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MileHighShooter
Posts: 4,997 Senior Member
2012 Elk Hunt
MileHighShooter
Posts: 4,997 Senior Member
Well since the last one is gone, need to get this back up and running.
As a reminder, we had WAY more people seriously interested then me and Jerry originally anticipated. So its looking like we are going to have to (unfortunately, friend wise) split this into 2 separate hunts. The logistics of 12+ people in one camp/area is a bit out of reach without thorough planning, and access to a LOT of equipment/space.
Seasons, and who is hunting which one, is still stuff we can figure out this winter.
As a reminder, we had WAY more people seriously interested then me and Jerry originally anticipated. So its looking like we are going to have to (unfortunately, friend wise) split this into 2 separate hunts. The logistics of 12+ people in one camp/area is a bit out of reach without thorough planning, and access to a LOT of equipment/space.
Seasons, and who is hunting which one, is still stuff we can figure out this winter.
Replies
Mike
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
when do you think we should tell 'em about the entry fee?
Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
Put me with a few other old gezzers and I can act as guide and we can all help each other walk:beer:
Sako
Sako, You can be my guide anyday, I'm ready. You don't have to hold my hand but if I wet my pants please don't tell off on me. It'll be our little secret. I think I WILL get excited.
Oh well, that's what they make adult diapers for, LOL!!!
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Well I WAS going to wait until after everyone had already sent in their draw info.....LOL
Anyway, I'm getting off topic here, but only wanted to comment on my loading for the 7 mag. I'll see how these shoot. I also have some Speer Grandslam 150 grain bullets I can load in it for elk. But I'm biting at the bit to get me some 160 grains and work up a load for it and see how it shoots em.
Edited to Add: That was BS. I don't know where my head was, those Speer Grand Slam are .277 bullets, not 7mm. Oh well, it's fun getting old.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
"Slow is smooth, smooth is fast, and speed is the economy of motion" - Scott Jedlinski
I only loaded the Nosler 150 BT because that was the only 7mm bullet in the house. I wanted to see how the rifle shot.
Also, my shoulder took the recoil fine. It wasn't that bad. But the thing jumps up in my face. I have swapped scopes tonight. The Nikon 6-18x40 doesn't have the longest eye relief. So I put a VX-1 Leo 4-12x40 on it to see how it shoots. I'll take it out when it warms up a little. Also, the wind was blowing like crazy yesterday. I put the 6-18x40 Mil Dot that I bought when I bought the 7 mag on the Stevens model 200 .223. If you remember when i bought the .223 I put a Nikon Buckmaster BDC on it. The reason I swapped it to my Rem. 700 22-250 because it was shooting 3 inch groups and I thought it was possibly the scope. But it wasn't because the 22-250 now shoots sub .5 MOA groups with that scope. I going to put a pressure point under the barrel at the tip of the fore end and she if it will tighten up the groups.
Anyway, Yes I will go with a larger bullet for the elk hunt. My next move will be to try the 160s along with a different powder and some magnum primers. The load I worked up was only averaging about 2900 FPS through my Chrony. (Edited to Add) Actually it was a shade over 2900, probably about 2920. But that's a little slow to me for a 7 mag with a 150 grain bullet. That was 62 grains of H4831 SC under the 150 NBT and a Winchester LRPs, which was giving me the anemic velocity.,. I need some MRPs so I can try my RL22 powder and hopefully crank the MV up to around 3200. That should really be kicking my old butt but good!!!
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Seriously though, you are on the right path. Get a better pad on there, and I bet things will be just right. Keeping light and going faster, its ALWAYS going to kick and jump, that is just the nature of magnums. But after that very minimal pounding....aren't you glad you stuck with the 7mm barrel and didn't jump up to one of the fast 30's?
Big magnum recoil is NOT for the faint of heart. The last round I did with my 300 with 180's....I'm getting MUCH better. Did a whole box of 20 without bruising, headache, flinch, or problems. I KNOW I can step up to bigger and faster now, but, I've been shooting mags for about 15 years now almost exclusively.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
I think that's the reason I haven't been in any big hurry to dump 95 grains of Retumbo in to my cases, and stick a 200gr Accubond on top. I've had the Accubonds for 2 years or so. :tooth:
The Past shield changed all that, it's no problem to sit down with it at the bench now. I should be able to get ~3100 fps with the 200's.:drool:
JB 3100fps sounds about right
You know Snake, after switching back and forth many times this year between my 3-12x42 and my 3-9x40....I might "downgrade" the power on the 300 and all the rest of my rifles minus my dedicated long range antegoat gun. The field of view was just more clear and easier. Hell, for that 06' I bought, whether it stay a 30- or get changed to 338-, might even get a 4x or 6x fixed power. . . could just be the Nikon's too. I remember the upper end of my Zeiss being a bit more clear and it didn't change the eye relief at all. When cranked up to 10 or 12 I feel like I have to climb up on the Monarch a bit more then I'd like to on a 300 Wby lol.
I agree. Other than when I'm trying to shoot groups for load deveopment, the 3-9 on my RUM is just fine. Elk are huge. You don't need a whole lot of magnification. Eye relief and clarity are paramount, IMO.
As for recoil on a 7 mag, I think it's much ado about nothing. I went straight from a .270 shooting 130 grain loads to a 7mag shooting 175 grain loads. I could tell that the 7mag had more recoil, but it really wasn't that much more.
Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
I didn't notice any difference on this scope going from 6x to 18x. It just seems to have a big shorter relief all the way through the power ranges. Anyway, it's a great varmint scope and that's what I originally wanted one for. And if I see a deer with either my 22-250 or the .223 that scope will work great. I need one more similar to it for my .250 Savage. I hava an old Vari X II on it that does OK, but with my old eyes, I like the higher powers from 12 on up. So I may get a Nikon Prostaff or maybe Monarch 4-12X 40 or maybe a 4.5-14 X 40 in a Buckmaster.
My VX-1 has good eye relief at all power settings and should do well on the 7 mag. It's a good scope and clear enough for hunting purposed.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.