ADVISE FOR NOVICE HUNTERS TO GET THEM GOING WITH THE RIGHT INFORMATION AND HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFULL IN THE FIELD.

WHICH CALIBRE ?

Basically a 100 grain controlled expansion bullet travelling at 3,000 feet per second velocity into the heart lung area will kill a Sambar deer, our largest Boar and if fired into the base of the ear of the Asian Buffalo  will kill it instantly. For Australian game, here is no need to go heaver than 120 grain bullets in the 7mm-08 and .270 calibres or 130Grain in 30calibres I have seen 120 grain & 130 grain bullets kill cleanly every time year after year. Hollow pointed bullets are best as they break up on impact and stay inside the animal delivering maximum energy, tissue damage and shock.

With accurate bullet placement, any more bullet weight creates needless noise, muzzle blast, and recoil, which frightens game and leads to flinching and inaccurate marksmanship and worries property owners, their wives and deafens hunting dogs. Heavier bullets will pass right through the deer expending their energy on the ground, then needing a second bullet to kill the deer.  

However if we desire to shoot accurately at LONG distance say 500 metres the shape, weight, size and speed of the bullet needs consideration to minimise loss of velocity and energy plus resisting wind drift on the way to the target, a bullet of more than 6 millimetres (.243 calibre) and less than 7.62 millimetres (308 calibre) is required the .270 winchester short magnum with a 100grain bullet travelling at 3,600 feet per second muzzel velocity is the best off the shelf option for you distance Snipers, but the rifle has plenty of recoil and muzzel blast to go with it, but wild goats out to 600 metres can be taken with it, a more comfortable option is the Winchester .25 super short magnum, stainless with plastic stock which is just perfect, clobbering pigs out to 600 metres with an 85gn moly coated plastic tipped bullet leaving the muzzel at 3,500fps, (you need that sort of velocity to reach out there), also factory loaded 120gn hollow points traveling at 3,000fps for shots out to 300metres that will pulverise any bone they come in contact with and flatten deer and pigs on the spot, a most satisfying rifle to carry and shoot mounted with a 1.5 to 6 power Burris scope.

A Long slender pointed bullet with a high balistic coeficent is needed with a sectional density (diameter compared to weight) of close to .240. The barrel hole diameter (calibre) needs to be greater than 6mm/.243  to efficiently allow enough explosive gases to fit down the inside of the barrel in order to propel the 100gn or 120grain bullet at 3,000 feet per second.

 As the bullet diameter increases a heavier longer bullet is required to achieve the necessary sectional density to minimise loss of velocity on the way to the target, which then requires burning more powder, more recoil and muzzel blast.

This list of available suitable calibres based on the medium 308 and 7x57 cartridge cases are recomended :-

.243/6mm calibre using 85gn bullets
.25 calibre  using 100gn bullets    ie (.257 Roberts),
 6.5 mm  using 120gn bullets       ie ( 260 Remington)
 7mm calibre using 120gn bullets ie(7mm - Reminton)                                                                                                                                                                                             

These factory loaded cartridges use medium sized brass shells with a capacity of about 50 grains of powder, so we have 100 grain bullet and 50 grains powder leaving the barrel at 3,000 feet per second, which produces mild recoil and reduces the tendency to flinch when squeezing the trigger,  these cartridges will enable you to practice without getting thumped and deafened at each shot, they also are available in short light rifles and lever action rifles which are easy to carry and quick to use.

ALMOST ALL CLIENTS THAT COME ON SAFARI ARE OVERGUNNED, HAVE A BAD FLINCH AND ARE UNABLE TO SHOOT TIGHT GROUPS, A .308 IS TOO BIG AND SO ARE ANY LARGER CARTRIGES BASED ON THE .30-06 CASE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE .25-06 WHICH IS A MOST USEFUL CALIBRE FOR AUSTRALIAN GAME AND CONDITIONS.          300 WINCHESTER MAGNUMS SHOULD NEVER BE USED IF YOU WISH TO BECOME AN ACCURATE RIFLEMAN. FLINCHING ONLY BECOMES OBVIOUSE WHEN THE SHOOTER PULLS THE TRIGGER AND THE RIFLE DOESN'T GO OFF WHEN EXPECTED, DUE TO HAVING THE SAFTY ON OR CLOSING THE BOLT ON AN EMPTY CHAMBER OR, RARELY, A MISSFIRE DUE TO A FAULTY CARTRIDGE, IF THE SHOOTER EXPERIANCES AN INVOLUNTARY LURCH OR JUMP WHEN THIS HAPPENS HE HAS A BAD FLINCH.

If we limit our distance shooting to 300 metres, with standing animals broadside on, and head shots,  the .243 Winchester in the hands of a marksman (one who can shoot 5 shot groups of 100 millimetre (4”) diameter on target at 300 metres) using 85 grain Nosler partition bullets travelling at 3,000 feet per second placed as explained is plenty of rifle for Australian game and a pleasure to shoot. The .243 is the best calibre for young (12 year old) hunters useing 70gn bullets, don't waste time and money with .223 etc, further the Kimber montana rifle is lighter than the air rifle they are practising with and later they can upgrade to 7mm-08 Kimber montana which has the same physical weight and diamentions as the .243 thus using the .243 for most of their shooting and having the 7mm-08 for hunting big game with running shots. 

BULLET VELOCITY

The optimum bullet weight for the .243 is 85 grains when you move up to 100 grains you can’t get the .243 bullet up to 3,000 feet per second, you need the muzzle velocity up around 3,200 feet per second to give you a flatter trajectory and to create HYDRAULIC SHOCK.

Animals are comprised of 90 percent water and when hit by a fast moving bullet the water behaves like a solid substance and blows apart, you can see this effect if you shoot a fast moving bullet through a water melon it will blow apart, while a slow moving  bullet will just push a hole through the melon. This hydraulic shock is responsible for producing instant kills, causing shot animals to drop in their tracks, sometimes with even poorly placed chest shots.

The .257 Roberts is larger and more powerful than the .243, an excellent calibre, with low recoil, but because of the slightly larger bore diameter than the .243 is able to handle heavier bullets getting the 100 grain bullet up to 3,000 feet per second, and better able to resist wind drift on the way to the target. The .257 Roberts can be upgraded by reaming the chamber out to expand the brass case to give it more powder capacity = .257 improved, will give a 100gn bullet 3,300 feet per second which duplicates the .25-06 but in a shorter lighter rifle, but you will have to reload it yourself, however the resulting rifle is one of the best performers you can get. The Winchester .25 super short magnum is the best option, if you can find one, they were available before the Winchester rifle company went into receivership, maybe they are still being made somewhere. 

The 260 Remington, this 6.5mm, larger bore diameter again, can get a 120grain bullet up to 3,000 feet per second, this extra weight enables this slender bullet to maintain its velocity well and better resist wind drift on the way to the target and is the best option for long range 400 metres shooting, has a bit more recoil but still mild. This calibre is the most versatile for Australian medium sized game and conditions with a range of bullet weights that take you from foxes to deer 85gn,100gn, 120gn, 140gn,160gn with superb accuracy, one gun does it all.

The 7mm-08  Remington a larger bore diameter again can get a 130 grain bullet up to 3,000 feet per second with a bit more recoil, the only reason for going up to a 7mm-08 is that this calibre is legal in Victoria to hunt Sambar deer(the.270 is the minimum calibre allowed in Victoria for Sambar) and can be loaded with 160 grain bullets (although only at 2,700 feet per second) which has enough penetration for these horse sized deer. The 7mm-08 has enough bullet weight to pass through long grass and bushes on the way to the target, whilst the other calibes listed above may not, they could deflect or disintergrate. The 7mm-08 is a medium to large game calibre with almost the same ballistics as the .270 Winchester with a better range of bullet weights, further the 7mm-08 can be hand loaded to comparable velocities to the .270 Winchester in a smaller lighter rifle.
 
None of the .22 centre fire calibres (ie. .22/250) are suitable for long range shooting even the slightest breeze will deflect the bullet from the sight path, the wound channel is only 25mm in diameter, plus they do not carry enough bullet weight and energy to regularly kill deer, pigs, goats humanely.

The .22 Hornet is, quite and accurate out to 150 metres, useful for target practice and hunting Rabbits, Hare, Cats and Foxes on small properties where noise is a big issue with adjoining land owners, the Hornet is only burning 12 grains of powder and has no recoil.

BULLET PERFORMANCE.

There are many bullet manufacturers and designs available. Reloading your own fired brass shells adds a new dimension to your shooting interest, you can experiment to find the most accurate combinaton of powder, bullet weight and design to suit your rifle.

For most Austalian game animals, hollow point bullets have demonstated, they are accurate and soft enough to break up after entry into the Deer or Pig spraying the inside of the animal with fragments of lead and copper cutting through organs on their way to rest on the other side of the animal against the skin.

Any bullet that breaks through and leaves the animal (penetrates) is wasting the bullets energy and endangers other animals as it bounces around the countryside.

Hollow point bullets are not deformed in the rifles magazine (sliding forward under recoil) as with lead pointed bullets and therefore shoot more accurately.

For hunting larger animals, say Sambar deer, use controlled expansion bullets that hold together to penetrate deeply, Nosler partition bullets work well, the use of these bullets has a similar effect to going up to the next sized larger calibre.

BULLET PLACEMENT.

The heart and lungs are lying on the bottom front of the inside of the rib cage well below the shoulder, the shoulder shot does not hit any vital organs, just punches a hole in the shoulder blade many deer and pigs have been seen running well with a shoulder shot.

The heart is in the front of the rib cage, just below the base of the neck with the lungs behind it between the front legs. On a broadside standing shot you place the vertical crosshair on the front leg and the horizontal crosshair one third of the distance up from the belly line and two thirds down from the back line. This shot will break one or both front leg bones below the shoulder blade and break through the rib cage destroying the heart and lungs, dropping the deer or pig on the spot.

If you are shooting for meat, place the centre of the crosshairs on the base of the ear on the side of the head, this shot will drop the deer on the spot brain dead with the heart still pumping and all the main arteries ruptured, this will bleed most of the blood from the body.

When taking the shot, if you cannot hold the rifle sight on the vital area, move closer to reduce the range until you can. After firing remain hidden, the animals won't know where the danger is and if they are in cover will stand still until they do. If the animal is down, chamber another bullet and wait 5 minutes, if the animal is able to hold its head up or attempts to rise shoot it again in the chest. If there are animals out in the open when the shot is fired, they will run to the nearest cover and stand there, wild goats will climb to higher ground.

                                                            
WHICH RIFLE ?                          

The Kimber Montana rifle ticks all the boxes, stainless steel & Kevlar weighing only 5lbs. A Mauser action with the safety on the bolt, controlled round feed, 2 front locking lugs, fully adjustable trigger, accurate 21 inch light weight barrel, no detachable magazine to fall in the dirt when you least expect it, or magazine floor plate, you load the rounds in the top of the action and cycle them through the action when you want to empty the magazine. Have a look at one, then you have a bench mark to assess all other rifles on offer. You can spend more money but you won’t buy a better rifle. A cheaper option and easier to get is the Tikka T3 in 7mm-08 stainless with black plastic stock, will shoot 1" dia groups at 100 metres straight out of the box.

Heavy clunky leaver and pump action rifles are inaccurate and limit you to short range shots, and not worthy of consideration, the Browning Lightning lever action and the Browning Pump are the best and most accurate of these.    Rifles are not like golf clubs you do not need a different rifle for every situation, you need an accurate bolt action rifle and 8 power scope capable of dropping a Dingo howling a challenge from the rim of a Bassalt gorge at 250 metres and 30 degree angle above you, this same rifle can be used to kill a charging boar at 3 paces by tilting the rifle over and sighting down beside the scope along the Barrel as you would sight a shot gun.

Own one rifle and use it for every shooting opportunity, handle it every day, you will become familiar with the feel and fit of the rifle, be able to get onto the target quickly and accurately, throw the rifle to your shoulder with your eyes closed then open them, you should be looking straight through the scope without having to move your head, if not, you need to modify the stock and or scope until you can. Aim with both eyes open at a horizontal 1cm black tape stuck across the wall at shoulder height inside your room with short vertical tapes every 1 metre, swing the empty rifle aiming the cross hairs on the tape squeezing the trigger as you pass each vertical tape without stopping, is good practice for running offhand shots.  This practice will enable you to make use of every hunting oppertunity that presents itself.

WHICH SCOPE ?

Young eyes plus frequent practice, can use open iron sights effectively, (peep sights are the best of these) the rest of us need to use a telescopic sight, it makes up for older eyes and lack of practice.

It is a Leupold VX-3  2.5 X 8 power x 36mm OR a Leupold VX-3 1.75 x 6 power x 32mm with a duplex reticule, a good quality, compact, light weight scope, you won’t need to carry binoculars as this scope has excellent clarity and definition it is the top of the Leupold range, do not buy their cheaper lower quality scopes they are rubbish. Do not buy any larger scope in size or magnification as they add needlessly to the bulk and weight and spoil the balance of the rifle and any more magnification makes the scope harder to use.

Looking through a scope is tunnel vision, the more magnification the harder it is to find the target. It has been established in the field that the 2.5 to 8 power to be the best option to pull  off that long shot on 8 power and even on 2.5 power you won’t be able to see a charging boar coming straight for you, and suggest that you sight along the side of the barrel and shoot as you would a shot gun, stepping briskly to one side after the shot, the Leupold VX-3 1.75 x 6 power x 32mm is is the best choice if pigs are your main target.

Sight the rifle in to hit the centre of a target at 150metres, this setting will reduce the likely hood of shooting over closer targets. Then shoot at targets at 200, 250 and 300 metres to learn the bullet drop and how much you need to hold over at those distances.

The trigger should not move or creep, just snap like a mouse trap when it reaches the desired trigger pull, a 3lb. setting will send the bullet on its way when you are thinking about firing, practice holding the cross hairs on the target and keep gently squeezing the trigger until the rifle decides to fire, this way there will be no flinching and you are on the way to being a marksman.

STALKING THE ABILITY TO SEE AND MOVE WITHOUT DISTURBING GAME ANIMALS AND BIRDS.

Reading sign, tracks, droppings, wallow holes, digging and trees that have been rubbed by antlers and tusks indicate the presence of game in the area.
Stalking takes place when the quarry has been sighted, you move closer to select a trophy, if you don’t find a suitable animal, you must stalk away without disturbing the area.
Always approach slowly into the breeze, keeping to cover, continually stopping motionless every 5 paces, while looking,  listening, then crawling on all fours when traversing open areas to avoid detection by deer and pigs plus birds and other animals that will advertise your presence, its movement that attracts attention, avoid arm movement and walking quickly.
Wear comfortable clothing covering face, hands with olive green, khaki colours to blend in with the background from  material which allows silent movement, sprinkle with aniseed and eucalyptus oil and store in a sealed plastic bag. Bare feet are the quietest, but if you aren’t a North Queenslander, try leather moccasins or running shoes, so you can feel sticks under your feet before you put your weight down.
Avoid carrying anything that rustles, rattles or shines, have many large pockets for snacks, water, GPS, watch, knife, headlamp, insect repellent, 10 power binoculars with 35 or 40mm lenses, range finder and a compact camera with zoom.
Game animals start moving out of their mid-day cover/camp around 3pm, feed all night and move back into cover as the first light appears in the east.
The further you are away from the equator the more twilight you have to work with, it is bright sunlight that puts animals  into cover, overcast dull drizzle days are the best for stalking as the wet conditions allow a quite approach and animals will be out on view feeding instead of being an a wet dripping camp.
Understand that the animals are not stupid, they have brains that can learn and remember, when you are in their territory they are learning and remembering about you, recognising the sound of your vehicle, slamming doors, coughing, talking, your usual approach to their habitat, your body odour etc. Repeated visits will move them away to a new area, if the area you are hunting is popular, chances are you may be hunting an area that the game animals have abandoned due to recent visits from other hunters. It is a good plan to park your vehical 2 km from where you want to hunt and ride a push bike to the hunting area. Try to find a tree you can climb up to 4 metres overlooking a game trail, the animals dont look up and your body odour will rise up away from their sensitive noses, take fly spray for the ants and a rifle mounted flashlight for failing light.
To be successful the hunter needs to be in tune with the ways of the bush, the animals and birds in it, plus his attitude, keenness, intelligence, concentration and stamina play a huge part. Remember every time you shoot you are creating massive disurbance to your hunting area, always finish off a downed wounded animal with your 6" sheath knife.

DO NOT GET TALKED INTO BUYING WHAT THE GUN SHOP HAS IN STOCK OR HEAVIER CALIBRES THAN RECOMMENDED HERE, THEY CAN ALL ORDER IN WHAT YOU NEED, YOU WILL BE CARRYING THIS RIFLE AROUND THE BUSH FOR YEARS SO MAKE SURE IT IS RIGHT FOR YOU.