I just have to share this story.
Last night I received a call from my best friend of 50+ years, Dixon. He had just gotten back from Colorado from his first ever Elk Hunt. I have some early posts regarding my assistance in helping him prepare. While I've never hunted out West let alone, hunted Elk, I'm an avid precision practical shooter. Dixon hates to shoot, he's strictly a hunter - checks sign in at his back yard before deer season and that's it. He hunts in the "big woods" of central PA where most shots are under 150 yards. His guide told him to prepare for a 200 to 300 yards shot thus he enlisted my aid.
First thing I did was inspect his equipment. A 60's vintage, level action, 308 Win. I think it's a model 88. The scope was as ancient as the rifle, poor quality, poor resolution, the elevation scope cover is missing, covered with duct tape. He's about to spend $10,000 on a hunt of a lifetime. I suggest he consider a new rifle, 30-06. No way, he "ain't giving up old Betsy" that has taken 3 black bears in PA and a ton of white tail bucks. Complicating the "new rifle" approach, he's left-handed and has never used a bolt action. We conclude that it's best he sticks with what he's familiar with given the time element to prepare. He does agree to purchase a new scope. We pick out a medium level Leupold, their 3 x 10 with a standard plex reticle. I mount the scope for him. It's a nice quality scope, very clear. I bore sight it for him.
He doesn't belong to a gun club so I help him join a local gun so we can do a precise sight in and practice at extended range. I suggest he consider a premium bullet for this hunt rather than his old vintage 150 grain Win soft points. He agrees. I'm able to obtain some Nosler 165 Accubond factory ammo. I work up some ballistic charts for him and we head to the range. We sight in for a 200 yard zero. As best we are getting 2"-inch groups at 100 yards which open up to about 4 to 5 at 200 yards even off my high-quality front and rear rests.
Next range session we do some practical shooting off a pack which is the way he intends to use the rifle during the hunt. There is not enough time to train him on using shooting sticks or a bipod and given his aversion to range shooting, these are not realistic options, so we opt for the pack as a field shooting aid which he is comfortable with. Groups are about the same, maybe a little larger. Nothing to write mother home about for sure!
Because I've hunted big game with him for many years before I became physically unable and I know him so well, the best woodsman and hunter I ever knew and because he's going on a spot and stalk hunt, I encourage him that his hunting skills will trump the marginal target shooting at the range given the large vital area of the animal he will be hunting. I really believe this, or I won't create false hope in him. Besides, at this point, there is no other realistic options.
Third day out, he bags a 5x4 Bull Elk, drops with a single shot at 176 yards!! I'm so thrilled for him. Since I will never make a hunt like that, I get to live it vicariously.
Going over Friday to look at pictures and antlers - have a few cold ones and relive the hunt with him.
Last night I received a call from my best friend of 50+ years, Dixon. He had just gotten back from Colorado from his first ever Elk Hunt. I have some early posts regarding my assistance in helping him prepare. While I've never hunted out West let alone, hunted Elk, I'm an avid precision practical shooter. Dixon hates to shoot, he's strictly a hunter - checks sign in at his back yard before deer season and that's it. He hunts in the "big woods" of central PA where most shots are under 150 yards. His guide told him to prepare for a 200 to 300 yards shot thus he enlisted my aid.
First thing I did was inspect his equipment. A 60's vintage, level action, 308 Win. I think it's a model 88. The scope was as ancient as the rifle, poor quality, poor resolution, the elevation scope cover is missing, covered with duct tape. He's about to spend $10,000 on a hunt of a lifetime. I suggest he consider a new rifle, 30-06. No way, he "ain't giving up old Betsy" that has taken 3 black bears in PA and a ton of white tail bucks. Complicating the "new rifle" approach, he's left-handed and has never used a bolt action. We conclude that it's best he sticks with what he's familiar with given the time element to prepare. He does agree to purchase a new scope. We pick out a medium level Leupold, their 3 x 10 with a standard plex reticle. I mount the scope for him. It's a nice quality scope, very clear. I bore sight it for him.
He doesn't belong to a gun club so I help him join a local gun so we can do a precise sight in and practice at extended range. I suggest he consider a premium bullet for this hunt rather than his old vintage 150 grain Win soft points. He agrees. I'm able to obtain some Nosler 165 Accubond factory ammo. I work up some ballistic charts for him and we head to the range. We sight in for a 200 yard zero. As best we are getting 2"-inch groups at 100 yards which open up to about 4 to 5 at 200 yards even off my high-quality front and rear rests.
Next range session we do some practical shooting off a pack which is the way he intends to use the rifle during the hunt. There is not enough time to train him on using shooting sticks or a bipod and given his aversion to range shooting, these are not realistic options, so we opt for the pack as a field shooting aid which he is comfortable with. Groups are about the same, maybe a little larger. Nothing to write mother home about for sure!
Because I've hunted big game with him for many years before I became physically unable and I know him so well, the best woodsman and hunter I ever knew and because he's going on a spot and stalk hunt, I encourage him that his hunting skills will trump the marginal target shooting at the range given the large vital area of the animal he will be hunting. I really believe this, or I won't create false hope in him. Besides, at this point, there is no other realistic options.
Third day out, he bags a 5x4 Bull Elk, drops with a single shot at 176 yards!! I'm so thrilled for him. Since I will never make a hunt like that, I get to live it vicariously.
Going over Friday to look at pictures and antlers - have a few cold ones and relive the hunt with him.
