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Author Archives: Ed Hale
Savage M12 in Palma in 308 Win Just Arrived
What a shooting machine! We are very excited! Jason will shoot a July Match with it and the Leupold VX-6 7-42 55mm scope. Wow! Pictures soon! We hope to shoot Nosler RDF’s.
Best Deer, Bear, Moose, Bison, Cartridge for Handloaders with .375 Ruger in a Ruger M77 Hawkeye
Years back I needed a versatile reloadable cartridge for all game, at all distances and all conditions for that someday hunt for brown bear, or a cape buffalo or bison yet can hunt deer too. If you are not and have not dreamed of a brown bear hunt then this article is not for you.
If you have, then I would consider the .375 Ruger to be such a reloadable cartridge in a Ruger M77 Hawkeye rifle made here in New Hampshire. The new African model comes with a removable muzzle brake. Check it out.
http://ruger.com/products/HawkeyeAfrican/models.html
It is a hunters gun with a soft less reflective finish that will not spook game. I have killed moose and bison as well as red stag with this cartridge and the African model rifle.
It shoots 1/2 inch groups at full power and 1 inch groups with most all other bullets down to 220 grain and loading’s for deer. With a Pachmayr Recoil pad I can shoot it in my t-shirt while standing as it cuts felt recoil in half. A full power load with 260 grain Nosler AccuBond bullets out of the barrel at 2615 fps produces almost 4000 ft-lbs at the Muzzle and 2500 ft-lbs for Moose at 275 yards at a velocity of 2100 fps for perfect mushrooming. For an elk it can reach 450 yards with 1800 ft-lbs at the bullets mushroom design speed. It is a CXP4 cartridge with CXP2 and 3 capability if handloaded.
http://www.chuckhawks.com/cxp4_safari_cartridges.htm
If you are traveling far, check that the local shop’s where you hunt have 375 Ruger rounds in case you loose your baggage. It is the main reason for years that hunters used the 375 H&H because it was like dirt, it was everywhere. But the 375 Ruger has made some dents in that theory.
If I was hunting a really large Wild Boar up close, I would use the .375 Ruger as they have been known to charge when wounded and it is very difficult to take away its credit card with those 5 inch tusks sticking out of its mouth.
Check out my other .375 Ruger Hawkeye article
http://www.nhrifleman.com/2013/09/20/hand-loading-the-375-ruger-for-deer-bear-moose-and-cape-buffalo/
© 2017
Good Hunting!
Savage Ashbury Precision Rifle 6.5 Creedmoor – Just Arrived
The Savage® M10 Ashbury Precision Rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor is said to be a great starter long range Competition Rifle with low recoil. It is part of Savages Law Enforcement series. We will put it through its paces. What is clear hear at the get-go is that the Magpul CTR® stock appears too low when a scope is mounted. We recommend adding a cheek rest and we are seeking a Magpul PRS 25 M110 or similar cheek rest stock to add to it ($240.00) or the simple Magpul CTR® MOE® Riser for 20 dollars on line. The Ashbury is also offered in .308 Winchester. Below is a Savage Video on the Accutrigger™
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
- Series: Law Enforcement
- Magazine: Detachable box
- Stock Material: Synthetic
- Barrel Material: Carbon Steel
- Barrel Finish: Matte
- Barrel Color: Black
- AccuTrigger: Yes
- AccuStock: No
https://youtu.be/kxQZ1M7FXCM
New Nosler RDF Bullet Initial Testing Begins by Jason Hale
In my previous article, I explained my intent with regards to load testing I wanted to complete in my current economy match rig, which is a Savage 10 repeater action, re-barreled with a Criterion 28” Stainless Select Match bull barrel chambered in .308 Winchester
Nosler supplied us with some brand spanking new .308 caliber 175 grain RDF bullets to review. Nosler intends to make this bullet a premier Competition bullet.
Quote from Nosler website
RDF Bullet – ( Reduced Drag Factor )
Flattest Shooting Match Bullet On The Market
For those wanting to squeeze the most performance from their competition rifle, Nosler’s new RDF (Reduced Drag Factor) match bullet line is the ideal choice.
Nosler’s RDF line was designed from the ground up to provide exceptionally high BCs, which create the flattest trajectory and least wind drift possible. The keys to the RDF’s outstanding performance are Nosler’s meticulously optimized compound ogive and long, drag reducing boattail, which make handloading a snap and create an incredibly sleek form factor. RDF bullets also have the smallest, most consistent meplats of any hollow point match bullet line, so there is no need to point or trim tips.
Highest B.C.’s, smallest meplat, tighter groups – Nosler RDF.
Unquote
I was excited to see if the bullet would fit seamlessly into my current loading diet of Varget powder. The accuracy results were pretty good, but at velocities that were a bit on the slow side unsurprisingly; great bullet, but as the data demonstrates, the bullet/powder combination choice may not be as accurate in my barrel. I’m pretty sure that if I continue to experiment with powders that I would find one that would be extremely accurate with the Nosler RDF with my barrel.
175 Nosler RDF with Hodgdon’s Varget
| Charge Weight | Group Size | Velocity |
| 40.0 | 0.784” | 2445 |
| 41.0 | 0.435” | 2491 |
| 41.5 | 0.756” | 2546 |
| 42.0 | 0.943” | 2591 |
| 42.5 | 0.851” | 2629 |
Bullet distance to rifling: 0.015”
Following this first test I decided to back off further from the rifling and at 0.045” off and way off loaded at mag length, and repeat some of the testing.
There was no discernible increase in accuracy. But what was missing here was speed! I needed a faster bullet to buck the wind. I an searching for a combination in my rifle to deliver a faster bullet too.
Testing with other powders is needed to fine tune the bullet and barrel combination and that is getting under way. Case in point, I had a bullet from another top manufacturer and was having a tough time getting sub-moa or better groups when I tried a certain powder it was like magic and the bullets grouped extremely well.
More to Come!
Pennsylvania Long Rifle Build Update
To date I have 60 hours into the build of this so called Custom Kit Rifle and I have made my share of minor headaches but each time I get through a given situation I come out with a smile. The rifle is coming out very well so far but haven’t got a photo for you yet. My appreciation for the German Master Craftsmen of the Pennsylvania Rifle in the 1700’s has grown substantially. I can only imagine the tools they used and I have a large portion of the work done already for me and a video to aid me. So why does it take so long? First, get rid of time. Moving the project faster increases risk of a major mistake. One major mistake can cost me this expensive project. Patience is a virtue I must master here along with creating and learning things that help improve your work. If you are skilled at working in a wood shop or metal shop then this project will be much easier. Things I have learned include inlay of brass to wood. I have not mastered it just learned it. Fitting and pinning down a barrel to 44 inches of wood when the barrel is thicker on each end and thinner in the middle was a huge undertaking as I could have easily destroyed the wood by scraping too much off or a slip of the chisel. But I didn’t. Getting the barrel in the right position for the lock assembly and where the touchhole should be was a learning process for sure. Shortly I will be adding the lock and its thru bolts and then inlaying the patchbox and release mechanism. Then I can show pictures of progress. Still a long way to go…
That is the update! Photos soon!
New Hampshire Rifleman Announcement
Welcome to my son Jason Hale as a Contributor and Editor here at New Hampshire Rifleman Magazine. I welcome his talent with rifles, reloading and marksmanship and his skills as an editor and video specialist as we strive to deliver a fun, educational and entertaining experience to our worldwide readership.
Ed Hale – Editor-In-Chief
Things I Learned From Just One Season of Long Range Competition that can be useful as a Hunter and Reloader by Ed Hale
Is LR competition easy? No! It is a fun challenge however and that makes it worth while for many. But it can be expensive the more you get into it. Most any rifle can be good starter but once bitten it is hard to stop. As a result, I know more about quality hand-loading bullets, powder, brass and primers. So it was a valuable experience of calculating my bullet’s Standard Deviation and Extreme spread. What I found was that my brain was becoming its own calculator of holdover in minutes, and how that translated to inches of crosshair movement. I deepened my wind knowledge to predict lateral bullet placement and when to let game pass by because I could not predict the proper bullet placement for a clean kill.
Most of all I was more confident in my rifle and how to dial up my scope…a key ingredient in long range hunting. Also use of on line software to determine the ballistic profile based on bullet velocity via a chronograph and the BC of your bullet. So competing can be helpful as a hunter by deepening your knowledge. Truth is, to win you need to spend time shooting and money. For those like me that are hunters, it is a great learning experience to have competed. I am better for it! Who knows you may get bitten by long range F Class Rifle Competition or use of Military 308 or .223 competition such as F-TR (target rifle). My son Jason is really into it as you can see from his writing.
The key to hunting is to become more of a woodsman knowing your quarry and how to read sign and food sources and ways that your game may react. Just don’t get cocky in the deer woods because you shoot well in the prone position at 600 yards.Eh!
There are trees and the animals move you see and don’t wait for you to breath and squeeze forever. If you can, get closer to your game animal? Do it! If you are strictly a competition type you will have much to learn to be a good hunter.
© 2017
Selection and Testing of .308 Match Grade Bullets for F-TR Competition By Jason Hale
F-TR Rifle Competition is F-Class Competition where the TR is Target Rifle in .223 or .308 Winchester. At many matches, F-TR competitors are restricted to bi-pod, ruck or sandbags, though at the Nationals a front rest was allowed.
For me and what I’ve studied, its high mass high Ballistic Coefficient (BC) bullets that are most go-to projectiles (bullets). You still have some folks shooting the 1:12 twist .308 Barrels that shoot between 155 gr and 175 gr projectiles, but mostly the heavy stuff. Now at this point only one thing matters;
How does it perform with your chosen bullets IN YOUR GUN?
My recently purchased 28” SS Criterion match barrel doesn’t seem to prefer the heavy 185 gr Berger’s, but I’ve only tried them with Varget, IMR 4064 is another option to try. I like sticking with Varget since it works so well AND is more forgiving in variable temperatures.
If you’re just getting into competition shooting, you can’t go wrong with the 175 gr Sierra Match Kings. You can load it to mag length. My factory barrel would shoot ¼” groups all day long. The only downside is that when the wind is involved, it can get blown around quite a bit more than some of the other more recent slick BC offerings. I am currently using the Sierra TMK’s and their shooting ½” at 100 yards and have a superior BC to the SMK. So far I like them, but because the bullet profile is more secant, seating depth may be a hassle during tuning, but it didn’t take too long for me to find a depth that worked well and didn’t compress powder too much.
One item to point out, there is good reason that as a rule of thumb you don’t just try a new projectile which may be the same weight because if you seated them to the same length the depth into the case may change how compressed your charge is. In addition, there are many other factors that are coming into play. Spontaneous disassembly (BOOM) of your rifle and perhaps YOU is NOT GOOD. It is wise to back off by 10% and then work back up while watching for signs of pressure.
Now for the true purpose behind this article, testing your loads. Finding recommended loads out of a reputable loading manual is your job. Here I will explain what I see in the data I’ve put together here.
The chart below represents testing and data gathered of bullets tested and corresponding results you may find of use.
| Bullet | Ballistic Coefficient | Bullet OAL | Base to Ogive | COAL Seated to Lands | Depth Seated Into Case | Previous Data/Comments |
| Berger 185 Juggernaut | .283 G7 (Litz Verified) | 1.342 | 0.698 | 2.923 | 0.424 | Tried 1MOA best with Varget IMR 4064 an option |
| Sierra 175 Match King | 0.495 G1 (averaged Sierra BC)
0.475 G1(Litz Verified) 0.243 G7 (Litz Verified) |
1.230 | 0.661 | 2.838 | 0.397 | 2.800 (~0.040” off Lands) |
| Berger 168 Hybrid Target | .264 G7
0.266 G7 (Litz Verified) |
1.279 | 0.583 | 2.956 | 0.328 | In Testing |
| Nosler 175 RDF | .270 G7 | 1.330 | 0.651 | 2.950 | 0.385 | In Testing |
| Sierra 175 TMK | 0.523 G1
(Sierra BC) 0.522 G1 (Litz Verified) 0.267 G7 |
1.353 | 0.658 | 2.940 | 0.418 | Current COAL 2.920 (0.020” off Lands)
Good groups 0.5 gr less than SMK due to pressure |
Nosler 175 Comments/My Approach:
Looking at the Nosler 175 RDF’s you can clearly see that the tip is almost completely closed, which is awesome. With Nosler’s claimed G7 BC of .270 which beats all of the other 175 gr projectiles, I can’t wait to try this in my current match rig.
Examining previous loads for the 175’s:
My current load for the 175 TMK is 43.0 gr of Varget (0.5 grains less than the SMK) which gets me to approximately 2600 fps. Surface bearing length differences between the two may be the reasons which pressure signs are reached earlier in the TMK as it has a longer surface bearing length which ads friction.
Comments/Observations the Nosler’s 175 RDF:
One item that catches my attention is the length of the nose profile; it’s very long, which makes sense for a high bc bullet. This makes it a great option for F-TR type shooters who single load and aren’t bothered by long rounds. On the flip side, It also makes it difficult to load for magazine length without sacrificing case volume. I may end up gaining some case volume over some of the other projectiles when loaded to the same length. If pressures are marginal, I could eek out some addition velocity if accuracy wasn’t sacrificed. One item examined for overall consistency is measurement of a 10 sample group for Base to Ogive length which can be associated with BC consistency.
Noslers numbers were right with the competition, including Berger. Overall great observations for noslers new RDF. I will likely start with Varget 8-10% below 43.0 gr and work up from there. Since my rig is wired up for pressure readings, I’ll have some pressure trends to talk about soon. I’ll be able to compare them to previous loads that I use as reference (Federal 175 gr Gold Medal Match and Black Hills 175 gr Match).
Comments on the Berger 168 Hybrid Target
There isn’t much to say about Berger other than two words consistency and expensive, or should I perhaps say expensive consistency. Looking at the data compiled I may be able to drive this bullet to a higher velocity than the heavier 175’s without having to sacrifice anything. The long nose profile may leave me some extra case capacity and the short bearing length may end up reducing friction from less contact with the bore. In the end it all comes down to testing; if it doesn’t group, it doesn’t group. Doing a lot of testing can sometimes be frustrating; but if you enjoy it, don’t give up. Just don’t waste too much in components trying to get something to shoot. You’ll know it when you’ve found a forgiving bullet. This is why the Sierra Match King is still heavily used. It’s just that easy to tune. Alas, I am a tinkerer at heart and love a good challenge. I have access to Nosler 175’s for testing so we shall see if my rifle likes them. More later…
Good Shooting!
Deer Ticks and Lyme Disease in New Hampshire by Ed Hale
If you spend time outdoors in New Hampshire, particularly southern portions of the state, like the upcoming Turkey Season, then you are exposed to deer ticks that carry lyme disease causing bacteria. The deer tick also known as the black legged tick includes Massachusetts and Connecticut and Rhode Island as hotspots. Ticks are carried by Deer and Mice and contribute greatly to the tick population. One autumn I counted a dozen of them on my clothes while deer hunting near my home.
Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Powassan virus can be transmitted by the bite of the black legged tick (Ixodes scapularus).
In New Hampshire there are over 1300 diagnosed cases of Lyme disease each year (some go undiagnosed), over 100 cases of Anaplasmosis, 40 to 50 cases of Babesiosis. Powassan Virus infections are rare but one case was diagnosed in 2013. Lyme Disease if untreated will cause complications such as nervous system disorder, heart abnormalities, and episodes of joint swelling and pain. Early diagnosis is essential.
Below is the website of NH Dept. of Health and Human Services on Lyme Disease.
http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/lyme/index.htm
The odds of you being bitten by a deer tick are near 100% if you spend a significant amount of time outdoors and do not take precautions which include the use of 20 to 30% DEET on your skin, Clothing sprayed with Permethrin, pant leggings tucked into your socks and the like.
If you are bitten and the tick has been in you for more than 36 hours you are a candidate for these bacteria and Lyme Disease. See your doctor right away. The wood tick below also known as a dog tick and is not known to carry Lyme bacteria.
Prevention
Treat your yard with tick killing products that are family and pet friendly. Wear light clothing so you can see the ticks if they are crawling on you. Tuck your pant legs into your socks. As a hunter you need to be highly vigilant. Turkey Season is also tick season. Take your hunting clothes off in your garage and have a pair of alternate clothes nearby. Shower if possible soon after your outing and do a hair and body scan. You can put clothes in a dryer and the ticks will die from the heat. Check your pets and don’t let pets onto your bed as they can harbor ticks.
Spring is the time for Nymph size ticks
In the spring as it is here, the spring nymph stage is perhaps the most dangerous as these are the smallest of deer ticks and are almost impossible to spot, smaller than the head of a pin and a bite can go unnoticed. Often these little ticks will burrow under your skin leaving a red area where they entered. You may see just the back-end of the tick sticking out. If you can get a sharp-pointed pair of tweezers you may be able to pluck it out. I just purchased a pair of tweezers with a little magnifier attached. Treat the bite area with antiseptic cream and a bandaid to keep the antiseptic on the bite.
These ticks in later stages are just a little larger making it a bit easier to see and grasp with tweezers to pull out. If at all possible grasp the head of the tick and not the body. But when in doubt seek medical attention and keep the tick body for identification. It is common to administer an antibiotic such as doxycycline for Lyme disease, early detection is essential for the antibiotic to kill the bacteria. The most common indicator is the bullseye rash but does not always occur.
The bottom line here is that if you suspect you have been bitten, and symptoms within 30 days include fever, headache, fatigue, stiff neck and muscle or joint pain feel chills or flu like symptoms, joint pain, or break out in a rash, see your doctor right away to get treated. Don’t wait!
There are those folks who were never seen by a doctor or been diagnosed and many have died or live with tragic disorders of the heart or nervous system. Don’t be one of them!
Stay Safe, Hunt Safe!