Hello Dave & Ric
I really hate to keep posting here because I don't want to seem like I am "Hogging" up the forum.
I simply have witnessed or have owned many pieces of equipment over the years that, I feel is helpful to the new shooters who are coming on the scene and attempting Longrange shooting/hunting.
If what I have learned over the years will help just one shooter, then I will continue to post here. Please excuse me if I seem to make comments in several places, but the. areas of comments I have done and/or witnessed over the years.
I'm VERY glad we have this forum to respond to and to have it controled away from the naysayers.
In truth, most shooters/hunters have NO idea what their rifles are capable of.
They are normally the 3 day a year hunter who carries his 30/30,35 Remington, 30/06 and 270 into the woods and thinks there is nothing better to hunt with.
I have found that, you will NEVER educate some of these people because they are happy with the way they hunt and always have.
As you know Ric, growing up in PA that Longrange hunting began in the North Central area of that State.
It began in the Pine Creek area (which is just over the mountain from Driftwood where I have a home) and spread to my area (Cameron County) very rapidly. These two areas of PA are still the Longrange hunters paradise. Tall steep mountains where you can shoot from one to another. If you have been to the area, you know exactly what I am saying.
I think that education is our best consideration for those who want to know more about our sport. Most people/hunters, who are set in their ways, do not want to change and don't believe what we do anyway and try to argue that it can't be done. These are the types that we must just walk away from and try to educate within our own ranks. Live and let live I have always advocated.
With the major arms companies producing longrange rifles right off the shelf, we as longrange shooters/hunters have the obligation to help anyone who wants to know about our sport.
There has NEVER been a hunting accident caused by a longrange hunter and the game commission in every State we hunt in know this. We MUST keep it this way and stress Safety always.
We have found that, the bush hunter (short range) knows NOTHING about LR weapons what so ever and will give nonfactual remarks, as you have found in other forums.
I wish you could have seen the crowd we had a few years ago in Colorado. If I would have charged $5.00 for every visiter we had, I could have paid for my trip. Just from the safety standpoint, we have been WELL accepted in our area of Colorado, especially by the game commission.
As mentioned, my goal is safety in the sport. We do not shoot if we see Orange on the other mountain within 1000 yards of our intended target.
As far as what others post on other forums,I can only say, these hunters are certainly not Longrange hunters and probably will never be. When I hear that a 45/70 is the best LR rifle, I know that poster knows NOTHING about what we do.
One must disregard what some say because most hunters have been short range hunting so long that they have no plans of changing. They would NEVER go to the expense or be allowed to by their wife, to do it correctly anyway.
There is NO expense limit to doing the LR game correctly and safely as far as I'm concerned. Buy the BEST equipment you can possibly afford that will last you for years if taken care of correctly.
Well I have rambled on enough here and just wanted to add my 2 cents worth.
In summery, you know what a person knows or what he has done just by what he says.
Good luck to you and good shooting always.
Shoot straight and stay SAFE.
Darryl Cassel
PS--I see Warren came in on this one and I'm glad to see him here. He is VERY knowledgeable and can help out in many areas of expertise. Hello Warren, how's the testing on the "Big Boy" coming along???
[ 11-19-2001: Message edited by: Darryl Cassel ]
[ 11-19-2001: Message edited by: Darryl Cassel ]
