The following ammunition cartridge ballistics information and chart can be used to approximately compare .30-06 Springfield vs .45-70 Government ammo rounds. Please note, the following information reflects the estimated average ballistics for each caliber and does not pertain to a particular manufacturer, bullet weight, or jacketing type. As such, the following is for comparative information purposes only and should not be used to make precise predictions of the trajectory, performance, or true ballistics of any particular .30-06 Springfield or .45-70 Government rounds for hunting, target shooting, plinking, or any other usage. The decision for which round is better for a given application should be made with complete information, and this article simply serves as a comparative guide, not the final say. For more detailed ballistics information please refer to the exact round in question or contact the manufacturer for the pertinent information. True .30-06 Springfield and .45-70 Government ballistics information can vary widely from the displayed information, and it is important to understand that the particular characteristics of a given round can make a substantive difference in its true performance.

Caliber Type Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lb) .30-06 Springfield Rifle 2820 2920 .45-70 Government Rifle 1680 2270

Velocity

As illustrated in the chart, .30-06 Springfield rounds – on average – achieve a velocity of about 2820 feet per second (fps) while .45-70 Government rounds travel at a velocity of 1680 fps. To put this into perspective, a Boeing 737 commercial airliner travels at a cruising speed of 600 mph, or 880 fps. That is to say, .30-06 Springfield bullets travel 3.2 times the speed of a 737 airplane at cruising speed, while .45-70 Government bullets travel 1.9 times that same speed.

Various calibers

Energy

Furthermore, the muzzle energy of a .30-06 Springfield round averages out to 2920 ft-lb, while a .45-70 Government round averages out to about 2270 ft-lb. One way to think about this is as such: a foot-pound is a unit of energy equal to the amount of energy required to raise a weight of one pound a distance of one foot. So a .30-06 Springfield round exits the barrel with kinetic energy equal to the energy required for linear vertical displacement of 2920 pounds through a one foot distance, while a .45-70 Government round exiting the barrel has energy equal to the amount required to displace 2270 pounds over the same one foot distance. As a rule of thumb, when it comes to hunting, muzzle energy is what many hunters look at when deciding on what caliber of firearm / ammunition to select. Generally speaking, the higher the muzzle energy, the higher the stopping power. Again, the above is for comparative information purposes only, and you should consult the exact ballistics for the particular .30-06 Springfield or .45-70 Government cartridge you’re looking at purchasing.

Please click the above links to take a look at all of the .30-06 Springfield and .45-70 Government ammo we have in stock and ready to ship, and let us know any parting thoughts in the comment section below.

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We offer cheap ammo and bulk ammo deals on the most popular ammo calibers. We have a variety of deals on Rifle Ammo, Handgun Ammo, Shotgun Ammo & Rimfire Ammo, as well as ammo for target practice, plinking, hunting, or shooting competitions. Our website lists special deals on 9mm Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 45-70 Ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, 300 Blackout Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 5.56 Ammo, Underwood Ammo, Buffalo Bore Ammo and more special deals on bulk ammo.

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During the early 1800s, when American frontiersmen were first crossing the Mississippi and heading west, they encountered areas of both short-grass and tall-grass prairies so vast they appeared as seas. When the wind blew, which was most of the time, those breezes caused the grass to undulate in waves. Living upon those seemingly endless grasslands were immense herds of bison, also known as buffalo. The largest land mammal in North America, an estimated 30 million to 60 million bulls, cows, yearlings and calves once grazed the Great Plains.

Those first frontiersmen engaged in subsistence hunting, shooting an occasional buffalo for food. But it wasn’t long before some of the hunters realized that, given such an abundant natural resource, there was a dollar to be made from the animals. Actually, many dollars. So, by the late 1800s, literally thousands of professional buffalo hunters were prowling the prairies in search of the wandering herds for their meat, hides and tongues—buffalo tongue was a delicacy served in restaurants back East.

Professional buffalo hunters had several requirements of their rifles. The guns had to be rugged, reliable, accurate at long range, and of large enough caliber (.44, .45 or .50) to bring down a heavy-boned animal that might weigh as much as a ton. The following three single-shot, breechloading, black-powder rifles checked all of those boxes, and were the most popular with buffalo hunters.

Sharps Model 1874

Nicknamed “Old Reliable,” this particular Sharps rifle was a favorite of buffalo hunters due to its long-range accuracy. Sharps rifles were commonly used during the Civil War (1861-1865), with sporting versions manufactured for 40 years, from the late 1840s to the late 1880s. After the war, the Sharps factory produced Models 1869 and 1874 in large quantities for commercial buffalo hunters and competition shooters. These heavy, large-bore rifles, weighing nearly 10 pounds, were manufactured knowing that they would be firing some of the most powerful black-powder cartridges ever made.

In more modern times, Sharps rifles have become icons of the Old West, appearing in many books and several movies; three of the most familiar films being Quigley Down Under (1990) and True Grit (1969, 2010). Reproduction Sharps are still offered today by several firearms manufacturers.

Springfield Model 1873 Trapdoor

The first standard-issue, breechloading rifle adopted by the U.S. Army, this gun had two versions. One featured a full-length barrel and stock; the other, a shorter carbine barrel and stock, for use by cavalry soldiers.

The cartridge that the full-length rifle fired was labeled .45-70-405, meaning that it was .45 caliber, propelled by 70 grains of black powder, pushing a 405-grain bullet. The cavalry version of the cartridge was a little lighter to help ease recoil for a mounted soldier. The “trapdoor” designation comes from the fact that a hinged breechblock had to be rotated up and forward before loading or unloading the gun.

This rifle saw extensive use during the Indian Wars on the Great Plains, so there were plenty of the guns around with which to shoot buffalo. An interesting bit of history is that this is one of the main rifles that General George Armstrong Custer’s 7th Cavalry carried into the fight at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Remington Number 1 Rolling Block

The NRA Museum’s (www.nramuseum.org) description of this rifle reads:

“Although chambered for military cartridges, many Remingtons were also used by civilian buyers. The No. 1 Rolling Block was produced circa 1868-1888. After the Civil War, a rush of settlers moved west of the Mississippi. Meat and hides were sought. Buffalo provided both of these, and a gun that could kill buffalo with one shot was needed. In 1868, Remington Arms Company of Ilion, New York, filled this need with the Sporting Rifle Number 1.

“This rifle featured one of the strongest receivers ever made. Called a rolling block, it rotates at its breech a large, round block behind a cartridge. A large, round hammer, in turn, supports the block. Firing a .45-70 cartridge, the rifle can bring down most anything at long range. The Remington No. 1 was among the most prolifically produced firearms of its time.”

On the Prairie

In the hands of an experienced marksman, any of those three rifles were deadly. Buffalo hunters would first locate a herd from horseback, then, by approaching on foot downwind of the animals, attempt to stalk undetected within a couple hundred yards—even closer if the terrain allowed. The first animal killed would be the herd leader, usually an older cow buffalo. The idea was to not spook and stampede the herd; but rather to take your time shooting, cleanly killing one animal after another, one shot one kill. Using that practiced technique, a skilled shooter might kill 100 buffalo or more in a single day.

Some buffalo hunters became so proficient that they were well known on the plains: Cross-Eyed Joe, Apache Bill, Buffalo Curley, Limpy Jim Smith, Buckshot Roberts, Squirrel Eye Emery, Prairie Dog Dave, California Joe … the list goes on.

Likely the most famous hunter was William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody. Shortly after the Civil War, he signed a contract to supply Kansas Pacific Railroad workers with buffalo meat. Cody was so adept as a hunter that during one 18-month period spanning 1867 and 1868, he is purported to have killed 4,282 of the large, wooly animals.

But another hunter, Buffalo Bill Comstock, challenged Cody’s right to exclusive use of the nickname Buffalo Bill. To decide the matter, the pair agreed to an eight-hour hunt. Cody won by shooting 68 buffalo compared to Comstock’s 48. It is believed Comstock used a .44-caliber Henry lever-action rifle, while Cody used a .50-caliber Springfield Model 1866.

Cody would one day go on to form his extremely successful traveling extravaganza, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West. For 30 years, he toured America, England and Europe with a troupe of genuine cowboys, authentic Indians, horses, cattle, and yes, a small herd of buffalo.

The best recurve bows can usually cost a fortune. In general, more expensive recurve bows tend to offer an advantage over less expensive counterparts. Especially when competing at a professional level. So, it makes sense if you are an advanced archer or an athlete looking for the most expensive recurve bow in the world.

There are quite a few really pricey bows out there. We are not talking about specialty bows but rather the most expensive recurve bow available to anyone.

The most expensive publicly available recurve bow is the Sanlida Archery Olympic Recurve Bow. This is a common bow used by Olympic athletes and offers one of the most accurate shots in the sport.

We review the Sanlida Archery Miracle Olympic Recurve Bow going over what makes it so special (and expensive).

Sanlida Archery Olympic ILF Recurve Bow Review

If you want to compete at the highest level of target shooting, let’s say the Olympics, Sanlida Archery Olympic ILF Recurve Bow is a deservingly good choice. But, you may ask, “why this recurve bow?” First, this recurve bow is designed by Sanlida Archery, a reputable brand known for making archery equipment that offers incredible performance at a great value. Only a few archery brands do it better than Sanlida Archery.

Second, it comes with a full kit. The recurve bow includes everything you need for your target shooting. The interesting thing is it’s a ready-to-shoot bow, meaning that you don’t have to set it all up from scratch. You could adjust it to suit your preference if need be. The bow comes in four separate versions – 66″, 68″, and 70″, with varying tension levels. The item’s weight is 1300g (about 48 lbs), which is quite heavy. The weight is okay since the bow is tailored towards advanced archers and competitive athletes.

Another good reason is the construction. Each accessory is designed with high-quality material, and the bow itself is CNC machined 6061-T6 aluminum to enhance its strength. The limbs are made of premium-quality carbon and foam materials, while the riser is metal to add to the overall strength of the bow.

Table could not be displayed.

Pros

• Ultimate Performance – the ready-to-shoot bow is designed to offer the best performance, thanks to the included accessories and construction. Archers can attain advanced level shooting with high precision using this equipment and boost their chances of success in competitions.

• Great Design – with aluminum and carbon the main materials for the parts, you should expect the Sanlida Archery Olympic ILF Recurve Bow to last long enough. It’s strong and has an adjustable wooden grip, with a strong ILF recurve riser and limbs capable of seeing you through any target shooting competition.

• Powerful – shooting precision is essential in archery. This recurve bow helps you to achieve that. Typically, a heavy bow can hinder shooting efficiency, but not the Sanlida. Despite its 2.8 lbs weight, the bow feels light and powerful simultaneously when holding it. This gives you the confidence to shoot.

• Excellent Customer Support – if there’s one thing you should commend Sanlida for, it’s their customer service. The manufacturer ensures that customers are utterly satisfied with their products. The customer service is ultra-responsive and ever-ready to attend to your complaints.

• Good Value for Money – although the price is over $900, the bow still comes at an unbeatable value compared to its rivals. When you consider that it comes with all the accessories needed in the kit, you will be excited to cough out such an amount for the recurve bow. It comes at one of the lowest costs around.

Cons

• Expensive – this isn’t a con per se, considering that we are reviewing an expensive recurve bow. However, some archers with a limited budget may want to reconsider purchasing the bow.

Structure of the Bow – Riser, Limbs, and String

The ILF riser and limbs are solidly made, while the string is too robust to break. The beautiful anodizing ILF riser is aluminum, making it difficult to break easily even when used intensively. The riser comprises an adjustable wooden grip with bolt systems, sight, and stabilizers that are all durable. Overall, the bow doesn’t feel flimsy.

The lower and upper limbs are made of high-quality advanced carbon and foam materials that flex well. Thanks to these materials, the recurve limbs deliver a greater amount of kinetic energy more efficiently when the bowstring is released. This boosts the speed of the shot. The bowstring in the lowest version is 66”, which is normal for an archery athlete.

The bow’s string is also sturdy and holds power excellently. In addition, it stretches pretty well, which helps to exert more force on the shot for better output. You can’t fault this recurve bow.

Is an Expensive Recurve Bow Worth the Price?

The price of the Sanlida Archery Olympic Recurve Bow is fair, considering that the bow is for advanced target shooting. Beginners may question the price’s outrageousness, but it’s not typically for simple target shooting or practice. There are other bows available for such activities, and they come at a more affordable price than the Sanlida Archery Olympic ILF Recurve Bow.

The recurve bow’s advanced features make it ideal for Olympians. It can enhance the shooter’s precision, thanks to the sight and stabilizers. The wooden grip is also fully adjustable to match the riser, which improves shooting precision and balance. It gives the ultimate performance at an incredible value.

Apart from athletes, archers who need a bow with advanced features for the fun of shooting can also purchase this bow. The bow’s weight can be a hindrance if you aren’t a fit person. But, with all things being equal, you should enjoy recording those great shots with the bow. This bow is worth the price, and we recommend it.

The Sanlida Archery Olympic ILF Recurve Bow includes the following accessories;

• Bow
• Instruction manual
• Sight
• Advanced string
• Weight
• Sight pin damper
• Arrow rest
• Carbon stabilizer long rod
• Riser
• Limbs damper
• Stabilizer and riser damper
• Clicker
• Cushion plunger
• Limbs.

Final Thoughts

With Salinda Archery Olympic ILF Recurve Bow, shooting targets has never been easier. It possesses the capabilities to make you a champion in any target shooting competition. Although it doesn’t come cheap, it’s one of the most accurate even when compared to others within its range.

This Sanlida recurve bow is the most expensive recurve bow in the world but that’s what Olympic accuracy takes. With all the accessories included, you don’t need to make extra purchases. You can kickstart your journey to being a champion with this powerful bow.

You know what is the most confusing decision if you are a shooter? It is when you have a beautiful rifle and you need to choose the perfect cartridges for it.

So, what are you choosing between 303 british vs 30-06?

Per round of .303 British will cost you $2.50 and .30-06 Springfield will cost $1.90. So, .30-06 is quite cheaper. 30-06 has a velocity of 890 m/s and .303 British has 844 m/s. .30-06 Springfield is more available. But .303 British damages more to the target because of its lower energy than 30-06.

So, let’s get into the article to find the perfect cartridge for you.

A Quick Comparison Between 303 British and 30-06

The 303 British and the 30-06 basically mean .303 British ammo and .30-06 Springfield ammo. Both of the ammo is very popular among shooters. They have some impressive aspects that made them popular among the users.

Now let’s have a quick look into the basic differences between these ammos. For your comfort, I’ve taken the cartridges with the same mass (10g).

Factors.303 British (10g).30-06 Springfield (10g)Velocity844 m/s890 m/sEnergy3,463 J3,820 JMas Pressure (SAAMI)49,000 psi60,200 psiOverall length3.075 in3.34 inAvailablityGoodBetterPrice $2.50/rd$1.90/rd

Though you can compare the cartridges by their aspects the effectiveness also depends on the rifle. So, it is really necessary to have a good rifle to get the best performance from the cartridges.

If there is any defect in your rifle then it can also affect the performance of the cartridge. So make sure your rifle works properly and doesn’t have any defects in it.

Remember there are also differences between 303 enfield vs 303 british.

In-Depth Comparison between 303 British and 30-06

Let’s assume you have a nice rifle and it works perfectly. Then comes the confusion of having cartridges. Because while choosing the perfect cartridges you need to examine so many different aspects.

Now let’s talk about the 303 rifle bullet and 30-06 deeply. So that it will be easier to you to choose the best one for your rifle.

Velocity

Velocity is the most important aspect when you are going to choose the perfect cartridge for you. This shows how your bullet is going to reach the target. And obviously when you’ll shoot you’ll definitely want to reach close to the target as much as possible.

The .303 British (10g) has a velocity of 844 m/s. Which is kind of impressive for many of the users. And this velocity is enough to make a good hit on the target.

On the other hand, the .30-06 Springfield (10g) has a velocity of 890 m/s. Which is 46 m/s more than the .303 British (10g). As this cartridge has more velocity then you can say that it will be more accurate than .303 British (10g).

Winner: As .30-06 Springfield (10g) has more velocity so it wins this segment.

Energy

The impact of a bullet is described in terms of momentum and kinetic energy. The more pressing concern is how much of the energy will reach the goal. If the bullet goes through, a little amount of the projectile’s energy may be transferred to the target.

The majority of the energy may be transferred if the bullet deforms or mushrooms. A slow bullet that transfers all of its energy to the target. Which is more deadly than a quick one that goes through the target.

So, we can see that .303 British (10g) creates 3,463 J of energy. Which is very impressive. And it will create good damage to the target.

Then if you take a look at the .30-06 Springfield (10g) it creates 3,820 J of energy. Which is almost 400 J more than .303 British (10g)’s energy.

You have already got slow bullets or bullets with less energy damage more than the fast ones. So generally .303 British (10g) will damage more than the .30-06 Springfield (10g).

Winner: As .303 British (10g) will damage more that’s why it wins this segment.

Availability

Availablity is one of the most concerning issues while choosing cartridges for your rifle. Suppose you are planning for a long adventure tour. Then you will definitely want to have some extra cartridges with you.

Then again you will be more satisfied with the availability in every place. It will be better if you can get your cartridges in ruler and remote areas right!

So, you will get more availability with .30-06 Springfield (10g). These bullets are very commonly available all around.

You will also get.303 British (10g) in most of the city or town areas. But it won’t be that much available in rular and remote areas.

Winner: For being more available .30-06 Springfield wins this segment.

Price

Price of the cartridges should be the main concern like velocity when choosing bullets right! Because bullets are something that needs continuous investments.

So it is really important to have some cartridges with reasonable price points.

The .303 British (10g) will cost around $2.50 per round. Which is kind of a costly cartridge.

Then the .30-06 Springfield will cost around $1.90 per round. Which is 60 cents less than the .303 British (10g). This may not be seen as a big difference but it will become large when you’ll buy a bulky quantity.

Winner: For being more reasonable .30-06 Springfield wins this segment.

Which One You Should Choose!

As you can see .30-06 Springfield has more velocity and availability with a lower price point. Which makes this cartridge more attractive to the shooters.

But if you want to have less shoot and more damage to the target then.303 British can be your choice. And don’t forget it is also a popular cartridge among shooters.

So, now you can choose as per your preference.

Don’t forget to take safety precautions before shooting. Let me suggest to you some stuff that will keep you safe while shooting.

• YINSHOME Shooting Ear Protection Earmuffs, Gun Safety Glasses, Earplugs, Protective Case
• TRADESMART Shooting Ear Protection – Hearing Protection with NRR38 Earplugs, Safety Glasses & Hard Carrying Case

These protection tools will help you to save your ears and eyes while shooting.

FAQs

What is a 303 British comparable to?

303 British, necked down to fire a. 257 projectile, developed in Australia. Which was in the 1940s as a sporterized rifle cartridge. Notably for the Lee-Enfield action; comparable variants also emerged in Canada at the same time.

How accurate is a British 303?

Accuracy may vary depending on the rifle you are using. Most 303s are 60 to 100 years old, so keep that in mind. To 250-300 yards, a competent rifle should have a minute of deer accuracy. Though 303 British has a good velocity to hit accurately.

Is 303 British a good caliber?

Yes, in most cases it is a good caliber. The.303 British cartridge is ideal for hunting whitetail deer and black bears and is good for all medium-sized wildlife. It was a favorite moose and deer cartridge in Canada when military surplus rifles were plentiful and inexpensive.

Conclusion

I hope by now you have got a perfect idea about 303 british vs 30-06. I want to recommend the one as per your needs.

If there are any more queries, please drop them in the comment section.

Be safe while shooting. Take care.

Whether you’re a small game hunter a rimfire enthusiast, a new shooter, or just someone looking to change things up, the .17HMR is a great option to consider.

You can reap the benefits of a more powerful cartridge than the .22LR while still keeping things quiet with a suppressor. If that sounds intriguing to you, be sure to read on and find out all about .17HMR and suppressors.

Here’s what we’re going to cover:

• Understanding the 17 HMR
• Hunting with the 17 HMR
• Considerations for Choosing the Best Suppressor
• Top Suppressor Models for the 17 HMR
• Why It’s Worth Shooting Suppressed
• Shoot Your Best Shot -Shop Silencers Today!

Understanding the 17 HMR

Hornady came up with the .17HMR (Hornady Magnum Rimfire) in 2002 by necking down the .22WMR to accept a .17-caliber bullet. The result was a cartridge that shoots faster and flatter than the .22LR while still maintaining the simplicity of a rimfire cartridge.

Both guns and ammo for the .17HMR have become more available in recent years, and while the ammo is more expensive than other rimfire cartridges, it’s still less expensive than centerfire ammo.

It’s also an incredibly popular cartridge for small game and varmint hunters.

Hunting with the 17 HMR

The .17HMR is a death sentence for prairie dogs. Hunters absolutely love this cartridge because of its performance. You can hit harder and farther with the .17HMR than with other rimfire cartridges, which is important because prairie dogs can require some long distance shots to really take out their towns.

Considerations for Choosing the Best Suppressor

The majority of the suppressors that you’ll find that are compatible with the .17HMR cartridge are also perfectly suited to a variety of rimfire calibers. This is a good thing because you’ll more than likely end up with a can that is capable of use on a number of different firearm hosts in a number of different rimfire calibers that you own.

You also need to consider the host gun when looking for a .17HMR suppressor. Because it is a smaller rimfire cartridge, the guns aren’t as heavy as other hunting rifles. This means that a suppressor of one weight and length might be fine for some applications, but not for others. There’s no right or wrong answer here; just take it all into consideration before parting with your hard-earned money.

CategoryNameCaliberWeightLengthPrice Best OverallBANISH 22Up to 5.7×284.4 oz5.375″$499 ShortestSilencerCo Switchback 22Up to 5.7×283.7 oz or 6.9 oz2.8″ to 5.75″$539 Most DurableRugged Oculus22Up to 5.7×2810.7 oz or 12.8 oz3.25″ or 5.25″$515 Most AffordableSilencerCo SparrowUp to 5.7×286.5 oz5.08″$349 Easiest MaintenanceDead Air MaskUp to 5.7×286.6 oz5.1″$469

Top Suppressor Models for the 17 HMR

There are a lot of suppressors to choose from that are well suited to the .17HMR, but here are our top choices:

Best Overall: BANISH 22

The BANISH 22 suppressor is designed for use with rimfire pistols and rifles chambered in .22 caliber and smaller. This includes .22 Magnum, .17HMR, and even 5.7×28. It’s even rated for full-auto!

The BANISH 22 is made of lightweight titanium, weighs just 4.4 oz, is 1” in diameter, and is only 5 ⅜” long. Tests have shown that the BANISH 22 brings sound down to about 120 decibels, which is just 10 decibels more than a BB-gun. Essentially, this is as close to “Hollywood quiet” as you can get.

The BANISH 22 was designed specifically to maximize your time shooting and minimize your time cleaning. Inside the tube are eight baffles that are engineered for a precise fit to keep lead debris and carbon buildup at an absolute minimum. This prevents the debris and buildup from reaching the tube, which causes components to fuse together.

If you’re looking for the perfect first-time silencer purchase or you’re just looking to make your .17HMR quieter, the BANISH 22 is a great option. It’s ideal for varmint shooting, small game hunting, target practice, and more.

Advantages:

• Design is less susceptible to first-round pop
• Titanium construction is super lightweight
• Great sound suppression

Disadvantages:

• Not modular in length

BANISH 22 Specs:

• Caliber: Up to 5.7×28
• Weight: 4.4 oz
• Length: 5.375″
• Price: $499

Shortest: SilencerCo Switchback 22

According to SilencerCo, the design for the Switchback 22 was “inspired by technology used in rocket and jet propulsion, when oriented in one direction the front section exhibits the most competitive sound reduction on the market for pistols, but when the orientation is flipped the result is unprecedented sound reduction on rifles.”

Tests for the Switchback 22 show that the report is brought down to as low as 108 decibels in its long configuration on a rifle, and down to 142 decibels in its short configuration on a pistol.

The Switchback 22 can be configured at 2 ½”, 3.59”, or 5 ¾”, is just 1.07” in diameter, and weighs 3.2, 4.3, or 6.5 ounces. If you’re looking for a compact .17HMR suppressor, then this is it!

Like the BANISH 22, the Switchback 22 can be used on calibers as small as .17WSM and .17HMR and up to the 5.7×28 cartridge. As an extra bonus, it’s rated for full-auto fire, so go ahead and send it!

Since rimfire ammo is notoriously dirty, the ability to completely disassemble this suppressor is a big plus. Instead of using solvents or foams and hoping that you get all the nooks and crannies clean inside a sealed suppressor, the SilencerCo Switchback can be taken completely apart.

Advantages:

• Three different lengths for ultimate modularity
• Fantastic sound suppression
• Incredibly short and light in smallest configuration

Disadvantages:

• Tied for heaviest on the list

SilencerCo Switchback 22 Specs:

• Caliber: Up to 5.7×28
• Weight: 3.7 oz to 6.9 oz
• Length: 2.8″ to 5.75″
• Price: $539

Most Durable: Rugged Oculus22

Constructed from 100% 17-4 stainless steel, the Rugged Oculus22 is extremely durable and capable of being cleaned by almost any cleaning method. You don’t have to worry about solvent interaction if you choose to use an ultrasonic cleaner instead of elbow grease.

Equipped with Rugged’s ADAPT modular technology, that means that you don’t have to choose between a long suppressor and a short one. You can switch it up depending on your needs.

This Oculus22 has baffles with indexing tabs for a repeatable return to zero after cleaning. The keyed baffles create a gas seal to prevent carbon and gas build-up.

The Oculus22 is belt-fed rated for .22LR and is full-auto rated for 22 Magnum to 5.7x28mm, making it an easy choice for guns in .17HMR.

Advantages:

• Stainless steel construction is extremely durable
• Modular design
• No discernible first-round pop in full configuration

Disadvantages:

• Tied for heaviest on the list

Rugged Oculus22 Specs:

• Caliber: Up to 5.7×28
• Weight: 10.7 oz or 12.8 oz
• Length: 3.25″ or 5.25″
• Price: $515

Most Affordable: SilencerCo Sparrow

SilencerCo’s Sparrow is super simple, which also makes it super affordable. Inside is a monolithic core baffle covered with two half tubes that cover and separate it from the outer tube. This design helps the core stay as clean as possible to prevent buildup or fusion – it also makes it easier and less expensive to manufacture.

Tests for the Sparrow show that the report is brought down to 112 decibels, which is also just a tiny amount louder than a BB gun.

Like most .22-caliber suppressors, the Sparrow is small. It is only 5.08” long, is just 1.06” in diameter, and weighs 6.5 ounces.

You’re not limited just to .22s here since the Sparrow can be used on calibers as small as .17WSM and .17HMR and up to the 5.7x28mm cartridge. As an extra bonus, it’s rated for full-auto fire.

When it comes to cleanup after shooting notoriously dirty rimfire ammo, you can clean more easily since the SilencerCo Sparrow can be taken completely apart.

Advantages:

• Most affordable option on the list
• Rated for plenty of other calibers besides .17HMR
• Great sound suppression

Drawbacks:

• Monolithic core harder to clean in nooks and crannies than separate baffles

SilencerCo Sparrow Specs:

• Caliber: Up to 5.7×28
• Weight: 6.5 oz
• Length: 5.08″
• Price: $349

Easiest Maintenance: Dead Air Mask

With little to no first-round-pop on both rifles and pistols, the Dead Air Mask provides a balance of performance, weight, and extraordinary cleaning intervals that are unmatched by the competition. That makes it great for use with the .17HMR cartridge.

The Mask’s stainless steel baffles feature proprietary stand-offs, minimizing surface area contact with the titanium tube. This makes complete disassembly easy even on the dirtiest of specimens that have had tons of rimfire ammo through them. It’s also why the Mask takes our top spot for the easiest maintenance.

Advantages:

• Baffle stand-offs aid in disassembly
• Rugged titanium and stainless steel construction
• Second shortest of the fixed length suppressors on the list

Drawbacks:

• Second heaviest on the list

Dead Air Mask Specs:

• Caliber: Up to 5.7×28
• Weight: 6.6 oz
• Length: 5.1″
• Price: $459

Why It’s Worth Shooting Suppressed

Even though a suppressor is essentially just a firearm accessory, the law doesn’t treat them like that. In fact, they’re regulated more like guns (more so actually) than the accessories that they actually are.

Despite these extra steps, it’s still worth the time and money it takes to getting a suppressor, and here’s why:

Enhanced Shooting Accuracy

Even though the .17HMR doesn’t produce a lot of felt recoil, shooters can still benefit from the reduced recoil provided by using a suppressor. This can allow you to make successful shots at greater distances, which is always a good thing.

Increased Hearing Protection

The .17HMR isn’t a super loud cartridge anyway, but it can still cause hearing damage if shot without proper protection. Using a suppressor brings the decibel levels down to a hearing safe level so that you can shoot safely to your heart’s content.

Situational Awareness

Using a suppressor with .17HMR means that you don’t have to wear traditional hearing protection. This allows you to be more aware of the sounds in your surroundings. You can also better appreciate the sounds of nature around you, whether you’re just target hunting or taking down a prairie dog town.

Shoot Your Best Shot -Shop Silencers Today!

The market for suppressors has never been more diverse than it is today, and narrowing it down to the right one for you and your specific .17HMR needs can be confusing. Thankfully, our staff has been shooting and selling suppressors for more than 15 years. As such, we’ve got a pretty good handle on which silencers stand out in this big crowd. If you’re having trouble deciding, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’ll happily talk you through the options and then, when you’re ready, get you on your way to .17HMR silencer ownership and suppressed shooting in the most affordable way possible!

If there’s one animal that truly captures the essence of Africa, it is the lion. Lions are one of Africa’s most iconic animals. Admired throughout history, these large cats serve as a symbol of bravery and strength.

Lions have powerful bodies. They are the second largest cat species, after tigers.

In addition to their large size and sheer strength, the lion population is also renowned for its impressive eyesight. This is an advantage for their predominantly nocturnal hunting.

There are several reasons for the lion’s excellent vision. Below are ten interesting facts about lion eyes – one of their greatest hunting tools.

Lion Eyes Close Up: 10 Roarsome Facts

Much like crocodile eyes, a lion’s eyes serve as an exceptional piece of equipment.

A lion’s eyes help them hunt, especially at night.

Let’s take a deeper look into the eye of the lion.

1. Inside a lion’s eyes

Lions have significantly more rod cells than cone cells in the retina of their eyes, especially when compared to humans. Lions have around 25 rods to each cone, while humans have about 4 rods to each cone.

The rods aid the reflection of more light into the eye, while cones are for color vision. This is what contributes most to the lion’s impressive nocturnal vision. These large cats can see 6 to 8 times better than humans in low light conditions.

Regarding cones, there are three types – namely blue, yellow, and red. Lions, like all cats, only possess the cones for short waved light (blue), and medium waved light (yellow). They cannot distinguish red colors.

2. Lions’ eyes shine

If you’ve gone game viewing at night, you may have noticed some glowing eyes looking back at you.

Lions, like most nocturnal animals, have something inside their eye known as tapetum lucidum. This is a reflective layer of cells behind the retina which acts as a mirror.

The rod and cone cells absorb light entering the eye. The tapetum lucidum reflects the light which passes through the retina and photoreceptor cells.

This gives the lion’s brain two chances to absorb the light waves and refine the image. This significantly improves the animal’s night vision.

3. Outside a lion’s eye

The outside characteristics of a lion’s face play a significant role in its incredible night vision.

The white stripe under its eyes helps reflect faint light into the eyes, making it easier to see under low light conditions.

It also helps in mottled lighting, common in dense, bushy areas.

This unique feature is a good indication that lions are nocturnal.

If you look at a cheetah, you will notice they have black tear-like markings. This reduces glare, which is ideal as these quick, spotted cats tend to hunt during daylight.

4. Lions have a second eyelid

Lions have a second eyelid known as a nictitating membrane. This serves as an extra layer of protection for the cornea.

It also moistens the eye while maintaining vision.

The nictitating membrane acts as a windshield wiper, removing dust and anything else blown into the lion’s eye.

5. Lions have round pupils

Most felines have vertical slits instead of round pupils. This is to maximize the capacity of recognizing the depth of a field.

Smaller cats need to crouch to get close to their prey before pouncing. Vertical slits are important as they help these cats measure shorter distances precisely.

Larger felines, like lions and tigers, have round pupils.

As they have longer legs, their eyes are at a greater distance above the ground. They are also a lot more powerful and can jump much further.

Lions do not need to get too close to their prey before pouncing and do not require a vertical pupil.

The round pupils possessed by larger felines are also known to allow more light to filter into the eye, giving them better night vision.

6. What color are lions’ eyes?

Lions’ eye colors are typically brown or amber. Even white lions, whose fur lacks the typical lion’s pigment, have a pale amber eye color (NB: some white lions have blue eyes).

As previously discussed, the anatomical structure of a lion’s eye is responsible for the eye shine we often see when game viewing at night.

The typical color of this eye shine is a red or gold hue. This can vary depending on the angle at which one views the lion.

7. Baby lion eyes

Baby lions, referred to as “cubs,” are born blind. They do not begin to open their eyes for the first 3 to 4 days after being born. Even after opening their eyes, they cannot see very well and need extra care from their mums.

Their eyes start out blue-grey and begin turning brown or amber around the 2- to 3-month mark.

8. Lion eyes and hunting

Given their impressive night vision capabilities, lions generally hunt at night. By using their vision, lions hone in on their target, coordinating their attack based on where they see their prey moving.

In a hunt and evasion scenario, sight is the most crucial factor. Lions’ prey also possess strong senses such as sight and smell, which helps them escape.

Dodging obstacles and handbrake-turning past members of a lion pride makes certain prey tougher to catch.

The key to a lion’s hunting success lies in having the conditions skewed in their favor. This is most commonly at night, long after the sun has set, and when everything has become completely dark.

Lions also hunt well during storms as the noise and wind make it harder for their prey to hear or see them.

9. The full moon can hinder a lion’s vision

As examined earlier, the darker it is, the better it is for lions. A full moon makes it easier for prey to detect and escape predators.

During a full moon, lions will often put off hunting while the moon is at its peak. They will much rather wait until the moon begins to dip over the horizon or until clouds have covered it.

10. Lion eyes positioning

Unlike much of their prey, lions have binocular vision. This suggests that their eyes point forward, allowing them to judge depth more effectively. While this is a great advantage, their eyes cannot move from side to side very quickly.

Lions have to move their entire heads from side to side to see in different directions. On the other hand, their prey has eyes on the sides of their head.

This provides their prey with a wider range of vision. It also hinders their ability to resolve single objects after dark.

For this reason, when night starts closing in, these animals move out into open clearings for increased visibility and room to move if need be.

More Incredible Lion Facts

In addition to their unique eyes, lions have many other characteristics and traits that are sure to impress you.

Below are a few mind-blowing facts about one of Africa’s largest cats.

Lions can get their water from plants

Lions are highly adaptable and can survive in very dry areas. In places like the Kalahari desert, they get most of their water from their prey and plants such as the tsamma melon.

Lions are big eaters

These large felines can consume up to 40 kg of meat in one meal, which is generally a quarter of their body weight.

To assist them in scraping flesh off the bones of their prey, they have tongues with sharp, pointed rasps, papillae.

Here is more information on what lions eat.

Lions roar together

Unlike other cat species, lions roar together, often to mark their territory.

A calling typically goes on for about 40 seconds.

The entire pride joins in, including the younger cubs with their tiny mews.

Lions are quick and powerful

These large cats can run short distances at 80 km/h and leap as far as 11 meters.

This, coupled with their impressive vision, makes them one of the top predators of Africa.

Lions love sleep

Lions enjoy lazing around. These big cats spend 16 – 20 hours sleeping each day. They have few sweat glands and conserve their energy during the day.

They are much more active at night when it’s cooler. This is also when they hunt.

For more on these magnificent animals, check out these 10 interesting facts about lions.

What Are Your Thoughts on the Lion Eye?

Lion eyes are an incredible tool and are largely why lions have a relatively good hunting success rate. In sheer darkness, where most of us would find ourselves lost without being able to see a thing, lions move with ease.

While their eyes are highly functional, they are also beautiful with their brown-amber color.

For your next game ride, consider heading out after sunset. It is then when these large cats are most active.

It is also when you will notice their shining eyes.

Just hope that they aren’t angry lion eyes.

If you wish to see these large cats up close, be sure to check out these amazing African safari deals.

Are you going tenting with your dog and not sure which tent is the best choice for you and your best friend? I know there are a lot of choices and it can be daunting to pick out the right dog friendly tent. After frequent camping trips with my now 9 year old dog, Ayla, I’ve been through a few different tents and I’ve definitely come to a conclusion of what I think is the best tent for camping with dogs.

Obviously, there are many factors that play a role in which tent to choose, so I will go through the main factors you should look for in a pet friendly tent and the pros and cons with different tents so that you can make a sound decision based on your dog, camping habits, and needs.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase through one of those links, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you. If you have any questions about these services or products, feel free to ask me.

How to choose the best tent for camping with dogs

There are a few things you need to consider before choosing the best tent for camping with dogs. First of all, do you want the dog to sleep inside the tent or not?

The first years I camped with Ayla, I had a tunnel tent and she slept outside in the front department. Later, I got a larger tent and chose to take her inside and we both love it! Now, I would never leave her outside again.

I’ll go through the pros and cons of having your dog inside or outside the tent to help you make the best choice for you and your dog.

RELATED: Best eco friendly backpacks

Advantages of having the dog inside the tent

One major advantage of having your dog inside the tent is that it can’t wander off at night if it becomes curious of something. This means you don’t have to get up at night to chase it.

Even though the dog is in a leash, I find that they tend to slip out of their harness if they really want to.

As a result, you get a better sleep and your dog gets a more relaxed night without having to protect the tent from the outside world.

Another advantage is that it’s so cozy to have your furry friend next to you. I really noticed a big difference on Ayla once I let her come inside the tent and sleep on her blanket in her own corner. She was proud, happy, and very relaxed. Opposed to before, she now sleeps through the whole night.

Having your dog in the tent also makes it easier to leave the tent when you go to the shower or bathroom. Dogs are usually more calm when they have smaller areas to protect so the tent is the perfect place.

If it rains outside, it can be a disadvantage to have your dog sleeping on a mat on the ground as it can get wet, which in turn isn’t very comfortable. Inside the tent you know it’s dry and comfortable for your pet.

Disadvantages of having the dog inside the tent

First of all, if your dog sheds like mine, you’ll get a large amount of dog hair inside your tent. If you usually have your dog in the bed, then you probably don’t mind, so it won’t be a problem.

The other thing that could be a disadvantage is if it rains or your dog gets wet from bathing before entering the tent, it will get humid but can also smell like wet dog, depending on the breed.

On the other hand, you know that your dog is not laying on wet ground outside.

Finally, I can imagine it’s a pain to have a super active dog inside the tent if it can’t lay still and keep spinning around. Personally, I haven’t had this problem with Ayla, as she’s a very calm lady.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: How to travel locally: A responsible guide to local travel

Features to look for in a dog friendly tent

Now that you’ve hopefully made a sound decision on whether to have your dog inside or outside the tent, let’s have a look at dog-friendly tents for you and your furry friend.

I have listed a few features I think a pet-friendly tent should have (or not have) from my experience of camping with Ayla before we look at the best tents for dogs.

The less tent cords the better

I’ve had a couple of hiking tents and mountain tents with a lot of cords to help the tent stand properly and it might be my clumsiness (they also say the dog resembles its owner), but both Ayla and I found ourselves stumbling in the tent cords in more than one occasion. In the worst case scenarios, this has resulted in a partly collapsed tent.

Needless to say, I’m not a big fan of tents that need a lot of cords to stay erected and I profoundly believe that the best tents for camping with dogs are the ones with fewer cords.

Easy access in and out

Easy access to go in and out of the tent is essential when tent camping with a dog. My first tent wasn’t a very dog friendly tent. It did have a front department where she slept in her bed or blanket, but the tent was small and low.

A 2-person Bergans tunnel tent, perfect for hiking and spending the night in extreme and windy weather in the mountain.

If I had taken Ayla hiking over several days and had to carry the tent in my backpack, I’d definitely use this tent! But not for car camping.

For me, it’s also an important matter that Bergans is a sustainably conscious outdoors brand, striving for a more sustainable production chain.

The one I have now, is excellent. There is no front department, but it’s easy and straight access in and out which means fewer chances of disaster from an eager dog.

I also found a larger tent (3-4 person) with front department is easier to navigate with Ayla around, both because of the height but also because there is generally speaking more room.

Easy access to water

It’s important that your dog has easy access to water. If you have the dog in the front department of your tent, it’s possible to leave a bowl of water there so the dog can drink during the night.

If you opt for having the dog inside the tent, you need to make sure there is a water bowl outside the tent opening so you can let the dog out and drink before bed time and as soon as you wake up. This is especially important in warmer weather conditions.

When I go camping with Ayla during Spanish summer, I often give her water if I wake up in the middle of the night too.

To summarize this, you don’t want to have a tent where you have to get through several tent openings before you can get to the water.

RELATED: Eco friendly camping gear (including dog camping gear)

Best tents for camping with dogs

Based on the above and my experience, I have picked out a few top dog friendly tents to help you pick the best tent for camping with dogs based on your needs.

Vaude Campo Compact XT dome tent

Vaude has this great dome tent which has a spacious front department if you opt for letting your dog sleep outside. It does have space for a blanket or a small dog bed so that your pet can sleep comfortably.

With the front department, it’s easy to have water accessible for your dog all night.

Vaude is one of the leading outdoors brands within sustainability and the majority of their overall materials are vegan.

The only down side with this tent, are the tent cords. Otherwise, this is without a doubt one of the best tents for camping with dogs on the market.

This tent weights 3 kilos and can be packed up for shorter hikes too.

Get a Vaude Campo Compact XT dome tent here

The North Face Stormbreak tent

This tent from The North Face is a great pet friendly tent. Easy to set up, it is the perfect tent for camping with dogs.

It’s easy to get in and out and you don’t have tent cords either you or your dog can stumble in, which makes it a much better experience.

There is a small front department where you can leave a bowl of water. there is room to leave your dog outside as well, depending on the breed.

What I love about this tent, is that it’s easy and with only 3 kilos for the 3-person tent, you can carry it on small hikes too. The 1-person tent (which might be tight if your dog is bigger than a Chihuahua) only weights 1,4 kilos.

Get The North Face Stormbreak tent here

Quechua 2 seconds pop up tent

My current tent is this Quechua 2 seconds pop up tent, which is super handy. It seriously only takes a few seconds to pop it open. No tent poles needed, which means Ayla can’t walk on top of the tent and make a mess while I try to put it together.

When there’s no wind, you don’t even need to peg this tent to the ground, which makes it even quicker to get up and to pack. I also find a lot of camp grounds have hard soil or even pebbles where you pitch your tent and unless you have a hammer or huge muscles (which I definitely can’t brag about), it’s impossible to peg the tent.

This tent is spacious and easy to get in and out of both for you and your pet. I always leave a water bowl for Ayla outside, and when I wake up, I open up so she can stick her head out and drink. It’s also waterproof, which I’ve unintentionally tested by spilling a whole bottle of water over the top.

The only thing I have to pick on when it comes to this tent, is that my friends and I had problems packing it up the first few times and had to ask for help from other campers. This summer, though, I magically found the trick and now I can’t understand that I ever had a problem with it.

Note that the packaging is not suitable for hiking as it packs up really big, though perfect for car camping.

Except from being the less sustainable tent I’ve used so far, Quechua’s pop up feature goes a long way in being user friendly and the fact that you don’t need cords or pegs makes this the best pop up tent for camping with dogs.

Get a Quechua 2 seconds pop up tent here

Conclusion

Rounding up this post on the best tents for camping with dogs, I hope you have the information you need to make a sound decision on what are the best pet friendly tents for you and your dog.

If you have any thoughts, questions, other recommendations you think I should consider in this post, feel free to drop me a comment below.

Happy dog camping!

Other necessities when taking dogs camping:

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Leave this field empty if you’re human:

Originally published in 2007

On a plaque outside David L. Hayes’ Leitchfield, Ky., home are the words “One old fisherman lives here with the catch of his life.” Whether the sign refers to Ruth, his wife of 64 years, or the gigantic smallmouth bass that hangs on his living room wall is anyone’s guess. It’s a question Hayes wryly refuses to answer.

Unfortunately for the 80-year-old angler, it’s not the only question surrounding his trophy catch from Dale Hollow Lake on the Tennessee-Kentucky border 50 years ago. Controversy swirls around this fish that stood as the world record for more than 40 years and now splits the record keeping authorities squarely down the middle.

The International Game Fish Association, generally recognized as the authority on freshwater fishing records since taking over from Field & Stream in 1978, disqualified Hayes’ catch in 1996. The National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame did likewise the same year. In 1999, however, the Hall of Fame reinstated Hayes’ catch. The IGFA has not budged.

Even the states involved in this tangled tale are on different pages. Kentucky disqualified the catch in the midst of the IGFA and Hall of Fame turmoil. Hayes still sits atop the Tennessee record book.

It’s a controversy that confounds smallmouth fans and frustrates the small community of Celina, Tenn., where a remarkable series of events took place more than half a century ago.

The catch

The date was July 9, 1955, and David Hayes, his wife and their six-year-old son were spending the day on Dale Hollow Lake trolling a 600 series pearl Bomber for smallmouth and walleye. They’d been coming to “the Hollow” for about three years, and Hayes had gotten very good at summertime trolling — so good that he was occasionally followed by local guides and other anglers hoping to learn his secrets.

On July 9, however, things were slow. Hayes’ favorite trolling runs were coming up empty … at least until he swung into a favorite cut between Illwill Creek and Phillips Bottom, just north of Trooper Island and in Kentucky waters.

“There were a couple of weed beds through there, and if you lined it up just right you could bring your plug right between them and keep it bumping the bottom.”

Hayes had about 300 feet of line out when the big fish hit. At first he thought he was snagged. Then he felt the surge of a powerful fish.

It took several minutes with his Tru-Temper steel rod, Penn Peer 209 reel and 20-pound-test line to bring the bass boatside, but Hayes eventually put a net under the leviathan. “It was between 10:00 and 10:30 a.m.,” he said.

“I had no idea it was a world record.”

The controversy

The fastest, easiest way to be called a liar is to catch a giant fish. Make it a world record, and the detractors will beat a path to your door.

After Hayes swung his giant smallmouth aboard his 21-foot cruiser, he stowed the fish in a metal cooler he kept on the deck of the boat and went right back to fishing. The Hayes family liked to eat fish, and the day was still young.

Sometime around noon, Hayes was getting low on gas and decided to head to the nearest marina — Wisdom Dock, up Illwill Creek. When he got there, he was met by Granville “Lightnin’ ” Madison, a dockhand who filled Hayes’ gas tank. When Madison asked if Hayes was having any luck, the angler was characteristically modest.

“I’ve got one pretty good smallmouth,” Hayes said.

Madison asked if he could weigh it, and Hayes agreed. Unbeknownst to the angler, Kentucky Water Police Officer Oral Burtram was inside the marina and saw the fish on the scales. The smallmouth lacked an ounce of weighing 12 pounds.

From Wisdom Dock, Hayes headed down the lake to Cedar Hill Resort, where he maintained a slip for his boat. It was there that the story took an unfortunate turn.

Once again the fish was placed on the scales — this time they were certified — and once again the bass weighed 11 pounds, 15 ounces. People who were there and saw the fish still marvel at its size.

Hayes’ mistake was in letting the fish out of his sight. He let dockhands at Cedar Hill weigh it. Had he kept it under his control the entire time, he would likely have never lost his place in the record books.

More than a month later, on August 17, Raymond “Doughbelly” Barlow presented an affidavit to the Corp of Engineers office at Dale Hollow Lake. The document, sworn to by Doughbelly’s nephew, John H. Barlow, claimed that Hayes’ bass had been tampered with — that it really weighed only 8 pounds, 15 ounces and that Cedar Hill Resort owner Dick Roberts and John’s own brother Ira had asked John (a one-time guide at Cedar Hill) to “fix it up good.”

John claimed he shoved 3 pounds of motor parts and sinkers into the bass’ gullet then pinned the fish’s throat shut with a treble hook. After the alleged dirty work was done, the bass weighed 11-15 — the same as it had weighed at Wisdom Dock.

Because the Corps isn’t involved in keeping fishing records, the affidavit was returned to Doughbelly and a copy kept in the Corps office. It would be more than 40 years before anyone looked at it again.

A record is undone

Hayes was firmly entrenched in the record books by the mid-1990s when a Livingston, Tenn., assistant principal invited him to display the fish at an outdoors show. Eldon Davis and a few others decided that Hayes’ bass didn’t look like it weighed nearly 12 pounds and began their own investigation.

Davis found the John Barlow affidavit and then found Barlow himself. Using a private polygrapher and a set of questions devised by Davis, John passed a lie detector test. He was never given a subsequent test by state officials.

Within a few months, Hayes’ bass was stricken from the record books despite the fact that no one from IGFA bothered to get his version of events. Hayes learned of the disqualification when Bassmaster senior writer Colin Moore called to interview him in 1996.

Tennessee’s due diligence

Whether or not David Hayes holds the world record for smallmouth bass, the record came from Dale Hollow Lake. Both the second (John Gorman’s 10-14 in 1969) and third (Paul Beal’s 10-8 in 1986) biggest bronzebacks were caught there.

So when Ron Fox, assistant director of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, investigated the catch and controversy in the summer of 1996, it was with an eye to discovering the truth, not to defend a state icon.

“I thought the research would be brief and confirm that the fish was a hoax, but the more I looked into it, the more the bits and pieces added up to help us reach our decision to maintain the catch as a record.”

Fox talked to all the living witnesses to the catch and weighing. He heard from Bobby Stone, the night clerk at Cedar Hill who slept each night on the freezer containing the fish until it was sent to a taxidermist. Stone also examined the fish on the day it was caught, had his photo taken with the fish numerous times after the weighing and stated unequivocally that the fish’s gullet was not pinned shut with a treble hook or otherwise compromised.

Fox talked with Lightnin’ Madison who saw the fish at Wisdom Dock and confirmed its weight at 11-15. He even spoke with John Barlow’s brother, Ira, a Cedar Hill clerk and guide who was at the dock when Hayes came in and whom John implicated in the alleged tampering.

Ira told Fox that John was nowhere near Cedar Hill that day and that John fabricated the story in order to get revenge on Dick Roberts, who had fired him from his guiding position. Ira even passed a polygraph test by a licensed examiner.

“I feel very comfortable that Mr. Hayes caught the world record smallmouth and deserves the recognition for it,” Fox said. In March of 1997, TWRA decided to keep the Hayes fish as the state record.

A formula for the truth

Whether you contend that Hayes’ smallmouth weighed a legitimate 11 pounds, 15 ounces or whether you believe John Barlow and others boosted its weight, there’s no question that the fish was 27 inches long and had a girth of 21 2/3 inches.

A highly regarded formula for estimating bass weight is length x length x length ÷ 1,600. Plug the known numbers into the formula and Hayes’ bass comes out to 12.3 pounds (12 pounds, 5 ounces).

The other most commonly used formula for estimating bass weight based upon measurements is length x length x girth ÷ 1,200. Under this equation, the Hayes smallmouth weighs 13.16 pounds (13-3).

If the bass’ girth measurement is reduced by three inches — more than enough to compensate for any foul play, the formula would still indicate a weight of 11.34 pounds (11-5).

The Hayes bass was simply too large to weigh just 8-15, as John Barlow claimed.

The affidavit

Why would Dick Roberts ask John Barlow to boost the weight of Hayes’ bass? The obvious answer, of course, would be to gain notoriety from having a world record smallmouth weighed at Cedar Hill Resort.

Forget for a moment that Dick Roberts was a pillar of the community, that he taught Sunday school at Celina United Methodist Church for more than 40 years and that he had the respect of virtually everyone around the lake. Ignore the fact that it would be completely out of his character to do something so unethical.

Instead, ask why anyone would need the help of John Barlow for such a deed. After all, even according to Barlow’s own sworn statement, “Mr. Roberts and Ira Barlow came to me, and Mr. Roberts asked me to lead the fish — told me to fix it up good — and handed me a number of lead sinkers. Ira Barlow also had some lead sinkers in his hand.”

Why did they need John Barlow if Roberts and Ira Barlow were standing right there with the sinkers? Why bring someone else in on the fraud? It makes no sense.

The usual suspects

Three men came together to create the affidavit sworn to by John H. Barlow, and all of them had motives to lie and discredit Cedar Hill Resort. In addition to John, there was Doughbelly Barlow and James H. Reneau Jr.

Doughbelly was a well-known character around Dale Hollow Lake in the 1950s. The corpulent fishing guide worked out of Dale Hollow Marina and was a sometime deputy sheriff known for ruthless behavior. He was also John’s uncle.

Doughbelly was renowned for being jealous of other anglers who were catching bass when he was struggling. It would have bothered him to see a world record come into a competing marina. That it was caught by a weekend angler added insult to injury.

Jimmy Reneau was the attorney who prepared the affidavit. He also was the owner of Holly Creek Resort, just up the lake from Cedar Hill. Whatever business Dick Roberts gained by having a record smallmouth come to Cedar Hill, Reneau may have felt he was losing at Holly Creek.

Even the county court clerk who notarized the affidavit may have had something to gain from the conspiracy. Mary Ruth “Oopie” Reneau was Jimmy’s sister.

Can I get a witness?

By the time John Barlow’s affidavit came to light in the mid-1990s, most of the principals in the matter were dead. Raymond Barlow died in 1975; Jimmy Reneau committed suicide in 1981; Oopie died in 1984; and Dick Roberts passed away in 1993.

Of the six men John Barlow implicated in the conspiracy — himself, Dick Roberts, Dick’s eldest son Dickie, Ira Barlow, Walter Blakely and David Hayes — only the Barlows, Dickie Roberts and Hayes were alive in 1995 when the statement resurfaced.

And only John Barlow recollected anything at all about tampering with the big smallmouth. Hayes denies it emphatically. Dickie Roberts was astounded by the charges and refuted any involvement on the part of himself or his father.

And when Ira Barlow was on his deathbed in 1998, he told his son, Tim, that the fish was legitimate and that John had fabricated the entire tale. Tim calls his Uncle John a “career liar” and says that setting the record straight was something his father wanted to do, right to the very end of his life.

Absolutely no one backs up John Barlow’s story of fish tampering. Even the witnesses he lists in his infamous affidavit refute him.

Where are we now?

The witnesses to the record smallmouth controversy are, quite naturally, disappearing. David Hayes is nearly the only one left.

Though Tennessee and the Hall of Fame have placed Hayes in his proper position in the record book, Kentucky and the IGFA have not, choosing instead to ignore the considerable evidence in his favor.

Whether or not his home state and the IGFA do the right thing and reinstate his catch will have little effect on Hayes’ life. He enjoys his retirement, his family and his friends. Unless someone asks about the big fish, Hayes seldom talks about it.

But to have one of the greatest accomplishments in sportfishing history discredited in the face of so much evidence to the contrary is an indignity that no one should suffer.

As Ron Fox puts it, “Mr. Hayes is a fine individual and should not end this life with his accomplishment being lost from the record books.”

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If this is your budget, you need to do some serious digging before handing over any cash.

$500 is still a hefty chunk of change, but with brands like Vortex, Leupold, Vanguard, and Bushnell, you’ve got variety and quality on your side.

Let’s take a look and see which brand has the best spotting scope under $500.

Top Spotting Scopes Under $500 (Comparison)

When it comes to spotting scopes, often manufacturers either do it well or they don’t. Many of our top brands that are hunters’ go-to companies had some disappointing hits and misses – mostly misses – in this price range.

Because of this, when putting together the line-up for the $300-500 price range, it was tough to come up with the top three. So, you’ll have to forgive us if we throw in an option that slightly bends the rules – it’s just going to have to do.

We took into account the grade quality of the glass, any special coatings, and ability to see groupings clearly in the 200-400 yard range. Let’s take a look at what we came up with.

The 6 Best Spotting Scopes Under $500

1. Leupold SX-2 Alpine 20-60×80 – Best Overall

The SX-2 Alpine spotting scope is capable of providing clear and sharp resolution throughout all hours of the day and across its entire magnification range. It has a drawback or two, but it’s easily one of the best spotting scopes for its price point.

Pros:

• HD Optics
• Oversized eyepiece
• Rugged construction
• Fog/waterproof
• Lifetime guarantee

Cons:

• ED glass confusion

The SX-2 Alpine has Leupold’s Advanced Optical System with HD quality. Leupold lacks mentioning any ED elements, but the glass was made with calcium-fluoride (much like ED glass, right?) that helps to reduce the dispersion of lightwaves at the objective lens. So yes, while there will be some chromatic aberration, it might only be visible on the higher powers and in difficult light conditions that most spotting scopes struggle with too.

Helping to keep you longer behind the eyepiece by reducing fatigue and compensating for less-than-perfect eye alignment is the oversized 59.94mm eyepiece and the 19-18mm of eye relief. All-day glassing, big game hunts, and long-range spotting of groupings are tasks the Alpine HD is well suited to.

Build quality is covered with an impressively balanced speed-to-precision helical focus, fogproof and waterproof body, and it’s been tested to perform in extreme climate conditions from -40 to 160-degrees Fahrenheit.

If the name is any indication, you may have to put in for a hunting unit where you can test it to its limit. High mountain hunts for black bears, whitetails, mules, elk, and bighorn sheep are more productive when you have glass that can keep up with the harsh alpine conditions.

2. Athlon Argos HD 20-60×85 – Best Value

The Argos HD mustn’t be compared to more expensive scopes as it’s one of the cheapest in this price range. To get a colossal 85mm spotter for under $400, it’s a budget buy with value.

Pros:

• 85mm aperture
• Advanced FMC coatings
• Helical focus
• Fog/waterproof
• Extendable sunshade

Cons:

• Optical quality vs marketing

It may be harsh to be so blunt about the optical quality of the Argos HD, but the marketing implies that it has a couple things that it, in fact, lacks. It does not have ED glass or additional elements that can be confirmed to provide high-definition optics. Athlon says the scope has “phase coated Porro prisms” but Porro prisms are inherently unaffected by beam splitting that occurs in roof prisms.

The gist of it is, Porro prisms are great at maintaining contrast and resolution and will perform better than roof prisms that lack PC coatings. As such, the Argos does well for its price point with or without the supposed PC coatings. It struggles with light loss past 40x and off-axis sharpness as do all spotting scopes at comparable price points.

Looking past the marketing gumbo, it has laudable resolution in lowlight conditions. It’s adequate for hunting, range use, wildlife observation, and amateur lunar observation.

The adjustable features of the spotter, i.e., magnification ring, multi-position eyecup, and extendable sunshade offer smooth responsiveness. The focus knob is touchy at max power, so for instant gratification for birdwatching when seconds count, the Argos might not work for you. For focusing in long-range in the field or the shooting range, you have time to be light-handed here.

For the average range shooter, causal outdoorsman, and spot and stalk hunter, the Argos offers big specs with better-than-average performance for its price point. Now that’s value.

3. Vortex Diamondback HD 20-60×85 – Best for Hunting

Overall, the Vortex Diamondback HD isn’t perfect, but for the money, it offers a lot more than the old series. The VIP warranty can’t be beat, so there’s no fear in taking it into wild country for the hunt. The bottom line is that it performs, it’s under $500, and it’s highly recommended.

Pros:

• ArmorTek coating
• Dual focus
• Long eye relief
• Argon gas
• Arca-Swiss compatible

Cons:

• Chromatic aberration

The Diamondback HD spotting scopes have an HD Optical System, but Vortex did not disclose any ED elements. It suffers from color fringing and can be distracting for birdwatching and lunar observation/digiscoping.

The optics will not hold a candle to the Viper HD let alone the Razor HD. But as the entry-level spotting scope line, the glass quality is more than acceptably functional for wildlife observation, range use out to 1000 yards, and Western deer hunting.

The Diamondback HD is rubber armored, waterproof, and has been purged with Argon gas that is usually seen in the high-end range. It has long eye relief of 20.3-18.3mm, has an adjustable eyecup and sunshade, and a rotating tripod ring.

A new feature is the dual focus for course and fine adjustments with the helical focus collar. It’s compatible with Arca-Swiss tripods without needing additional plates and can be mounted to standard ¼-20 tripods.

The HD models gained weight and the objective got larger. This model weighs 60.9oz, and it’s not a bad thing. The extra weight will help to stabilize the setup especially when you’re in the high mountains and big country where windy conditions are the norm.

The glass isn’t perfect and that’s okay. You can always spend more to get better, but for this price point, the Diamondback HD is a performer.

4. Vanguard Endeavor HD 82 Scope

Remember how we said we were going to bend the rules a little bit? This is where we show you how. The Endeavor is just above the $500 mark, but when it’s on sale, you can get it within this price range. We had to do a little tweaking because we only want to offer you the most reliable and high-performing spotting scopes there are. There’s no point in recommending a dud.

The Endeavor has a beast of an objective lens that can provide ultimate brightness and light collection. To take maximum advantage of the 82 mm lens, it’s been made with extra-low dispersion glass elements, been fully multi-coated, and has BaK4 prism glass. There’s more yet to spill about the Vanguard Endeavor, so keep your eyes peeled for the full review!

5. Visionking 30-90X100SS Spotting Scope

This spotting scope is huge, so it’s no joke to assume this thing will be the king of faraway vision. With extreme, high magnification and a huge 100 mm aperture, no distance will be out of your reach.

Pros:

• Price
• Extreme high magnification
• Huge aperture
• Dual focus
• Weatherproof

Cons:

• Heavy

If you think you can have these spotting scope specs without some serious poundage, you’re kidding yourself. With almost 6 pounds to tote and set up, this is a beast of an optic that you want to use with a quality tripod that can support its weight.

So, what’s the point of such extreme specs? To see more of course! The 100 mm aperture will allow in as much ambient light as possible throughout different times of the day whether it’s bird and wildlife watching or star gazing. With such high magnification, you’ll want to make use of the 2-speed dual focus dials to get the sharpest and clearest image possible.

The BaK4 prism glass is fully multi-coated, but there’s no mention of any phase/prism coatings or extra-low dispersion glass elements. The lack of these additional glass features is surprising for such a high powered scope, and it may mean clarity might not be the best as it reaches max magnification.

Even for a generic, off-brand spotter, it still covered its bases when it comes to durability. It has RainGuard HD water-repellent lens coating (sound familiar? Bushnell tech?), it’s O-ring sealed, nitrogen-purged, and 100% waterproof.

If you’re the type of spotter that likes to get set up and stay stationary, the Visionking scope will work for you. A tripod is included in the buy so you won’t have to immediately fork out for one.

6. Kowa TSN-601 Angled 60mm Spotting Scope

Kowa, a prestigious Japanese brand known worldwide for their quality optics, and we have a spotting scope that just barely fits this price range. Owning a Kowa for 500 bucks just might be the best bargain deal of the day.

Pros:

• Price
• Interchangeable eyepiece system
• Made in Japan
• Weatherproof
• 10-year warranty

Cons:

• Scope body only

Typically, you won’t see spotting scopes sold by eyepiece and scope body separately until you’re spending over two grand. This is indicative of premium quality to ensure you’re purchasing the most appropriate eyepiece system for your spotting application. Want variety? You can buy and use an eyepiece with a different power range.

With the interchangeable eyepiece system, you also have access to see if Kowa compatible digiscoping accessories can work for photography, recording, and capturing rare once-in-a-lifetime moments that you won’t ever be able to duplicate.

Still, if you’re spending only 500 buckaroos on the scope body, you’ve got to wonder how much it costs to get the eyepiece. Expect to add at least a few hundred bucks to your budget.

The Kowa spotter is made in Japan, and they’re usually an excellent source of glass and quality when it comes to optics. When you buy this scope from an authorized dealership, you’ll get their lifetime warranty on it.

It’s nitrogen-purged and O-ring sealed for both fog and waterproof protection. It’s made with polycarbonate materials to keep weight to a minimum without compromising build quality.

What more is there to say? You’re getting a Kowa for 500 bucks!

What to Look for in a Spotting Scope in This Price Range

Spotting scopes in this price range should have a few premium perks thrown in – we’re talking about $500, it’s got to be worth it. However, you’ve got to be brand-specific to ensure you’re getting the best of what you can afford.

If you’re going with a high-powered and heavy scope, you’re going to want to add additional costs for quality, strong, and solid tripods and mounting systems. Just keep that in mind when you plan on spending every penny. Here’s what else you need to look for.

Glass & Coatings

Overall, we should start to see some ED (Extra-low Dispersion) enter the market. Some spotting scopes might have “HD quality” but it doesn’t guarantee ED elements. When it comes to coatings, we should see FMC and extra lens coating formulas to enhance light transmission and protect the lens.

Magnification & Objective Lens (Configuration)

On average, there will be a lot of 20-60×80 configurations at this price point. Considering the glass quality, this is a good configuration to stay within since more magnification will demand more performance from the glass.

Though most spotting scopes under $500 will have the eyepiece included with the scope, you may see some interchangeable eyepiece scopes available. Though rare to see it at this price point, it can happen.

Eye Relief & FOV

Eye relief will tell you how comfortable the eyepiece will be to use and if you can keep your glasses on or not. I would say that 15 mm is the minimal amount of acceptable eye relief if you wear glasses, but it’s better to have at least 19-20 mm on the long side as it does get shorter at max power.

The field of view can indicate what applications the spotting scope could be good for. Though high magnification narrows the FOV, it can provide close-ups of the target that is good for long-range seeing. On the other hand, a wide FOV is good for watching moving targets while hunting or bird watching.

Size & Weight

In general, weight and size can be a limiting factor of a spotting scope. They are obviously larger than binoculars, but they offer high and variable magnification with a huge objective lens. Compact scopes would be best for hiking, some hunting, and for fast glassing.

Full-size scopes are excellent performers when tripod-mounted for bird watching, wildlife observation, and amateur astronomy like lunar observation.

You should also consider overall weight, that is, combined weight with a tripod and any counterweights if needed.

Durability

Overall, you should expect good glass and solid performance out of a $500 spotting scope. They should be fog and waterproof at this point and come with a warranty that you can rely on in case the unexpected happens.

We Put The Best Under $500 Through the Ringer!

If you have the chance to shop in person, put your scope through the ringer to really see if it’ll work for you. If one promising purchase ends up being a dud, it’s one purchase too many.

Buying online eliminates the chance to give the spotting scope a test run before you buy, but that’s where counting on our expertise comes into play. If the masses are impressed, you just might be too. Since we’ve put ’em all through the ringer for you, you can rest assured that your money is well placed. It’s called buying confidence – you’re welcome!

Further Reading

• Zeiss Victory Harpia Spotting Scope Review – 85mm Angled with Dual Speed Focus System
• Zeiss Dialyt 18-45x65mm Spotting Scope Review (A True Hunters Tool)
• Zeiss Conquest Gavia 85 T Spotting Scope Review (Ideal for Birders)
• Vortex Viper HD 20-60×85 Angled Spotting Scope Review (Helical Focus)
• Vortex Viper HD 15-45×65 Spotting Scope Review (Straight)