Going Hunting for the first time... recommendations?

[atek3]

Hi, I recently move from the beautiful city of berkeley California to hanover, NH. Most of the people here that shoot firearms, go hunting. When in Rome...

The deer season is coming up in november and several dartmouth students go hunting every year. I'm taking the hunter's ed class later this month. For my rifle I'll be using what I've got... which is a Imbel FAL, topped with a Bushnell 4200 elite scope. I have a few questions. When I go to the range to practice, how should I practice, shooting sticks? sitting? improvised field position?

Also my practice ammo is port FMJ. What factory 308 do you recommend for New Hampshire whitetailed deer? I've been told to stay under 170 gr from the FAL folks.

thanks,
atek3

 

[Mantis]

It's always great to hear about a new hunter, welcome !

Remington 150g Core-lokts will work fine in your .308. They are not very expensive and they perform well. As far as practice goes, once you get your zeros for your rifle with your new ammo - STEP AWAY FROM THE BENCH ! Practice from positions you would find yourself in a hunting situation - seated, offhand, improvised rest (like a tree limb), etc.

Good luck on your hunt.

 

[hossdaniels]

what you have will work, just get some soft point (remington core-lokt) ammo at walmart and you will be good to go. practice every position and try to have a rest when you go hunting. know your limits(a 6" group) and have fun.

p.s. dont expect to get anything your first few trips, just relax it will happen.

 

[atek3]

I've seen FAL's shoot softpoints very poorly, the nose deforms quite severely on contact with the feedramp, prehaps this calls for nosler ballistic tip?

thanks,
atek3