Hidalgo

I agree with the laws. Hunting is a privilege, and shouldn't be used for monetary gain of any sort.

I'm constantly trying to be "prepared" for the "worst". That being said, if the balloon goes up I want the 3 people in my family to have an available sidearm, and for my son and I to have an AR available. But that brings into play the problem of hauling around (if it comes to that) an adequate supply of ammunition. While handgun ammo is fairly light, it does add to the weight of a pack. And .223 ammo is pretty weighty when you start talking about 100 rounds or so. What are you guys doing about this situation? How much do you think is "adequate" to throw in a backpack and leave the home with it?

LOL, yep ... that's what happens sometimes. I've called in some "funny looking" coyotes over the years ... ...a doe that was MAD and looking to stomp something into the dirt, ...a bull that didn't appreciate the sounds I was making, ...hawks looking for an easy meal, ...raccoons that weren't very happy, ...minks, ...Deer hunters looking to see what the ruckus was all about. And believe it or not, a few coyotes along the way. In a nutshell, expect to see anything that has young nearby, scavengers, and any type of predator. That's what makes it so much fun, IMO.

Raccoons are pretty easy to call. But you have to be QUICK to get the drop on them. And you don't want to be on the receiving end of a mad boar, either. Don't ask me how I know ....

OK, I agree with West or Central Tennessee ... but here's my take: First off, I love to coyote hunt at LBL. But during deer season, it's EXTREMELY crowded. Although the better deer hunting is probably NOT in the East Tennessee / Chattanooga area, it is withing 60-90 minutes of here. Easy drive and you only have to be dealing with it during hunting season which is a very limited time. And don't get me wrong, we have a TON of deer in this area. The Tennessee River runs through Chattanooga and offers some of the best fishing in the state, IMO. Watts Bar, Chickamauga, and Nickajack all turn out numbers as well as trophys every year. And don't forget to add in the excellent trout fishing in the Hiwassee River which is 30 miles away. The Cherokee Natl Forest has a pretty good hog population, as does Catoosa WMA which is within a 45 minute drive. Chattanooga is a great location, IMO, not only for hunting/fishing but for other uses as well. Hiking, boating, motorcycling, golf, and most any other outdoor activity is available here. The mountain range is 30 minutes to the east, Knoxville is 90 minutes north, Nashville is 90 minutes west, Atlanta 90 minutes to the south ... heck we're sitting in the middle of everything.

Save your $50 and use it to purchase a good mouth call and 2 or 3 of Byron South's videos. You'll be way ahead of the game. The cheap electronic calls aren't worth the money. They won't fool anything except a coyote with brain damage......been there, done that.

Honestly, they probably won't effect the deer herd in a negative way. They may cause them to move to another location nearby. Coyotes don't usually hunt anything as large as a deer but they will take advantage of a newborn fawn. They have been known to take advantage of a doe giving birth also. But at this time of year, that won't be a factor. You can get them removed easily after deer season if you can locate some experienced coyote hunters. They will either kill them or cause them to vacate the territory. Honest, experienced, dedicated predator hunters won't be a threat to your deer population. I'd be glad to help you out but Hendersonville is to far from Chattanooga for me to make the necessary trips that would be involved.

I don't have a 9mm in the 1911, but I do have 3 Colts in .38 Super and they are a HOOT to shoot at the range. If you reload, the Super is a great cartridge and way more versatile than a 9mm. Bud's Gun Shop has several available at reasonable prices from a couple of different mfgrs. Just a thought ...

I travel and fly with my guns several times a year. Chattanooga is as easy as it gets. What I have found is that airports and carriers that are accustomed to seeing and handling people traveling with firearms do a WAY better job than places like Detroit, Cincinnati, Orlando, Miami ... well you get the picture. Going in or out of Dallas, Phoenix, Sioux Falls, etc are much, much easier.

+1 I've owned several different brands...the Peltor T6 is as good as it gets for the money.

Uh ... wow ... .27 MOA is WONDERFUL. There are "bench" guns around that won't shoot 1/4" groups. Unless you're OK with feeding them in as singles, then you would need to make sure that they will feed from the magazine. ANY overall length measurement that you see in a loading manual is OVERALL length ... they never take the ogive into consideration. The data in the manuals is ... well ... conservative. They only use tested loads that are well under the SAAMI pressure figures. And that's not a bad thing. It gives you a known place to start your load development. I always start with the published OAL for the bullet I'm using and then work my way out a little at a time until I see results (or not). Having the comparator will give you the proper info so you will know where your maximum OAL is. Also, going a lot over published OAL is usually not necessary to achieve goods results. Unlike "other" things (lol) longer isn't always better.Let's "back up and punt" here ....... OAL has a bearing on 2 things: It changes the "jump" that the bullet has before it hits the rifling grooves, and it has somewhat of an influence on the pressures that the load expends. Each and every barrel has it's own tastes and preferences. As an example, most .204 Ruger rifles operate with extremely long jumps before the bullet hits the rifling, and they exhibit awesome accuracy. The .204 "likes" a big jump, for whatever reason. Other cartridges prefer almost zero jump, and some even like the bullet to be actually touching the lands when the round is chambered. It's a test-and-see thing for most all rifles. Some will respond with obvious preferences, and others will show almost no change in accuracy. Most magazine fed rifles will limit you to OAL long before you get near the rifling. Factory throats are usually extremely long. If you plan to use the magazine, then you will probably find that the maximum mag length is still well off the rifling. Above all else remember this: Safety comes FIRST. Jamming a bullet into the lands can result in IMMENSE increases in pressure. A very safe load can become a very dangerous load simply by extending the bullet into the lands. Of course, "short-seating" the bullet extremely into the case can cause the same results. If you are not schooled in pressure signs (flattened or cratered primers, etc) do a Google search for images of pressure signs and make yourself familiar with what to look for. Be safe.

Nope ... using a comparator (or similar) is the only way to measure the TRUE OAL. Measuring by any other method is ... well ... not measuring anything of value. You'll find, as you progress at reloading, that there are many, many tools / gauges / systems, etc that you can impose on your reloading bench. Some are valuable, and some are not. And if you talk to three different people you'll get three differing opinions on what you need to address. But most will agree that accurate and consistent OAL measurements will aid greatly in consistency. You can take this reloading hobby as far as your bank account and spare time allow. Do your due diligence by reading, searching, using google, and if possible talking to EXPERIENCED reloaders who are passionate about it and who also are realistic about the accuracy expectations of the "off the shelf" factory firearm. Then make your decisions. If you only want reasonable loads for medium range hunting situations, then you may be satisfied with 1.5 MOA accuracy. But if you like to "tinker", and loading is truly fun, you'll probably find yourself on the unending road that most of us travel trying to find the "perfect" combination for our rifles. In the end ... just have fun and enjoy!

Are you referring to overall length ... or case length? Actually, case length is not nearly as critical as cartridge overall length (measured to the ogive). It is however dangerous to use over-length cases.

An OAL gauge is good, but if you are measuring the cartridge from "tip to tip" you're still dealing with variables. The proper way to measure OAL (except for magazine constraints) is to measure to the ogive of the bullet ... not the tip. If the gauge you purchased measures that way, then you're good to go. A micrometer competition seating die (many are offered) is one of the best ways to manufacture consistent cartridge lengths. The barrel/rifling could care less what the overall length is, but rather where the ogive contacts the lands. Bullets vary considerably in this regard.

I didn't say that you couldn't kill a hog with a 9mm, 45acp, 38 Special, or even a 22WMR. But that doesn't make it safe for the hunter or humane for the hog. And I am aware that lots of folks kill them with a .223 and 6.8SPC ... we do it regularly. The 6.8 is our rifle of choice, but I don't hesitate to use the .223 with Nosler Partitions. Either rifle will do a great job if used intelligently. Bear in mind that just because something has been done ... that doesn't make it a good choice or practice. Hunting hogs with a 45acp or 9mm is NOT a good practice.

Dang it Bill !!! You just caused me to spend some more money !!!!! That's a SWEET pistol for sure. I've been pondering what I want for my next carry piece ... I'm going to the gun store Monday and make the purchase. Now I'll have to find a place to hide mine so the wife doesn't find it...

Hmmmmm...... just how many hogs have you personally killed? Are you going on hearsay? Or personal experience? I have killed several dozen hogs over the past 4 years, and I can attest to the difficulty of putting them on the ground. I'm sure that a 45acp would definitely dispatch a hog if you had it on a rope or in a pen and could make a careful shot to the brain. But out in the field, I would wager that your chances of a quick kill would be practically ZERO. I have seen them hit with .223 and 6.8 rounds that were placed in the heart cavity and they still ran a long way before going down. They are extremely tough critters and the adults have massive layers of fat and gristle that you must go through to make a killing shot. We've skinned them and found .223 rounds that never made it past the fat layer ... much less into the chest cavity and into anything vital. The key to killing hogs is to make a shot into a vital area, and do so with a bullet capable of penetrating into that area. A 45acp doesn't have the penetration capabilities to do that dependably. Hunt them with the 45acp if you choose ... but I'd advise you to do it from a tree stand for your own safety. Deer, on the other hand, are not very difficult to kill provided the shot is placed into a vital area. Otherwise, they suffer a slow agonizing death. This can be the scenario even if they are shot with a large caliber rifle. As for shooting deer with a 45acp, that would be acceptable provided you are capable of making an accurate shot and quickly dispatching the animal.

. . So true, so true. That place is another of those "fenced in" hunts. Or should I say fenced in shoots? Not much hunting involved there. As has been said, Cherokee WMA has a reasonable amount of pigs. Other areas also are beginning to sprout populations. Just a thought ... Texas is literally OVERRUN with feral pigs. They are EVERYWHERE out there. And the landowners are practically begging people to hunt them. The problem is, when it comes right down to it they balk about allowing a stranger onto their ranch. My stepson manages a cutting horse ranch near Ft Worth. We have gone out there at least twice a year for the past 3 years. We average 7-8 hogs a day. These hogs are shot near a feeder at daylight and then again at dusk. They're very intelligent and learn quickly to stay out of sight and sleep during daylight hours. IF you could find a contact in Texas that could get you onto a ranch with a hog problem, you'd be in "Hog Heaven" (did I say that?). Browse some other hunting forums, start putting out feelers, and you might be surprised at the invitations you get. I'd set you up myself but the owners at the ranch we hunt are extremely sensitive about who they let onto the property with a rifle (they have horses worth $$$$$$$$$).

Froggy, I assume that you are an experienced reloader, and also an experienced shooter. What I can't understand is WHY you would give such advice to a guy who is obviously an inexperienced loader? Not only are you going out on a limb by giving advice about loads that isn't verified in a loading manual anywhere, but you're also encouraging the OP to experiment and use data and components that aren't already tested and verified. Neither of which is what most experienced reloaders would consider as "well thoughtout advice". I'm not trying to piss you off, nor belittle you, nor make it seem that you have given bad advice about component substitutions. But the better option is to just say: "If it isn't in the loading manual, then don't do it." There are already enough reloading accidents happening. And each one brings us a little closer to losing the privilege to buy components and roll our own ammo. Like I said ... not meaning to offend. But in my eyes, I wouldn't have given that info to him. Just saying ........

Guys, I've owned and shot Colt 38 Super 1911s for several years. BUT ... I've never fired hardly ANY factory ammo in them. Most of my reloads are "toned down" to some degree. Actually, I usually shoot what could be considered "warm" 9mm rounds. I do this because I shoot a LOT, and because it saves powder as well as wear and tear to the pistol. I've made a decision to carry the Super daily. But that brings into the game the need to find and use a factory load. Both for positive reliability as well as avoiding the possible problems if I should have to defend myself with my reloads and then have to justify them in a courtroom. Most of the factory offerings in 38 Super are +P loads. While I am certain that my pistols can handle the +P rounds just fine, I have read and heard from several sources that the factory +P loads are "borderline" in the pressure department. My question is this: The Colts come from the factory with a 14# recoil spring. Would it be wise to replace it with a 16# spring? Should I try a 16# spring and see if the pistol functions reliably? I'm concerned about these "hot" factory loads and all of the cautions that have been written about them. Any advice from an experienced 38 Super shooter would be welcomed.

Are you asking about your AR also? If so ... you are probably referring to marks on the brass deflector (little hump behind the port). We put a square piece of stick-on velcro (the fuzzy part) on the deflector face. It stops the marking from the brass, and the brass doesn't fly quite as far away also.

Shotplacement ... on a BEAR with a 9MM ?!?!?! I got news for you: 9mm is totally useless on a bear. Head-on between the eyes, with a 90* angle on the skull "might" stop one. But I wouldn't bet my life on it. Original question: NO. A 9mm is NOT a defensive option for a bear. I would much rather borrow a .357 or even a 44Mag. And the .357 is iffy. Bottom line is this: If the bruin is ticked off and dead set on having your hide, and you have a handgun, you're in deep poop ... unless you have a very LARGE handgun. Bears are like wild hogs ... they require more penetration, rather than expansion. Whatever caliber you take along, load it with FMJ roundnose bullets. Hollowpoints in a handgun won't even get close to penetrating into a vital organ.

I agree there are some cases where crimping is advantageous. But not always. Pressure rates and bullet types have a bearing on crimping. Some bullets respond well to being crimped ... some not so well. Experimentation is never a bad thing, and crimping is just another variable in the load evaluation. Case in point: I have never crimped .223 V-Max loads, as I found out that it always hindered consistency rather than advanced it. But when I was working with a Nosler Partition loading for Texas pig shooting, it failed miserably with any and every powder/charge I tried. Only when crimped would the Partitions perform adequately. As a side note: Crimping can also cause increases in pressure, although they are usually minor. However, I am extremely careful when using load data that is not designed for crimped loads. Go slowly and inspect your spent cases thoroughly.

There are LOTS of things that you can do to possibly increase accuracy other than crimping. Uniform the primer pockets. Uniform the flash holes. Use competition seating dies. OAL is one of the most important things that you can pay attention to if you want to increase accuracy. From my experience and 25 years of reloading, I have seen very few cases where a crimp has greatly improved accuracy in the .308.

I'm extremely grateful for all of the suggestions and experience. It's a lot of information, and will be very helpful in making a decision. I'll let you guys know what I decide upon. I'm still leaning towards the Commander simply because I love the 1911 operation and also because it's a 38 Super, which I have been shooting and reload for already. Of course ... there's always room for more dies in the reloading bench ...