Blkram
Handloader
- Nov 25, 2013
- 3,184
- 3,748
I was thinking about what has influenced me over the years when it comes to the rifles I own or like, and the various cartridges I also own or like.
First, I think a major influence has been family.
While my family hunted, on both sides of my family, mostly it was for sustenance, or for employment (guiding, for my Dad, Grandfather and great grandfather, who between the 3 had 133 years of guiding in the Rocky Mountains of BC and Alberta, from Waterton to Terminus Mountain). On my Dad's side of the family, I also have numerous uncles and cousins who have guided over the years (and still do), as well as uncles and aunts, and cousins, who have worked as camp cooks and wranglers. I had the pleasure of going out as an assistant guide to my Dad for 3 weeks one year. Had a great adventure!
Most of my Dad's family had and used lever action 30-30s (mostly Winchesters, but some Marlins) for most of their guiding and hunting. After that it was bolt action 30-06s or 303's. These were working tools and well worn, yet cared for and kept clean and oiled.
My father and his younger brother used to argue vehemently over which was better; my father's 30-06 or my uncle's 270 Win. They were moose hunters. Kind of turned me sour to either, and when I learned about the 280 Rem, I went this route so neither could use me in their arguments!
Another major influence has been friends.
As a teenager, I had a couple of friends who shot more than they hunted, and really got me into shooting more than I already was. The one also introduced me to handloading when I was 21 and got my first rifle for myself; a Browning A Bolt in 280 Rem.
One of those friends also let me try his 338 Win Mag, and after a side by side comparison of it and my 7mm Rem Mag that I have written about in another thread, I acquired my first 338 WIn Mag (a LH Rem 700 BDL) and used it for a bunch of game including moose, elk and bison. (No, I did not sell my 7mm Rem Mag after getting the 338, until later when I was trying to replace the RH rifle for the same in LH.)
DrMke has also been a great influence when it comes to shooting and handload development. While not my first and only handloading mentor, he had the most influence on me in the more technical side of load development, and more advanced techniques such as seating depth, documentation, and using the chronograph to better understand the results.
Gunwriters.
As I grew more interested in rifles and shooting, and started collecting and reading the hunting and shooting magazines and books, some of those articles started to have more of an influence on me. Being a left handed shooter, I learned more about the availability of various makes and models of rifles that were available in left hand, or could be used as donors for custom or semi-custom rifles so that I could acquire them in other cartridges that I became interested in, as my knowledge and awareness was expanded through the reading.
After first reading about the 280 Rem, I became interested in the cartridge and scoured articles or books that I could find on the cartridge, which led me to the acquisition of that Browning A Bolt mentioned above. I still rank the 280 Rem as one of my favourites. It is a well balanced cartridge for big game, and suitable for most of the hunting I do.
Another, was my introduction to the 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser in the mid-90's. My first acquisition was a milsurp semi that I bought for $80 along with 5 boxes of Norma 139 and 140 gr ammo, just have one. I acquired my first of two Rem 700 Classics in the cartridge in 1994 after it was introduced. While I had already started to handload for the 280 Rem, it was the handloading for the 6.5 that got me really going! (After buying the Classic, I sold the milsurp to a friend who still has it.)
Over the years, as I have read and learned about other rifles and cartridges, I have continued to acquire various new (or new-to-me) rifles and cartridges to try, and use, to see what I like and prefer, for my own use and as ones that will stay within my battery.
And lastly, it has to be me and my abilities, interests and experience.
First, as a right handed, left eye dominant individual, various rifle actions, makes and models have been a major influence. As a left handed shooter, I have been acquiring left handed rifles now for over 30 years, and the only right handed bolt action I still own is a Winchester Model 69A for sentimental reasons. (and they didn't make it in LH!)
Before learning about the availability of left handed rifles, lever actions were the handiest for me to use. But this did not stop me from acquiring or using right handed bolt action or semi automatic rifles. I still have an affinity for the Marlins and the Winchesters. As my first big game animal was taken with my Grandfather's Marlin 336 30-30, I still have a preference for the Marlin over the Winchester 94. I also like its stiffer frame and better scope mounting design, and my Marlin 375S has a scope mounted in QR rings and bases. I will keep my 94 Big Bore in 356 Win for use with open sights. I still wish someone would build a LH lever action...but as right handed person, operating a right handed lever or semi is not an issue for me, and the stocks are neutral for shooting left handed. I applaud Ruger for coming out with a LH 10/22, and I still need to get one!
My interests to tend to lean to the less common cartridges (comparative for my generation and today's trends), such as the 17 Mach II, 250 Savage, 257 Roberts, 6.5x55, 280 Rem, 338 Federal, 338-06, 358 Win, 9.3x62, 376 Steyr, 416 Taylor, and 41 Rem Mag. So for most of these, I have had to build or acquire custom or semi-custom firearms in LH to get what I want and like. But I have am having a ton of fun with it and gaining a lot of experience at the same time! And then getting to go out and take game with them, often with my own handloads has heightened the experience and enjoyment!
I do play with many new cartridges as well so that I can come to my own conclusions, and broaden my experience. I do like the 6.5Creedmoor, as it is very similar to the Swede, (and how is that a bad thing? and No, I am not about to sport a man bun, or question my status as a man!), and am looking forward to trying the new 25 CM. I have tried and like the 338-06 and 338 Federal, even if they do not really survive, as I will continue to hunt with them. The 376 Steyr did not really catch on, but is a pleasure to shoot and hunt with. And the 17 Mach II is just a lot of fun to own and shoot! And I am liking the 6.5 and 7MM PRC so far...just need to get out and shoot some game with them. But I do not anticipate that their on-game performance is going to suffer any with good bullets and accurate shot placement, as their performance is similar to other tried and true cartridges.
The experience has influenced trends in makes, models, and various cartridges, ammunition and handloading components that are performing, or exceeding, my expectations in rifle, optics and ammunition performance, accuracy, and velocities.
I now know what I like, or prefer, and what isn't working for me, for hunting and shooting. It is a wonderful journey and I am enjoying it!
While I am definitely not the best shooter out there, I shoot well enough to keep game in the larder and food on the table, and that is the first priority.
And I continue to learn and improve in my abilities and experience, and to keep my skills sharp enough to ensure accurate placement of the bullets in the vitals of the targeted animals so that I can ensure quick, clean kills.
In doing so, I hope that I can continue to thank and honour those that have influenced me in this past time!
Who, or what, has influenced you?
First, I think a major influence has been family.
While my family hunted, on both sides of my family, mostly it was for sustenance, or for employment (guiding, for my Dad, Grandfather and great grandfather, who between the 3 had 133 years of guiding in the Rocky Mountains of BC and Alberta, from Waterton to Terminus Mountain). On my Dad's side of the family, I also have numerous uncles and cousins who have guided over the years (and still do), as well as uncles and aunts, and cousins, who have worked as camp cooks and wranglers. I had the pleasure of going out as an assistant guide to my Dad for 3 weeks one year. Had a great adventure!
Most of my Dad's family had and used lever action 30-30s (mostly Winchesters, but some Marlins) for most of their guiding and hunting. After that it was bolt action 30-06s or 303's. These were working tools and well worn, yet cared for and kept clean and oiled.
My father and his younger brother used to argue vehemently over which was better; my father's 30-06 or my uncle's 270 Win. They were moose hunters. Kind of turned me sour to either, and when I learned about the 280 Rem, I went this route so neither could use me in their arguments!
Another major influence has been friends.
As a teenager, I had a couple of friends who shot more than they hunted, and really got me into shooting more than I already was. The one also introduced me to handloading when I was 21 and got my first rifle for myself; a Browning A Bolt in 280 Rem.
One of those friends also let me try his 338 Win Mag, and after a side by side comparison of it and my 7mm Rem Mag that I have written about in another thread, I acquired my first 338 WIn Mag (a LH Rem 700 BDL) and used it for a bunch of game including moose, elk and bison. (No, I did not sell my 7mm Rem Mag after getting the 338, until later when I was trying to replace the RH rifle for the same in LH.)
DrMke has also been a great influence when it comes to shooting and handload development. While not my first and only handloading mentor, he had the most influence on me in the more technical side of load development, and more advanced techniques such as seating depth, documentation, and using the chronograph to better understand the results.
Gunwriters.
As I grew more interested in rifles and shooting, and started collecting and reading the hunting and shooting magazines and books, some of those articles started to have more of an influence on me. Being a left handed shooter, I learned more about the availability of various makes and models of rifles that were available in left hand, or could be used as donors for custom or semi-custom rifles so that I could acquire them in other cartridges that I became interested in, as my knowledge and awareness was expanded through the reading.
After first reading about the 280 Rem, I became interested in the cartridge and scoured articles or books that I could find on the cartridge, which led me to the acquisition of that Browning A Bolt mentioned above. I still rank the 280 Rem as one of my favourites. It is a well balanced cartridge for big game, and suitable for most of the hunting I do.
Another, was my introduction to the 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser in the mid-90's. My first acquisition was a milsurp semi that I bought for $80 along with 5 boxes of Norma 139 and 140 gr ammo, just have one. I acquired my first of two Rem 700 Classics in the cartridge in 1994 after it was introduced. While I had already started to handload for the 280 Rem, it was the handloading for the 6.5 that got me really going! (After buying the Classic, I sold the milsurp to a friend who still has it.)
Over the years, as I have read and learned about other rifles and cartridges, I have continued to acquire various new (or new-to-me) rifles and cartridges to try, and use, to see what I like and prefer, for my own use and as ones that will stay within my battery.
And lastly, it has to be me and my abilities, interests and experience.
First, as a right handed, left eye dominant individual, various rifle actions, makes and models have been a major influence. As a left handed shooter, I have been acquiring left handed rifles now for over 30 years, and the only right handed bolt action I still own is a Winchester Model 69A for sentimental reasons. (and they didn't make it in LH!)
Before learning about the availability of left handed rifles, lever actions were the handiest for me to use. But this did not stop me from acquiring or using right handed bolt action or semi automatic rifles. I still have an affinity for the Marlins and the Winchesters. As my first big game animal was taken with my Grandfather's Marlin 336 30-30, I still have a preference for the Marlin over the Winchester 94. I also like its stiffer frame and better scope mounting design, and my Marlin 375S has a scope mounted in QR rings and bases. I will keep my 94 Big Bore in 356 Win for use with open sights. I still wish someone would build a LH lever action...but as right handed person, operating a right handed lever or semi is not an issue for me, and the stocks are neutral for shooting left handed. I applaud Ruger for coming out with a LH 10/22, and I still need to get one!
My interests to tend to lean to the less common cartridges (comparative for my generation and today's trends), such as the 17 Mach II, 250 Savage, 257 Roberts, 6.5x55, 280 Rem, 338 Federal, 338-06, 358 Win, 9.3x62, 376 Steyr, 416 Taylor, and 41 Rem Mag. So for most of these, I have had to build or acquire custom or semi-custom firearms in LH to get what I want and like. But I have am having a ton of fun with it and gaining a lot of experience at the same time! And then getting to go out and take game with them, often with my own handloads has heightened the experience and enjoyment!
I do play with many new cartridges as well so that I can come to my own conclusions, and broaden my experience. I do like the 6.5Creedmoor, as it is very similar to the Swede, (and how is that a bad thing? and No, I am not about to sport a man bun, or question my status as a man!), and am looking forward to trying the new 25 CM. I have tried and like the 338-06 and 338 Federal, even if they do not really survive, as I will continue to hunt with them. The 376 Steyr did not really catch on, but is a pleasure to shoot and hunt with. And the 17 Mach II is just a lot of fun to own and shoot! And I am liking the 6.5 and 7MM PRC so far...just need to get out and shoot some game with them. But I do not anticipate that their on-game performance is going to suffer any with good bullets and accurate shot placement, as their performance is similar to other tried and true cartridges.
The experience has influenced trends in makes, models, and various cartridges, ammunition and handloading components that are performing, or exceeding, my expectations in rifle, optics and ammunition performance, accuracy, and velocities.
I now know what I like, or prefer, and what isn't working for me, for hunting and shooting. It is a wonderful journey and I am enjoying it!
While I am definitely not the best shooter out there, I shoot well enough to keep game in the larder and food on the table, and that is the first priority.
And I continue to learn and improve in my abilities and experience, and to keep my skills sharp enough to ensure accurate placement of the bullets in the vitals of the targeted animals so that I can ensure quick, clean kills.
In doing so, I hope that I can continue to thank and honour those that have influenced me in this past time!
Who, or what, has influenced you?
