Parker

Geez those are big. These slugs look like something fired out of a kiln gun!

The ME of that load is intimidating.

Holy jaloopas that's a heavy load. I suspect in the USH recoil isn't so bad?

Jon, What sabot's do you use now? I may go to a rifled barrel someday and want to explore my options.

A lot of towns in Bergen County have some sort of link that is Indian in nature, Mahwah included. http://www.dutchdoorgenealogy.com/bergen_county_new_jersey_municipalities.html

Welcome from another Bergenite. If you want to see a great view of NYC, go through the Ramapo Reservation and hike up to the Yellow Trail above Bear Swamp Lake and head to the lookout at Ilgenstein Rock. The view is great.

Brenneke's offer great penetration. Foster's do as well. Foster's tend to change shape more than Brenneke's upon impacting bone. Foster's in my experience retain most of their weight after traveling through flesh and bone. I think the "hollow-point" that is molded into the nose of the lead Foster slug is a superfluous gimmick. I suspect Buckhammer's offer good penetration but I never tried them. I've not used sabot's either but some that use light HP bullets may offer less penetration than the others mentioned under some conditions. Those that use sabot's swear by them for their accuracy potential and they do offer extended shooting range with the right gun. As for "expansion," 12 ga. slugs exit the bore at .700 caliber. Why would you need more expansion than that? Some recovered 1 oz. slugs of mine from deer next to an unfired Foster slug for comparison. I found that broadside hits with early 7/8 oz. Foster slugs that were first available back in the 70's to slugs weighing an ounce or more always penetrated completely on whitetails. Just my experience, others may have had different results.

The Maxi-Ball is a R.E.A.L. bullet of sorts. The leading band is slightly oversized compared to the other two, and engraves upon loading. The two lower bands allow easy, precise loading into the muzzle. Upon firing, obturation occurs and the rifling engages all bands. T/C later added a system called Q.L.A. to their muzzleloaders, a false-muzzle if you will, to make loading easier for all types of projectiles. Early Renegades's and Hawken's do not have this feature.

I enhanced my Renegade by adding a T/C peep sight and replacing the Partridge front sight with a T/C bead sight.

That Renegade is in nice shape for an older one. Good luck with it. I can't offer any more wisdom on cleaning techniques than those already provided. I use my Renegade for hunting and its 1:48 twist stabilizes the T/C Maxi-Ball very well. I've had good luck with 110 grs. of Pyrodex RS with the 430 gr. Maxi-Ball and #11 RWS caps in my Renegade. This load was the most accurate of all I tried and the only one I use for hunting. Zeroed for 100 yds., it prints 2" high @ 50 yds. and is 9" low at 150 yds. Energy at 150 yds. is still 1,000 ft. lbs. I've never recovered a Maxi-Ball from a whitetail. Buffalo Arms 390 gr. & 425 gr. HBHP's shot well for me, although I've never tried them on game.

It's obligatory that every rifleman and hunter know who Townsend Whelen was. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Townsend_Whelen http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/hunting/2006/06/great-american-hunters-townsend-whelen His two famous quotes: "Only accurate rifles are interesting". "The .30-06 is never a mistake".

I remember going here with the family on a few company summer picnics. Man, that was a long time ago.

000 & 0000 buck may have a diameter and weight advantage over the standard 00 buck loads, but have not been that popular since the large shot has a habit of patterning poorly in many guns. The same statement can be said for a lot of buckshot loads, and that's why you should pattern various loads with various chokes in your smoothbore to see which one performs the best. Some loads and chokes do work better than others. You can always go to a "custom" maker for your needs. One example: http://www.paraklesetechnologies.com/products.asp?cat=13

That has been a discussion here for quite some time now.

Nope. That wasn't part of the change. (You've been able to hunt woodchucks with centerfire rifles and AR's on private property for years but their practice use on a WMA range is not allowed.)

+2 what Jon and Sell682 said. You should pattern any shotgun before taking it to the range or afield. Two videos explaining stock fit and sight picture. Experienced shooters can tell you what their ideal stock dimensions are down to an 1/8th of an inch. Fit is most important because your eye is the rear sight. Where it aligns on the stock is crucial to where your pattern goes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLHTQtMQw84

Good one!

The State should be commended for being accommodating and forward-thinking over the years so as to keep interest piqued. As more ways have been included to legally take game in New Jersey (I.E. slugs, traditional blackpowder season for muzzle loader, then muzzle loader for squirrel, introduction of turkey as large game, rifle for woodchuck, crossbow, Sunday bow hunting, and now rifle hunting for coyote & fox and pellet guns for small game;) all these opportunities provide new ways and have broad appeal to a large group. There is something for everyone. The Department of FG&W needs it, for we lose hunters and interest every year.

I wonder why my post got moved? Was this too political? http://njgunforums.com/forum/index.php/topic/60043-more-guns-in-the-news/

Well written piece. I am at loss for words as far as a response to your predicament today, I can only shake my head in bewilderment.

All barrels with receivers marked with S/N 855,000 and above will interchange with each other. Barrels made for S/N's prior to 855,000 will not interchange with each other. Interchangeable barrels came about in 1963. Then you run into other issues with later guns made in King's Ferry, NY and Sandusky, OH. Some interchange, some do not. http://www.ithacagun.com/ithacabarrels.html

The Texas City disaster in 1947 claimed more than 500 lives. While it initially involved munitions on a ship in port, it impacted oil storage facilities as well. I believe this is still labeled the deadliest industrial accident in U.S. history. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/lyt01

Yes, a regular hunting license is sufficient. And no rifle permit needed either!

Yes, your card or license from the 80's will be fine. Just use either to procure your new license.

My sister-in-law started the "family exodus." They purchased a home in New Hampshire. She is actively coercing all family members to get out of New Jersey and move up there with them. (I like the idea.) My wife is finally beginning to seen the light. She traveled with my sister-in-law to help her look at homes there and she really liked the area as well. Honestly, I could live in the bush in Maine and be happy. So long as I could get to town for gas, ketchup and gunpowder; I could suffice.