I have an opportunity next season to hunt Red Deer ( European cousin to North American Elk ) that get to be in the 500 lbs. range.
This last season I shot a small one that weighed 220 lbs with a 140 ballistic tip in a 6.5 Creedmoor at 220 yards. The bullet was effective but the animal didn't go down with the first shot. The bullet was recovered under the skin on the offside with a hefty wound channel. The projectile was nicely mushroomed, however the core and the jacket did separate coming to rest within an inch or two of eachother.
I can solve 95 % this by using a Partition bullet in the 6.5 CM but where's the fun in that ?
Going after bigger animals generally requires a bit more horsepower downrange, so I dug my 30/06 out of the gun safe.
Here's where the "Old Rifle" thing kicks in:
I bought this Remington 78 Sportsman at Kmart in 1991 for the princely sum of $ 239.99 on clearance.
It had open sights and birch wood stock that was about as pretty as a fence post or a shovel handle.
The 3-9x Leupold Vari X3 scope, mounts and rings are all the same vintage and are still functional but not optimal.
I scored a factory Remmy Synthetic stock about 1992 or so that I glass bedded to the action.
The gun as it sits is capable of sub MOA 3 shot groups with hand loads, even with the optics currently on the rifle.
It's killed coyotes, deer and armadillos in 3 different states and I carried it a lot of miles in a couple of more states.
I want to give the old workhorse a bit of an update and add some functionality while i'm at it.
Here's the plan so far:
New Trigger - I want a two stage, it's what I like these days
Picatinny Rail Scope mount -Every other rifle in the safe has one. Makes optic change outs more "Plug & Play"
Optic- I'll swap something over from another rifle that I'm used to the reticle, more magnification, etc.
Barrel - I'll thread it for a Form 1 Suppressor or a brake.
Stock / Chassis - Either a KRG Bravo or the new MDT XRS if the LA 700 inlet hits the streets before next Hunting Season, depending on what feels better.
Ammo - Handloads with a 180 grain partition or acccubond or interlock type bullet with a little more retained weight.
Thoughts ?
Suggestions?
Input ?
Since a thread like this needs photos:
This last season I shot a small one that weighed 220 lbs with a 140 ballistic tip in a 6.5 Creedmoor at 220 yards. The bullet was effective but the animal didn't go down with the first shot. The bullet was recovered under the skin on the offside with a hefty wound channel. The projectile was nicely mushroomed, however the core and the jacket did separate coming to rest within an inch or two of eachother.
I can solve 95 % this by using a Partition bullet in the 6.5 CM but where's the fun in that ?
Going after bigger animals generally requires a bit more horsepower downrange, so I dug my 30/06 out of the gun safe.
Here's where the "Old Rifle" thing kicks in:
I bought this Remington 78 Sportsman at Kmart in 1991 for the princely sum of $ 239.99 on clearance.
It had open sights and birch wood stock that was about as pretty as a fence post or a shovel handle.
The 3-9x Leupold Vari X3 scope, mounts and rings are all the same vintage and are still functional but not optimal.
I scored a factory Remmy Synthetic stock about 1992 or so that I glass bedded to the action.
The gun as it sits is capable of sub MOA 3 shot groups with hand loads, even with the optics currently on the rifle.
It's killed coyotes, deer and armadillos in 3 different states and I carried it a lot of miles in a couple of more states.
I want to give the old workhorse a bit of an update and add some functionality while i'm at it.
Here's the plan so far:
New Trigger - I want a two stage, it's what I like these days
Picatinny Rail Scope mount -Every other rifle in the safe has one. Makes optic change outs more "Plug & Play"
Optic- I'll swap something over from another rifle that I'm used to the reticle, more magnification, etc.
Barrel - I'll thread it for a Form 1 Suppressor or a brake.
Stock / Chassis - Either a KRG Bravo or the new MDT XRS if the LA 700 inlet hits the streets before next Hunting Season, depending on what feels better.
Ammo - Handloads with a 180 grain partition or acccubond or interlock type bullet with a little more retained weight.
Thoughts ?
Suggestions?
Input ?
Since a thread like this needs photos:
