The 1 Thing You Learned- Rifles

[hodgeman]

I sure hope this whole chassis thing is just a fad. Just like hunting with AR’s. Neither are proper hunting guns for the vast majority of circumstances. I do not at all understand the attraction.

I’m guilty of it too, but I sure see a lot of it on this website... we get so hung up on having the equipment to shoot stuff at a country mile, yet that is usually quite rare. If you aren’t much more than half drunk it’s usually not impossible to get within 300 yards.

Like you found, a good old 3-9x on a traditional bolt gun is best suited for normal occurrences. I recently heard a blurb of a podcast with an ID wolf hunting guide. His number 1 suggestion was to leave the cannon and the Nightforce at home. He said when it happens it happens fast and he wants you ready with that .270 you’ve had since high school and the scope on 4x!

We’ve somehow lost appreciation for simplicity. Darn tactikooks!

Yeah, I've had this rifle for a few years and just had to make myself carry on a hunt. It shoots like a dream but it's awkward for me to hunt with. I just stuck it up for sale a few days ago. I think the precision rifle stuff is fun, but I'm primarily a hunter and anymore the only shooting I do is hunting related.

 

[TomJoad]

For this year, it’s don’t forget you’re hunting when your hunting. That and Elk don’t always follow the rules we’ve established for them:

Day 3 of my R1 hunt when moving from A to B in mid afternoon, bright and hot sunshine on a south facing, exposed, beetle kill slope I should have anticipated bumping a real nice 6x6... but I knew he was supposed to be bedded down, or sheltered on a dark north facing slope. Don’t just A to B. Hunt slow and hard, even when you are where they are not supposed to be!

 

[Marble]

My biggest lesson ive learned is to prepare everything the night before and to check all my essential gear. That's my biggest thing to to ensure everything functions as it should.

This year specifically, I learned hunting with 3 guys over 70 is a chore. All very fun, knowledgeable and experienced. But they couldn't remember shit, were slow and had some physical limitations. I grew up hunting with them since was a wearing diapers, it's my turn to help them.



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[AZmark]

A rifle that fits is a must. Like Marmots said the length of pull is very important. Unlike him I am height challenged at 5'7" so I dont have long arms either (or a long neck). I found many years ago that when Im target practicing on a nice day off a bench wearing a T-shirt vs out hunting wearing layers, coat, backpack, your length of pull get short really quick. So I started shortening my length of pull to fit when Im hunting and it made a big difference on getting on game quickly. Yeah, when target practicing in a T-shirt now my rifles are a little short but I can put a pad in between and that also helps out on the sore shoulder.

 

[Mike Islander]

I learned that a 6X fixed scope on all my rifles is all I need. Ran a 4X on my 22 for years. Now I have identical 6X scopes on my squirrel and big game rigs. Plenty of scope out to 600 yards for big game and around 80 for squirrels.

 

[Ocnandmtns]

Great topic @Oregon Hunter ! I’m a long time archery hunter that bought my first rifle this year.

I bought an $800 Browning 300WSM with the logic ‘buy quality that will last but something basic will serve my needs well.’ I know that every bling feature drives the price up a couple hundred dollars and for my hunting purposes I probably wouldn’t notice the difference so keep my spending in check. I think my logic was good but the one feature I would have spent more on was a muzzle break or threaded barrel to allow it. I grew up hunting/shooting 12 gauge shotgun slugs so I’m not scared of recoil. But after practicing long range shots I realize how much recoil affects accuracy and I think a muzzle break or suppressor is a worthwhile investment. So, I’m now in search of a good gunsmiths to add a muzzle break to my bare bones rifle when it would have been easier to just buy it that way- and that’s my rifle lesson learned the hard(or expensive) way.

 

[Jeff_Gibbons]

That is awesome. And inspiring!

I take a lot of rookies hunting. The single most common issue that I see that causes lost opportunities is the inability to get on target quickly. I see this a lot with guys who have too many gizmos. Bipods, funky slings, overpowered or overcomplicated optics, bulky clothing, you name it.

So my one “thing” is to recommend that you take inventory of your crap, reduce the unnecessary stuff, and practice getting on target fast and making it count. That golden opportunity might be fleeting.

Similar lesson regarding getting on target quickly.

Turn your scope down to the minimum power........

 

[gbflyer]

I don’t like a “busy” scope reticle for my kind of hunting in the beach timber. I came home and put on an old Leupold with a 4A. Perfect. Oh yeah and I quit wearing my transition eye glasses too. No bueno in the trees.

 

[brsnow]

Buy a gun and practice, don’t read the internet.

 

[callmebubba]

Ask about what range you need to be ready to shoot and bring enough gun. I own multiple 500+ yard guns but took a 300 yard gun and only had 400+ shot opportunities.
(I borrowed a gun and made it happen but I should have been ready)

 

[MuleyFever]

One more. I will never plan to hunt with a muzzle break. This year I put a break on my rifle because it was threaded and I could. It was all hunky dory until one cold morning I got set up and put a hat on to warm my ears. Well in my mind I just put my ear muffs on. I have never rang my ears like that. I took the break off. The possibility of having to rush a shot and forgetting or being tempted to not put ear protection in to get the shot is reason enough for me to ditch the break.

 

[Carpenterant]

I went from a sporterized mosin to a tikka; sometimes it’s the rifle not the person

 

[dtrkyman]

Not a rifle guy, I bow hunt, but every rifle I have ever shot hits what I point it at!

 

[SDHNTR]

On my mule deer hunt I tried a mono pod with bino's and let my son take my spotting scope and tripod. Worked great. Much lighter and I feel like it forced me to hunt the deer in range vs spotting deer miles off. I used a old trigger stick I had laying around with a bino adaptor. I do need to find a mono pod that shortens up bit more but the trigger stick was actually very functional. On my elk hunt the one thing I learned was I need a bomb proof lighter. It was cold in montana this year.

Try the Kestrel Glassing System

Kestrel Glassing Systems | Advanced Monopod Hunting Systems

Glassing is as important as marksmanship, wilderness first aid, or woodsmanship. Hunting is only hiking if you don't find animals.

kestrelglassingsystems.com

 

[SDHNTR]

I learned a Nightforce 2.5-10x is all I need. Not sure why I would need to leave this Nightforce at home.

You’re right, that’s reasonable.

 

[J Batt]

That is awesome. And inspiring!

I take a lot of rookies hunting. The single most common issue that I see that causes lost opportunities is the inability to get on target quickly. I see this a lot with guys who have too many gizmos. Bipods, funky slings, overpowered or overcomplicated optics, bulky clothing, you name it.

So my one “thing” is to recommend that you take inventory of your crap, reduce the unnecessary stuff, and practice getting on target fast and making it count. That golden opportunity might be fleeting.

Absolutely. I’ve taken a couple first timers who blew opportunities because they couldn’t get on target in time. My top advise is “Dry Runs” that mimic real conditions as much as possible. The gear is irrelevant if you aren’t well rehearsed in using it.

My #1 lesson learned this season is that I want a scope with less power/ larger FOV. I tried running a big 5-25x56 because I wanted it to double as a spotter. In reality I didn’t end up using it as a spotter, but both bucks I killed this year took longer than I prefer to get lined up in the scope. I will be downsizing my scope for next season. And saving weight...

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I’ve learned over the years that it’s pretty much impossible to do too much leg strengthening before the season starts. Now I make lower body strength days a staple in my weekly schedule, I also incorporate some sort of squat, lunge, box step into every single workout. All that cool gear means nothing when you are smoked 3 hours into a 10 day hunt.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I’ve also found that for me, the rifle/scope is my least important piece of gear. I wish I could have the time and money I’ve spent over the years ******* around with that stuff.

Backpacks that for right and carry weight well, boots that feel good and don’t rub, raingear that packs up and keeps you dry and equipment that allows you to sleep well is far more Important (to me) than the rifle I choose.

I’ve hinted with 2 dozen different rifles and as many scopes over the years....were some better than others??? Absolutely, would I ever have missed an opportunity because I had a different gun and scope??? Nope.....shredded feet, lack of sleep, lack of comfort, packs that hurt....all of that stuff WILL ruin a multi day mountain hunt.

 

[dieselchessy]

I set my zero for max point blank range. Usually a 200 yard zero or so. I walk with scopes down around 4x, parallax set at 150 to 200 yards.

Over the years I’ve learned and relearned that in the heat of the moment for shorter range shots inside 250 yards, these details will be overlooked.
For longer range, beyond 300 yards or so, there is time to adjust and set up for the shot. It’s a necessity for the shot to happen.
Use as little magnification as is necessary for good shot placement. Its good to maintain field of view for re-acquiring the target after the shot to provide visual and follow up if needed.

 

[Deplorable77]

I wish I could upvote this post 10 more times. I've wasted so much time and money on optics and rifles even though I have proven tack drivers I consistently killed with in the past. Its a horrible rabbit hole to go down...
Pick one rifle, learn to master it in all temps and terrain, and dont look back. Spend the rest of your resources on quality personal gear.

I’ve also found that for me, the rifle/scope is my least important piece of gear. I wish I could have the time and money I’ve spent over the years ******* around with that stuff.

Backpacks that for right and carry weight well, boots that feel good and don’t rub, raingear that packs up and keeps you dry and equipment that allows you to sleep well is far more Important (to me) than the rifle I choose.

I’ve hinted with 2 dozen different rifles and as many scopes over the years....were some better than others??? Absolutely, would I ever have missed an opportunity because I had a different gun and scope??? Nope.....shredded feet, lack of sleep, lack of comfort, packs that hurt....all of that stuff WILL ruin a multi day mountain hunt.