On LongRangeHunting.com, you’ll find a good article by Shawn Carlock about wind reading. Shawn is a veteran law enforcement marksman and a past USPSA national precision rifle champion. Shawn offers good advice on how to estimate wind speeds and directions using a multitude of available indicators — not just your wind gauge: “Use anything at your disposal to accurately estimate the wind’s velocity. I keep and use a Kestrel for reading conditions….The Kestrel is very accurate but will only tell you what the conditions are where you are standing. I practice by looking at grass, brush, trees, dust, wind flags, mirage, rain, fog and anything else that will give me info on velocity and then estimate the speed.”
Shawn also explains how terrain features can cause vertical wind effects. A hunter on a hilltop must account for bullet rise if there is a headwind blowing up the slope. Many shooters consider wind in only one plane — the horizontal. In fact wind has vertical components, both up and down. If you have piloted a small aircraft you know how important vertical wind vectors can be. Match shooters will also experience vertical rise when there is a strong tailwind blowing over an up-sloping berm ahead of the target emplacements. Overall, Shawn concludes: “The more time you spend studying the wind and its effect over varying terrain the more successful you will be as a long-range shooter and hunter.”
This Editor, as a life-long sailor, also has some suggestions about wind. Many folks may not realize that wind can cycle, both in direction and in speed (velocity). If you are patient, you should be able to sense the timing of the cycles, which will help you predict shifts in wind direction and velocity. While it is tempting to shoot in the lulls, sometimes the true wind vector (angle + speed) may be most constant when the wind is blowing stronger.
Another tip for hunters is to orient your shot, when possible, in alignment with the wind direction. Try to face into the wind, or have the wind at your back. This is especially effective when shooting in a varmint field. Use a string of tape on a pole to show wind angle. Then shoot directly into the wind or with the wind directly at your back. This will minimize horizontal deflection caused by the wind.
The Three Amigos in New Mexico (L to R): Kelly McMillan, Paul Phillips, Derek Rodgers.
This isn’t your typical hunting story, because these aren’t your typical hunters. Derek Rodgers is the current F-TR World Champion, and past King of Two Miles. Paul Phillips was a member of the Silver Medal-winning F-TR Team McMillan at the 2018 Nationals. Paul also shoots with Team Applied Ballistics in ELR competition. The third hunter, Kelly McMillan, needs no introduction. The respected owner of McMillan Fiberglass Stocks, Kelly has been a leading figure in the gun industry for years. He also supports many top rifle shooting teams.
This talented trio recently got together for a very successful hunt in New Mexico, Derek’s home turf. All three men bagged an impressive Antelope, with Paul Phillips dropping the biggest buck of all. Derek made the longest shot, hitting his buck at an impressive 510 yards, verified by laser rangefinder.
Paul Phillips posted: “Our New Mexico Antelope hunt with Kelly McMillan and Derek Rodgers was a success. To hunt with these two icons was definitely on my bucket list. I shot my buck at 389 yards in an 18-mph wind through a barbed wire fence. It may be a possible Boone and Crockett trophy buck, measuring 84 3/8 inches.”
Derek nailed his Antelope at 510 yards with a .308 Win fitted with a GSL Technology suppressor. As dusk approached, despite blustery wind and rain, Kelly dropped the third Antelope with a great 230-yard shot from a broken tree crotch. Paul noted: “All three bucks had their own challenges and funny story. All three hunts required team work with stalking, communication. For all three shots we used Applied Ballistics LLC solutions with our Kestrels for data.” The three men used all top-quality products including McMillan stocks, Bartlein barrels, Stiller actions, Berger bullets, and Nightforce scopes.
For long-range hunting you need to have your drops absolutely “spot-on”. Paul posted: “When you do a 30-45 minute stalk… you need to have all your ballistics perfect or they get away. We were glad that we had a practice day before the hunt to confirm our zeros and verify our ballistics.”
Kelly notes: “Paul Phillips scored this nice 80+” buck in New Mexico. It was Paul’s first antelope.” The .338 LM rifle featured a Stiller TAC338 action, Bartlein 20″ barrel, McMillan A5 Stock, and Nightforce ATACR scope. In the Facebook video, Paul talks about making the shot, directly into the wind.
Here’s a “must-read” article for .22 LR rimfire shooters. The recently-released October 2018 issue of Shooting Sports USA (SSUSA) includes a great article with data on thirty-one (31) different types of popular .22 LR rimfire ammunition. The line-up includes low-speed, standard, and Hi-Velocity types, plus choices for plinking, varminting, and target applications. Brands tested include: Aguila, American Eagle, CCI, Federal, Fiocchi, Lapua, Remington, and Winchester. The slowest ammo, CCI Quiet-22 Lead RN, clocked 727 FPS. The fastest ammo, CCI Short-Range Green Lead-Free HP, ran 1735 FPS, more than twice as fast as the Quiet-22.
For each ammo type, SSUSA lists the bullet weight, velocity (FPS), and average of two, 5-shot groups at fifty yards. The most accurate ammo was Lapua Center-X LRN, with a 0.37″ average 50-yard group size. Second best was Lapua X-ACT LRN at 0.42″. Ammo was tested from a bench with a Cooper Model 57-M rifle fitted with 3-9x33mm Leupold VX-2 scope. The ammo offerings were grouped into three categories: (1) Varmints/Small Game; (2) Target; and (3) Plinking. (See ammo tables below.)
Click for larger page-view.
Different types of .22 LR (Long Rifle) rimfire ammo have different applications. Subsonic ammo, typically, is best for 25m to 50m target work with precision rimfire rigs. Hi-Velocity .22 LR ammo provides a flatter trajectory for longer ranges. SSUSA explains: “The array of .22 LR loads… turns a person’s head every which way. Subsonic target loads are the key to decisive accuracy on targets, while hyper-velocity cartridges provide striking bullet expansion on small varmints. In between, standard and high-velocity .22 LRs are loadrf with a variety of bullet weights and styles for everything from small-game hunting to plinking[.]” READ Full SSUSA .22 LR Rimfire Ammo Story.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
1. Palmetto Armory — Rem 700 .223 Rem with Scope, $359.99
Here’s an awesome deal on a camo-finish Remington 700 hunting/varminting rig. The price is just $359.99 with scope and rings! This Rem 700 features 26” blued heavy barrel chambered in .223 Rem, Mossy Oak Camo synthetic stock, and X-Mark Pro (non-adjustable) trigger. The package comes complete with a 4-12x40mm scope. NOTE: The twist is 1:12″ so this is suitable for lighter-weight bullets. Buyers say the scope is pretty cheap, though functional. But this is still a great deal. You could pay as much (or more) just for a Rem 700 short action with trigger. Here you get a complete rifle with a pretty nice hunting stock. Order HERE.
2. Grafs.com — 10% OFF All Powders and Primers
Grafs.com is running a great reloading special right now, offering 10% OFF all powder and primers through October 3, 2018. Virtually all your favorite propellants are on sale — Accurate, Alliant, Hodgdon, IMR, Norma, Ramshot, Vectan, Vihtavuori, Winchester and more. In addition, you can save 10% on primers from CCI, Federal, Winchester and other leading brands. Shipping and HazMat fees still apply. Along with these specials, Grafs.com is offering 10% Off Peterson Brass (no listed end date on Peterson brass discount). Hats off to EdLongRange for finding these Graf’s deals.
Here’s a killer deal on a Front Focal Plane (FFP) optic good for PRS competition and tactical applications. The Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50mm scope features 0.1 Milrad clicks with an EBR-2C illuminated reticle with Mil-based hash marks. This reticle also features the “Christmas Tree” type lower half, which provides range hold-overs with horizontal markings for wind holds. Not that long ago, this scope sold for around a thousand bucks. Now you can get the Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50mm for just $649.99. That’s a great price for a PRS-ready FFP comp scope with a proven track record and rock-solid Vortex warranty. EuroOptic’s Sale price is $649.99. This is a great deal — this same scope sells elsewhere for $789.99.
4. Precision Reloading — 15% Off All Battenfeld Brand Products
Visit PrecisionReloading.com to save big on Caldwell Rests and Target Cams, Tipton Cleaning Rods and Gun Vises, Frankford Arsenal Tumbler Kits, Golden Rod Dehumidifiers, and Wheeler Engineering Reloading Tools. We use a Tipton Gun Vise, and clean brass with a Frankford Arsenal Tumbler and media separator. We also think the Caldwell Target Cam is one of the best values on the market. It out-performs long range video systems costing hundreds more. HEADS UP: While you’re shopping at PrecisionReloading.com, note that the HazMat fee is only $16 for any powder and/or primer order. That’s half what some other vendors charge.
5. CDNN — Ruger EC9S Carry Pistol, $229.99
Here’s a good little 9mm carry pistol for a crazy-low price. Right now, CDNN is selling the popular Ruger EC9S 9MM pistol for $229.99 — that’s $70 off the regular $299.00 price. This gun is light (17.2 ounces) and thin so it’s easy to carry discretely. The EC9S is 6″ overall with a 3.12″-long barrel. The EC9S features integral sights and ships with a single 7-round magazine.
6. Midsouth — New Lyman Reloading Presses on Sale
Midsouth Shooters Supply is running a big sale right on Lyman’s impressive new Brass Smith line of reloading presses. There are three models, each offering great performance and value for its class. You can save quite a bit of cash with this Midsouth Lyman Press sale. If you haven’t tried orange yet, we think you’ll be impressed. The little C-Frame is a steal at $69.99. The sturdy O-Frame Singles stage press is $154.99. And if you’re looking for a Turret press, the new 8-station Lyman Turret press ($192.99 on sale) is very impressive — with more stations than the competition, and enhanced strength/rigidity.
7. Amazon — NcStar Roll-Up Shooting Mat, $29.95
Thicker and bigger than most shooting mats under $60.00, this $29.95 NcStar Roll-Up Mat has earned excellent reviews for comfort and utility. It has 0.30″ padding plus elbow and knee panels. The mat rolls up into a compact 19.5″ W x 8.5″ H, secured by twin Velcro straps The mat is available in six colors: Tan (shown), green, black, camo, digital camo, and grey. Prices vary slightly among colors. With both carry handle AND shoulder strap, the rolled mat is easy to tote. Here are reviews from three recent verified purchasers:
“This mat is fantastic, the stitching is solid, the padding is thick enough that rocks and cactus aren’t a problem. It’s light, quick, and easy to roll up.” — Angela D.
“Excellent mat. Used it for a Project Appleseed shoot and it performed perfectly. Two days of kneeling, standing and laying on it, over a dirty, dusty shooting range. Came through it all with flying colors. Rolls nicely [and] well-constructed from high-quality materials.” — NPCoach
“Works better than I expected. Easy to roll up and unroll in seconds. Velcro ties save a lot of time. It’s not uncomfortable laying on hard, uneven ground. Great product!” — Robert
8. Midsouth — 17 HMR Ammo Sale, $33.79 for 200 Rounds
Every good varmint hunter has a 17-cal rimfire in his arsenel. The 17 HMR is ideal for small critters out to about 150 yards. Low noise and low recoil help you score multiple hits. Now’s a great time to stock up on 17 HMR ammunition. Midsouth has Hornady 17 HMR in 200-count packs for $33.79. That works out to $8.45 per 50-count box or $0.17 (seventeen cents) per round. This is good ammo — the tipped V-Max bullets are explosive on ground squirrels and prairie dogs. NOTE: Midsouth also has 500-round 17 HMR bricks for $84.99, also $0.17 per round.
9. Midsouth — 250 Adhesive Precision Targets on Roll, $12.49
Midsouth offers 250 self-adhesive Benchrest Targets on a convenient roll. These stick-on targets work great for load development. The aiming diamond helps align the cross hairs of your scope for consistent shot placement. If you set your Point of Impact to the 1/4″ grid pattern at the top it’s easy to eyeball your group size. At the bottom are fields for your load info. Each Target sticker measures 6″ x 4″ with a 4.5″ x 2.5″ printed area. Midsouth sells the 250-target roll for $12.49, discounted this week from $14.99.
Are you a safe hunter? Go through this checklist to find out. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has created a helpful Safety Checklist for hunters. This Hunting Safety Checklist was produced as part of the NSSF’s “Hunt S.A.F.E.” campaign which encourages hunters (and all firearm owners) to secure their firearms when not in use, and to focus on safe firearm handling and storage. The Hunting Safey Checklist helps hunters follow good, safe practices in the field and at home.
“Hunting is a time-honored tradition for many Americans, and the hunting season brings a wave of excitement and activity for all enthusiasts,” said NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti. “It’s also a good time of year to remind firearm owners about … safe and responsible gun handling and storage.”
As part of the NRA’s Tips & Tactics video series, Kristy Titus explains how to prepare for a hunt. Titus, co-host of the Team Elk TV show, is a certified instructor has hunted around the globe. She grew up in the outdoors, running pack mules in Oregon with her father. In this video, Kristy discusses fitness training and demonstrates field positions that can be employed during a hunt.
Kristy explains: “Hunting can lead you into some steep, rough country. It’s really important that you train both your body and your mind to handle the elements and the rigors of hunting. With no two hunting situations being the same, we must train to be adaptable and make the most of every opportunity. The most important aspect of hunting success, ultimately, is the person behind the rifle. So, if you plan on going on a mountain hunt, get out and train your body. Train with your firearm. Get off the bench and have some fun with this. Do some positional shooting or, if you want to add a stress dynamic… have someone put you under a time parameter.”
“When it comes to bolt-action rifle fit, there is no ‘one size fits all’,” says Titus. “When picking out your rifle [consider options] after the purchase to ensure you are as comfortable as possible.”
Story Tip from EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHF Day) takes place on Saturday, September 22, 2018. The annual celebration serves as a reminder that conservation succeeds because of leadership and funding from hunters, shooters and anglers. National, regional, state and local organizations will run thousands of “open house” hunting- and fishing-related events around the country. Events will include Fishing Derbys, Hunting Expos, Wing-shooting tournaments, and much more. Over four million Americans will participate.
Find Events in Your State
For info on NHF Day, visit www.nhfday.org. To find NHF Day events in your state, click links below:
Hunters Aid Conservation Efforts
The contributions of hunters, in the form of excise taxes paid on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment, benefit every state. These taxes have generated approximately $5.6 billion for wildlife conservation since 1939.
It’s hunting season in many areas of the country already. If you’re planning a fall hunt you want to do your homework — make sure your gear is checked out, your rifle zeroed, and your hunting grounds plotted. You’ll want to sight in your rifle, get the right clothing, make sure you have your hunting license, deer tags, and other needed paperwork.
Cabela’s has a ton of helpful information for hunters on its Deer Nation website. You’ll find numerous videos as well as articles from expert guides and experienced hunters.
This episode of Cabela’s Whitetail Season highlights ground hunting. While some hunters prefer a stand, the cover provided by the background and tall grasses can help with your stalks.
In this video, Bill Winke, host of Midwest Whitetail, shows how he hunts over small food plots.
Cabela’s Deer Nation portal offers over 100 informative articles for hunters. Here are six of our favorite features:
Are you feelin’ lucky? Then here is a contest you may want to enter. This new contest has not one but THREE very impressive prize packages that each include a rifle (or shotgun), premium hunting gear, plus a guided duck/quail hunt. The contest prize rifles — Steyr Scout or Steyr Pro THB 6.5 Creedmoor — provide real incentive to enter this contest. Those are nice rigs.
Steyr Arms celebrates the fall deer season with a month-long Big Buck Down contest with THREE big prize packages — one awarded every 10 days in September. All three prize packages will include a Steyr or Merkel firearm, Jagdhund and X JAGD gear, plus a two-day, two-person duck/quail hunting trip. The first two give-aways also include a 3.5-18x44mm Swarovski Z5 riflescope.
The program runs from September 1 through September 30. Those that enter by September 10 will be eligible to win all three prize packages (but you can only win once of course). Along with a firearm, and premium hunting gear, each package includes the winner’s choice of a two-day guided quail or duck hunt for two from Intercoastal Safaris, complete with meals and beachfront lodging in the Florida/Alabama Gulf Coast. CLICK HERE for PRIZES.
THREE PRIZE PACKAGES — One Package Every Ten Days
To enter the Big Buck Down! Giveaway, visit www.buckdowngiveaway.com. NOTE: You must agree to sign up for the sponsors’ e-mail newsletters. After entering the giveaway, contestants can receive additional entries by visiting sponsor websites and social media pages. There is no purchase necessary to enter. Due to legal restrictions in California, New York, Florida and Rhode Island, residents of those states are not eligible to win.
Here is some eye candy for fans of fine firearms. Made for the 1981 nuptials of Lady Diana Spencer and HRH Prince Charles, this Westley Richards & Co. side-by-side, 12 gauge shotgun was engraved by the Brown Brothers with gold crests and floral accents. The British royal seal and other heraldic emblems of the couple are included in the decoration. This amazing piece is now in the NRA Museum Collection.
Princess Diana’s Westley & Richards Shotgun
It’s not an uncommon practice for people who like firearms to be given one for a big occasion, such as a graduation or a birthday. Today’s GOTD was given to a very special person on a very special occasion that took place 35 years ago today. This 12 gauge Westley Richards side-by-side shotgun was given to Lady Diana Spencer when she married Prince Charles on July 29, 1981. The gun was engraved by the Brown Brothers — Paul and Alan — and features a variety of artistic elements, including the royal seal and the couple’s wedding date.
