How The Weapon Of Your Choice Significantly Affects Your Choices In Areas You Hunt

Grumpy

The Grumpy Grease Monkey mechanical engineer.
Staff member
I bet most of us don,t really think it through, about
how the weapon of your choice we used for large game hunting,
significantly affects your choices in the areas you hunt
.
yes most of this should be obvious.
everyone has favorites and everyone has had a different experience,
and prefers to use what he has proven to be effective and has confidence in using!
and yes you can just grab something like a 30/06 with a 180 grain bullet and it works in 90% of the areas I've hunted.'
it may not be ideal, but you will be successful if you're a good shot.


http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ange-calibers-for-elk-are-not-mandatory.1275/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ge-and-rifle-combo-in-a-deer-elk-rifle.16611/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-good-light-weight-elk-rifle.3738/#post-45326

If you've hunted a great deal,
and you hunt with archery, handgun, muzzleloader and centerfire rifle,
as a choice,of equipment.
.you know that most large game is not found wandering around in open fields in broad daylight
Weatherby340ma.jpg


having a bi-pod allows you to make shots at longer ranges both seated or prone
Ive used a harris 13"/27" swivel bi-pod for decades on my 340 wby as it allows you to make more accurate long range shots

https://www.harrisbipods.com/HB25CS.php?
It always effects other choices you make,
If you're not comfortable making shots over let's say, 80 yards with a revolver,
or let's say 40 yards with archery equipment you'll naturally hunt areas,
that provide you with the opportunity's your more comfortable hunting in,
places where you're much more likely to get closer to the game,
at those shorter average ranges.

the only real issue is those areas may or may not be where most of the game spends most of its time,
and you certainly can see the game much further in some areas than in others.
thus your weapon choice may limit your odds of success.
so many guys just naturally select a weapon that has at least some potentially good extended reach, this has merits but the fact is most game is killed at well under 250 yards,

and most hunter tend to match the areas they hunt to the type of equipment they'll use to help improve your odds of success.
few guys want to carry a full-length rifle with a capability to make 500-yard shots ,
and deal with the extra weight of a bi-pod, or large scope,
if they hunt the thick timber and steep slopes of canyon country.
especially if they realize that over the last 5-8 years,
all the elk they ever see are at ranges under 70-80 yards.
you can,t hardly help notice that if you have something in your hands like a 300 wby mag,
that can make a very precise hit out at lets say 350-450 yards, that that potential extra range advantage may be wasted.
you don,t generally hunt in the lodgepole pines, or aspen thickets, with a full sized rifle and higher power scope etc.
as it does not require or allow the full potential of the rifles extended range to be used.
AND if your hunting with a magnum revolver or archery equipment you certainly know your weapon of choice has range and accuracy limitations.
dwsmwbraker.png

that same stand of timber looks far more
promising or inviting if your using a magnum revolver,
if you know most shots will be taken at under 70 yards.,

thickt8.jpg

elkcoun1.png

.
image-asset.jpeg
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and if your shoulders home to a rifle sling on that weatherby rifle with a bi-pod
118.jpg

I think it would be rather foolish to hunt areas where your at a distinct disadvantage, where a full length rifle is not easy to manipulate in the thicker brush.
so over the years Ive noticed a shift in the equipment most of the guys I hunt with carry,
few guys now carry the flat shooting magnums like the 300 and 7mm that were very common 40 years ago, most guys now carry carbines in 30 or larger caliber cartridges.
band high velocity belted magnums are not as commonly used by members in our hunt club now.
and many more now carry lever action and carbines in calibers like 358 win, 35 whelen,
30/06 or 308 win, that were initially not that popular.
mostly because of the fact many members come to realize shots over 300 yards are not all that common,
but you want the ability to reach out past 100-150 or occasionally 200 or more yards if the opportunity is there!
a carbine chambered in a moderately powerful caliber is a handy thing to have.

my late hunting partner carried a browning BLR in caliber 358 win for decades
Browning_BLR.jpg

he constantly kidded me about carrying my 10 lb, 26" barrel,
weatherby mark V in 340 wby,
as it was longer and heavier than required,
and over time I came to see he had a point,
as both of us were successful,
and he never had any issues killing elk.
the fact that both rifles and calibers worked ,
just helped point out that its mostly the hunter's skill,
experience and knowledge not just the weapon selected.
all the magazine articles you read will stress the need to shoot at absurd ranges
but in 50 plus years of hunting elk I can remember very few elk shot by anyone in our hunt club at over 300 yards.
I eventually purchased a SAKO 375 H&H which my buddy RON still kidded me about,
but I think he was partly jealous, especially once he saw how accurate and effective it was.
sako375man.jpg


IMG_11431.JPG

open meadows like the one pictured above might have you wishing you selected a very flat shooting rifle,
but its been my experience game tends to prefer denser aspen, & conifer cover.
my late hunting partner used a 358 win chambered BLR for 30 years and was rather successful,
and I doubt he ever took a shot exceeding 240 yards,
I've used my SAKO bolt action 375 H&H very successfully when hinting thick cover

elkcon3.jpg
 
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