05/28/2023 – I don’t know. For all of the capital equipment, supplies and manual labor I’ve put into the concept of gardens, I believe there should be a better return on investment. Rhododendrons made a brief showing a few weeks ago; flowering, shedding within a day or two and then sitting in a winter like green stupor ever since.
Azaleas, in my way of thinking, are just too… enthusiastic. A couple of days above 60°F and they are all, “Look at me! Look at me!” as though they were performing all along. They are disingenuous at best. The crab apple tree is the worst. Massive flowering that will only end in dime size fruit that is too tart for all but wintering wild turkey.
I have about two weeks to decide if I will put in a vegetable garden. I am afraid the garden would join the rest of the plant life in bearing no fruit, so to speak, while mocking me every time I struggled to navigate around it with the lawn mower.
And the hunter home from the hill…
What would the day be without writing something that diminishes great literature by using passages out of intent and context? Yet, here I am.
The week offered excellent shooting conditions; still cool air, clear skies and a rifle with enough cartridge to make it all interesting. The bullets selected for handloads are those that have seen frequent use, although most often the 160 grain and 175 grain weights.
L-R Sierra ProHunter 120 grain, Berger VLD Hunting 140 grain, Winchester Power Point 150 grain, Speer Spitzer 160 grain, Berger VLD Hunting 168 grain, Hornady Interlock 175 grain, Remington PSP 175 grain.
Handload Data and results
Warning: Bullet selections are specific, and loads are not valid with substitutions of different bullets of the same weight. Variations in bullet length will alter net case capacity, pressure and velocity. Primer selection is specific and primer types are not interchangeable. These are maximum loads in my firearms and may be excessive in others. All loads should be reduced by 5% as a starting point for development where cartridges have greater than 40 grains in capacity and 10% for cartridges with less than 40 grain capacity following safe handloading practices as represented in established mainstream reloading manuals. Presentation of these loads does not constitute a solicitation for their use, nor a recommendation.
| 7mm Remington Magnum 61kpsi |
|
| Firearm | Ruger Hawkeye Hunter |
| Barrel Length | 24.0″ 1:8.5″ Twist |
| Max Case Length | 2.500″ +0.000″/-0.020″ |
| Min – Max COL | 3.150″ – 3.290″ |
| Primer | CCI 250 – LRM |
| Bullet Diameter | 0.2845″ +0.000″/-0.0030″ |
| Reloading Dies | Redding |
| Bullet Type | Bullet Weight Grains |
Net H2O Grains Capacity |
COL” | Powder Type | Powder Charge Grains |
Muzzle Velocity fps |
Muzzle Energy ft/lbs |
100 YD 3 Shot Group ” |
| Sierra ProHunter | 120 | 78.8 | 3.200 | AA MagPro | 78.0 | 3407 | 3093 | 1.1 |
| Sierra ProHunter | 120 | 78.8 | 3.200 | RL 22 | 75.0 | 3447 | 3165 | 0.7 |
| Berger VLD Hunting | 140 | 74.7 | 3.280 | AA MagPro | 73.5 | 3235 | 3254 | 0.5 |
| Berger VLD Hunting | 140 | 74.7 | 3.280 | RL 25 | 72.5 | 3246 | 3275 | 0.3 |
| Winchester PP | 150 | 74.8 | 3.200 | RL 22 | 69.0 | 3140 | 3284 | 0.4 |
| Winchester PP | 150 | 74.8 | 3.200 | RL 25 | 72.0 | 3176 | 3359 | 0.7 |
| Speer SP | 160 | 74.7 | 3.280 | IMR 7828 SSC | 68.0 | 3069 | 3347 | 0.5 |
| Speer SP | 160 | 74.7 | 3.280 | Norma MRP | 68.5 | 3072 | 3354 | 0.6 |
| Berger VLD Hunting | 168 | 72.1 | 3.280 | RL 33 | 77.5 | 3001 | 3360 | 0.7 |
| Berger VLD Hunting | 168 | 72.1 | 3.280 | RS Magnum | 71.0 | 2947 | 3240 | 0.6 |
| Hornady Interlock | 175 | 73.3 | 3.280 | RL 25 | 68.0 | 2908 | 3286 | 0.9 |
| Hornady Interlock | 175 | 73.3 | 3.280 | RS Magnum | 71.0 | 2893 | 3252 | 1.0 |
| Remington PSP | 175 | 74.0 | 3.280 | IMR7828 SSC | 66.0 | 2927 | 3328 | 0.8 |
| Remington PSP | 175 | 74.0 | 3.280 | RS Magnum | 71.0 | 2891 | 3248 | 0.6 |
The emphasis on handloads was velocity, without jeopardizing hunting accuracy. There are no loads on the table that would not fit my hunting requirements. The cartridge is easy to handload. Because reloaded ammunition will only be used is a specific rifle, head space was set at the shoulder, rather than the belt, and kept to less than 0.003″.
Recoil and muzzle blast were not exceptional, but I guess that is a relative term. I have a friend with a 5 1/2 lb, 16″ barrel 308 Win and I would rather shoot the 7mm Mag. The Ruger’s 8 pound weight and 24″ barrel do a good job of moderating recoil and muzzle blast.
Ultra sophisticated bore sighting
I have a toolbox drawer filled with the carcasses of laser bore sighters, both chamber and muzzle end. From $25 to $150 they were too dim at a near sight in distance and all inaccurate. I have owned and used this optical bore sighter since… I can’t remember, but longer than 35 years. It requires no batteries, is very accurate and covers bores from 0.177″ to 0.600″. Sometimes old is good and it certainly worked when setting up the Ruger Hunter.
Some Marie
The Ruger Hawkeye Hunter, in any caliber, is a well made, non-gimmicky hunting rifle. Probably, the pragmatic choice for Maine and similar hunting environments would be the 20″ barrel, 7 lbs even, 308 Winchester version. That would be more than enough gun for everything from deer and black bear to moose. That combination is not ultralight, but it is more shooter friendly than a 16″ barrel, sub 6 lb gun. But pragmatism is not usually first on the check list.
If I wanted a hot rod for distance, it might be the 6.5 PRC. If I wanted a thumper it might be the 300 Winchester Mag version, but if I anticipated I might need to cover both, it would definitely be the 7mm Remington Mag.
Pragmatic: “dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.”
You are surely beyond theoretical. As to sensible and realistic – I had a Browning Hi-wall in 7 mag w 32” barrel. Cumbersome hunting. I’ve seen 400+lb black bear in Maine. I like the 308, but would feel better with the 7 mag or my 416 Ruger. Well done.
That’s quite a high wall, Ralph.
Joe