handloaders 25-06

Question:

> I have shot fox and coyote with 120 gr Rem. factory loads, Federals 117gr > Sierra loading and Winchester 115gr Ballistic Silvertip loading. > Suprisingly the Ballistic tip did the least amount of damage.  Exit wound > was about 3 inches in diameter.  I believe the other hit bone and as a > result cause massive destruction.  Damn near shot the back end off of one > coyote.  Someone needs to make a nice FMJ for the 25 caliber.  Say, maybe > the Barnes X-bullets would work. > CAL

Thanks for the info. I’ve tried handloading some of the earlier Barnes x-bullets without good results, I just need more free time. But I should check out what they might have to offer in the newer lineups. dm Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Anybody loading the 25-06? I want to load the 115 grain nosler ballistic tip > for my 25. neither of my three manuels have any loads for the 115, only 110 > and 120. please forward any good load info you may wish to share > I’d be interested in any information that you might recieve, I too have a > 25, but am interested in using same for furbearers. I’ve read articles where > some have used the quarter bore for fox and am curious as to what the pelt > damage was as I am considering using same as well. I’m guessing they use the > heavier less fragile bullets and pelt damage is kept to a minimum (small > entrance and slightly larger exit). I’m guessing tho… anyone have first > hand experience shooting fox or coyote with the 25? What type of pelt damage > was there? What were the loads? Seems for whatever reason I can’t imagine it > doing anything less than ruining a pelt.

You don’t want to do that.  The .25-’06 does baaaad things to varmints; it’s awesome if you’re just trying to kill them, but if you want to save the hide, you’re way better off with a .22 … a .17 is considerably better yet. I’ve shot a lot of stuff with the .25-’06 and even more with the .257 Roberts before that.   They’re truly impressive, but I sure wouldn’t want to holes shut. I don’t want to get graphic; just trust me and "don’t."   Or try one shot and see why not.  :-) Tom Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

I have shot fox and coyote with 120 gr Rem. factory loads, Federals 117gr Sierra loading and Winchester 115gr Ballistic Silvertip loading. Suprisingly the Ballistic tip did the least amount of damage.  Exit wound was about 3 inches in diameter.  I believe the other hit bone and as a result cause massive destruction.  Damn near shot the back end off of one coyote.  Someone needs to make a nice FMJ for the 25 caliber.  Say, maybe the Barnes X-bullets would work. CAL Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

Someone Wrote. >I’m guessing tho… anyone have first hand > experience shooting fox or coyote with the 25? > What type of pelt damage was there? What were > the loads? Seems for whatever reason I can’t >imagine it doing anything less than ruining a pelt.

Never done any fox, or coyote hunting with my Brownng A – Bolt II in 25-06 Rem. Do a lot of Penn. Woodchuck hunting though.  Got (17) of these critters last summer. Factory ammo is usually 100 grain Remington (PTD SOFT  PT CORE-LOKT) or Winchester 90 (Gr. POSITIVE EXP. POINT) Everyone one I shot with either one of these loads that I mention, even out to 250 plus yds. does anything less than ruin a pelt. If I was into fox, or coyote hunting and want to save the pelt, I think I would opt for 223 or 22-250- Rem. in a "FMJ" in either factory or reload. Have a good day everyone. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

The 25-06 is one my favorite calibers. I have loaded everything from 100 grain to 120’s in my Remington 700BDL. My favorite loads for hunting deer sized game are 52 grains of IMR 4350 behind a Nosler 100 grain ballistic tip. I load 49.5 grains of 4350 for the Nosler 115 and 120 partitions and the 115 grain ballistic tip. I have also tried H4831 and N165 powders. I got the best velocities from 4350. I have tried Sierra and Speer bullets. Noslers gave the best performance on game. I am an avid Antelope hunter. I have killed a dozen or more with my 25-06. The clostest shot was 120 yards and the farthest was 350. I am also a 25 nut. I own 2 250-3000’s, 25-06, 25-20, and a 257 Arnold (264 Win Mag necked down). I applaud your choice of the 25-06.

> Anybody loading the 25-06? I want to load the 115 grain nosler ballistic tip > for my 25. neither of my three manuels have any loads for the 115, only 110 > and 120. please forward any good load info you may wish to share > Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: >         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

> Anybody loading the 25-06? I want to load the 115 grain nosler ballistic tip > for my 25. neither of my three manuels have any loads for the 115, only 110 > and 120. please forward any good load info you may wish to share

Not right now; I’ve owned 4 of ‘em.   The last two didn’t shoot very well, the first only with super light bullets … normal 100-120 grain bullets were fusing primers to the case heads with starting loads.   The other one took a lot of work but eventually it shot well, but only with the 115 grain partition, no other bullet. You should get the Nosler #4 manual; it’s got a lot of good reading in it, not to mention load data for various powders. There isn’t enough difference between a 115 – 117 – 120 grain bullet to really talk about.  If you’re too cheap to buy a current manual, use data for 120 grain boat tails. I had about the same results with IMR4831 and 7828, H1000, and RL22. Tom Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

> Anybody loading the 25-06? I want to load the 115 grain nosler ballistic tip > for my 25. neither of my three manuels have any loads for the 115, only 110 > and 120. please forward any good load info you may wish to share

I’d be interested in any information that you might recieve, I too have a 25, but am interested in using same for furbearers. I’ve read articles where some have used the quarter bore for fox and am curious as to what the pelt damage was as I am considering using same as well. I’m guessing they use the heavier less fragile bullets and pelt damage is kept to a minimum (small entrance and slightly larger exit). I’m guessing tho… anyone have first hand experience shooting fox or coyote with the 25? What type of pelt damage was there? What were the loads? Seems for whatever reason I can’t imagine it doing anything less than ruining a pelt. dm — "I gotta listen to my velvet pants." anonymous Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

Anybody loading the 25-06? I want to load the 115 grain nosler ballistic tip for my 25. neither of my three manuels have any loads for the 115, only 110 and 120. please forward any good load info you may wish to share Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

What Will Shoot a Bear

Question:

> In the study – use of pepper spray vs. gun, wonder when it was concluded that > either the spray or the bullets failed. Was it when the bear got to within > say 5′ or did the bear actually have to maul a person? If the latter, trust > the test subjects were anti-hunters.

   A couple of years ago, there was an article in the paper about a Russian woman, I clipped it out, but lost it later.  The lady was in her 70’s, a retired postal worker.  She was out in the woods looking for firewood, and managed to walk between a female bear and it’s cubs.  She didn’t even know the bear was there until it came up behind her, knocked her across the clearing, and then bit *through* one of her hands.  What did this 70+ year old woman do?  She drew her belt knife, killed the bear, and walked back into the village. steve Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

In the study – use of pepper spray vs. gun, wonder when it was concluded that either the spray or the bullets failed. Was it when the bear got to within say 5′ or did the bear actually have to maul a person? If the latter, trust the test subjects were anti-hunters. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

Climbing Tree Stands

Question:

Looking to buy a climbing tree stand.  Currently looking at 2 different brands.  Summit and Bear River.  I am currently borrowing a Summit Viper XL and I like it, but I think I like the Cobra better for bowhunting.  Is anyone outthere used a Bear River Stand, I like the looks and design of the Kodiak Climber but only know one guy currently using one.  I like the belt idea for being quiet going up and down a tree, the Summit seems to make a lot of noise. Thanks MoBass Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

I just picked up a Lone Wolf Alpha Sit & Climb stand this fall. Fantastic! Very quite, very solid, very stable, very easy to use. It is made of cast aluminum. The seat section is used to sit in when climbing, then doubles as a foot rest or swivels up to be gun rest, or swivel out of the way. See them at www.LoneWolfTreestands.com The stand and seat section fold up very flat and back-pack very easily. The last time out bowhunting I changed locations 3 times in the day just because I couldn’t believe how easy it was to set up and climb. I had to keep testing it! It was a riot! I ended up shooting a 5pt whitetail minutes before shooting time. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

>I just picked up a Lone Wolf Alpha Sit & Climb stand this fall. Fantastic! >Very quite, very solid, very stable, very easy to use.

I have been looking to get one of these stands.How tall are you?I have found that some stands are not made for 6′ people I don’t want to bang my knees against the tree when I climb. NRA Life Member Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

Loaded for bear?

Question:

I’m probably going to get a Taurus 66 .357 for home defense. At home, I’ll load it with Glaser safety slugs.  However, I’d also like to take it with me to the Pocono mountains in Pennsylvania. What would be the best .357 round to handle intruders with 4 legs, like small black bear? Thanks -Bernie . Thanks -Bernie . Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

> I’m probably going to get a Taurus 66 .357 for home defense. > At home, I’ll load it with Glaser safety slugs.  However, I’d also > like to take it with me to the Pocono mountains in Pennsylvania. > What would be the best .357 round to handle intruders with 4 > legs, like small black bear?

I’d go with the heaviest bullet you can shoot accurately, probably in soft point rather than hollow point to avoid too rapid expansion.  XTP’s might be good if you want a hollow point, as they have harder lead inside. If bears are plentiful out there, I’d carry a big knife as well. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

—– Original Message —– > I’m probably going to get a Taurus 66 .357 for home defense. > At home, I’ll load it with Glaser safety slugs.  However, I’d also > like to take it with me to the Pocono mountains in Pennsylvania. > What would be the best .357 round to handle intruders with 4 > legs, like small black bear? > Thanks > -Bernie

  Bernie, use a broom handle to defend yourself from small bears. A .357 will just tick them off. A fine caliber for whitetails, if you use care in aiming, but not a bear gun by any means. Also, if you shoot a bear out of season in PA, you had better have proof that it was "self defense". We have a very motivated group of WCOs and Deputies here… Bob If you don’t bother to vote, don’t bother to complain. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

successful hunters

Question:

Hello, NJ checking in here, been hunting whitetails here for 23 years, let me know if I can help, thanks! Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

I am a duckhunter from south louisiana. I would answer any question you have about it. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

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I am looking to find successful hunters from different parts of the country who specialize in hunting Bear, Deer, Turkeys, etc… and would be interested on being part of an advisory board to answer questions on hunting. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

Hunting fishing lodge

Question:

Fishing hunting lodge ( camp ) for sale in the Ontario Near North area. Cottages, efficiency rooms and camping sites. Moose, bear, small game, walleye ( pickerel ), bass, lake trout, pike, white fish, speckled trout. to reply, please remove NOSPAM from address. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

Sounds interesting, can you tell me more about your lodge that is for sale. Kevin Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

12 Point

Question:

Must be a Hot spot.  I went back there today to take a few GPS readings and distance measurements.  Saw another Guy around there who happened to be the owner of a portable tree stand left up in the woods.  He had shot at an 8 Pointer after letting a 4 Point and 7 Pointer go by on previous days.  Thinking of building a SMALL House there for Next Year) I followed the blood trail to find the Buck laying there about 10 feet from the South Shore Road.  Needless to say the Guy was Happy I came along. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text —— Original Message —– > 5 sec of Hunting missed the bear but…. >                     WOW! congratulations! he’s beautiful! worth waiting > for!! where did you find him? >                     how long did it take? did youhave to drag him far to the > truck? >                     Less than a mile from here as the bird flies. Went out > Hunting about 1 P.M. Started at 3rd. >                     Lake Creek into the swamp around there. Nothing. > Traveled towards Cohens’ on South >                     Shore Road About 2:30 P.M. Parked there and headed up > the road about 1/2 mile. Was >                     planning on going into the woods and then head back > towards my truck. Some people in a >                     White Truck said they saw a Big Buck about 1/2 mile back > cross the road and head towards >                     the Lakes. I figured that’s nice and headed into the > woods. About 1/4 mile up into the Hill >                     I found a spot where previous someone had cleared out a > spot and also saw a portable >                     tree stand nearby. I decided to stay there and give my > Buck Call device a try. About every >                     5 Minutes I would first give a couple of Doe Grunts > followed by a Buck Grunt. After about >                     30 Minutes I saw a deer a few hundred yards below me. > Another 5 Minutes and I saw the >                     Buck moving below me 200+ yds. I took the shot and found > to my delight a Hit and dead >                     deer. If you look at the number 5 photo you can see how > close I came to a miss. The drag >                     was easy considering my truck was less than 1/2 mile > away. Bottom line you have to be >                     out there to be successful > Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: >         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

5 sec of Hunting missed the bear but….                     WOW! congratulations! he’s beautiful! worth waiting for!! where did you find him?                     how long did it take? did youhave to drag him far to the truck?                     Less than a mile from here as the bird flies. Went out Hunting about 1 P.M. Started at 3rd.                     Lake Creek into the swamp around there. Nothing. Traveled towards Cohens’ on South                     Shore Road About 2:30 P.M. Parked there and headed up the road about 1/2 mile. Was                     planning on going into the woods and then head back towards my truck. Some people in a                     White Truck said they saw a Big Buck about 1/2 mile back cross the road and head towards                     the Lakes. I figured that’s nice and headed into the woods. About 1/4 mile up into the Hill                     I found a spot where previous someone had cleared out a spot and also saw a portable                     tree stand nearby. I decided to stay there and give my Buck Call device a try. About every                     5 Minutes I would first give a couple of Doe Grunts followed by a Buck Grunt. After about                     30 Minutes I saw a deer a few hundred yards below me. Another 5 Minutes and I saw the                     Buck moving below me 200+ yds. I took the shot and found to my delight a Hit and dead                     deer. If you look at the number 5 photo you can see how close I came to a miss. The drag                     was easy considering my truck was less than 1/2 mile away. Bottom line you have to be                     out there to be successful Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

.338 Deer Load

Question:

W. Campbell asks: Recently purchased two cases of 3" steel fiocchi shells, rated rated at 1475 fps.  Problem….. sometimes they don’t feed far enough into the Beneli semi auto to get completely closed, and therefore the gun will not shoot unless you manually push the receiver closed.  Have had them stick in Remington 870 express too.  Never had a problem with either gun before these shells.  Anyone else have comments on the Fiocchi shells.? Yes.  I have experienced exactly the same problem in all my repeaters. They seem to work okay in my double guns though.  It’s like the flange is too thick or something.  I picked up a few boxes of Fiocchi empty hulls after a big dove shoot a  while back and reloaded some.  After experiencing the problem you described, I disposed of the remaining Fiocchi hulls.  I seem to recall having read earlier on this or other newsgroups of other folks experiencing this problem with Fiocchi shotshells. Dave LeGrande GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today!  For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

Walt wrote, > Never had a problem with either gun before these shells.  Anyone > else > have comments on the Fiocchi shells.? > . > on the Fiocchi shells.?

*-Walt, My dove/quail hunting buddy gave me a fistful of 16 ga. Fiocchi shells that would not cycle in his Win/pump. I tried them in my Mossberg 500 and had the same problem. I just made sure the first shell in the chamber was a Fiocchi until I used them up. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

I would like to know the answer to this question myself. I have shot a number of deer with my 338 using 225 BarnseX, 235 Failsafe, 225 Speer BTSP and 250 Sierra GK. Pretty much in all cases when it came to skinning the deer, all my buddies say to me, Reg, you gotta get a smaller gun for deer. Especially when hitting a bone, the trauma on the exit wound side is considerably huge compared to the smaller caliber rifles. I think that next year I am going to go back to my 3006 like they suggest, but I sure like that 338 and if you do, well you will probably just have to deal with the damage. One bullet I would like to try which I loaded but never used on anything yet is the BarnseX 170gr. The main problem I have with this load is that the trajectory compared to the rest. It shoots about 4 feet higher at 300 yards which is to much to justify sighting my gun for it. Happy Hunting

> Mark- > I would stick with the 250 gr. bullet.  I use a .338 for black-tail

hunting on the islands in SE Alaska where there is a risk of running into a brown bear.  I tried 210 and 225 gr. bullets and had a lot of meat damage so went back to the 250.  Range is not an issue here.  Shots are usually less than 100 yds. > Phil > Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: >         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

Depending on range downloading the 338 to 33 Winchester velocities and using the Hornady 33 Winchester bullet works for me.  Ranges in the area where I hunt are maxed at about 75 yards so I don’t feel uncomfortable with this loading at all. LouisB Just an opinion of course. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

This reply preceeds the post it referrs to. No brownies in N. Minnesota but I used a .338 Win. mag. w/275gr. Speer handload on a whitetail doe, (boiler room hit, jumped once and piled up, dead as a mackerel) with very little bloodshot meat.  That big slug just doesn’t open up that much on a 125-150lb. animal – actually a good whitetail load if you don’t my Ruger 77) here if I ever get that once in a lifetime Minnesota moose tag.   >  I use a .338 for black-tail >hunting on the islands in SE Alaska where there is a risk of running into a >brown bear.  I tried 210 and 225 gr. bullets and had a lot of meat damage so >went back to the 250.  Range is not an issue here.  Shots are usually less >than 100 yds. > Phil

Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

I have a .338 Win Mag that I dearly love and have had good sucsees on elk with. I want to try it on mule deer next year and am trying to work up a good handload for it. My favorite elk load is a 250 grain Partition. I am thinking about the 200 gr Ballistic tip or trying one of the lighter Barnes  X bullets. Any ideas? Should I just stick with the 250 gr Partition load? It shoots great in my gun and I have the ultimate confidence on elk with this load. I know a .338 is overkill for deer but I really like the gun and I shoot it well so I think it would be fun to work up something just for deer. Mark Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

> I have a .338 Win Mag that I dearly love and have had good sucsees on elk with. I want to try it on mule deer next year and am trying to work up a good handload for it. My favorite elk load is a 250 grain Partition. I am thinking about the 200 gr Ballistic tip or trying one of the lighter Barnes  X bullets. > Any ideas? Should I just stick with the 250 gr Partition load? It shoots great in my gun and I have the ultimate confidence on elk with this load. I know a .338 is overkill for deer but I really like the gun and I shoot it well so I think it would be fun to work up something just for deer.

Certainly using the 250 gr. load on deer will work fine and will not cause excessive meat damage (certainly no more than any other popular magnum cartridge).  About the only thing you give up is speed which translates to point blank range but even then, the 338 is a pretty efficient cartridge (for a magnum) and I’m not sure you’ll gain much in the way of point blank range by going to a 200 gr. load.  Still, I like the 180 gr. Ballistic Tip in .338 and imagine it would produce a very flat shooting handload that, had I my own .338, I would  just have to try. Regards, Rick Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

Mark- I would stick with the 250 gr. bullet.  I use a .338 for black-tail hunting on the islands in SE Alaska where there is a risk of running into a brown bear.  I tried 210 and 225 gr. bullets and had a lot of meat damage so went back to the 250.  Range is not an issue here.  Shots are usually less than 100 yds. Phil Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

Stay a heavily constructed bullet.  Ballistic tips may blow up and cause a lot of meat damage at close range.  I’d use a 210 Nosler. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

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i use the Barnes X 185 gr. boattail in my .338 win mag…..i really like the way it works on Deer and Caribou. Bill http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/BILLNY/index.html Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

> I have a .338 Win Mag that I dearly love and have had good sucsees on elk with. I want to try it on mule deer next year and am trying to work up a good handload for it. My favorite elk load is a 250 grain Partition. I am thinking about the 200 gr Ballistic tip or trying one of the lighter Barnes  X bullets. > Any ideas? Should I just stick with the 250 gr Partition load? It shoots great in my gun and I have the ultimate confidence on elk with this load. I know a .338 is overkill for deer but I really like the gun and I shoot it well so I think it would be fun to work up something just for deer. > Mark

The 250 grain partition will do less damage to the meat, but you do give up some trajectory.   If you’re shooting far in open country, the 180 grain ballistic tip works pretty well.  (I used one up close and it was kinda messy, but mostly because I clipped the bottom of the spine … bone fragments did most of the damage.)   My favorite all around bullet for the .338 was the 210 grain Barnes X boat tail. Tom Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

>I have a .338 Win Mag that I dearly love and have had good sucsees on elk with. I want to try it on mule deer next year and am trying to work up a good handload for it. My favorite elk load is a 250 grain Partition. I am thinking about the 200 gr Ballistic tip or trying one of the lighter Barnes  X bullets. >Any ideas? Should I just stick with the 250 gr Partition load? It shoots great in my gun and I have the ultimate confidence on elk with this load. I know a .338 is overkill for deer but I really like the gun and I shoot it well so I think it would be fun to work up something just for deer.

I’ve never shot a .338, but I’m familiar with its ballistics. I would use a round nose FMJ – that would just blow a 1-inch hole going clear through, without wasting much meat at all, and the deer would NOT go very far with a lung shot, or he’d just drop in its tracks if it were shoulder-to-shoulder.  I had a friend once that swore by using his .458WM on whitetails, with exactly this result. Ron M. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

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I have had good luck with both 200gr hornady and 210gr nosler partition I have bought but yet to load or shoot 200 nosler ballistatip I picked them over the 180’s because of the better BC and SD. But any way you slice it if you hit a bone (other than ribs) on a deer with a 338 you will damage lots of meat. The big problem is that if you use a tougher bullet to minimize meat damage you run the risk of not getting enough expansion on ribshots. Before you buy. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

Just a not from past experience.  If you must use a ballistic tip bullet make sure you use one of the newer ones designed for hunting big game. Nosler makes a new line that is supposed to delay expansion so you make a better wound channel and get better kills on the big game.      I took a follow up shot last year for a friend of mine that swore ballistic tips in his .270 would kill deer effectively.  When we got up to the deer after my head shot with a 100 gr Speer BTSP, we found that his .270 bullet had exploded on one of the ribs, never even getting into the body cavity.  The shot was perfect but the bullet just did not penetrate. Trouble ain’t trouble for anyone that is ready for it! Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

I would be very skeptical of advice from someone who has never done it. I have shot a number of deer size animals (mostly impala and warthogs) in Africa with a 250 grain roundnose (Barnes) solid from a .338 Win Mag at a muzzle velocity of 2667 FPS.  It doesn’t "just blow a 1-inch hole going clear through" at all.  The exit wound is extremely small and the animals went a long way.  I used them to do as little damage as possible to the meat, as this was for camp supplies.  I went back to 250 grain Swifts because of the long tracking jobs.  Very little more meat was damaged, and the critters didn’t go very far. My suggestion would be to stick with the 250 grain Partitions so you only have one trajectory to remember.  Otherwise, the 225 Partition would be a good choice.  I, personally, prefer Swift A-Frames, as they are a little "harder" than the Nosler Partitions, as they nearly always exit leaving a better blood trail if some tracking is required. Good hunting, Jim Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

Recently purchased two cases of 3" steel fiocchi shells, rated at 1475 fps.  Problem….. sometimes they don’t feed far enough into the Beneli semi auto to get completely closed, and therefore the gun will not shoot unless you manually push the receiver closed. Have had them stick in Remington 870 express too. Never had a problem with either gun before these shells.  Anyone else have comments on the Fiocchi shells.? . on the Fiocchi shells.? . Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

VA Constitutional Amendment: VOTE! IMPORTANT

Question:

Hey ya’ll in Virginia in this group.  There is a proposed addition to the constitution of the state.  It would constitutionally gaurantee our right to hunt, fish and utilize our renewing natural resources for food.  I confess not to know the ins and outs but it seems to be a sound bill or addition and I would encourage ya’ll to vote for it.  It has been passed in other states I believe and protects us from PETA and their ilk.  Even though most all of us release 99.9 per cent of the fish we catch, it would benefit us as fishermen if this passes here in VA.  I love to hunt and fish.  I hate whiskey drinking, poaching trash hunters and fisherfolk who litter, keep buckets of small 9 inch bass and generally give us ethical decent guys a black eye.  Sportsmen and women need to educate the public at large as to the financial support we give state game and fish projects and our incredibly positive impact on the natural environment generally speaking.  We also need to reasonably police (no I ain’ a Nazi) our ranks so guys and gals who poach and affect wildlife in a detrimental manner or halted.  Sorry to ramble, but please vote if you wanna see our rights here protected. I don’t think this piece of legislation will tie up a lotta time or money, as we all know too much law can be bad.  Thanks for your time.  I just want to see responsible, ethical hunting and fishing continue for time in eternity.  Please vote.  Sorry if this is a little off topic, but hey, Huntin’ and Fishin’ is an American Tradition.  Lets help preseve it at the polls this Tuesday here in VA. Thanks, Tommy Rilee

Response:

I am replying to my own post in hopes it may get more people to read it.  I don’t want to waste space ….I have learned loads in a few months here and the clutter of spam does take away from the learning pro-cess, but with the Bill mentioned in my first post, our right to fish could be constitutionally protected here in Virginia if it is passed next week.There are a lot of Peta folks out there.  I was basically denied entrance to…lets just say a trade school training type of program by the owner who is a Peta member just recently.  I mentioned I was going fishing after our meeting and I even laughingly told the owner I practice catch and release…didn’t matter….I was affixed with an icy stare and we had a staring contest till I left.  Just vote if you can read up on the bill and agree with it.  The Richmond TimesDispatch website has info in the sports section.  Sorry again if this is against guidelines, but this is my way of fighting PETA, this and the fact that I may work at the polls for the Amendment.  If you are from another state, maybe talk with your legislators for a similar bill or amendment to your states constitution.  Thanks Ya’ll Tommy Rilee

Response:

Tommy, if you’re fighting PETA, it can’t be against guidelines.  I still think it ought to be PITA (Pain In The A$$). Warren2

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I am replying to my own post in hopes it may get more people to read it. I > don’t want to waste space ….I have learned loads in a few months here and the > clutter of spam does take away from the learning pro-cess, but with the Bill > mentioned in my first post, our right to fish could be constitutionally > protected here in Virginia if it is passed next week.There are a lot of Peta > folks out there.  I was basically denied entrance to…lets just say a trade > school training type of program by the owner who is a Peta member just > recently.  I mentioned I was going fishing after our meeting and I even > laughingly told the owner I practice catch and release…didn’t matter….I was > affixed with an icy stare and we had a staring contest till I left.  Just vote > if you can read up on the bill and agree with it.  The Richmond TimesDispatch > website has info in the sports section.  Sorry again if this is against > guidelines, but this is my way of fighting PETA, this and the fact that I may > work at the polls for the Amendment.  If you are from another state, maybe talk > with your legislators for a similar bill or amendment to your states > constitution.  Thanks Ya’ll > Tommy Rilee

Response:

Tommy, I plan on voting on Tuesday and voting for this amendment.  I don’t think it has a chance of not passing, to many rural areas and not enough tree huggers in the cities to block this thing, but putting out the word can

cat growling at fishing pole toy

Question:

My husband made our kitty a bird on a pole too.  She just goes nuts with it. It is by far her favorite toy.  I just assume that it helps her express her natural hunting instinct.  I wouldn’t worry about your kitty getting too carried away.  It is probably just so exciting for him to hunt prey that he just can’t bear for it to end.  Give him some time to get it out of his system (the growling I mean) – and I bet he will learn to play less ferociously.  Good Luck.

Response:

Hey, I have a 10 month old male tabby who hasn’t had any behavioral problems in the past.  Recently I bought that fishing pole toy with the feather at the end.  My cat preys on it a little too fiercely–he growls, runs away with it and tears the feathers apart and eats them.  If I try to take the toy away he growls at me.  I’ve never seen him so upset before.  He’s never growled at anything before this toy.  Is this normal?  Should I throw the toy away or does he need an outlet for aggression?  I just don’t want to cultivate a killer instinct in a house-bound cat. Thanks for your help.

Response:

> Hey, > I have a 10 month old male tabby who hasn’t had any behavioral problems in > the past.  Recently I bought that fishing pole toy with the feather at the > end.  My cat preys on it a little too fiercely–he growls, runs away with it > and tears the feathers apart and eats them.  If I try to take the toy away > he growls at me.  I’ve never seen him so upset before.  He’s never growled > at anything before this toy.  Is this normal?  Should I throw the toy away > or does he need an outlet for aggression?  I just don’t want to cultivate a > killer instinct in a house-bound cat.

My sweet, sedate, gentlemanly 12+ year old Tye does pretty much the same thing in the evenings when I get out "Da Bird" for his play time.  He just goes nuts – hisses and growls at it as he chases it around and does a pretty thorough job of "killing" it when he catches it.  He never behaves that way at any other time so I really don’t worry about it – I figure that, in his catly way, he’s enjoying himself immensely.

Response:

hahahahah.  Don’t worry too much about it.  It’s his predatory insincts taking over.    Whenever I buy my Mickey a new real fur mouse toy, he takes it in his mouth and carries it all over the house… if I walk up to him he’ll start growling.  It’s amusing cuz this isn’t a cat t hat EVER growls at anything. Kelly

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hey, > I have a 10 month old male tabby who hasn’t had any behavioral problems in > the past.  Recently I bought that fishing pole toy with the feather at the > end.  My cat preys on it a little too fiercely–he growls, runs away with it > and tears the feathers apart and eats them.  If I try to take the toy away > he growls at me.  I’ve never seen him so upset before.  He’s never growled > at anything before this toy.  Is this normal?  Should I throw the toy away > or does he need an outlet for aggression?  I just don’t want to cultivate a > killer instinct in a house-bound cat. > Thanks for your help.

Response:

My husband made our kitty a bird on a pole too.  She just goes nuts with it. It is by far her favorite toy.  I just assume that it helps her express her natural hunting instinct.  I wouldn’t worry about your kitty getting too carried away.  It is probably just so exciting for him to hunt prey that he just can’t bear for it to end.  Give him some time to get it out of his system (the growling I mean) – and I bet he will learn to play less ferociously.  Good Luck.

Response:

Hey, I have a 10 month old male tabby who hasn’t had any behavioral problems in the past.  Recently I bought that fishing pole toy with the feather at the end.  My cat preys on it a little too fiercely–he growls, runs away with it and tears the feathers apart and eats them.  If I try to take the toy away he growls at me.  I’ve never seen him so upset before.  He’s never growled at anything before this toy.  Is this normal?  Should I throw the toy away or does he need an outlet for aggression?  I just don’t want to cultivate a killer instinct in a house-bound cat. Thanks for your help.

Response:

> Hey, > I have a 10 month old male tabby who hasn’t had any behavioral problems in > the past.  Recently I bought that fishing pole toy with the feather at the > end.  My cat preys on it a little too fiercely–he growls, runs away with it > and tears the feathers apart and eats them.  If I try to take the toy away > he growls at me.  I’ve never seen him so upset before.  He’s never growled > at anything before this toy.  Is this normal?  Should I throw the toy away > or does he need an outlet for aggression?  I just don’t want to cultivate a > killer instinct in a house-bound cat.

My sweet, sedate, gentlemanly 12+ year old Tye does pretty much the same thing in the evenings when I get out "Da Bird" for his play time.  He just goes nuts – hisses and growls at it as he chases it around and does a pretty thorough job of "killing" it when he catches it.  He never behaves that way at any other time so I really don’t worry about it – I figure that, in his catly way, he’s enjoying himself immensely.

Response:

hahahahah.  Don’t worry too much about it.  It’s his predatory insincts taking over.    Whenever I buy my Mickey a new real fur mouse toy, he takes it in his mouth and carries it all over the house… if I walk up to him he’ll start growling.  It’s amusing cuz this isn’t a cat t hat EVER growls at anything. Kelly

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hey, > I have a 10 month old male tabby who hasn’t had any behavioral problems in > the past.  Recently I bought that fishing pole toy with the feather at the > end.  My cat preys on it a little too fiercely–he growls, runs away with it > and tears the feathers apart and eats them.  If I try to take the toy away > he growls at me.  I’ve never seen him so upset before.  He’s never growled > at anything before this toy.  Is this normal?  Should I throw the toy away > or does he need an outlet for aggression?  I just don’t want to cultivate a > killer instinct in a house-bound cat. > Thanks for your help.

Response:

My husband made our kitty a bird on a pole too.  She just goes nuts with it. It is by far her favorite toy.  I just assume that it helps her express her natural hunting instinct.  I wouldn’t worry about your kitty getting too carried away.  It is probably just so exciting for him to hunt prey that he just can’t bear for it to end.  Give him some time to get it out of his system (the growling I mean) – and I bet he will learn to play less ferociously.  Good Luck.

Response:

Hey, I have a 10 month old male tabby who hasn’t had any behavioral problems in the past.  Recently I bought that fishing pole toy with the feather at the end.  My cat preys on it a little too fiercely–he growls, runs away with it and tears the feathers apart and eats them.  If I try to take the toy away he growls at me.  I’ve never seen him so upset before.  He’s never growled at anything before this toy.  Is this normal?  Should I throw the toy away or does he need an outlet for aggression?  I just don’t want to cultivate a killer instinct in a house-bound cat. Thanks for your help.

Response:

> Hey, > I have a 10 month old male tabby who hasn’t had any behavioral problems in > the past.  Recently I bought that fishing pole toy with the feather at the > end.  My cat preys on it a little too fiercely–he growls, runs away with it > and tears the feathers apart and eats them.  If I try to take the toy away > he growls at me.  I’ve never seen him so upset before.  He’s never growled > at anything before this toy.  Is this normal?  Should I throw the toy away > or does he need an outlet for aggression?  I just don’t want to cultivate a > killer instinct in a house-bound cat.

My sweet, sedate, gentlemanly 12+ year old Tye does pretty much the same thing in the evenings when I get out "Da Bird" for his play time.  He just goes nuts – hisses and growls at it as he chases it around and does a pretty thorough job of "killing" it when he catches it.  He never behaves that way at any other time so I really don’t worry about it – I figure that, in his catly way, he’s enjoying himself immensely.

Response:

hahahahah.  Don’t worry too much about it.  It’s his predatory insincts taking over.    Whenever I buy my Mickey a new real fur mouse toy, he takes it in his mouth and carries it all over the house… if I walk up to him he’ll start growling.  It’s amusing cuz this isn’t a cat t hat EVER growls at anything. Kelly

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hey, > I have a 10 month old male tabby who hasn’t had any behavioral problems in > the past.  Recently I bought that fishing pole toy with the feather at the > end.  My cat preys on it a little too fiercely–he growls, runs away with it > and tears the feathers apart and eats them.  If I try to take the toy away > he growls at me.  I’ve never seen him so upset before.  He’s never growled > at anything before this toy.  Is this normal?  Should I throw the toy away > or does he need an outlet for aggression?  I just don’t want to cultivate a > killer instinct in a house-bound cat. > Thanks for your help.

Response: