Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 18,129
- 7,821
The simple approach appeals to me. One rifle, one load, use it for pretty much everything! Love it. JY Jones took almost everything in North America with the 165 gr Nosler Partition and his trusty Remington 700 30-06, then bumped up to the 200 gr Partition for a couple of the bigger species.
USMC - everyone was issued a rifle and the same ammo. No advantage to anyone on the firing line for ammo or equipment but we certainly didn't all shoot the same!
Law enforcement - there were variations in firearms, but everyone had the same ammo for either 9mm, 40 or 45 - a bit of an advantage for some guys (like me) who sprang for their own higher quality handgun.
Hunting... My goodness... For years I hunted with one rifle, one shotgun. As time went on and my discretionary income grew modestly, I was able to try several different rifles. Learned to load for them and learned to hunt with them. Learned how to exploit the potential velocity advantage of slow burning powders. Learned to use long, high BC bullets for long range work. Learned that although magnums kick and roar more, I am not so convinced that they kill better overall. Learned that a well placed bullet is the key to quick kills.
It's been a hoot. I've hunted with traditional muzzle loader, only a bit with a revolver. Hoping to add to that over the next few years. Then rifles from 223 & 6mm up through the 30's and then the 375's and a bit with the 45-70 levergun. Lever actions, single shots, bolt actions...
Each rifle and cartridge taught me something useful. I learned to not fear the belt on a belted magnum, it can be worked around easily by a handloader. Quickly learned to love the single shot falling block Ruger. Still treasure the bolt action. For me "controlled round feed" means nothing in practical terms. I have CRF and push feed bolt actions - they all work great.
I've learned that messing much with the overall cartridge length doesn't make any sense in my short action Remington 700's. The mag accepts up to 2.8" and a tiny bit more. After that it becomes a single-load proposition.
Learned that crimping a straight wall case for leverguns is a great idea - and that loading them is much like loading a revolver cartridge. Conversely the crimp has proven pretty much unnecessary with my bolt action rifles - but I did crimp the 375 H&H's for my bolt action Model 70 to help hold those big pills in place during recoil. No reason to crimp them for the single shot Number One.
Learned gradually about mono-metal bullets and that they're not all the same. Learned that Nosler's Partition can be remarkably accurate in addition to the great on-game performance. Learned that the Ballistic Tip has become an excellent all-around choice for a hunting bullet with that heavy base & jacket.
So much more - and although it cost me more money than it would have to stick with one or two rifles for 50+ years of hunting, and I'd have gotten really good with those rifles... I'm glad I experienced all sorts of different cartridges, some of which weren't even available when I started loading and hunting.
Just rambling here I suppose. But it's been an interesting journey. Places like this forum have helped me learn even more as other loaders, shooters, hunters, share their experiences.
Thanks for sharing all your knowledge and info guys! Do you favor one or a few cartridges, loads & rifles for your hunting or do you bounce around a fair bit between cartridges, loads and rifles?
Guy
USMC - everyone was issued a rifle and the same ammo. No advantage to anyone on the firing line for ammo or equipment but we certainly didn't all shoot the same!
Law enforcement - there were variations in firearms, but everyone had the same ammo for either 9mm, 40 or 45 - a bit of an advantage for some guys (like me) who sprang for their own higher quality handgun.
Hunting... My goodness... For years I hunted with one rifle, one shotgun. As time went on and my discretionary income grew modestly, I was able to try several different rifles. Learned to load for them and learned to hunt with them. Learned how to exploit the potential velocity advantage of slow burning powders. Learned to use long, high BC bullets for long range work. Learned that although magnums kick and roar more, I am not so convinced that they kill better overall. Learned that a well placed bullet is the key to quick kills.
It's been a hoot. I've hunted with traditional muzzle loader, only a bit with a revolver. Hoping to add to that over the next few years. Then rifles from 223 & 6mm up through the 30's and then the 375's and a bit with the 45-70 levergun. Lever actions, single shots, bolt actions...
Each rifle and cartridge taught me something useful. I learned to not fear the belt on a belted magnum, it can be worked around easily by a handloader. Quickly learned to love the single shot falling block Ruger. Still treasure the bolt action. For me "controlled round feed" means nothing in practical terms. I have CRF and push feed bolt actions - they all work great.
I've learned that messing much with the overall cartridge length doesn't make any sense in my short action Remington 700's. The mag accepts up to 2.8" and a tiny bit more. After that it becomes a single-load proposition.
Learned that crimping a straight wall case for leverguns is a great idea - and that loading them is much like loading a revolver cartridge. Conversely the crimp has proven pretty much unnecessary with my bolt action rifles - but I did crimp the 375 H&H's for my bolt action Model 70 to help hold those big pills in place during recoil. No reason to crimp them for the single shot Number One.
Learned gradually about mono-metal bullets and that they're not all the same. Learned that Nosler's Partition can be remarkably accurate in addition to the great on-game performance. Learned that the Ballistic Tip has become an excellent all-around choice for a hunting bullet with that heavy base & jacket.
So much more - and although it cost me more money than it would have to stick with one or two rifles for 50+ years of hunting, and I'd have gotten really good with those rifles... I'm glad I experienced all sorts of different cartridges, some of which weren't even available when I started loading and hunting.
Just rambling here I suppose. But it's been an interesting journey. Places like this forum have helped me learn even more as other loaders, shooters, hunters, share their experiences.
Thanks for sharing all your knowledge and info guys! Do you favor one or a few cartridges, loads & rifles for your hunting or do you bounce around a fair bit between cartridges, loads and rifles?
Guy
