Thank You HeartShot for your kindness in your welcoming me.
Sage, I went to the link above on your 25-06. I remember so much now that you mentioned various things. You earned every Nickle (5 cents) per bail of Hay you stacked. For those reading this, and to Honor Heartshot's request to monitor Uncle Sage, I will say that anyone over age 50 may recall no video games etc..and hard work. Sage's Uncle Joe had miles of hay fields. Once it was bailed uncle Joe would have an OXEN follow him as he drove an old Tractor into the beginning of the Hay fields. Uncle Joe set the idle on brisk and the Tractor drove un-manned while the Oxen lifted each 120lb bail of Hay onto a Trailer behind the Tractor. This of course was done in the hot summer heat. Miles upon miles of Hay Bails. If the Oxen slowed the Tractor's Idle speeded up. Yes, the Oxen was Sage. Back in the day, Sage made Arnold Schwarzenegger's legs look like Chicken Legs and Sage's upper Body was a match but, could perform work like no body builder I have ever seen. Folks, I am not kidding.
Anyway, while reading your link on the 25-06, I now understand the quality of folks entering posts on this website. Yet I was anxious (ie: crazy) reading some aspects. I may get slightly technical so I'll do my best not to, so these words become helpful to others. The gentleman who mentioned the Burris inserts did great. This simple set of devices may allow a marksman to set up a Rifle for 1000 yard matches or zero it to 100 yards and everything in between. I might suggest one other step before such inserts and with all scope mountings. This is to Lap the Rings. The Midway site has a combo kit as Product #187492 which does 1" and 30mm Rings. I always used up the compound so ordering extra in Product #486249 will keep a family and friends remounting scopes into/onto even smooth Ring Lower sections for a lifetime. Too many scopes are mounted in a stress bind and/or, are twisted during the mounting process. Just think about round upon another round surface with neither machined to match. For those who check bullet jacket or case runout on mic's, nothing seems round. Same basic matter when a scope meet rings. See, I didn't get technical. For the guys who feel this is not necessary, its fine by me. I will simply say that the first time I lapped Rings, I was shocked at how out-of-round or in line things really are.
Sage; The idea to reload or not to reload, is again, all up to the Individual. I've seen my share of campfire wars over just this topic. I also try to balance matters because as a kid in the 1960's, most neighborhood men had been in WWII or Korea and for their Hunting ammo, they simply used wire cutters to snip off the tips of Military Ball ammo before Hunting season. Some used a file to cut an "X" in the flattened snipped away FMJ Tip then calling them "Dum-Dum's". For them, this was the best ammo for Deer or Elk. For me as an Individual who has and may get way to serious, remembering such men and that they always brought Home large game, helps me appreciate the basics of: Shot Placement.
It may be worth me saying (since I'm old) and if I don't write the following, such may be lost in history. After all, those neighbor men are now long gone. What "They Said" and tried to explain to me, a kid bugging them was in war, its nearly impossible to aim and accurately hit the enemy. They didn't speak for everyone, just themselves. On different dates from many different men i listened to them say they fired upon the enemy. Firing upon meant, pointing the Rifle (or Artillery) towards the area of the enemy and firing, preferably from behind something solid. However, as time in combat continued, these men often had to quickly become far better and they aimed more often. Only replacement troops did what they "Used to do" insofar as firing "Upon" the enemy. Those who survived returned Home as a very good marksman. They also said an enemy soldier was "Thin" from the side and very hard to hit when running. I mostly listened and when they explained that in the 1950's through 1960's, an animal that is long (while standing) is an easy target, I slowly understood their views.
Without writing more on Military views of some neighbors, WE may only conclude we have Hunters, Target Match type competitors and a mixture of both in varying degrees. If the 25-06 still has Riflings and its not a 25 cal smoothbore by now (Like my 300 Win is), just enjoy it and wander down the road of loading + - factory ammo as the urge directs your enjoyments. Sage; You can kill Bucks with a sling-shot or a Spear. You & Rich + Huntris7 could walk onto any land and walk out with a record Buck, Elk or Boat load of Fish.
The only thing each of you should be required by Law to do is make 5+ ricochet hits, off various objects, before your bullet strikes game.
I am glad you have a nicer Remington trigger. Thoughts that comply with your foundational beliefs = A Sniper trigger adjustments may be governed by an agency who does not wish to have such brought up in Federal Court. The same may be the case when we teach Youth about Hunting. A Factory Remington Trigger is a pretty good system and its adjustable limits are useful. For all of the readers now in winter, maybe researching such online and adjusting the Trigger may be time well spent....in winter. Many folks use winter to start/finish glass bedding and there's many compounds out there now. This process is frightful at first but it is quite basic. It helps accuracy more often then it hinders accuracy. If a guy has some un-used Bolt Gun, it could be nominated as the practice rifle for glass bedding. Even an old Bolt Action Shotgun of low value or use can become the practice patient, or victim
yet of course there's no need to glass bed a shotgun....or is there...?
Sage and to everyone, I am not a strong believer in Barns Copper Bullets. From Saeed in UAE (1999) to friends currently who love them, I am still on the sidelines. I may be forced to use them for Hunting but I'll go kicking and Screaming. I have field experience with them but my dislike is more related to my Daughters having to use them. I am a near 100% Neck shooter but they are not at such a level....Yet. So Sage, my 2 cents is if you enjoy the Barns, then stay with them. My eye balls left my skull and struck the Computer screen trying to examine the picture of the Hit(s) on the Buck (really nice Buck by the way and should be out of the gene pool) you posted in the thread about the 25-06. Gosh you're lucky to get that Rifle back.
To try to render an answer to your question (requesting comments) as to "How" did the Buck travel after the first hit...? My hip-shot answer is I don't know. However, I have seen some terrible events dealing with humans and gunshots. I will not, delve into such here, in a family friendly Hunting forum but I will say what maybe everyone reading this has already experienced. Sometimes a Canadian Honker is hit by 1 pellet and it falls. Other times the same (metaphor) Bird is hit by a group of waterfowl Hunters and its unscathed, maybe its wearing a ballistic vest...? Possibly it enters another campfire fuel on Hydrostatic Shock vs Kinetic Energy, which kills faster/better or, more reliably..? Surely one may ask; what could be more deadly than a 100 grain Bullet at over 3000fps from a 25-06..?
I hopefully will not start an argument with anyone by saying it all comes down to shot placement and....here's where the argument may begin...with: "The Bullet". In my mind your solid Copper Bullet with such a low Sectional Density (narrow) coupled with a high Velocity (and heat..?) was a perfect combination for your Bullet to be similar to the 1950's & 1960's men who Clipped the tips off of Military Ball ammo. As Dissimilar both may seem, the end result is the Bullet was too strong and acted like Armor piercing, just zipping through everything. Just my thought, not an absolute.
If before the Hunt you'd asked me what I thought, I may have said dump the Barnes but ballistically most everyone would think you're shooting a hot-rodded 22-250 at a Coyote (with expected results). "To Me" Barnes do turn into something similar to Armor Piercing Bullets when the conditions are right. A Million Hunters may say their experiences have been all positive, totally objecting to my beliefs. As long as they are happy, I am happy for them. When I am forced to use Non-Lead, I shall. I may opt for TIN in 223's or 22-250's, I do not know. I may need to use the same Bullet you did but in our 250-3000 (250 Savage). I will try to remember to attach a picture of a small Buck I shot in 2014 with an AR. It was right after my illness and unexpected.
http://www.monstermuleys.info/photo...californialegalarandbuck.130yardsoffhand..jpg
The Buck was 130 yards up hill in deep brush. I accidentally saw his Black Nose.I was weak, barely able to walk, the AR seemed to weigh a Thousand pounds. But maybe muscle memory kicked in..? Offhand I aimed (using an EOTech) just below the Black Nose and he dropped instantly. I doubt even an Elk can take a shot directly onward in its throat and do anything but drop. I admit, many Elk can be a Bullet Sponge and simply walk away as if nothing happened. Leaving poor Mr or Mrs Hunter wondering what just happened. But only an idiot would tell folks to go Elk Hunting with such a caliber, I won't.
After reading your 25-06 post then the part where shots are around 100 or less yards, I might suggest re-zeroing down to 100 yds and remembering, anything (steep or distantly) up-hill or down-hill = shots hit High.
With YOU behind Your 25-06, no matter what ammo, what weather or distance, I am sure there will be many Bucks laying about, ready for field dressing.
