My post was an accolade to J3 and Hale87’s son only and was not intended as encouragement nor discouragement for others not so inclined. In reading this thread, their two posts stood out in stark contrast to the “default settings” of most American hunters so I wanted to acknowledge them and I also wanted to give them the "heads up" to the pending naysayer crowd. Kids that are eager to step into the shoes of men are in short supply and quite refreshing in today’s world; and at the same time it seems like there are to many men trying to go the "other direction" when it involves anything that shoots a cartridge --- those folks, I leave to go their own way.

Again, I am saluting the youngsters with the gumption to “step it up” and leaving those who haven’t spent a dime to have their rifles fitted, or a nickel to hone their shooting/recoil managment technique with some professional instruction, or are fragile, or just plain can’t shoot to "land" where they may. I’ve found there is an endless supply from this latter "school" and I leave it to other nurturing and/or remedial folks to address their difficulties/inabilities.

Matching the tool to the job at hand is always a sound idea and erring to the strong side is a virtue. If one has worked up to easily handling a sledge, then a tack hammer is child’s play –-- the reverse is not necessarily (nor even likely) true. No easier way to turn a 30-06 into the "puppy dog" that it is, than to master something bigger and then "throttle back" --- ah, now it's soooo nice and easy.

Good Luck and Good Hunting,
EKM