The right rifle

Selecting the Gun and Ammunition You Need

BY RUTH WIECHMANN

Are you heading out to put some venison on the table, or into the backcountry on your dream elk hunt? Helping a youth hunter or a spouse on a first hunt? Here are some sug- gestions to help you prepare.

Del Newman, Lemmon, South Dakota, has a lifetime of hunting experience and over three decades of Hunt Safe instruction under his belt. If it’s firearm-related he can help get you started in the right direction.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

Each state has its own set of regulations for what rifle caliber is legal to harvest certain game. Are you hunting deer? Antelope? Elk? Moose? Bear? Sheep? Dig into the Game and Fish proclamations for the state you plan to hunt in and educate yourself.

“It’s the hunter’s responsibility to research the state rules and regulations before planning a hunt,” Newman said. “Some states specifically say you must hunt certain animals with a certain caliber rifle. For instance, South Dakota big game regulations specify that it is illegal to use a firearm that produces less than 1700 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle or has a diameter smaller than the .243.” THE RIGHT LOAD

“The number one rule is to match your ammunition to your game,” Newman said. “Bullet and caliber selection is very critical. Everyone has an opinion about caliber and ballistics but there are some pretty sound guidelines to follow while making sure you’re compliant with the state regulations.”

Newman said that North American big game can be split into roughly three categories as far as body size and corresponding caliber needed to make a good harvest but there is some overlap. Deer and antelope would be in the first category along with sheep, then elk and moose and finally bears. To be legal in South Dakota a shoulder-held firearm producing a minimum of 1,000 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle is required for deer, antelope and mountain lions. A variety of calibers will meet these requirements. Sheep are a similar sized animal to deer but require a rifle accurate at much longer range. In the second category, elk or moose require a larger caliber with sufficient foot pounds of energy. For example, a 7mm magnum or .300 magnum would be something to consider. In the third category, although black bear are smaller than grizzly bears, they are still a predator and can attack. A firearm similar to one used for elk would probably also work well for a black bear. If one were after a grizzly bear, a good starting point would be the .338 magnum or other larger magnum calibers. You need ammunition with a larger diameter bullet capable of penetrating such a tough animal.

“If you’re hunting a grizzly bear you need the largest caliber you can shoot,” Newman laughed. “Even for elk and moose you need the largest caliber you can handle. If you’re not accurate with the gun don’t go out; you don’t want to wound an animal, especially dangerous game.”

In general, the larger the animal you’re after, the larger the caliber you should be using. Also research the powder capacity of your ammunition, because not all loads are created equal. The amount of powder affects the bullet’s travel and impact. Ballistic charts are readily available for all calibers and bullet weights, so do your homework.

“Pick your ammunition carefully,” Newman said. “There are differences in velocity and grain weight, differences in powder charges and every gun handles a load differently. There is plenty of information out there to make an informed choice.”

Today’s hunters have an advantage with controlled-expansion copper bullets that fold back and mushroom out on impact and also retain their weight when they hit the animal, such as Hornady GSX, Barnes TSX, and Nosler Partition, a controlled-expansion copper/lead premium bullet, to name a few.

“These new bullets have better terminal energy and the shock they produce inside the animal is amazing,” Newman said. “I shot an elk with my .30-06 using a 165 grain bullet that was travelling about 3,000 feet per second. The bullet caused the heart and lungs to literally explode. It looked like a grenade went off in there. These bullets are designed so that when they get inside they expand and that’s when they deliver the punch. There’s a lot of energy in those shock waves and an animal can be quickly dispatched.”

SAFETY AND ACCURACY

“Safety FIRST is the number one rule of handling firearms,” Newman said. “A HuntSafe course is a must for anyone handling firearms. This cannot be overstressed.”

The best firearm and ammunition won’t do much good unless the gun is correctly sighted in and you can shoot accurately.

Then, practice.

A newly purchased firearm is usually bore sighted before it leaves the gun shop, but it is easily done at home as well by keeping the gun steady while shining a light down the barrel and adjusting the scope so that the crosshairs of the scope line up with the light. Next, you’ll need a target. Newman makes 24” square paper targets with 1” orange dots on them for target practice.

“Start with it out at twenty-five yards,” he suggested. “If your scope is off a lot and you start at 100 yards it might miss the target entirely. Use the ammunition you will hunt with for practicing. If you hand-load your own ammunition you can improve your accuracy by adjusting the powder charge slightly. Each gun will handle a different load a little differently. When target shooting, aim at the 1-inch dot. The points of impact need to be consistently in the area of the dot. The tighter the group, the better.”

Once you’re accurate at twenty-five yards, move your target out to 100 yards, then 150, 200 and 300 yards, etc. Adjust your scope accordingly so that you know exactly where that bullet is going to hit at each distance. Practice shooting off the bench first so that everything is perfectly steady, then practice keeping the gun steady while in different positions and also practice with shooting aids such as shooting sticks or bipods. Try to duplicate your hunting situations.

“Practicing at the range is important for improving your accuracy and getting comfortable with your firearm,” Newman said. “A person needs to practice breath control, practice squeezing the trigger and get used to the feel of the gun going off.”

Using a .22 for practice is good because the ammunition is cheap and you can get a feel for these things and gain in proficiency. How much practice is needed depends on the individual, and every hunter will have an off day from time to time no matter their level of expertise. But it’s vital to make sure you can handle the firearm of your choice safely; if you can’t take the recoil or keep it steady enough to aim accurately you shouldn’t hunt with it.

“It’s also important to have a chance to shoot at a live animal,” Newman recommended. “Gophers or prairie dogs are a great place to start. Shooting at paper is fine but when you’re shooting at a live animal it’s different. You need to be very deliberate when you pull that trigger. Buck fever is a reality. I’ve seen people lose their composure when they get a deer in their sights. Once that bullet is gone you can’t take it back. Safety can’t be over-stressed.

“Plan your hunt and hunt your plan. Respectfully ask permission to hunt private land well in advance of the season. Respect all property; no trash, drive only where designated, leave all gates as you find them, be fire conscious, if you see a fence down, report it to the landowner. Use our great outdoors to relax and enjoy creation with others. Focus on enjoying the whole experience and doing it safely. Bringing home meat for the table or a trophy animal is the icing on the cake.”

Del Newman uses the shooting skills he hones on the range when he takes to the field. Courtesy photo.