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Hunting in the Hot Weather Downunder
- Thread starter coote
- Start date
Bureaucrats and gun laws are funny, except the for part where they intrude on your freedom for no good reason. So apparently, you cannot knock around in the wilds of New Zealand with a handgun, but you are free to go home and create your own suppressor?
All are correct that a small carbine cambering a "pistol power" cartridge is pretty darn useful. They are relatively small, light, carry well, but are much easier to shoot accurately than a handgun. I don't know if the creators of the TV show "The Rifleman" truly understood this, but it seems they got it right one way or another. Then on top of all that, they gave Lucas McCain pretty decent from the hip rapid fire capability. As many know, that combination of attributes was the reasoning behind the M1 Carbine. It was not meant for "front line" combat, but was something for rear area usual noncombatants to use much more effectively than the 1911 pistol should they become combatants.
I bring up the M1 Carbine on occasion when discussing "assault rifles" with those who blame the availability of the AR-15 for a number of societal ills. Most of these people are not well versed in firearms history. I point out that the attributes of an "assault rifle" are primarily the following: relatively small size, relatively light weight, semi-automatic, a moderate power cartridge so you can carry a lot of ammunition, and the capability of using high capacity magazines for a rapid reload. Pistol grips and being black in color have little to do with it. The M1 Carbine has all of the attributes I listed. Many knowledgeable gun people give credit to the German Sturmgewehr 44 as being the first assault rifle. While the StG 44 is select fire, based on my definition above, I maintain the M1 Carbine was the first assault rifle. If it was not, then I argue the selective fire M2 deserves the nod. It seems combatants decided the M1 Carbine was a pretty good front line weapon in some situations. I believe that is why the selective fire M2 was created. But, I digress.
After schooling up my AR-15 hating "friends" on the M1 Carbine, I point out that in the 1960's, the US Government, via the Civilian Marksmanship Program, would sell you a surplus M1 Carbine for $20 (Twenty bucks. I didn't leave off a zero. Now, $20 was a bit more money back then, but it was still a pretty good deal.) I then point out that "assault rifles" have been available for a much longer time period than my AR-15 hating friends realize, and that the US Government used to sell them to US Citizens. In fact, they ran out of them to sell. So, with that, it is pretty hard to blame "recent widespread availability of assault rifles" on whatever modern problem they want to blame them for.
As my eyes have aged, I can no longer aim with open sights as well as most rifles will shoot. Happily, we have a number of other choices nowadays. I have even figured out some pretty good iron sights for "handy" rifles using aperture rear sights with the right inserts in the small unobtrusive Lyman 17A front sight.
Finally, the Ruger 10/22 is on my list as "one of the four or five guns everyone should own." If I didn't know better, I's say John Moses Browning had a hand in its design!
Sorry for the long post. I hope I didn't get off topic too much, and I hope I added to the discussion.
-Gun Doc
All are correct that a small carbine cambering a "pistol power" cartridge is pretty darn useful. They are relatively small, light, carry well, but are much easier to shoot accurately than a handgun. I don't know if the creators of the TV show "The Rifleman" truly understood this, but it seems they got it right one way or another. Then on top of all that, they gave Lucas McCain pretty decent from the hip rapid fire capability. As many know, that combination of attributes was the reasoning behind the M1 Carbine. It was not meant for "front line" combat, but was something for rear area usual noncombatants to use much more effectively than the 1911 pistol should they become combatants.
I bring up the M1 Carbine on occasion when discussing "assault rifles" with those who blame the availability of the AR-15 for a number of societal ills. Most of these people are not well versed in firearms history. I point out that the attributes of an "assault rifle" are primarily the following: relatively small size, relatively light weight, semi-automatic, a moderate power cartridge so you can carry a lot of ammunition, and the capability of using high capacity magazines for a rapid reload. Pistol grips and being black in color have little to do with it. The M1 Carbine has all of the attributes I listed. Many knowledgeable gun people give credit to the German Sturmgewehr 44 as being the first assault rifle. While the StG 44 is select fire, based on my definition above, I maintain the M1 Carbine was the first assault rifle. If it was not, then I argue the selective fire M2 deserves the nod. It seems combatants decided the M1 Carbine was a pretty good front line weapon in some situations. I believe that is why the selective fire M2 was created. But, I digress.
After schooling up my AR-15 hating "friends" on the M1 Carbine, I point out that in the 1960's, the US Government, via the Civilian Marksmanship Program, would sell you a surplus M1 Carbine for $20 (Twenty bucks. I didn't leave off a zero. Now, $20 was a bit more money back then, but it was still a pretty good deal.) I then point out that "assault rifles" have been available for a much longer time period than my AR-15 hating friends realize, and that the US Government used to sell them to US Citizens. In fact, they ran out of them to sell. So, with that, it is pretty hard to blame "recent widespread availability of assault rifles" on whatever modern problem they want to blame them for.
As my eyes have aged, I can no longer aim with open sights as well as most rifles will shoot. Happily, we have a number of other choices nowadays. I have even figured out some pretty good iron sights for "handy" rifles using aperture rear sights with the right inserts in the small unobtrusive Lyman 17A front sight.
Finally, the Ruger 10/22 is on my list as "one of the four or five guns everyone should own." If I didn't know better, I's say John Moses Browning had a hand in its design!
Sorry for the long post. I hope I didn't get off topic too much, and I hope I added to the discussion.
-Gun Doc
Last edited:
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Hi Jeremy. The reason that hog is so close is that it had a hind leg caught in a rope noose.
I live in a rural area where hogs wander on to lifestyle blocks and cause a bit of damage. A couple of the local landowners have invited me to hunt on their properties.
My traps have a bungee-rubber powered spring device attached to a rope snare which lies flat on the ground. In the middle of the horizontal noose I have a trigger mechanism. When anything weighing more than a couple of pounds stands on the trigger, the trap fires and the noose is pulled upwards.... often tightening around a leg.
I generally anchor the snares to the closest strong tree. Sometimes there is quite a distance between a potential hog trail and a decent tree. Consequently any trapped hog has quite a radius to move in once caught. And that was the case with the pig in the photos. It had enough rope to hide in the scrub.... and enough to allow it to run at me. Generally pigs have been caught by a front leg which makes them less manoeuvrable, but the two big pigs I caught in this particular trap this season have both been caught by a hind leg.
I sometimes have tethered a snare to a stake driven into the ground. If there are no trees nearby this is about the only option. With a stake and a short rope you can limit the animal's movement, but with the short rope they can really apply some shock force to themselves and the trap assembly.
This season I caught several animals (possums and pigs) in a trap tethered to an olive tree in the owner's garden area. I had to protect the base of the tree with corflute plastic and bits of lumber to stop any trapped animal damaging the bark.
You can get close to free-running wild hogs down here by stalking, having dogs hold them, or occasionally by chance on a trail. But in my experience they are smart and stay well away from people. I have never encountered a pig so aggressive that it charged a person without being cornered or provoked. Having said that, it is best to be cautious at all times. I think it unlikely that they'd ever maul you like a bear or tiger might... it is more likely you'll be bitten or ripped by a tusk and then they'll run off. But you never know for sure.
The meat from the pigs in my valley has generally been very good indeed. I got one bigger hog that was pretty unpleasant to eat, so I cooked up most of it for the dog. When I was a teenager I carried one pig a very long distance, and it was the worst bit of meat I've ever encountered. Generally young pigs are good. Older, skinny pigs may not be. A thick layer of fat on any pig is a good sign, but comparatively rare around here. Meat quality may also relate to what they've been eating.
I live in a rural area where hogs wander on to lifestyle blocks and cause a bit of damage. A couple of the local landowners have invited me to hunt on their properties.
My traps have a bungee-rubber powered spring device attached to a rope snare which lies flat on the ground. In the middle of the horizontal noose I have a trigger mechanism. When anything weighing more than a couple of pounds stands on the trigger, the trap fires and the noose is pulled upwards.... often tightening around a leg.
I generally anchor the snares to the closest strong tree. Sometimes there is quite a distance between a potential hog trail and a decent tree. Consequently any trapped hog has quite a radius to move in once caught. And that was the case with the pig in the photos. It had enough rope to hide in the scrub.... and enough to allow it to run at me. Generally pigs have been caught by a front leg which makes them less manoeuvrable, but the two big pigs I caught in this particular trap this season have both been caught by a hind leg.
I sometimes have tethered a snare to a stake driven into the ground. If there are no trees nearby this is about the only option. With a stake and a short rope you can limit the animal's movement, but with the short rope they can really apply some shock force to themselves and the trap assembly.
This season I caught several animals (possums and pigs) in a trap tethered to an olive tree in the owner's garden area. I had to protect the base of the tree with corflute plastic and bits of lumber to stop any trapped animal damaging the bark.
You can get close to free-running wild hogs down here by stalking, having dogs hold them, or occasionally by chance on a trail. But in my experience they are smart and stay well away from people. I have never encountered a pig so aggressive that it charged a person without being cornered or provoked. Having said that, it is best to be cautious at all times. I think it unlikely that they'd ever maul you like a bear or tiger might... it is more likely you'll be bitten or ripped by a tusk and then they'll run off. But you never know for sure.
The meat from the pigs in my valley has generally been very good indeed. I got one bigger hog that was pretty unpleasant to eat, so I cooked up most of it for the dog. When I was a teenager I carried one pig a very long distance, and it was the worst bit of meat I've ever encountered. Generally young pigs are good. Older, skinny pigs may not be. A thick layer of fat on any pig is a good sign, but comparatively rare around here. Meat quality may also relate to what they've been eating.
Ethan Becker
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My that is an interesting can(silencer)...... I love the offset bore that allows factory irons to still be used..... e
Tanker 1/66
, thanks for the reply. Those little red dot sights answer a lot of questions pretty well. I have also seen small red dots mounted forward on lever guns (about the location of the rear sight) such that the quick handling and balance are maintained. Even so, I like to mess with things and learn, so I haven't yet given up on iron sights completely.For what it is worth, years ago, Leupold introduced the "scout scope" concept ahead of its time. Col. Jeff Cooper realized the utility, and there you have it. I'm not completely sold on the concept, but on the right rifle, it is a pretty good arrangement.
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Ethan Becker
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My old friend and hunting mentor, the late And much lamented Wallace Fennell, always said it was best to shoot the wild pigs at under 35 pounds so they would fit in a turkey roaster....... e
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Thanks for all the replies.
I agree that the 35 pound upper limit is a good guideline. Nope, never hunted peacocks... don't know of any feral ones around here. A few domestic ones I've heard squawking probably make neighbors want to shoot them though.
Interesting stuff Gun Doc. I agree it is odd about the restrictions on moderators when you are allowed handguns and vice versa. Us Kiwis could once buy No 4 Lee Enfields from the government for $11.... back around 1970 I guess. As far as I recall, this was an offer received by our gun club members. .303 army ammo was cheap too. Now it is rare.
I prefer simplicity and ruggedness in a gun.
Gotta fly and go look after my old Mum. Nice chattin' to you.
I agree that the 35 pound upper limit is a good guideline. Nope, never hunted peacocks... don't know of any feral ones around here. A few domestic ones I've heard squawking probably make neighbors want to shoot them though.
Interesting stuff Gun Doc. I agree it is odd about the restrictions on moderators when you are allowed handguns and vice versa. Us Kiwis could once buy No 4 Lee Enfields from the government for $11.... back around 1970 I guess. As far as I recall, this was an offer received by our gun club members. .303 army ammo was cheap too. Now it is rare.
I prefer simplicity and ruggedness in a gun.
Gotta fly and go look after my old Mum. Nice chattin' to you.
Since I brought this up in an earlier post, #27 on this thread, here is an old ad. I do not know the date of this ad. I do note that Leupold didn't use the word "scout." So, I don't know if Col. Cooper got the idea of mounting the scope on a Remington bolt gun from Leupold, or it was the other way around. Perhaps he mentioned how it all came about in some of his writing. However it came about, Col. Cooper made the concept popular, that's for sure.
A bit unrelated, but because military weapons have been mentioned.... and in case some haven't already seen it.... here is a video showing a Lee Enfield fitted with a suppressor. This suppressor was made and fitted long before the fitting of suppressors to centerfires was a common thing.