Sam's Gear Bag: Trap, Skeet & Sporting Clays.

High Velocity, Smaller Calibers, and Kinetic Energy

In the years following WWI there was a trend to convert surplus 
03 Springfields into sporting rifles.The 30-06 was the caliber in the Springfield, and thus the 30cal set the industry standard for decades on Big Game Hunting in the U.S.

Just like the the Big Block muscle cars of the 60's, the thought was Bigger is Better when it came to knock-down power on Big Game, and with the limited bullet designs there were back then that thought was true. 

With too many Sportsman today that notion is alive and well. On the other side of the coin there are many of us that love the smaller, higher velocity cartridges, that the bench shooters brought into play, with their so called wildcat rounds - with their lower recoil, flatter trajectories, and their efficient way of delivering the technologically advanced bullets of today. Their controlled expansion, combined with high velocity, stays with the animal as it goes down. 

Let me explain! Kinetic energy is the energy of mass in motion. A 180gr bullet traveling at 2950fps hitting a deer is going to do the job, however most of the heavier bullet's kinetic energy is lost passing out the other side of the deer. With a 129gr bullet traveling at 3400fps, the lighter bullet will hit the deer, release its energy inside through controlled expansion much more efficiently, and create devastating dropping power.The high velocity combined with today's modern bullet designs makes for fantastic ballistics and stopping power.       

In the earlier days of bullet designs the round nose and spitzers were it. Then in 1948 John Nosler designed the Partition bullet, which revolutionized the industry. Most of the Rifles back then were controlled feed, so the soft point of the partition combined with the weight retention of the bullet when it expanded (mushroom effect) worked well. Then, as the more common push feed bolt actions came into the field, the soft lead tipped bullets were getting distorted upon hitting the feed ramp as it entered the chamber, causing the bullet to lose accuracy. 

Once again John Nosler designed and introduced the Ballistic Tip in 1984 and changed the industry for years to come. With its hard polymer tip, it did not distort upon hitting the feed ramp with push feed bolts. And thus made for a more accurate, faster, and superior expansion on impact. Not to mention better ballistic coefficients (aerodynamics of the bullet) in flight. It also required less propellant to move the bullet faster, thus less recoil and less flinching. The ballistic tip, and Accubond bullets, have incredible controlled expansion and are designed to expand in the animal and disperse the bullets kinetic energy inside the animal and not lose it going out the other side. Here is a ballistic gelatin test photo to show how and where the energy is dumped upon expansion:


As you can see this 110gr bullet at 3000fps opened up at 5" inside, released its kinetic energy, and leaves at 12" as clean as it went in. The 18" mark is just about the width of most deer. It still went through the deer BUT it released its power inside. Here is a quote from a friend in the industry which makes sense:

"A 200-pound deer's chest is about 2 inches wider than a 100-pound deer's chest. You don't have to shoot through an extra 100 pounds to kill a 200-pound deer." I tend to agree and my thought is MANY Elk, Moose and Bear were put down with a pop gun called the 44 Henry !!!


Here are a few of my favorite choices for calibers for deer, and these work very well for larger game also.  
   
LONG ACTIONS   300-600yds

• 26 Nosler Hands down the NEW CHAMP!!! Muzzle velocity 3400fps with a129gr bullet out performs the 264win mag, 338 lapua, 270win, 30-06 sprg. Zeroed at 350yrds the 26 Nosler has a point blank range of 415yrds,and at 400yrds has the same velocity as a 260rem does at the muzzle.
• 280 Ackley Improved
• 280 rem
• 25-06

SHORT ACTIONS   100-300yrds

• 270wsm  a zipper and good beyond 300yrds

• 260 rem  this little cartridge is a flat shooter, low recoil, and a wide variety of factory loadings

• 7mm-08 rem  another great round often called the improved 7x57

Benefits of smaller High Velocity cartridges

• Flatter trajectory (makes hold over much easier and forgiving).
• Lower recoil (in most cases less recoil means less flinching. I like watching it happen right thru the scope ! )
• Great distribution of energy INTO your Game, NOT in the tree BEHIND IT!!!
• Quite a few of these lighter rounds travel so fast, that they do buck the wind better than most people think.

 Reccommended  Bullets

• Deer, Antelope     Nosler  Ballistic Tip
• Elk, Moose           Nosler  Accubond

                                       !!! Good Luck to you ALL this season !!!!    
Jim Kromka
 kromkasportingadventures.com

 
                    

The Colt 45

The other day a client dropped off the few Colt 45's Model 1911 in a few different configurations. As I pulled the last one out of its case, a smile came across my face as I was looking at Colt national match pistol rebuilt by one of the ALL TIME GREAT custom 45 builders Austin Behlert.

The dead giveaway was its military serial # AND it's brushed chrome finish. This was a  Behlert trade mark. Austin was the first to take 45's and accurize them, back in the day when parts were NOT in mass production, and NOT readily available. Austin would find military parts modify, hone, fit and finish them, making one hell of an accurate 45. 

He got his start in my home state of N.J. in Cranford. He moved his operation to P.A. a few years later. Austin passed away a few years ago which was a huge loss to 45 enthusiasts. 

A very talented gunsmith, Austin set the stage for the custom 45 builders today. Colt 1911s are the most copied pistol in the world. Designed by the great John Browning, the design was sold to Colt. It was adopted by the U.S. defense dept, and was the service pistol to the U.S Military for 70 years before the contract was given to Beretta. BUT WAIT !!! the 1911 is still in service today, as the Special OPs personnel prefer it over the Beretta 92. The 1911 was designed for trench warfare and to shoot short distances. With minor work the first 200 dollars in parts you put into a 1911, and installed by a knowledgeable gunsmith, will make this pistol a real shooter. If you have one feel free to call us or contact KSA through our website. we love working on 1911s. An American classic that will endure for another 103 years.

                                                   Serial # 7453-NM Built by Austin Behlert

                                            KROMKASPORTINGADVENTURES.COM
                                                                phone 862-812-3846

         

KSA Domestic & Foreign Hunting Expeditions - Now Featuring Oregon!

Do you remember watching The American Sportsman with Kurt Gowdy as a kid? Well this place would have made him drool. This is the finest Upland bird hunting we've experienced. Your hosts and the HHR staff will ensure your experience will be a very memorable one. Located in Condon Oregon, My friend Dennis has created a bird hunting paradise, which will make you feel you went to upland hunting Heaven. This hunting destination is the finest in the country, and we are proud to offer it. Go for the HHR grand slam, which consist of harvesting a Pheasant, Valley Quail, Hungarian Partridge, and Chukar Partridge in one day. The scenery combined with the diversity of cover and terrain makes this place a destination so unique, that we had to share it with our sport shooting enthusiasts. Please join us on the Kromka Sporting Adventures Upland Classic with gifts and prices that will make for a very memorable trip, or just book a hunt for you and your group. We swear by this place, our clients now do, and you will too!

For additional information about all of our Domestic & International Hunting Expeditions

Attention All Sports Clays Enthusiasts!

Hello Sporting Clays Enthusiasts, the spring sporting clays season is around the corner, and we thought we would bring up some good points about the importance of strip cleaning your shotgun.

What we have found over the years is that when shotguns have been shot all year and then stored away for the winter, all the dirt, grime, and powder residue from shooting builds up, drains, and works its way into the actions, and settles in the important working parts of the shotgun - whether its a double barrel or auto loader. For those of you that store them in soft cases with barrel up or broken down in a take down case the warmth of your home causes the powder residue to become more liquid. It drains into the working parts of the gun, such as inertia blocks of an Over/Under, which stops the movement of the inertia block to set the second barrel for the second shot on doubles. As for auto loaders, and the way they are built the problem can happen - and much faster - given the fact that the action is more open and the trigger group is more susceptible to drainage, not to mention the gas system of most auto loaders. 

When this occurs and the Guns are brought out into the cold spring air this mixer of dirt and grime coagulates, or in lay-mans terms solidifies around the working parts that it settled on over the winter, creating the problem mentioned earlier. 

Here are some things to do before the season for a more enjoyable time at the clays course:

• Get your shotgun strip cleaned before the season starts for a positive function of the gun.
• Don't oil a gun too much. Over oiling will create this problem faster.
• Use quality lubricants on your Firearm.
• Use grease on the hinge pins, not oil. Oil can drain off. Grease is a better lubricant and seals dirt out of the hinge points ( its not metal on metal that wears metal its the dirt in between).
• ALWAYS clean ALL working parts of a NEW firearm. Manufactures coat guns with a protective coating that when fired repeatedly heats up and becomes a glue, which can bind the Firearm locking system and make it hard to open.

Bring your gun to a professional shop to strip clean the firearm for your season opener.    

        

Keep your powder dry,
Jim Kromka
Kromka Sporting Adventures LLC.
WEB: kromkasportingadventures.com
Mobile: (862) 812-3846
The Art & Science Behind the Shot

Differences Between the 223 Caliber and 5.56 Caliber.

There has been a lot of question and confusion about the 223 cal and 5.56 cal. Many have asked me, "Jim, are they the same?" and "Are they interchangeable?" 

The answer is YES they are, but in some guns. 

The outside dimensions of the cartridge are exactly the same! But the inside dimensions are not. 

The 5.56 is the military loading for the round. It develops a faster and slightly harder hitting projectile. It also develops 20,000 psi more chamber pressure, which results in more stretching and expanding of the case as the bullet leaves it. The 5.56 case is thicker than the 223 to accommodate for the stretching, (better known as fire forming). Again, the outside dimensions are the same but the inside dimensions are not.

The 223 and 5.56 are interchangeable in all AR platforms and military style rifles. The reason is that these style rifles are reamed out at the feed ramp, throat and chamber. This is done for reliable function in combat or rapid fire. When it comes to bolt actions this is not the case! Bolt actions are designed for accuracy, and therefore require much tighter machining and tolerances. 

You wouldn't see bolt actions chambered for 5.56; they are chambered for 223. If a 5.56 is loaded and fired from a bolt action in 223 the result can be a jam, or in some cases (as it has been known to do), the extractor claw can wear or break off. So the rules are simple!

• 223 and 5.56 in semi-auto military style rifles are safe and functional!
• Bolt actions chambered for 223 should never be chambered with 5.56!

I hope this helps clear up some of the confusion and also helps you avoid any potential problems.

Thanks again.

Jim Kromka

kromkasportingadventures.com

Great Tips From A Fellow Pro.

This article was originally written by Dave Campbell and originally appeared in "American Rifleman" in April, 2011. It is well written and worth reading, digesting and using!

4/4/2011

It happens to every shooter, whether competitive, tactical or hunter. You hit a slump and start missing targets you know you should have hit. Perhaps you are relatively new to shooting and are still developing your skills but have hit a plateau. Or maybe you are attempting to broaden your skill base with ambitions of being the next winner of "Top Shot."The good news is that there is always hope for improvement. The bad news is that there really aren't any shortcuts. It takes ammo-lots of ammo-sent downrange, under discipline, to make a superior shooter. Here are five simple sure-fire ways to improve your shooting.

1. Slow Down
Everybody wants to shoot fast-faster than the other guy. But speed always sacrifices accuracy. If your groups look more like an improved-cylinder pattern from a shotgun, the best thing to do is slow down. Focus on sight picture and trigger control. Once your groups shrink back into an acceptable range, then, and only then, should you start to pick up the pace. Several years ago at event hosted by Springfield Armory on a rainy San Diego day, Rob Leatham gave a bunch of us gun scribes some pointers on how to improve our pistol shooting. One in particular stuck with me, and I regularly make it a part of my practice regimen. It is as applicable to a rifle as it is a handgun.

Put up a blank target-no bullseye or aiming point-at close range. If you're working with a handgun, start at 5 yards; rifles can start at 25 yards. Hold center of mass and fire one round. Now, taking as much time as you need, shoot the remainder of the magazine without enlarging the first bullet hole. Tough? You bet! Impossible? Theoretically, no, but the exercise focuses on the basics of shooting: sight picture, breath control and trigger control. This is aslow-fire drill. What this does is reinforce proper muscle memory for accurate shooting. When you are shooting one ragged hole at 5 yards, move back to 10 yards-50 yards for rifles-and repeat. This is also a great drill for curing a flinch.

2. Dry Fire
Plain and simple: There is no substitute for dry-fire practice. It really saves on the amount of ammo you send downrange. The downside is that it is excruciatingly boring. Nonetheless, dry-fire practice is as valuable as live-fire practice in terms of learning and polishing trigger control vis-?-vis sight picture.Dry firing can be done at home. First and foremost, you must make absolutely sure that there is no ammunition in the firearm before engaging in dry-fire practice. Many instructors insist that all ammunition be removed from the room where the practice is conducted-not a bad idea. You can put up a dummy target on a wall across the room or pick something small-a light switch, for example-as an aiming point. Make every "shot" count. There is no recoil or noise to contend with, so your focus should, again, be on the basics.3. Get Off the Bench
Rifle shooters often become wedded to the shooting bench because it makes it so much easier to shoot tiny groups. That's fine for sighting in or load development, but if you want to become a good rifle shot you'll need to be able to shoot from a variety of positions.

If you carry shooting sticks, by all means spend some time using them at various heights on the range. Learn to deploy them quickly so that when the time comes to use them on a nervous buck, you are able to concentrate on shooting instead of figuring out how to set them up.

Practice from all the field positions: prone, sitting, kneeling, squatting and off-hand. Whether rifle or handgun, determine your maximum effective range from a given position. Be brutally honest in your evaluation. That knowledge is extremely valuable when making a shoot/don't shoot decision.

4. Vary Your Training Routine
It can be easy to get into a rut. Shoot this drill, then that one, finish up with another one and head home. Do that and you'll be trained to shoot this, that and another, but when presented with something outside your comfort zone you may just fall apart. Look at the results of some of the "Top Shot" episodes where world-class shooters in a particular discipline look like amateurs in another.

Generally, I break practice sessions into three different stages: basic shooting skills, skills that I have learned fairly well and those skills that are difficult, new or very advanced. The basics take up about 20 percent of the practice session. Its purpose is to reinforce basic skills and provide a confidence base. Roughly 60 percent of the session is dedicated to honing and maintaining the overall base of shooting skills. Then I finish up with practicing advanced or new skills that are more difficult.

Within that framework, however, I vary the exercises so that they do not become boring. Sometimes I'll shoot paper; other times I'll shoot reactive targets. One of the best assets you can have is a shooting partner. He or she can provide variety in training scenarios as well as some inherent competition.

5. Know When to Shut it Down
There are times when it just isn't happening. You may be fatigued from work, your mind may wander toward other non-shooting challenges, or maybe you'd just rather be at the beach. In any case, if your focus is not on shooting, you are wasting ammunition and developing bad habits that will have to be fixed later.

Recently I started to force a range session with my Sharps replica rifle. My enthusiasm to get out and shoot after a long, cold winter and to get the hang of its vernier sight got the better of me. It was nice and warm at the house, but at the range the wind was blowing 25 mph. My first shot was good; the second off a bit. The third shot sealed the deal for me. It was 10 inches off the mark, and I started shivering. So I put it all away and postponed the session.

I wish I could tell you to take a pill, buy a gadget or sing "Kumbaya," and your shooting performance will improve, but it's just not possible. But if you try any or all of these tips and practice with due diligence, I can guarantee that you will see improvement.

Never Let Your Guard Down!

On February 14th I was in my stand overlooking a bait station for wild hog in Georgia. I was hunting a very large boar that was feeding in the area. After a few hours he appeared and made his way to the bait. I noticed how large he was and wasted no time in settling in for the shot. I touched off and the boar dropped to the ground. I loaded another round in the chamber and observed through the scope. The boar seemed to have expired, so I unloaded and made my way down the stand and up to the trophy. He was an excellent example of the species.

I walked about 10 yards away to lay my rifle down and heard a grunting sound behind me. As I turned towards him he was suddenly on me! I tried to hold him back with my hands, but the hog slipped his head under my groin and flipped me up in the air, backwards and flat on my back.

As I was in the air I knew once I hit the ground I had to get up and on my feet, but it was too late. The animal was charging in on me fast. I kicked him in the shoulders and face as much as I could to keep him off and away. I felt his cutters dig in behind my calf. I kept kicking as he moved me slowly around, 180 degrees.

I was still on my back and I realized that dropping my guard with my hands or feet to get up would leave me vulnerable to his cutters (tusks). I remained on my back to fight him, and seemed to at least keep him at bay. I continued to kick and punch him in the face and nose knowing this was a sensitive area to this species. Several times he got in close, but using my forearms to push his face and teeth away from mine I was able to push him back far enough to use my feet again.

At that point the boar bit down on my foot, and I could feel the pressure of his jaws and teeth, but it enabled me to push him to the side and hold him still long enough to load my rifle which was laying next to me on the ground. As I loaded and closed the action he lunged forward and I stuck the muzzle under his chin, and with all my might pushed him away and pulled the trigger. He dropped immediately. I crab-walked away quickly and in total disbelief as to what just happened.

As I got up I noticed my pants were shredded and blood was everywhere. I checked myself thoroughly and found only minor cuts and scratches up my legs and in the groin area. I was excited and panting to say the least. Thank God that his cutters were broomed off from fighting other hogs. This saved me from serious injury or worse!

I had made a very stupid mistake, and I took it for granted that the hog was down. I want to go over a few things about wild boar in case a few of you decide to hunt these tough and elusive creatures:

• These animals are tough and can be BIG. They also have a protective shield under layers of fat and muscle that wraps around the shoulders and over the back. It's about 1/2" thick with layers of fat and muscle underneath. It reacts to a bullet impact much like a catcher's mitt. Try to aim behind the shoulder about one third of the way up from the bottom of the chest. If in doubt, aim for center mass.


• If you do get charged, try to keep something between you and the hog. It will help.


• If you do find yourself in a fight try to stay calm, and fight hard. Always keep in mind the cutters are sharp, and if you are on the ground keep these away from your vulnerable soft tissue such as groin, inner thigh, face and neck. These locations on your body have major arteries that if cut can cause you death in a short period of time.


• I am a huge fan of smaller calibers, especially with our modern bullets and propellants that we have today. However, a heavy solid bullet is a much better choice. It will be more forgiving if your shot is off or if you hit that protective shield that I mentioned before.


• I have seen a 7mm round hit a 225 lb boar directly from 10 yards away, and the bullet lay between the skin and the skull. I used a 338 mag 180 gr ballistic tip in a pinch and it did not penetrate the shoulder.


• A boar's eyesight is good but not their best attribute. Their hearing and smell is keen so stay quiet and downwind. Being in an elevated position is always best.

If you haven't hunted these critters give it a try! They are a lot of fun, and I've got to tell you that the meat is the BEST you will eat!

Contact us for suggested loads for your preferred caliber. We can set you up with bullets or ammo from Nosler that will perform best for your hunt.

Keep your powder dry,
Jim Kromka

www.kromkasportingadventures.com