Recent content by Tony Formicola

Just my opinion. It is shot placement that trumps all. With that said you need the penetration and energy to get the job done. From experience a 44 mag is sufficient for whitetails but expect to track them. Now try to get a stopping shot on a charging griz in the field. I don't care what you use...

Ballistic tips would not even make my list. I would use the 168 grain Barnes TTSX that I already have a load for in my .308. Other than that my thought process is a heavy well constructed bullet with maximum weight retention. Of course smaller hogs are greatly over rated and just about anything...

Hammers

It was always Rocky Mt Bighorn growing up. That became undoable for me as an Easterner who is not into all of the draws it would require to even think about it. I switched to dreaming about Alaskan Dall a long time ago. I may get to it someday but the price keeps going up and I keep getting...

I always go for the TPS rings and rails. Seems like the best bang for the buck unless you want a one piece or are looking for the ultimate high end set up.

I like the Cannon ones they sell at Tractor Supply. Best bang for the buck. I'm not hung up on specs though. I've had the biggest one they make for 15 years and no issues.

My approach to reloading is from step 1 every shot counts towards load development. When I get a new rifle or barrel I'll load up a middle of the road charge with a set of several different bullets at some arbitrary distance off the lands depending on the bullet type and weight I will vary the...

I err on the side of penetration. I like tough bullets because you don't always get the perfect angle for a broadside shot. I've killed a couple truckloads of whitetails with quartering to shots through the shoulder with both shotgun slugs and rifle bullets. It is fun to blow them up with a fast...

You can't kill 'em too dead!

Really just try it. The worst thing that can happen is you shoot a 6" group of a keyhole in which case you have verified the manufacturer's assertations. People get way to hung up on the twist recommendations for AR's in particular. I have found that in several of my 1;8 barrels the 77 gr SMK...

That depends on what range you can reliably produce hunting accuracy with it. I suspect you will have a hard time hitting an 8" plate at 20 yards with it. Let us know what you come up with in practice. As an aside shot placement is extremely important with a marginal big game round like a 44mag...

Seems like you learned a lot. I always recommend starting simple and it seems that you learned that. I say if you're starting from scratch don't get caught up in the internets overload of information. Start with a factory rifle and factory ammo. Learn how to mount scopes, clean the gun and...

When I hunt in wooded areas with some brush I would rather have a heavier bullet. When I want to have more forgiveness as to shot angles I prefer a heavier bullet. I can't argue with the killing ability of the .243 or other fast sub 120 grain cartridges but if I were going to shoot a quartering...

When I hunt in wooded areas with some brush I would rather have a heavier bullet. When I want to have more forgiveness as to shot angles I prefer a heavier bullet. I can't argue with the killing ability of the .243 or other fast sub 120 grain cartridges but if I were going to shoot a quartering...

Like my old boss once said. "Tony just likes to kill stuff"