Ok, roast a few marshmallows and lets talk of rifles and bullets.  Today we have the best bullets on the planet, with construction ranging from all lead as in old west and today with solid copper or gilding copper jacketed bullets with which to load our rifles. And some of those rifles reveal the best of both worlds, big game such as deer and varmints too. It is bullet weight, shape, composition, speed and sectional densities along with a bullets terminal velocity drive the ability to provide sufficient energy for a clean kill.

Marginal cross use cartridges such as the .223  lack sufficient sectional density (diameter/weight) to provide consistent kills at normal terminal design speeds of 2000 fps where the bullet mushrooms in the game delivering maximum energy to a deer and black bear size game. Yet on lighter game, such as coyotes and the like, they shine due to the smaller target mass and body thickness and penetrate well with excellent wound channels. At 6 mm, this in my estimation, is the small game to big game caliber such as gophers and coyotes to deer and bear. A one gun machine that also kicks little. The  6.5 mm and above like the .270 or 7mm there is sufficient sectional density coupled with energy and good bullet construction and shape for really big game such as Elk and Moose. I consider brown bear as “Dangerous Game” and should be treated that way, with respect. The smallest caliber I recommend is the  .338 Winchester Magnum with 250 grain bullets like the AccuBond or a Partition/ A Frame style.

There are many schools of thought on which rifle and caliber to own however Most New England Hunters shoot the .270 Winchester, 30-06 and 308 for all around big game performance It is not as recoil friendly for a new hunter unless you purchase reduced recoil cartridges, which manufacturers do make.

From a hand loading perspective I would opt for the larger calibers all the way up to my .375 if I was not a varmint hunter, because I can create reduced loads for any of these cartridges. That is why I highly recommend to my readers that they become hand loaders, you will be so glad you did. It will bring a whole new level of satisfaction to those that do. In addition it gives you a large measure of Freedom. Like you, I like freedom to choose.

© 2014

Former Senator Scott Brown would be happier in Massachusetts where he can mingle with the Liberals sometimes on this, and the Republicans on that, but he lost his senate race in Taxachusetts. I believe Scott Brown is a Maverick, one who is unpredictable with liberal tendencies on Second Amendment issues.

Yes, so he comes up here to New Hampshire dragging his liberal baggage with him. But up here in “Live Free or Die” Country he is getting a dose of Conservatism from God fearing, church going Constitutional, Second Amendment advocates and those who really embody the Live Free of Die Motto!

We want Freedom, We want Free Enterprise, and we want the Constitution of the United States as our Founding Fathers wrote it. Not how a liberal would re-interpret it. We want smaller Government Scott! Of the People by the People and For the People.

Scott, you just can’t walk the talk up here a drop the word Freedom every now and again.

Gun Quotations of the Founding Fathers

“Give me Liberty or Give me Death!”

Patrick Henry

What does former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown say?

Ban Assault Weapons and create Electronics to control guns!

Clearly  the Founding Father’s would be livid too with Scott.

Citizens, as Scott Brown fully knows, do not own true military assault weapons as they are not capable of fully automatic fire.

So what if Scott Brown was a kid up here in New Hampshire? Did he learn anything about Live Free or Die?

Sportsmen and Second Amendment advocates are angry and frustrated with his emphasis on Gun Control using electronic’s to control guns. Would they also control the guns of Criminals? Of course not! We would then become the only criminals!

No rest for the weary! Scott, renounce affiliation with those who want to place electronic shackles on Firearms and make Freedom loving individuals into criminals.

Scott, embrace the Founding Fathers belief that; “An armed society is a Free society!”

Or go back to Massachusetts!

For more reading on Scott’s Second Amendment positions read the Granite Grok Interview where he was as clear as mud:

http://granitegrok.com/blog/2014/04/so-is-scott-brown-really-a-surrogate-for-andy-leach

So you’ve been tellin’ yourself; Someday soon I will get into Reloading my own Ammunition! Now is the time my hunting and shooting friends!

The early spring and summer months are great to reload once the grass is cut and chores are minimal. Reloading for me is great down time, a be with myself, event.

It’s quiet in my basement, just me, brass cartridges, primers,powder and bullets along with my Reloading Press and a reloading manual. I just like the quiet time too.

Honestly, I am a read-a-holic when it comes to reloading manuals. I own several and each of them provide different perspectives, unique unto themselves. I own the Nosler Reloading Manual, the Hornady Handbook of cartridge reloading, the Speer book of Cartridge reloading and others.

Common in all reloading manuals is safety and a methodical approach to reloading.

It is very safe once you understand the fundamental that you are working with. If you are going to reload I suggest that you purchase a professional video such as the Precisioneered-Handloading DVD from RCBS; http://www.amazon.com/RCBS-99910-Precisioneered-Handloading-Dvd/dp/B001F0NRP4

Or go to RCBS site for more basics; http://www.rcbs.com/guide/#basics or perhaps to other vendors of your choice. I like and trust RCBS.

The above video is only 11.99 on Amazon.

Also make a purchase of at least one Reloading Manual. I like Nosler http://www.nosler.com/reloading-guide-7/ and Hornady Manuals http://www.hornady.com/store/9th-Edition-Reloading-Manual  so take your pick. Pick them up at your local sporting goods shop that handles reloading products.  Once you have read up a bit now choose your reloading equipment. If you are going to shoot volumes of bullets then a turret press will allow you to crank out accurate volumes of ammo. If extreme accuracy with inspection at each step are your goals then you might consider a simple single stage reloading press. I have used just a single stage RCBS press for more than 30 years.

I like it but I don’t shoot volumes of ammo. May be 50 rounds every other week for pistol and 20 rounds a week for Rifle. If I was going to be in Competitive Events then I would invest in a turret multi-stage press like RCBS : https://shop.rcbs.com/WebConnect/MainServlet?storeId=webconnect&catalogId=webconnect&langId=en_US&action=ProductDisplay&screenlabel=index&productId=6314

So what are you waiting for? Go get ’em!

It was my day off and went on a scouting drive and a trip to the Rifle Range. I brought two of my Rifles along to get some cobwebs out. For those that follow my articles I own the Ruger American .243 Winchester, what a rifle! I tested it then I bought it! I hand load most all of my ammo ‘cept shotgun.

Laying beside that rifle below, was my Ruger African M77 in .375 Ruger. My deer load is a Speer 235 grain just loping along at a modest 2100 fps like a hot muzzle loader. Grouped about the same just a bit over 2 inches at 150 yards. With 270 grain full power loads they tend to shoot into one hole…well, almost, at 100 yards.

I went for a 150 yard shot with the Ruger American .243 on a bench rest with 55 grain Nosler Varmint heads coming out of the barrel at 3500 fps. They grouped in the 2 1/4″ range. Great for coyotes at out to 600 yards. I proved this gun a real shooter with submoa groups with 90 grain heads. Very little recoil! On deer it can kill with sufficient energy out to 300 yards with a 90 to 100 grain head.

Here in the Northeast just don’t hit a branch before your deer as the bullet will likely be deflected.

Which is why I love the .375 Ruger for deer, when hand loaded. What branch? Great mass and momentum to plow through a small sapling and still deliver tremendous energy.

The .375 Ruger with a 270 grain spitzer AccuBond exits the barrel at around 2600 fps and can deliver almost 1500 foot pounds at 600 yards. A great Big Game rifle for any game on the planet except perhaps a bull elephant with a bad attitude at short range. When hand loaded down you can shoot small game with minimal damage to the meat. Yes really! When loaded down it acts a lot like an accurate muzzle loader. No crack sound, just a boom. What a day! Nice weather too.

I spent some time yesterday and reviewed Candidates for US Senator New Hampshire to run against Senator Jeanne Shaheen who does not support the Second Amendment of the Constitution to Keep and Bear Arms.

The only pro Second Amendment Candidate who I believe has a chance is:

Jim Rubens – http://jimrubens.com/  and http://jimrubens.com/gun-rights.html

I like Karen Testerman but voters have her in the weeds and she has no funding.

Scott Brown continues to bash the Second Amendment. On ObamaCare, Scott is choosing that as his Big Stick to whack at Jeanne Shaheen’s pro Obama Agenda.

Just received my new member materials for this club. Thanks Pemi Friends!

I am interested in membership particularly for long range shooting opportunities. Pemi-Valley F&G is located in Plymouth, NH. There is a very wide range of activities there that include Archery 3D that includes IBO sanctioned shoots.They hold 3 to 5 shoots a year. They have biathalons, cowboy action (home of the Pemi-Valley Peacemakers), High Power Rifle Matches, IDPA, Indoor Pistol and Silhouette Matches, small bore rifle matches, Trap Shoots and a Class 3 shoot a few times a year for those who wish to try fully automatic firearms under the guidance of professionals.

As the year progresses I hope to test some new rifles/scopes and gear up there and have some shooting fun while I’m at it. See you there! Want to know more?

GO TO www.pemi.org

I will keep you posted on my Activities up there this year.

Ed Hale – Editor-in Chief /Owner NH Rifleman Magazine.