Getting into Hunting - Where do I begin?

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triplepete

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I am studying the CORE book here in BC and hope to go hunting this year with my father-in-law. He has been hunting for years with a Rem 700 chambered in 300 WinMag. I would ask him more technical details but there is a bit of a language barrier and he just likes to hunt and doesnt fuss about rifles.

I have a few hand guns, but rifles seem like there is so much more to learn... so where to begin???? I have been told .308 and 7mm are great all round hunting cartridges. I was just gonna get a 300 WM since I can share ammo and reloading tools with father-in-law. When and why would I need magnum calibers?

I will probably apply for moose tags but will shoot deer in open. Any thoughts and suggestions for caliber and brand as well as optics pairing. I don't think I would attempt a shot longer than 100 meters.

Thanks
 
Rifles work on the same principle.
Just a longer unit, same safety concerns.
Lots of posts on what you're asking.
308win, 30-06, 3x9x40.
Lots of deals out there.
Too bad your father in law is tight lipped.
Spend some time on here and read the posts
and replies given to such.
Welcome aboard.
 
Study the animals that you will be hunting. Know the kill zone and practice at the range being able to hit the kill zone consistently at varying distances.

Spend some time in the bush and practice moving quickly and quietly and become in tune with nature and the sounds that you here. Look for droppings and recognize the type of game (ditto footprints).

Have lots of patience, especially in the field.

I started hunting in November. The easy part is shooting the animal. The hard part is gutting it 'well' and 'cleanly' and then butchering the meat. The better you field dress, the better the meat will taste.

I used a 12 ga shotgun with slugs to take my first black-tail deer, so you don't necessarily need a rifle for deer. Also check the regs if you're going to be in a shotgun only zone.

As for calibre choices, most .30 cals will be good for most purposes. However, check out the .264 calibers like 6.5x55, efficient, effective, accurate, low recoil etc.

Don't buy a brand new rifle.. I'd recommend seeking out an older rifle built with pride and good craftsmanship like a Husqvarna, Marlin, Winchester M70, Older Rem 700 or Rem Mohawk, FN 98, or even Lee Enfield Sporters.

Scopes are handy, but learn with irons as well. If you're taking <100 yard shots, you probably don't need a scope right away. Use the money to test different brands of ammo. If you do go for a scope, in the forested areas and occasional flat fields in the coastal areas of BC, I'd go with a 2-7x33, 3-9x40, or a fixed 4x scope.

Get yourself a good hunting knife. I prefer fixed, full tang, drop point blades (Bucklite Max Large). Know how to make the correct incisions on your game.

Know the place that you're going to be hunting in, and check the weather forecast before you go out for the hunt.

Camouflage doesn't really make a big difference, but movement definitely gives you away. Good boots are a must.

Get a sling, pouch for ammo, binoculars, first aid kit, flashlight.

This list isn't comprehensive, but it's a whole bunch of stuff I picked up on my first hunt from the other experienced hunters (their mistakes! i.e. assume scope still zeroed from the last hunt).

Goal is to make a clean kill.

Oh and make sure you have all the tools to prep the game. Don't want to be stuck out in the bush with a dead moose scrambling to get it field dressed without the proper tools.

I went to the range and patterned 3 brands of slugs:

DSCN3853.jpg


If all goes right then you should get this or something similar to it. Pretty doe shot at 20 yards, she ran 20 paces and fell.

DSCN3860.jpg

DSCN3861.jpg


Just remember that you owe the animal a good clean kill with whatever you shoot it with and at that distance.
 
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Have you shot your father in-laws rifle at all? If you don't mind the feel of the calibre and recoil I'd start with that if he has re-loading gear for it and willing to make you rounds.
 
triplepete said:
I am studying the CORE book here in BC and hope to go hunting this year with my father-in-law. He has been hunting for years with a Rem 700 chambered in 300 WinMag. I would ask him more technical details but there is a bit of a language barrier and he just likes to hunt and doesnt fuss about rifles.

I have a few hand guns, but rifles seem like there is so much more to learn... so where to begin???? I have been told .308 and 7mm are great all round hunting cartridges. I was just gonna get a 300 WM since I can share ammo and reloading tools with father-in-law. When and why would I need magnum calibers?

I will probably apply for moose tags but will shoot deer in open. Any thoughts and suggestions for caliber and brand as well as optics pairing. I don't think I would attempt a shot longer than 100 meters.

Thanks
Click to expand...

A .300 magnum is a fine big game hunting cartridge, but its an atrocious cartridge to learn basic rifle marksmanship with. But, since you're a handloader, you can load reduced velocity rounds until you become recoil and blast hardened. Choosing bullets weighing 130-150 grs loaded to 2600 fps is a good place to start.

The primary advantage of a magnum cartridge is extending the zero range beyond 200 yards. If you have rifle chambered for a standard cartridge, and use a 200 yard zero, typically you would be between 6"-8" low at 300 yards. A 300 magnum with a 250 yard zero might show 4"-6" of drop at 300 yards. The bullet from a magnum cartridge doesn't kill any better than the same bullet from a standard cartridge, because when it arrives on target, it still weighs the same, and only expands to its design limitations. If you were to examine a bone penetrated by an expanded .30 caliber bullet, the hole will match the frontal diameter of the bullet regardless which cartridge provided the push to get it there.
 
Pretty much the same as above, I'd get a 300WM and load it to 308 or 30-06 levels till you get comfortable then try magnum loads if you wish. Eventually you will be shooting further than 100m as you markmanship and confidence increase. A bit of advice I didn't follow when I started is don't go cheap on the scope, the minimum I'd settle for would be something like a Busnell elite or a new Redfield from Leupold. Have fun picking a new rifle. :)
 
Unless you hunt areas where you will get shots out past 300 yards routinely, I'd stay away from the 300 Mags. Flinch is not a word you want to learn. ;) If your dad in law has reloading equipment, buy the dies for 30-06 or 308 or 270, and learn rifle craft with one of those. Even 7-08 is a good one. Buy a similar 22 rimfire for cheap practice, as well. If you find you need "more rifle" later on, then do it after you have learned to shoot accurately. That's the shooting part.

Mosinmaster has given you good advice on the hunting part.
 
mosinmaster said:
Study the animals that you will be hunting. Know the kill zone and practice at the range being able to hit the kill zone consistently at varying distances.
Spend some time in the bush and practice moving quickly and quietly and become in tune with nature and the sounds that you here. Look for droppings and recognize the type of game (ditto footprints).

Have lots of patience, especially in the field.

I started hunting in November. The easy part is shooting the animal. The hard part is gutting it 'well' and 'cleanly' and then butchering the meat. The better you field dress, the better the meat will taste.

I used a 12 ga shotgun with slugs to take my first black-tail deer, so you don't necessarily need a rifle for deer. Also check the regs if you're going to be in a shotgun only zone.

As for calibre choices, most .30 cals will be good for most purposes. However, check out the .264 calibers like 6.5x55, efficient, effective, accurate, low recoil etc.

Don't buy a brand new rifle.. I'd recommend seeking out an older rifle built with pride and good craftsmanship like a Husqvarna, Marlin, Winchester M70, Older Rem 700 or Rem Mohawk, FN 98, or even Lee Enfield Sporters.

Scopes are handy, but learn with irons as well. If you're taking <100 yard shots, you probably don't need a scope right away. Use the money to test different brands of ammo. If you do go for a scope, in the forested areas and occasional flat fields in the coastal areas of BC, I'd go with a 2-7x33, 3-9x40, or a fixed 4x scope.

Get yourself a good hunting knife. I prefer fixed, full tang, drop point blades (Bucklite Max Large). Know how to make the correct incisions on your game.

Know the place that you're going to be hunting in, and check the weather forecast before you go out for the hunt.

Camouflage doesn't really make a big difference, but movement definitely gives you away. Good boots are a must.

Get a sling, pouch for ammo, binoculars, first aid kit, flashlight.

This list isn't comprehensive, but it's a whole bunch of stuff I picked up on my first hunt from the other experienced hunters (their mistakes! i.e. assume scope still zeroed from the last hunt).

Goal is to make a clean kill.
Oh and make sure you have all the tools to prep the game. Don't want to be stuck out in the bush with a dead moose scrambling to get it field dressed without the proper tools.

I went to the range and patterned 3 brands of slugs:

If all goes right then you should get this or something similar to it. Pretty doe shot at 20 yards, she ran 20 paces and fell.

Just remember that you owe the animal a good clean kill with whatever you shoot it with and at that distance.
Click to expand...



I just wish that absolutely every hunter/shooter would abide by this! It's very sad to hear the heartless/ruthless one's tell their tale!
 
I totaly agree with what Mosinmaster said and wish I had such advice years ago when I started hunting.

Also check out the used bookstores for older hunting books, I have found that some of them contain a wealth of information.
 
Great post by Mossinmaster. :)
I'm relatively new to the hunting game and followed a lot of what he said.
Bought a used Remington 700 on the rec. of the Gun Store and never looked back.
To the OP, you're in Burnaby, drop by Italian or Reliable on a slow day and talk to them about calibre choice and look at their used rifle selections. Good people.
When I took my CORE, the Instructor was quite adamant that as newbies we should be restricting our range to 100 yards max. until we've had some real experience.
Last, but not least, hunt with an experienced hunter, at least the first few times. As Moosin implies, the funs in the hunting, the work begins after you pull the trigger.
 
Great advice Mossinmaster and thanks everyone for all the the ballistics info too. I used to think hunting was reserved for immoral red necks until I met my wife's dad.... and tasted moose steaks, yummy!

As an up coming hunter I realize that we are responsible for conservation and preservation of habitat. And yes, we owe these animals a clean and humane kill. I look forward the next chapter in my life and my wife looks forward to real organic meat!
 
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