lancetkenyon

You must have not been in 8....maybe 7E?

WTF? It is in the freaking NAME! BOY Scouts. So can I join the Girl Scouts and eat all the thin mints for free now?

If I get some time tomorrow, I will do a complete writeup of my hunt. Even though it was over opening evening, that was a long time coming.

Man I am glad this is not a medium. I don't need a 4th Guide DCS jacket. These jackets are awesome.

22 roasts between 3-5# 20 back strap steaks 65# burger 70/30 w. Beef ribeye roast 25# red chorizo 70/30 w. Pork 12# green chorizo 70/30 w. Pork 9# green chili breakfast sausage 60/30/10 w. Pork & jalapeño bacon 9# breakfast sausage 60/30/10 w. Pork @ applewood bacon 9# breakfast hot sausage 60/30/10 w. Pork & black pepper bacon w. Red chili's 16# Italian sausage 70/30 w. Pork 40 brats 20 jalapeño/cheddar sausages

I have talked to several gunsmiths, and my barrel break-in process differs for factory rifles to custom barrels. Custom barrels from any reputable maker (Bartlein, Rock, Shilen, Brux, Kreiger, Proof, etc.) is as follows....religiously. Clean barrel prior to first round in New barrel. 1. Shoot one 2. Shoot one 3. Shoot one 4. Repeat steps 1-3. I usually clean after my first range trip. Then not again until groups start to open up. Form a factory new barrel, I usually do the normal break-in process. 1. Shoot one, clean ×5. 2. Shoot 3, clean x3 3. Shoot 10, clean x1 4. Shoot until groups start to open up.

I have been thinking about this subject and the OP's 1st post. Here are a couple questions for you. 1. If the deer only went 5 yards, how can you even question the bullet performance? 2. Unless you recovered the bullet and all pieces, how can you tell what the bullet did internally? A small exit hole could be just a small portion of the bullet or a fragment. I have only recovered 2 bullets from game, ever. a 175 SMK on an elk @ 160 yards, and a 215 Hybrid on an elk at 432 yards. Both were just under the offside hide. Both elk never took a single step. .308" 175 SMK 215 Hybrid I do not think that would have left much of an exit hole.

I can add a 662 yard elk kill with a 7mm 180 Hybrid. Exit was about $.25 size, but bull only went 50 yards.

Almost every rifle I shoot is now loaded with Bergers with the exception of various Barnes loads for when I hunt the Kaibab. Always been great killers. In 7-08, I would look for something in the 140-168 weight range for elk. Might as well shoot the same thing for deer if they shoot well. I now try to shoot the same load for everything, makes sense to shoot the same thing as you can practice in varying conditions and not worry about grabbing the wrong ammo. We usually shoot in the crease behind the front shoulder for a double lung shot. I have only shot for high front shoulder on 2 animals, but they both dropped on the spot. A 6.5mm 127 LRX on a Muley @ 637 yards, and a .308 215 Hybrid on a bull elk @ 437 yards. It is a very viable shooting solution that usually anchors them where they stand/fall. Broken shoulders/spines, and still hit lungs. Over many years, my family members have shot deer & elk with: .224" 69 SMK (12AW youth doe) .257" 100 SMK, 115 HVLD (several deer and javalina) 6.5mm 130 HVLD, 140 HVLD, 140 Hybrids, 142 SMK (several deer) .277" 140 HVLD, 150 HVLD (several deer and elk) 7mm 140 HVLD, 168 HVLD, 180 Hybrid (a few deer and elk) .308" 168 HVLD, 168 SMK, 175 SMK, 190 HVLD, 210 HVLD, 210 SMK, 215 Hybrids (a few deer and a lot of elk) Shots have ranged from 18 to 662 yards on big game. All performed fantastic. I think the 7-08 is plenty for closer range elk out to 400-500 and medium range deer out to 700. The .243 would not be my choice for elk, only as a last resort with a good, broadside shot opportunity. I know many elk have been taken with a .243, just not my preference. Should be enough for deer out to 500 with proper bullet choice. A 95 HVLD would be a good candidate for an all-around load.

If 600 is your max range, 10x is plenty. Also, there is nothing you won't be able to see with clearer glass @ 10x than slightly less clear @ 15x. Features, reliability, reticle, weight and appearance would be my determining factors. And you know I am an optics snob. For the price range, there are not many others I would consider other than the 2 you picked. I think Leupold will look the best on the rifle if you want to keep it kind of classic looking. But the NF is a great scope too.

217, 212, 429 roads for the 12AW side.

Great article, great kid, great Dad. Great family values and commitment to helping others as well. Definitely "proud-worthy".

Just finished another paint job.

Awesome bull. Don't think otherwise. Good hunt+good memories+great table fare+great scenery=Awesome bull.

I love it when the rub in the burns and get those black antlers. Awesome bull.

That was me. Cell phone for my cousin to track my movements and walked me within 2' of where I found the tracks that led me to my bull. I don't blame you a bit for driving the other way after the shot. The pack out sucked....I shouldn't have taken the backstraps/tenderloins/neck roasts on the same trip with the head.

On a side note, once you verify zero and drops, true your ballistics, and practice practice practice, trust your rifle and ballistics program. I took a shot at a coyote an hour before, at 775 yards. I honestly do not know exactly where the bullet went, but it was close the way the coyote acted. I could have hit him and he bolted, or I could have missed him high or left with the wind that I did not take into account. But with no visible bullet splash, no telling. It messed with my mind. On my bull an hour later, when I spotted him, I got a solid rest. Front bipod extended, rear butt stock on the roots of a downed tree, me hanging/resting on the roots too. Sitting, I was rock solid. 662 for me is usually an easy shot. But the possible miss on the coyote, and doubts had me flustered. Plus the adrenaline pumping didn't help matters at all. So I verified conditions with the rangefinder. 23.42 baro, 60°F, 3° downhill, zero wind as it had literally died to dead calm 1 minute before the shot. I had a great rest, and when he stepped out, I held on his elbow and squeezed slowly. I saw the flash, the bull hunch and bolt, but I honestly didn't know the shot. When I found my bull, the exit was absolutely perfect. Vertical was dead centered up/down, exit was where it was aimed. Once I could see the entrance, not knowing exactly how his leg was positioned, the most I could have been off was 1" right. At the shot, the last minute doubts were floating around my head. But my ballistics, environmental inputs, rifle zero, and apparently hold were perfect. I let the rifle and bullet do the real work. My shooting solution from Shooter App was 2.9MIL, w. 68.2" of drop. Even my drop chart I printed and taped to my scope before the hunt would have been spot on for the conditions I expected to be hunting in.

Totally depends on weather fps a lot of elk movement, but even the antelope flats and PJs hold a few bulls year round.

Awesome!!! Great memories for sure. Great bull too. And not just for a first! If that 6x6 was a satellite bull, the herd bull must have been gigantic. That is a great lesson with your kids too. Don't worry about the cuts. I have only field dressed one animal I didn't become a blood brother with. Brings you closer to your game and nature.

Depends on where the game is. I usually glass low to high first. Then gain elevation and glass high to low. Anywhere from 2 hours to 4 hours at a spot. Pick apart every single tree and bush.

Questions about the bullet performance... I did not recover the bullet, there was a good exit wound however. Blood trail was just walked back a very short distance once we had headlamps. There were chunks of lung Jello along the path. I was very happy with the performance of the 180 Hybrid. This is the second elk it has killed. A cow at 75 yards by Taylor last fall had a fist sized exit would hitting an offside rib. This one snuck between ribs entrance and exit. Exit wound was about the size of a quarter with a decent blood trail after 25-30 yards of flat out running, but the internals were liquified/Jello. 50-60 yards was as far as he got after the hit at a dead run. No kicking where he fell, just dead when he hit the ground.

Try some Bergers....

I spent 2 hours typing up a full report this morning. While adding the final few pictures, my computer froze. So I will just post the meat and potato photos and a quick rundown of the day. 2:30 Woke up 3:30 on the road 5:15 at the spot I called in the 6x6 Hiked about 5-6 miles, heard a few distant bugles, no elk seen, hiked back to truck 11:30 back at truck and drive to high point to glass 3:00. Nothing glassed, go check a few water holes for activity, not much 4:00 hear coyotes across meadow, and glass them up, 775 yards, take shot, forget to hold for wind, scare the crap out of coyote as bullet missed his nose by inches 4:30 see tons of recent elk track in mud on road that was not there Wednesday afternoon. Decide to sit a small hill overlooking PJ flats on 3 sides. We could hear people talking to the south. About 10 minutes to sunset, hear a chuckle, then a weak, weird bugle about 1200 yards out. My cousin asked if it was real as I was packing up my gear. Said I was going to check and headed to a smaller hill between. Got to the top, and just as I was creating saw a bull stand up out of his bed. My cousin saw it from the other hill and called me right as I was getting set up for a possible shot. I tried calling him in, but he would just bugle back but not come in. He had my location pegged on the bare hill so I couldn't move. Ranged him at 660-675 while he was moving around. Rechecked and adjusted Shooter app, and Dialed for 660. He finally stepped out broadside at 662 and I sent a 180 Hybrid from my father-in-law's 7RM. Saw through the scope as he hunched and bolted. Unsure of the hit, I Called my cousin to my hill and set my 15s on the exact spot he was. We were not prepared. No packs, lights, etc as we were not expecting a shot. He walked me in to the spot in the dark using my phone as a marker light. When I finally got to the spot about 30 minutes later, sent him back to the truck to get the gear, headlamps, packs, etc. He drove around to a road that would be closer. With only my flashlight on my phone, I marked the location on Google Earth. Dark, but a half moon helped. Found some fresh elk tracks that looked like an elk that took off on a hurry, torn up. Followed for about 20 yards, no blood. Just walked in the general direction he was going after that for about 30 yards, and I could smell him. Looked around upwind and found him piled up!!! Super lucky to find him right away without a blood trail. 1:00 am Got him all packed out, 2 trips each for my cousin ans I, about a mile each way. Taylor and Regina made 1 trip each 2:15. Stopped and grabbed a burger and gas/ice in Flagstaff 2:50 back at cabin, on ice in the big ice chest 3:15. Showered and in bed. 24+ hour day. I shot my bull at 662 yards with my father-in-law's 7RM he asked me to build and kill an elk with when he passed away last year. I accomplished that goal and filled his request. 24+ hour opening day ended with me taking this 6x7 bull at sunset. I want to Gove a huge thanks to some.of the guys that helped with unit info and encouragement. Azcouesandelk, Flatlander, Hoss50, and Muley224.

.005" is not way excessive

Back the die out .003".