So Glad That I Tried Different Rifle Cartridges & Loads!

[wvbuckbuster]

Guy, I appreciate your insight and wisdom as well as others who share their experiences. Like you I have had fun and been able to gain some knowledge along the way by trying different calibers and guns. As a young man starting my railroad career, I was cut off some and therefore didn't have much money to spend on different rifles. So, in order to try something different I would shoot one for awhile then trade for something different. Was able to see firsthand how various calibers and bullets performed on deer. Unfortunately, there were a couple I should have held onto. Overall, it has been enjoyable to travel down this road of shooting and reloading that has been enriched by folks like those here on this forum who share with me and others. Bottom line of all the different calibers I have now I will never be without a 30-06 even though it doesn't get used the most these days.

 

[longrangehunter]

I have always enjoyed playing with various cartridges in order to learn more about this past time, gain real world experience with each, for accuracy and on-game performance, and learning more about what each rifle prefers in terms of bullets, powder, primers, brass, and seating length. Just like people, each rifle and game species has its own personality, and it takes first hand experience to learn what works best for each.

While I may try a wide assortment of rifles, scopes, mounts, cartridges, components and factory ammunition, etc. there are definitely those amongst the variables that find a permanent place in my battery, and get used more than others.

Being a left handed shooter (due to eye dominance as I am right handed), and liking the less common cartridges, has led me down the road to custom and semi custom firearms, as most makers just don't offer quite what I am looking for. But this makes these firearms just a little more special to me, as I got to choose the components (or at least some of the parts or chamberings) that make up each. I have also been lucky that someone, somewhere also had a desire for some of what I was looking for, as I have been able to pick up a couple of custom rifles that had the features (or at least some of what) I was looking for.

As I get older, nicer wood has also become something that I am appreciating more. I have been lucky to find some very nice wood on some of the firearms that I have acquired in the past few years!

I can also say that I have learned a great deal from many of the patrons on this site, who have broadened my perspective and provided valuable intel on a wide variety of topics, form firearms and optics, to shooting and handloading, and on the subject of hunting a wide variety of game around the world.

Thanks Guy, you and others such as FOTIS, SJB358, DrMike, Gerry, RL338, Salmonchaser, XPHunter and others too numerous to mention have made this experience all the more enjoyable over the years. And I wish that April, Jamilla and Thankful Otter would rejoin the ranks, as their knowledge and experience was also greatly appreciated!
This is without a doubt the best forum online, and the respect and camaraderie shared here are unequalled anywhere else!

It is with a heavy heart that those fine ladies who were great hunters, an outstanding sailor, a great scientists and a skilled tracker that were a huge source of information and knowledge that got pushed away by the wrong people that plaques our society based on only that they themselves are too arrogant, and weak minded to be around a woman that they can’t hold a conversation with due to their own stupidity!

Some people just want to surround themselves with dumb people because they’re too afraid to admit they’re incapable of having a conversation around intelligent people let alone a woman far smarter than they are!!

Too stupid to know better…. It’s never a good choice to be the smartest person in the room if you’re interested in learning anything!

I miss the conversations with them, and they are always in the back of my mind as a great friend to have known.

 

[longrangehunter]

I wish I had a way with words such as you do!
I saw an article this morning. One of the many “which is the best caliber/cartridge for deer hunting”, and I thought about the saying that goes something like, “beware the man with only one gun”.
I, personally, have only four rifles, an inline muzzleloader, and a handgun.
I would love to have a lot, but it isn’t practical, especially for me. I usually have a favorite, and stick to one for the most part. If I had more, they would most likely just sit in the safe. That is just me, and I can’t seem to help it.
I guess I’m just a “one gun” kinda guy.
My current, I guess you could say favorite, is my Tikka .308. With my love of still hunting, and the thick woods, it is ideal for the way I like to spend my time.

That simplicity for practical reasons is The reason to never underestimate the man with one gun! Or the Rancher and his 22-250, the Alaskan guide and his 45-70, or the two teenagers that I know from Jordan Montana, Gwen and Ari that started out shooting me five years ago!

I told myself that I’m going to get back to only have one big game hunting gun about a year and a half ago after selling off all the other ones. And yet when I found two actions sitting in my safe I couldn’t leave well enough alone! Now I have one of those almost done in a few weeks, and the other waiting on the stock to be made.

No Necesito hombre!! I need some serious help with my addiction to shooting rifles and buying them!! Is it being retired or retarded with all the money wasted by such an indulgence in weapons that I am unable to stop myself from buying to build something!!

I guess that is because I was a residential home builder and now that I stopped competing I’m looking to build another hunting rifle!!

I’m looking to put an end to it this year though….. I just need to sell off the 260 so I’ll have a little more room in my safe! Oh, and this Ruger RSI 6.5x55 that was a spur of the moment decision for something to take to Germany just in case if it got lost I wouldn’t lose my mind over it.

Omg, is it two or three more rifles that I have coming…. Oh, please God help me now!!

 

[Wolfshead]

That simplicity for practical reasons is The reason to never underestimate the man with one gun! Or the Rancher and his 22-250, the Alaskan guide and his 45-70, or the two teenagers that I know from Jordan Montana, Gwen and Ari that started out shooting me five years ago!

I told myself that I’m going to get back to only have one big game hunting gun about a year and a half ago after selling off all the other ones. And yet when I found two actions sitting in my safe I couldn’t leave well enough alone! Now I have one of those almost done in a few weeks, and the other waiting on the stock to be made.

No Necesito hombre!! I need some serious help with my addiction to shooting rifles and buying them!! Is it being retired or retarded with all the money wasted by such an indulgence in weapons that I am unable to stop myself from buying to build something!!

I guess that is because I was a residential home builder and now that I stopped competing I’m looking to build another hunting rifle!!

I’m looking to put an end to it this year though….. I just need to sell off the 260 so I’ll have a little more room in my safe! Oh, and this Ruger RSI 6.5x55 that was a spur of the moment decision for something to take to Germany just in case if it got lost I wouldn’t lose my mind over it.

Omg, is it two or three more rifles that I have coming…. Oh, please God help me now!!

I believe we live for the experience, and also that we can’t take money with us as we move on.
Our addictions have led us here and it is being retired, with money not wasted, but experience s had!

 

[bdbrown66]

I believe we live for the experience, and also that we can’t take money with us as we move on.
Our addictions have led us here and it is being retired, with money not wasted, but experience s had!

I saw this quote the other day and thought it very profound. My sentiments exactly.

 

[Wolfshead]

100%!

 

[JD338]

I miss April, Jamilla and Thankful Otter. I hope that these fine ladies are doing well.

JD338

 

[Blkram]

Cole,
What good is it to sit and waste away, when one has the time and the means to pursue happiness!
One should not sit idly on the sidelines and let life pass us by. Live life to the fullest each day and build the memories with family and friends that will last you the rest of yours days, and that they will remember after we are gone.

If that means you have one or more extra firearms in your safe that you enjoy shooting and handloading for, do it! And as we cannot take them with us, ensure that you can pass them on to others who will enjoy them and treasure them as the gifts they are that you are leaving to them.

This may just be the power engineer in me, where the trade is the "jack of all trades, and master of none". I may not be a master, but I do enjoy having the skills that allow me to do several things well, and those skills are transferable. And for that which I cannot do well, I can still continue to learn and add to my skills and knowledge. (Over the past month, I have learned to rebuild carbs on two atv's and a dirt bike and got them running again.) And hopefully be able to pass on to others on their journeys!

I may spend a lot on my passions (rifles, shooting, hunting, archery, fishing, etc.), but it is only after the bills are paid, and the larder is stocked (although some of that hunting and fishing does put a lot of protein there!).
My wife constantly says that "at least he isn't blowing his money on alcohol, gambling or other nasty habits!"

 

[xphunter]

@Guy Miner ,
I like new stuff.
For many years, I did all of my shooting, varmint hunting, and hunting of big game with either a 7mm-08, and the got rid of it, and then a 284 Winchester.

Then a new build...6.5-284, and then another one...7.82 Patriot...It has never stopped.
Last couple of years, I have been shooting these cartridges more...20 Tactical, 223 Rem, 22 GT, 22 Creed, 6GT, 25 Creed, 25-284, 6.5 Creed, 6.5-284, 6.5 PRC, 308 Win, 300 SAUM, and very soon, the 7mm SAUM

 

[Blkram]

@Guy Miner ,
I like new stuff.
For many years, I did all of my shooting, varmint hunting, and hunting of big game with either a 7mm-08, and the got rid of it, and then a 284 Winchester.

Then a new build...6.5-284, and then another one...7.82 Patriot...It has never stopped.
Last couple of years...20 Tactical, 223 Rem, 22 GT, 22 Creed, 6GT, 25 Creed, 25-284, 6.5 Creed, 6.5-284, 6.5 PRC, 308 Win, 300 SAUM, and very soon, the 7mm SAUM

The best Ernie, is watching you put those pistols to use, and showing us what is possible with those cartridges at long distance!'I never would have thought that possible back in the day. And then also be able to put them to use on game in the field!
The grin on your chin says it all!

 

[frankm]

For 20 years I shot and hunted with a 12 gauge, a 22 RF, a 223 Rem and a 300 WM. Never once felt like I was compromised.

Similar to Guy as I got a little older, had a little more discretionary income, I got some other cartridges and calibers. Learned much and enjoy all of them but the reality is I could have stayed entirely with 4 cartridges and never been any worse off. That said I ve enjoyed every challenge of a new cartridge/rifle or gauge/shotgun. Variety is the spice of life!!

 

[RL338]

When it comes to some odd cartridges to work with my brother keeps me on my toes. Yes I’m sure several members here have a 303 British or a 44-40 Win. Those 2 are fairly straight forward. Now the 43 Spanish and 43 Dutch Beaumont are unique for sure. The Spanish brass is hit or miss on availability , however the Dutch is non-existent. I made brass from 32ga brass shotshells.

 

[xphunter]

The best Ernie, is watching you put those pistols to use, and showing us what is possible with those cartridges at long distance!'I never would have thought that possible back in the day. And then also be able to put them to use on game in the field!
The grin on your chin says it all!

It really is just a bit more drop and drift.
The cartridges in shorter barrels, shoot slower, but still just as accurate.
Not having a buttstock changes things, but not as big of a deal as some would think.

I am going to be doing a lot more shooting standing off of a tripod in the next 11 months.
My goal is to be able to shoot to 500 yards, and stay in the vitals from the standing position with my rear grip 6.5 PRC and a center-grip 7mm SAUM.
These are both single shots.
I got my first 100 rounds through the rear-grip 6.5 PRC recently with light (2535 fps)130 grain fireforming loads.
Towards the end of the shooting time, I set up for standing, and fired 10 rounds or so at the antelope target at 502 yards.
Of the 10 plus rounds, I kept all of them in the vitals, with the exception of one, that barely went right off the edge of the vitals (Wind dropped off).
The majority of them was in a sub half minute group in the vitals. I will post pics and vids in another post later