Hunt Preparation Starts Now!

[tarbe]

This past week I sent my paperwork to Loodt at Tootabi, for a 10 day PG hunt in June 2015.

So naturally, I took my new Ruger No. 1 300 H&H to test some handloads.

I had already had the throat on this rifle lengthened .2" so I could seat the 220gr Nosler Partition such that the base of the bullet is at the bottom of the neck.

I loaded up 5 different charges of IMR 7828 SSC, with my starting load equal to the maximum in the Nosler loading manual (this is due to the longer throat on this rifle, and the fact that I was seating the bullets well past SAAMI specs).

The chronograph and dial calipers don't lie...I was able to reach just over 2,800 fps with the 220gr Nosler, with perfectly acceptable pressures based on measured case expansion.

I believe with a little more experimentation (and trying out H4831SC and Reloader 22) I will probably be able to hit 2,850 fps...but my original goal was at least 2,750, so I have already exceeded that.

I had hoped to test the load for accuracy, but the 30 mph winds made that impossible! I was not even at the range (with its heavy, stable benches), I was at a friend's ranch and I was shooting off a wobbly picnic table. It was moving in the winds! I was lucky to keep my shots in 2" at 100 yards under those conditions.

After the chronograph session, I spent some time shooting another 20 rounds off the sticks and offhand. The wind was so strong it would blow against my body and move the crosshairs 2 feet at 100 yards!. Very challenging to say the least.

All in all a good day. Windy, but the sun was shining and it topped out at 70F!

15 more months to practice and work up loads!


Tim

 

[Diamondhitch]

Certainly, practice in the worst conditions and normal conditions will seem like a breeze.

 

[tarbe]

Certainly, practice in the worst conditions and normal conditions will seem like a breeze.

Pun intended?

 

[BRICKBURN]

I hope your practice keeps going well.
It can make all the difference in the world to be confident in your firearm and ammunition.

 

[tarbe]

I hope your practice keeps going well.
It can make all the difference in the world to be confident in your firearm and ammunition.

Thanks...and I agree!

I have been an avid shooter for over 40 years, and received my first meritorious promotion in the Marines due to being the high shooter in my Platoon. So accurate shooting has been my goal for many years!

Tim

 

[BRICKBURN]

Thanks...and I agree!

I have been an avid shooter for over 40 years, and received my first meritorious promotion in the Marines due to being the high shooter in my Platoon. So accurate shooting has been my goal for many years!

Tim

Guess I was preaching to the Choir.

 

[tarbe]

Guess I was preaching to the Choir.

Not a problem. Truth is always welcome and you were speaking the truth!

Tim

 

[Diamondhitch]

Pun intended?

Shoulda bin

 

[gxsr-sarge]

I have 18 months left for my next hunt (sounds better than "one and a half years"). I think the preparation/anticipation is more than half of the fun!!

 

[Cowtown guy]

I have 37 days until my trip. I was practicing on home made sticks the other day at the silhouette range. For the life of me I couldn't hit the 200 meter chickens with my No1 in 375 H&H. I did however knock down 2 pigs out of 3 at 300 meters. My sticks were bamboo and very flimsy. I have since made some from hemlock that seem very stable. Unfortunately I have no more ammo to shoot due to the shortages up here finding bullets and powder. I'm going to continue to shoot smaller rifles that I do have ammo for with the same power scope.
You fellas in the US have no idea the issues we have finding components. I buy primers by at least 1000 at a time and typically am out before I actually see them again. Powder??? Ya right. Bullets are worse.

 

[BRICKBURN]

I have 37 days until my trip. I was practicing on home made sticks the other day at the silhouette range. For the life of me I couldn't hit the 200 meter chickens with my No1 in 375 H&H. I did however knock down 2 pigs out of 3 at 300 meters. My sticks were bamboo and very flimsy. I have since made some from hemlock that seem very stable. Unfortunately I have no more ammo to shoot due to the shortages up here finding bullets and powder. I'm going to continue to shoot smaller rifles that I do have ammo for with the same power scope.
You fellas in the US have no idea the issues we have finding components. I buy primers by at least 1000 at a time and typically am out before I actually see them again. Powder??? Ya right. Bullets are worse.

Greatest incentive in the world for me to become a Powder Hoarder.
Practicing with any rifle off the sticks will have you set. (even a .22)

Flimsy bamboo just does not cut it.
Glad you made something stiffer.
Good luck with the final prep work.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

You fellas in the US have no idea the issues we have finding components.

Oh actually we do. Sorry I didn't vote for the guy, so don't blame me.

 

[tarbe]

I have 37 days until my trip. I was practicing on home made sticks the other day at the silhouette range. For the life of me I couldn't hit the 200 meter chickens with my No1 in 375 H&H. I did however knock down 2 pigs out of 3 at 300 meters. My sticks were bamboo and very flimsy. I have since made some from hemlock that seem very stable. Unfortunately I have no more ammo to shoot due to the shortages up here finding bullets and powder. I'm going to continue to shoot smaller rifles that I do have ammo for with the same power scope.
You fellas in the US have no idea the issues we have finding components. I buy primers by at least 1000 at a time and typically am out before I actually see them again. Powder??? Ya right. Bullets are worse.

I cannot imagine running out of bullets 37 days before a hunt!

Do you have your stash of hunting ammo loaded up...or are you hunting with factory ammo?

I do have some 375 bullets...sounds like you might need them worse than me. I have 250gr Barnes X and 300gr Nosler Partition...couple hundred of each.

Not sure if I can ship them to the Great White North though...come to think of it, I probably can't legally do it.

 

[Cowtown guy]

I cannot imagine running out of bullets 37 days before a hunt!

Do you have your stash of hunting ammo loaded up...or are you hunting with factory ammo?

I do have some 375 bullets...sounds like you might need them worse than me. I have 250gr Barnes X and 300gr Nosler Partition...couple hundred of each.

Not sure if I can ship them to the Great White North though...come to think of it, I probably can't legally do it.

As far as I know they are ITAR controlled so no go. I do have my 60 loaded up and sitting ready for the hunt. I just don't have anymore to practice with. And the winter here has been brutal so trigger time this winter was reduced to I think only 3 range sessions. I just picked up a 22 Hornet that I plan on practicing with though. Same magnification range on the scope so I hope that it will make me more comfortable. It certainly will feel different shooting 45 grain bullets with 11 grains of powder as compared to 270 grain TSX bullets with 74 grains!

 

[Cowtown guy]

Oh actually we do. Sorry I didn't vote for the guy, so don't blame me.

I know you guys have issues too. What you see, multiply it by 3 or 4 times for what we have here for shortages. I was talking to one of the biggest shops in Alberta 2 days ago. They have 10 or 11 stores across Canada. They had next to nothing on the shelves for bullets. Literally 85% of the shelf space is empty and the fella said if they are lucky they may get a shipment in by the second week in August!

Glad you didn't vote for him. I was working as a guide in a goose camp just before the last election. We had a camp full of guys from Alabama that were glued to the TV at night watching the debates. It was...TENSE to say the least.

 

[Cowtown guy]

Greatest incentive in the world for me to become a Powder Hoarder.
Practicing with any rifle off the sticks will have you set. (even a .22)

Flimsy bamboo just does not cut it.
Glad you made something stiffer.
Good luck with the final prep work.

Thanks. I would love to become a hoarder. There just isn't enough to buy to hoard. Most shops here have a 2lb limit.

 

[bashaw]

I have 65 Days until I'm in Mozambique have all my ammo & have been practicing on Nutria with my 375 H&H, it works

 

[bashaw]

actually leave for Moz wont be there till the 30th

 

[BRICKBURN]

Thanks. I would love to become a hoarder. There just isn't enough to buy to hoard. Most shops here have a 2lb limit.

I have just been lucky of late asking friends to constantly keep and eye out.
I have watched stores put out a few boxes of bullets at a time.
Come back the next day a few more are put out.
Just means more trips.

Powder, is a constant cross country, very town excursion by anyone I know that has time.
it is the only way I have ended up with any powder.
Limits create the need for my ten best friends to come in with me. PIA.

Absolutely insane.

 

[Cowtown guy]

Limits create the need for my ten best friends to come in with me. PIA.
Absolutely insane.

That is the truth