can you use (X) to hunt (Y)???

[grumpyvette]

As many of you know I spent decades hunting deer, hogs and Elk, and for 45 years, almost every year, I made several trips out west most years to hunt mule deer or elk, I went to WYOMING,,CALIFORNIA,IDAHO,COLORADO and several other states.
and I am still a member of a group of guys whose members generally try to get together and have at least a few members make those trips and come back and give, or recount detailed accounts of the trips.
one of the most common questions I see posted on hunting related web sites and a question I hear on almost every trip to the local rifle range goes something like...... "I'm planing a hunt this year to hunt (X) "deer, elk, hogs" and I,m wondering if I need a new rifle or will this current rifle in caliber (Y) get the job done?"
now the firearms marketing guys heads will explode after reading this, but the truth is its the skill of the guy operating the rifle not the caliber or cartridge that will make or break the hunt in probably 95% of the cases, and if you select a 7mm or 30/06 Springfield loaded with the correct ammo you'll get the job done easily.
yeah a 25/06 ,270 win,7mm mag, 300 mag, or 375 h&h,may have some advantages,in some hunts, but a skilled hunter would have no problem with a decent 30/06 with good ammo, hunting over all of north America.
its familiarity with your weapon of choice and practice that makes a great deal of difference and familiarity with the game anatomy, life style and terrain they live in and the guy hunting being in good physical condition that makes up almost all the difference between successful hunters and guys just making the trip.

a hour a day spent on a tread mill or running up and down stairs and two trips to the local rifle range each month, to practice with your current rifle would improve your hunt success rate far more than a new rifle in most cases


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[philly]

a hour a day spent on a tread mill or running up and down stairs and two trips to the local rifle range each month, to practice with your current rifle would improve your hunt success rate far more than a new rifle in most cases

whoa man if i had a dollar for every time i had to explain that to someone. generaly we are the least accurate part of anything we do. we are the slowest part of our race cars, and certainly any rifle built in the last 100 years shoots better than we can. working on our basic skills. trigger squeeze, sight picture, breath control... pay far more dividends than a new rifle will.

 

[grumpyvette]

I,m almost always amazed by two factors that I hear constantly being discussed , and those are the need for a super flat trajectory and the need to avoid even moderate levels of recoil, in a hunting rifle.
first, Id point out that almost mandatory use of a recoil pad sewn into the hunting vest, a properly used rifle sling and a good quality scope with a duplex rectical ,and options like a muzzle brake, and bi-pod on a rifle make its accurate use far more likely and much less likely to be an unpleasant experience that will tend to reduce practice time at the range significantly. a properly set up rifle in almost any reasonable caliber that will be useful for most north American big game can be easily handled by almost anyone of normal adult size and weight with no issues , even something like a 375H&H with a muzzle brake , sling and vest with a recoil pad, shot from a standing position or used with a bi-pod can be handled by most teens and gals , PROVIDED they are taught the correct way to use the sling and padded vest and proper way to hold the rifle

if your recoil sensitive Id suggest use of a recoil absorbing PAST shoulder pad,sewn into your hunting vest,

a rifle butt pad

combined with proper rifle sling use,

and a muzzle brake might be an option
sewn into your hunting vest,

and selecting a effective caliber like the 30/06-35 whelen class of cartridge, throwing a 180grn-225 grain bullet from a rifle that weights at least 8 lbs with scope and mounts, for your elk hunts, and learn to get into under 250 yards before taking a good rest or sitting position, before firing,and a decent bi-pod helps
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