re: What Have You Killed Big Game with This Season?

.270 Doe
.308 6 pt

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A little off topic, but if you're going to start reloading 6.5x55 let me suggest you at least try a bullet you might not think of: the 140 gr. Speer Grand Slam. It is incredibly accurate in my M96 which has the original (but shortened) military barrel with the long throat. And it is absolutely devastating on deer; it's the closest I've come to a true bang/flop bullet - and when it isn't there is going to be a solid blood trail for tracking. I use a below max charge of H4831sc for 2,700 and Speer claims it will expand reliably down to 1,800 fps so it should be lethal to beyond 500 yds - which is much farther than any shot I would ever take at a deer. FWIW I love Hornady Interlocks and they are my go-to bullet for several other rifles, but my M96 didn't like the 140s at all.

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Good to know. I’ve had extremely good luck with the Nosler 140 gr Accubond Trophy Grade ammo. 3 deer. All bang flops. ETA: and one hog.

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2 link 2 stage triggers for ultimate reliability.

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I hated the trigger on my 96
And the cock on closing action.

They are very well built rifles. I love the CRF and the big extractor, but they aren’t quite right for me. I’d much prefer a model 70 featherweight.

I never put much thought into triggers beyond how good they felt before this season. Having my rifle full of snow and ice for a week and having a scope zero wander last year made me reconsider my whole outlook on rifles.

I want reliability first, serviceable accuracy 2nd, "features" (crisp trigger, stainless, Moa groups etc) in distant 3rd. That basically means bolt action rifles designed for combat are comfortably the best fit for what I care about.

In hindsight, I would have come out ahead long ago if I had just saved my money for a decent custom mauser 98 in 338 win mag. 2 MOA is plenty good enough to make good hits on game out to 600 yards. Sub MOA doesn't mean shite if the thing won't go off, or won't eject 100% of the time in absolutely any condition. In South Louisiana it doesn't matter at all. In the rockies, everything you thought you knew about rifles gets slapped back in your face. The Europeans got it right in 1898.

Recoil I think. Leupold mark 3 HD. Scope does fine on a .22 magnum but wanders around on .338. Swapped to an SWFA and had immediately better accuracy. My leupold just never would quite return to zero right and seemed to drift left and right a few inches while dialing and shooting.

Did some digging and found this is not uncommon with leupolds. Mine never was dropped, but the rifle does kick pretty damn hard and I shoot it a lot.

Nothing yet

Bergara .308 - 8pt and 5 pigs
Elite Enkore - 2 does and pig