AlaskaMauserFan
01-06-2004, 06:33 AM
Over the holidays, I had the opportunity to be humbled, and had a learning experience, courtesy of some old-timers up here in Alaska. We had gotten around to talk of hunting, and guns/cartridges. Me and the other fellas, (younger), we were all excited about trajectory this, sectional density that, muzzle velocities and groups, and all the rest.
With the patience that only age and wisdom bring, we, (myself, anyway!), had a reality check. One of the gentleman, (we were at his house), brought out his rifle, which he's used for decades, and put a LOT of meat on the table with. A Winchester lever action, chambered for the 348 Winchester. His brother mentioned his rifle, a Swedish Mauser, 6.5x55mm...and the other gentleman there, about their same age, uses a 30-30 Winchester, and has since WW2, when he was just a lad.
"Use the bullet that makes sense, and hit 'em right, they fall down"
I just hope that none of us forget what's important-putting a bullet that isn't going to fly apart where it's supposed to go, when hunting anything other than varmints-and not get so carried away with details that we spend too little time practicing, or being in the field, education ourselves on the local terrain/game habits.
Myself, I've done all the load development I need to, and I was reminded that I was the one that needed polishing. It's one thing to get great groups from a rest, but what about from the kneeling position, or standing? You get the idea.
Happy Holidays to you all-Good Hunting in the year to come!
With the patience that only age and wisdom bring, we, (myself, anyway!), had a reality check. One of the gentleman, (we were at his house), brought out his rifle, which he's used for decades, and put a LOT of meat on the table with. A Winchester lever action, chambered for the 348 Winchester. His brother mentioned his rifle, a Swedish Mauser, 6.5x55mm...and the other gentleman there, about their same age, uses a 30-30 Winchester, and has since WW2, when he was just a lad.
"Use the bullet that makes sense, and hit 'em right, they fall down"
I just hope that none of us forget what's important-putting a bullet that isn't going to fly apart where it's supposed to go, when hunting anything other than varmints-and not get so carried away with details that we spend too little time practicing, or being in the field, education ourselves on the local terrain/game habits.
Myself, I've done all the load development I need to, and I was reminded that I was the one that needed polishing. It's one thing to get great groups from a rest, but what about from the kneeling position, or standing? You get the idea.
Happy Holidays to you all-Good Hunting in the year to come!