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Anyone who has been around me long enough knows that I'm really into rifle cartridges/ballistics/history. As a hunter, Ive used a bunch to take various animals from squirrels to elk. Here are the things I hunt and my favorite rifle/cartridge/load. I know that I split hairs and pick nits, but I paid for this schit!
Small Game (rabbits, grouse): I have a CZ455 with barrels in 22LR and 17HMR. Oddly enough, I feel like the report from the 17HMR has less of an effect on creatures than the 22. So, 17HMR with 20gr Speer TNT is what I use.
Predators (West Side): A 12GA shotgun with turkey choke and BB shot works great. Most shots are under 30 yards with all the brush. But, that's not a rifle. Even though I don't care for hunting with semi-autos, its really hard to beat the AR15. A 16 inch carbine with a low powered scope makes for quick shots when you got very little time. Its more versatile if you do spot something farther away. I just use Black Hills 50gr V-Max ammo. I don't care if I mess up hides, but it's not too horrible.
Predators (East Side): Open country, longer shots, a little wind...Tikka T3 in 243. The 243 does quite well with slower powders than you'd think. H4350 and a 70gr Ballistic Tip gets me 3450fps, taking a lot of guess work out of shots. I'm generally limited to about 400 yards, and the speed/trajectory means more to me at that range. Honorable mention is the 22-250 (if only it were twisted faster in factory rifles).
Blacktails or NE Whitetails: Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in 7x57 using 140gr Nosler Partitions and a mild load if Ramshot Big Game (2750 fps). Light enough to keep it in your hands while still hunting timber, plenty accurate to reach across a clearcut.
Mule Deer and SE Whitetails: Remington Model 700 Stainless 7mm Rem Mag. Open country, longer shots, some wind. I like the longer barrel and the extra velocity. Love the longer magazine box of the 700. 150gr Nosler LR Accubond on Reloader 22. Lots of confidence in this setup for shots out to 500 yards.
Elk: Model 70 Classic Stainless 30-06. 180gr Nosler Partition on a stiff load of H4350 for 2800 fps. I'm in the camp of shoot until they are down. Elk are tough. When I know I'll likely need to shoot twice, I want a rifle that feeds and an M70 hasn't failed me no matter how smartly the bolt is thrown or how the rifle is oriented when the bolt is thrown.
Small Game (rabbits, grouse): I have a CZ455 with barrels in 22LR and 17HMR. Oddly enough, I feel like the report from the 17HMR has less of an effect on creatures than the 22. So, 17HMR with 20gr Speer TNT is what I use.
Predators (West Side): A 12GA shotgun with turkey choke and BB shot works great. Most shots are under 30 yards with all the brush. But, that's not a rifle. Even though I don't care for hunting with semi-autos, its really hard to beat the AR15. A 16 inch carbine with a low powered scope makes for quick shots when you got very little time. Its more versatile if you do spot something farther away. I just use Black Hills 50gr V-Max ammo. I don't care if I mess up hides, but it's not too horrible.
Predators (East Side): Open country, longer shots, a little wind...Tikka T3 in 243. The 243 does quite well with slower powders than you'd think. H4350 and a 70gr Ballistic Tip gets me 3450fps, taking a lot of guess work out of shots. I'm generally limited to about 400 yards, and the speed/trajectory means more to me at that range. Honorable mention is the 22-250 (if only it were twisted faster in factory rifles).
Blacktails or NE Whitetails: Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in 7x57 using 140gr Nosler Partitions and a mild load if Ramshot Big Game (2750 fps). Light enough to keep it in your hands while still hunting timber, plenty accurate to reach across a clearcut.
Mule Deer and SE Whitetails: Remington Model 700 Stainless 7mm Rem Mag. Open country, longer shots, some wind. I like the longer barrel and the extra velocity. Love the longer magazine box of the 700. 150gr Nosler LR Accubond on Reloader 22. Lots of confidence in this setup for shots out to 500 yards.
Elk: Model 70 Classic Stainless 30-06. 180gr Nosler Partition on a stiff load of H4350 for 2800 fps. I'm in the camp of shoot until they are down. Elk are tough. When I know I'll likely need to shoot twice, I want a rifle that feeds and an M70 hasn't failed me no matter how smartly the bolt is thrown or how the rifle is oriented when the bolt is thrown.
