Hunting Loads

[DrMike]

Spent the last three days making up hunting loads and ensuring that the rifles are sighted in. A few are still in the work-up stage, but those that are ready to go (loads worked up and sighted in) include:

Noah's 260 Remington (120 grain Sierra Game Kings);
35 Whelen (225 Sierra Game Kings);
358 Winchester (200 grain Barnes TSXs);
325 WSM (220 grain Swift A-Frames and 200 grain Nosler PTs);
7mm Remington Magnum (175 grain Speer TBBCs);
280 Remington (150 grain Nosler ABLRs).

Noah spent the day shooting from field position. I'm telling him that he has to be able to put nine out of ten into a six inch paper plate to be ready from that position. He worked hard today.

Moose and Black Bear open on Friday. Bull elk opens on September 1 and cow elk on September 15. Noah has a youth only white tail hunt opening on September 1. Yup, it is all coming down to that time of the year.

 

[Guy Miner]

Excellent!

Love all that field position shooting!

 

[NYDAN]

In that group of rifles and loads you ought to be able to find something for any occasion. :grin:

Best wishes for some great hunts for you and Noah. Be prepared for one excited young man should he score on a nice animal.

 

[DrMike]

Be prepared for one excited young man should he score on any animal.

Fixed it. :grin:

 

[sask boy]

As usual DrMike, you seem to have everything in order. I am sure that Noah is going to get some chances & will connect this fall. I am sure looking forward to your stories along with some great photographs.
Have Fun, Shoot straight & be Safe!

Blessings,
Dan

 

[BD1]

It looks like you have every base well covered, good luck on the upcoming hunts !!
Best,
BD

 

[DrMike]

I forgot to include my 9.3X64 loaded with 250 grain ABs. It is a hammer.

Here's the line-up for the day.

Noah is holding the 7mm Remington Magnum. Lined up are 270 WSM, 325 WSM, 260 Remington, 243 Winchester, 358 Winchester, 35 Whelen and 280 Remington.



I told him to shape up and he suddenly became very sober.



He loves working with the firearms and making ammunition. Notice that my new 26 Nosler hat got appropriated! :?

Consequently, one of my friends showed up today shooting a 26 Nosler made by Rocky Mountain Rifles. The loads were not as fast as advertised, but it was very accurate. It is the second one that the store has turned out. Very handsome cartridge.

 

[Guybo]

Good looking caliber and load combinations. That 120gr GK in the 260 rem should do an excellent job for Noah. My daughter has taken some nice deer with the Sierra 120 from her 260 rem. Love the smile that's always on his face.

 

[DrMike]

Love the smile that's always on his face.

He's a good lad with a positive attitude. He's had a few hard knocks in life and manages to keep coming up a winner.

 

[SJB358]

Very good stuff there Mike. Noah looks to be ready for the hunt!

Can't wait to hear about your hunts with the boy this Fall. He has some excellent mentorship and I know anything you load won't fail him.

What are the spec's on the 260 load?

 

[wildgene]

...have you considered trying the new 130gr. Sierra HPBT GameKings in Noah's .260??? I'm putting some together for the 6.5 Creedmoor, probably won't be able to shoot till Sunday...

 

[DrMike]

I really wanted to run 140 grain PTs, but I've run out of time. So, we're going with what we have worked up. He just has to be a little more precise. I'll be there to back him up, however.

 

[Darkhorse]

Dr. Mike, Tell me more about that .260 Remington. How much work was done to the action when it was rebarreled and what's the barrel makers name? What kind of accuracy are you getting?
Just stuff like that. I've noticed rifles in LH for the .260 are few.

 

[HOGWILD338-378]

Looks like some Swaro BT glass on the 280, have ya tried any of the Leupolds to compete against the Swaro? None of my Leupolds came close to my 3.5-18 Swaro! Lowlight test ! but my FXIII 6X42 came closer to competing with the Swaro than did the Var X III ! That 270 has sure got a glow about her! Nice dress and lipstick ! Fine Fine stick for sure!!

 

[LD375]

Things look good Mike, and Noah seems to be ready too ..Good luck on the hunt, nice rifles too!

Lou

 

[DrMike]

Dr. Mike, Tell me more about that .260 Remington. How much work was done to the action when it was rebarreled and what's the barrel makers name? What kind of accuracy are you getting?
Just stuff like that. I've noticed rifles in LH for the .260 are few.

Darkhorse,

This was a LH 22-250 Tikka that was rechambered to 260 Remington for Noah. I had a Wilson barrel screwed on and the stock cut to fit him. It is capable of some fine accuracy (see http://forum.nosler.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=28518). This was not an extended workup, but a quick and dirty workup to be ready for hunting season. As Noah grows, we will replace the stock with a laminate so that the rifle can grow with him.

Looks like some Swaro BT glass on the 280, have ya tried any of the Leupolds to compete against the Swaro? None of my Leupolds came close to my 3.5-18 Swaro! Lowlight test ! but my FXIII 6X42 came closer to competing with the Swaro than did the Var X III ! That 270 has sure got a glow about her! Nice dress and lipstick ! Fine Fine stick for sure!!

Terry,

A number of my rifles wear either Swarovski, Kahles or Zeiss (yeah, I like Austrian/German glass). I do have several VX3s, VX6s and VX7s. The VX6 and VX7 compare quite favourably to the Swarovski, Kahles and Zeiss under many conditions. In earliest light or in the fading light of evening, there is a measurable difference with the European glass excelling. I'm still able to see quite clearly before full light or in the last moments after the Leupolds have ceased being useful. I did some limited testing with a few of these scopes a couple of years ago (http://forum.nosler.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=18278&p=158652&hilit=Swarovski+VX6#p158652).

Things look good Mike, and Noah seems to be ready too ..Good luck on the hunt, nice rifles too!

Thanks, Lou. He's chomping at the bit. I'm trying to caution him as it is pretty warm right now. It is 28C right now and projected to be 34C tomorrow. I'm telling him that if we don't have an animal down by 8 am, we are quitting for the day.

 

[sask boy]

DrMike, I but the boys will have a restless night :wink:. Best of luck to you tomorrow morning!
Be safe my friend!!

Blessings,
Dan

 

[Thebear_78]

I did the same thing today myself. Got these all checked out and ready to go for the season

300 RUM 168gr TTSX @ 3340fps in custom remington 700 with leupy 3.5-10 VXIII Iluminated reticle
25 WSSM 100gr Swift Scirocco @ 3150fps Winchester featherweight with leupy 2.5-8 VXIII
30-30 win Fed fusion 150s Marlin 336 w lyman peep
270 Win 130gr TTSX @ 3025fps Winchester stainless featherweight with Nikon 4-12
308 win 130gr TTSX @ 3100fps T/C Encore with nikon 2-7
44mag 240gr Winchester load Ruger 9644 with leupy ultralight 3-9


sadly my 375 RUM is out of commission still since it has a broken stock.

 

[DrMike]

Well, it is 13C at 3 a.m. We will go out, but I'm not hopeful. If we knock something down, it will have to be a quick job in this heat. Still, it is opening day, and we can't miss that. We still have lots of time to pray for cooler weather. Forecast projects cooler days next Monday and Tuesday. We can hope.

 

[sask boy]

DrMike, opening day with Noah is very special. Knocking down a young bull is the bonus.
I know that you are out there right now enjoy.

Blessings,
Dan