Petersen's Hunting June/July 2022

“WHERE’S ALL THE AMMO?” If I had a single round for every time I’ve been asked that in the last year and a half, I’d have at least a few boxes of my own ammo to send downrange this summer. It’s the question everyone’s been asking, and no matter how many times I give the standard answer, “They’re making it as fast as they can,” no one seems to believe me. But, believe me, manufacturers are making ammunition as fast as they can. It’s in their best interest to do so. They’re in business to make money, and right now ammo is practically currency. But consumers are buying up all that ammunition as fast as the major manufacturers can deliver it. There does seem to be a light at the end of…

IF YOU’RE WONDERING if you’ll be able to find hunting ammo for the coming fall seasons, the answer is yes…maybe. Probably. Well, it depends. Let’s put it this way. You’re likely to find some ammo in standard popular calibers, but it might not be the exact brand or the specific bullet you want. That’s the confusing news. The good news is your odds of finding hunting ammo will improve if you’re looking for what Hornady Communications Manager Seth Swerczek calls “staples”: popular calibers like 7mm-08, .243 Win., .270, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308, and .30-06. On the other hand, if you’re looking for smaller calibers—like .204, .22 Hornet, even .22-250 or larger big-game cartridges lower on the popularity chart—you may find the pickings slim. Whatever the case, manufacturers and retailers agree the best advice is to…

“Ping!” Is there a more satisfying sound than lead impacting steel and echoing back across the landscape? Made even more rewarding when it’s followed by the confirmation of a spotter watching over the shooter’s shoulder. “Impact.” Sure, it may seem like a small thing, but a hit on target is a big reward for shooters, whether they’re participating in a long-range shooting competition or just ringing steel at a local range. Even when there isn’t a championship on the line, that sound gives the person behind the trigger confirmation they did everything right. It’s the culmination of countless hours practicing every little step of the process—the ballistic calculation, the wind call, the breath work, the trigger pull—all coming together to achieve maximum accuracy at extended range. With the rise of the Precision Rifle Series,…

SCI JOINED 40 other conservation and hunting organizations—representing millions of sportsmen and women across the United States—in a letter to Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams demanding that hunting opportunities on National Wildlife Refuges be maintained. This letter responds to recent settlement discussions between plaintiff Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Service after CBD challenged the 2020 expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities on 2.3 million acres of federal public land. Fighting for hunters, SCI and the other organizations have requested the Service reject any settlement of pending litigation that would undermine or reduce the expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities on National Wildlife Refuges. CBD erroneously claims that additional hunting and fishing on these public lands poses a threat to endangered species through potential lead poisoning from ammunition and…

There are very few pieces of kit more important to the rifle hunter than a good sling. The sling keeps your hands free and your rifle secure. This humble strip of leather, nylon, or canvas is often the only thing preventing your rifle and optics from smashing themselves into uselessness. I’ve used several brands over the years, and my go-to is the A-1 Quick Set Rifle Sling from Murray Custom Leather, which is handmade in Aledo, Texas. Murray’s A-1 slings are made from a single piece of vegetable-tanned saddle leather and use a steel friction slide to adjust the length. It’s fast, secure, and idiot-proof. The A-1 is long enough to be used as a shooting aid but cinches up tight. American-made GrovTec steel sling swivels are included with the sling,…

BULLET BASICS Although the TSX’s ancestral X-Bullet founded the monometal projectile movement, the Triple-Shock X (TSX) spotlighted here is the bullet that gave it momentum. It’s made entirely of copper. It features a deep, skived hollow nose to optimize expansion and a mushroom shape. A boattail modestly boosts aerodynamics. Grooves around the bearing surface minimize friction and pressure. A benefit is reduced copper fouling. Even better, the TSX is spectacularly accurate. It is arguably the toughest expanding bullet design on the market, and this 160-grain 7mm version is splendid for elk, moose, and big black bears. TESTING GROUND Brent Neidig used the bullet shown to shoot a big Sitka blacktail buck on Kodiak Island. It’s a land known for harsh weather, gnarly terrain, and huge bears—a good place to load your rifle with…