American Shooting Journal - April 2022 by Media Index Publishing Group

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NOTES: Fishing Licenses required and can be purchased April 1, 2022

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A M ERIC AN

SHOOTING JOURNAL Volume 11 // Issue 7 // April 2022 PUBLISHER James R. Baker GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Andy Walgamott OFFICE MANAGER / COPY EDITOR Katie Aumann LEAD CONTRIBUTOR Frank Jardim CONTRIBUTORS Jason Brooks, Cassidy Caron, Larry Case, Scott Haugen, Phil Massaro, Mike Nesbitt, Nick Perna SALES MANAGER Paul Yarnold ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Kelley Miller, Mike Smith DESIGNER Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Kelly Baker WEBMASTER / INBOUND MARKETING Jon Hines, Jon Ekse INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER Lois Sanborn ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@americanshootingjournal.com

ON THE COVER A young hunter shows off one of 220 squirrels taken by five teams comprised of 4-H shooters, dog handlers, and outdoor personalities and media members during the annual Squirrel Master Classic, held in central Alabama in February. (BRIAN JAWORSKI)

Website: AmericanShootingJournal.com Facebook: Facebook.com/AmericanShootingJournal Twitter: @AmShootingJourn

MEDIA INDEX PUBLISHING GROUP 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120, Renton, WA 98057 (206) 382-9220 • (800) 332-1736 • Fax (206) 382-9437 media@media-inc.com • www.media-inc.com

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

CONTENTS

VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 7

FEATURES

(BRIAN JAWORSKI)

COVER STORY

THE SQUIRREL MASTER IS A CLASSIC What happens when you gather outdoor personalities, 4-H shooters, dog handlers and writers in Alabama in February? An air-rifle-powered good ol’ time – the annual Squirrel Master Classic. Larry Case has the details.

CONFIDENCE & CAMARADERIE For Oran Lewis, competing in Precision Rifle Series matches not only helps improve his long-range shooting skills, but is a chance to give back to fellow marksmen – including the gent who got him started on the path as a lad on a Texas farm.

RISE OF THE TACTICAL HUNTING RIFLE AR platforms broke into the hunting world several years ago and now they are increasingly accepted at deer camp for their accuracy, light weight and modern options. Jason Brooks tracks their rise from the military to the buck chaser’s sphere.

BULLET BULLETIN: THE GOODS THAT GO THE DISTANCE Phil Massaro features six long-range bullet lines with the consistency, accuracy and terminal performance to get the job done on game.

THE MIGHTY MOOSE There’s nothing quite like calling for Canada’s big wilderness bulls, a hunting tactic that outfitter and guide Cassidy Caron writes will “test your every skill” and “pull you to the brink mentally and physically” – and just maybe also yield the kind of adventure “that makes the best campfire tales for the years to come.”

ROADHUNTER: LOOK AHEAD TO LATE-SEASON TOMS Some of the biggest gobblers aren’t harvested until the end of spring’s season, a time that also requires you to retool your hunting approach for the wariest toms of all. Longtime Western turkey hunter Scott Haugen sets you up for success.

101 LAW ENFORCEMENT SPOTLIGHT: NIGHTMARE AVERTED When a stranger grabbed a 6-year-old girl off the street, eyewitnesses helped officers quickly track the suspect down. Nick Perna shares how heros prevented one of parenthood’s worst fears. 107 BLACK POWDER: WEATHER, SHOOTERS SHINE AT ‘RAIN-DE-VOO’ ’22 Winter is wet in Washington, and one black powder club embraces it with their February rendezvous – but sometimes the sun shines on participants too. Mike Nesbitt reports on the shooting, ’hawk-throwing and camp-pitching enjoyed at 2022’s edition.

AMERICAN SHOOTING JOURNAL is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120, Renton, WA 98057. Display Advertising. Call Media Index Publishing Group for a current rate card. Discounts for frequency advertising. All submitted materials become the property of Media Index Publishing Group and will not be returned. Copyright © 2022 Media Index Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in U.S.A.

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

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NEW SHOTGUN COLUMN! THE 411 ON T.S.S. In his “Scattergun Alley” debut, Larry Case details the modern wonder turkey hunting pellet – tungsten super shot, “the most revolutionary innovation in the world of turkey shotguns since the invention of the screw-in choke.”

Company Spotlight 103 BUFFALO CARTRIDGE COMPANY Bullets, imported Turkish 9mms, and more

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American Shooting Journal // April 2022

PRIMER

GUNSHOW C A L E N D A R

April 2-3

Dayton, Ohio

Montgomery County Event Center

April 2-3

Fayetteville, N.C.

Crown Expo Center

April 9-10

Columbus, Ohio

Westland Mall

April 23-24

Concord, N.C.

Cabarrus Arena & Events Center

April 23-24

Sharonville, Ohio

Sharonville Convention Center

Crossroads Of The West Gun Shows

April 2-3

Ogden, Utah

Weber County Fairgrounds

crossroadsgunshows.com

April 9-10

Sandy, Utah

Mountain America Expo Center

April 23-24

Phoenix, Ariz.

Arizona State Fairgrounds

April 2-3

Orlando, Fla.

Central Florida Fair Grounds

April 9-10

Tampa, Fla.

Florida State Fairgrounds

April 23-24

Miami, Fla.

Miami-Dade Fairgrounds

April 2-3

Lexington, Ky.

Kentucky Horse Park

April 8-10

Hallsville, Mo.

Hallsville Fairgrounds

April 9-10

Cadiz, Ky.

Trigg County Recreation Complex

April 9-10

Marietta, Ga.

Machinists Aerospace Union Hall

April 23-24

Knoxville, Tenn.

Knoxville Expo Center

April 30-May 1

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Mid-TN Expo Center

April 2-3

Harker Heights, Texas

Harker Heights Event Center

April 16-17

Waco, Texas

Lee Lockwood Library and Museum

April 23-24

Belton, Texas

Bell County Expo Center

tannergunshow.com

April 22-24

Aurora, Colo.

Arapahoe County Fairgrounds

Wes Knodel Gun Shows

April 9-10

Centralia, Wash.

Southwest Washington Fairgrounds

April 23-24

Redmond, Ore.

Deschutes County Fairgrounds Expo Center

April 30-May 1

Albany, Ore.

Linn County Expo Center

C&E Gun Shows cegunshows.com

Florida Gun Shows floridagunshows.com

RK Shows rkshows.com

Real Texas Gun Shows therealtexasgunshow.com

Tanner Gun Shows

wesknodelgunshows.com

Note: Covid-19 restrictions have largely been eased across the country, but always confirm events before attending. To have your event highlighted here, send an email to kaumann@media-inc.com.

americanshootingjournal.com 21

PRIMER

COMPETITION C A L E N D A R

April 3

April 10

April 9

April 16

April 7-10

April 22-24

April 28-May 1

2022 Bighorn Classic Colorado State Championship Grand Junction, Colo.

April 22-24

April 29-30

April 21-24

April 23-24

April 29-May 1

April 2-3

April 23-24

April 30-May 1

April 9-10

April 23-24

April 30-May 1

April 1-3

April 13-16

April 30-May 1

April 8-10

April 30

April 8-9

April 22-23

Boise Juniors 3P Smallbore Match Boise, Idaho usashooting.org

Sandy Ford Olympic Pistol Apr 2022 Streator, Ill. 2022 Area 6 Championship Salisbury, N.C. April 20-24

uspsa.org

Golden Bullet Nor Cal Section Championship Redding, Calif. Sweet Home Alabama Glock Challenge X Montgomery, Ala. gssfonline.com

Gem State Classic VIII Boise, Idaho

Flickerwood Spring Shootout Jackson, Mo. cmsaevents.com

Arizona State Championship Queen Creek, Ariz. CASA Razorback Shootout 2022 Perryville, Ark.

idpa.com

April 8-10

2022 Virginia Indoor Regional Chesapeake, Va.

WSA April 2022 Air Pistol PTO Chelmsford, Mass.

April 23

Team Shooting Stars April 2022 PTO Carrollton, Texas

Maspenock Air Gun PTO Milford, Mass.

2022 Area 8 DELMARVA Sectional Hedgesville, W.V. Texas State Open Championship 2022 Wallis, Texas Northern Illinois Sectional Championship Muskego, Wis. Homestead Glock Challenge VI Homestead, Fla. Western Wisconsin Glock Classic VIII Holmen, Wis. CMSA Jeffers National Championship Tunica, Miss.

2022 South Carolina Section Championship Belton, S.C. Double Tap Championship 2022 Wichita Falls, Texas The Mitten Match 2022 Brooklyn, Mich.

“This is Sparta” Challenge XI Sparta, Ill.

Xator Glock Challenge II Summit Point, W.V.

Cal State 2022 Bakersfield, Calif.

Oklahoma State Championship Enid, Okla. 2022 Sand Gnat Challenge Fleming, Ga. April 29-30

April 30-May 1

2022 The Western IDPA Regional Championship Sloughhouse, Calif.

2022 Maryland State Match Lexington Park, Md.

Note: Covid-19 restrictions have largely been eased across the country, but always confirm events before attending. americanshootingjournal.com 23

SCHEDULE Pro Bolt Gun Series April 2

B&T Ind. LLC Box Canyon Showdown

Medicine Lodge, Kansas

April 9

Koenig-Ruger Precision Rifle Competition

Grand Junction, Colorado

April 23

Vortex Vengeance AG Cup Qualifier

Kennerdell, Pennsylvania

April 23

Alabama Precision Rifle Challenge

Carbon Hill, Alabama

April 30

Leupold Lonestar Shootout

Navasota, Texas

May 7

Okie Spring Showdown

Ninnekah, Oklahoma

May 14

Federal King of Coal Canyon

Raton, New Mexico

May 21

Parma Precision Rifle Rumble

Parma, Idaho

May 28

K&M Kahles Precision Rifle Competition

Finger, Tennessee

June 4

Pigg River Precision H.A.M. Presented by Leupold Optics

Rocky Mount, Virginia

June 18

Short Action Customs Blue Ridge Rumble

Benge, Washington

June 25

2022 Hodgdon Punisher Positional

Conway Springs, Kansas

For more information visit www.precisionrifleseries.com

RECENT RESULTS (continued)

CLAY’S CARTRIDGE COMPANY CLASSIC Leedey, Oklahoma March 5, 2022

1st Place AUSTIN BUSCHMAN Open Div. 159.000/100.000 2nd Place KYLE MCCORMACK Open Div. 151.000/94.969 3rd Place GREG HARRIS Open Div. 150.000/94.340

MPA SPRING SHOOTOUT

CENTRAL COAST CHAOS

1st Place MORGUN KING Open Div. 176.000/100.000 2nd Place NATHAN TOUNGATE Open Div. 167.000/94.886 3rd Place BEN GOSSETT Open Div. 165.000/93.750

1st Place SOLOMON MANANSALA Open Div. 150.000/100.000 2nd Place BRIAN LOPINA Open Div. 149.000/99.333 3rd Place JACOB DENNY Open Div. 148.000/98.667

Swainsboro, Georgia March 12, 2022

San Luis Obispo, California March 19, 2022

(PRECISION RIFLE SERIES)

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

Oran Lewis got hooked on Precision Rifle Shooting competitions after friends talked him into signing up for one in 2018. Since then the Texas native has shot in 37 regional matches and 12 bolt gun events.

CONFIDENCE & CAMARADERIE For Oran Lewis, competing in Precision Rifle Series matches not only helps improve his long-range shooting skills, but is a chance to give back to fellow marksmen.

PHOTOS BY ORAN LEWIS

rom growing up on a farm in Texas to becoming a passionate hunter to later serving as an infantryman in the Army, Oran Lewis has had a lifelong affinity for long-range shooting. It’s only fitting that he would take it to the next level with Precision Rifle Shooting competitions. In early 2018, Lewis, who now resides in Clarksville, Tennessee, was talked into trying out one of the local PRS matches by some friends. “After that, I was hooked on the PRS,” he says. “Not only does it make you a better, more confident long-range shooter in general, but the camaraderie americanshootingjournal.com 29

A highlight for Lewis was competing in a 2020 pro-am match with his father, who taught him how to shoot on the family farm.

is unbelievable.” Lewis has since participated in more than 50 PRS competitions, gaining sponsorships from the likes of Manners Composite Stocks and Short Action Customs. He mainly competes in the PRS Pro Series, shooting in six to eight national matches throughout the year, which, he explains, “allows me to stay consistent in the different parts of the country.” “A good friend and Short Action Customs teammate of mine, Phillip Velayo, once told me, ‘If you don’t get on a plane and fly to a match, are you

Lewis had three top-10 finishes during the 2021 season and this year has already seen him place eighth at an Indiana match.

really considered a true competitor?’” says Lewis. “This has always stuck with me because it is important for people to be consistent at any match or hunt they may find themselves at, not just their ‘home range.’” But one of his most memorable matches was a Pro Series competition held close to his home base in Tennessee, the 2020 Bushnell GAP Grind. The two-day national match takes place every October at K&M Precision Rifle Training Complex in Finger, and is designed for a pro shooter to team up with an amateur shooter.

Lewis strongly backs the companies that support the long-range shooting sports.

ORAN LEWIS’ RIFLE & GEAR • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Builder: Short Action Customs Caliber: 6BRA Action: Defiance Ruckus Stock: Manners Composite Stocks-TCS Trigger: Trigger Tech Diamond Flat Shoe Barrel: 28-inch Hawk Hill MTU Break: Area419 Hell Fire Scope: Vortex Gen II Razor EBR-7C Reticle Brass: Peterson Cartridge Company – 6BR Brass Bullet: 105 Berger Hybrid Reloading components: MidSouth Shooters Supply Powder: Hodgdon 4895 Ballistic solver: GeoBallistics Bag: Wiebad Tater Tot – Sand fill

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

He’s also happy to assist newer shooters, “whether that be lending them gear or helping them while they shoot.”

“The memories that make the 2020 GAP Grind my all-time favorite is that I had my father by my side as my amateur,” explains Lewis. “He had never shot a PRS match or any type of competitive shooting at all. He was the one who taught me how to shoot when I was young on our farm and it was an amazing experience to have the roles reversed. This match will always be at the top of my list due to the laughs and memories we shared while doing something we both enjoy.” Lewis relishes giving back to the sport and introducing new shooters to the world of PRS. When he competes in the Regional Series, which he does several times a year, he often volunteers as range officer and helps set up and tear down the match. He also assists newer shooters, “whether that be lending them gear or helping them while they shoot,” he says. “If you are looking at getting into the Precision Rifle Series or longrange shooting in general, contact me through social media and I will be more than willing to help you in any way that I can,” says Lewis. “The relationships and bonds I have created while traveling the country and competing in the PRS are some of my biggest accomplishments during this experience. I am extremely thankful for all the companies who support me along the way. These companies give a tremendous amount of support to the shooting community. If you are looking at gear for your PRS journey, please support the ones who support the sport. Until next time, see you on the range!”  Editor’s note: For more on the Precision Rifle Series, visit precisionrifleseries.com.

americanshootingjournal.com 31

Custom Guns Gary Reeder announces his second book on handgun hunting. 256 pages on all aspects of handgun hunting, many in full color. John Taffin, America’s finest gun writer has this to say about Gary Reeder... “There is a long list of men, handgun hunting heroes I have been privileged to know, such men as Skeeter Skelton, Bob Milek, Lee Jurras, Steve Herrett, Larry Kelly, J.D.Jones, Hal Swiggett, Mark Hampton, John Linebaugh, Hamilton Bowen, and of course, Gary Reeder. All of these men are giants when it comes to handguns, and no one has had more effect today than Gary Reeder. There became a moment when Gary decided to become a handgun hunter, however he did not stop there. Besides building fine custom handguns he developed his own line of GNR cartridges and inspired others to be handgun hunters. Gary has made 16 trips to Africa and in this book, as in his previous book, you will share many of his experiences. Gary is a custom gun maker, which means he is in the business to make a living. However, he is a man who gives of himself to help others. Personally, I know him to be a man of great talent, simple honesty, a big heart and a humble spirit. I am proud to call him friend.” Gary Reeder’s second book Hunting Handguns and their Cartridges is available for $40. Signed copies are also available at no extra charge. Gary Reeder Custom Guns 2601 7th Ave. East, Flagstaff Arizona. 86004

RISE OF THE HUNTING RI AR platforms broke into the hunting world several years ago and now they are increasingly accepted at deer camp

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JASON BROOKS

he advancements that rifle companies are putting into firearms is astonishing, utilizing designs like titanium alloy actions, large bolt handles and carbon fiber-wrapped barrels to increase accuracy. A modern shooting platform, more appropriately known as a “tactical rifle for the marksman shooter,” is becoming popular for the big game hunter. I was introduced to such a platform a few years ago, first seeing one of these “sniper” rifles after we landed on a backcountry airstrip in central Idaho’s Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. Lee Freeman, owner and custom rifle builder for Oregon Mountain Rifle Company, was in our hunting camp. Once the tents were up and gear stowed away, we pulled out our rifles to make sure the zero hadn’t changed on the bumpy flight. The first thing I noticed about Freeman’s rifle was that it was folded in half. The stock had a hinge on it so the rifle could be compacted down, easily fitting in a backpack for a long haul, or in a duffle bag for a bush flight. Oregon Mountain Rifle Company – now based in Billings, Montana, after moving from the West Coast state last year – makes the Lonerock Ti Chassis, a rifle with precision long-distance accuracy yet is very lightweight, coming in under 6 pounds. THE RIFLES THAT we take afield to hunt our favorite big game are often designed and put to the test on the battlefront first. This idea is not new and so when some anti-gun groups start spouting off about not needing an “assault rifle” to hunt deer, the hunter knows

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

HE TACTICAL RIFLE

er camp for their accuracy, light weight, modern options.

Lee Freeman of Oregon Mountain Rifle Company behind his Lonerock Ti Chassis hunting rifle chambered in 6.5 PRC. americanshootingjournal.com 35

that the rifle is but a tool to use in the pursuit of their game. We want the best tools we can have to not only be a better hunter and shooter, but also to be respectful of the animal we harvest for a quick and humane end to the hunt. The concept of using a “tactical” weapon for hunting is nothing new. Let’s start with the end of the Revolutionary War, where soldiers learned to premeasure powder and keep it in a paper pouch. This was the start to the modern cartridge case and made for quicker follow-up shots to help put food on the table when the hunter took afield. Instead of pouring powder from a powder horn, they simply reached into their possibles bag, pulled out a paper pouch and tore it open to pour the necessary amount of dry powder into the rifle. Further advancements led to the primer and a metal case to hold a cartridge and make it weatherproof. Advancements from the Civil War included the first glass telescopic scope and the “sniper,” making it possible for those arriving home from war to feed the family by taking game at astonishing distances. And so through time, and war, the rifle has evolved, but it is still a tool. Some would argue that the Winchester Model 94 was an assault rifle of its time. The repeating firearm could shoot as fast as you could work the lever. This rifle was used to tame the West and led to the .30-30 Winchester, one of the most used whitetail rounds ever produced. Today we have modern advancements in rifles that were tested in the battles in Iraq’s deserts and Afghanistan’s mountains. The rifles used by military marksmen are not the mass-produced, stand-in-lineand-shoot-the-silhouette rifles of the infantry. Instead, they are fine-tuned and customized to the shooter. Once again, the hunter took up these arms and put the technology of accuracy to the test in the woods. Firearms manufacturers are now making semi-custom and custom rifles for the hunter that have the same comfortable feel as those used for fighting in a foreign land. And even those hunters who never served 36

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

are realizing that an accurate rifle is an important tool. OREGON MOUNTAIN RIFLE Company’s Lonerock Ti Chassis Rifle has other advantages besides its folding stock. The cheek piece is adjustable to fit tight against the shooter’s face, making for proper sight alignment. The length is adjustable, so the person behind it can easily have a proper “fit” to the firearm, and the stock itself is made from a polymer, making it ultralight. Speaking of lightweight, the Lonerock Ti Chassis action is made of titanium. This light and extremely strong metal makes it possible to have a rifle that is sub-6 pounds and yet able to hit a target over 1,000 yards away. Freeman, OMRC’s owner, custommakes the barrels, which is what the company is known for. Barrels are carbon fiber-wrapped to long-range length, maximizing the ballistics of the hunter’s caliber of choice. At the end of the barrel is a brake that expels the gases to the sides and out of the top, but the bottom of the brake is solid. This allows the shooter to lie in a prone position and not have dust and debris fly up when they shoot. The design also keeps the muzzle “jump” to a minimum and reduces recoil, making shooting very comfortable. When topped with highquality glass, the shooter can often watch the round hit the target. Several other firearms manufacturers also make custom and production rifles with similar configurations. Kimber Firearms Manufacturing has the Advanced Tactical SOC (Special Operations Ready) II and Savage produces the 110 Elite Precision in both rightand left-handed options. Browning makes the X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon Max LR with a camo finish to help conceal the hunter. Each of these rifles incorporates military and police marksmanship details, from adjustable triggers to fine-tuning cheek pieces on the stock. Other details include an oversized bolt handle, making the gun easy to grab with gloves on, and a rail to lock down the scope with the proper eye relief.

Titanium actions make for a strong and light rifle, perfect for backcountry hunts.

AR platforms broke into the hunting world several years ago and are increasingly accepted at deer camp. Author Jason Brooks points out that for centuries rifles have moved from the military to the civilian sphere.

Muzzle brakes such as this one from OMRC reduce felt recoil and increase accuracy. This particular model expels gases to the sides and out the top, while its bottom is solid to prevent dust from obscuring a prone shooter’s view after firing at an animal. americanshootingjournal.com 37

Ammunition manufacturers such as Hornady have also jumped into the “tactical hunter” world by coming up with new calibers that are extremely accurate and shoot heavy, high ballistic coefficient bullets to extreme yardages, hitting hard enough to kill an elk. In 2018, Hornady came out with the .300 PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge), answering the call from the US military to develop a round that could be easily carried afield yet have incredible far-reaching accuracy. This round is a .375 Ruger necked down to the .308 bullet. Hornady didn’t stop at the cartridge, also designing the chamber at the same time, allowing it to accept extremely long bullets that sit shallow in the case. They came up with the 212-grain ELD-X with a ballistic coefficient of .663 and a drop at 500 yards of 38.4 inches with a 200-yard zero. Following up the .300 PRC is the 6.5 PRC, which puts the ever-popular 6.5 Creedmoor to shame. At hunting camp, Freeman’s Lonerock Ti was chambered in the 6.5 PRC and it was a very fast and flat-shooting tactical hunting rifle. But don’t count out that Creedmoor just yet, as it is offered in several of the tactical rifle platforms, including the Kimber, Browning and Savage models discussed already, and can take down deer-sized game very well. I took a whitetail in Idaho last Modern shooting platforms are battle-tested, but those used for hunting are often lightweight and need a bipod to keep them steady for the shot.

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

fall and the 129-grain Accubond by Nosler did a fine job. THE FUNNY LOOKING “sniper” rifle being carried afield is very similar to the ones used in the battlefield. Of the Kimber, Savage and Browning models, two of them have a weight that matches that of the traditional sniper rifle, with the Kimber around 11 pounds and the Savage just above 12 pounds. These rifles would not be fun to carry while climbing a peak in the Rocky Mountains, but then again you could probably just shoot from the bottom of the hill and hit whatever you are aiming at. Benchrest shooters also adhere to this same concept, using rifles often weighing 11 pounds or more. But this makes it hard to shoulder all day while hiking up steep mountains. Most rifles that use the marksmanship configuration geared towards hunters are lighter weight. The Browning X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon LR is around 8 pounds. If you are looking for an extremely lightweight tactical rifle, again, OMRC’s Lonerock Ti Chassis is one of the lightest on the market at 5 pounds and change. With this in mind, it is important to use a rest. The tactical hunting rifle often accepts a bipod attachment, with some of these rifles having a rail on the bottom of the forend that can be mounted on

a tripod, making for an extremely accurate platform to shoot from. Though some argue that “military weapons” don’t belong in the deer woods, most of us who hunt would counterargue that all hunting rifles have deep-rooted military origins. The advancements that war brings are carried on the shoulders of the deer hunter and we owe it to our quarry to shoot accurate rifles and use the best gear we can. Several years ago, the AR platform was chambered in the .308, making it a very fine deer gun, but only if you cared to carry a heavy metal rifle around the woods. Quick follow-up shots were not a problem – unlike the bolt-action rifle – but with the AR platform, some nonhunters and even a few hunters took offense. Over time it came to be a wellaccepted rifle. Now with the push to shoot farther and more accurately, utilizing scopes with built-in range finders and calibers with ballistic coefficients that defy gravity, it is time to accept the tactical rifle platform into deer camp. There might come a day when an older hunter pulls out a Winchester Model 70 with a walnut stock and topped with a Weaver 4x scope, causing the rest of the hunting camp to shake their head in amazement and wonder how that guy can hit anything with such a dinosaur of a rifle. 

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Hunting at longer ranges is best served by the proper projectiles.

THE GOODS THAT GO THE DISTANCE Six long-range bullet lines with the consistency, accuracy, terminal performance to get job done on game. STORY BY PHIL MASSARO • PHOTOS BY MASSARO MEDIA GROUP

here are times when, as a hunter, you simply can’t get any closer to your game animal. Certain species live in an environment that affords little cover, making a stalk – and getting close in general – a difficult prospect. I am a diligent rifleman, and practice as often as possible in order to kill quickly and cleanly, but I am no proponent of unnecessary long-range shooting at

unwounded game. That said, there have been instances where 400 or even 500 yards is the closest I could get to a game animal, and with the proper tools and training, that is a shot that can be made consistently. I have also spent enough time at long-range shooting courses, like the SAAM, or Sportsman’s All-Weather All-Terrain Marksmanship, courses at the FTW Ranch in Texas, to learn how easily things can go awry out beyond those ranges, with a bad wind call turning a vital hit into a gut shot. At any rate, I always try to have the best gear possible, so that I am

the weakest link in the chain. This includes a proven rifle with a properly tuned trigger, the clearest and most rugged optic I can afford, a quality rangefinder, and ammunition loaded with a projectile best suited for the job. These days, that means more than just a spitzer bullet, or even a traditional spitzer boattail bullet; though they will certainly cover the distance, they are prone to show the effects of atmospheric drag and wind deflection more than those radical designs we’ve seen come on the market of late. It is those bullets – the sleek americanshootingjournal.com 41

BULLET BULLETIN projectiles with the highest ballistic coefficient values we’ve seen yet – that I will discuss here, to help you decide what’s right for you.

Federal’s Terminal Ascent – shown here in the .280 Ackley Improved – is the latest member of the Trophy Bonded Bear Claw family. The Federal Terminal Ascent shown in section; note the lead core at the forward part of the bullet, and the long copper shank at the rear.

A Terminal Ascent bullet after recovery; note how the ogive expanded nicely and the rear shank held together, retaining a healthy portion of its weight.

Nosler’s AccuBond Long Range is a perfect choice for the beefy 28 Nosler cartridge, having the structural integrity to handle close shots, yet the flat trajectory and energy retention for longer shots. If you want to wring the most out of your Creedmoor, the 142-grain Nosler is a sound choice.

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

FOR THE HUNTER, the bullets we choose have to fulfill two roles. Firstly, like the target bullet, we need to have a bullet with the consistency and accuracy potential to allow us to deliver that bullet precisely where we need to. Secondly, and much unlike the target bullets, we hunters are greatly concerned with the terminal performance of our projectiles, so what we choose for a long-range bullet will have to work properly not only at those longer ranges when the projectile has slowed down, but also must be able to handle the impact of close shots where velocities are high. High ballistic coefficient values are the key to resisting wind deflection and retaining velocity, and accordingly, energy. Some of these bullets are available in loaded ammunition, and others are component bullets. While there are many choices, I’d like to highlight some of these designs that have worked out well for me. The Federal Terminal Ascent. This is the latest proprietary design from Federal, and the youngest in the Trophy Bonded Bear Claw family. Using a small lead core positioned at the front of the bullet – chemically bonded to the copper jacket – with a long copper shank at the rear, the Terminal Ascent features the SlipStream polymer tip to maintain a uniform BC and AccuGroove channels cut into the shank of the bullet. The latter feature is designed to reduce fouling, and keep pressures down. This bullet gives excellent penetration – it is difficult to recover one unless there are several football fields between you and your quarry – and has been seriously accurate in my rifles. It is strong enough to handle magnum-level impact velocities up close, yet will still expand reliably way, way downrange. Federal offers this bullet both in their loaded factory ammunition as well as in component form.

BULLET BULLETIN Author Phil Massaro is a big fan of the 6.8 Western, especially loaded with the 165-grain Nosler ABLR.

Massaro used a Heym SR30 rifle in .300 Winchester Magnum loaded with 175-grain Barnes LRX bullets to take this Mozambican reedbuck ram.

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

The Barnes LRX is the flattest shooting of the company’s designs, and is a sound choice for those who hunt at longer ranges.

The Nosler AccuBond Long Range. How do you improve on the already wonderful Nosler AccuBond? Increase the boattail length and flatten out the ogive to give even higher BC values. The core is still bonded to the copper jacket, yet the polymer tip has been changed from white to gray to easily identify the projectile. To give an idea of how Nosler has changed the profile, a 180-grain .30-caliber AccuBond has a G1 BC of .507, yet the lighter 168-grain ABLR has a G1 BC of 0.525. Sliding up in weight, the 200-grain AccuBond has a G1 BC of .588, and the 190-grain ABLR has a G1 BC of .597. With the ABLR, you can get the better BC value without needing the weight. It opens reliably, and can be wonderfully accurate; my 6.8 Western puts three 165-grain ABLRs into ½-MOA groups. Nosler and Winchester load the ABLR in factory ammunition, and Nosler offers it as a component bullet. The Barnes LRX. If you like the lead-free design of the Barnes family of bullets, and want the best BC for hunting at longer ranges, look to their LRX bullet. Where the TSX is a polymer-tipped boattail design, the LRX has a more severe boattail and longer ogive to increase the atmospheric efficiency. It gives the same devastating terminal performance as the TSX and TTSX, but will fly flatter and retain more energy. If there is any drawback, it’s that the

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BULLET BULLETIN

Norma’s Bondstrike features a bonded core, polymer tip, boattail and a high BC value to retain energy and resist wind deflection.

already long copper bullet gets even longer here, and can compromise case capacity. I used this bullet in a Heym .300 Winchester Magnum in Mozambique to take reedbuck for the local village and it worked just fine, putting the animals down quickly. It’s available in the Barnes Vortex line of ammunition or as a component bullet.

The 180-grain Norma Bondstrike load in .300 Winchester Magnum makes a great all-around choice for North American hunting.

The Norma Bondstrike. Hailing from Sweden, Norma has a fine reputation for both quality components and loaded ammunition. Their series of Strike bullets – including Tipstrike, Ecostrike and the latest, Evostrike – all fill a different role, but the Bondstrike line is the long-range workhorse. With a polymer tip, boattail and its

The author relied on his well-worn .300 Winchester Magnum with 180-grain Norma Bondstrike to anchor this aoudad ram in West Texas.

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

lead core chemically bonded to the jacket, the Bondstrike gives the blend of flat trajectory, structural integrity and accuracy that hunters love. I used the .300 Winchester Magnum ammo loaded with the 180-grain Bondstrike bullet (G1 BC 0.615) to take an aoudad ram in west Texas. Notoriously tough, the bullet worked perfectly, though I

americanshootingjournal.com 47

BULLET BULLETIN cup-and-core bullet, with no bonding, but is seriously accurate and is offered in weights that have a respectable sectional density figure, so penetration isn’t an issue. I’ve had great experiences with the ELD-X, as it flies like a matchgrade bullet and does the job on the far end of the equation. I took my first mule deer with it, a running shot at nearly 200 yards, and the ELD-X left the most impressive blood trail I’ve ever seen. The .30-caliber 178-grain ELD-X (close Hornady’s ELD-X bullet gives match-grade performance from a hunting bullet; shown here are the 212-grain ELD-X bullets in the .300 Remington Ultra Magnum in the Precision Hunter line.

did fire a follow-up shot to anchor the ram. Distances for the shots our group took ranged from 26 yards out to 250 yards, and the Bondstrike handled it perfectly, even at full house velocity impact. High weight retention, reliable expansion and good penetration are hallmarks of the Norma Bondstrike. The Hornady ELD-X. Hornady’s engineers were studying the flight

This South Dakota mule deer fell to a 143-grain ELD-X bullet from a 6.5 Creedmoor; it was one of the most impressive 20-yard blood trails the author has ever seen.

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

path of their bullets on Doppler radar and noticed an anomaly that they discovered to be the result of the polymer tips melting from friction. Their Heat Shield polymer tip solved the problem, and the release of the ELD-X (Extremely Low Drag – eXpanding) bullet made quite the splash in the market. It is a

Featuring a boattail and the proprietary Heat Shield tip, the ELD-X comes in bullet weights suitable for good penetration from a cup-and-core bullet.

americanshootingjournal.com 49

BULLET BULLETIN enough to the 180s for comparison) has a G1 BC of .552, but many hunters like to take advantage of the 212- and 220-grain ELD-X bullets in a magnum case for long-range hunting. Hornady loads the ELD-X in their Precision Hunter ammunition line. The Berger EOL Elite Hunter. Berger bullets have a reputation for fine accuracy, and their J4 bullet jackets

have an unparalleled following. The Elite Hunter series has a specialized line, in conjunction with Extreme Outer Limits TV, using very heavy bullet weights designed for specialty rifles. Using Berger’s hybrid ogive – which blends tangent and secant curves – and a thinner variant of the J4 jacket for rapid energy transfer, it

Berger’s Extreme Outer Limits 195-grain 7mm projectiles; these open-tip hollowpoints are very heavy-for-caliber and will have the highest BC values on the block.

Bullets like the 156-grain Berger Extreme Outer Limits Elite Hunter will shine in the larger 6.5mm cartridges like the 6.5 PRC and 6.5-300 Weatherby.

relies on hydrostatic shock for a quick kill. I have not hunted with this bullet, but can attest to the accuracy of it on paper. Being honest, Berger’s bullets are known to be on the frangible side, and not all hunters agree with that concept, but the EOL series is very heavy-for-caliber, so the penetration should be there for close shots, and the thin jacket will expand at long ranges. The 156-grain 6.5mm, 170-grain .277inch, 185-grain 7mm and 245-grain .308-inch round out the lineup. If you’re a BC freak, these numbers on this series will impress you. Berger loads the 156-grain bullet in their Creedmoor ammo, but the others are only available as components. If you’re planning to climb those sheep mountains, or to head to the desert for the wily Coues deer, take some of these projectiles to the range and see how they perform in your rifle; you may find that magic combination that engenders the confidence we all need.  50

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

YOUR MUST-STOP BEFORE HUNTING & FISHING ON PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND, ALASKA KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF WILL LET YOU KNOW WHERE, WHEN AND HOW!

Compass Mountain Outfitters owner and guide Cassidy Caron poses with a bull taken in her British Columbia hunting concession in late fall 2021.

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

THE MIGHTY MOOSE

There's nothing quite like calling for Canada's big wilderness bulls, a hunting tactic that one outfitter says will 'test your every skill' and 'pull you to the brink mentally and physically' – and just maybe yield an adventure 'that makes the best campfire tales for the years to come.' STORY AND PHOTOS BY CASSIDY CARON

he cloud of steam from my breath drifted into the chilly air and merged with the morning mist as I let out another bellowing cow call. It echoed off the towering cliffs of the mountains above. The wind rustled the dying leaves, sending some of them floating to the forest floor. The creek bubbled below, a cheerful sound soon to be silenced by the ice of another Canadian winter. Only the sound of branches in the wind came from the stand of trees I had hoped to draw the bull moose from. This isn’t working, I thought dejectedly. I glanced away, at the first rays of sun reaching over the jagged terrain, before turning back to the forest. And suddenly, there he was. It was stunning how such a massive beast could have emerged just 50 meters away without making a sound. His eyes rolled, showing their whites, and his huge nostrils flared, shooting clouds of steam into the air around him. Giant antlers stretched from his head, their thick boney points jutting into the trees around him. My heart raced as I tried to control the adrenaline that struck me. This was the first bull moose I had ever called in. Since that day, over the past 10 years, I have had the opportunity to guide moose across Western Canada: in the Northwest Territories, the Yukon and Alberta. I now guide in my own hunting territory, Compass Mountain Outfitters, in northeastern British Columbia. I have gained a respect for the moose as a premier big game animal and have come to recognize what an awesome hunt the pursuit of trophy bull moose really is. Many years and many bulls later, the rush of calling one in is no less. americanshootingjournal.com 55

This bull was called in to 7 yards during the heat of the rut, that time in fall the author describes as the “Achilles heel” of male moose. They are susceptible to different types of calling, from scraping nearby bushes to imitate a fellow bull, to seducing them with a cow call.

Sometimes it takes five minutes and sometimes it takes five days to call in that bull. Even though your gut tells you it will happen, you are almost always still surprised by the appearance of such a large, impressive creature. There is a lot of exciting hunting to do on this planet but getting close to a rutting bull moose should certainly be near the top of any serious wilderness hunter’s list.

AT FIRST, MOOSE hunting did not come naturally to me. My passion was for hard mountain hunting, chasing mountain sheep and goats. On the mountain, problems can usually be solved by working harder or hiking farther, until you find what you are looking for. Moose, on the other hand, can be incredibly frustrating. They are animals that have their own impossible schedule and, despite their size, they can be incredibly hard to see. They show up when they please and disappear in places where you think you should be able to see them for miles. They have secretive lives, spending most of their time hidden 56

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

away in dense brush or woods, their huge ears and long noses making it impossible to sneak close to them. The bull moose’s Achilles heel is the rutting season. Moose rut with an aggressive and determined passion that makes them lose most of their sense of caution. With their big ears and ability to use their antlers to amplify sound, a bull can hear a call from several kilometers away. Success for a hunter calling a moose can vary. Sometimes just scraping bushes with an old bone shoulder blade or plastic bottle taped to a stick to mimic antlers on vegetation will bring a bull in, wild and ready to fight. In the heat of the rut, a cow call is very effective. It can sometimes draw several bulls at a time from far distances all around you. Sometimes you make one mediocre call and you’ve got a moose coming as if you were pulling him in on a string. Yet, at other times, you can call until you almost lose your voice and turn up nothing. Sometimes they come in aggressively, breaking trees, grunting, almost stepping on you, and acting as if they want to kill you. And at other times they can be elusive, circling into the

wind, never showing themselves, silent. Moose do not have good vision. I have found that wearing a black jacket and standing in the open as a bull is approaching is very effective. I have been spotted by a bull while wearing black and had him immediately start to run in my direction. I also often set up a cow moose decoy, affectionately named “Loosey Moosey.” Loosey is most definitely a bad girl. Her irresistible looks have caused the death of many mighty bulls over the years.

THERE ARE MANY ways success is found on a moose hunt. Early to mid-September is the prerut stage and the bulls are often traveling alone looking for cows. It’s as if a light switch is flipped. You go from seeing zero moose all summer long to the valley crawling with them overnight. How these huge animals can hide so well in the hot months is mind-blowing. During the prerut, “spot and stalk” works very well. I recall one hunt when I was guiding an Austrian hunter, Gregor, in the Northwest Territories. It was an amazing early September day, and we were about 2,200 meters (roughly 7,200

DESTINATION HUNTS

feet) high in the very rugged peaks of the Ragged Range. We were hunting mountain goats. We had just shot a very nice billy and were navigating down an extremely steep boulder field to avoid cliffs. Our packs were heavy, weighed down with the goat meat and hide. We stopped for a rest and I looked across the high alpine valley and was shocked to see a huge bull moose appear! He was at almost the same elevation at which we had just shot the goat. I got the spotting scope on him and could see he was absolutely enormous. “Gregor,” I said, “let’s hurry back to the tents, unload the goat, and get over there and shoot that moose!” “Cass, you are a crazy girl, but yes, let’s do it!” he responded. At our tent camp, we hastily pulled the goat meat out of our packs. I put it in the shade and piled rocks on top of it, hoping that a grizzly bear wouldn’t steal it while we were gone. With

Nightlife at a Compass Mountain moose camp.

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

no rest at the tent, we set off again straight down the mountain. The valley was a lot deeper than it looked. We ended up losing about 700 meters in elevation and had to fight our way up the other side through terrible thick brush. It took much longer than anticipated. Finally, we reached the elevation we had spotted the moose at. I checked the wind and decided we needed to climb higher and get above the bull in case the wind changed. We climbed upward until we were in the exact same cliffy terrain that we had killed the goat in on the opposite side of the valley that morning. I looked into the small clump of trees where I had seen the moose, but he wasn’t visible. I tried a cow call to lure him out. Nothing. We watched the bush for some time and the moose did not appear. We worked our way down to the clump of trees, able to see both sides if the moose

spooked and ran out. Still nothing. I was beginning to think the bull had left while we were fighting our way up the mountain and we had missed him. We got within 30 meters of the bush. It seemed impossible that a 1,000-kilogram animal with 2-meterwide horns could be in there. As an afterthought, I smashed at a willow with one of my hiking poles to mimic another bull raking his horns. “Auuuuffff!” the bull grunted instantly in response and exploded out of the tiny bushes right in front of us. He was so tall and so close that he towered above us. His eyes rolled wildly as he looked around for the other bull moose who dared rake his antlers in his territory. Gregor wasted no time in getting the shot off. The mighty bull fell and we claimed our second hard-earned trophy of the day. We were already pretty spent and dealing with this huge animal on the steep side of a mountain was particularly difficult. By the time we had butchered it, we were both exhausted. We laid the meat on the rocks to cool overnight. Once again, we had to descend 700 meters and then climb the other side to our tents. We reached them at 1 a.m. Having gotten up at 4 a.m. to go after the goat, it was a big day that will never be forgotten. WHEN THE RUT starts, bulls become easier to call. On certain days of the prime rut, the action can be unbelievable. I once had a client who snored very loudly. After one night of listening to him, I had had enough and discreetly moved my tent farther away from his and closer to the river to drown him out. In the middle of the night, I heard splashing in the river very close to me. I carefully unzipped my tent and peered out just in time to see massive black legs going past my tent only a meter away. “Ooof, ooof.” It was a mediumsized bull attracted by the snoring guy. I carefully crawled out and watched tensely as the moose strutted up to the client’s tent. This could be bad, I thought, but I didn’t want to spook the bull at this point because I was worried he might trample the tent. That might

DESTINATION HUNTS

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have been a better alternative than him trying to mate with it! I watched in disbelief as the bull straddled the tent, two feet on one side, two feet on the other. He was not at all put off by the foreign object or human scent. “Oooof, oooof,” he grunted softly. “Huh?” a muffled cry came from inside the tent. With a crash, the startled moose jumped away and ran off into the night.

WHEN THE CALLING is hot, moose hunting is very fun. But when it cools down, it takes incredible patience and willpower to get through the slow times because they can be so boring. I once got dropped into a location known as “Hellhole” with a German hunter named Heiko. Hellhole is a moose paradise in the Northwest Territories. If the name doesn’t give it away, it is not a people paradise. It is an old forest fire overgrown with brush and choked with windfallen logs. The ground is thick moss that you sink to your knees in, like walking on a giant sponge. I have hiked many massive mountains and I can tell you, it is impossible to hike anywhere in Hellhole. Moving even a few hundred meters is slow; you can’t see a thing with brush way over your head. It is also too noisy, and the moose will hear you fumbling around for many kilometers. The only way to hunt it is to find a piece of high ground, sit there, and call moose. They must come to you. On the first day of our Hellhole vacation, I called in the biggest moose I have ever seen in my life. We could see him coming from several kilometers away and he toyed with us for hours, teasing and yet never quite coming close enough for a shot. The next morning, I spotted the same giant bull a long way off. He had found a hot cow during the night and there was no way I could call him away from her. Despite my better judgment, I decided that the moose was so huge we should try to hike to him. We crawled for hours on our hands and knees through the thick twisted brush and energy-draining moss. We couldn’t see more than a couple meters ahead, the brush was so high and thick. It was like pushing through 62

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

a chicken wire fence. Finally, with our arms and hands scratched bloody, we emerged on a little knoll, only to see that the bull had moved even farther away. The hunt was over. We started back for camp but it was very late in the day and it quickly got dark. I knew I had pushed us too far in my lust for that amazing moose. It was a tough mental test, crawling blindly in the dark through grizzly bear country. The headlamps made it worse because the brush was so close to our faces, we were forced to turn them off and crawl onward in the pitch black. The branches tugged and caught on everything. They constantly pulled at clothes, packs and the rifle, making the trek even more exhausting as we constantly fought the brush. Our faces were beaten from being constantly poked and whipped.

Moose guide and outfitter Tom Sallows glasses for bulls in the early season.

I was blindly trusting the GPS to find camp. Had the batteries or navigation failed, I believe our skeletons would still be hidden beneath the bushes of Hellhole. We did finally reach the tents and after an unceremonious meal of freeze-dried Mountain House, we flopped into our beds. It snowed 40 centimeters (about 15 inches) that night. In the morning, everything was blanketed in white. All the bushes were pushed down to the ground and loaded with snow; it was completely miserable. We couldn’t move anywhere outside of the campsite without becoming instantly soaked. There was no firewood, nothing to burn at all. Finding a place to use the toilet – without getting snow in places you didn’t want it – was a miserable crisis. To make things even worse, it got windy

DESTINATION HUNTS

and therefore very hard to moose call. We sat in our campsite on our little knoll for the next five days. It was awful. The wind persisted, and snow stayed, making moving anywhere further than a couple meters from camp impossible. I called until my throat was hoarse and we didn’t see any moose. I was losing my voice. It was getting close to the end of the hunt and the temperature was the coolest it had been yet. I had been calling all day and we dejectedly went back to the tents to make coffee and try to warm up. It was hard to be motivated to go back and call some more, but I decided we needed to try again. I was in the lead, going back to the little clearing about 100 meters away from our campsite where we had a little bit of a shooting lane and had done most of the calling. I looked up and my heart almost stopped. A very nice bull moose was standing in the exact spot I had been calling from for the last five days with no results! “Heiko! Heiko!” I whispered

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

frantically. I glanced behind me and he was nowhere to be seen. I could not believe the bad luck. I had to slowly back up and turn. I saw Heiko, 50 meters up the trail, staring at the ground. I was desperately trying to get his attention without spooking the moose. Finally, he saw me. I was trying not to move very much, but still show him the urgency of the situation. It didn’t work; he came down to me really slowly. I was so worked up, I grabbed him by the collar and dragged him toward the meadow. “What? What?” he hissed at me. “Moose,” I whispered, pointing at the huge black object occupying our usually empty meadow. “Oh, ahhhhhh.” Heiko got so excited that he somehow forgot how to take off his mittens. He began flailing his hands around with the gloves half off. The gloves were whirling and flopping wildly. The image of the “windmill mittens” is forever burned in my memory. It would have been comical, if the moose hadn’t noticed and was now

staring at us. I seized a flapping arm and pulled the glove off for him. Thankfully, Heiko snapped out of it and was able to get his gun ready just as the moose was starting to walk away. Boom! It was a good shot to end a very challenging hunt. We had endured everything Hellhole had to throw at us and Heiko truly earned a beautiful old bull.

MOOSE HUNTING IN Canada is an adventure that will bring you into the depth of the wilderness and test your every skill. It can pull you to the brink mentally and physically. It can make you question your sanity. But it is the type of experience that is unforgettable and rewarding, the kind of hunt where dreams can come true, the kind that makes the best campfire tales for the years to come.  Editor’s note: Cassidy Caron is the owner of Compass Mountain Outfitters. For more information, visit compassmountainoutfitters.com.

DESTINATION HUNTS

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Avula Safaris Is More Than A Destination, It’s The Start Of A Much Greater Journey

rophies are for walls, floors and cabinets. Experiences, those are for life. Our mission is to ensure the memories we create today live on for eternity. This land is not given to us by our fathers, it is borrowed from our children. This is bigger than Africa; it’s the future. Avula Safaris owns and operates 3 lodges in South Africa, allowing you a hunt tailored to your needs and desires. Archery or rifle, Avula can accommodate the most discerning hunters and families with ethical hunting. Avula Green Kalahari – VIP Lodge, Spa & Rhino Conservancy Approximately 2 hours outside of Kimberley you will find Avula Green, offering 31,000+ acres of 5-star accommodations, including full-service lodge, array of quality cigars, complete menu of alcohol, champagne and wines of distinction, private en-suites, luxury spa, state-of-the-art gym, swimming pool, horseback riding and rhino conservancy. Avula Green is perfect for the archer or rifle hunter and a great destination for families to join in the memories. Avula Bushveld Lodge & Luxury Tent Camp A 4-hour drive from Johannesburg takes you to 23+ acres known as Avula Bushveld, with a luxury authentic old-world African-style lodge, swimming pool, luxury ensuites and luxury en-suite tents. With the activity at the hides (blinds), along with walking and stalking, this is surely a desired destination for our archery enthusiasts and professionals. Avula Karoo – Luxury Lodge More than 60,000 acres await the rifle hunter, just 2 hours outside of Bloemfontein, known as Avula Karoo. The luxury lodge features private chalet en-suites and additional well-appointed en-suite rooms. The long-range shooter is very much one with the landscape here. Only once you’ve stayed in this part of the world are you able to successfully describe serenity. What you can expect: Avula Safaris does not mix you with other people/groups; you have the complete attention of the entire staff. More than 40 species are available, including the Big Five. Included in your day fees: private en-suite, three home-cooked meals daily, snacks, local beers, local wines (red & white), soft drinks, daily maid service in your suite, daily laundry service, lodge staff service, professional hunter (licensed PH-guide), tracker, skinners, field dressing, caping, and trophy pick-up service by local taxidermist for processing. Donate some of your harvest to the local schools, orphanages or those in need.

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

Contact Avula Safaris for additional information. Nancy Gysin, U.S. Representative 845-791-0595 nancy@avulasafaris.com www.avulasafaris.com

DESTINATION HUNTS

A happy hunter hoists the target species at the annual Squirrel Master Classic, held outside Montgomery, Alabama, this past February.

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

THE SQUIRREL MASTER IS A CLASSIC Outdoor personalities, 4-H shooters, dog handlers and others team up in Alabama for an air-rifle-powered good ol' time. STORY BY LARRY CASE • PHOTOS BY BRIAN JAWORSKI

t was pure pandemonium. The squirrel dogs were barking their heads off. Everyone was shouting at the same time about which way the squirrel was going in the treetops. The squirrel was doing an amazing high-wire act, leaping from tree to tree, and you could hear the Gamo air rifles being fired on all sides. Part of our crew of hunters were running on the ground with the squirrel dogs, trying to keep the little gray tree rat in sight. Several trees away, the squirrel made it to a den tree with a hole in it. There was a collective pause, and some members of the group bemoaned the quarry’s escape. I took a breath, looked around and laughed out loud! This was a lot of fun, and that exactly describes the Squirrel Master Classic. EPIPHANY IN THE BACKWOODS Every February, a group of hunters, writers, editors, personalities from the outdoor industry, squirrel dog handlers, 4-H shooters, and people who just plain love pursuing small game gather at the Southern Sportsman Hunting Lodge near Hayneville, Alabama, for the Squirrel Master Classic. The Southern Sportsman Hunting Lodge (southernhunting.com) itself is worthy of a visit, as it is a shrine to hunting, located in the storied Black Belt region of Alabama. The log construction makes for a classic lodge, along with lots of buck and turkey mounts on the walls, and rows of pictures of sports, country music, NASCAR and other celebrities who have hunted there over the years. The Squirrel Master Classic is the brainchild of Jackie Bushman, founder of Buckmasters, one of the first deer-related magazines and outdoor TV programs. The story goes that eight years ago, while having lunch at the Southern Sportsman Hunting Lodge, Bushman was looking for a way to attract hunters back to their roots – small game hunting – where a lot of us began our journey as hunters. Bushman’s idea was to have a squirrel hunt in a fun competitive atmosphere. The event was designed for team competition, where each team is made up of outdoor television personalities, outdoor writers and editors, a dog handler with a squirrel dog to find the squirrels for you, and most importantly, a americanshootingjournal.com 71

The two-day event is hosted by Southern Sportsman Hunting Lodge, located in central Alabama’s rich-soiled Black Belt, and features teams comprised of notable outdoor industry reps, 4-H shooters, dog handlers and writers who compete to take the most squirrels on the lodge’s sprawling grounds.

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

americanshootingjournal.com 73

young person who is a 4-H shooter. Bushman was joined on the venture by Michael Waddell (of Bone Collector TV series fame), then Gamo air rifles joined as the sponsor, and the Squirrel Master Classic was born. So here is how it all happens. Each team is comprised of an outdoor TV personality, like Waddell, Travis “Tbone” Turner and Nick Mundt (all of Bone Collector fame), or Tyler Jordan and David Blanton with Realtree Camo, or “America’s Favorite Hunting Couple” Ralph and Vicki Cianciarulo, or even Bushman himself. Add an outdoor writer (like yours truly), a squirrel dog handler, and a 4-H Shooting Sports young person to complete the team. Also present this year were teams from Buck Commander, Air Gun Web and Raised Hunting. Squirrels taken on two half-day hunts are counted up and the highest number wins. The competition is fierce! We hunted this year with a Gamo Swarm Magnum Gen2 in the form of a .22-caliber air rifle and we found the air gun had plenty of power for squirrels and any other small game you would want to hunt. 4-H SHOOTERS STEAL THE SHOW The celebrity team leaders add a lot to the event, but equally important are the young shooters from the 4-H shooting program. Every year I marvel at these young people who come to the Squirrel Master Classic. Without exception, they are eager to learn, polite and a joy to be around. They are also good shooters! Could these attributes be learned in the

Among the many budding sharpshooters Case met was Jedd Scott, who was there with his twin brother Jagger and their mom.

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

Author Larry Case shares a moment with a group of 4-H shooters at the range. He writes that the classic helps “bring young people to the light of small game hunting and our wonderful hunting culture.”

shooting program? I think so. This year I had the pleasure of meeting twin brothers from Opelika, Alabama, Jagger and Jedd Scott, who attended the Squirrel Master with their mother, Chastity Scott. Both brothers told me how much they enjoyed the event, coming to the Southern Sportsman Hunting Lodge, following the squirrel dogs through the Alabama woods, and all of the camaraderie that comes with a group of dedicated hunters. They loved it, and I think Mom did too! A great highlight was when Edwin “Pop Paw” Waddell, Michael Waddell’s father, pulled out his stash of Little Debbie cakes for the team! GAMO GETS THE JOB DONE Gamo air rifles fit like a glove for this event, as the Gamo Swarm Magnum Gen2 .22 pellet rifle is made for this

type of hunting. The Swarm Magnum is the world’s only 10-shot breakbarrel air rifle. The 10X Quick Shot magazine allows the shooter to load 10 pellets in the magazine, insert it into the rifle, and fire 10 quick shots before you have to reload. Believe me, we needed those quick second and third shots on this hunt, as these squirrels had their running shoes on. Once they started running in the treetops, sometimes with spectacular leaps from tree to tree, you had to be quick, or you came up empty-handed. By means of a detachable rotary magazine, the shooter loads up to 10 pellets and snaps the magazine onto the top of the barrel. The Swarm Magnum requires that you cock the rifle with a break-action system each time, but the magazine automatically loads the pellet. For hunting purposes, this is huge. The magazine lies

The classic is a great showcase for sponsor Gamo’s air guns, including the Swarm Magnum Gen2 .22 pellet rifle, a 10-shot break-barrel with “plenty of power for squirrels and any other small game you would want to hunt,” states the author. americanshootingjournal.com 75

Dog handler Shane Mason and his dog Traveler and a young hunter (below) show off two of the 220 squirrels taken during the event.

horizontally to the barrel and is lowprofile, and this allows for the use of open sights, which on this rifle is a fully adjustable rear sight, and both front and rear sights are fiber optic. The rifle also ships with a Gamo 3-9x40 scope, and has a two-stage adjustable trigger, adjustable from 3.2 to 2.6 pounds of pressure, pretty heady stuff for a pellet rifle that has an MSRP of $288.90. Find out more at gamousa.com. RAISED HUNTING TEAM WINS As it always happens, wonderful hunting trips are over too soon. At the closing ceremonies, all of the squirrels from each team were added up. To be honest, I was on the Bone Collector 76

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

Two young hunters check out the scoreboard after day one.

Members of the Raised Hunting team celebrate as 2022 Squirrel Master Classic champions. Their haul of 60 beat out team Bone Collector by one.

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

team, and we were feeling pretty confident with a record 33 squirrels taken the first day. Well, when the final totals were made on day two, we came up one squirrel short! The hardcharging team from Raised Hunting brought in a whopping 60 squirrels to become the 2022 Squirrel Master Classic champs. There were lots of back slaps and high fives, and then goodbyes, as everyone scattered to catch planes and rides back to the real world. I always take a quick stroll back through the lodge to scan the mounts on the walls and all of the historic pictures, and to say goodbye to the wonderful ladies who cook here for us. Hopefully the Southern Sportsman Hunting Lodge will remain the scene for the Squirrel Master Classic for years to come, to bring young people to the light of small game hunting and our wonderful hunting culture. 

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ROAD HUNTER

LOOK AHEAD TO LATE-SEASON TOMS Some of the biggest gobblers aren’t harvested until the end of season, a time that requires you to retool your hunting approach – and here’s how. STORY AND PHOTOS BY SCOTT HAUGEN

hile April marks the start of turkey hunting in many states, seasons go until the end of May in some states. If you’re someone who hunts only the opening days of turkey season, you could be missing out, especially if you have multiple tags to fill. One of the keys to punching a lateseason turkey tag lies in watching birds all season long. Learning where they move and when – and understanding why – will allow you to approach lateseason hunting with increased chances of success, especially if you’re willing to adapt your tactics to the everchanging behavior of turkeys this time of year. On a hunt with good friend and noted Oregon guide Jody Smith (jodysmithguideservice.com), he sensed I was growing fidgety. “Be patient, they’ll be here,” he encouraged. “These two toms have been following the same routes every day for the past two weeks; just wait.” Sure enough, minutes after 10 a.m., two toms slowly picked grass seeds as they headed down a cattle trail toward our blind. It seemingly took forever, and the moment they got in range, I let the biggest of the two birds have it.

One of the West’s top turkey guides, Oregon’s Jody Smith has been guiding turkey hunters nearly every day of the spring season for more than 20 years. His knowledge and understanding of turkey behavior accounts for his high success rate.

That hunt took place 18 years ago and to this day it’s the biggest Rio I’ve taken, sporting an 11½-inch beard and sharp, 1¾-inch spurs. Temperatures were in the upper 70s, no toms were talking, and it was the final day of the

spring season, May 31 to be exact. Over the decades, my three biggest toms taken throughout the West have come in the final days of the season, and it didn’t happen by accident. Each hunt came down to making the right americanshootingjournal.com 83

ROAD HUNTER that’ve been pressured, try only a few yelps at first light. If a tom hears you, it might come in, but often it doesn’t happen until late in the morning.” Another tip from Smith when revisiting previously hunted spots: “Set up so you can see toms. Not only does this allow you to watch their behavior, it assures them of being able to see your decoys. If a gobbler can see decoys from a long way, the chances of it coming in greatly increases. But be patient, as it can take them hours to reach you late in the season when it’s warm out and food is plentiful.” Smith likes hunting from ground blinds late in the season, and so do I. Get decoys set well before the hint of first light if hunting near a roost, then hop in a blind. The blind covers movement and allows you to sit comfortably for hours and hours; don’t forget water and snacks.

If you want to tag a late-season tom, try hunting from a ground blind to hide your movement. Pressured toms are wise and not easy to fool this late in the game.

moves to fit the mood and movement of shy toms, which notably changed as the season progressed. RETURN TO HOTSPOTS “That tom was one we hunted multiple times throughout the season,” shares Smith, referencing the big bird I’d taken on the last day of the season. “But it’d never come to a call or decoys. Keeping track of mature toms, and revisiting spots hunted earlier in the season, has accounted for a lot of birds for clients over the years.”

Smith continues, “If there’s a good tom, I’ll keep going back to the same spot and just make slight changes in the setup to try and coax it in. Early in the season I might call aggressively and use jake and breeding hen decoys. In the middle of the season I might go to a strutting tom decoy and use a range of hen calls. But late in the season I’ll go to more visible decoys and hardly call at all.” Smith encourages hunters to be patient when working birds late in the season. “If you’re targeting toms

CHANGING DECOYS When revisiting places you’ve hunted earlier in the season, base your approach on what’s happening in the woods, along with turkey behavior. Early in the season, hens are breeding, the grass is short, and jakes and young toms are aggressive in their attempts to breed, which sets off aggressive behaviors among mature toms. Late in the season, hens tend their broods, the grass is tall and surrounding vegetation thick, and jakes and 2- to 3-year-old toms are in the early stages of forming bachelor flocks. On top of that, mature toms become more sedentary in their movement, as food, moisture and cover

STEALTH CAM DS4K

hile many factors contribute to my making a living as an author and wildlife photographer, trail cameras could top the list. Based on clarity and resistance to extreme weather, the best trail camera I’ve used is Stealth Cam’s DS4K. I set trail cameras on video mode in order to see and hear what’s happening. When it comes to turkeys, the rapid changes they go through in spring are mind-boggling, something I would be in the dark about were it not for advanced trail cameras. When on video mode, you can see, hear and fully understand what’s happening in the turkey woods. In the book I wrote on turkey hunting the West, I based much of the content on the science of bird behavior, and I learned a great deal by watching hours of trail camera videos. Used for preseason scouting, and all season long, nothing has helped me make wise hunting decisions like trail cameras, especially late in the season.

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

ROAD HUNTER are often available in one place. Based on what’s happening this time of year, use decoy combinations that make sense to turkeys, and situate them so they’re highly visible. “In the last half of the season I’m using full-body strutter decoys,” shares Smith. “I use a strutting tom and an upright hen, and place the hen between my blind and the tom, with both walking toward me. I position the strutting tom decoy so a distant tom can easily see the fanned tail. This will often catch the attention of mature toms late in the season and get them coming. Once they get close enough to see the hen decoy, it’s game over!” In most of the situations where I’ve hunted turkeys throughout the West, the terrain is not flat. This makes the set important, as you want the decoys in a position that’s visible to distant toms. Avoid placing decoys in swales, low spots, on the backside of knolls, or along creek bottoms – locations that can work earlier in the season but can be less effective later in the season. From my experience, your chances of luring

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

Author Scott Haugen has been hunting turkeys throughout the West for 35 years and believes in changing decoys, calling, and even blind setups as the season progresses. He moved into the timber and relied on a hen stuffer decoy to fool this monster tom last season.

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ROAD HUNTER If you want to kill a lateseason tom, hunt differently than you did early in the season. Here, a mature tom approaches a strutting decoy in the background.

a late-season tom within shooting range dramatically increases if it can see the decoy from a few hundred yards away, or even more. Remember, turkeys see in color and have eyesight equivalent to 8x binoculars. THE BIG GAME APPROACH My approach to turkey hunting is much like that of big game. I scout year-round, both physically and through the use of trail cameras. I run more than a dozen trail cameras all hunting season, and they’re set on video mode. Observing and hearing the shifts in turkey behavior throughout the season offers a major advantage to hunters. As the season progresses, my scouting efforts shift to patterning toms. I’ll mark where they roost, where they fly down to, where they feed and where they get water. This time of year turkeys often get the moisture they need from early-

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

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ROAD HUNTER

Don’t give up yet! Though turkey season is winding down throughout the West, making the right moves can find you going home with your biggest tom of the season.

morning dew and the foods they consume. Grass seeds are a primary turkey food source late in the season, and they’ll often hang out in meadows and fields all day long, as the tall stalks offer shade and cover. I rely heavily on trail cameras to figure out which trails toms travel, and when. This is how Smith dialed in to the big tom we got 18 years ago. “Just like big game, the more turkeys get pressured, the more educated they become,” concludes Smith. “For this reason – and the fact hens are with broods and not vocal late in the season – I call very little. I’ll offer a few yelps, and if a tom gobbles or lifts his head to look my direction, I might not call again for a couple 90

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

hours. I want the bird to know I’m there, and it takes very little calling to do this. I treat the situation more like big game hunting, where stealth and moving smart are key.” Like Smith, I switched to fullstrutter decoys and have had great success in multiple states. The more real a decoy looks to birds that have been hunted, the better the odds of fooling them. Over the years I’ve become more of a patient turkey hunter, something that’s of great benefit late in the season. Rarely will I use loud clucks, cackles or cutting calls, and almost never gobbles. Instead, I offer soft yelps and purrs, and let the decoys do the rest. As the season winds down, chances

to secure a big tom grow limited, so stay confident and let things happen naturally. Observe what turkeys are doing and make your moves accordingly. Be prepared to sit a long time, hunting one, maybe two spots a day, unlike early in the season where running and gunning can find you setting up in a half-dozen locations. By hunting smart, your chances of tagging the biggest bird of the season can become reality in those final weeks of spring turkey season.  Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s bestselling book, Western Turkey Hunting: Strategies For All Levels, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.

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SCATTERGUN ALLEY You could say new shotgun columnist Larry Case is familiar with the species. His top 10 list of classic hunting shotguns would include (left to right) the Mossberg 500, Ithaca Model 37, Winchester Model 59, Fox Sterlingworth, Remington Model 31, Remington Model 32, Remington 870 Wingmaster, Browning Superposed, Winchester Model 12 and Browning Auto-5.

NEW SHOTGUN COLUMN: 411 ON T.S.S.

In ‘Scattergun Alley’ debut, author details the modern wonder turkey hunting pellet – tungsten super shot. STORY AND PHOTOS BY LARRY CASE

think it’s best just to be honest from the start. You remember what Abe Lincoln said about honesty, right? If I told you I wasn’t honored and thrilled to be doing a shotgun column for American Shooting Journal, I would be fibbing to you, and I can promise you I

won’t do that, ever. So maybe an introduction is in order. I grew up in the woods and on the riverbanks in West Virginia, hunting, fishing and shooting any kind of firearm I could get my hands on. My first shotgun was a Winchester Model 37 .410, and that gun and I accounted for a multitude of squirrels, rabbits and the odd grouse if I could hit one. (I was definitely not above ground-swatting

one back then.) The Winchester .410 – man, I wish I still had that little gun – gave way to a Savage 20-gauge pump and then a string of shotguns over the years, which have included L.C. Smiths, Winchester Model 12s, Remington 31s and 870s, more than a few Brownings, and CZ hunting and clay target guns, among others. I had a 36-year career as a law enforcement officer with the americanshootingjournal.com 93

SCATTERGUN ALLEY Department of Natural Resources and retired with the rank of district captain. This exposed me to many things in the firearms world, including training as an instructor in rifle, pistol and shotgun for the officers I worked with. After

I retired I went into the gun writing world and have had my work published in most of the major hunting- and gun-related magazines and websites in the past eight years. I have had the pleasure of attending many firearms

Author Larry Case shoulders a CZ-USA Upland Ultralight 20-gauge shotgun while hunting on the Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky.

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

industry events involving hunting, competition, and the use of the defensive shotgun. I would love to hear from readers what you would like to see in a shotgun column in American Shooting Journal. We will be looking at new shotguns and ammo as they come on the scene, of course – as I write this, I am preparing to visit the Remington ammo plant in Lonoke, Arkansas – as well as any add-ons to your scattergun like chokes, stock modifications and optics. I have attended the Defensive Shotgun Class at the Gunsite Academy, so sometime in the not-too-distant future, look for an article on the fighting shotgun and its use. Indeed, there is much to talk about in the shotgun world, but I would like to hear from you, the reader. Drop me a line at larryocase3@gmail.com. WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH TSS? Unless you have been living under the proverbial rock the past few years, you have heard things in the shotgun world about something called TSS. Most turkey hunters know a little about this mysterious ammo, but many shotgunners out there may not. I thought we would take at least a shallow dive into the TSS realm and maybe educate anyone who is interested. TSS is an acronym for tungsten super shot. No one seems to know who gave it that name; I would like to take credit for it, but I can’t. Some years ago, shotgun reloaders who were rolling their own TSS loads started appearing on various websites and forums talking about loading this magic form of shot and its amazing capabilities. Many of those who were handloading TSS at this time were turkey hunters, who were attracted to this new kind of shot pellet thanks to its much improved terminal performance – that is, hitting and killing game – over that of lead, steel or any of the other metals being used to make shot at the time. More on this later. Jason Hart is a founder and business development manager for Nomad hunting attire and Huk fishing clothing.

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SCATTERGUN ALLEY of the screw-in choke.” That is saying something.

Browning TSS shotgun ammo.

Hart has taken over 20 Grand Slams of wild turkeys, including one with each of the American shotgun gauges – 12, 16,

20, 28 and .410. He called TSS “the most revolutionary innovation in the world of turkey shotguns since the invention

TSS 101 Tungsten is a rare metal found naturally in the earth and is also known as wolfram. The name tungsten comes from a Swedish term, tungs sten, meaning heavy stone, and it is used to make several items, including tungstencarbide drill bits and filaments for light bulbs. Although tungsten is mined all over the world, most of it comes from China and tungsten shot is made there as well. The TSS shot that we shoot is about 95 percent tungsten with the remainder being made up of nickel, iron or copper. It is tungsten’s weight (density) and hardness that make it shine as a pellet for shotshells. Density is usually measured in grams per milliliter. Most

NEW MOSSBERG 940 MODEL A TOP TURKEY CHOICE

e turkey hunters all require a designated turkey gun these days. Most of us want a camoed gun for concealment, screw-in chokes to take a wide variety of aftermarket selections, and the gun has to “look” like a turkey gun. That is hard to describe sometimes, but take a look at the new Mossberg 940 Pro Turkey model with the 18.5-inch barrel; it looks like a turkey gun. In 2020, Mossberg launched the 940 Pro family of 12-gauge autoloading shotguns with the award-winning 940 JM Pro competition-ready shotgun. Now joining this line of high-performance autoloaders are two 940 Pro Turkey shotguns. These optics-ready packages feature a choice of 24- or 18.5-inch barrel lengths; HiViz CompSight fiber optic sight for quick target acquisition; Mossberg X-Factor ported choke tube for improved pattern density; and full camo coverage in Mossy Oak Greenleaf. The 940 that I reviewed is the 18.5-inch-barrel model, which I asked for specifically. Avid turkey hunters know that when you are run-and-gun

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

Mossberg 940 Pro Turkey model with the 18.5-inch barrel.

hunting and slide into a sitting place at the base of a tree, there are often other smaller trees growing close to you. If one of those saplings is in reach of your barrel as you try to move on the approaching gobbler, you are done, out of the game. The 18.5-inch barrel will usually take care of this. Nothing wrong with the 24-inch barrel, you understand, but I just wanted to see the 18.5-inch model. With today’s modern loads and especially TSS, you don’t have to worry about longer barrels for shotshell performance.

The receiver on this shotgun features cuts that accept low-profile, direct mounting of micro dot sights (Shield RMSc pattern). Rounding out this 940 Pro Turkey is aggressive Mossberg signature texturing on the stock and forend; sling swivel studs; drilled and tapped receiver; and top-mounted safety for ease of use by right- or lefthanded shooters. MSRP: $1,120. I think I know turkey hunters a little bit. I predict most of them are going to wet their pants over this shotgun, so be prepared for them to sell out quickly.

americanshootingjournal.com 97

SCATTERGUN ALLEY tungsten shot is 18cc; by comparison, water is 1cc and lead is about 11.3cc. Most shotgun ballisticians figure that a No. 9 size pellet is equal in performance to a No. 5 pellet of lead. This means you can greatly increase the pellet count of a payload by using a smaller shot size but penetrate as much or more because of the increased density. Overall pattern densities are increased, so there are more hits on the target. The difference in loading No. 9 compared to No. 5 shot is phenomenal; a 3-inch, 1¾-ounce load of No. 9 shot will contain about 637 pellets, while the same load of No. 5 will give you about 256. It’s all in the math. “Most TSS handloaders want to get at least 100 pellets in a 10-inch circle at 40 yards to ensure an ethical kill in the head/neck region of a gobbler,” said Hart. “Some 12-, 16- and 20-gauge TSS No. 9 patterns can often exceed 400 pellets in a 10-inch circle at 40 yards. Past 40 yards, it is estimated

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

on average a TSS pattern will retain 70 percent of its pellet count for every 10 yards past 40. Doing the math on a 400-pellet count at 40 yards will tell you that your gun has the capability of being lethal well beyond the 40-yard mark.” LESS IS MORE Besides incredible patterns with a 12-gauge and taking gobblers at formerly unheard of yardages, TSS offers some other intriguing opportunities. Because of the ability to load lots of small shot in a shotshell and great terminal performance, the use of smaller gauges has become much more popular. TSS loads in 20-gauge can be devastating and will make you wonder if you ever need to carry a 12-gauge again. But what has really soared in the turkey gun world is the .410. Only a few years ago, the .410 wasn’t considered a viable turkey killer by anyone you know. Now, because of the capabilities of TSS, many hunters like

the novelty and challenge of taking big gobblers with the little .410. The best part of this is that the newfound use of the .410 isn’t just for adults. Young hunters can make use of the .410 as a turkey gun and not have to worry about heavy guns and heavy recoil. CZ-USA, TriStar, Rossi and Stevens all have .410 shotguns that can be used in the turkey woods. Federal, Apex, Browning, Nitro, Pendleton, Remington, Fiocchi and HeviShot all make loads with TSS shot.  Editor’s note: Larry Case has been a devoted outdoorsman since he was a child. He will admit to an addiction to turkey hunting (spring and fall), but refuses any treatment. He enjoys the company of gobblers and cur dogs that are loud and people who speak the truth softly. Case served 36 years as a game warden in West Virginia and retired with the rank of district captain. You can check out his podcast and other stories at gunsandcornbred.com.

L.E. SPOTLIGHT

NIGHTMARE AVERTED

When a stranger grabbed a 6-year-old girl, eyewitnesses helped officers quickly track down the suspect. STORY BY NICK PERNA • PHOTOS BY LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE DEPARTMENT

t’s every parent’s worst nightmare, having a child go missing. It happens to even the most diligent of us; turn your back for one second at the grocery store, and your kid sneaks off. Usually, you find them in the next aisle. But the most terrifying of circumstances is when a child is abducted. Child abductions by strangers are rare. In 22 years of law enforcement, I can honestly say that I have never had the misfortune of having to investigate one of these. That doesn’t mean they don’t occur. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, less than 1 percent of abductions are committed by total strangers. The good news is that 99.8 percent of children taken in all types of abductions are found alive. Regardless

A still from body camera footage shows suspect Robby Wildt surrendering to police.

of the numbers, though, it is still a scary situation, one that no parent should ever have to go through. Probably the most important element in recovering abducted children is a quick response by law enforcement. This is generally driven by how quickly they are notified of the event. Equally important is the accuracy of the information they receive from witnesses. SUCH WAS THE case on July 2, 2021, in Louisville, Kentucky. A 6-year-old girl was taken off her bicycle and pulled into a car by an unknown assailant. Luckily, vigilant witnesses observed this taking place. They contacted police and provided a description of the vehicle, as well as a partial license plate number. One witness described how the suspect parked his car in the middle of the street, grabbed the victim by her collar and put her in the passenger seat. He then fled the scene. Every available police officer rushed to the scene, hoping to locate the suspect vehicle and safely recover the missing child. Using the information provided by witnesses, they located the vehicle within 30 minutes. It was occupied by 40-year-old suspect Robby Wildt. In the passenger seat was the 6-year-old victim, unharmed. In body cam footage released by Louisville Metro Police Department, Sgt. Joe Keeling, the officer who located the suspect vehicle, can be seen arresting Wildt, while Officer Jason Burba removes the victim from the passenger seat as she cries for mommy and daddy. Burba said, “You just can’t get there

Officer Jason Burba.

fast enough. Seconds feel like hours. Your only thought is getting there as fast as you can.” Wildt was arrested and booked for kidnapping a minor. He has pled not guilty, like most suspects usually do. Thanks to observant citizens and good cops, this story ended well, but not all do. To my fellow Americans, be a good observer. It can be the difference between a happy ending and a sad one. And to the fine officers in Louisville and elsewhere, keep doing the Lord’s work.  Editor’s note: Author Nick Perna is a sergeant with the Redwood City Police Department in northern California. He previously served as a paratrooper in the US Army and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also has a master’s degree from the University of San Francisco. He is a frequent contributor to multiple print and online forums on topics related to law enforcement, firearms, tactics and veterans issues. americanshootingjournal.com 101

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

Buffalo Cartridge Company built its name in the 2010s with target and cowboy action ammo, and a .45-70 hunting load known as The Deer Dropper. But among its most recent offerings is the BRG9 Elite, a 9mm imported from Turkey.

BULLETS AND BEYOND

What began with a single hand-loader now includes imported rounds, handguns for Buffalo Cartridge Co. PHOTOS BY BUFFALO CARTRIDGE COMPANY

uffalo Cartridge Company started out as a small ammunition maker in 2013, when ammo was in short supply across the country. What began as a small operation – with one handloader in a back room producing target ammo for the company’s own retail range – has since grown to include a broad range of calibers and applications. Today, the Findlay, Ohio-based company operates out of a 26,000square-foot facility featuring automated machinery for sorting, brass processing, priming, loading, polishing and more,

plus an in-house ballistic testing center. Whether you’re taking your ammo to the range, to the hunting field, or you’re using it for personal defense, Buffalo Cartridge Company has something for everyone. “We definitely built our name on quality target ammunition for popular calibers like 9mm, .45 ACP and .38 Special, but a lot of customers also know us for our Outlaw line of cowboy action ammo,” says Ken Cooper, a partner at Buffalo Cartridge Company. “We have also had a lot of fun making premium ammo in specialty

calibers like 6.5 Creedmoor and .450 Bushmaster. We developed a .45-70 hunting load called The Deer Dropper, which our customers really loved.” A few years ago it started getting harder for small manufacturers to compete with ammo prices, so in 2020, Buffalo Cartridge Company began importing ammunition. “We bring in some very high quality products in large volume, and we’ve continued to expand our dealer network across the country,” says Cooper. And to further expand their offerings, in 2021 Buffalo Cartridge Company americanshootingjournal.com 103

Company SPOTLIGHT

The BRG9 is a polymer pistol with 16+1 capacity, and it comes in three finishes – two-tone, black and tan.

The company’s ammo lines include the Adrenaline Precision Series, with offerings in 9mm Luger, 6.5mm Creedmoor, .308 Winchester and more.

became the exclusive importer of a new line of handguns from Turkey. “Under our BRG-USA branding, we currently import the BRG9 Elite, which debuted at SHOT Show earlier this year, and we’re already working on future models as well,” explains Cooper. “The BRG9 Elite is an absolutely amazing value. It’s a 9mm polymer pistol with 16+1 capacity, and it’s made of 4340 forged steel, which is a real step-up from the industry standard. It’s loaded with features, and you get a full gear pack for an MSRP of just $399. It’s incredibly comfortable to shoot and really userfriendly. It’s just hard to find this much gun and extras in this price range – but the BRG9 Elite gets it done!” 104

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New or remanufactured, Americanmade or imported, Buffalo Cartridge Company is dedicated to providing high-quality products with extreme attention to detail. “In our building, everyone enjoys the shooting sports, so we hold ourselves to a high standard,” says Cooper. “We want to sell products that we’re proud to use and show our friends, so we try to make sure nothing goes out the door unless it passes our own personal high standards.” The company consistently demonstrates not only a dedication to its loyal customers and their satisfaction, but also to the community at large, thanks to its global outreach programs. “As a Christian company, we’re

currently doing our best to assist with the refugee crisis coming out of Ukraine,” explains Cooper. “In March, we teamed up with a nonprofit called DTCare to help organize Project Help Now. Our project network is collecting first-aid and hygiene products, and we’re holding ‘pack-out parties’ to turn those supplies into kits to support the refugees who are crossing the border daily. We coordinate the drop points and handle the domestic transportation to DTCare, who then handles the international transportation and distribution. As of March 30, we’ve already sent 51 pallets of goods to DTCare, and more supplies are coming in daily.” “God. Guns. Country. It’s on the logo because we truly believe in these things, and we try to live it out daily.” Find out how you can help at buffalocartridge.com/helpnow.  Editor’s note: For more information on Buffalo Cartridge Company, visit buffalocartridge.com.

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BLACK POWDER

Most of the rendezvous crew gathered at the head of the trail.

WEATHER, SHOOTERS SHINE AT CLUB'S ‘RAIN-DE-VOO’ ’22 Annual competition in soggy Washington state a trailwalking, 'hawk-throwing, camp-pitching good time. STORY AND PHOTOS BY MIKE NESBITT

he third weekend in February saw a lot of activity at the Capitol City Rifle and Pistol Club near Littlerock, Washington. That was the date for this year’s “Rain-de-voo,” a black powder rendezvous that is usually held in the rain. This year the weather actually smiled on us and the nearly 40 shooters

who participated basically did their shooting in dry clothing. Our “booshway” for such doin’s was Tom Brown and, as you might guess, it took quite a crew to put on a muzzleloading match with such variety. We had rifle shooting, a pistol match, and another match for trade guns. All of those events were shot on our black powder trailwalk, shooting at hanging steel silhouette targets that move or “clang” with

the hits. Additionally, there was a tomahawk and knife trail for ’hawk and knife throwing, which was part of the aggregate. However, shooters had the option of doing primitive archery in place of throwing their ’hawk and knife. A not-too-easy archery trail was provided by the Capitol City Bowmen, primarily with the efforts of Dale Soost, and that archery trail is an event that I just wouldn’t miss. There was some nonshooting americanshootingjournal.com 107

BLACK POWDER

Author Mike Nesbitt’s .40-caliber copy of a Leman sporting rifle.

competition too, and one of the awards was for the best primitive camp. A “primitive camp” included only what would have been available during the pre-1840 period, from the time of the rendezvous era of the mountain men. That means no camp chairs, Coleman stoves, sleeping bags or any modern conveniences. Other nonshooting events included the Dutch oven cooking competition and an apple pie event to see who could make the best “apple pie,” which in this case was a powerful beverage and not a pie at all. THE RIFLE I used was my .40-caliber Leman percussion copy. That’s a rifle I’ve had both good and bad luck with lately, but I stayed with it because this

On the pistol trail, Nesbitt aims his .50 at a tough target.

Bob DeLisle on the archery course.

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rifle and I seemed to be getting along. For powder, my gun likes 45 grains of GOEX FFFg under the patched .390inch round ball. That’s actually a fairly snappy load and while the targets we were shooting at varied from rather close to just over 100 yards, I could simply “hold center” with every shot. My shooting partners were Mike Moran, Bob DeLisle and Jerry Mayo. I’ve probably mentioned all three of them before and for good reason. At this doin’s they all shot flintlock rifles and did rather well with those guns. The four of us had decided we’d try to accomplish two events per day, in addition to some other duties that we all had. One of those duties was being a “trail guide,” even though none of the

shooting groups were actually guided. The trail guides are on the trails just in case a target gets broken or shot down. If that happens, the trail guide calls a ceasefire and repairs the target. Some repairs always seem to be needed. So after shooting our rifles, and after my turn at being a trail guide, we “hit the trail” again with our pistols. Selecting my pistol was rather easy: my good ol’ Hawken-style percussion in .50 caliber with a single-set trigger. I’ve had that pistol for years and had recently resighted it in, which included moving the front sight slightly to the left and changing the powder charge. The powder charge I’m using now is about 35 grains of FFFg under the patched .490-inch ball and that’s a

BLACK POWDER

The author’s 20-gauge Fowler with the 36-inch barrel.

fairly powerful load. Even though we’re only shooting at targets, my pistol likes that much powder to keep the bullets hitting. The pistol shooting is done offhand, of course, and usually with a two-hand hold. For my shooting, I rest my right hand, holding the pistol, in the palm of my left hand for the added support. And I got lucky on the pistol trail, missing only one target, which was a lollipop on a post. I certainly tried on that small target, holding as steady as I could and slowly squeezing the set

trigger so that I really had no idea of when the gun would fire. (If I know when my gun will go off, I flinch just like everyone else.) THE NEXT DAY we teamed up again, right after Mike Moran was relieved as a trail guide. That was when we shot our archery targets and Mike shot a remarkable score. My own score, shot with my Modoc-style bow, was lower than I like but kept me in the running. For these events, the top shooters are awarded with first, second and third

Mike Moran in front of his primitive shelter, which won him the award for best camp.

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place. I tied for third place but my tiebreaker shot (with my rifle) wasn’t quite as good as the other shooter’s. That afternoon the four of us hit the trail again but with our trade guns, shooting the smoothbores at selected targets. My smoothbore is a Fowler built from a kit from Tennessee Valley Muzzleloading in 20 gauge and I “feed” it with .595-inch round balls, patched in lubricated patches and pushed down over 60 grains of the FFFg powder. With that lineup, the gun goes off with a real “boom” and the 20-gauge round

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BLACK POWDER

Ayla Hamilton took second place in the Junior shooters division.

ball certainly makes the steel targets swing on their chains when a good hit is made. On the trade gun trail, we had 12 targets and I hit eight of them, which tied for second place with Bob DeLisle. Bob’s tiebreaker, again, was better than mine, so I placed third. The others also threw their ’hawks and knives on that trail, but I passed on that event. THERE WERE OTHER events, as I’ve already mentioned, and a rundown of 112

American Shooting Journal // April 2022

the winners should be included here. Archery was won by Mike Moran, with Ayden Guiberson taking second and Allen Tresch beating me out of third place with his tiebreaker. ’Hawk and knife was won by Dan Moore, who has returned to these doin’s after a long absence, with Allen taking second and Mickey Hamilton placing third. Pistol was won by me, with Allen taking second and Will Ulry in third. Trade gun was won by Allen, with Bob DeLisle in second place and me

in third. Percussion rifle was won by me, with Dan taking second and Derek Sotelo in third. Flintlock rifle was won by Allen, with Mickey in second and Bob taking third. Junior shooters (under 16) were Nicholas Schubert in first place, Ayla Hamilton in second and Natalie Schubert in third. The best primitive camp award was taken (again) by Mike. We also have an aggregate score, which combines the rifle scores with either the archery or the ’hawk and knife scores, and the winners are named Top Mountain Man and Top Mountain Woman. Top Mountain Man went to Mike, while I placed second (about six points behind him) and Dan placed third. Top Mountain Woman was awarded to Leslie Crow, with Marly Sotelo in second and Kerry Sotelo in third. We also have a separate award, intended to increase the interest in shooting rather than to increase humility, and that is the Lowest Rifle Score award, which was won by Dave Benson. I mention these placements mainly to compliment those shooters, but to also display the variety of the events. And a couple of events were not even mentioned, such as the two Dutch oven cook-offs, one for a main dish and another for a dessert, and the tomahawk poker throw, where playing cards are the targets. And all shooters, regardless of their score, received a prize for their shooting. The prize I picked was a pound of powder. There is one more little nonshooting award and that’s the “ugly stick.” This is a “coup stick” that was first awarded several years ago by one or more of the ladies participating in the Rain-de-voo. The shooter who is given the stick as the “ugliest mountain man” keeps the stick for a year, adds a trinket or item to it, and then turns it in to be awarded to someone else the following year. (I must admit that I was the second to be given the ugly stick many years ago.) This year, Booshway Tom Brown asked Ayla to pick the ugliest mountain man and after some serious deliberation, she awarded it to Tom. 

American Shooting Journal - April 2022

Articles inside

BLACK POWDER: WEATHER, SHOOTERS SHINE AT ‘RAIN-DE-VOO’ ’22

BULLET BULLETIN: THE GOODS THAT GO THE DISTANCE

CONFIDENCE & CAMARADERIE

RISE OF THE TACTICAL HUNTING RIFLE

THE MIGHTY MOOSE