You guys are really great. Wildrose - love the story about your dad grabbing the ole rifle and nailing the Royal? elk (6x6?). I've had friends miss shots because they forgot they had their scope set on 6 or so - and a Elk walked thru camp and all they saw was brown thru the scope.
My old/trusty Winchester 64 had a 2.5x Weaver - side mounted scope (which left the open sights for a quick/close shot in the brush) - and I thought that scope was great. Now I look thru it and holy cow - with it's now bubbled lens - it really makes me wonder how at a teen I thought it could shoot out to 150 yards - which was rarely needed.
We also had my dad's rifle - a Springfield 03 (as you know - a 30.06) - with a 3x9 Bushnell? scope - which I later learned had a customized Timney trigger and match barrel (a high school classmate's uncle had built/sporterized it) - and it would shoot thru one hole at 100 yards - which I just thought all "odd sixes" did.
Yes, "aught" is more proper - but I think some country humor was included in the "odd" pronunciation that was used around my ole home town in the hills of Oregon.,
Another reason I thought all .06's did that is the guy that taught me to hunt (one of my dad's friends) -- was a Native American/Indian (may Buddy RIP - and he was a Modoc - of the warrior tribe - v. the more settled tribe - the Klamath Indians) - who was a Marine sniper in WWII - and he served in the Pacific - but those guys - including my dad who served in Intelligence in the Army in the Pacific theater during WWII - never talked about their war exploits.
Buddy used an .06 (maybe a Winchester 64?) - and he shot his deer thru the eyes to save meat. I was a wide eyed 11 year old when I first went hunting with him - on the reservation where the Mulies were huge - 300 lbs and up - and thought- oh sure he shoots them thru the eyes (as my dad had told me). Well - after the first shot at 90-100 yards was just a smidge high (Buddy has some Korea surplus ammo - tracers) - he nailed it the next time - right thru the eyes.
Anyhow - I sold the Sporterized 03 back to my high school buddy - as he wanted to keep it as a family heirloom/momento - and bought a new .06 - which I am still in the process of breaking in. (On reflecting about it - should have kept that sweet shooter).
The new rig is nothing too fancy - a Mossberg 4x4 - with their Accu like trigger - 24" barrel with 2" muzzle brake (never had a muzzle brake before - it just came with the gun - and my buddy here in SD says it shoots like his .308 - recoil wise) - and got a great deal on it from another friend who is a manager at a local sporting goods store - for under $450 tax included - with a decent/serviceable 3x9x40 scope for breaking it in - and then will drop a much better scope in it when start stretching out to longer ranges.
And I will upgrade from that rifle if I can't get it to shoot under an inch - closer to a half an inch really. I like bargains - and may look for a good/used rifle if this one doesn't do the job - or maybe a Tikka? as I was previously checking out. Other suggestions are certainly welcome.
Was actually going to buy a .300 mag (was I was looking at Tikkas) - and then started thinking about the extra kick (shot a .300 and it didn't really bother me that much - but hey - I am now closer to 70 than 60) - and how with the newer powders (Hornady, etc) - the 2800 plus velocity in a 180 grain - was achievable with a trusty old .06 - so went with that for openers - and will certainly change if need be.
And WB - thanks so much for the continued tips on shooting/ballistics, etc. Really appreciate that.
Will definitely be checking out various options when I get back to the range.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays - and please keep the good advice coming.
Tom in San Diego
