I have really enjoyed learning about long range shooting, load development and many other things here. Two days ago I was doing some practice shooting at 500 yards, today I killed a buck at 20 in deep woods. It got me to thinking what you all use and if you hunt in an area where a short range "woods" or brush gun is the ticket.
After the events of the day, I decided to keep my 45-70 for the rest of my hunting life. I've had it for about 10 years, and it's been on the shelf unused for about 5. I shot 3 or 4 deer with it when it was newer, but lost interest in the old big bore. It's a marlin 1895 and this year sports a cabale's alaskan guide fixed power 6x scope. Sighting it in resulted in a 1.5" group with two touching each other. I has been a good shooter for a lever from the begining.
As far as terminal performance, it's deffinantly terminal, a one way ticket to the ground with no delays, connecting flights or layovers. The buck today dropped on the spot, as would happen with most rounds at 20 yards. For whatever reason, I feel quite confident with this rifle out to it's effective range, and it's not let me down. It's become one of those "old reliable" things you have and hope you will always have.
I had not been in my stand 1 or 2 minutes when two shots rang out, seemingly very close. I knew the closest stand was about 100yds, and thought the guy in there was wanting a doe. A few seconds later, a coyote tore though my line of sight like his tail was on fire. I thought maybe the other guy took a shot at him. Seconds later a buck was heard tearing through the brush and comming into my vision in my direction. I saw multiple points, maybe not a trophy, but decided to shoot if a good shot was possible. He was also running as if on fire not looking like he would stop till Christmas. As I had my gun ready, he rounded a corner behind me and after passing a couple of large trees, stopped. Having the gun raised and pointed in his general direction, I had only to look though the scope to find the crosshairs right dead center of his chest as he faced me. That was his last mistake.
The other hunter came by in a few minutes asking "see a big buck come by? I think I hit him good". I replied that I had, and that he was laying near by. Inspection of the deer revealed a graze mark from a bullet on the top of the back just enough to break the skin, and an equaly leathal hit on the back leg going between the muscle and the tendon just right for a meat hook.
Surprisingly it did not bleed, not hitting the muscle or the tendon. The other hunter was pretty dissapointed, thinking he had a good hit and going on about not being able to fill his buck tag. I gave him the deer as party hunting is legal here, and he was more than happy to take it. It was no trophy, a small eight pointer, and I don't need more meat. All in all, it was a fun day with a little adventure and the joy of being in God's creation.
After the events of the day, I decided to keep my 45-70 for the rest of my hunting life. I've had it for about 10 years, and it's been on the shelf unused for about 5. I shot 3 or 4 deer with it when it was newer, but lost interest in the old big bore. It's a marlin 1895 and this year sports a cabale's alaskan guide fixed power 6x scope. Sighting it in resulted in a 1.5" group with two touching each other. I has been a good shooter for a lever from the begining.
As far as terminal performance, it's deffinantly terminal, a one way ticket to the ground with no delays, connecting flights or layovers. The buck today dropped on the spot, as would happen with most rounds at 20 yards. For whatever reason, I feel quite confident with this rifle out to it's effective range, and it's not let me down. It's become one of those "old reliable" things you have and hope you will always have.
I had not been in my stand 1 or 2 minutes when two shots rang out, seemingly very close. I knew the closest stand was about 100yds, and thought the guy in there was wanting a doe. A few seconds later, a coyote tore though my line of sight like his tail was on fire. I thought maybe the other guy took a shot at him. Seconds later a buck was heard tearing through the brush and comming into my vision in my direction. I saw multiple points, maybe not a trophy, but decided to shoot if a good shot was possible. He was also running as if on fire not looking like he would stop till Christmas. As I had my gun ready, he rounded a corner behind me and after passing a couple of large trees, stopped. Having the gun raised and pointed in his general direction, I had only to look though the scope to find the crosshairs right dead center of his chest as he faced me. That was his last mistake.
The other hunter came by in a few minutes asking "see a big buck come by? I think I hit him good". I replied that I had, and that he was laying near by. Inspection of the deer revealed a graze mark from a bullet on the top of the back just enough to break the skin, and an equaly leathal hit on the back leg going between the muscle and the tendon just right for a meat hook.
Surprisingly it did not bleed, not hitting the muscle or the tendon. The other hunter was pretty dissapointed, thinking he had a good hit and going on about not being able to fill his buck tag. I gave him the deer as party hunting is legal here, and he was more than happy to take it. It was no trophy, a small eight pointer, and I don't need more meat. All in all, it was a fun day with a little adventure and the joy of being in God's creation.
