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Sorry for the long winded rambling. It's hard to cover all the bases for the newbies.

New Hunters and Shooters Only

Learning from the Internets

One of the wonderful things about the Internets is all the good information available at your fingertips. I'm thinking about stuff that someone else posted on another gun board a few minutes ago that someone read and posted somewhere else.

According to a wildlife biologist that posts to the Web, deer have become harder to kill. It's a fact! I read it on a blog or web page somewhere...Anyway, since whitetails and the other species have become tougher, older rifles like the 30-30, 243, 257 Roberts, 6mm Remington and the 35 Remington aren't good enough anymore. I'm thinking that you might want to avoid the 308 Winchester, 7mm-08 and 270 Winchester as well, just to be on the safe side.

I know that you're new to hunting, but you must accept that real sportsmen do not use these calibers! Your father or grandfather may try to convince you that these old, tired cartridges are fine for deer, but for God's sake, don't listen!! They are yesterday's designs that will wound more game than anything else. You can read all about it on the Internets! Bless his heart, your father or grandfather may think he's helping, but his years of successful deer hunting were done in an age of genetically inferior animals.

Womens and Youth Rifles

It's vitally important to remember that womens or youth rifles like the 243 are fine to learn on, but must be abandoned as quickly as possible. Women and children are greenhorns, mentally unprepared for hunting and not strong enough or worthy of using anything larger.

And let's be honest, it makes perfect sense that Sally or little Billy should be given an underpowered and generally ineffectual cartridge to learn on. That way, if they were to actually hit something, the poor creature wouldn't die. Can you imagine what would happen if they were actually given a proper gun to use?

Use Enough Powder! Spend Enough Money!

Varmint cartriges like the 222 or 223 Remington should be avoided. They are old news. Look for the WSSM or RUM mark to ensure quality and adequate killing power.

Seasoned Internets-hunters never recommend weak and inferior cartridges, but you musn't forget to dump the rifles that were chambered for them too! Ancient designs like the lever action Model 94, single shots of any flavour or any new rifle that retails for less than $800 are not worth the powder to blow them to hell. These actions are weak, springy, use dangerously inferior stocks and aren't particularly accurate.

I have proof to back up the claims about these bad cartridges and rifles - it's on the Internets! This is what the smart cyber-hunter recommends: Buy any rifle that costs about $800 or more and is chambered for a new magnum cartridge. As a minimum, add a Leupold scope (although Zeiss or Swarovski glass would be better), a new, after market trigger and ditch the factory stock!

The new hunter or shooter doesn't understand all the extra equipment that's needed for a successful range or hunting trip, so thank goodness the web-experts are around!

Once the rifle is correctly configured, you've got to start reloading - right away! The longer you put it off, the more disappointed you will become when your rifle produces so-so groups. That, my friend, is a guarantee! See, most rifles are capable of printing .25 inch clusters IF you make the alterations mentioned in the paragraph above. But you also have to slave over a reloading bench for many hours too, in search of the perfect load.

Avoid Lee, RCBS and Lyman products. Redding or Forster competition sets are the only dies you should ever buy. But beware! These are about the minimum standard you should be using. As you gain experience, you will find that serious hunters are best served by equipment manufacturers like Harrell, Wilson, Mitutoyo and others.

Dies are only the beginning. Scour the Internets for custom, high end Benchrest and target shooting websites. You need enough accessory equipment to properly trim brass to length, uniformly cut case necks for concentric thickness and form perfect flash holes.

Proper weigh scales are a must. They should be the kind that connect to a powder dispenser so that your propellant charges are within 0.0001 of a grain everytime. Stay away from old fashioned beam scales or electronic devices that cost less than $200. It's a well known fact that you must pay a lot for quality. Don't skimp!

Use only match primers. They are specially chosen for their uniformity. Although they cost more than the standard ones, your groups will not be under an inch without them.

Don't forget to buy bullets from either a custom bullet maker or, if you're reloading for hunting, a premium bullet maker. Old fashioned cup and core bullets like the Remington Core Lokt will not shoot stright from your rifle. Check the hunting forums on the Web. Read and learn. It's all there.

The last thing is brass. Like fine wine, you must only buy imported stuff like the kind made by Norma or Lapua. Remington and Winchester cases are second rate. Real hunters and competitors do not use them. If they did, you would read about it on the Internets.

Conclusion

Let's recap. Spend over $800 on your rifle. Your scope, rings and bases must cost at least $1800; preferably more. Replace your trigger and stock. Don't scrimp on reloading equipment or components. Expect to pay at least $1500 for your press, dies and accessories at the minimum! As you gain experience, you can add more accessories to optimize your rifle/cartridge performance.

You will need to spend approximately ten hours a week at the reloading bench at the beginning. There's a lot to learn. Expect to spend at least that amount of time at the range just testing your work. It's all part of the enjoyment. If you're married, dating or simply have friends that you visit on nights or weekends, tell them not to expect you around as much as before. Sacrifices have to be made. Adjustments to your social life will have to be made.

In the past, some people have sold off possessions or got a second job in order to purchase the extras needed by all successful hunters and shooters. That's not necessary. Just look for and eliminate frivolous expenditures. Try walking to work a couple of days a week and eat more macaroni and cheese. Keep the heat and air conditioning down or turn it off completely. Change your cable or satellite to the basic service. If you have extra features on your phone like call display or messaging, cancel them. You should stop using your cell phone all together. If you look around the house, there are plenty of ways to come up with the money to pay for your shooting equipment.

If you live outside the United States, consider selling children, wives or even livestock (as a last resort), if it's legal in your jurisdiction.

Over time, you will learn what it takes to be a successful hunter. Just follow these simple rules: trust the Internets, buy European and remain celibate.

Too Funny!!

Very well said +1

While I know that your intentions were good, you misled your flock very badly when you implied that they should consider purchasing a rifle before they sold the family car and used the proceeds to purchase a binocular.

I would never lead anyone astray. When talking about optics, I believe that new hunters should always buy spotting scopes first, like the ones offered by Leica or Swarovski. Show everyone that you're a hunter with some class. They are useful for scouting trips to Africa or even the beach! There's lots to see on the Riviera or the Med.

In a pinch, you can make due with a Leupold, if you cannot afford a good scope. Just try and keep it covered when in use.

Poe's Law in full effect.

+1

Also make sure to spend at least twice as much time on the computer as in the field or at the range. Clicking on the mouse is great practice for your trigger finger . . .

Good post.Funny and true!