Hunting on the Cheap

One problem is buying an affordable rifle. With gas, food and other necessities of life going up who can afford a new rifle. Actually there are a couple of choices out there for someone who wants to buy one good hunting rifle. Many new rifles cost anywhere from $7 to $1100 dollars or more which is beyond many first time or low budget hunters. You might want to buy a rifle for a youngster and don’t want to spend a lot of bucks because he might not stay interested in the sport. Yes the expensive rifles are pretty and accurate but pretty have never killed the first animal. For a good reliable and rugged rifle where do you go? You can try and buy a used gun but that might be a crap shoot if you don’t know the seller or what to look for. Why is he selling it? That is a question that needs answering among others. If you know what you are doing you might make out ok. However for someone who wants a new rifle there are a couple of options. One option is to buy a single shot rifle made from Harrington & Richardson. They are plain no nonsense rifles that shoot well and are accurate. They come in a verity of calibers and list for under $300. I have a couple and like them very well. If you prefer a bolt action rifle then you are in luck. There are several out there that list for between $3 and $400 dollars. Sometimes you can get a package deal that includes a scope to sweeten the pot. You might wonder how good these guns are after all what can you get for a measly $300?In a word A lot! I have shot the Marlin XL7 and the Weatherby Vanguard and they both will do the job that they are designed for. The Marlin runs about $300 while the Vanguard goes for $399. They both come in good hunting calibers such as the 270 and 30-06. These guns mentioned plus the TC Venture are all very accurate rifles. I have shot all three a lot and they will shoot as well as rifles costing several times as much. The Vanguard also comes in some magnum calibers but we will avoid them as a cost saver and magnums are not necessary for the game animals that we are discussing. If you live in an area with big bears then you can’t go wrong with the 338 Win mag. As for a scope, if you shop around you can get a good one without selling the kids. Get the best one you can afford and if you are not going to take long shots a fixed power of around 4 X would be less expensive and can handle shots out to 200 yards or more depending on your skill. Most game is shot within 200 yards many at much less distances. If you stay in the woods a 100 yard shot is a long one.

When selecting a caliber select a non magnum and something common such as the 30-06,308 or 270. All three are very common and will take care of the hunting that you will be doing. A 338 magnum is nice but it’s hardly necessary for deer besides that ammo cost will give you sticker shock. The others are widely available and will be cheaper to buy though not as cheap as formally. Ammo prices have skyrocketed like everything else so grab your belt when you shop for rounds. With the 30-06 and 308 you might be able to buy some military ammo to practice with. Try Shotgun News or Cheaper Then Dirt for some buys. While good for practice military ammo is not suitable for hunting however it can be used for practice from various hunting positions. The bullets don’t expand nor readily bring down a big game animal. Some states prohibit it for hunting with good reason. The other downside is it might be corrosive so clean your gun accordingly. Occasionally you might be able to buy some at a gun show at a decent price. The problem is you want good ammo at an affordable price and have a reliable source as well. Another thought is the military ammo will almost certainly hit to a different point of impact to your hunting rounds so a scope adjustment will be in order. That is true with most rifles. Different loads seldom hit to the same point of impact. However factory ammo is a very expensive proposition unless you are King Midas. What do you do as you know that you need to practice and sight in your rifle?

The best and most practical way to obtain good ammo is to reload your own. Contrary to popular rumors it is not dangerous as long as you use a little common sense. The only downside to reloading is the initial cost of getting started. Also if you don’t pay attention to details then reloading might not be for you. The little details make the difference between ammo that works and ammo that doesn’t. The initial investment for quality equipment is in the neighborhood of $400 getting quality items. Items that are not of quality make are not a bargain at any price. You do need some equipment such as a press, scales, dies and a powder measure. Other smaller tools are necessary and at least one good reloading manual are necessary items to get started. Before you start read up extensively on the subject. You might know someone who does it which will put you up a step. Maybe they will let you use their equipment to see how it’s done. You might be able to buy some used equipment at a gun show but be careful that you don’t get obsolete stuff that you can’t buy spare parts for. You will need to buy bullets, cases, primers and powder. There are various catalogs such as Midway, Huntington and Graff and sons to shop in. To save money buy in the largest quantities you can afford. If you have a buddy or two maybe you can all get together and buy your items. As for bullets all you need is the cup and jacket verity. There are many fancy bullets out there but for deer size animals they are not necessary. Some of them can cost $2 a piece which will jack up the cost tremendously and are not necessary. Cases can be loaded several times unless you overload them. If you buy the powder in 8 lb kegs and primers by the sleeve (5,000) you will save some bucks. If you can’t swing a sleeve of primers but them by the thousand which will save you some loot verses a pack of 100. Some companies such as Remington and Winchester offer bullets in bulk and they are good buys. They are the regular cup and jacket bullets and they will kill any deer that ever walked given good shot placement. If you feel that you need more penetration buy a heavier bullet which should do the trick without buying an exotic bullet. Once you get going you ammo cost will go down to a fraction of factory fodder which will allow you to practice more and that is always a good thing. Another upside about reloading is the satisfaction of making your own ammo and harvesting a deer or other animal. Another advantage to reloading is you can produce reduced recoil loads for youngsters or women. You can take a 30-06 or 308 and load 30-30 bullets in them to the same ballistics as a 30-30 and they will work well. There are some factory reduced recoil loads but they cost as much as the regular rounds.

Since we are trying to save money we will stick mostly with deer. They are the most common large game animal hunted and most states have public lands available at no cost. If you can find land to hunt black bear and pigs so much the better. There are guided hunts for all three species but you are getting into an area that some can’t afford. With this thought in mind we will stick with public or private land if you obtain permission to hunt there. Always be sure to obtain that permission to avoid a costly mistake. Some states might require written permission from a land owner prior to hunting there so check out the laws to avoid a fine. If you are going on an unguided hunt then you need to scout around the area prior to the hunting season. Spend as much time as possible looking for trails and rubs plus any other signs that may abound out there. If you are into tree stands take a portable and determine ahead of time which tree or trees you are going to use. Actually climb the tree to see the view you will have during the season. Always have more then one tree because if you are on public land some else might beat you to your selected stand. Always have a plan B or even C when hunting on public land. That way you will have a place to go. To be successful plan on spending some time into this and plan on some walking. If you can walk that extra mile into the isolated areas your chances of success will increase. Be sure to have an exit strategy in case you are successful. If you shoot a deer and can’t get it out due to lack of planning then you haven’t accomplished anything. A little thought plus some gear to help with that will go a long way. Having a companion is always a good idea in case something happens or you have to drag out a trophy. Like every other aspect of the hunt you don’t need to spend a lot of cash for that gear. I also would invest in some blaze orange clothing even if it’s not required by law. That might be the best investment you will make. Keeping these thoughts in mind will make your hunt an enjoyable and affordable experience.