Fishing, and hunting reports (share yours)

[Wishfulthinker580]

I’d like to read Anderson. I did read about him on the African site. Apparently Kenneth and Donald both became antis to some degree in their later years.

 

[oldmanwilly]

carnifex knifeworks ill add this. Within reason, people put far too much a premium on the bullet they’re firing. Get it in the right spot at the right range and you’ll put game down.

In the last five years I’ve shot most of my game with these. Generally even red stags are lying in a heap within 50 yards if I do my part.
View attachment 2885709
View attachment 2885710

Not even the biggest of game can shake off a well placed shot from a muzzleloader
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I’m fortunate that in Australia we have pretty lax game laws so I’ve been able to shoot pretty well as many animals as I like my whole life. Gives a good feel for things.

Heh, lately my mom has had more success on whitetails with her 4Runner than anything else (not willingly, of course). That means she's smacking them with an approximately 31,500,000 grain bullet going about 70mph and, even still, some of the rascals manage to run off. Incredible endurance.

Edit to add: What is the maximum range you feel comfortable taking game with your muzzleloader? Have you ever tried using conical rounds, or are you only able to fire round balls through your rifle? I've always wanted to try out black powder but have always ended up buying another knife or pistol instead of taking the plunge into a new hobby.

In my opinion finding ammo that your rifle likes and groups consistantly matters more than the actual type of bullet for most purposes unless you're talking dangerous game or extreme long range performance ... as long as the hunter does their part most modern ammo will do the job.

I have not gotten to use it on bigger game yet, but I have been shooting Federal Barnes TSX and it has impressed me with consistency and tight groups. I've taken a couple whitetails and hogs with it and if I get back to hunting elk again it will be what I use.

What I have had good sucess with in the past ... Federal ammo and I have shot far more of it than any other brand off the shelf. For big heavy animals I like Federal Trophy Bonded or Swift A-Frame. They have dropped elk where they stood and I have a lot of faith in either load.

For somewhat lighter thin skinned animals ( like whitetail and antelope) Federal Fusion performs great and my rifles really shoot it well. If your gun likes it Federal's Power Shok Soft Point is less expensive and it's great for deer sized game.

I tend to agree. For years I used Remington Core-Lokt in my .30-06 with either 150 gr or 165 gr bullets, whichever was cheapest and available when needed. That rifle felt like my second right arm and I got to the point where I could tell if my shot was on the mark or not based upon how I felt when the trigger broke, before the round even hit the hide (or didn't, as the case may be). After so much familiarity with the Core-Lokt I was concerned about shaking up my ammo selection, but the Barnes TTSX in 168 gr has been phenomenally accurate and does the job as long as I do mine.

 

[carnifex knifeworks]

carnifex knifeworks ill add this. Within reason, people put far too much a premium on the bullet they’re firing. Get it in the right spot at the right range and you’ll put game down.

In the last five years I’ve shot most of my game with these. Generally even red stags are lying in a heap within 50 yards if I do my part.
View attachment 2885709
View attachment 2885710

Not even the biggest of game can shake off a well placed shot from a muzzleloader
View attachment 2885711

I’m fortunate that in Australia we have pretty lax game laws so I’ve been able to shoot pretty well as many animals as I like my whole life. Gives a good feel for things.

100% agree that shot placement is king. However, longer ranges make shot placement more difficult and the projectile starts to matter much more.

In my opinion finding ammo that your rifle likes and groups consistantly matters more than the actual type of bullet for most purposes unless you're talking dangerous game or extreme long range performance ... as long as the hunter does their part most modern ammo will do the job.

I have not gotten to use it on bigger game yet, but I have been shooting Federal Barnes TSX and it has impressed me with consistency and tight groups. I've taken a couple whitetails and hogs with it and if I get back to hunting elk again it will be what I use.

What I have had good sucess with in the past ... Federal ammo and I have shot far more of it than any other brand off the shelf. For big heavy animals I like Federal Trophy Bonded or Swift A-Frame. They have dropped elk where they stood and I have a lot of faith in either load.

For somewhat lighter thin skinned animals ( like whitetail and antelope) Federal Fusion performs great and my rifles really shoot it well. If your gun likes it Federal's Power Shok Soft Point is less expensive and it's great for deer sized game.

I agree. I'm asking for recommendations on ammo so that I can test multiple types to see what shoots best out of my rifle. Rather than just going off my own experience, I like to read up on what other people prefer and have had success with. From there I can focus my testing efforts, because, as someone else said, 300 Win Mag is not cheap ammo. LOL

I haven't shot Federal Barnes TSX but I've heard good things. It's definitely on my list; I need to try it out.

 

[JJ_Colt45]

100% agree that shot placement is king. However, longer ranges make shot placement more difficult and the projectile starts to matter much more.

I agree. I'm asking for recommendations on ammo so that I can test multiple types to see what shoots best out of my rifle. Rather than just going off my own experience, I like to read up on what other people prefer and have had success with. From there I can focus my testing efforts, because, as someone else said, 300 Win Mag is not cheap ammo. LOL

I haven't shot Federal Barnes TSX but I've heard good things. It's definitely on my list; I need to try it out.

If you're looking for a round for long range accuracy try Federal Sirocco and ELD-X too.

​

 

[trevitrace]

If you're looking for a round for long range accuracy try Federal Sirocco and ELD-X too.

​

Can't speak for its performance on an animal, but I had promising results with the Hornady eldx when a friend and I were reloading last year. On paper they shot as well or even slightly better than Hornady 's regular eld target bullet. Only shot out to 400 yards with it but they were consistent.

 

[Hatchet_Jack]

100% agree that shot placement is king. However, longer ranges make shot placement more difficult and the projectile starts to matter much more.

I’d respectfully disagree on the shot placement comment. If you’re shooting at a range where shot placement is becoming difficult you’re shooting too far. I used to do mid range hunting - I wouldn’t call it long range - out to 600m. That’s when I did focus on getting the best sub MOA groups. Most days my Sako 85 Bavarian would put 5 shots in your thumbnail at 200m if I did my part but it took a fair bit of load development to get there. if you’re aiming for that range or longer you really need to be looking at hand loading.

Range certainly does makes a difference for projectile choice if you’re shooting longer ranges which is why I asked that off the bat.

If you’re hoping to shoot longer ranges you don’t want TSX, even TTSX aren’t designed for that. They need a much higher velocity to open up well. Having said that I have taken a tahr at 550m with ttsx before. By the book that was further than it should have worked.

My brother is into shooting silly ranges with his fierce 300PRC, he’s on ELD’s for that which do a good job.

I have no idea how much shooting or hunting you’ve done or how far you plan to shoot but most people rarely shoot beyond 200-250m. At those ranges 2 MOA is really going to work and most bullet choices are going to operate within their optimal velocities.

Personally, while I like TTSX I do not like TSX. I’ve lost game and recovered game that I could have lost. I shot a fallow doe once and it went between the ribs on entering and between the ribs on exiting. Without hitting bone, especially on smaller animals they don’t work well.

 

[Hatchet_Jack]

Heh, lately my mom has had more success on whitetails with her 4Runner than anything else (not willingly, of course). That means she's smacking them with an approximately 31,500,000 grain bullet going about 70mph and, even still, some of the rascals manage to run off. Incredible endurance.

Edit to add: What is the maximum range you feel comfortable taking game with your muzzleloader? Have you ever tried using conical rounds, or are you only able to fire round balls through your rifle? I've always wanted to try out black powder but have always ended up buying another knife or pistol instead of taking the plunge into a new hobby.

Haha yeah that’s a solid projectile!

It depends on the gun for range.

I’ve got a 62 smootbore fusil de chasse. 60 yards is extreme long range for that thing.

My 54 green river fuel works leman trade rifle which is pictured with the red stag I’m happy to shoot out to 120 yards on red deer sized game. Usually I limit myself to 100 yards. Same for the Pedersoli Missouri River Hawken 50 caplock.

Projectiles is governed by twist rate. The smootbore can’t handle anything other than ball. The 54 has a 1:65” twist which means it only shoots ball. The caplock is a fast twist at 1:28” so it’s designed for modern bullets. I mostly use Hornady 250gn monoflex which is a copper bullet in a sabot for that. But that buffalo was the last game I shot with it. Lost interest in caplocks and anything other than ball.

It is addictive, most people start with a caplock and if you get diehard eventually move to flintlock. At that point your lost! Haha they’re finnicky but when you get them figured out it’s very additive.

 

[carnifex knifeworks]

I’d respectfully disagree on the shot placement comment. If you’re shooting at a range where shot placement is becoming difficult you’re shooting too far. I used to do mid range hunting - I wouldn’t call it long range - out to 600m. That’s when I did focus on getting the best sub MOA groups. Most days my Sako 85 Bavarian would put 5 shots in your thumbnail at 200m if I did my part but it took a fair bit of load development to get there. if you’re aiming for that range or longer you really need to be looking at hand loading.

Range certainly does makes a difference for projectile choice if you’re shooting longer ranges which is why I asked that off the bat.

If you’re hoping to shoot longer ranges you don’t want TSX, even TTSX aren’t designed for that. They need a much higher velocity to open up well. Having said that I have taken a tahr at 550m with ttsx before. By the book that was further than it should have worked.

My brother is into shooting silly ranges with his fierce 300PRC, he’s on ELD’s for that which do a good job.

I have no idea how much shooting or hunting you’ve done or how far you plan to shoot but most people rarely shoot beyond 200-250m. At those ranges 2 MOA is really going to work and most bullet choices are going to operate within their optimal velocities.

Personally, while I like TTSX I do not like TSX. I’ve lost game and recovered game that I could have lost. I shot a fallow doe once and it went between the ribs on entering and between the ribs on exiting. Without hitting bone, especially on smaller animals they don’t work well.

You may be misunderstanding what I mean by "shot placement is king". If you don't put the bullet in the right place, it doesn't matter what projectile you have. That's it. I wouldn't read into it.

As for shot placement being difficult, I think you're misunderstanding what I said or I communicated it poorly. I didn't say I was having difficulty making shots. I said longer ranges make shots more difficult. A shot at 300 yards is more difficult than a shot at 50 yards; a shot at 400 yards is more difficult than one at 300. As range increases so do factors that should be considered in determining how to make the shot. Though, I wouldn't consider a shot at 300 yards to be "difficult" (depending on what cartridge, firearm, and optic your using).

I've done plenty of hunting and shooting, so I'm aware of typical ranges. I'm an experienced hunter/shooter, but when it comes to 300 win mag I'm new. I was only asking for broad ammo preferences to gather options because I'll end up doing my own research and tests to determine what ammo my rifle performs best with and which I personally prefer.

Since you asked about range: My opinion is that 600 yards (just shy of 550 meters) is long range for hunting, at least in the areas I go. That isn’t long range for a paper target, but when you're shooting at an animal in unpredictable circumstances, it is. Where I hunt you're almost guaranteed to have wind, you may not have room to be prone, and often times there isn't a tree to rest against or time to deploy shooting sticks/bipods (if you use them at all), etc.

Nothing pisses me off more than some ego-driven/greedy/lazy hunter taking unnecessarily long shots because they want to brag about how far the shot was or they don't want to stalk in closer. Anyone that "needs" to take a shot outside of 600 yards, isn't much of a hunter in my opinion. Most people don’t put in enough time with their rifles to even make that an ethical shot. Not to mention that even if you make the shot, you could still lose the game because of the distance you'll be covering to locate the spot where you hit it. Stalking is a big part of hunting.

Are you saying the only way to hunt/make a shot out to extended ranges (600-650 yards) is using handloads? I may be misunderstanding you, but if that's what you're saying, I disagree. There are some good instances of factory hunting ammo that provide enough consistency and accuracy to take an animal at that range, assuming the rifle/optic and shooter are up to the task.

So you don't like tsx due to a lack of expansion, is that correct? Were these handloads? What caliber was your rifle and what range did you fire from when you encountered the lack of expansion? Alternatively, is the case that you have fired tsx in multiple calibers from various ranges and you're consistently seeing a lack of expansion?

 

[Hatchet_Jack]

You may be misunderstanding what I mean by "shot placement is king". If you don't put the bullet in the right place, it doesn't matter what projectile you have. That's it. I wouldn't read into it.

As for shot placement being difficult, I think you're misunderstanding what I said or I communicated it poorly. I didn't say I was having difficulty making shots. I said longer ranges make shots more difficult. A shot at 300 yards is more difficult than a shot at 50 yards; a shot at 400 yards is more difficult than one at 300. As range increases so do factors that should be considered in determining how to make the shot. Though, I wouldn't consider a shot at 300 yards to be "difficult" (depending on what cartridge, firearm, and optic your using).

I've done plenty of hunting and shooting, so I'm aware of typical ranges. I'm an experienced hunter/shooter, but when it comes to 300 win mag I'm new. I was only asking for broad ammo preferences to gather options because I'll end up doing my own research and tests to determine what ammo my rifle performs best with and which I personally prefer.

Since you asked about range: My opinion is that 600 yards (just shy of 550 meters) is long range for hunting, at least in the areas I go. That isn’t long range for a paper target, but when you're shooting at an animal in unpredictable circumstances, it is. Where I hunt you're almost guaranteed to have wind, you may not have room to be prone, and often times there isn't a tree to rest against or time to deploy shooting sticks/bipods (if you use them at all), etc.

Nothing pisses me off more than some ego-driven/greedy/lazy hunter taking unnecessarily long shots because they want to brag about how far the shot was or they don't want to stalk in closer. Anyone that "needs" to take a shot outside of 600 yards, isn't much of a hunter in my opinion. Most people don’t put in enough time with their rifles to even make that an ethical shot. Not to mention that even if you make the shot, you could still lose the game because of the distance you'll be covering to locate the spot where you hit it. Stalking is a big part of hunting.

Are you saying the only way to hunt/make a shot out to extended ranges (600-650 yards) is using handloads? I may be misunderstanding you, but if that's what you're saying, I disagree. There are some good instances of factory hunting ammo that provide enough consistency and accuracy to take an animal at that range, assuming the rifle/optic and shooter are up to the task.

So you don't like tsx due to a lack of expansion, is that correct? Were these handloads? What caliber was your rifle and what range did you fire from when you encountered the lack of expansion? Alternatively, is the case that you have fired tsx in multiple calibers from various ranges and you're consistently seeing a lack of expansion?

I apologise but with balls the size of balloons and aching like hell after yesterdays vasectomy there’s too much to unpack in full here.

I would say I agree wholeheartedly that misunderstanding is common when trying to communicate like this. It’s too hard to convey things properly (at least for idiots like me) I when not in person.

I try not venture too much into the ethical territory, I have strong opinions but they are just that. The fact that I basically only hunt with open sight rifles and muzzeloaders probably gives one a pretty good view of where I stand though.
Australia is still a wild place, in some states like mine spotlighting and thermaling deer is common and legal. There’s no repercussions for people who want to take pot shots at game out to extreme ranges and leaving them to die from misplaced shots. What we do here is to a large degree governed by our own morals. I hate seeing game wasted but it’s also commonplace - no wanton waste laws.

TSX in my experience are good for what they’re designed for but I don’t believe they’re the most versatile. On sambar (similar to elk size) shoulder shots are devastating. When I penciled a shot through a fallow doe (a skinnier version of a whitetail doe) from less than 60 yards I stopped using them. That was a Kimber Montana 300WSM.
I used the TTSX in my Sako 85 Bavarian until I sold it. They were great.
I rarely use centrefires anymore and only one I handload for. That’s my 275 Rigby/7x57 and that’s purely because they load down factory ammunition a fair bit to allow some of the older weaker actioned made guns to fire them.

Don Heath (RIP) talks about the Norma Oryx here in this video.

 

[Jabrni]

I apologise but with balls the size of balloons and aching like hell after yesterdays vasectomy there’s too much to unpack in full here.

Not hunting related, but on topic. My sympathy…in moments of pain, we all need a laugh. Or maybe you shouldn’t laugh.

 

[Hatchet_Jack]

Not hunting related, but on topic. My sympathy…in moments of pain, we all need a laugh. Or maybe you shouldn’t laugh.

View attachment 2887406

My wife gave me a box of goodies last night including this. I married a comedian as it turns out.

 

[Jabrni]

My wife gave me a box of goodies last night including this. I married a comedian as it turns out.
View attachment 2887411

That’s awesome. My wife woke up with jokes and no sympathy. She said, “you should have a baby”…my response of “this is worse” didn’t go over well.

 

[Hatchet_Jack]

That’s awesome. My wife woke up with jokes and no sympathy. She said, “you should have a baby”…my response of “this is worse” didn’t go over well.

I was terrified she’d send me something like this afterwards and it all would have been for naught.


Anyway on the hunting front, having a knife made with some of my antler. Should turn out nicely.

 

[Fonedork]

I don’t see why it should make such a vas deferens

 

[carnifex knifeworks]

I apologise but with balls the size of balloons and aching like hell after yesterdays vasectomy there’s too much to unpack in full here.

I would say I agree wholeheartedly that misunderstanding is common when trying to communicate like this. It’s too hard to convey things properly (at least for idiots like me) I when not in person.

I try not venture too much into the ethical territory, I have strong opinions but they are just that. The fact that I basically only hunt with open sight rifles and muzzeloaders probably gives one a pretty good view of where I stand though.
Australia is still a wild place, in some states like mine spotlighting and thermaling deer is common and legal. There’s no repercussions for people who want to take pot shots at game out to extreme ranges and leaving them to die from misplaced shots. What we do here is to a large degree governed by our own morals. I hate seeing game wasted but it’s also commonplace - no wanton waste laws.

TSX in my experience are good for what they’re designed for but I don’t believe they’re the most versatile. On sambar (similar to elk size) shoulder shots are devastating. When I penciled a shot through a fallow doe (a skinnier version of a whitetail doe) from less than 60 yards I stopped using them. That was a Kimber Montana 300WSM.
I used the TTSX in my Sako 85 Bavarian until I sold it. They were great.
I rarely use centrefires anymore and only one I handload for. That’s my 275 Rigby/7x57 and that’s purely because they load down factory ammunition a fair bit to allow some of the older weaker actioned made guns to fire them.

Don Heath (RIP) talks about the Norma Oryx here in this video.

You're good. I think both of us hold responsibility for our communication or lack thereof.

That's good to know about the tsx just punching a tiny clean hole through a fallow doe. I'm familiar with them since I saw them in New Zealand. I'll definitely be extra cautious when looking into TSX

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

I shot a pig with a TSX. It died but I was not impressed with the performance of the TSX

 

[oldmanwilly]

I apologise but with balls the size of balloons and aching like hell after yesterdays vasectomy there’s too much to unpack in full here.

Not hunting related, but on topic. My sympathy…in moments of pain, we all need a laugh. Or maybe you shouldn’t laugh.

View attachment 2887406

We've seen your rifle, please don't post pics of your gun. The question now is: which one's for fighting and which one is for fun?