Jaeger

I agree with those above. I have the Swarovski 3.5-18 with the BRH on my .204 ruger tikka rifle and it works ok for that and off the bench target shooting. But for any type of big game hunting, I believe it would be confusing. There are a lot of marks and they are heavy, easily misused in the heat of the moment. It is very cluttered and obscures a lot of the target. I often find it more trouble than it's worth when coyote hunting as well. It's useless for fast moving targets. The 4W reticle is a better choice in my opinion.

I understand where you're coming from. Why do we have these discussions every year? We all know its a marginal but legal caliber for our deer here in NY. Well first, we always have a lot of newbies and people who are new to guns so it helps to point out the practical and ethical deficiencies in that range of calibers. Second, many of us have guns in our cabinets and wonder "would that work"? I got a ruger ranch rifle in .223 to tote around the farm and the guy who sold it to me kept telling me over and over, "now don't use it on deer" (I never even considered that, just got it for the coyotes that pop up). On occasions, I look at my extremely accurate .204 ruger and say what if, then the thought passes as soon as it occurs. Third, while not really this thread, we also discuss what is too much gun, super fast mags., huge rifle bores vs. std. shotgun bores/gauges, etc. You don't need "that much gun" to kill our deer, so why use it? (just the statement not my opinion). We have these discussions every year as well. Fourth, and then I'll shut up, we just like talking guns, heatedly or otherwise. For me, I'm a Ruark kind of guy, use enough gun. Thanks, for letting me add my rant to the list. P.s., for me, next year it'll be my new 7x57 and .475 Turnbull. Perfect and way, way too much gun!!!!!!

Hi, I just got a new rifle and would like to try my hand at doing both a written and video review of it. I do not have much help so can anyone recommend a video camera so I can do a solo video review? It would need to obviously have sound and be tripod or otherwise stable mounted. Do the "go-pro's" fit the mold? The video on my cell phone camera is too short time wise, the sound pick up isn't great and it has no provisions to mount it on anything. Thoughts?

Quick note, I purchased the lifetime sportsman (which included Big game, small game, turkey and fresh water fishing) and Bow, Muzzleloader and Trapping years ago. The budget hit was high. But today, many years later and the money long gone, I really appreciate it and am very very happy I spent the money to get lifetime everything. All I have to do every year is apply for my free doe permits. I never have to worry about what the DEC is doing with the prices or license combinations. I'm done and set! I know this does not answer your question about the total costs of the add ons (bow/muzzleloader and yes I believe they are separate costs) today, but what ever you chose to do, many years from now I think you will be very happy and not regret it. Just my thoughts.

The DEC has just opened a site for public input on possible regulation changes for 2016. These include allowing bear hunting during the youth deer hunt; reducing antlerless harvest in 6F and 6J; and rescinding the antlerless only requirement during portions of the bow and/or muzzleloader seasons in some southern zone areas. Thought you guys/gals cought up in the antlerless only deal would want to get an early start on getting it rescinded for the 2016-2017 season. The page can be viewed at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/104785.html Best of luck!! Jaeger

I had a beautiful acre and a half, kidney shaped pond built with an island in the center, max. depth was 14' and was spring and spring/stream fed. Hottest it ever got during mid summer heat wave was 64 degrees at the bottom. Filled it with trout and smallmouths. The builder used a dozer (huge!) and it took 2-3 years. He was very careful about packing down the bottom and sides and used what ever clay he encountered in the soil to seal it. He'd dig, pack and let set, and repeat. Never leaked a drop. Had a main 2' outlet pipe/culvert and an emergency flat 8' wide by abt. 10" deep spillway at the end for sever spring rains. The main thing I found out in the process, and looking at others leaky ponds, was that we hit a good amount of clay soil, that was the most important thing in the success of the pond. Take time to find a site that has a good clay soil and you'll never have leaking issues. Just my experience.

Do they still allow hunting out on Smith Point Park? I used to have good luck out there on the dunes.

Happy Birthday Doc! Jaeger

To use your words....."I love you man!!!!!".... To have Hagel's data on my favorite 7x57 is great, I hope you can post it or pm me, I'd love to hear what he had to say. But to HAVE A LETTER PERSONALLY FROM FINN AAGAARD!!, that is so awsome I can't believe it, and he was a very humble man. I have all his books, some multiple copies, as well as Berit's remake of his Aagaard's Africa. You are a very blessed man. Keep them safe and read them often, they don't make humble, authoritative writers like them anymore.

Hey thanks guys!! Went to a friends house but he set out the food early and we all got tired and went home before midnight! Still got to see the ball drop, always a party somewhere on my birthday! Thank you for all the well wishes. Russ

If you can afford it and dont mind 30mm tubes, the Leupold VX-6 1-6x is the best scope I have for under 200 yards. It's true open eye 1x at the low end and 6x (more than I need, except for sighting in and load development) at the upper end. And I've got higher power Swarovski's and Schmidt & Benders on other guns. The 30mm tube really ups the brightness over 1" tubes in the woods, say compared to my leupold 1-4, 1" scope. Just my opinion.

Well today I'm a year older and snowing or not I'm taking Schatz out hunting. I've gone hunting on my birthday almost every year since I was old enough to get a license. It's the one of the few traditions I really try to hold onto. Now to find those hunkered down grouse!!! Jaeger and Schatzie

Thanks for bringing us back to the OP's question, his gun, how to set it up. I thought I, and others, focused on that. The rifle issue/discussion, tho' interesting, wasn't part of his question.

I just got a custom mauser '98 in 7x57 and it came with an old fixed M8 4x on it. My lop is fine but the scope is all the way back in the rings and it is still a neck reach to see the full field of view through it. It is also a little foggy. So, I don't want to cut the stock. I'm thinking about the Leupold 3x fixed scope with the long tube (not any of the short tube scout scopes or rifleman scopes). I can get it from SWFA or the custom shop with choice of reticle. I love low power scopes and you all seem to agree that even 2.5 is enough for less than 200yds. Frankly, the only reason I even use the higher power on my 1-6 is to sight in and load development, then I turn it back down to some where between 1 and 3x depending on where i'm at. What do you guys think about the 3x Leupold straight tube scope on my 7x57?? p.s., I'm sending the M8 4x back to the factory for refurbish, can't let a good scope go to waste!!

You asked what you need to do to use your Mossberg 535 for slug/deer hunting. First, I would determine what the two barrels you have are. Specifically, what are the chokes in the two barrels? And are the chokes removable? If so, you can buy a rifled choke tube to put into one of the barrels and it would make the gun a usable slug gun but for the sights. Or, as described above, you can buy a replacement slug barrel from Mossberg or cabelas, etc such as a Hastings rifled barrel. The main issue you will have is not so much the barrel ('tho it is important not to try to shoot slugs through full or medium chokes, poor accuracy generally) but the Sights. A replacement slug barrel can be had with open sights and/or a scope mount. Adding a suitably strong scope may increase the cost if you don't already have an extra laying around. If you are serious about going to a slug gun I would recommend a Hastings or Mossberg fully rifled barrel with a scope mount. I am not familar with the 535 and it may have come drilled and tapped for scope bases. Then add a low power scope, say a Leupold vxII 1-4. So, figure out what you have, set up for rifled either choke or new barrel and add sights, preferably a low power scope. Then You can start playing around with loads. Lightfields may not be the best newest design, but the always work and are consistant. Good luck and don't be afraid to ask more questions. There are plenty of guys here with great success using slug guns.

Had a 6.5 Swede. Own .308 (first buck this year with it), 30-06, 30-30, 338Fed., 375, etc. My newest is a 7x57. The load data it came with it showed it seems to prefer lighter bullets in the Krieger 1-10 twist barrel. I'm going to play around with 140/160's and see how it goes. Perhaps the 154 gr. if I can get it under 1 1/2 inches. Reason: Nostalgia and the fact that for all intents and purposes, it will do anything the other cartridges in the 25-06,308 up to about 30-06 will do at normal ranges with standard weight bullets. Really, I just like to be different and like older cartridges that still do anything the new ones do. Newer bullets just make them better.

I saw that proposed legislation. So let me get this right. A semi automatic with a 10 round clip can purchase 20 rounds per month for 100 rounds in 5 months. A high school target shooter with a single shot target rifle can purchase 2 rounds per month for 10 rounds in 5 months. Now a standard 22 target includes 10 bulls eyes with one or two sight in bulls, so assuming he starts off blind and hopes he is sighted in... a high school (or other match shooter) can complete one match target in 5 months. The semi auto has 100 rounds by then. Does that accomplish what they intend?????? Don't jump on me, I've nothing against semi autos (I have both pistol and rifles) and disagree with the proposal as much as you do, just trying to show how silly the thing is.

Are you guys going to register them this year? Join a club and get the discount? If I register mine next week, will you reimburse me 'cause it will probably guarantee a mild winter!! Just curious, do you register it early or wait and see how the snow situation develops?

So this is a follow up now that the season is over. I used (but did not get a chance to fire) an LHR Redemption with the Simmons Atec 2.5-10x44(it came with). The load was a Harvester scorpion 300 gr in their ribbed sabot over 110 Blackhorn 209 and federal 209A primer. The reason I'm posting this is because of how easy the gun was to clean. The LHR's (and now the TC Strike) have external and Internal corrosion protection coatings and external threads for the breach plug holder. This made it extremely easy to clean and put away. I am very happy with this gun and finally found an inline I really like (after A&H 420 - too heavy and CVA Wolf-breaks open too easily). not perfect, the front sling swivel doubles as the forearm holder and rotates somewhat and is placed too far back to balance the weight of the 24" bbl. I also don't like the Simmons scope and will replace it next year!! Now ,after Christmas, I'll break out the Hatfield .45 percussion patch and ball long rifle and take the dog squirrel hunting! Head shots only of course!

Congrats!! I think Bryce Towsley did the same to his 7600 when he "Benoitized" it into a short barreled .35 Whelen carbine. Hard hitting, fast handling. Jaeger

Well yes. I guess I was not talking about all old guns, some '98 military mausers were fantastic, some junk. I have and have had both. I have older Winchesters 1895's and Model 24's that are great. The shotguns in the old days were built with field fit, shoot a little high and shorter LOP's for hunting conditions. My "plastic" guns are Sako's and Tikkas(best bang for the buck) and are extremely accurate and fairly indestructible. My current love is my new(to me) custom 7x57 on a 1910 mexican mauser. Fit, finish and balance are phenomenal. Hope I didn't just jink it/myself by mentioning it!!

It's been a while, but I agree with the OP original post. It's why I gravitate to older, pre-60's, guns. And even pre WWII. The quality and attention to detail are just so much better than some of today's disposable/plasticy cheapos. Don't get me wrong, I own some plastic guns and many are inherintly more accurate out of the box, but there is just something about the fit and finish of older, fine blued, carefully marked, wood stocked guns (and some custom guns) that keeps me wanting to pull them out of the case, admire and use them. Same goes for cars and trucks. What kind of world do we live in when simple, never-fail, manual crank windows are a special option! Ha!

BKhunter, just so we know is it a 10/22 or a 77/22? There are a lot of accessories for one and not so much for the other. And both come in many variations if your interested in the same style but more of a work horse.

Comparing a sight in of 47 yards and a possible long shot of 75 yards with a modern muzzleloader to a 228 yard shot with a centerfire is foolish. Yes, shooting at long ranges requires more preparation with the firearm and load combination. BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS POST WAS ABOUT. 75 yards max, not 200+ were every 10 yards makes a big difference in drop. At 75 yards the bullet will be only a few inches, 3 or less, drop from the 47 yd sight in range. Well within a 9-12 inch kill zone of an average whitetail. Maybe some of you have, but I've never experiance any short range shooting where a bullet suddenly goes a foot off target when sighted in slightly closer. With arrows maybe, but bullets, haven't had that happen. If you want to post about 228 yard muzzleloader shots, multi-drop range estimations, etc. fine, but start your own thread. This one was about short range muzzleloader shots, not long hail marys you all seem so fond of.

I would think "possessed" means just that, you are in possession of the means to fire it regardless of where you have it. To the one above who talked about store policy vs law, I don't think you get the point. If you have a 50 cal muzzleloader rifle and supplies and buy a 50 cal muzzleloader pistol you are technically in violation of the law if you do not have it on a permit since you do possess the means to fire it. Whether the authorities find out or not is irrelevant, it needs to be licensed.