Category Archives: Big Game Hunting

Articles about Big Game Hunting.

Long Range Shooting with Handloads – Powder can vary Lot to Lot- Take Extra Care with Max Loads

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In loading for moose with my Browning X-Bolt 7mm Rem Mag, I continue experimenting with powders and bullets . My two favorite bullets are Nosler ABLR 168 and 175 grain bullets. In the process, I am aware that I am looking for max loads and accuracy too.

As a result, I discovered measurable lot to lot variation in some powders. Alliant Reloader 22 is one of those I see vary,  and on the lower side so far…a good thing.

Thus, I approach new powder lots with more caution. Instead of loading hot loads with the same grain weight as my last lot, I back off a few grains or more and work up several rounds with my chronograph and inspect the brass and primer for overpressure signs.

At max loads you should also be aware that some magnum primers can be hotter and will effect velocity and may create overpressure as well if your are on the cusp.

Those who really push their rifle and cartridge in winter time can find those rounds perhaps too hot in summer when temps are in the 90’s. Why is my bolt sticking, you ask?

I think to keep my winter max loads a bit lighter and be aware of loads you loaded winter to summer. Dating them can help.  

Load Safely!

7mm Rem Mag Long Distance Hunting Accuracy and why you might need a Ballistic Wind Meter

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I am a hunter, and try to keep my shots within my skill level. I have never taken a shot at game beyond 300 yards. However, I will, this fall, be exposed to shots at bull moose out to 400 to 600 yards.  Thus, I must, to seriously train to see where my limitations are.

That includes my rifle tuning as well. As my readers know, I will be hunting with my new Browning X-Bolt 26 inch/9.5 twist barrel with Nosler 168g AccuBonds Long Range.

Perhaps one of the most important “unknown” variables for long range hunting is wind speed and direction. At 90º to your shot direction, wind will blow your bullet off the center of your target at its worst. But wind blowing at you or toward your animal, the sideways force of the wind on your bullet is at its minimum, thus it should be true. The big question is, what is the wind speed? And what is the drift at 90º?

Drift Table 90º for 7mm Rem Mag 168g Nosler ABLR wit muzzle vel. 2960fps

Distance         10mph     15mph    20mph    Angle

200                  2in            3in         4in          90

300                  4in            6in         8in          90

400                  8in            11in       15in        90

500                  12in          18 in      24in        90

600                   18in         27in       36in        90

At 400 yards at 10mph the bullet will drift 8 inches across a 12 inch circle on a moose chest, thus you will have to aim right or left of your point-of-aim by 8 inches. This is doable if your wind speed is accurate. At 500 yards you need to move 12 inches on a 90º drift. The big question is how do you determine wind direction and speed at long range? You not only need a laser rangefinder, you also need a wind meter for an accurate shot. 

I have a cheap one but maybe get a better one. There are dozens on the market. Best meters are made by Kestrel. My son has the ballistics model Kestrel 5700 and he loves it. Retails around $449.00.  On a $7000 dollar hunt for my Newfoundland Bog moose where distances are easily at the edge of rifle and hunter capabilities. This is an item to strongly consider. See this article below for options.

https://www.pewpewtactical.com/best-kestrel-shooting-hunting/

 

l_100034291_2.jpg

Good Hunting!

 

Leupold VX-6 3×18 44mm Scope Mounting Eye Relief on Browning X-Bolt Speed

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I purchased a pair of Browning 30mm scope rings for my favorite Leupold VX-6 zoom scope (a $100 add-on to the $1299 for the rifle).

VX-6HD 3-18x44 CDS-ZL2 Side Focus Illum. FireDot Duplex

 At first, the scope and Browning rings seemed to fit my VX-6 fine,  but I noticed that the eye relief was so far away that I got a serious case of  “tunnel” effect when looking thru the scope at high power.  Tech data says eye relief should be around 3.8 inches, I was perhaps 5 inches or more away in eye relief.

The objective bell taper on this scope is so long that it prevented rearward scope movement with a 2 ring system mounted on my rifle.

I can only get about 8x out of my existing setup and nixes any higher magnification. All else being equal, that stinks, doesn’t it?

Accordingly, I bought a Tally Picatinny rail with bubble level designed for the Browning X-Bolt Long Action and a set of Burris 30mm 1/4: height rings. I mounted the rail with a dab of blue Permatex Blue (medium strength) thread locker on the mounting screws. I also had to shorten the front of the Picatinny to clear the scope bell.

Browning X-Bolt 20 MOABurris Xtreme Tactical Signature Rings 30mm 1" Height - 4Shooters

Browning X-Bolt Speed taken apart with picatinny installed

 

Leupold VX-6, Picatinny and Burris Rings allows front tapered bell to clear the mount.

The secondary problem some shooters will run into, is that the combined height of rail and rings can cause the shooters cheek weld to be too low for eye/scope alignment but the Burris 30mm 1/4 inch rings work. 

Looks like I am building a custom rifle, doesn’t it? Just wait, the new Timney trigger will complete my custom build soon.

More Soon…

© Copyright 2023. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

Browning X-Bolt “Speed” 7mm Rem Mag – Fast Follow-up Shots with 168g Nosler ABLR at 150 yards

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After sighting in my rifle, one of my moose hunting shot techniques is to shoot multiple “fast” long range shots like I am in the field, off my Bog Death Grip below as an example off my Bog with my heavy recoiling .375 Ruger.

I can hear my guide excitedly shouting; “Put another one in him!”

My Browning X-Bolt has a 60 degree bolt lift thus shortening the bolt throw time significantly and is a smooth push-feed.

 

Below, I shot a string of 2 fast shots, after my first and best shot (three total shots off my Bog Death Grip) at a paper target with no bullseye but shooting for the center of the 15 inch paper target at 150 yards.

If you look hard, you can see the target below. I used 8x to see the target face.

Veteran moose hunters suggest using just enough magnification that also allows a field of view for reacquiring the target after the first shot.

Your hunt guide can also help to see the con-trail of your bullet hit with his binoculars. 

Below is the 3 shot string target. Shot #1 is at the paper crease.  Rapid Shot #2 is below shot #1.The third rapid shot went left 4 inches. The outer cardboard is close to the overall chest height of a moose at around 30 inches or so.

 

 

Many big game animals such as moose often don’t fall at the shot.  And likely, are not really sure what just happened to them and can move quickly making a follow-up shot more difficult. 

I believe the hunter should be practiced for follow-up shots to drop the animal as fast as possible. Bench rest shooting does not qualify here. 

In Africa, close big wounded dangerous game require, for your life’s sake, to drop the animal before it drops you.

On that note, you should also chamber and cycle your ammo in the rifle you hunt with, especially if it is hand-loaded. We don’t like surprises!

It can be just as dangerous to have a 1000 lb. bull moose shot at less than 30 yards and he decides to charge and give you some smack-down with his massive antlers. Yea, a follow-up here, for sure as an 8 foot giant frontal moose image appears at 20 feet or less.  

More Soon!

© Copyright 2023. All Rights Reserved. 

 

 

 

 

 

Browning X-Bolt Speed – Nosler 168g ABLR w/ IMR 4831 Groups – Updated 2/2/23

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As you may know, I have been working up hand-loads for my moose hunt and finding the Nosler 168g ABLR reaching over 3000 fps with IMR 4831. But the question is, with what accuracy or groups?

Well, I shot this group below and it looks like a tight 3/4″ except for the flyer. I shot the third shot in the upper right target and extrapolated its position on the string below. Why I shot that upper right target? Because I wanted a smaller target as a focal aim point.

But it needed to be repeated in the second target below for me to validate it. The trigger is a heavy 4 lbs. but I was able to get used to where it breaks. The thin mountain barrel does heat fast and after 3 shots to warm it, it begins to string. 

I repeated the same shots a week later with all the same components at 100 yards. The first 3 shots group 3/4 ” from a cold barrel and the 4th shot drops an inch. I know that a lighter trigger may also help. But overall, I was very pleased with the cold shots for hunting purposes.

Tests continue Using my Labradar

I loaded some 168g ABLR’s with hot H1000 Powder to compete with the IMR 4831. See below low left and right 100 yd 3 shot cold barrel groups with extreme spread of 78 fps an 2 inch groups. The IMR 4831 wins!

I did shoot 168 ABLR today for a third bench rest group for the IMR 4831 and Statistics. Below this group was 1 1/4 inches. Shown below with associated Labradar Stats with Extreme Spread of 14.34 fps and a Std Deviation of 8.17. Very nice indeed!

Labradar Report for IMR 4831

Device ID LBR-0028541                                      
                                                             
Series No 4                                             
Total number of shots 3                                 
                                                             
Units velocity fps                                         
Units distances yd                                         
Units kinetic energy ft-lbf                                
Units weight grain (gr)                                    
                                                             
Stats – Average 2937.25 fps                                 
Stats – Highest 2946.69 fps                                 
Stats – Lowest 2932.35 fps                                  
Stats – Ext. Spread 14.34 fps                               
Stats – Std. Dev 8.17 fps                                   
Shot ID V0 V25 V25 V50 V75 V101 Ke0 Ke25 Ke25 Ke50 Ke75 Ke101 Proj. Weight Date Time
1 2933 2893 2893 2852 2814 0 3207 3120 3120 3034 2953 168 2/2/2023 13:01:22
2 2932 2882 2882 2841 2801 0 3207 3098 3098 3011 2925 168 2/2/2023 13:02:44
3 2947 2907 2907 2868 2829 2788 3238 3151 3151 3067 2984 168 2/2/2023 13:04:08

 

Interestingly, I did note that a drop in outside temperature affects ignition and velocity. Last week I shot at 37degrees F and MV avg was 3003. Today at 26 degrees F,  MV avg was 2937 a drop of 70 fps. At 600 yards that equates to a drop of 4 inches on a moose. I’ll keep that in mind!

More Soon…

© Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved.

 

Browning XBolt “Speed” 7mm Rem. Mag.- Likes and Dislikes – My Grade?

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X-Bolt Speed

Browning X-Bolt 7mm Rem Mag with 1:9.5 twist in a light 6 lb 13 oz mountain-rifle configuration. Fluted, sporter-weight 26 inch barrel with radial muzzle brake. Cerakote Smoked Bronze finish. Composite stock with highly versatile Browning OVIX Camo.

https://www.browning.com/products/firearms/rifles/x-bolt/x-bolt-speed.html

My retail cost. $1349 with Browning Scope Mounts.

This is a hunter’s rifle. It is meant to hunt in any weather anywhere.

As a mountain rifle this would be great to carry high on a mountain or in a valley out as far as you are comfortable shooting.

It is not glossy, but made for a serious hunter looking for stealth.

It is not designed for target shooters with heavy guns and bull barrels and light triggers to shoot holes in holes, but never the less can shoot sub-MOA for some loads and powders up to heavy bullets like175 grain Nosler’s I have tested. 

It is worth the money! Read on…

What I like most? 

  • Does it shoot? Yes and decent MOA and even sub-MOA groups too depending on the bullet.
  • The 60°bolt throw in the X-Bolt is extremely smooth and cycles like lighting, I have shot dozens of rifles and find the bolt throw and smoothness… first class.
  • Overall weight 6lbs 13 oz. is amazingly light to carry.
  • The fluted sporter barrel in Smoked Bronze Cerakote and is well made, handsome and ready for any fowl weather.
  • I was immediately impressed with how fast it cycles for a second shot. Like lightning!
  • The removable beefy 3 shot clip is exceptionally well made of composite material and audibly clicks when installed.
  • The composite stock has texture along with the cool OVIX camo and grip swell. 

What I like least?

The trigger adjustability needs improvement. However it is a crisp 4 pounds.

Twist rate could be a bit faster. I would have preferred a 1:8.5 twist which manages improved heavier bullet stability but it still shoots 175 grain for long range.

My Test Conclusion

It shoot sub-MOA for 140 grain bullets and is stable in twist to shoot up to 175 grain Nosler bullets that I have shot 1 1/4″ at 100 yards. 

An acquaintance hunted Africa with me years ago and took a 1000 + pound Blue Eland with one shot from his 7mm Rem Mag and a 175 grain bullet. It was a heart shot! 

My best moose bullet so far is Nosler 168g ABLR with initial sub MOA 3/4″ group at 3005 fps.

I shoot without a muzzle brake and recoil is surprisingly moderate but I am used to shooting big magnum’s. 

My Overall grade without including the trigger is a solid A.

With trigger as is, gets an A minus. I will add a Timney in time.

I am taking this Browning rifle to hunt moose in Newfoundland this September and will write about the hunt. 

Good Hunting!

© Copyright 2023

Browning X-Bolt Speed 7mm Rem Mag with Hand Loaded IMR 4831 Powder and 168g Nosler ABLR for Moose

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X-Bolt Speed

My Browning 26 inch 9.5 twist rifle barrel likes hand loaded 7mm 168 grain Nosler ABLR with a hot load of IMR 4831 per Nosler web load data. I chrono’d an average of 3005 fps. Wow! These are cookin’ !! COAL was 3.255 inches. No pressure signs except the primer was a bit flatter… as expected. Three rounds measured 3/4 inch but more testing will firm that up. I will change the trigger to a Timney at some point as it is impractical to easily adjust with a 2mm Allen wrench on a sealant filled screw. If you like 4 pounds for a factory trigger it works, for some hunters, not me. All my rifles are set near 3 pounds. 

Research with Bryan Litz Applied Ballistics Book finds that  the Nosler 175g ABLR Form Factor of 0.94 is considered low drag but the 168g ABLR is considered VLD Very Low Drag with Form Factor of 0.896 thus holding its energy better at long range than the 175g ABLR.

Assuming I use the 168 Nosler ABLR for long range Newfoundland moose hunting, I can reach out in a large open terrain tundra-like bog with my BOG tripod Death Grip to steady the shot out to 600 yards.

Distances I will practice this summer, in prep for the hunt, is out to 600 yards. With a 300 yd zero, at 100 yards the bullet is 3 inches high and 150 yards is 4 inches high, dead-on at 300 yards and Max Point Blank Range is 376 yards. At 600 yards terminal energy is 1822 ft-lbs and still traveling over 2200 fps. At 400 yds it holds a truck-load of energy at 2200 ft-lbs. Just have your laser rangefinder at hand and be ready for a follow-up shot. The 60 degree bolt throw is a big plus for very fast second shots.

Below is the JBM ballistic report for the Nosler 168g ABLR at 3005fps and zeroed for 300 yards.

 

Trajectory
Input Data
Manufacturer: Nosler Description: Accubond Long Range Spitzer (G7)
Caliber: 0.284 in Weight: 168.0 gr
Ballistic Coefficient: 0.353 G7 (ASM)
Muzzle Velocity: 3005.0 ft/s Distance to Chronograph: 10.0 ft
Sight Height: 1.50 in Sight Offset: 0.00 in
Zero Height: 0.00 in Zero Offset: 0.00 in
Windage: 0.000 MOA Elevation: 0.000 MOA
Line Of Sight Angle: 0.0 deg Cant Angle: 0.0 deg
Wind Speed: 10.0 mph Wind Angle: 90.0 deg
Target Speed: 10.0 mph Target Angle: 90.0 deg
Target Height: 48.0 in
Temperature: 45.0 °F Pressure: 29.92 in Hg
Humidity: 0 % Altitude: 0.0 ft
Vital Zone Radius: 5.0 in
Std. Atmosphere at Altitude: No Pressure is Corrected: Yes
Zero at Max. Point Blank Range: No Target Relative Drops: Yes
Mark Sound Barrier Crossing: No Include Extra Rows: No
Column 1 Units: 1.00 in Column 2 Units: 1.00 MOA
Round Output to Whole Numbers: No
Output Data
Elevation: 6.548 MOA Windage: 0.000 MOA
Atmospheric Density: 0.07859 lb/ft³ Speed of Sound: 1101.3 ft/s
Maximum PBR: 376 yd Maximum PBR Zero: 318 yd
Range of Maximum Height: 174 yd Energy at Maximum PBR: 2318.7 ft•lbs
Sectional Density: 0.298 lb/in²
Calculated Table
Range Drop Drop Windage Windage Velocity Mach Energy Time Lead Lead
(yd) (in) (MOA) (in) (MOA) (ft/s) (none) (ft•lbs) (s) (in) (MOA)
0 -1.5 *** 0.0 *** 3009.8 2.733 3378.7 0.000 0.0 ***
50 1.4 2.8 0.1 0.2 2938.4 2.668 3220.4 0.050 8.9 17.0
100 3.4 3.2 0.4 0.4 2867.8 2.604 3067.5 0.102 18.0 17.2
150 4.3 2.7 1.0 0.6 2798.0 2.541 2920.0 0.155 27.3 17.4
200 4.0 1.9 1.8 0.8 2729.1 2.478 2777.8 0.209 36.8 17.6
250 2.6 1.0 2.8 1.1 2661.0 2.416 2640.9 0.265 46.6 17.8
300 -0.0 -0.0 4.1 1.3 2593.7 2.355 2509.2 0.322 56.7 18.0
350 -3.9 -1.1 5.6 1.5 2527.4 2.295 2382.5 0.381 67.0 18.3
400 -9.2 -2.2 7.4 1.8 2462.1 2.236 2260.9 0.441 77.6 18.5
450 -15.9 -3.4 9.5 2.0 2397.7 2.177 2144.1 0.503 88.5 18.8
500 -24.1 -4.6 11.9 2.3 2334.2 2.120 2032.2 0.566 99.6 19.0
550 -33.9 -5.9 14.6 2.5 2271.7 2.063 1924.8 0.631 111.1 19.3
600 -45.4 -7.2 17.6 2.8 2210.3 2.007 1822.1 0.698 122.9 19.6
650 -58.7 -8.6 20.9 3.1 2149.8 1.952 1723.7 0.767 135.0 19.8
700 -73.9 -10.1 24.6 3.4 2090.3 1.898 1629.7 0.838 147.4 20.1

 
25-Jan-23 07:58, JBM/jbmtraj-5.1.cgi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moose Hunting Anatomy – Where to Aim

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I hear hunters often ask where exactly should I aim my rifle on a broadside moose? On a facing moose? On a quartering away or toward you? 

Anatomical Knowledge Helps

All questions we need answers to in the field. I went on a web search and found a great article below written by a veterinarian for hunters. It included Caribou anatomy too. 

https://ucalgary.ca/caribou/HuntingMoose.html

As you can see below moose lungs, in orange, are huge and your best target.

LOOK AT THOSE HUGE LUNGS

A shot centered on it, and the moose is yours provided good bullet construction and penetration.

Check out the website for shooting angle aiming for lungs.

The heart is low and not the best target, a miss is more possible. Aim for lungs!

 

https://ucalgary.ca/caribou/HuntingMoose.html

Good Hunting!

 

Reloading the 7mm Remington Magnum for my Browning X-Bolt w/ New Norma Brass

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I purchased Norma Brass this January for reloading my new Browning Rifle for moose hunting. There were no other Brass manufacturers available on the Internet, that I could find at the time… but glad I bought them.

I purchased a lot of 50, packed in plastic bags and boxed. How did they weigh-out? 

Accordingly, I weighed 10 case random sample and did a Standard Deviation, Average and Extreme Spread. 

Std Dev.  0.74 grains

AVG Wt. 214.83 grains

Extreme Spread of 2 grains in the ten cases. That is excellent!

 

 

 

I took a photo of the flash hole from inside this unsized case. Notice that there is no apparent burr. Some manufacturers like Norma drill the flash hole instead of punching. Drilling is better!

I found this informative review below of Norma Brass on line. 

Norma 7mm Rem Mag Brass Review

 

Adding the primers with my press was much more difficult as they were new and difficult to seat. The good news is that these primer pockets will firmly hold the primer and make reloading the case less susceptible to loose primers. Norma says the brass can be reloaded  up to 10 times according to the above article. 

I used my RCBS Rock Chucker Press, RL-22 powder and loaded Nosler 7mm 175 grain AccuBond Long Range. The bullets are boat tail thus I thought it would make it a bit easier to press the bullet.  They still pressed hard but did not hurt the case.

I shall chamfer the inside of case necks on the next batch to make the bullets press easier. 

I shot enough to zero at 100 yards (groups 1 1/4″) then chronographed them at 2615 fps. I expected a much faster bullet. I was hoping for 2900 fps says Nosler data with 1:9 twist and 24 inch barrel. My barrel is 1:9.5 twist with a 26 inch barrel. Accordingly, I will experiment with powders to see what I can safely wring out of these bullets. Inspecting the fired case and primers look normal. 

The trigger still pulls heavy for me (4 lbs) and soon I will have a Timney to swap out the factory trigger. 

I also loaded some Nosler 168 grain ABLR’s with IMR 4831 and they chrono’d at around 3005 fps and grouped at 3/4 inches at 100 yards. I liked that load!

This round may turn out to be better for long range moose than the 175 ABLR.

More Soon!

 

 

 

Sent email to Timney Triggers to Test Trigger for Browning X-Bolt- They Responded

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Hope to hear back from Timney folks. They Responded.

In just a week or two Timney will send a Trigger for the X-Bolt to test and share with readers, including my removal of the original trigger, replacement and hunting/shooting tests. You don’t need a gunsmith! The shooter has choices of pull weights set at the factory. Mine will be 3 pounds pull weight.

https://timneytriggers.com/browning-x-bolt/

I have had great luck with these triggers.

. Browning X-Bolt