Late-onset hunter

fonetikal

fonetikal

New member
Location
Quesnel, BC
I didn't grow up with firearms or in a hunting family at all, never thought I could ever point a weapon at an animal.

I moved from southern Ontario to northern BC, started paying attention to guys like Meat Eater and Rogan and Cliff Gray and learned how ignorant I was toward hunting. The more I learned the more I wanted to do it. I bought a Marlin 336 lever in 30-30 because I thought (and still do think) that lever guns were cool. In order to pursue larger than deer I also got a Mauser M8 in 7rem mag.

The Mauser hits hard, but hits back just as violently. Maybe I'm a wuss, maybe it's just really light, maybe the recoil pad sucks, or maybe nobody ever actually taught me how to shoot and I'm doing it all wrong! In any case, I can't help scrolling forums and local retailers' stores and YouTube in search of a solution and I landed on the 270win, and I really like the xbolt II or a tikka t3x. Am I aiming too light? Is 270 enough for BC big game? Is the 6.8 Western going to ever gain enough popularity to keep ammo on the shelf?

All that said, I am also fully aware that the rifle is not the reason I'm not finding bucks or moose or elk :LOL: but it can't hurt, right? And shopping for guns is fun!

Anyway, happy to be here and thanks for reading.
-Mike
 
.270 Winchester would be fine for you Mike. The only drawback is that you can't use it for Bison. For everything else, you'll be a-ok. Welcome. Go to a gun store and see what rifle fits you the best. Be a pain in their butt and shoulder as many as you can and then make your choice based on that. Length of pull matters. A rifle has to fit the person shooting it. Otherwise, a flinch is likely to be a recurring problem for you, and it takes a long time to retrain from that ingrained instinct.
 
Recoil? Lean forward and shorten the stock.

Welcome and good luck! The more time you spend in the field, the better you will become. For many years I had a long commute through the country, and I developed my eye for habitat.
 
skwerl said:
Hey Greetingz Mike , Welcome 2 CGNutz

you will get plenty of advice from the gang here


Dorian , why can a 270 be used on Bison
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Of course the .270 Winchester can be used to kill a Bison. The problem is that it's not legal in BC to do so.
 
Dorian Gray said:
.270 Winchester would be fine for you Mike. The only drawback is that you can't use it for Bison. For everything else, you'll be a-ok. Welcome. Go to a gun store and see what rifle fits you the best. Be a pain in their butt and shoulder as many as you can and then make your choice based on that. Length of pull matters. A rifle has to fit the person shooting it. Otherwise, a flinch is likely to be a recurring problem for you, and it takes a long time to retrain from that ingrained instinct.
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Thank you for the advice! I'll have to go try a bunch on and see what fits. Are the adjustable stocks like the xbolt II a good option for that? To make the stock fit you best, or are all those extra pieces just more potential fail points?
 
fonetikal said:
Thank you for the advice! I'll have to go try a bunch on and see what fits. Are the adjustable stocks like the xbolt II a good option for that? To make the stock fit you best, or are all those extra pieces just more potential fail points?
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Stocks are hard to fit, particularly for people with short arms, short necks or big chests. Add a couple layers of winter clothing, and what felt good in July will be comically childlike in November.

In the gun store point rifle flat, and shotguns overhead.

The rule of "thumb" is to put the rifle in the crook of your elbow and the trigger finger where it should be. I haven't found another simpler method for rifle stock measuring.

If you've got adjustment spacers, sure! Take as many out as you like, and progressively try them back in. Your rifle has to fit you, I'm just throwing free advice on the interwebs.
 
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