It's nice when everything comes together...

[Anonymous]

I helped a friend this evening put together his first high power rifle...his first firearm of any type in fact.
After asking for a lot of advice, his shopping list looked like this-a plain Ruger 77 Hawkeye All Weather in .30'06, a Leupold 4x, a few boxes of Federal 180gr soft point ammo- just the plain blue box stuff. Everything at retail for enough under $1000 to buy dinner.

We mounted the scope, did a quick bore sight and headed to the range. A couple of shots put me close to the bull and a group of three put us dead on at 100yds and I turned the rifle over to my buddy to final zero. Four more groups and the average size was a very good 1.25" sitting 2" high at 100yds.

My buddy is thrilled with the results and is ready to hunt.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

This sounds like a very simple and rugged hunting rig amigo. I love the 30-06 for its simplicity and nostalgia, not to mention it holds its own in the accuracy and killing power department against many if not all of the highly touted magnums. Good move with the fixed 4x Leupold. They are a very reliable optic and will last you a lifetime, given reasonable care and no huge falls. While the 180 grain Federals will suit most if not all needs for big game hunting, I've found the various 150-180 grain Nosler Accubonds, Partitions, and Ballistic tips will all print in 1.75" or less with a variety of propellants in my Winchester 70 30-06. I have settled on the 165 grain as my go to load for this rifle as if I need a bigger bullet, chances are I will need a bigger rifle, which is where my 300 WSM will come in to play.

Excellent choice my friend. If more people started out with a rig like this there would be a lot better marksmen and a lot less tracking of wounded animals in hunting season. Treat her right, and she will last you forever.

 

[FOTIS]

So what did you have for dinner?

Nice job!

 

[DrMike]

Excellent post; and, yes, it is not only nice, but great, when everything comes together.

 

[Anonymous]

You know- I'm amazed at how good sporting arm manufacturing is these days. We just took a group of readily available stuff- nothing special, just a mass produced, middle of the road rifle, scope and ammo and put them together into a really effective hunting rig that didn't suck the wallet right off my friend's butt.

In the not so distant past, a fellow might have had to sort through several rifle and ammo combos to get good results or even resort to tuning loads with hand loading. I've spend mega dollars chasing results that good not so long ago...

I'd like to say it was beginner's luck- but it's happening with much regularity these days. I haven't messed with a new factory rifle that wouldn't shoot to an acceptable level of hunting accuracy in a long time now. The gilded "One MOA" rifle is now boringly regular to find in even budget models.

Friends- we just may be living in the salad days.

 

[DrMike]

I agree wholeheartedly, Hodgeman.

 

[SJB358]

Very nice and that sounds like a great combo for hunting as well. A guy can't do much better than that these days. Great work, and like what Fotis said, what you have for supper! :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

For those interested.... supper was fried chicken. And pretty good too given our limited restaurant choices here.

 

[Hegland]

Something very similar happened with a friend from work, and I think it's one of the more gratifying feelings a person can have. Well done.

And pretty good too given our limited restaurant choices here.

:grin:

 

[sask boy]

HM, I am sure glad that you were able to help another hunter into the field there is no better place to make lifelong friendships :wink:
Any photos of you buddy with his new rifle?
Blessing,
Dan