Firearms, Hunting, Shooting Sports

[RUN-8]

This site needs a discussion area for firearms, hunting, and shooting sports.

So here it is.

 

[surf fishing offroader]

I used to be a gigantic gun nut, but about 10 yrs ago, I really got deep into surf fishing and haven't really touched my cooler shit since then....

I'll still go shoot some sporting clays, maybe go shoot pistols - but the 3 gun comps, IDPA, long range rifles, I don't really do much of that anymore. I've still got about +35 guns lol, might start it up again sometime....

Totally agree with your take on the other thread. My carry pistol (G19) has a better trigger and thats it. Now my comp pistol, I use a heavily modified G17, but I still use irons - I could never get into that red dot craze....

My jam was long distance shooting! 1k to 1700yd shots from my handload 308s, with a can, and a big ass HD2 vortex on top

 

[TimHerald]

This site needs a discussion area for firearms, hunting, and shooting sports.

So here it is.

I am part of Worldwide Trophy Adventures. We sell hunting and fishing trips all over the world, and I am fairly sure we are the largest hunting consulting company in the world. I have made my living in the hunting sports industry for 25 years with hunts, outfitting, writing magazine articles, promotional videos and doing outdoor TV. This is my world, and I love it. International hunting is my main deal, but I am an obsessive turkey hunter as well. Have hunted and fished in 45 countries and on 6 continents. Hope this idea takes off here.

 

[RUN-8]

Well as a guy who used to hunt a little and doesn’t anymore due to public land being over hunted, and the rise of “outfitters” leasing hunting on all the decent private ground in my area, I just shoot steel and paper, with a focus on working on practical marksmanship.

I might apply for tags this year but I’m so fed up with what big game hunting has turned into that I probably won’t. I’m not paying a big trespass fee to shoot an animal, nor am I paying an outfitter or guide service.

Sorry @TimHerald but hunting is a dying pastime in North America and some of that blame has to do with lack of access created by people in your industry.

 

[RUN-8]

I used to be a gigantic gun nut, but about 10 yrs ago, I really got deep into surf fishing and haven't really touched my cooler shit since then....

I'll still go shoot some sporting clays, maybe go shoot pistols - but the 3 gun comps, IDPA, long range rifles, I don't really do much of that anymore. I've still got about +35 guns lol, might start it up again sometime....

Totally agree with your take on the other thread. My carry pistol (G19) has a better trigger and thats it. Now my comp pistol, I use a heavily modified G17, but I still use irons - I could never get into that red dot craze....

My jam was long distance shooting! 1k to 1700yd shots from my handload 308s, with a can, and a big ass HD2 vortex on top

Yeah I’m rocking a G43x COA with the integrated Aimpoint RDS. My late father wore bifocals, and I know someday I’ll probably be in the same boat. So learning slide mounted optics now before I have no choice. Trigger replaced with a Johnny Glock 4311. Cleaned up the pull weight a bit, but more importantly got rid of the horrendous over travel.

It can easily hold the head box of an IPSC target at 25 yards, even before the trigger upgrade. Now it’s actually fun to train with.

Zero’d easily enough at 15 yards, windage was spot on out of the box and elevation was only a little high on the Aimpoint for CCI Speer Gold Dot.

 

[surf fishing offroader]

Do you bird hunt? My favorite hunting was always for upland birds. Gotta make a lot of noise to scare them out, then blast away! I hated hunting deer and larger game - too slow and boring for my short attention span...

 

[RUN-8]

I too am afflicted with the precision rifle bug currently. I live 10 minutes away from a range with steel hung up out to about 840 yards, and I’m a 25-30 minute drive from national grasslands if I want to bring my own steel and set up for longer range training.

Currently playing with an Accuracy International AT-X wearing a 6.5CM barrel, sighting courtesy of a Zeiss LRP S3 6-36X56 (Mil turrets and reticle), in a Spuhr mount. Barrel is a “factory” AI supplied by Wintac from a Bartlein blank finished at 24” 1-8” twist 5R rifling. So far I haven’t found anything it won’t shoot well.

Load development is proving to be a pain in the ass though. This stupid Bartlein refuses to show a preference that is significant enough to not be shooter inconsistency on my part. AI snob problems

130gr Hornady ELD-M in Lapua brass, Reloder 16, CCI BR primer. All but one load were a single digit SD for velocity. Kind of disgusting how easy 6.5CM is to load.

Prepared in Short Action Customs dies.

 

[surf fishing offroader]

Accuracy Int shooting creedmores - you could feed that rifle dog shit and it'll still ring steel at 1700 yds

My rifle super basic compared to that beast you own! It's just a Remington had blueprinted and a custom barrel. Shoots amazing though

Have you considered adding a can? That was the best improvement I did for the rifle. Followup shots are immediate with almost no recoil

 

[TimHerald]

Well as a guy who used to hunt a little and doesn’t anymore due to public land being over hunted, and the rise of “outfitters” leasing hunting on all the decent private ground in my area, I just shoot steel and paper, with a focus on working on practical marksmanship.

I might apply for tags this year but I’m so fed up with what big game hunting has turned into that I probably won’t. I’m not paying a big trespass fee to shoot an animal, nor am I paying an outfitter or guide service.

Sorry @TimHerald but hunting is a dying pastime in North America and some of that blame has to do with lack of access created by people in your industry.

I see both sides and I hate that it has become a rich guy game. I don’t even hunt deer here in KY because leases are $30-35/acre. It’s no different to landowners than farming the ground and it’s capitalism. I hate over crowded public land too. It’s scary in most cases. But really I don’t blame a landowner for making money off his land in a sustainable way, and I sure can’t blame an outfitter for a legit business. I think it’s ridiculous that we have to pay $70k for a LandCruiser, but we do it.

 

[TimHerald]

Do you bird hunt? My favorite hunting was always for upland birds. Gotta make a lot of noise to scare them out, then blast away! I hated hunting deer and larger game - too slow and boring for my short attention span...

That’s why I like turkeys and Cape buffalo. Turkeys there is action, calling strategy. Buff you are on tracks and always on alert. It’s active. I did live duck hunting when I could do that locally. Lots of hang out time with buddies, some calling, some shooting and watching dogs work.

 

[RUN-8]

My solution to the land owner problem would be to give them a choice.

1.) Allow walk in hunting and they get to enjoy land owner tags (a nice perk in South Dakota) otherwise they have to draw just like anyone else.

2.) If they lease hunting rights to an outfitter or charge trespass fees they forfeit their ability to claim agricultural rates for property taxes. You’re either running a farm/ranch, or a private game reserve (using state owned animals no less). Pick one, you don’t get both.

 

[RUN-8]

Accuracy Int shooting creedmores - you could feed that rifle dog shit and it'll still ring steel at 1700 yds

My rifle super basic compared to that beast you own! It's just a Remington had blueprinted and a custom barrel. Shoots amazing though

Have you considered adding a can? That was the best improvement I did for the rifle. Followup shots are immediate with almost no recoil

Suppressor is next on the agenda. Although for recoil control and self spotting that Area 419 brake is stupid effective.

It’s also stupid loud.

 

[surf fishing offroader]

That’s why I like turkeys and Cape buffalo. Turkeys there is action, calling strategy. Buff you are on tracks and always on alert. It’s active. I did live duck hunting when I could do that locally. Lots of hang out time with buddies, some calling, some shooting and watching dogs work.

Duck hunting.... lol

I found out there 2 types down here in TX. I used to join the older guys, wake up at 4, help put out decoys and then lay in a coffin blind until they fly over. I ALWAYS fell asleep - until others started shooting. What always annoyed me was that the birds never come until 8 or 9, and fly till noon... why we out here at 4?!?

Then... I went later on with some other guys and found out there's this thing called blast and cast - camp on the beach, surf fish and hunt ducks on the bay side. That is so damn fun!

 

[BlueCruiser]

So basically, you are saying this is a discussion thread for people who don't live in California, New York, or Massachusetts?

 

[RUN-8]

So basically, you are saying this is a discussion thread for people who don't live in California, New York, or Massachusetts?

Correct.

Piss off commies!

LOL. Poor bastards.

 

[TimHerald]

Duck hunting.... lol

I found out there 2 types down here in TX. I used to join the older guys, wake up at 4, help put out decoys and then lay in a coffin blind until they fly over. I ALWAYS fell asleep - until others started shooting. What always annoyed me was that the birds never come until 8 or 9, and fly till noon... why we out here at 4?!?

Then... I went later on with some other guys and found out there's this thing called blast and cast - camp on the beach, surf fish and hunt ducks on the bay side. That is so damn fun!

That would be awesome

 

[RUN-8]

Duck hunting in western SD involves pond hopping. Drive around, find a pond. Sneak up on pond, see if it holds any ducks. Shoot or shoot at said ducks once they take off. Rinse and repeat.

 

[Area 51]

There is so much i could say, but will not.
We continue to try to get more to move to third world states, they do not, more come here, sad but true.
We shoot year round, Ca & Nevada, when we get out to 1 mile and beyond.
I best stop here or upset the continuum.
Yes, its shooting with the big kids here.

 

[TimHerald]

That would be awesome

Duck hunting in western SD involves pond hopping. Drive around, find a pond. Sneak up on pond, see if it holds any ducks. Shoot or shoot at said ducks once they take off. Rinse and repeat.

Jump shooting is fun, just not a traditional hunt but also doesn’t require 4am wakeups!

 

[TimHerald]

There is so much i could say, but will not.
We continue to try to get more to move to third world states, they do not, more come here, sad but true.
We shoot year round, Ca & Nevada, when we get out to 1 mile and beyond.
I best stop here or upset the continuum.
Yes, its shooting with the big kids here.

I have had some great hunts in CA for turkeys and bear. Always wanted to do some of that world class duck hunting you guys have. NorCal is a different world from the rest of the state from what I have seen, and the people I met there would let you know it quickly. Cheers to you guys