Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters David E. Petzal

I've always enjoyed David's wit, but a few recent posts on his F&S blog have me wondering how much real world experience the guy really has.

First he eluded to the fact that variable scopes are just about as reliable as fixed powers.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs...-suppressors-and-the-ideal-elk-caliber-1

Now I guess in David's defense, he does state that he's only broken one scope "because" it was a variable, but that still seems like a strange statement.

Then he said that the .325 WSM would not be well suited for killing elk at 500 yards. My thoughts are, if you can't hit an elk with a .450 BC bullet (Nosler Accubond) at 2900+ fps at 500 yards, the problem lies not in the cartridge.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs...und-copper-bullets-and-gadgets-gone-wild

Now again, in David's defense, he points out that .338 bullets are better, which is true. And he doesn't exactly discount the .325. But he seems to be discouraging the reader from using it. I agree the .338's are better LR elk rounds, but I don't think the difference shows up at the 500 yard mark.

Has the guy spent more time at the keyboard than the trigger?

To quote the second article:



What is your issue?

He allows, it will work, but admits, it is not his first choice.

This argument he goes on to strengthen - by your own admission, with validity.

I've never had a problem with a modern (last 20 years) variable. They work well and stand up to a lot of abuse. I can break one if I try, but I can also do the same with a fixed power scope.

The idea that a variable power scope is somehow less reliable is an old myth that surfaces from time to time. All of my hunting rifles are equipped with variable power scope, haven't experienced any problems with them what so ever. I cannot speak about the .325 WSM however I have used the .338 WM on elk almost exclusively, the old 275gr. Speer RN bullet was as reliable a bullet as I ever used on elk. Never lost a single animal, most never went more than a few steps.

I've often thought he did a lot of hunting at his keyboard as well...I don't care much for his style of writing, nor his opinions on a number of issues, which don't seem well thought out.

The only time I read his drivel is in the waiting room at my doctor's office when I have no other choice.

Scope thing aside, he is a 338 fan, so he's just making a case for his preference IMO. His advice and opinions are just that, take it or leave it, he often gives me a laugh.

Didn't take long to find the problem. A blog on Field&Stream.

Hmmmm................. what a bunch of drivel. That is my opinion of this topic.
Does my opinion matter? Exactly!

No my opinion means squat. Have several hunters that use the .325 WSM exclusively these days............. and I see what they do with it. I am a .338 guy, used the .338 cartridges for 45 years.

Real world experience............ in who's opinion?

Yours? And what is your claim to fame?

Sounds like ol' Dave was spot on.

djs and gunswizard,

No, most 1" variable scopes are not as reliable as fixed powers, because they have more moving parts, which have to be relatively small since they're crammed into a relatively small tube. They work well enough for most shooting, most of the time, but over the years I've had 16 brands of scopes (not individual scopes) fail on my rifles, and at least 95% were variables, some costing over $1000.

The scopes on the rifles my wife and I own, right now, are just about 50/50 split between variables and fixed, because of our numerous experiences with variables that failed.

Sometimes these failures were deliberately induced, by mounting the scopes on rifles of .300 magnum or larger, which makes a definite difference. But many were never mounted on any rifle that kicked harder than a .257 Roberts, yet still went wonky.

The major exceptions are the very rugged 30mm-tubed variables (often called "tactical" scopes) offered by many companies these days. They're reinforced in the right places, and often screwed together with thread-locker so parts don't vibrate loose. But they're built very differently than the average 1" 3-9x.

Agreed.

Should add I think Petzel has hunted around a fair amount and shot a lot of animals. I know he was a 340 Weatherby fan,and also liked the 280,from his writings as I recall.

I like him and his acerbic,sometimes caustic wit....

I like Dave's wit in his writings.

First off - I'm not familiar with Mr. Petzal even tho I know about him. I QUIT mag subscriptions a long time ago and F&S was the FIRST one dropped along w/O L.



I TOTALLY agree that it is an old MYTH. I also think that yrs ago variables WERE NOT as reliable as fixed Xs. I once had a fixed 6X but it's been SO LONG I don't remember what brand.

This "myth" is still alive here on the 'fire'. I have & use 3 Bushnell "Banner" 4-12 X 40 scopes that I bought in the 80s--that's 1980s. I used 2 of them this past deer season.

I have other 3-9s and 4-12s and NONE of them have given me any trouble. I'm reluctant to tell anyone this, but I will. In 2008 I bought a Win 70 WinLite 300 WM. It came w/a SIMMONS 3-9 Whitetail scope - their BOTTOM feeder. I "thot", I'll give it a try. Guess What? It never has shifted POI, it adjusts reliably, and I'm still 'trying' it. If It Ain't Broke..

So IME, the variables have proven themselves RELIABLE since 1980. I've never had a failure with any variable BUT-BUT I did WEAR 1 out. I put it on every hard kicking rifle that came along and used it for grouping & graphing. I STILL have it's carcass out of 'respect'. It EARNED its keep.

As to Mr. Petzal's statement about good aerodynamic 8mm bullets-
the 200 gr 8mm's have ABOUT the same BC as 270--130s. What's wrong with the NP 200 8mm bullet? I've seen pics of a couple of newer 8mm bullets that also QUALIFY as 'good'

These are MY OPINIONS based on MY EXPERIENCE.
YMMV

Jerry


edited - to correct 'spell check'--

Jerry, I think Mr Petzal tried to keep the bc comparison Apple's to Apple's between the .325 and .338.

And he didn't say anything was "wrong" with the .325, he just said it wasn't his first choice.

I can put it this way. 20+ years ago I wildcatted a .350 Rem Mag to 8mm. The .325 WSM is nearly identical. I've used that cartrdige in Africa, Spain, France, and the lower 48.

Put me on the witness stand and I must give the .338 a slight edge in power. Slight, but not enough that any game you connect with will know the difference.

smokey -

Okay - I'm just now back on line but I'm having to leave. I'll catch up w/ya later.

Jerry

I enjoy Petzal's writing. I believe that his approach is to create conversation by use of a needle and that he enjoys his standing as a curmudgeon. I think that he realizes that there are viable opinions other than his own, which sets him apart from some writers of the past.

I dislike his writing. Blah.

Chacun à son goût.

I like Johnny Bwana's wit too ;-)

Recent ( Upcoming ) Optics Articles in April Guns,
by our Mr. Barsness touch on this very topic.

I have to agree that the 8mm doesn't have a lot of substantially constructed high BC bullets like the .338 calibre !