New Hunter Here! Advice Needed.

[old heeler]

Oh, I wouldn't say that at all. Sometimes you don't know what you don't know until you hear it. I've been doing a lot of reading, both online and from recently purchased books. Actually, @Doc7 mentioned Steve Rinella and the TV show MeatEater. He and his show are a big reason I got interested in hunting. I have a couple of his books, which I've been working my way through.

I've also been researching. Looking at maps to check for elevation changes, road closures, private property boundaries, looking at Google Earth for promising habitat and access, etc.

But this thread has still brought me some new information, and made me think about some aspects of the overall process that I hadn't previously considered. Like packing out downhill versus uphill, and potentially de-boning the meat to make that easier; the type of ammo and a realistic personal maximum shooting distance; and considering backup hunting areas for unfavorable weather where access to a primary location might prove difficult, or because the game just isn't there.

I live Co and hunt high and that sometimes puts me above timberline. End of Aug you have Archery starting then rifle bear so month of Sept pretty busy high country and you'll have guy coming in before 1st rifle. I was up first last year and with only 2 days before 2nd lot came in early. About 1 /2 elk killed Co each year are cow/calf, Co DOW has hunting stats all units

https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/Statistics.aspx

I pack out but after first pack out I have game cart that I take back up.

 

[mustanger98]

My wife and I just got our Hunter Safety Cards, and now it's going to get interesting.

We started pursuing the idea after my wife tried Elk from the super market. Now we want to get our own. Although she is unlikely to get a tag for herself and actually shoot, she's very interested in the idea of getting out and scouting, spotting, stalking, and harvesting. We're still in the planning stages of course, and have a few places to go reconnoiter as potential hunting grounds.

Then we've got to deal with the whole licensing thing and make sure we thoroughly read the Big Game brochure. But we're both pretty excited about the idea of a new outdoors activity. I'm not particularly hopefully we'll be successful the first time out, but that doesn't matter to either of us too much because hopefully it'll still be a good learning experience.

I did not start hunting until I was 38. I spend a LOT of days in the field now, though. I enjoy big game hunts, but most of my time is spent pursuing cottontails, jacks, squirrels, grouse, pheasants, doves and waterfowl. Mostly I just enjoy being out in the wild and the act of the hunt. I prefer eating different species more or less, but I have fun hunting them all.

This.

 

[MaxP]

I think practicing from field positions is a good idea. You cannot count on a fully bench-like stabilized position. It’s just not a realistic expectation. That said, I would focus heavily on offhand shooting. Why? Because it happens often enough (in my experience) that you will have to take a follow-up shot offhand. And when you get good offhand, everything else is easy. If you don’t practice offhand, you will likely have to - it’s Murphy’s Law!

Also, use premium bullets. Yes, they cost more, but they are a worthwhile expense.

Getting in good shape is always a good idea. You will enjoy the hunt exponentially more when you’re not sucking wind.

Good luck to you!

 

[WrongHanded]

I bought some Remington 180gr Core-Lokt PSP. I put the results as an update in an old thread about my Tikka. I think it's going to work out okay. Here's the link if anyone is interested.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/so-i-bought-this-tikka-now-what.835622/page-4

 

[mustanger98]

Those CoreLokts... I killed my first deer with their 150grainer in a .30-30. Those are so retro... NOT!!! They're a good bullet for the job, IMO. They're not exactly cheap anymore either.

 

[WrongHanded]

Those CoreLokts... I killed my first deer with their 150grainer in a .30-30. Those are so retro... NOT!!! They're a good bullet for the job, IMO. They're not exactly cheap anymore either.

I think I paid about $1 a round with shipping. It's a good thing they worked out too, because I bought 4 boxes of 'em! But after reading around the web, I found that even though the design is rather old, people still say they perform, just as you have.

 

[rodwha]

I think I paid about $1 a round with shipping. It's a good thing they worked out too, because I bought 4 boxes of 'em! But after reading around the web, I found that even though the design is rather old, people still say they perform, just as you have.

It seems they will generally lose a bit of mass. They aren’t bonded or anything else fancy to help retain weight for penetration. An exceptional bullet is just that. But it’s not generally necessary. One day you might wish you had a better constructed/performing bullet though. Maybe. But standard cup and core bullets have worked nicely for a very long time.

 

[mustanger98]

I think I paid about $1 a round with shipping. It's a good thing they worked out too, because I bought 4 boxes of 'em! But after reading around the web, I found that even though the design is rather old, people still say they perform, just as you have.

So right at $80/80rds... save your brass... you might want to take up reloading which is another part of the fun. IIRC, you can get CoreLokts as component bullets. I'd say stick with them, but if you reload, you might try different data... shoot more for the same money and just get out and enjoy your rifle. Then, when you use your reloads to harvest your meat, you get another extra side order of satisfaction.

Just an observation... I've run into guys who tried to tell me old tech... "those don't work anymore." (For context, one guy was using that line trying to sell me a new $1200 scope with a 1000yd grid.) How is it that what's worked for how many years suddenly ceases to function the minute they bring something new to market? Older stuff still works very well, plus I don't know that it's not more fun seeing it work because a salesman said it was old news.

 

[rodwha]

So right at $80/80rds... save your brass... you might want to take up reloading which is another part of the fun. IIRC, you can get CoreLokts as component bullets. I'd say stick with them, but if you reload, you might try different data... shoot more for the same money and just get out and enjoy your rifle. Then, when you use your reloads to harvest your meat, you get another extra side order of satisfaction.

Just an observation... I've run into guys who tried to tell me old tech... "those don't work anymore." (For context, one guy was using that line trying to sell me a new $1200 scope with a 1000yd grid.) How is it that what's worked for how many years suddenly ceases to function the minute they bring something new to market? Older stuff still works very well, plus I don't know that it's not more fun seeing it work because a salesman said it was old news.

Precisely! My old boss mostly used a .25-06 with 100 grn Remington CoreLokt bullets. Our deer are generally smaller but the pigs can get pretty big. Honestly I was drawn in and used mostly 130 grn SilverTip Ballistic Tips in a .270 Win despite never having shot past about 80 yds.

Now I’ve moved on to muzzleloaders...

The advice on saving your brass is good. Even if you don’t reload you may know someone you trust who does. Tailored ammo is the best ammo. And the best of the best uses bullets you cast!

 

[MaxP]

I just prefer bonded bullets and monometal bullets. Yes cup and core has worked for years, but they also fail every year as well. They work well until they don't. Spending a little more on premium bullets is cheap insurance.

 

[WrongHanded]

I just prefer bonded bullets and monometal bullets. Yes cup and core has worked for years, but they also fail every year as well. They work well until they don't. Spending a little more on premium bullets is cheap insurance.

I respect your opinion Max. And I may well transition to bonded bullet at a later date. However, I'm hoping that the rifle is only a stepping stone in hunting, on my way to becoming a handgun hunter. I'm just not at the level to feel confident with that prospect yet. Unfortunately, I did read that Colorado only allows handgun hunting with hollow point expanding projectiles, so my new WFN handloads are not going to see use in this State for a hunting application.

 

[MaxP]

I respect your opinion Max. And I may well transition to bonded bullet at a later date. However, I'm hoping that the rifle is only a stepping stone in hunting, on my way to becoming a handgun hunter. I'm just not at the level to feel confident with that prospect yet. Unfortunately, I did read that Colorado only allows handgun hunting with hollow point expanding projectiles, so my new WFN handloads are not going to see use in this State for a hunting application.

We'll talk about that when we get to that juncture! There are good solutions outside of hardcast bullets that we can get into at a later date. Keep us posted!

 

[H&Hhunter]

I respect your opinion Max. And I may well transition to bonded bullet at a later date. However, I'm hoping that the rifle is only a stepping stone in hunting, on my way to becoming a handgun hunter. I'm just not at the level to feel confident with that prospect yet. Unfortunately, I did read that Colorado only allows handgun hunting with hollow point expanding projectiles, so my new WFN handloads are not going to see use in this State for a hunting application.

Pretty sure it says expanding bullets, no solids. It does not stipulate what type of expanding bullets are to be used.

 

[H&Hhunter]

I bought some Remington 180gr Core-Lokt PSP. I put the results as an update in an old thread about my Tikka. I think it's going to work out okay. Here's the link if anyone is interested.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/so-i-bought-this-tikka-now-what.835622/page-4

They do okay for elk at 180 Gr .30-06 velocities but there are better bullets out there for elk hunting.

 

[WrongHanded]

Pretty sure it says expanding bullets, no solids. It does not stipulate what type of expanding bullets are to be used.

You're correct. "expanding bullet" but nothing about hollow points.

 

[mustanger98]

You're correct. "expanding bullet" but nothing about hollow points.

That could be a JHP or a JSP with a wide flat nose... in a .44mag, a 240-265gr JSP...

 

[H&Hhunter]

WrongHanded

The most important thing you can do is pick a unit and go hunt. You’ll learn more from that than any pre planning or book study. Just get out there and start hunting. If you are successful that’s a bonus. Being out in the field will show you what works and what doesn’t. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes you’ll learn more from those than just about anything else.