Ace Luciano is a Hunter, Fisherman, Shooter, and Outdoorsman with unique and entertaining views and comments on many topics in and out of the outdoor world. From conservation to politics, and fishing to forest fires, you can count on Ace to have an opinion.
While not always right, love him or hate him you will always know where he stands.
I am often asked what are the essential hunting calibers. It is an interesting question and after much thought I have narrowed it down to six different calibers and specific types of weapons that will cover just about every hunting possibility you could imagine. The following are my choices based on both extensive personal experience and queries of some very serious shooters and hunters. They are listed by the lowest-to-highest caliber.
1. A 22-caliber rifle with scope.
There are many reasons why every shooter should own a .22 – the number one being they are cheap to use for practice, and practice, as we all know, increases shooting proficiency. They are great guns to start kids on, and they can be used for a variety of small game hunting. Squirrels, rabbits, and even varmints up to the size of coyotes have fallen to this diminutive little caliber. There are a lot of great .22 rifles out there, and some really nice ones for not a lot of money. If you want to help your shooting tremendously, buy a bolt-action that is closest to the size and weight of your hunting rifle.
2. A bolt-action .223 rifle.
This caliber effectively “spans the gap” between small and large rifles. I chose this caliber over the .22-250 because .223-ammunition tends to be more widely available, and is also a lot more reasonably priced. For around 100 fps difference, you can save about 75 percent buying off-the-shelf ammo. Plus, if you upgrade to one of the AR platforms later on, you’ll already have an ammo supply. Top this with a high-quality scope from Leupold, preferably in a varmint-style reticle, and you’ll have a serious varmint rifle for up to 400+yards.
3. A .30-06-caliber rifle.
If you have read any of my previous columns, you know my affinity for this caliber. There is darned little that you cannot do with it, and if you do not travel beyond the continent, you will never need another rifle. My advice here – spend a little more than you can afford on both the rifle and scope. Amortize that over the next 30 years and you’ll realize it’s really not that much money- plus you’ll be happier with your purchase!
4. A bolt-action .375 H&H magnum rifle.
If you ever decide to travel beyond the continental U.S. borders, you will need a larger caliber for big and dangerous game, quite often as a result of local law. .375 is the minimum requirement for all dangerous game in Africa. The new .375 Ruger is a fantastic caliber and Ruger makes some great rifles, but I’m an advocate of shooting guns that have readily available ammo. Maybe someday Ruger will match the Holland & Holland, but that day is a long way off. It just so happens that the .375 is also excellent medicine for grizzlies and larger game such as elk or moose in North America as well.
5. A 12-gauge 3.5 inch magnum.
Ace is a fan of semi-automatic actions when choosing a 12 Gauge
This choice is all about versatility.
You can shoot any size load for 12 gauge in this chambering, from light target loads to the heaviest waterfowl loads. My recommendation? Spend a little extra and buy a semiautomatic shotgun. Your shoulder and face will thank you if you ever have to do some serious shooting. If that’s not possible, make sure to install a gel-type recoil pad made by Sims or Pachmayr. Trust me, they help a lot.
6. A .50 caliber, in-line muzzleloader.
Today’s muzzleloaders are clean, easy to shoot, and deadly accurate. You can extend your season by several months in many states. Most shotgun-only areas (like Illinois and Iowa) will allow a muzzleloader during that season. With today’s optics and powders, these are legitimate 200+yard weapons.
There you have it. If there are some holes in your collection, start saving and fill accordingly!
I welcome your additional caliber suggestions in the comments area below.
For more information on Ace and his adventures, visit www.AceLuciano.com
Ace Luciano is perplexed by the recent NRA/USCCA issue
I have to say that I'm a little perplexed by the following press release.
The NRA has not given any announcement nor insight into this as of today.
Many are hypothesizing that they do not feel it "appropriate" as the NRA now offers products that are in direct competition with the USCCA's product.
Guess we'll find out.
Disclaimer: I am an Endowment Member of the National Rifle Association and have been a LIFE MEMBER from the time I was 16 Years old. I was a member of the USCCA for one year and then changed to another protective service that I felt better suited my needs- but still feel they are a quality organization with a quality product. .
The following press release was sent by the USCCA, and also a letter from USCCA President and founder, Tim Schmidt.
The National Rifle Association Disinvites US Concealed Carry Association from Annual Meeting and Exhibits
USCCA Will Continue to Support NRA’s Mission
West Bend, WI – The United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) today announced that the National Rifle Association (NRA) has disinvited the organization from its 2017 Annual Meetings & Exhibits and the 2018 Great American Outdoor Show because of “concerns regarding its programs.”
The move shocked the leadership of the USCCA because they were given less than two weeks notice that they had been banned from the annual show, even though they had attended for the past several years. This decision also came as a surprise because over the past two months, the leadership from the NRA and the USCCA met twice to discuss the shared goal of the two organizations in support of the Second Amendment.
In a note sent to millions of USCCA supporters, Founder and President Tim Schmidt said that even though the NRA might be fearing the competition, USCCA will still support the NRA’s efforts to protect the Second Amendment.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little perplexed myself. The truth is, I don’t really know the motive behind the NRA’s move. I mean, the USCCA has ALWAYS had a great relationship with the NRA. And the way I see it, we’re all in this together,” Schmidt said.
“If I had to guess, I’d say that perhaps this is a strategic business maneuver,” added Schmidt. “I mean, the concealed carry market has really exploded over the last decade — just look at how long the USCCA has been around! Maybe the NRA recognizes us as the frontrunner in providing the absolute best education, training and self-defense insurance in the industry. And perhaps they’re starting to see us less as a partner and more as a competitor.”
“As much as it sort of stings that we got ‘booted’ from the NRA Show, I believe that this sort of competition is a good, healthy and even exciting thing — especially from a goliath like the NRA.”
“Whether or not the NRA supports us, we will continue to support them,” Schmidt said. “We will continue to believe in their mission. We will continue to respect the historical significance of what they have done to preserve and protect our God-given rights. And we will always support their legislative and lobbying efforts. I personally will continue to donate to the NRA as a proud Lifetime Member.”
About The USCCA:
The U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) provides education, training and self-defense insurance to responsible American gun owners. Headquartered in West Bend, WI, the USCCA is the largest and fastest-growing, member-owned, private association whose sole focus is the responsibly armed American.
For more information, please contact Ryan@BonjeanCompany.com or call 224-723-8688.
“Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great. We don't have great schools, principally because we have good schools. We don't have great government, principally because we have good government. Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life.”
One of my favorite books on business and success is "Good to Great," by business researcher and author Jim Collins.
It is a must read for anyone in business today.
One of the major lessons from it is how "hubris" in a company or by the officers of the company are often one of the main reasons for lack of performance, a not-as-good-performance, and/or failure.
An article by Jim Shepard, of "The Outdoor Wire," recently reminded me of how prevalent this "disease" is in the outdoor world.
Quick-
Name three "Great" retailers...
Right.
Many average, many good- but darn few "great."
The irrefutable rule of business is "adapt or Die." However, too many businesses in the retail and, more specifically, the outdoor world, have failed to "adapt." Many have taken their customers and retail clients for granted.
I can't tell you how many companies I've spoken with in (and, to be fair, out of) the outdoor world that have tales of woe and, quite frankly, not the nicest of business dealings with large scale retailers.
Forced to jump through hoops, demeaning attitudes towards their products and business, and, basically, making new and even rather innovative brands grovel and beg (or even pay) to be placed on their shelves.
Can you blame them for jumping to the online bandwagon?
Even I, with numerous connections on both sides of the issue, sometimes need clarification as to just what the difference can be to a business.
One source who shall not be named said it to me very plainly.
"Ace, I can sell 1/3 to 1/2 less and make as much or as much as 25% more by not dealing with them at all and going directly to the consumer."
Wow.
Now, what happens most often is that the "brick and mortar" companies or stores tell a "tale of woe" like the one below- blaming technology and the internet rather than looking into the mirror.
What if we had "regulated" the automobile because farriers and stables were going under?
How about preventing cellular companies from selling their wares because "old time" telephone companies were losing money?
It sounds rather silly, doesn't it?
I can't say that I should be surprised, as what that boils down to is just more proof of a gross lack of "marketing savvy."
As a matter fact, there are very, very few business problems that cannot be solved by "effective" marketing.
What do I mean by "effective?"
Marketing that does more than just "put your name out" or is something that is done "because you've always done it this way" needs to be put aside.
I deal and interact a great deal with companies that say things like "Our budget is full" or "come back to us in six months."
That then turns into ANOTHER 6 months. Then ANOTHER. Then, well... then, if they aren't in great shape they expect a "miracle in a box" or "magic wand."
The economy and business- REGARDLESS of your business- is like a river.
You can swim, paddle, row, or motor, but the SECOND you stop, you will be swept downstream.
When you have Hubris (and there are several LARGE, clear examples of this in recent years) you are "staring into the boat" - unaware and blind to the movement of the water.
Want to see a great example of a company that is on the "front edge" of TODAY'S Economy?
Check out this video from a company I met called OUTDOOR VITALS- a company that has more than doubled every year they've been in business.
P.S.- Your CUSTOMERS are dictating what they want- rather than fight it, don't you think it would be better to give them what they want?
The following is the article from Jim Shepherd of "The Outdoor Wire."
You can reach them at www.theoutdoorwire.com.
"Last week, I heard some scary advice from a bankruptcy attorney for retailers: "find another line of work." Hugh Ray of McCool Smith wasn't joking. The lineup of failed companies in bricks-and-mortar retailing looks like a lineup of former blue-chippers who have "lost a step" in sports parlance. Even discounters aren't being spared. Payless Shoes, I'm told, will file for Chapter 11 protection "any day". That's after closing 1,000 stores. Sears Holding Corporation has (finally) admitted that it is "essentially no longer a going concern" despite belt tightening and the closure of 150 locations. Radio Shack owner General Wireless Operations is already in bankruptcy, as is HHGregg. Others, from J.Crew to Ascena (the company that owns Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Lofts) have suffered two mortal wounds: dropping sales and/or plummeting share price. Add in the problems for Macy's, Staples, Office Depot, Kohls, and CVS, and it seems there will be plenty of storefronts available in 2017 -especially across rural America. Small-town stores are normally the first casualties. Outdoor retailer Gander Mountain has already sought bankruptcy protection. It's not the only outdoor group teetering on the edge today. Online retailers like Amazon are draining traditional storefront operations dry. Only those destination-type retailers are hanging tough - and their operations aren't thriving, despite what you might hear. Last week, I was writing an undated obituary for the Bass Pro Shop/Cabela's deal- until a last minute decision by Georgia-based Synovus Financial Corporation to buy the Cabela's credit-card business seems to have pulled the deal out of the proverbial fire. Most people forget the mega-merger of outdoor retailers Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's was really an intertwined two-part sale: BPS would take the retail business, and Capital One would buy the credit card business. The second part of the deal ran into trouble because of money-laundering allegations (and an ongoing investigation) at Capital One. Their timetable had slipped to the point the deal seemed in serious trouble. Now Georgia-based Synovus Financial Corporation has stepped in to buy the credit card portion. It's one of those deals I'd like to make: Synovus buys the Cabela's credit card business, then turns around and re-sells it to Capital One. That avoids a more in-depth review of the deal by regulators. In exchange, Synovus keeps around $1 billion (yes, billion) in deposits held by the Cabela's bank - and grows from a $30 billion dollar bank to a $31 billon dollar depository- three plus percent growth on a single business turn is nothing to sneeze at. At that point, Johnny Morris and BPS takes over Cabela's -and the $3.6 billion in business Cabela's generated last year. If/when that happens, count on a brief period of stability, followed by the inevitable "combination of operational areas" - and another glut of available retail space. Unfortunately, there are no white knights riding to the rescue of independent retailers. They're under nearly unbearable price pressures, and facing the realization consumers are coming to them for their expertise- then using their newfound knowledge to search for the best price- usually online. Last weekend, I watched a shopper question a knowledgeable salesperson about compound bows. The salesperson was both courteous and knowledgeable, answering the shopper's questions while showing the different bow sight options on demo mounts. After several minutes of questions, the shopper and the salesperson decided a particular three-pin sight would be the best choice for this customer. Instead of asking the price, the customer whipped out his smartphone, took a picture of a packaged sight, thanked the salesman, and left. I was flabbergasted. The salesman shrugged and explained: "happens pretty often. We have the knowledge, but not the online price." Curious about the price difference, I went online -at the counter- to see how cheaply I could find that particular bow sight online. The difference? Seven bucks- not including shipping ($3.95). For less than three bucks, the "smart" shopper essentially helping put their go-to source for help and expert advice out of business. This exchange summarizes where outdoor retailers, regardless of their size, find themselves. I've seen it happen before. As a beginning photographer, most of my early knowledge came from local camera stores. Local shooters freely shared their experiences and expertise. Today are very few of camera stores. Instead, innumerable online videos from online sellers quickly help me through any technical issue I have with my digital gear. The same's true for a lot of the technical aspects of the outdoors. But there's still no substitute for "local knowledge" in the outdoors. What works in Bozeman usually doesn't apply in Birmingham. As a business observer, it's tough to watch people who love their business and readily share that "local knowledge" increasingly forced to "find another line of work". But I've seen it happen frequently enough to recognize the symptoms. Unfortunately, recognizing symptoms does nothing to slow the inevitable march of progress. Consumers decide what businesses succeed."
...but let me first tell you what I'm NOT looking for...
I'm absolutely NOT looking for people that want to make excuses about the economy, sales, or the industry or that DON'T want to grow their sales numbers and business this year.
No...
I'm looking for someone that wants to be an absolute HERO to their boss or, if you ARE the boss, then to your EMPLOYEES who will THANK YOU for thriving while their friends at other companies in the industry are worried for their JOBS.
You see, for the past 8 YEARS we had the greatest gun salesman on the planet- Barack Obama- in the highest office in the WORLD.
Between his deeds, inferences, and edicts, people were setting all time records for annual firearm sales....
...But the entire gun and outdoor industry changed back in November.
We elected a new president that is a gun supporter.
No fear = less gun sales. Less gun sales= less ammo sales. Less ammo sales = less range sales and time = less accessories sold, = less hunting apparel, and on, and on,
Etc. ...
Etc. ...
The point is, things aren't what they used to be. Sales WILL be less "overall" this year- except for some very smart businesses.
Yes, we are back to a "normal" market.
The question is, what will YOU do about it?
"Cut" your marketing budget?
Now, I have to ask this question- Have you ever heard of anyone "cutting" their business to growth and success?
Me, either.
This is where the HERO part comes in.
You see, I have an opportunity for you that can really help your "bottom line."
As a matter of fact, when we put our full plan, which costs, literally, PENNIES to implement, into place for our client partners, they saw a DOCUMENTED 30% INCREASE in the next month's sales. It didn't matter if their product was $1.99, $199, or $1199- across the board the following month's sales SHOT UP 30%!
Take a look at what two of our clients have to say about what we do for them:
"This is, by far, THE ABSOLUTE BEST MARKETING and BEST ROI of ANY marketing that we do or have done in the last several YEARS!" - Dennis Reese, CEO of Springfield Armory.
"This is the Most cost-effective and successful marketing venue that we utilize at Kel-Tec. We actually had SO MUCH traffic from our program that we had to ask them to "turn it down" until we could catch up so that our servers were not completely overwhelmed." -Derek Kellgren, Kel-Tec firearms
So... WHAT IS IT?
What I have for you is DIRECT ACCESS to MILLIONS OF "BUYERS" (Notice I didn't say, "readers" or "shoppers") in the Firearm/Outdoor/Shooting industry.
Millions of your IDEAL BUYERS will not only be RECEIVING, but OPENING your sales messages EVERY WEEK.
(oh- and these products, delivered directly to over 3 MILLION subscribers have some of the highest open and click-through rates of ANY marketing, but certainly in the industry.)
You have an opportunity to get in on the ABSOLUTE BEST OFFER THAT HAS EVER BEEN GIVEN for these products-
Now, I think we're giving a little TOO MUCH on this one- after all compared to other "venues" in the industry, as we are ALREADY:
-90x less expensive than a large "auction site" media conglomerate (yes, you read that right- Ninety times less)
-30x less expensive than a popular "blogging site" in the gun industry.
-1000's of times less than the average print media- and all at a performance level that is many times more effective, completely trackable, scalable, and the best bang-for-your-buck in the industry today.
Plus, one more, very large advantage...
... we will allow you to cancel at ANY TIME (of course, we allow this because nobody ever has, but it IS available)
But I need your answer ASAP- as I can only take ONE advertiser from each category.
