Mike S

Use the 1911. More cool factor...

18" on a coues would be huge. I'd be looking at 13-14" for a mature buck. At least in the southern units I hunt. have fun and good luck. Mike

I prefer Reloder 22 with 130 gr Hornadys for my deer load. I also use H4350 with the 130 gr Barnes triple shocks with great accuracy, I switch powder as I run out of case capacity with the Reloder 22 and the long Barnes bullets...

Are the roads within the refuge open? The website says the refuge is closed due to the shutdown, but not sure if that means the gates are closed.

I'll be using my McMillan stocked pre 64 Winchester M70 fwt .270, shown here on the PRGC 500yard line along with it's best 500 yard 3 shot group to date.

Very cool, was this built on a controlled feed action? If so any feeding issues with the AI cases?

Sold

Didn't realize there were that many .22 hornet shooters out there...

For a Rem 700 I would talk to Bob Brackney in Wickenburg.

What action are you building on?

My vote would be buy the 12s, sell the 15s, keep the spotter and get a smaller pair for around your neck if you feel that is necessary for hand holding. I have the 12s and they only weigh 38 ounces or so. The question is do you feel comfortable hand holding them and/or how much do you expect to hand hold them.

Anyone notice the survey markers for the proposed gas pipeline along the the base of the Baboquivaris this fall? We did during the October hunt. Here is a link to the proposed construction : http://www.kindermorgan.com/business/gas_pipelines/projects/sasabelateral/ Appears the refuge won't allow it to parallel the highway crossing the refuge and would rather have it cut across the open desert along the western alignment shown on the map. Makes no sense at all!

Thanks for the link. Hopefully common sense will prevail. Mike

Thanks Don, in my experience the boars seem to run heavier on the average, although my heaviest to date has been a sow. I've also noticed the boars tend to be in the back when the herd is traveling. Mike

Those are some big ones Don. Congrats to all. Have you found the boars or sows to run larger? Mike

Bill's shoots are great practice for hunting type shots. You will not regret coming out. Hope to meet some of you CWT members there. Mike

I've tagged far more mature bucks than little ones, but the little ones do taste better. To each their own. . . My personal opinion is that reducing the number of December tags would have a bigger impact on a units trophy potential than point restrictions.

I use H4350 in my .270 when loading 130 gr triple shocks and they shoot great, not the bullet or powder I use for Coues though. I use Hodgdon instead IMR as it is less sensitive to temp variations (loss of velocity in very cold weather). Other than that I would assume you have a good combo there.

Bill's matches are great practice for that upcoming hunt! Hope to see some of you there. . . Mike

Hornady ammo has always worked well for me and is usually what I use to test a new purchase if I don't have reloading dies yet. My .300 win mag would shoot .5 MOA with their 180 Grain heavy mag load. Seems like Hornady 130's shot about 1 MOA for 5 shots in my .270 when I first got it, which is pretty good for that rifle. I'd certainly give Hornady a try. I stick to 130s myself for Coues. I use 130 Hornadys over a max charge of RL22. I think the 110s will have greater wind drift at longer ranges, but I've never actually compared them...

Unless I'm out of town hunting or camping I am mountain biking 20-30+ miles a week, mostly in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve near my house. Have to do early morning or night riding during the hot months, but it is easier for me to keep in shape than get in shape...

My brother has a pair with the Outdoorsmans adapter. Great glass!

A buddy of mine dumped a big bull in the early hunt with a head on shot at 15 or so yards with his 300 Ultra Mag and a 180 scirroco. He said the bullet made it to somewhere behind the diapragm, so you might consider that for a premium bullet that will hold together at close range. I expect it would also expand better at very long range than the TSX monometal types. Good luck with your hunt! Mike

I've been very satisfied with the Leica LRFs. Started with an LRF800 and am now using an LRF1200 scan model. Remember that the advertised yardage capability is for a reflective target. The usable range on an animal is often much less.

Holehan guns is in Tucson. Very high end, quality rifles, if you have the money... also a Coues outfitter.