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 and our largest Boar and if fired into the base of the ear of the Asian Buffalo will kill it instantly.
Therefore 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.
However if we desire to shoot accurately at long distance say 500 metres the shape, weight and size 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.
A slender pointed bullet is needed with a sectional density (diameter compared to weight) of close to .240, also the amount of explosive gases we can efficiently fit down the inside of the barrel to propel the 100 grain bullet at 3,000 feet per second, requires a hole or calibre over 6 millimetres (.243 calibre).
The group of available suitable calibres are :-
.25 calibre (.257 Roberts),
6.5 millimetres ( 260 Remington)
7millimetres (7mm08 Remington)
These factory loaded cartridges use medium sized brass shells with a capacity of 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 which are easy to carry.
ALMOST ALL CLIENTS THAT COME OUT HUNTING WITH ME 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, .300 WINCHESTER MAGNUMS SHOULD NEVER BE USED IF YOU WISH TO BECOME AN ACCURATE RIFLEMAN.
If we limit our distance shooting to 300 metres, the .243 Winchester in the hands of a marksman (one who can shoot 10 shot groups of 75 millimetre (3”) 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.
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 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 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 to 500 metres) shooting but has a bit more recoil.
The 7mm08 Remington this 7mm 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(.270 minimum calibre) and can be loaded with 160 grain bullets (although only at 2,700 feet per second) which would have more penetration for these horse sized deer.
None of the .22 centre fire calibres are suitable for long range shooting even the slightest breeze will deflect the bullet from the sight path plus they do not carry enough bullet weight and energy to 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 and re loading your own fired brass shells adds a new dimension to your shooting interest.
For most shooting I prefer Taipan hollow point bullets they are accurate and break up after entry into the Deer or Pig spraying the inside of the animal with fragments of lead and brass 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 under recoil as with lead pointed bullets and therefore shoot more accurately.
The other bullets I would choose for hunting larger animals, say Sambar deer are controlled expansion bullets that hold together to penetrate deeply my first choice is Nosler partition bullets as I have had good results with them.
BULLET PLACEMENT.
The heart and lungs are lying on the bottom of the inside of the rib cage well below the shoulder, the shoulder shot does not hit any organs, just punches a hole in the shoulder blade. I have seen many deer and pigs running well with a shoulder shot.
The heart is in the front just below the base of the neck and 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 we 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, will bleed most of the blood from the body.
I paddock shot around 200 x 2y/o Red stags over a 3 year period with a .22 Anschultz Hornet on my deer farm at 25 to 100 metres, killing them instantly with a shot to the base of the ear. I credit use of this rifle and a tranquiliser rifle over a 20 year period for curing a bad flinch I developed using a 7 mm magnum for 10 years hunting Sambar deer over hounds.
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.
Heavy clunky leaver and pump action rifles are inaccurate and limit you to short range shots, and not worthy of consideration.
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 beside the scope along the Barrel as you would sight a shot gun.
Own one rifle and use it for every shooting opportunity, you will become familiar with the feel and fit of the rifle be able to get onto the target quickly and accurately, making use of every shot that presents itself.
WHICH SCOPE ?
It is a Leupold VX-3 2.5X 8 power 36MM 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 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. I have 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 wish they could make a 1 to 8 power scope, as even on 2.5 power you won’t be able to see a charging boar coming straight for you, and suggest that you use the side of the barrel and shoot as you would a shot gun stepping briskly to one side after the shot.
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.
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.
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