lancetkenyon

Got out to the range today to practice some more long range shooting, making the closer shots seem easy. She was shooting my .223 mostly, for practice. She was hitting 90% of her shots at 700+ yards, even with the serious winds we had this morning. Those swirling winds sure can push a 69gr SMK around at those distances. Anything under 700 was pretty much on target. From 200 to 848, with a total of 90 rounds shot by her today, I think she had a total of 4 missed shots, 2 @ 717, and 2 @ 848, all due to wind calls. She also shot the .250 Ackley 9 times. From 585 all the way to 850. All first round hits. Then on to the .270. I think I am going to leave it at home, and have her shoot my .300RUM. We will take the .25-06 as a backup gun. I just cannot get the .270 shooting how I want. It is living on borrowed time to get a re-barrel and some action work after hunting season is over. Get it re-chambered and worked to make it accurate. Probably go with a .280 AI. She also shot my .300RUM 3 times, and had a second round hit @ 1017 yards (wind got her by about 6" the first shot), and a first round hit at 1118 yards. Plus I verified drops at 600, 717, 850, and 1118. All first round hits. I know she would rather shoot something with less recoil, but she made her 3 shots count at long range, and when shooting at game, I am sure she won't even feel the recoil (it has a muzzle brake). Early on in the morning. Shooting at 717 Busy shooting while all the guys are too busy talking Targets at 411 (lowest right of cactus), 520 (above 411), 545 (center of photo), 585 (top left just right of cactus), 717 (bottom of wash on right), and 848 (top of ridge center) that she was shooting at for the photo 848 yard target through 15X binos

Wood of composite? I have cut down numerous wood stocks and installed a new recoil pad on them to shorten LOP.

Here is my very rigorous break-in procedure with every new gun: 1. Clean barrel from factory. 2. Bore sight and sight in with a group of three. 3. Adjust crosshairs as needed and shoot a group of three. 4. Shoot one 5. Shoot one 6. Shoot one 7. See number 4 through 6 and repeat. 8. When groups start to open up, or if gun will be stored for more than 6-9 months without getting shot, clean. Seriously, I have guns that go between 50-800 rounds without cleaning the barrel. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. A clean bore is far more inaccurate than a cold bore.

Okay.....congratulations on the deer. Some photos would be great too.

Thank you. My wife digs it. Nice talking hunting with you too.

Looking on my phone, I think so. Bear in mind, the resolution is not so great with such a small screen, so I could be seeing things that are not there.

My 12 year old daughter has a 7W bull tag. Her goal is a mature bull. But, it is totally her call on what she will take. I just want to have a blast with my kid.

PM sent.

Seriously, what a bunch if idiots. Who takes photos, out of season, of illegally taken game and posts it to Facebook??? If it was to feed a family when no other way is possible, I could understand it. I do not know the motivation here though, as it looked like a doe in the photo being carried out whole. No antlers to hang on the wall, so it leads me to suspect a food source. But if you can afford nice camo and a plethora of weapons, you can afford to go to the store during the off season.

Nice buck and good times with family.

Glad you are on the road to recovery, and good luck with the upcoming baby! She will need her Daddy. Nothing more important than our kids.

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Don't take anyone else's expectations on your hunt but your own. My 12 year old daughter has a bull hunt in 7W, and she wants to hold out for a mature bull for the first 5 days, after that, if it has horns, it will fill the freezer.

To the OP, great attitude! It does not take a filled tag to be a successful hunt. I am glad you get that. I have had plenty of unfilled tags but great memories from a hunt.

I'd get all my relatives/friends over to my place, and have them bring all the guns and ammo they have on hand. Sit back, guard the home front, and enjoy some deer and BBQ. Take turns posting up on the roof, to fend off would-be looters. One or two would be all it would take to send out the hint not to screw with us.

That is awesome. I was not aware of this companion tag. Good deal in helping get the future generation of hunters a little more opportunity at a game animal.

Looks tasty!!!

Couple of very nice, mature bucks. Congrats.

If you bought a stock to fit a Winchester Model 70 action...why not just buy a Winchester Model 70 short action? Either find a used gun and just use the action (I have done this twice with Rem 700s), or order a new action. Pawn shops are your friend if you are going this route. Doesn't matter the condition of the gun as long as the action is good, and the bolt face matched what you want to build. You can even order another bolt with different face if needed. They run about $190 from PTG. I bought a beat up .30-06 with a 20" rusted barrel and beat down wood stock for $200 just for the action (new actions are $450+), and built my .25-06 Ackley off of it. Tossed the barrel and stock after disassembly.

Too true about the size. Kind of like cell phones. Or computers.

SWFA SS 3-15x42 FFP. About $700 new. Amazing scope for the money. Warranty is every bit as good as Vortex, but people hardly ever need it!!! http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-3-15x42-Tactical-Rifle-Scope-P62238.aspx Or look for a used SWFA SS HD 5-20x50 FFP ($. I have one, and it is leaps and bounds better than my Leupold 6.5-20x50 LR. A used SWFA is still covered by the lifetime warranty. I got mine for $1K used. Awesome scope. http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-HD-5-20x50-Tactical-30mm-Riflescope-P51653.aspx

Great deer, great photos! Glad you have your priorities right! And I looked at the photos before reading the test portion, and I thought, "WTF is that, and what is it holding?" Bigfoot is a good description.

I have looked at the 6.5 SS and 6.5 4S, but with the very limited info and reamers/dies out so far, I will have to wait and see where they go by next year. The 6.5 SS seems like it would fit my bill very nicely, as I AM a speed freak. I would love to get 1K+ rounds out of a barrel. I know PTG has the reamers for the other cartridges I stated. And dies are available too. I would rather have 100 more FPS at the added cost of barrel weight, with installing a 28" barrel on my hunting rigs. The added length has never been detrimental to me so far. I have 2 rifles with 28" barrels. Thanks for the reminders though.

Great buck. I love seeing kids, especially girls, out learning the traditions and ethics of hunting. Good job Dad.

That first buck is going to be some GOOOOD eating! Nice way to put meat in the freezer. Second buck is a dandy too.