king' s outdoor world - Index

king' s outdoor world - Hunting Illustrated April/May 2008 - Index

today for this incredible rifl e combo.
If you doubt me, I would challenge
you to put some together. It would
even be nice to publish the 100-yard,
three-shot group fi ndings. Just a
thought. I look forward to your next
column, keep up the good work.
Roger Glazier – via email
Carl Hermansen, my name is Wade
and I am sixteen and live in Lehi,
UT. I have also had a ton of good
luck with the .308. Mine is not as
fancy as yours, but it still gets the job
done. I have been using it strictly
for hunting deer, elk and antelope. I
have been using the Barnes Triple-
Shock X 150-grain from Federal.
I have had excellent success with
this bullet and have harvested two
deer, two antelope and an elk. What
I would like to ask you though, is
what load you would recommend
for the Ruger M77. I would also like
to use this rifl e for predator hunting.
Do you think that this would be a
good caliber for that and what load
would do the least damage to pelts?
I am starting to get into the reloading
scene and could use some helpful
tips with this caliber. Thanks.
Wade McAllister – via email
Wade, fancy is certainly not what it
takes to have a great shooting setup.
In fact, my most expensive and fancy
.308 that set me back $1800 shot
worse than my $750 Remington 700.
Handloading is THE ticket to getting
a rifl e to shoot. The .308 is absolutely
the perfect caliber for you to start
into the handloading arena with. The
Barnes Triple Shock is a very accurate
slug. In fact, in terms of accuracy, it is
in the top two of all the hunting slugs I
have tried with the other slug being the
Nosler Accubond. The only drawback
to the Triple Shock (that I know of) is
with bullet expansion on impact. I
have spoken to several hunters that
have had Triple Shocks just punch
holes through game with poor bullet
expansion. However, if you have had
good results, stick with it. If you want
to try something new, give the Nosler
Accubond a try. I’m not sure of the
choices in commercial ammo, because I
never buy boxed ammunition. For elk, I
would use a 165-grain and for the deer
and antelope a 150. Start with Reloder
15 powder. As for predators, pelt bullet
selection is a bit weak in .30 caliber -
most predator guns are chambered in .22
or 6mm. FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) slugs
do the least damage, but the chances of
wounding game is greater with them. I
am a huge V-Max fan for predators and
have had great luck on pelts using them
in my 220 Swift. Give the 110-grain
V-max a go and let me know what you
think. Another one to try is the slug I
mentioned in the article - the 125-grain
Berger. Good luck!
Carl Hermansen
Shooting Editor
5SOUND OFF5
WOMEN IN HUNTING
Comments from women hunters
I grew up rifl e hunting and only
recently got into archery hunting.
The year of 2007 was my fi rst season
and I’m absolutely hooked! I saw
a lot of deer and some nice bucks;
however, I was unable to harvest
any. I learned a lot about archery
hunting and am confi dent I will have
a trophy this season! Now I prefer
archery season over rifl e season
because it is more challenging and
I see a lot more deer. I also just
recently discovered your website
and think it’s great. I hope to submit
a picture for your women in hunting
in 2008.
- Darla Short
I have been hunting since I was
fourteen. My dad taught me
everything I know about hunting.
I think I could hunt everyday if I
could. I just wish there were more
women hunters out there - it’s not
just a man’s sport. I think it is great
that you are going to do a women’s
issue, I can’t wait to see all the
other women out in the fi eld with
their great trophy animals. I have
submitted a photo of the deer that I
took in October of 2007.
- Jennifer Huff
I grew up hunting with my family;
but, in 2005, started bowhunting.
I love bowhunting! I was lucky
enough to get a two-point my
fi rst year, it was very exciting. In
2006 I did get some shots, but was
unsuccessful that year. In 2007, I
got another two-point and feel that I
now have the confi dence that I need
to go for bigger bucks. Hunting is a
sport where you have to have great
patience. I hope to send in a trophy
picture soon.
- Jan Topham
April/May 9