pistol difficult to operate for left handers. The two position safety located near the back of the slide hit both positions securely. The safety lever is fairly large making it easier to operate. The magazine release located between the grip panel and the trigger operated easily as well. The barrel release which allows the barrel to tip up for easy loading (the slide is stiff and has no hold open lever) is located above the rear of the trigger guard and operated well also. The sights on the Taurus PT-22 are sufficient for a pocket pistol and very slight to reduce hang-ups in a holster. The hardwood grip panels are very attractive (for what that is worth on a defense pistol!).
The biggest knock on the Taurus PT-22 for personal defense purposes is the pistol being chambered in .22 LR. While the 22 Long Rifle is hardly a powerful self defense round, it does have a number of factors that make it appealing. Ammunition for the .22 Long Rifle is very inexpensive to purchase and easy to find. While some semi-automatics are picky as to what ammo functions the best, the wide variety of .22 LR ammo means that a shooter should be able to find one that functions well in their gun. The .22 Long Rifle even produces more energy than the .25 ACP which is commonly offered in similar size pistols (Taurus offers a .25 ACP as well). Even in such a small pistol as the Taurus, the .22 LR offers no significant recoil. As the Taurus PT-22 is designed primarily for a last resort weapon, the .22 LR is certainly better than nothing. An owner of the Taurus PT-22 or any other semi-automatic .22 should buy an assortment of ammo and choose what works best in their gun. I would recommend starting with copper plated ammunition to reduce lead fouling and the harder copper coated bullets might feed better than the softer lead bullets. Some examples of copper plated ammo in the .22 LR include the CCI Mini-Mag and Federal Game-Shok.
I fired the Taurus PT-22 with Federal's inexpensive American Eagle ammunition loaded with a 38 grain plated hollowpoint. I shot a 40 round box through the pistol without any problems. However, though I have found 'duds' to be pretty uncommon with .22 LR ammo, it happens more often with inexpensive ammunition in my experience which would make me leery of using the American Eagle ammo in a pocket pistol being used for defense. The trigger pull was extremely long but again this is of little concern considering the pistol's designed use.
For a last ditch backup pistol, the Taurus PT-22 seems well suited. Though not ideal for a concealed carry pistol, the Taurus PT-22 will serve this purpose if the pistol needs to be very small or offer little recoil to provide confidence to the shooter.
The 5 Best Deer Hunting Cartridges
What is the best deer hunting cartridge is a common question in many deer camps and is also a question that is sure to start quite an argument. The truth is that the best deer hunting cartridge is the one that you can shoot well and place the bullet where it is needed. The ability to place the bullet where it is needed is by far the most important component of what makes the best deer hunting cartridge. While the .300 Winchester Magnum offers more than enough power for any deer hunting situation, if you cannot shoot it accurately all that power is worthless.
Once you have determined what determined what level of recoil you can handle (or learn to handle), here are some other considerations. Other considerations for what makes the best deer hunting cartridge include the ability to deliver sufficient energy at reasonable hunting distances, the availability of ammunition (or reloading components) at a reasonable price, and the cartridge being chambered in common rifles. The ability to deliver 'sufficient' energy is of course a relative matter. The generally accepted rule of thumb is that a deer hunting cartridge should provide 1000 foot pounds of energy at a given distance so I'll go with this measurement. The availability of ammunition and reloading components is not a huge issue either, but in case you lose or forget something being able to buy what you need wherever you are can come in quite handy. The cartridge being chambered in common rifles is even of less importance, but a broken part on a Remington Model 700 is less of a problem than a broken part on a Remington Model 660 (which is a nifty little gun if you can find one!). Even with these considerations, the sky is still the limit. There are literally tons of great cartridges that might well be included in a list of the five best deer hunting cartridges. But if I had to make a list of 5, here would be my choices:
The 30-30 Winchester has to be included in any list of the 5 best deer hunting cartridges. There are millions of rifles on the market that have been made in 30-30 Winchester and ammunition can be purchased anywhere that ammo is sold. Though the effective range of the 30-30 Winchester is only 150 yards or a little more, the efficient and light recoiling round seems to kill out of all proportion to its ballistics.
The 30-06 Springfield is another no brainer on the 5 best deer hunting cartridges list. The 30-06 Springfield is the biggest kicker on my list of cartridges but anyone can learn to handle it with some practice. The 30-06's big advantage over a host of other rounds is the fact that such a wide variety of factory ammunition and reloading components is readily available.
The .270 Winchester is yet another cartridge that has to be listed in a best deer hunting cartridge list. A little less kick and little more flat shooting than the 30-06 (though not enough to really get excited about) makes the .270 Winchester quite popular with deer hunters across the country.
Beyond these three things get complicated, but if I had to pick two more for the best deer hunting cartridge list I would pick the 7mm-08 Remington and the .308 Winchester. The .308 Winchester is of course the parent cartridge of the 7mm-08 Remington but both are widely available and effective deer hunting cartridges. Efficient and light kicking you can go with the slightly more killing power of the .308 (energy levels are about the same, but the .308 simply offers a bigger bullet) or the slightly flatter shooting 7mm-08.
Though the 30-30, .30-06, .270, .308, and 7mm-08 are all great deer hunting cartridges, there are dozens of cartridges from .243 Winchester to 45-70 Government that can send deer to the freezer just as well. What is the best deer hunting cartridge is largely a matter of opinion. Deer hunt with what you like (within reason) and with what you can shoot and you will have what is best for you.
Once you have determined what determined what level of recoil you can handle (or learn to handle), here are some other considerations. Other considerations for what makes the best deer hunting cartridge include the ability to deliver sufficient energy at reasonable hunting distances, the availability of ammunition (or reloading components) at a reasonable price, and the cartridge being chambered in common rifles. The ability to deliver 'sufficient' energy is of course a relative matter. The generally accepted rule of thumb is that a deer hunting cartridge should provide 1000 foot pounds of energy at a given distance so I'll go with this measurement. The availability of ammunition and reloading components is not a huge issue either, but in case you lose or forget something being able to buy what you need wherever you are can come in quite handy. The cartridge being chambered in common rifles is even of less importance, but a broken part on a Remington Model 700 is less of a problem than a broken part on a Remington Model 660 (which is a nifty little gun if you can find one!). Even with these considerations, the sky is still the limit. There are literally tons of great cartridges that might well be included in a list of the five best deer hunting cartridges. But if I had to make a list of 5, here would be my choices:
The 30-30 Winchester has to be included in any list of the 5 best deer hunting cartridges. There are millions of rifles on the market that have been made in 30-30 Winchester and ammunition can be purchased anywhere that ammo is sold. Though the effective range of the 30-30 Winchester is only 150 yards or a little more, the efficient and light recoiling round seems to kill out of all proportion to its ballistics.
The 30-06 Springfield is another no brainer on the 5 best deer hunting cartridges list. The 30-06 Springfield is the biggest kicker on my list of cartridges but anyone can learn to handle it with some practice. The 30-06's big advantage over a host of other rounds is the fact that such a wide variety of factory ammunition and reloading components is readily available.
The .270 Winchester is yet another cartridge that has to be listed in a best deer hunting cartridge list. A little less kick and little more flat shooting than the 30-06 (though not enough to really get excited about) makes the .270 Winchester quite popular with deer hunters across the country.
Beyond these three things get complicated, but if I had to pick two more for the best deer hunting cartridge list I would pick the 7mm-08 Remington and the .308 Winchester. The .308 Winchester is of course the parent cartridge of the 7mm-08 Remington but both are widely available and effective deer hunting cartridges. Efficient and light kicking you can go with the slightly more killing power of the .308 (energy levels are about the same, but the .308 simply offers a bigger bullet) or the slightly flatter shooting 7mm-08.
Though the 30-30, .30-06, .270, .308, and 7mm-08 are all great deer hunting cartridges, there are dozens of cartridges from .243 Winchester to 45-70 Government that can send deer to the freezer just as well. What is the best deer hunting cartridge is largely a matter of opinion. Deer hunt with what you like (within reason) and with what you can shoot and you will have what is best for you.
Gun Review: Remington Model 597 Semi Automatic .22
The Remington Model 597 is a semi-automatic .22 Long Rifle made by one of America's great gun makers. The Remington Model 597 has proven to be a good competitor to two of the most popular guns made: the Ruger 10/22 and the Marlin Model 60, as well as numerous other competitors. The Remington Model 597 is sold in the $160 range in my area which makes it more of a direct competitor with the Marlin than the Ruger. The Remington Model 597 is also available in .22 Magnum and .17 HMR, as well as other .22 LR variations though the gun that I have direct experience shooting is the standard .22 LR version.
The Remington Model 597 comes with a synthetic semi-pistol grip stock that some find less than aesthetically appealing, but it is quite functional. The stock and gun are sleek looking with the magazine latch fitted into a cutout of the stock instead of protruding under the gun as with some .22 rifles. The staggered detachable magazine holds 10 rounds, with higher capacity magazines available. The gun has an overall length of about 40 inches and has a 20 inch barrel. The 597 weighs in at under 6 pounds. A push button safety is located at the rear of the trigger guard and the 597 comes with a key that can lock the safety to keep the gun from being used without permission.
The Remington Model 597 has one of the best factory sights that I have seen on a .22. To move the sights a set screw must be loosened and the sight adjusted then again locked into place which is a bit cumbersome, but the sights provide more precise adjustment than commonly encountered .22 sights and provide a great sight picture. The Remington 597 is grooved as well as drilled and tapped for scope mounting.
The Remington Model 597 was test fired with Remington Thunderbolts and Yellow Jackets and CCI Mini-Mag hollowpoints. The 597 seemed to prefer the CCI Mini-Mags of the three shooting some very good half inch groups at 50 yards with the open sights. The Yellow Jackets shot into less than an inch consistently and the Thunderbolts stayed around one inch. As the hyper velocity hollow point is the preferred choice by most small game hunters, the Remington Model 597 shooting them so well is a good sign.
The Remington Model 597 appears to be a great choice for those looking for an affordable semi-automatic .22 rifle for plinking or small game hunting.
The Remington Model 597 comes with a synthetic semi-pistol grip stock that some find less than aesthetically appealing, but it is quite functional. The stock and gun are sleek looking with the magazine latch fitted into a cutout of the stock instead of protruding under the gun as with some .22 rifles. The staggered detachable magazine holds 10 rounds, with higher capacity magazines available. The gun has an overall length of about 40 inches and has a 20 inch barrel. The 597 weighs in at under 6 pounds. A push button safety is located at the rear of the trigger guard and the 597 comes with a key that can lock the safety to keep the gun from being used without permission.
The Remington Model 597 has one of the best factory sights that I have seen on a .22. To move the sights a set screw must be loosened and the sight adjusted then again locked into place which is a bit cumbersome, but the sights provide more precise adjustment than commonly encountered .22 sights and provide a great sight picture. The Remington 597 is grooved as well as drilled and tapped for scope mounting.
The Remington Model 597 was test fired with Remington Thunderbolts and Yellow Jackets and CCI Mini-Mag hollowpoints. The 597 seemed to prefer the CCI Mini-Mags of the three shooting some very good half inch groups at 50 yards with the open sights. The Yellow Jackets shot into less than an inch consistently and the Thunderbolts stayed around one inch. As the hyper velocity hollow point is the preferred choice by most small game hunters, the Remington Model 597 shooting them so well is a good sign.
The Remington Model 597 appears to be a great choice for those looking for an affordable semi-automatic .22 rifle for plinking or small game hunting.
Review of CCI Stinger .22 LR Ammunition
The CCI Stinger is one of the most commonly used .22 Long Rifle ammunition that is fed to revolvers, pistols, and rifles. On a recent day, I and a friend spent the day shooting the CCI Stinger and some other common .22 Long Rifle ammunition. I have also hunted with this ammunition over the years. This article will look at the results of our informal shoot off between the CCI Stinger .22 LR ammo and my experience hunting with the loads.
The guns that we used to shoot the ammo were a H&R revolver, a Walther semi-automatic pistol, a Marlin autoloader, and a Mossberg bolt action rifle (clip fed). The odd thing about .22 ammo is that each gun seems to like a different load. The best way to find an accurate load for your .22 is to buy an assortment of ammo and give them a try. This is just what we were doing, albeit without this being the purpose. We were simply getting together to shoot.
The CCI Stinger ammo functioned well with all of the guns. The Marlin autoloader is old and well broken in and rarely stove pipes with any ammunition. The Walther will occasional fail to cycle well with some ammunition. I have never had any problems with the H&R revolver going bang when the trigger is pulled. The bolt action Mossberg is not picky either. The only comment on function that I would have about the CCI Stinger ammunition is that the hyper velocity load is quite loud in the handguns. I use the H&R revolver primarily for fooling around and often shoot it without hearing protection. While this is not ever a good idea it was painful with the CCI Stinger.
Accuracy was acceptable in all the guns with the CCI Stinger ammunition. The Walther in particular liked the Stinger shooting it at or better than ¾ of an inch at 50 yards with three shot groups fired from an informal rest. While different guns like other ammunition better, the CCI Stinger certainly shot well enough for any use except serious target shooting. The H&R did not like it well which I expected as it does better with standard velocity loads. However the H&R shot it well enough to hunt with at close range. Both rifles fired the CCI Stinger into an inch or less at 50 yards, again with an informal rest. Front and rear sandbags with the rifles would almost certainly have produced better groups.
I have used the CCI Stinger for squirrel hunting a time or two over the years. The CCI Stinger will certainly roll squirrels with the best of them. If your gun shoots the Stinger well then by all means it is a fine plinking and hunting ammunition.
The guns that we used to shoot the ammo were a H&R revolver, a Walther semi-automatic pistol, a Marlin autoloader, and a Mossberg bolt action rifle (clip fed). The odd thing about .22 ammo is that each gun seems to like a different load. The best way to find an accurate load for your .22 is to buy an assortment of ammo and give them a try. This is just what we were doing, albeit without this being the purpose. We were simply getting together to shoot.
The CCI Stinger ammo functioned well with all of the guns. The Marlin autoloader is old and well broken in and rarely stove pipes with any ammunition. The Walther will occasional fail to cycle well with some ammunition. I have never had any problems with the H&R revolver going bang when the trigger is pulled. The bolt action Mossberg is not picky either. The only comment on function that I would have about the CCI Stinger ammunition is that the hyper velocity load is quite loud in the handguns. I use the H&R revolver primarily for fooling around and often shoot it without hearing protection. While this is not ever a good idea it was painful with the CCI Stinger.
Accuracy was acceptable in all the guns with the CCI Stinger ammunition. The Walther in particular liked the Stinger shooting it at or better than ¾ of an inch at 50 yards with three shot groups fired from an informal rest. While different guns like other ammunition better, the CCI Stinger certainly shot well enough for any use except serious target shooting. The H&R did not like it well which I expected as it does better with standard velocity loads. However the H&R shot it well enough to hunt with at close range. Both rifles fired the CCI Stinger into an inch or less at 50 yards, again with an informal rest. Front and rear sandbags with the rifles would almost certainly have produced better groups.
I have used the CCI Stinger for squirrel hunting a time or two over the years. The CCI Stinger will certainly roll squirrels with the best of them. If your gun shoots the Stinger well then by all means it is a fine plinking and hunting ammunition.
Field Review of the Stevens Model 200 Rifle
The Stevens Model 200 Rifle is a budget hunting rifle designed to meet the needs of those who want a useful hunting rifle for a reasonable price. The Stevens Model 200 is essentially the old Savage Model 110. Having been a fan of the Savage 110 for some time, I naturally had the Stevens Model 200 on my short list of rifles when I needed to buy a new one. After giving a look at the Mossberg ATR, Remington 770 and a few other rifles, I quickly made up my mind to buy the Stevens Model 200. While the ATR and 770 are relatively new rifles with bugs that need to be worked out, the Stevens Model 200 is based upon a rifle that was made for decades and known for its accuracy, value and reliability.
The Stevens Model 200 is a bolt action rifle that retails for about $300. Package rifles with a 3X9X40 scope retail for about $350. Careful shopping can reduce these prices a little. The Stevens Model 200 rifle is available in short action calibers of .223 Remington, .22-250 Remington, .243 Winchester, 7mm-08, and .308 Winchester as well as long action calibers of 25-06 Remington, .270 Winchester, 30-06 Springfield, 7mm Remington Magnum and .300 Winchester Magnum. The Stevens Model 200 features a 22 inch barrel in standard calibers and a 24 inch barrel in the magnum calibers. Weighing in at about 6 ½ pounds the Stevens Model 200 feels much lighter than my wood stocked Savage 110.
One point of criticism that many have had with the Stevens Model 200 is the looks of the stock. The synthetic stock is a light gray color in contrast to the standard black. I personally prefer the gray look of the Stevens stock (but wish there was an optional wood stock), but that is a matter of taste that each hunter will have to decide upon for their self. A criticism that I have of the stock is the large channel around the barrel. The barrel is free floated but the gap between the barrel and stock is quite large. To make things worse, there is a piece at the end of the stock that reaches toward the barrel that provides a better look to the front of the rifle, but looks like a mistake from the top. In any case, I want an accurate rifle that works reliably and aesthetics are way down on the list of importance. The stock comes with sling studs attached.
I have only shot the Stevens Model 200 (I purchased a .270 Winchester) with a middling load of IMR 4831 using a 130 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip. After bore sighting the scope, the Stevens was fired at 25 yards to tune the scope in and then was fired at 100 yards. Groups were reliable at 1 inch or so with some groups being much better. While I'll tinker around with the load so more, shooting 1 inch groups at 100 yards in more than sufficient for hunting purposes. A couple shots over the chronograph showed the bullet moving at about 2950 feet per second which was more than expected from the relatively light load. There were no failures to fire, feed, or extract.
If you are in the market for an economical hunting rifle the Stevens Model 200 should be given a lot of consideration.
The Stevens Model 200 is a bolt action rifle that retails for about $300. Package rifles with a 3X9X40 scope retail for about $350. Careful shopping can reduce these prices a little. The Stevens Model 200 rifle is available in short action calibers of .223 Remington, .22-250 Remington, .243 Winchester, 7mm-08, and .308 Winchester as well as long action calibers of 25-06 Remington, .270 Winchester, 30-06 Springfield, 7mm Remington Magnum and .300 Winchester Magnum. The Stevens Model 200 features a 22 inch barrel in standard calibers and a 24 inch barrel in the magnum calibers. Weighing in at about 6 ½ pounds the Stevens Model 200 feels much lighter than my wood stocked Savage 110.
One point of criticism that many have had with the Stevens Model 200 is the looks of the stock. The synthetic stock is a light gray color in contrast to the standard black. I personally prefer the gray look of the Stevens stock (but wish there was an optional wood stock), but that is a matter of taste that each hunter will have to decide upon for their self. A criticism that I have of the stock is the large channel around the barrel. The barrel is free floated but the gap between the barrel and stock is quite large. To make things worse, there is a piece at the end of the stock that reaches toward the barrel that provides a better look to the front of the rifle, but looks like a mistake from the top. In any case, I want an accurate rifle that works reliably and aesthetics are way down on the list of importance. The stock comes with sling studs attached.
I have only shot the Stevens Model 200 (I purchased a .270 Winchester) with a middling load of IMR 4831 using a 130 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip. After bore sighting the scope, the Stevens was fired at 25 yards to tune the scope in and then was fired at 100 yards. Groups were reliable at 1 inch or so with some groups being much better. While I'll tinker around with the load so more, shooting 1 inch groups at 100 yards in more than sufficient for hunting purposes. A couple shots over the chronograph showed the bullet moving at about 2950 feet per second which was more than expected from the relatively light load. There were no failures to fire, feed, or extract.
If you are in the market for an economical hunting rifle the Stevens Model 200 should be given a lot of consideration.
Review of the CCI Blazer .22 Long Rifle Ammunition
The CCI Blazer .22 Long Rifle is one of the least expensive loadings. The cost for a box of .22 CCI Blazer LR should be about two dollars or so for a box of fifty. Though this ammunition is listed as out of stock on Midway and other online retailers during the current ammunition shortage, I am still able to find it in my area at this time. I have used the CCI Blazer .22 off and on over the years due to it being relatively inexpensive. I have used the ammunition for informal target shooting, plinking, and squirrel hunting. Here is a review of my experience with the CCI Blazer .22 Long Rifle Ammunition.
Firing a 40 grain round nose lead bullet at just over 1200 feet per second, the CCI Blazer is a .22 LR round that fits into the high velocity category. For example the popular CCI Stinger using a 32 grain bullet leaves the muzzle at 1640 feet per second and the Remington Yellow Jacket using a 33 grain bullet leaves the barrel with a velocity of about 1500. (Velocity numbers as cited at 22ammo.com).
The primary gun that I have used to fire the CCI Blazer .22 LR ammunition is a H&R revolver. The revolver, of course, doesn't have cycling problems so I can't comment on the reliability and fouling potential of the Blazer ammunition personally. I have heard from friends both that this ammo cycles great in a Ruger 10/22 and that it is unreliable. As anyone who shoots a lot of .22 ammo and guns probably knows, that identical guns will often show are preference for various loadings. With the revolver the CCI Blazer actually shoots quite well. The revolver always shoots the 40 grain bullet loadings better than the lighter bullets in hyper velocity loadings. The CCI Blazer in the revolver will actually outshoot some target ammunition that I have used. The CCI Blazer also shot well in my son's .22 rifle, but not much different than other similar priced loadings and in this rifle the target ammo usually shoots better.
I have used the CCI Blazer .22 LR ammo to hunt squirrels quite informally. I am not a huge fan of squirrel meat and rather bow hunt for deer as the seasons here are basically concurrent. I have taken squirrel with the revolver with the CCI Blazer .22 ammo however. Like other .22 ammunition with a round nose lead bullet, the shot is more key than with hyper velocity hollow points. The lead slug will certainly do the job if placed right, but offers little margin for error.
The CCI Blazer .22 Long Rifle ammunition is a perfectly useable ammunition for everything except perhaps serious target competition.
Firing a 40 grain round nose lead bullet at just over 1200 feet per second, the CCI Blazer is a .22 LR round that fits into the high velocity category. For example the popular CCI Stinger using a 32 grain bullet leaves the muzzle at 1640 feet per second and the Remington Yellow Jacket using a 33 grain bullet leaves the barrel with a velocity of about 1500. (Velocity numbers as cited at 22ammo.com).
The primary gun that I have used to fire the CCI Blazer .22 LR ammunition is a H&R revolver. The revolver, of course, doesn't have cycling problems so I can't comment on the reliability and fouling potential of the Blazer ammunition personally. I have heard from friends both that this ammo cycles great in a Ruger 10/22 and that it is unreliable. As anyone who shoots a lot of .22 ammo and guns probably knows, that identical guns will often show are preference for various loadings. With the revolver the CCI Blazer actually shoots quite well. The revolver always shoots the 40 grain bullet loadings better than the lighter bullets in hyper velocity loadings. The CCI Blazer in the revolver will actually outshoot some target ammunition that I have used. The CCI Blazer also shot well in my son's .22 rifle, but not much different than other similar priced loadings and in this rifle the target ammo usually shoots better.
I have used the CCI Blazer .22 LR ammo to hunt squirrels quite informally. I am not a huge fan of squirrel meat and rather bow hunt for deer as the seasons here are basically concurrent. I have taken squirrel with the revolver with the CCI Blazer .22 ammo however. Like other .22 ammunition with a round nose lead bullet, the shot is more key than with hyper velocity hollow points. The lead slug will certainly do the job if placed right, but offers little margin for error.
The CCI Blazer .22 Long Rifle ammunition is a perfectly useable ammunition for everything except perhaps serious target competition.
Is the .260 Remington the Perfect Deer Hunting Cartridge?
The .260 Remington is the Rodney Dangerfield of cartridges: it simply gets no respect. Ask anyone to name the 10 best cartridges for deer hunting and you'd probably hear things like the .243, 6mm, 257 Roberts, 250 Savage, .25-06, .270, 7mm Mauser, 7mm-08, 7mm Remington Magnum, 30-30, .308, 30-06, 300 Winchester Magnum and scores of other common cartridges. And then all the short magnums came along and muddied up the top 10 deer hunting cartridge field even further. All the while the .260 Remington has been overlooked.
While I am personally a .270 Winchester fan, the fact is that for 95% of all deer hunting even the .270 is overkill. While the .270 and 30-06 seem to have been the most popular cartridges going for some time, they just are not needed for deer hunting. When the first .243 Winchester made it appearance in our deer hunting camp a few decades ago, the older guys in the group were admittedly apprehensive about the little gun causing wounded deer. They imagined blood trailing late into the night and crippled deer running everywhere. What really happened is that guy with the .243 cleanly rolled deer after deer from the field to the freezer.
The reason that the .243 is so great for deer is simple. The .243 provides ample power for taking deer, yet kicks lightly allowing it to be shot accurately even by a novice or youngster. The .260 Remington simply does the same thing with a little more power and an unnoticeable increase in recoil. The larger bullet of the .260 Remington will tend to drive deeper than the lighter .243 bullet. The .260 Remington bullets have a high ballistic coefficient as well. This means that while the muzzle velocity and energy might not be eye popping, it will carry this velocity and energy better to the target.
For more proof of the usefulness of the .260 Remington check out some high power rifle matches where the round is actually quite popular.
The .260 Remington is an effective round that is offered in short action bolt action rifles and ammunition is not too hard to find. The fact that its ammunition is not carried at every corner store in deer country is one mark I have to give against the .260 Remington for being an ideal deer cartridge. But the efficient little cartridge that is gentle on the shoulder, lethal at the muzzle, and quite accurate may well be one of the finest choices for an all around best deer cartridge.
While I am personally a .270 Winchester fan, the fact is that for 95% of all deer hunting even the .270 is overkill. While the .270 and 30-06 seem to have been the most popular cartridges going for some time, they just are not needed for deer hunting. When the first .243 Winchester made it appearance in our deer hunting camp a few decades ago, the older guys in the group were admittedly apprehensive about the little gun causing wounded deer. They imagined blood trailing late into the night and crippled deer running everywhere. What really happened is that guy with the .243 cleanly rolled deer after deer from the field to the freezer.
The reason that the .243 is so great for deer is simple. The .243 provides ample power for taking deer, yet kicks lightly allowing it to be shot accurately even by a novice or youngster. The .260 Remington simply does the same thing with a little more power and an unnoticeable increase in recoil. The larger bullet of the .260 Remington will tend to drive deeper than the lighter .243 bullet. The .260 Remington bullets have a high ballistic coefficient as well. This means that while the muzzle velocity and energy might not be eye popping, it will carry this velocity and energy better to the target.
For more proof of the usefulness of the .260 Remington check out some high power rifle matches where the round is actually quite popular.
The .260 Remington is an effective round that is offered in short action bolt action rifles and ammunition is not too hard to find. The fact that its ammunition is not carried at every corner store in deer country is one mark I have to give against the .260 Remington for being an ideal deer cartridge. But the efficient little cartridge that is gentle on the shoulder, lethal at the muzzle, and quite accurate may well be one of the finest choices for an all around best deer cartridge.
Deer Hunting with a .357 Magnum Rifle
The .357 Magnum chambered rifle is an interesting gun for deer hunting purposes. A century or so ago the use of one cartridge in both a rifle and handgun was common. A cowboy, lawman, or outlaw could hit the trail with a lever action rifle as well as a revolver in .32-20 Winchester, .44-40 Winchester or other similar cartridges and not have to worry about keeping their ammunition separated. While these days the need to keep ammunition separate isn't a life or death matter, it can still be useful to have both a long gun and handgun in the same cartridge. For instance reloaders will not have to buy extra dies and other loading equipment. Plus, in the case of the .357 Magnum, the gun owner has the choice to use the lighter kicking and less costly .38 Special ammunition in their guns.
Many rifles have been chambered for the .357 Magnum over the years. The short barreled Winchester Model 94 Trapper, Marlin 1894 Cowboy, and the New England Handi-Rifle come to mind as a few examples. The Trapper would make an ideal hunting gun as the .357 Magnum is a short range hunting round and the handy short barreled lever action would be great in thick brush. A used Handi-Rifle would probably be the most inexpensive .357 Magnum rifle. The inexpensive Handi-Rifle is still on the market as well as rifles from Henry, Rossi, and others.
The ballistics of the .357 Magnum are not impressive for deer hunting even from a longer rifle barrel. The standard rule of thumb is that 1000 foot pounds of energy is needed at range to be effective for deer hunting. While the energy measurement is not perfect, it does provide a simple point of comparison. Though there are a number of different calculations to measure a cartridge's effectiveness all of them come up short in one way or another. Regardless of the numbers the most important part of a bullet's ability to kill is a result of where it hits. From a rifle barrel the .357 Magnum barely generates 1000 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle and at 100 yards the energy level of Winchester's 158 grain Power Point load is 715 foot pounds of energy. But with ability to properly place the shot at out to 125 yards or so, the large diameter bullet will cleanly take deer regardless of the energy rule. If you will be routinely taking deer beyond 100 yards or so then move up to a more powerful cartridge.
Those interested in handloading the .357 Magnum for their rifles can significantly improve the ballistics of the cartridge. To assure that this is done safely, closely follow the .357 Magnum rifle load recommendations of well known loading manuals. Care will need to be used that these loadings not end up being used in a revolver.
The .357 Magnum rifle can be a versatile addition to any hunter or shooter's gun collection. With the ability to use ammunition from light .38 Special target loads for practice as well as squirrel, rabbit and other small game hunting to standard loads for turkey and coyotes and heavy bullet factory and hot handloads for deer hunting, the .357 Magnum rifle can serve a number of uses.
Many rifles have been chambered for the .357 Magnum over the years. The short barreled Winchester Model 94 Trapper, Marlin 1894 Cowboy, and the New England Handi-Rifle come to mind as a few examples. The Trapper would make an ideal hunting gun as the .357 Magnum is a short range hunting round and the handy short barreled lever action would be great in thick brush. A used Handi-Rifle would probably be the most inexpensive .357 Magnum rifle. The inexpensive Handi-Rifle is still on the market as well as rifles from Henry, Rossi, and others.
The ballistics of the .357 Magnum are not impressive for deer hunting even from a longer rifle barrel. The standard rule of thumb is that 1000 foot pounds of energy is needed at range to be effective for deer hunting. While the energy measurement is not perfect, it does provide a simple point of comparison. Though there are a number of different calculations to measure a cartridge's effectiveness all of them come up short in one way or another. Regardless of the numbers the most important part of a bullet's ability to kill is a result of where it hits. From a rifle barrel the .357 Magnum barely generates 1000 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle and at 100 yards the energy level of Winchester's 158 grain Power Point load is 715 foot pounds of energy. But with ability to properly place the shot at out to 125 yards or so, the large diameter bullet will cleanly take deer regardless of the energy rule. If you will be routinely taking deer beyond 100 yards or so then move up to a more powerful cartridge.
Those interested in handloading the .357 Magnum for their rifles can significantly improve the ballistics of the cartridge. To assure that this is done safely, closely follow the .357 Magnum rifle load recommendations of well known loading manuals. Care will need to be used that these loadings not end up being used in a revolver.
The .357 Magnum rifle can be a versatile addition to any hunter or shooter's gun collection. With the ability to use ammunition from light .38 Special target loads for practice as well as squirrel, rabbit and other small game hunting to standard loads for turkey and coyotes and heavy bullet factory and hot handloads for deer hunting, the .357 Magnum rifle can serve a number of uses.
Review of the Remington Model 760 GameMaster Pump Action Rifle
The Remington Model 760 Pump Action rifle is a great hunting arm that is popular with a number of hunters and is just as efficient as ever. When the question turns to the "best deer rifle," the pump rifle doesn't come up often, but it certainly is a good contender for the title. In general the pump action rifle combines accuracy rivaling a bolt action rifle with improved speed making it in many ways better than either a bolt or lever action rifle. According to information on Remington.com, the Model 760 GameMaster saw a production run of over 1 million rifles. Calibers included the .270 Winchester, .280 Remington, and the 30-06 Springfield among others. The Remington Model 760 GameMaster was replaced by the Model 7600 which is still in production.
Remington Model 760 GameMaster was produced in numerous grades and variations. A carbine length Remington Model 760 GameMaster with an 18.5 inch barrel was made and would be a handy woods rifle. Those used to a well broke in pump action shotgun might be surprised with action roughness of a pump rifle. Due to the much higher pressure levels of a centerfire cartridge compared to a shotgun shell, a centerfire pump action rifle must lock up more tightly. The Remington Model 760 GameMaster uses a rotary bolt that twists into place when closed. Due to all of this movement the action is not smooth like a shotgun, but it is not a problem either.
The 760 that I have experience with is chambered for the .270 Winchester. Though the Remington Model 760 GameMaster that I have shot is not what might be called a "tack driver", it has sent enough whitetails to the freezer over the years to prove that accuracy is not a problem. With handloads the Model 760 will shoot into about 2 inches. Recoil is not a significant problem as the Model 760 is fairly beefy and helps to tame the rifle's kick. I feel awkward shooting a pump action rifle offhand as I prefer my hand on the fore-end to be closer to the action than the pump handle will allow, but this is something that each hunter will have to check out to see if it suits them. However, the Model 760 as a whole feels good and points quickly in the woods.
The Remington Model 760 GameMaster topped off with a low power variable scope can certainly make a good argument for being the best deer rifle ever made. While no longer in production, the just over one million used Model 760's that are probably still in existence can be found on gun dealer shelves as well as the Internet gun listings.
Remington Model 760 GameMaster was produced in numerous grades and variations. A carbine length Remington Model 760 GameMaster with an 18.5 inch barrel was made and would be a handy woods rifle. Those used to a well broke in pump action shotgun might be surprised with action roughness of a pump rifle. Due to the much higher pressure levels of a centerfire cartridge compared to a shotgun shell, a centerfire pump action rifle must lock up more tightly. The Remington Model 760 GameMaster uses a rotary bolt that twists into place when closed. Due to all of this movement the action is not smooth like a shotgun, but it is not a problem either.
The 760 that I have experience with is chambered for the .270 Winchester. Though the Remington Model 760 GameMaster that I have shot is not what might be called a "tack driver", it has sent enough whitetails to the freezer over the years to prove that accuracy is not a problem. With handloads the Model 760 will shoot into about 2 inches. Recoil is not a significant problem as the Model 760 is fairly beefy and helps to tame the rifle's kick. I feel awkward shooting a pump action rifle offhand as I prefer my hand on the fore-end to be closer to the action than the pump handle will allow, but this is something that each hunter will have to check out to see if it suits them. However, the Model 760 as a whole feels good and points quickly in the woods.
The Remington Model 760 GameMaster topped off with a low power variable scope can certainly make a good argument for being the best deer rifle ever made. While no longer in production, the just over one million used Model 760's that are probably still in existence can be found on gun dealer shelves as well as the Internet gun listings.
Deer Hunting with the .223 Remington
The .223 Remington is one of the most popular cartridges in the United States. Deer hunting is the most popular form of hunting in the United States. Put these two factors together and sooner or later hunters are going to hit the woods with their .223 Remington in pursuit of deer. While the .223 Remington is far from ideal for deer hunting it is not as ridiculous as many maintain. Let's take a look at the numbers.
The general rule of thumb is that a cartridge needs to produce 1000 foot pounds of energy at a given distance to effectively take a whitetail deer. The .223 Remington firing a 60 grain Nosler Partition as loaded by Federal produces 3160 feet per second at the muzzle and 1330 foot pounds of energy. The energy at 100 yards is 998 foot pounds and at 200 yards is 736 foot pounds. (Ballistics from federalpremium.com) While this level of energy is not impressive to say the least, let's look at the numbers of the 30-30 Winchester. The 30-30 Winchester is a great deer cartridge that has filled innumerable tags over the years, yet its ballistics are not spectacular either. The 30-30 Winchester fires a 150 grain bullet at 2390 feet per second and generates 1902 foot pounds of energy. At 100 and 200 yards the energy numbers are 1296 and 858. While the 30-30 Winchester does produce better numbers than the .223 Remington, the difference is not that significant. (30-30 ballistics from remington.com) And then there is my .45 Flintlock whose round balls barely generate 1000 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle, yet has killed about 20 deer. And then there are all the deer that fell to the .25-20 and .32-20 Winchester and the .44-40 Winchester, none of which even come close to 1000 foot pounds at the muzzle. While ballistics are interesting and are useful as a basis of comparison, they do not tell the whole story.
With a proper bullet at a proper distance shot into the proper area, the .223 Remington will take deer just fine. While I have never killed a deer with a .223 Remington, I have seen a hunting companion take many with the .222 Remington. Use a Nosler Partition or other sturdy bullet, keep your shots to about 150 yards, and place the bullet properly into the lungs and the .223 Remington will work fine in the deer woods. While other light kicking guns such as the .243 Winchester, .260 Remington, or 30-30 Winchester are far superior choices, if you have no other choice use your .223 Remington with confidence.
The general rule of thumb is that a cartridge needs to produce 1000 foot pounds of energy at a given distance to effectively take a whitetail deer. The .223 Remington firing a 60 grain Nosler Partition as loaded by Federal produces 3160 feet per second at the muzzle and 1330 foot pounds of energy. The energy at 100 yards is 998 foot pounds and at 200 yards is 736 foot pounds. (Ballistics from federalpremium.com) While this level of energy is not impressive to say the least, let's look at the numbers of the 30-30 Winchester. The 30-30 Winchester is a great deer cartridge that has filled innumerable tags over the years, yet its ballistics are not spectacular either. The 30-30 Winchester fires a 150 grain bullet at 2390 feet per second and generates 1902 foot pounds of energy. At 100 and 200 yards the energy numbers are 1296 and 858. While the 30-30 Winchester does produce better numbers than the .223 Remington, the difference is not that significant. (30-30 ballistics from remington.com) And then there is my .45 Flintlock whose round balls barely generate 1000 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle, yet has killed about 20 deer. And then there are all the deer that fell to the .25-20 and .32-20 Winchester and the .44-40 Winchester, none of which even come close to 1000 foot pounds at the muzzle. While ballistics are interesting and are useful as a basis of comparison, they do not tell the whole story.
With a proper bullet at a proper distance shot into the proper area, the .223 Remington will take deer just fine. While I have never killed a deer with a .223 Remington, I have seen a hunting companion take many with the .222 Remington. Use a Nosler Partition or other sturdy bullet, keep your shots to about 150 yards, and place the bullet properly into the lungs and the .223 Remington will work fine in the deer woods. While other light kicking guns such as the .243 Winchester, .260 Remington, or 30-30 Winchester are far superior choices, if you have no other choice use your .223 Remington with confidence.
Review of the Marlin Model 60 Semi-Automatic .22 LR
The Marlin Model 60 has been around for almost 50 years. Marlin's website states that they have sold over 11 million of the popular Model 60 and they dub it the most popular .22 in the world. Any rifle that has been in production for 50 years and has sold 11 million copies is a gun that has proven itself as reliable and useful. No small part of the Model 60's success has been due to its low price, but low price alone would not keep a gun (or anything else) on the market this long.
Though the Marlin Model 60 is not as well regarded as the Ruger Model 10/22 that was released a few years later, the Model 60 continues to find its place in the market. Again, although the Model 60 does not have quite the number of accessories as the 10/22 a lot of aftermarket products are made for the Model 60 so that you can personalize your Marlin Model 60 as you like.
Though the Marlin Model 60 is a well known commodity, I decided to buy some low priced .22 Long Rifle ammunition and give it a good work out. Any excuse to go shooting is good enough for me. I took along a Federal 550 round pack from Wal-Mart as well as a 50 round box of Remington Thunderbolts. With the copper plated hollow point Federals and the round nose Thunderbolts I could at least test the Model 60 for jams and other reliability issues with two different types of ammo.
The Marlin Model 60 that I was shooting does not wear a scope. The sights on the Marlin Model 60 are a bit rough but are perfectly serviceable for any reasonable shooting. The Marlin Model 60 is of course grooved for scope mounting. A neat looking aperture (peep) sight is available for the Model 60 from tech-sights.com and other sources.
Using the standard factory open sights I rapidly fired a string of the Federals at a sacrificial Coke can at 25 yards or so hanging from a tree limb. I emptied the 14 shots from the gun too quickly to have hit the can with every shot, but the gun went bang each time and cycled without any problems. Grabbing a new can to shoot at with a tube full of the Thunderbolts, the same process was repeated. For my less than precise accuracy testing a placed a square of duct tape on a pizza box at about 50 yards. Finding that my eyes needed a little bigger target I added some more tape and contemplated adding a scope for future squirrel hunting. Now aiming at about a 3" by 3" square of tape I was able to start shooting. Resting the gun off the side of a post the Thunderbolts shot a five round group of about 1 ½ and the Federals did a little better. Shocked that my eyes were able to aim that well, I gave up on accuracy and went back to shooting cans, plastic bottles, and other assorted stuff.
The bottom line is that with either the Remington or Federal loadings the Marlin Model 60 had no problems with reliability. I know that the Model 60 is capable of quite good accuracy from experience shooting it off of sandbags. With a new price tag well south of $200 and used models more in the $100 range, the Marlin Model 60 is a great rifle for having fun and hunting small game such as rabbit and squirrel.
Though the Marlin Model 60 is not as well regarded as the Ruger Model 10/22 that was released a few years later, the Model 60 continues to find its place in the market. Again, although the Model 60 does not have quite the number of accessories as the 10/22 a lot of aftermarket products are made for the Model 60 so that you can personalize your Marlin Model 60 as you like.
Though the Marlin Model 60 is a well known commodity, I decided to buy some low priced .22 Long Rifle ammunition and give it a good work out. Any excuse to go shooting is good enough for me. I took along a Federal 550 round pack from Wal-Mart as well as a 50 round box of Remington Thunderbolts. With the copper plated hollow point Federals and the round nose Thunderbolts I could at least test the Model 60 for jams and other reliability issues with two different types of ammo.
The Marlin Model 60 that I was shooting does not wear a scope. The sights on the Marlin Model 60 are a bit rough but are perfectly serviceable for any reasonable shooting. The Marlin Model 60 is of course grooved for scope mounting. A neat looking aperture (peep) sight is available for the Model 60 from tech-sights.com and other sources.
Using the standard factory open sights I rapidly fired a string of the Federals at a sacrificial Coke can at 25 yards or so hanging from a tree limb. I emptied the 14 shots from the gun too quickly to have hit the can with every shot, but the gun went bang each time and cycled without any problems. Grabbing a new can to shoot at with a tube full of the Thunderbolts, the same process was repeated. For my less than precise accuracy testing a placed a square of duct tape on a pizza box at about 50 yards. Finding that my eyes needed a little bigger target I added some more tape and contemplated adding a scope for future squirrel hunting. Now aiming at about a 3" by 3" square of tape I was able to start shooting. Resting the gun off the side of a post the Thunderbolts shot a five round group of about 1 ½ and the Federals did a little better. Shocked that my eyes were able to aim that well, I gave up on accuracy and went back to shooting cans, plastic bottles, and other assorted stuff.
The bottom line is that with either the Remington or Federal loadings the Marlin Model 60 had no problems with reliability. I know that the Model 60 is capable of quite good accuracy from experience shooting it off of sandbags. With a new price tag well south of $200 and used models more in the $100 range, the Marlin Model 60 is a great rifle for having fun and hunting small game such as rabbit and squirrel.
Gun Review of the H&R Handi-Rifle for Hunting
The H&R Handi-Rifle is a single shot rifle that is a simple and reliable rifle for hunters. The Handi-Rifle has been made under both the Harrington & Richardson name as well as the New England Firearms name. A quick look around the internet shows these guns selling in their base packages for under $250. Slightly used models with scopes and slings are selling in the $250 range as well.
The Handi-Rifle is virtually identical to the popular single shot shotguns made under both names as well. In fact while it is not advisable to shoot the gun in this manner, the barrels from my H&R 20 gauge shotgun and my NEF .22 Hornet rifle will interchange. The rifle barrel and action does appear to be made of higher grade metal which makes sense as rifle pressure is higher than shotgun pressure. Do not interchange parts on this or other firearms, I only mention it to point out the similarities between the guns.
The H&R Handi-Rifle is a sleek, good looking gun for the price. The base model comes with surprisingly nice wood and the simple design provides a workman like appearance. After all a rifle is a tool, while fancy guns are nice, rifles are meant to do a job. Surprisingly, the H&R Handi-Rifle weighs about 7 pounds or in other words is comparable to many other deer rifles. The length of the H&R Handi-Rifle in long action cartridges is comparable to other rifles as well. (Weights and lengths vary depending on model) The heft of the H&R Handi-Rifle makes it steady when shooting off hand.
My .22 Hornet NEF Handi-Rifle is not exactly a tack driver but has sufficient accuracy for its purpose. Groups with about any ammunition are in the 1 ½ inch range and hand loads bring that down to about an inch. I would probably want to shoot the rifle in .223 Remington and .22-250 before buying it as these are a long range varmint rounds, but the accuracy is more than sufficient for big game hunting. The H&R Handi-Rifle chambered in 30-30 would be an interesting gun. Using true pointed bullets in hand loads would improve the ballistics of this great hunting round considerably.
The H&R Handi-Rifle is offered in a number of chambering including .17 HMR, .22 LR, .22 WMR, .204 Ruger, .22 Hornet, .223 Remington, .22-250, .243 Winchester, 25-06 Remington, .270 Winchester, .280 Remington, 7mm-08, 30-30 Winchester, .308 Winchester, 30-06 Springfield, 308 Winchester, .444 Marlin, 45-70 Government as well as .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .45 Long Colt, and 500 S&W. The H&R Handi-Rifle is also available in a number of models that include: synthetic stocks, survival stocks with storage, open sights, checkered stocks, plain blued finish, case hardened finish, stainless steel, various barrel lengths, and youth models.
The H&R Handi-Rifle is a versatile rifle that can fill virtually any niche from plinking, varmint hunting, small game hunting, and big game hunting.
The Handi-Rifle is virtually identical to the popular single shot shotguns made under both names as well. In fact while it is not advisable to shoot the gun in this manner, the barrels from my H&R 20 gauge shotgun and my NEF .22 Hornet rifle will interchange. The rifle barrel and action does appear to be made of higher grade metal which makes sense as rifle pressure is higher than shotgun pressure. Do not interchange parts on this or other firearms, I only mention it to point out the similarities between the guns.
The H&R Handi-Rifle is a sleek, good looking gun for the price. The base model comes with surprisingly nice wood and the simple design provides a workman like appearance. After all a rifle is a tool, while fancy guns are nice, rifles are meant to do a job. Surprisingly, the H&R Handi-Rifle weighs about 7 pounds or in other words is comparable to many other deer rifles. The length of the H&R Handi-Rifle in long action cartridges is comparable to other rifles as well. (Weights and lengths vary depending on model) The heft of the H&R Handi-Rifle makes it steady when shooting off hand.
My .22 Hornet NEF Handi-Rifle is not exactly a tack driver but has sufficient accuracy for its purpose. Groups with about any ammunition are in the 1 ½ inch range and hand loads bring that down to about an inch. I would probably want to shoot the rifle in .223 Remington and .22-250 before buying it as these are a long range varmint rounds, but the accuracy is more than sufficient for big game hunting. The H&R Handi-Rifle chambered in 30-30 would be an interesting gun. Using true pointed bullets in hand loads would improve the ballistics of this great hunting round considerably.
The H&R Handi-Rifle is offered in a number of chambering including .17 HMR, .22 LR, .22 WMR, .204 Ruger, .22 Hornet, .223 Remington, .22-250, .243 Winchester, 25-06 Remington, .270 Winchester, .280 Remington, 7mm-08, 30-30 Winchester, .308 Winchester, 30-06 Springfield, 308 Winchester, .444 Marlin, 45-70 Government as well as .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .45 Long Colt, and 500 S&W. The H&R Handi-Rifle is also available in a number of models that include: synthetic stocks, survival stocks with storage, open sights, checkered stocks, plain blued finish, case hardened finish, stainless steel, various barrel lengths, and youth models.
The H&R Handi-Rifle is a versatile rifle that can fill virtually any niche from plinking, varmint hunting, small game hunting, and big game hunting.
Deer Hunting with the 45-70 Government
When I saw my first Marlin lever action chambered for 45-70 Government I thought it was a pretty cool gun but wasn't sure it was a practical choice for those of us living in the lower 48. While the 45-70 was a popular buffalo gun in its day, the American Bison is not a commonly hunted game animal these days. Plus with the development of newer cartridges there are numerous cartridges that excel on buffalo. For grizzly bear or African hunting the 45-70 Government would be quite useful, but again most of us are primarily hunting common American game animals. The whitetail deer is the most commonly hunted big game animal in America. Given this it is safe to assume that many of the 45-70 Governments being sold are going to end up in the deer woods. Here is a look at using the 45-70 Government for whitetail deer hunting.
Using ballistics from Remington.com, here is a rundown on the numbers on the 45-70 Government. Ballistics for a 30-06 using 150 grain Core-Lokts will be used to provide a familiar point of comparison. Remington loads both a 300 grain hollow point and a 405 grain soft point. In terms of muzzle velocity and muzzle energy, the 300 grain produces 1810 feet per second and 2182 foot pounds of energy. The 405 produces 1330 and 1590. The 30-06 with the commonly used 150 grain bullet produces 2910 feet per second and 2820 foot pounds. Obviously, the 30-06 produces more energy and shoots much flatter. While hand loading the 45-70 can improve its numbers, it cannot match the energy and certainly not the trajectory of the 30-06.
However simple math and statistics do not tell the whole truth of hunting effectiveness. The large diameter and weight of the 45-70 Government bullet causes significant damage upon entry and delivers its energy well at close distance. Many people fear that the 45-70 Government will kick too hard to handle and will destroy a lot of meat. I have only shot a 45-70 Government in the Marlin 1895 lever action but I found recoil to be not that big of a deal. Make no mistake about it, it kicks harder than a 30-30 Winchester but it is more than tolerable. As far as tearing up meat, I have taken one deer with a 45-70 Government and seen a couple others and have never noted meat destruction worse than with a 30-06 level cartridge. The 45-70 Government is an outstanding deer cartridge in its proper place. If you hunt in dense woods and take close shots the 45-70 Government will do well. And let's face it, owning and shooting a 45-70 is just plain cool.
Using ballistics from Remington.com, here is a rundown on the numbers on the 45-70 Government. Ballistics for a 30-06 using 150 grain Core-Lokts will be used to provide a familiar point of comparison. Remington loads both a 300 grain hollow point and a 405 grain soft point. In terms of muzzle velocity and muzzle energy, the 300 grain produces 1810 feet per second and 2182 foot pounds of energy. The 405 produces 1330 and 1590. The 30-06 with the commonly used 150 grain bullet produces 2910 feet per second and 2820 foot pounds. Obviously, the 30-06 produces more energy and shoots much flatter. While hand loading the 45-70 can improve its numbers, it cannot match the energy and certainly not the trajectory of the 30-06.
However simple math and statistics do not tell the whole truth of hunting effectiveness. The large diameter and weight of the 45-70 Government bullet causes significant damage upon entry and delivers its energy well at close distance. Many people fear that the 45-70 Government will kick too hard to handle and will destroy a lot of meat. I have only shot a 45-70 Government in the Marlin 1895 lever action but I found recoil to be not that big of a deal. Make no mistake about it, it kicks harder than a 30-30 Winchester but it is more than tolerable. As far as tearing up meat, I have taken one deer with a 45-70 Government and seen a couple others and have never noted meat destruction worse than with a 30-06 level cartridge. The 45-70 Government is an outstanding deer cartridge in its proper place. If you hunt in dense woods and take close shots the 45-70 Government will do well. And let's face it, owning and shooting a 45-70 is just plain cool.
Review of CCI Mini-Mag .22 LR Ammunition
The CCI Mini-Mag is a popular .22 Long Rifle loading for hunters across the country since its introduction. In fact, CCI may be the most popular manufacturer of rimfire ammunition with popular offerings including the Stinger, Velocitor, and Blazer line of ammo. While I tend to personally use cheap standard velocity ammunition in my .22's, the recent run on rimfire ammunition has caused me to try some .22 LR ammo that I probably would not have otherwise. Keeping a supply of my personally preferred .22 LR ammunition at home on a shelf, I hit the local stores to buy whatever they have when I get to go shoot. A recent trip yielded a box of 100 CCI Mini-Mags for my plinking pleasure and here is the report of my experience with this .22 LR ammo shot in both a rifle and a handgun.
The CCI Mini-Mag is offered in both a standard 40 grain bullet and a 36 grain hollow point bullet loading. Each of these bullets is plated to reduce barrel fouling. I was using the 36 grain hollow point during my informal testing. The hollow point of the bullet is fairly small, yet deep, compared to many others. However, the popularity of the CCI Mini-Mag by small game hunters offers plenty of evidence that the hollow point works in the field. I shot the CCI Mini-Mag in an old bolt action Mossberg and a H&R Revolver for testing. The bolt is not picky but the revolver decidedly prefers standard velocity loadings so I was hoping for good results from the Mini-Mag. The CCI Mini-Mag fires the 36 grain hollow point bullet at a published muzzle velocity of 1260 feet per second. The CCI Mini-Mag using the 40 grain round nose bullet has a muzzle velocity of 1235 feet per second.
Test firing of the CCI Mini-Mag in the bolt action Mossberg was reliable, but accuracy was not overly spectacular. Groups at 50 yards averaged just over an inch or so. Not bad, but not as good as with other ammunition either. 1 inch groups at 50 yards is certainly good enough for small game hunting. The revolver was fired at 25 yards as the rough sights (I blame the sights as the other option is my eyes!) don't allow for fine aiming much beyond that. Groups of just over an inch were also recorded with the revolver (remember 25 yards), meaning that it really liked the CCI Mini-Mag ammunition. I may get a few more boxes of it to try some more and use the Mini-Mag for hunting with the revolver. The H&R Revolver shoots cheap solid point as well, but a hollow point is much better for hunting when accuracy is equal.
Overall, the CCI Mini-Mag seems like a perfectly fine .22 Long Rifle ammunition. If your gun shoots the Mini-Mag well, I see no reason not to use it.
The CCI Mini-Mag is offered in both a standard 40 grain bullet and a 36 grain hollow point bullet loading. Each of these bullets is plated to reduce barrel fouling. I was using the 36 grain hollow point during my informal testing. The hollow point of the bullet is fairly small, yet deep, compared to many others. However, the popularity of the CCI Mini-Mag by small game hunters offers plenty of evidence that the hollow point works in the field. I shot the CCI Mini-Mag in an old bolt action Mossberg and a H&R Revolver for testing. The bolt is not picky but the revolver decidedly prefers standard velocity loadings so I was hoping for good results from the Mini-Mag. The CCI Mini-Mag fires the 36 grain hollow point bullet at a published muzzle velocity of 1260 feet per second. The CCI Mini-Mag using the 40 grain round nose bullet has a muzzle velocity of 1235 feet per second.
Test firing of the CCI Mini-Mag in the bolt action Mossberg was reliable, but accuracy was not overly spectacular. Groups at 50 yards averaged just over an inch or so. Not bad, but not as good as with other ammunition either. 1 inch groups at 50 yards is certainly good enough for small game hunting. The revolver was fired at 25 yards as the rough sights (I blame the sights as the other option is my eyes!) don't allow for fine aiming much beyond that. Groups of just over an inch were also recorded with the revolver (remember 25 yards), meaning that it really liked the CCI Mini-Mag ammunition. I may get a few more boxes of it to try some more and use the Mini-Mag for hunting with the revolver. The H&R Revolver shoots cheap solid point as well, but a hollow point is much better for hunting when accuracy is equal.
Overall, the CCI Mini-Mag seems like a perfectly fine .22 Long Rifle ammunition. If your gun shoots the Mini-Mag well, I see no reason not to use it.
Gun Review: H&R Pardner Pump Shotgun
The H&R Pardner Pump is an inexpensive shotgun that appears to have filled a need for reliable pump action shotgun at an affordable price. One primary drawback of the Pardner Pump that I will mention up front is that it is made in China. Between myself and my immediate family members we own about 10 different Harrington & Richardson or New England Firearms shotguns, rifles, and revolvers that were all made in America, so the Pardner Pump being made in China was quite a surprise. Being made in China is a deal breaker for some so I wanted to mention it up front.
The H&R Pardner Pump is chambered for both 12 and 20 gauges in a number of variations. What first caught my eye was the low price for a pump shotgun that had real wood instead of a synthetic stock. The Pardner Pump is offered in a number of variations including wood stocks, synthetic stocks, camo stock, smooth barrel, rifled barrel, as well as shortened defense / police models. The Pardner Pump has 3 inch chambers, screw in chokes, and a 5 shot magazine.
Many may find that the H&R Pardner Pump has a familiar look to it and for good reason. The H&R Pardner Pump is a near copy of the classic Remington 870. The Remington and H&R 1871 brands are both owned by Freedom Group (Freedom-Group.com). Regardless of the corporate intrigue, the H&R Pardner Pump looks and functions like Remington 870 yet the basic models retail for under $200 in most areas. I test fired a H&R Pardner Pump 20 gauge over a two day period. There were no functioning problems, though the action was a bit stiff. The gun had only had a few boxes of shells or so worked through it so the assumption is that it will become smoother over time though the stiffness was of no real concern. Informal patterning found the point of impact to be a bit to the right of the point of aim but not a significant amount. For small game hunting the pattern was more than sufficient with each given choke for a dead on aim. The vent ribbed model provided a good sighting platform and the gun pointed well. Oddly, the Pardner Pump does not accept Remington choke tubes, but rather those for Winchester or Mossberg.
The H&R Pardner Pump appears to be a solid shotgun at an affordable price. For those new to the shooting and hunting sports or those who simply want a solid gun at a good value the H&R Pardner Pump would make a great choice.
The H&R Pardner Pump is chambered for both 12 and 20 gauges in a number of variations. What first caught my eye was the low price for a pump shotgun that had real wood instead of a synthetic stock. The Pardner Pump is offered in a number of variations including wood stocks, synthetic stocks, camo stock, smooth barrel, rifled barrel, as well as shortened defense / police models. The Pardner Pump has 3 inch chambers, screw in chokes, and a 5 shot magazine.
Many may find that the H&R Pardner Pump has a familiar look to it and for good reason. The H&R Pardner Pump is a near copy of the classic Remington 870. The Remington and H&R 1871 brands are both owned by Freedom Group (Freedom-Group.com). Regardless of the corporate intrigue, the H&R Pardner Pump looks and functions like Remington 870 yet the basic models retail for under $200 in most areas. I test fired a H&R Pardner Pump 20 gauge over a two day period. There were no functioning problems, though the action was a bit stiff. The gun had only had a few boxes of shells or so worked through it so the assumption is that it will become smoother over time though the stiffness was of no real concern. Informal patterning found the point of impact to be a bit to the right of the point of aim but not a significant amount. For small game hunting the pattern was more than sufficient with each given choke for a dead on aim. The vent ribbed model provided a good sighting platform and the gun pointed well. Oddly, the Pardner Pump does not accept Remington choke tubes, but rather those for Winchester or Mossberg.
The H&R Pardner Pump appears to be a solid shotgun at an affordable price. For those new to the shooting and hunting sports or those who simply want a solid gun at a good value the H&R Pardner Pump would make a great choice.
Review of the Mossberg 100 ATR Rifle
The Mossberg 100 ATR is an economy-priced rifle for those looking to get a big game hunting rifle without breaking their budget. The Mossberg ATR is offered at local Wal-Marts in my area for less than $250. Package Mossberg ATR's with a scope run a little more. With such a low price, the Mossberg ATR is an interesting rifle that should be quite popular. The ATR stands for All Terrain Rifle.
The Mossberg 100 ATR is a bolt action rifle that comes standard with a black synthetic stock, 22 inch free floated barrel, 4 round magazine (plus 1 in the chamber), adjustable trigger, sling swivels, and rubber recoil pad. Other available features include stainless steel barrels, open sights, walnut stock, camouflage stock, adjustable stock. With a wide range of features available, the ATR offers models that will meet about any hunting need. Even with more expensive options, the Mossberg 100 ATR is still a budget priced rifle that offers a lot for the price.
The Mossberg 100 ATR feels good and solid in the hands. The Mossberg ATR weighs just under 7 pounds with some variance depending on model. The standard synthetic stock is checkered (as are the others) to provide a steady grip. The checkering felt good in the hand compared to some inexpensive rifles that have sharp edges on their checkering.
I recently shot a Mossberg 100 ATR while looking around for an inexpensive deer hunting rifle. The rifle that I shot was a 30-06 Springfield. The Mossberg ATR is available in .243 Winchester, .270 Winchester, .308 Winchester, and 30-06 Springfield. While this is not a wide range of selections all of the four are great deer cartridges and all but the .243 Winchester are fine for elk and other larger big game. The Mossberg ATR did a good job of dampening the recoil of the 30-06. Accuracy was OK with the one factory load that I tried. Groups were under 2 inches, but playing around with different factory loads and hand loads could probably improve this some.
I did not purchase the Mossberg ATR as I went with a Stevens Model 200. I chose the Stevens as it is based on the long serving Savage Model 110. The Mossberg ATR being a newer rifle might still have some bugs that will need worked out. I noticed a lot of chatter on message boards and forums that indicate problems with the Mossberg ATR, especially broken extractors and bolt head separation. I have no personal knowledge of this but the rumors are out there. The Mossberg ATR that I shot is owned by a friend that has put a few hundred rounds through his with no problems. For such a low price, I doubt that you can go wrong with the Mossberg ATR. I chose something different, but this does not mean that the ATR is not worth consideration. If you like the ATR and feel comfortable with it I am sure it will serve you well.
The Mossberg 100 ATR is a bolt action rifle that comes standard with a black synthetic stock, 22 inch free floated barrel, 4 round magazine (plus 1 in the chamber), adjustable trigger, sling swivels, and rubber recoil pad. Other available features include stainless steel barrels, open sights, walnut stock, camouflage stock, adjustable stock. With a wide range of features available, the ATR offers models that will meet about any hunting need. Even with more expensive options, the Mossberg 100 ATR is still a budget priced rifle that offers a lot for the price.
The Mossberg 100 ATR feels good and solid in the hands. The Mossberg ATR weighs just under 7 pounds with some variance depending on model. The standard synthetic stock is checkered (as are the others) to provide a steady grip. The checkering felt good in the hand compared to some inexpensive rifles that have sharp edges on their checkering.
I recently shot a Mossberg 100 ATR while looking around for an inexpensive deer hunting rifle. The rifle that I shot was a 30-06 Springfield. The Mossberg ATR is available in .243 Winchester, .270 Winchester, .308 Winchester, and 30-06 Springfield. While this is not a wide range of selections all of the four are great deer cartridges and all but the .243 Winchester are fine for elk and other larger big game. The Mossberg ATR did a good job of dampening the recoil of the 30-06. Accuracy was OK with the one factory load that I tried. Groups were under 2 inches, but playing around with different factory loads and hand loads could probably improve this some.
I did not purchase the Mossberg ATR as I went with a Stevens Model 200. I chose the Stevens as it is based on the long serving Savage Model 110. The Mossberg ATR being a newer rifle might still have some bugs that will need worked out. I noticed a lot of chatter on message boards and forums that indicate problems with the Mossberg ATR, especially broken extractors and bolt head separation. I have no personal knowledge of this but the rumors are out there. The Mossberg ATR that I shot is owned by a friend that has put a few hundred rounds through his with no problems. For such a low price, I doubt that you can go wrong with the Mossberg ATR. I chose something different, but this does not mean that the ATR is not worth consideration. If you like the ATR and feel comfortable with it I am sure it will serve you well.
Field Review of the Marlin 336 in 30-30 Winchester
The lever action rifle chambered for the 30-30 Winchester is the classic American gun. While the Winchester Model 94 is what most of us picture when we think about lever action rifles, the Marlin 336 has been a strong competitor over the years for the hearts of the lever action hunter. With Winchester closing the shop doors the Marlin 336 and its many model variations now stands alone as the first choice in lever action hunting.
The Marlin Model 336 is a known commodity in many parts of the deer woods, but I'll review the basics for any of those out there who are not familiar with this gun. The Marlin 336 comes in many models and chamberings based around the standard action design. The Marlin lever action 336 features a tubular magazine that holds 6 rounds in 30-30 Winchester. Due to the tubular magazine stacking bullet against primer only flat nosed bullet loadings can be used in a tube magazine. However, Hornady has introduced a soft pointed bullet that can be used but I have not yet tried it out. The primary advantage of the Marlin 336 over the Winchester 94 was the ability to mount a scope low over top of the Marlin. While Winchester's top opening Model 94 was improved in this area, all older 336's will mount scopes low while the Model 94's may not. The Marlin 336 features a hammerblock safety in addition to other safety features inherit to exposed hammer guns.
The 30-30 Winchester cartridge has stood the test of time for good reason. It is a small and efficient round that seems to take deer in defiance to its ballistics. The 30-30 is a gentle kicker making it ideal for youngsters and other beginners. In reality I have found few situations in the deer woods when the 30-30 wouldn't do the job as well as other more powerful cartridges. In testing the Marlin 336 I choose a couple different 150 grain loads and a 170 grain load. Recoil was no big deal with any of the loads, but I could tell that the recoil from the 170 was a little harder. All three loadings shot into about 1 ½ to 2 inches at 100 yards which is plenty good enough for hunting purposes.
The Marlin 336 feels good in the hands and points well. The Marlin 336 is a sturdy and effective deer hunting rifle that will serve either a novice or expert well in the deer woods. Check out Marlin's full line of lever action rifles to find one that meets your needs.
The Marlin Model 336 is a known commodity in many parts of the deer woods, but I'll review the basics for any of those out there who are not familiar with this gun. The Marlin 336 comes in many models and chamberings based around the standard action design. The Marlin lever action 336 features a tubular magazine that holds 6 rounds in 30-30 Winchester. Due to the tubular magazine stacking bullet against primer only flat nosed bullet loadings can be used in a tube magazine. However, Hornady has introduced a soft pointed bullet that can be used but I have not yet tried it out. The primary advantage of the Marlin 336 over the Winchester 94 was the ability to mount a scope low over top of the Marlin. While Winchester's top opening Model 94 was improved in this area, all older 336's will mount scopes low while the Model 94's may not. The Marlin 336 features a hammerblock safety in addition to other safety features inherit to exposed hammer guns.
The 30-30 Winchester cartridge has stood the test of time for good reason. It is a small and efficient round that seems to take deer in defiance to its ballistics. The 30-30 is a gentle kicker making it ideal for youngsters and other beginners. In reality I have found few situations in the deer woods when the 30-30 wouldn't do the job as well as other more powerful cartridges. In testing the Marlin 336 I choose a couple different 150 grain loads and a 170 grain load. Recoil was no big deal with any of the loads, but I could tell that the recoil from the 170 was a little harder. All three loadings shot into about 1 ½ to 2 inches at 100 yards which is plenty good enough for hunting purposes.
The Marlin 336 feels good in the hands and points well. The Marlin 336 is a sturdy and effective deer hunting rifle that will serve either a novice or expert well in the deer woods. Check out Marlin's full line of lever action rifles to find one that meets your needs.
Deer Hunting with the 7mm-08 Remington
The 7mm-08 Remington is a cartridge based upon the .308 Winchester. By necking a .308 Winchester case down to .284 or 7mm, a cartridge was developed that would generate a higher velocity than the original. This higher velocity meant that the 7mm-08 Remington would shoot with a flatter trajectory than the .308 Winchester. Other benefits include less recoil and more energy (comparing the 140 grain 7mm-08 versus the 150 grain .308 Winchester). While the .308 Winchester itself is an excellent deer hunting cartridge, the 7mm-08 Remington is at least as good overall.
Comparing the ballistics of the 7mm-08 Remington with a 140 grain bullet against its parent the .308 Winchester (using a 150 grain bullet) and the most popular cartridge in most deer woods, the 30-06 (also using a 150 grain bullet), shows some interesting numbers. Using ballistics data from Remington.com for Remington's Core-Lokt bullet here are the results. Of the three, the 7mm-08 Remington carries over 1000 foot pounds of energy beyond the 500 yard mark. Both the .308 and 30-06 are in the 800 foot pound range. While virtually no hunter should be shooting at deer that far, it is interesting to see the 7mm-08 do so well. At more reasonable deer hunting distances, the 30-06 does perform will more energy than either the 7mm-08 Remington or the .308 Winchester at both 100 and 200 yards. The 7mm-08 Remington with its 140 grain bullet that has a higher ballistic coefficient pulls into the energy lead at 300 yards. The 7mm-08 Remington also shows less bullet drop at extended ranges than the other two, but out to 300 yards the difference is still less than 3 ½ inches. Switching the .308 and 30-06 to 165 grain bullets improves their performance to better match the 7mm-08 Remington.
Accuracy, in my opinion, is of more importance than either bullet drop or energy (with-in reason). A .24 caliber bullet at low speed into the heart is better than a super fast .35 caliber into the hillside or worse yet into a leg. For many deer hunters and especially newcomers, recoil plays a huge role in accuracy. While with proper practice anyone can certainly learn to shoot a 30-06 accurately, the .308 Winchester and 7mm-08 Remington develop less recoil with the 7mm-08 developing the least. However, with managed recoil factory ammunition or hand loaded ammunition the recoil factor is of little importance.
No matter what caliber of rifle you deer hunt with you need to be well practiced and able to shoot it well. If the smaller caliber gun is less intimidating to you then by all means use it.
Of course, ballistics alone doesn't tell the whole story. If ballistics were the only measure of performance, the 30-30 Winchester would have been dead years ago instead of filling freezers with meat every year. However, ballistics do provide insight into the capability of a cartridge. Though numbers might not tell the whole truth, neither do they lie. On paper and in the field the 7mm-08 Remington is a great deer cartridge.
While the staying power and popularity speak for the greatness of the 30-06, and the compact performance of the .308 Winchester makes it one the best deer cartridges ever, the slightly less popular 7mm-08 certainly holds its own against these two timeless deer rounds and by some measurements beats them both. The simple truth is that from .243 Winchester to 45-70 Government, it is hard to pick a deer cartridge that won't do the job. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced deer hunter, the 7mm-08 Remington is a fine deer hunting cartridge.
Comparing the ballistics of the 7mm-08 Remington with a 140 grain bullet against its parent the .308 Winchester (using a 150 grain bullet) and the most popular cartridge in most deer woods, the 30-06 (also using a 150 grain bullet), shows some interesting numbers. Using ballistics data from Remington.com for Remington's Core-Lokt bullet here are the results. Of the three, the 7mm-08 Remington carries over 1000 foot pounds of energy beyond the 500 yard mark. Both the .308 and 30-06 are in the 800 foot pound range. While virtually no hunter should be shooting at deer that far, it is interesting to see the 7mm-08 do so well. At more reasonable deer hunting distances, the 30-06 does perform will more energy than either the 7mm-08 Remington or the .308 Winchester at both 100 and 200 yards. The 7mm-08 Remington with its 140 grain bullet that has a higher ballistic coefficient pulls into the energy lead at 300 yards. The 7mm-08 Remington also shows less bullet drop at extended ranges than the other two, but out to 300 yards the difference is still less than 3 ½ inches. Switching the .308 and 30-06 to 165 grain bullets improves their performance to better match the 7mm-08 Remington.
Accuracy, in my opinion, is of more importance than either bullet drop or energy (with-in reason). A .24 caliber bullet at low speed into the heart is better than a super fast .35 caliber into the hillside or worse yet into a leg. For many deer hunters and especially newcomers, recoil plays a huge role in accuracy. While with proper practice anyone can certainly learn to shoot a 30-06 accurately, the .308 Winchester and 7mm-08 Remington develop less recoil with the 7mm-08 developing the least. However, with managed recoil factory ammunition or hand loaded ammunition the recoil factor is of little importance.
No matter what caliber of rifle you deer hunt with you need to be well practiced and able to shoot it well. If the smaller caliber gun is less intimidating to you then by all means use it.
Of course, ballistics alone doesn't tell the whole story. If ballistics were the only measure of performance, the 30-30 Winchester would have been dead years ago instead of filling freezers with meat every year. However, ballistics do provide insight into the capability of a cartridge. Though numbers might not tell the whole truth, neither do they lie. On paper and in the field the 7mm-08 Remington is a great deer cartridge.
While the staying power and popularity speak for the greatness of the 30-06, and the compact performance of the .308 Winchester makes it one the best deer cartridges ever, the slightly less popular 7mm-08 certainly holds its own against these two timeless deer rounds and by some measurements beats them both. The simple truth is that from .243 Winchester to 45-70 Government, it is hard to pick a deer cartridge that won't do the job. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced deer hunter, the 7mm-08 Remington is a fine deer hunting cartridge.
Gun Review of the Remington Model 770
The Remington Model 770 is an updated version of the Remington 710 that was introduced as an economy level rifle. The Model 710, like most newly designed rifles, went through a period of growing pains that caused it to have a reputation of poor quality, accuracy and reliability. Remington appears to have listened to these complaints, addressed the problems and developed the older Model 710 into the newer Model 770.
The Remington Model 770 is still an economy priced hunting rifle. The Remington Model 770 is offered with a bore sighted 3X9 scope. The Remington Model 770 is offered in .243 Winchester, .270 Winchester, 7mm-08 Remington, 7mm Remington Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, 30-06 Springfield, and .308 Winchester. One complaint about the Model 710 was that the bolt moved through a polymer receiver and had a flimsy feel. The Model 770's receiver is now made of steel which probably doesn't really accomplish anything except added weight, but the bolt moves smoother and has a better feel. Problems with reliability and accuracy have also been addressed. The magazine latch was also considered flimsy and Remington has been beefed up the latch on the Model 770.
While I still do not personally like the looks of the stock, rubberized inserts in the stock do provide a much better feel and will be quite useful in the rain or snow. The Remington Model 770 weighs in around 8 ½ pounds with the scope which is pretty good. A compact Model 770 is also offered which could be a great choice for those who hunt in the brush.
Accuracy testing with a Remington Model 770 in 30-06 proved to be more than adequate for hunting. The only load used was a factory 150 grain Winchester Power Point. Three shot groups at hundred yards were in the 1 ½ inch range which is more than sufficient for deer hunting. Playing around with different loads or handloading would probably produce better groups. Recoil was about what was expected from a bolt action 30-06.
In my somewhat limited experience with both the Model 710 and the Model 770, the 770 definitely has a better and sturdier feel in the hands. While I am still a fan of the Stevens Model 200 as the best economy hunting rifle, the Remington Model 770 is worth a look. A lot of choosing a hunting rifle is based upon personal preference. The feel of a gun in the hands is a subjective measurement that won't be the same for everyone. While I don't like the looks of the Model 770 stock, other people may think that it looks great. Personal preference is the reason that we have so many choices of quality hunting rifles in America. If you chose to buy the Remington Model 770 it should put meat in the freezer for many years to come.
The Remington Model 770 is still an economy priced hunting rifle. The Remington Model 770 is offered with a bore sighted 3X9 scope. The Remington Model 770 is offered in .243 Winchester, .270 Winchester, 7mm-08 Remington, 7mm Remington Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, 30-06 Springfield, and .308 Winchester. One complaint about the Model 710 was that the bolt moved through a polymer receiver and had a flimsy feel. The Model 770's receiver is now made of steel which probably doesn't really accomplish anything except added weight, but the bolt moves smoother and has a better feel. Problems with reliability and accuracy have also been addressed. The magazine latch was also considered flimsy and Remington has been beefed up the latch on the Model 770.
While I still do not personally like the looks of the stock, rubberized inserts in the stock do provide a much better feel and will be quite useful in the rain or snow. The Remington Model 770 weighs in around 8 ½ pounds with the scope which is pretty good. A compact Model 770 is also offered which could be a great choice for those who hunt in the brush.
Accuracy testing with a Remington Model 770 in 30-06 proved to be more than adequate for hunting. The only load used was a factory 150 grain Winchester Power Point. Three shot groups at hundred yards were in the 1 ½ inch range which is more than sufficient for deer hunting. Playing around with different loads or handloading would probably produce better groups. Recoil was about what was expected from a bolt action 30-06.
In my somewhat limited experience with both the Model 710 and the Model 770, the 770 definitely has a better and sturdier feel in the hands. While I am still a fan of the Stevens Model 200 as the best economy hunting rifle, the Remington Model 770 is worth a look. A lot of choosing a hunting rifle is based upon personal preference. The feel of a gun in the hands is a subjective measurement that won't be the same for everyone. While I don't like the looks of the Model 770 stock, other people may think that it looks great. Personal preference is the reason that we have so many choices of quality hunting rifles in America. If you chose to buy the Remington Model 770 it should put meat in the freezer for many years to come.
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