Nikon Monarch 3-12x42 Scope Problems

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Nikon Monarch Scope Problems!

I have the 3-12x42 Monarch mounted on my T/C Encore. I selected this scope after looking at a lot of scopes. I had narrowed my choices down to this and the Leupold but when side my side the Nikon appeared to be brighter. It was not inexpensive either. The retail on this scope is over $400.

I was real happy with the scope and had no issues what so ever early on but a string of misses and near misses has shaken my confidence in this thing and I just can't hunt like that.

I have just recently returned from a hunt in Illinois in which I had an Issue with the Monarch scope. I had some accuracy issues last year also but I had taken a hard spill on a frozen creek that really gave the gun a good jar. I missed a super buck the last evening of that hunt. When I got home and shot the gun I could not hit an 18"X24" paper at 100yds.

The first day into the hunt this trip I got my feet tangled up and took another little fall. I was carrying the rifle safari style by the barrel but I was able to keep some up pressure on the barrel and keep the butt from hitting the dirt to hard. It was not enough of a bump to make me think I should shoot it to verify it was still on. I figured if it could not take that little shock, something was bad wrong.

Well, That was a mistake! and I know better. I should have shot it.

The next morning I had (2) does and a yearling come by. I decided to take a shot at the lead doe at 109yds. I hit her but it was high in the flank? I shot the yearling at 130yds. and dropped it in its tracks but I hit that one in the back of the ham and exited mid body, high. I had to shoot the doe again and actually made a good shot on the third shot and dropped her at 171yds.

When I realized how off the shots were I knew I needed to get to the bottom of what had happened. Later that morning Capt. Ricky and I set up a 100yd target and when I shot it was 9 1/2" left and 3"high. I adjusted the scope 42 clicks right and 12`` clicks down and shot again. Right on.

I think it was the next day that the gun slipped off a tree I had leaned it against and hit the ground again! !$%!%#$ 

When I checked the zero I found it was off over 3"right and 3" high.

I pulled the scope and checked the bases, they were tight as Dick's hat band. The only thing I can figure is the scope is having an internal issue and I am going to have to send this thing in to have Nikon look at it.

I have shot 1", 100yd groups with this combination so I know it's capable and when I take a braced shot and its way off, there is a problem. I would say the avg. group for this gun is about 1 1/2" at 100.  That is with a 200 gr. Shockwave and 120gr. of loose pyrodex powder. I would also note it has never failed to fire, ever! I have hunted in some pretty brutal conditions with temperatures as low as -9 and highs approaching 100deg., Rain, snow, heat, loaded for long periods, you name it. Pull the trigger and it goes boom!

I will hold judgement on the Monarch for now as I really love the scope otherwise but I am going to have to do some testing once it's back in shape so I know I can count on it to hold zero.

Part of the reason I bought the Nikon is the "full lifetime warranty". It's on it's way back to Nikon right now. I will add the results of Nikon's inspection as soon as I get them.

Best of hunts,
Larry S.

Bull Elk Survives Battle with Antler Tine Embedded in Skull!

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Bull Elk Survives Battle with Antler Tine Embedded in Skull!

My good friend Brady out in Idaho sent me this email with a pretty incredible story of a bull elk that was recently harvested in South Dakota with another bulls antler tine broken off in his skull that penetrated through the back of the eye socket. The elk survived and was apparently healthy at the time he was harvested.

Here is the note that was attached with the photo's. (from unknown source)

"2011 S.D. Rifle Elk



2011 South Dakota bull elk taken during the current rifle season. The additional pictures show evidence of this bull previously being in a fight with another bull elk. The other elk broke his antler off in this elk’s head. The taxidermist is guessing that the broken antler had been embedded at least one, if not two, years. The “extra” antler was found to be piercing the skull just behind the left eye of this elk but the surface had healed to the point of not being noticeable."

(Hunter is unknown)

That's a great bull and a pretty incredible story of survival!

Larry S.

Shootgun Sabot Slug Review

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Shootgun Sabot Slug Review

The Slugs I selected for testing are as follows:

1. Winchester Partition Gold - 2 3/4", 385 gr,
2. Remington Copper Solid - 3", 1 oz.
3. Hornady SST - 2 3/4", 300 gr.
4. Federal Vital-Shock-Barns Expander Tipped Slug - 2 3/4", 3/4" oz.

If you have not priced any of this type ammo lately, you are in for a shock! These rounds come in a box of only (5) and are $13-$15+ a box! Unbelievable! That's about $60 of ammo in these (4) boxes.
Use them sparingly!

I got a call from my huntin' buddy, Capt. Rick Friday. He had borrowed my range to try the new Hornady's in his Remington 870 with a worked over trigger and a fully rifled Hastings slug barrel. He reported the accuracy was terrible! He couldn't keep (3) shots on a 8 1/2"x11" paper at 100yds.

As I mentioned in my last post, I have been contemplating taking my Remington 11-97 Premier on a hunt to the farm we lease in Illinois. The only reason I would really consider it is that we will be doing some drives to try to thin the doe population down and some quick follow up shots might be in order.

I have been through this all before but I decided I would like to try some of the latest "Sabot Slugs" designed to be shot through a fully rifled barrel to see if there is any new ammo on the market with better performance than I got in previous testing. The barrel on my 11-87 is a Remington Barrel with a built-in cantilevered scope mount. I robbed a scope off another rifle for the testing and set up the bench at 100 yards.

(The shooting bench is some of Capt. Ricky's handy work)

"Lead Sled" Rest!

Remington:

I started with the Remington Copper solids. The first shot was on the paper high right. I made a scope adjust and sent (3) more rounds down range. No other scope adjustments were made during the testing. I had over compensated a little and the group was a little low left but a very respectable 1 3/4" group. That's pretty much as good as it gets for a shotgun. Unfortunately, I have found the performance of the bullet itself to be poor. See my more in depth report on these here: Remington Copper Solid Slug Review

Remington Copper Solids, 100yds, 1 3/4" group! (Remington 11-87 Premier)

Winchester:

Next up was the Winchester Slug. I had some tumbling issues with these the last time I tested them but they all struck the target square this time around. They came in #2 in the accuracy department but it was a little beyond acceptable with a (3) shot group of 3 3/4". That leaves a little to be desired. The bullet did show some decent expansion in the back stop.

Winchester Partition Gold, 3 3/4" group, 100 yds. 

Federal:

I was really looking forward to seeing how these babies would perform, Boy were they a disappointment! These things were so far off it was incredible. I fired (3) shots and none landed on the 24"X36" paper!! I could not even find where (2) of them went. The third hit the left edge of the pallet real low, over 24" from P.O.A. (point of aim).

I adjusted aim to the nail head at the very top/right of the pallet and the bullet impacted  level, 24" left for approx. a 20-24" group? Don't ask me. I was really pulling for the Federals. I expect the ballistic tip bullet would prove to have some good results on a deer. With the accuracy I got I think I would be better off with a sling shot.

Hornady:

The Hornady slugs were my last hope. This is also a ballistic tip bullet. I have had such great results in my T/C Shockwave bullets with ballistic tips I was hoping this one or the Federal would have the accuracy I was looking for. Unfortunately, this one came in #3 in the accuracy department with a (4) shot, 8", 100yd. group. Disappointing to say the least. One other thing I noticed is that the bullet rattles around a little in the sabot? This could be some of the accuracy issue if the sabot is not gripping the bullet to impart the spin from the rifling.

Hornady, SST, 8" group, 100yds

The other half of the equation is bullet performance or expansion. As noted in my first post on the copper solids, they performed poorly in this category and exhibited no deformation or expansion after passing thru a pallet and into a dirt backstop. It seems clear to me that the bullet is not designed with long, I should say, medium range performance in mind but 100yds is a short shot in the mid west.

The other three showed moderate tip expansion with complete retention of the core. The Hornady's opened up very nicely and the best of the four bullets tested. Too bad they came up short on the accuracy department.

Unfortunately, the results I got from all this and the money spent may not help you to much. From my experience, shotguns are very finicky when it comes to ammo types and all are individuals. Even if you have the same gun I shot, you will likely get different results. 

Hopefully you'll have some luck finding an accurate shell before you work all the way to the far end of the list.

Good Luck,

Larry S. 

Remington Copper Solid Slug Review

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Remington Copper Solid Slug Review:

I have been contemplating taking my Remington 11-97 Premier with a fully rifled slug barrel on a hunt to the farm I lease in Illinois. The only reason I would really consider it is that we will be doing some drives to try to thin the doe population down, at the insistence of the Farmer and some quick follow up shots might be in order.

I spent a lot of time and even more money trying every type slug I could find the first year we hunted there. I was pretty disappointed in the results I got at 100yds. Some could hardly hit an 8"x11 1/2" paper at that distance. Others tumbled through the air and went through the target sideways.

I settled on the Remington Copper solid as it produced the best accuracy in my particular gun at 100yds. The groups were in the 2 1/2" - 3" range. Not great but not terrible either. Of course that is only if you don't mind being limited to about 125-150 yds max. range.

Well, everything was smooth until I actually shot a deer with one of these things. Actually, I should say 3-4 of these things. This buck sucked them up like they we spit balls!

The first evening of the hunt I had climbed a cherry tree just off the corner of a long corn field that was about 650yds. long. Deer had been filtering into the field all afternoon but about 45 minutes before dark I spotted two big dark deer enter the far end of the field. I knew from their size and dark color they were both bucks but I could not make out what they had for horns for the longest time. Finally, they got just right and I was able to tell at least one was a shooter and larger than the other.

I knew my only hope for a shot was to climb down and try to put a sneak on them but it was going to have to be quick as light was fading fast. I jacked down the tree and dumped all my gear but the gun, glasses and a couple extra shells and beat it through the bottom to the edge of the field.

I had closed the distance about 200yds and now I could see the smaller deer was also a decent shooter.
It was dark enough that I decided to hunker over and shuffle down the tree line and hope I did not get picked off. There was just no time for a slow, stealthy approach. About half way down that side of the field there is a gap in the tree line that connects a smaller field to this one. Just before I reached that spot a doe walked out and slowly started to pick her way out into the field and never knew I was there. That was a stroke of good luck for me. The smaller buck saw her and started her way. He was clipping right along and in just a minute he was within a hundred yards. As he approached I could hardly believe how wide he was. I remember thinking, "man, that deer's horns are 2 feet wide!".

I had already got down so I could shoot off one knee and it was time to go to work. I leveled the scope on him and fired. The buck took off running, slightly quartering to me. I fired again as fast as I could and he stopped! He was standing there broadside at about 60yds with his head down? I held fire for just a minute thinking he was going to tip over any second but he just stood there. I decided I had better put another one in him and finish this.

I fired a third shot and the deer mule kicked and ran about 20yds and stopped again! Still on his feet but head hung low???? I thought, "What the hell!" About that time there was a truck coming out of the woods all the way across the next field on the adjoing farm and on the other side of the deer. There was no way I could shoot that far but wanted to wait until he cleared before I shot again.

I loaded my two backup rounds and waited for the guy to get out of his truck, open the gate, get back in, drive through, get back out, close the gate and drive off.

If you can even believe this.... The deer was still standing there! "I guess I'm gona have to shoot him again." Boom! I sent another copper solid down range. The deer took off running and made it about 60yds before his horns caught the dirt and he did an endo and piled up. It was quite a sight! Finally, he was on the ground. I still couldn't believe what had happened. I have never seen anything like it, before or since.

I ran out to the fallen buck and he was indeed wide, 22"+wide. He was a little weak on his right side compared to his left but a pretty nice buck none the less. He scored about 132 and would have been about 136 if he had not broke off a couple points.

Then I had to make an inspection to get to the bottom of the mystery of how that animal was able to take so many shots without going down. I was really thinking the gun must be off until I started finding each bullet entrance.

Two were text book.....one right behind the elbow, in the heart and one was upper shoulder, thru the paddle. The third was a paunch hit, probably the running shot and the reason he did not want to run to much. The fourth was just a graze across the point of the front shoulder that did not enter the body.

Copper Solids just do not expand!

All in all he was riddled with holes! The problem was simple, the copper solids just do not expand, period. The exit hole looked just like the entrance hole. No expansion means little energy delivered to the animal. It just punched a hole right thru and kept on smokin'.

Later, when I got back home I shot some more at my 100yd target and recovered them from the dirt back stop. They never even opened up and a couple looked like you could clean them up and put them back in a shell and shoot them again.  At the most, a couple had the forward side crushed in just a little.

Have a look at the pictures:    (pulled from dirt backstop at 100yds.)

Also note that they all impacted somewhat on the side.

I have since abandoned the shotgun for a Thompson Center Encore! It can shoot out to a distance that the shotgun can only dream about and is 2-3 times more accurate. Also, some of the newer muzzleload bullets are devastating on a deer. I have been shooting the Thompson Center Shockwave bullets in 200gr for quite a while now and they typically leave a blood trail that is as good or better than I have seen from anything, bar none! I will make a post as soon as I can with some pictures of some of the blood trails these Shockwaves make. That's on the rare occasion when the deer is not dropped in his tracks.

I probably don't need to actually say this but I don't recommend "Copper Solids"!  If you some experiences with them to share, send me a note and I'll add it to the post.

Good Huntin'
Larry S.

Photo by Capt. Rick Ruebel

Illinois 11pt, 132 0/8

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Two More Big Florida Bucks for 2011!

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My Friend Rick Edwards harvested these two bucks during bow season here in Flagler County, Florida.
Being a coastal county and hard hunted, you don't get to see to many bucks this size.

Rick had already captured pictures of both bucks on his trail cameras and knew they were using the are.

Both bucks are in the 100" range.

The second and larger of the two bucks was liver shot and took some effort to recover.

Here's some pictures of a couple great bucks;

This was an interesting photo. This is just how Rick found the Buck, crashed into the saplings and

still up-right. Pretty unusual.

Buck #2

Obviously, this is an older deer. You don't get this kind of mass without

age!

Good Luck,
Larry S.

Three Monster Bucks from Florida for 2011!

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Monster Bucks Are coming out of the wood work!

Apparently, this year is shaping up to be the year for big Bucks. I can't remember ever hearing about so many once in a life time big bucks being killed in one year around here.

One of my best huntin' buddies Steve Bailey called me Sunday about to pee his pants. His message was Short and to the point......."Stephens,,,,, I just killed  a M O N S T E R   B U C K  in front of the dogs, call me back as soon as you get this!" He had just killed his largest Florida Buck ever a big 10pt that they think will gross between 120 and 125". You don't see many main frame 10's in Florida let alone a buck that will break 120". The buck had a 17" outside spread. He was Killed near Orange Springs, Florida.

All I have is a poor camera phone image to post for now but I'll add some better pic.'s as soon as I can get my hands on them.

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                                      Here's the up dated photo's.....Is that a beauty or what!
                                                        The taxidermist reported 122" net!
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The story goes like this....

It was past mid day and warm. The dogs were running a couple of does and everybody charged South to head them and Steve was left kind of behind on the deal. The dogs broke down but in a short time jumped again and headed back North. Steve pulled up to a spot where he had a vantage of 150-200yds down a fifth row. It was not long before he caught a little movement about 100yds down the row. He scoped it but all he could see was the tops of the buck's horns. He sighted down to where he thought the body would be and fire a round from his new (1965 model) 270 Weatherby mag.. The Buck moved slightly but Steve still could only see his horns. He took another shot guesstimating where the body was and the buck fell in his tracks.....shot through the middle of both front shoulders!


The Hancock Buck!

This Buck was killed on the second morning of Muzzleload season near Orange Springs, Florida. Steve and I were already back at camp and we had just had one hell of a hunt. Steve had shot a great little forked horn buck....just the kind of buck you would envision someone dressed in Buckskins shooting with his smoke pole. I had shot an outstanding 8pt with a 17 3/4" spread that was just a grunt shy of 100". Actually, he is probably the third best buck I have taken in Florida.

The buck on the right that I took is not quite in the class of these

 three bucks but a 100" buck is still real hard to come by in Florida!

Then this thing rolls into camp in the back of a pickup........I could hardly believe my eyes! And I thought my 8 was big. Granted this buck is not wide but he's got everything else you could ask for!

He has a total of 13pts. and Mega Mass, forked brows, stickers, long tines, you name it! I have not even tried to put together an estimated score on him yet.

The old guy that killed him was hunting a cut over swamp that had grown back jungle thick. It was 10:30 in the morning when he spotted this deer approaching at about 75yds. The deer stopped to look around and he fired, missing the huge buck. The deer apparently did not know what happened and froze. He was able to get reloaded and the second shot dropped him where he stood. Supposedly the buck was well known from trail camera pictures but relocated to some out of the way place by the time muzzleload would open and would not be seen on camera again until after hunting season was over. You can see from his face he is a very old buck and he is reported to have actually regressed substantially from last year.


Another Big 13pt.

I do not know the name of the hunter that took this next buck, only that it was killed in Flagler County, during bow season. A friend of Mine, Rick Edwards took the pictures and recounted the story to me.

The story is as follows......

The guy was sitting in his stand when he spots some deer chasing and they are headed his was. No less than three bucks come screaming by, hot on the trail of a single doe. However, they charged by so fast he could not stop them for a shot. They are barely out of sight when he spots another buck coming behind on the race.

The buck comes up to within bow range and stops but he is facing head on and will not turn. The guy held his bow at full draw until he could not stand it any more and decided to take a frontal shot. That's usually a big mistake but it worked out for him, this time. The arrow actually caught the buck on the side of the nose and laid it open before going in between the paddle and the rib cage. Apparently, one of the ribs deflected the broadhead enough to send it into the cavity and snuffed him out. I know, incredible but true.


Shrouder Buck!
I don't have a picture of this buck yet but he was also killed near Orange Springs. I only saw him in passing on the back of the pickup but he's wide and has real good tine length. I heard he is 18" wide and will score around 120". I don't have any other details other than he was killed during muzzleload season but as soon as I have some more info I will get it posted.

Another friend of mine took an exceptional buck here in Flagler also, that is in the 100" neighborhood. I need to score him and I will get a post on him as well.


Good Hunting!

Larry Stephens
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Florida Black Bear Pictures 2011

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We have been plagued the last few years with the expanding bear population. I have had as man as 3 bears feeding in front of this trail camera at one time. The interesting thing is that they are not to shy about showing up in the daylight.

Most of the time the deer sightings start dropping off when the bears start using your feeding site regularily.
Not to mention the cost of feeding a bear. If you notice, in the pictures they usually lay down and lounge while they are picking up corn.

The trail camera is not a upper end camera but the pictures were not to bad since most were taken in the daylight. I believe this is a 2.1 mp Bushnell camera. You can get a little info on this camera and some of the other better cameras I have been using in this post 7 Bucks in 4 Days.

Hopefully, the FWC will open some kind of limited bear season in the near future. From what I have seen recently, there are more bears now than I have ever seen. I am hearing the same from many of my other hunting friends.

Hope you enjoy the pic.'s

Larry