My First Hunting Rifle - What else do I need?

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NelsErik

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I just put together my first real hunting rifle. I have several benchrest rifles since we have a range in our backyard, but this is my first hunting rifle. My dad says it looks like a clown rifle with the 50mm objective, what do you guys think?

The only things I think I need now are some type of protection to keep dirt out of my scope lens and a strap or sling. I don't want to mount a third swivel, so that rules out the Ching Sling. I might try the Galco Safari sling. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Is the Leupold Alumina the only option for flip up scope caps since I have a VX-3L? Do I need them? $100 for caps is a lot of money. I might try to print them on a 3-D printer.

Anyhow, here is my "Circus Gun", a Browning A-Bolt RMEF Hunter in .300 WSM with a Leupold VX-3L 4.5-14x50mm. I have my first Arizona elk hunt in December.

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Got it! The Dillon has been pumping out .300 WSM for the last couple of weeks! I got a smoking deal on a case of 180 grain Nosler partition bullets and have been loading and shooting them like crazy.
 
Hello,

If you're going to use the sling to shoot with (I always do,) I'd recommend a replica of the US military style as used on the M1903. Leather is good but I'm coming to appreciate canvas as comfortable. Don't laugh, but my favorite at this time is the wide style that goes on the Mosin-Nagant rifle. It's just very comfortable even with my arm wrapped up tight.

What else? Nothing, I don't think. Lots of practice to familiarize yourself with that particular rifle. Sounds like you do lots of shooting anyway, but as you know, each rifle is as individual as different women. Only rifles one can usually figure out.

Regards,

Josh
 
Negative on the Butler Creek! I already tried. The scope has the crescent shape objective. I was hoping that someone other than Leupold made a cap because I think $100 is crazy and I already over my budget.

VX3L1.jpg
 
Dad is OLD SCHOOL. He still has a 8-power Unertl scope on his M-70 which he still shoots every morning. He thinks the 50mm crescent objective is silly. He likes using it, but says he won't let his friends seem him with one.
 
What else would you need?

- Shooting sticks
- A premium 180gr. bullet.
- A real good knowledge of an Elk's anatomy so you can place your shot perfectly.
- Some "field" practice. Benching can lull one into a false sense of ability. Start shooting offhand and over sticks, kneeling sitting and laying prone, simulate your hunt.
 
What do I think? I don't think you're going to find an elk on the planet that laughs at your "clown rifle".

Great looking rig...go shoot it a bunch!

And I "second" the motion for bikini strap cover for the scope...it's cheap and effective.
 
I use a safari sling like mentioned above. For keeping the gun where youwant it and keeping your hands relatively free it's hard to beat.

It has its downsides. Since the rifle is always roughly horizontal you have to be very conscious of where everyone is at. It is real easy to sweep your partners - not cool.

I've also had it decide to a muzzle dive into a snow bank trying to climb over a log.

You have to make sure you have your belt set up right. having the stock bump a knife handle every step when you're trying to be quiet sucks.

You just have to pay attention to what you're doing.
 
Ammo and practice at various ranges.

I've used a standard 1903 sling for years to carry hunting rifles over miles of some rough terrain. I also like the "tactical" type two point sling popularly used to carry ARs.

The larger objective allows more light to enter the scope and the crescent allows it to be mounted lower over the bore. I don't like scopes mouted high. I have only been whacked by a scope once and it was while using tall rings to clear a scope with a large bell. Never again.

I'm not certain, but I think your best choices for a scope cover is a bikini style or to spend the dough for the Leupold almuminum covers

I would give serious thought to replacing the factory recoil pad with a Pachmeyr Decelerator or similar. It will make shooting the rifle more comfortable.

I would also go through and inspect and tune everything. Make sure there is no part of the forearm applying uneven pressure to the barrel, the action fits in the stock correctly and that the action screws and such are properly torqued. Being a benchrest shooter, you probably know all this already.

Bullet construction is more important than bullet weight.
 
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I know you are avoiding the Leupy covers due to the cost, What did that scope cost? Methinks it needs protection.

I have a set of Leupy covers on my VX3 and some of the best money I spent. When you practice a little you will find that as you lift the rifle that if you position your left hand correctly that your left thumb is ideally placed to flick the front cover forward while the right thumb activates the rear cover. By the time you get the scope to your eye both covers are open.

I walk with the flaps closed as we also hunt in winter but our winter is arid and dry and one kicks up lots of dust which falls on the objective lens.

On the bullet matter, I can attest to the effectiveness of 180gr. Nosler Accubonds for Kudu sized animal and have taken a few of them with the Accubonds so far. From 66 yds to 275 yds. One could use 165gr. but I prefer to shoot them heavy and slower, this results in minimal meat loss which is important to me.

You could also google MPBR - Maximum Point Blank Range as a concept. This is where you zero your rifle so that you need not use a holdover point up to a certain distance. On your first buck you want to have to remember and do as few things as possible. To give you an example, your 300wm with a 165gr. SGK @ 3200fps will drop 6.7" over 275yds with your scope zeroed at 100yds.

However if you set the scope zero to 235yd then your bullet will travel no higher than 2" above POA and now lower than 2" below POA. For shoulder shots you will be fine in just aiming for where you want to hit. Your bullet trajectory will be +1.75" @ 100yds / +1.99" @ 150yds / +1.2"@ 200yds / -0.69" @ 250yds and -2.07" @ 275yds.
 
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Another vote for the Aluminas from me, and I was equally hesitant because of price at first. Then after I got them mounted and began to use them I wondered why I hadn't bought some long ago. IMO they are the only way to go.
 
Anyhow, here is my "Circus Gun", a Browning A-Bolt RMEF Hunter in .300 WSM with a Leupold VX-3L 4.5-14x50mm. I have my first Arizona elk hunt in December.
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Sounds like a nice set up for elk. Personally, I perfer 40-44mm objective scopes for hunting rifles, but if the size doesn't bother you its a good scope.

As far as some other things you might need:

  • Sturdy, well broken in hiking boots!
  • Shooting sticks.
  • Good binoculars (8x40 or 10x40 are my choice).
  • Good hunting/skinning knife (too many good choices to list).
  • Daypack with essentials (FAK, water, map, compass, etc.)
  • Lots of target practice (using "field positions") out to the ranges you plan to shoot.
 
The rifle has been completely gone through and everything is pretty much perfect. I had originally bought a Savage 11 Lightweight Hunter .30-06 and was planning on mounting a VX-2 3-9x33mm Ultralight on it; however, after a couple rounds with the gun I somehow managed to break an extraction claw and couldn't get the action unlocked. It went back to Savage after my gunsmith pulled it apart.

Basically I had already spent my budget when I started putting this gun together. I bought this gun from a guy who won it at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation dinner and doesn't hunt so I got a great deal on it. I found the scope on eBay from a guy who bought it several years ago and never mounted it. I paid less than half retail price. I'm into this gun for about half retail price, but this is the second gun I bought for the same purpose, so I am way over my budget.

I am going to try to 3D print a scope cover this weekend. We modeled it after the Butler Creek and just changed the shape. I'm not very good with the printer yet, so I will have to wait and see.

I have never shot off a set of sticks. I have taken three of the Gunsite rifle classes including one with the scout rifle, so I have practiced a lot with a sling, both standing and sitting. I might start looking for a set of trekking poles that can double as shooting sticks.

I have the boots part covered, Rocky S2V, I highly recommend them. They are tough as nails, lightweight, comfortable, give great support, and don't need to broken in. My brother introduced them to me. He has run a marathon in them and went through all of his qualifying and deployments in them.

For binoculars I bought an old pair of Steiner Military/Marines in 8x30. I know I can do lots better in binoculars, but my buddy is coming along and is going to bring a spotting scope.

I am also trying to work up my hunting load, but I think that is for another topic.

I will take a look at the Alumina caps. Thanks for all the replies.
 
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I like the slings rifleslinger makes and they are reasonably priced. His storefronts is at rifle-craft.com

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