Hoss50

So I wanted to gather some opinions from people who have tried them. Are they worth the money? I have a VX-6 on one of my rifles, and I currently just use the scope sock that came with the scope for protecting the glass, but I have been interested in the Alumina Covers. They look nice, but are pricey so I don't really want to pay a bunch of money for something that is junk or not worth the dollars. Thoughts?

I am sure there are. Desert hunts are tough, but I would think staying near areas were farm fields transition to desert would be my focus in that unit.

I have not hunted 21 for many years, but even then Bloody Basin was pretty high traffic. I did find some valley's north of the road before you drop down the hill to the verde that were good though. We didnt' connect, but it was good country. Super tough country though.

I have not shot a bull, but both cows I have participated in taking were tough as heck. First one was when I was about 15 years old. My dad and I were about 60 yards apart tucked in the trees. A cow elk walked up and didn't know we were there. My dad cracked her with a 300 Weatherby mag right in the vitals and she started running. He shot her again in the vitals, and she kept running, right into me. I hit her with a 338 Win Mag with a shot that was too far back, but she turned and ran back toward my dad. He cracked her 2 more times and she ran another 75 yards before she piled up. In hind sight we should have just let her run, but we didn't know any better. All 4 of my dads shots were good shots with 200gr Speer Grand Slams, and none exited. Mine passed through. She was running on pure adrenaline. When we gutted her the lungs and liver were literally just liquid in the chest cavity. Adrenaline is an amazing thing. About 4 years ago I shot my last cow. I had a good shot at 260 yards broadside, and squeezed of a round from my 257 Weatherby. 115gr Berger HVLD. She didn't flinch a bit, and the 3 cows jogged about 25 yards from the sound of the shot. I was shocked because I had missed, or so I thought. She stopped quartering away from me and I shot again and they ran off, but right as they were getting out of sight I see her drop. We got up to the cow and she had 2 entry holes in her (1 in each side), and zero exit holes. We opened her up and the first shot had been a perfect double lung hit, and she made no move like she had been hit. The 2nd shot hit lung and lodged in her off side shoulder. Elk are super tough. I am kind of thinking that breaking elk shoulders with a bigger round might be a better plan from now on though because I don't know how far she would have run with just my first shot, if I hadn't dropped her with the 2nd shot.

Monarchs have always been a good bang for the buck bino.

1 working towards 1.5.

I am down 10lbs (which isn't a lot when you are overweight and 320lbs) and in much better shape today then when I started. I am not in good shape yet, but headed in the right direction. It is addicting and fun. If anyone is on the fence about it, try it. I am also walking about 1-1.5 miles every morning and mixing in a little jogging at times on the walk to get the heart rate up.

It has a lot to do with the weather is my guess, just like most of the units up that way. If it is cold and has decent snow they will probably move to lower elevations. If no snow, then they could be anywhere. Try and scout a couple times in November before the hunt. Scouting now isn't very beneficial except to learn the lay of the land if you are not familiar with the areas. Get away from the roads, get up high, and glass. That is your best strategy to me. Harley

Good deal here

Call Andrew McLaughlin @ LetzRoll offroad. He is a good dude.

Sitting in a 7am Forestry class @ Colorado State University. At the time I was living on the 11th story of a pair of 12 story dorms in Fort Collins. They were the tallest building for 80 miles. It didn't feel super comfortable going back to my dorm when school was cancelled that day. It was also super uncomfortable being 1000 miles away from my family and having no family support structure, no car, no real money, no weapons, etc since we had no idea WTF was going on. They didn't cancel football practice that day so we hung out at the facility that day a lot, but it sucked because during practice they called a few players out of practice to tell them that they had loved ones who were in the Towers.

The loads I am working on with Berger bullets are using Lapua brass. My copper bullet loads are using Winchester brass because I have alot of it, and not enough Lapua brass to go around yet. I have another round of loads worked up with 120gr GMX bullets, and another using 135gr Berger Classic Hunters. Next weekend will be range time.

I have seen lope in 7E as far south as saddle mountain, and as far north as headed into the flats north of Missouri bill hill.

I originally put a timney factory set at 3lbs in my 257 weatherby, and it was the lightest trigger I had used. It was awesome. Now I have a timney in my 300 mag set at 1.5-2lb. I have set triggers on a couple cz rifles that at probably 1lb or less. When you set the trigger on my 7.62x39 CZ, you dont even think about reaching for the trigger until you are 100% ready to shoot. You will set it off way before you think you should. I shoot that 3lb trigger now, and i keep squeezing wondering if it will ever go off. It feels heavy. It is a rabbit hole be careful....

When you bring a deer in for check, what condition does the carcass need to be in, of what do you have to show proof of?

I have a lion tag in my pocket every year now. It is my defense to ward off lion encounters.

I have seen a few labradar units at the range lately. They look like a good option but are not cheap. Bruno's had one on the shelf a few weeks ago when I was there.

I sanded the barrel channel this afternoon after I finished a bunch of house stuff. When I pulled the stock off it had some high spots in it near the base of the barrel, and a high spot where the sling stud started to come through the stock. I sanded all those as well as the left side of the barrel channel that seemed to be much tighter to the barrel than the right. We will see if it helps next time I am at the range. Thanks for the help. I might also have this thing bedded to see if that helps.

Wickenburg sucked this year. I thought it would though based on the poor water over the winter. I think it is time to find a new spot. Anybody with any ideas for a west or north area please let me know.

Different bullets do different things for sure. I found out this weekend that 120gr Hornady GMX in 6.5x55 cause higher pressure then 127gr Barnes LRX bullets with the same weight of powder. The 127gr at 45gr of H4350 were showing slight pressure signs. The 120gr GMX blew out primers at the same weight. The weird part was 44gr has slight pressure signs. 45gr made the primer popped.

Are the cases with pressure problems always Nosler? I have a Savage in 300 Win Mag that started showing pressure signs earlier then I expected with brand new Nosler brass shooting 208gr ELD-M bullet. It isn't extreme, but it was a fair amount lower then the "book max" load.

Much want, no need. Good luck with the sale.

I have picked up a couple 1lb cans there occasionally over the last couple months.

In some units you are allowed to access certain areas by motor vehicle if you have an elk down, that you are not allowed to take the vehicle if the road is closed.

Also, just for fun at the end of the day I did a 5 shot string at 200 yard with factory 155gr ammo. Round 1&2 grouped close, the round 3 dropped about 2" lower and 1" right and rounds 4&5 grouped right in there with #3. It is pretty frustrating.