Thread: So many firsts...

Yesterday, on the first of the first, I thought I would try and shoot my first deer with my .45/70.

It's shot a number of other animals and placed the final killing shot in a fallow deer but hasn't shot a deer by its self.

It's a mans gun in a boys hand so what could go wrong...

Its was a hot day and as I trudged up the steep incline my mind travelled back to all those previous summer trips to the tops of the Ruahines or the Seaward Kaikouras; it reminded me that I must book a trip down south for late February to chase the Kaikoura pigs, deer, goats and chamois one again. The sun was relentless but I made my chosen high point after only stopping once and sharing the small amount of water I had with Eva the Hungarian. We made it to the top and took some pictures to prove we made it.



I'd left home early as this was just a scouting trip, not a 'real' hunt, so I turned and begun the, much easier, decent to my ute. I stopped and glassed on the way back down, convinced I was going to see a pig; after spotting some fresh pig sign on the way up. Each stop revealed a different angle and although it was proably a bit early I knew I'd see something sooner or later. I was about 150 yards off a 4x4 track when I paused for the last time to glass a clearing that has produce a deer or two over the last few years; I was not disappointed when I saw what I though was a yearling hind - perfect for the .45/70 (or so I thought!).



A hind turned up moments later and confirmed that I was indeed planning to shoot a yearling.



I ranged the yearling at 180 yards; probably the extent of the .45/70's ability I though as I looked up the drop chart on my iPhone. The chart indicated that the built would drop 14 inches over that distance if dead on at 100 yards. I set up the video camera to record my awesome feat and cleared a rest off a Manuka bush. I placed the third dot on my 2-7x33 VX1 on the yearlings shoulder and pulled the trigger. When the smoke and recoil cleared I saw the yearling and hind take off un harmed...

I replayed what had just happened in my mind and took a look at the video; the bullet had landed just under the deer - not enough elevation! Oh well long range shooting with a .45/70 is probably not as reliable as any of the other four calibers I have sitting in the safe.

https://youtu.be/3uB5PljcIwg

So on the first of the first, I saw my first deer of the year and missed the first deer of the year!


I'm convinced the next outing will be more positive, especially if I stick to under 100 yards with the big hitter...

:-)

damm . . . . cheers for puttting it up @craigc

Originally Posted by rossi.45

damm . . . . cheers for puttting it up @craigc

I’ll post some photos of the rifle, the Marlin Guide Gun, later.

Nice mate, they're definitely at their best sub 150yds. Were you using factory or reloads? Factory loads are fairly ho hum past 50yds. But a 300gr reload over 2000fps is a night and day difference in performance.

Originally Posted by mawzer308

Nice mate, were you using factory or reloads? Factory loads are fairly ho hum past 50yds.

Hornady red tip 325g factory.

Ho hum shooting...

Originally Posted by craigc

Hornady red tip 325g factory.

Ho hum shooting...

Yeah they are definitely the best factory load available in NZ. Guilty of that from time to time

Originally Posted by craigc

Hornady red tip 325g factory.

Ho hum shooting...

Yeah they are definitely the best factory load available in NZ. Guilty of that from time to time

i see Hornady quote 2010fps/3032lbs of energy at the muzzle & still 1600lbs of enegy at 200yds from a 24 inch barrel . . . what velocity are you getting out of the GuideGuns shorter barrel & what range is your zero

the most important, did you do the range time to check actual bullet drop at longer ranges, if ya did then its just having a bad day, if you didn't, well thats a whole different story

R.

Awesome.

Awesome vid
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Shit shooting

Good try craigc cant win em all mate nice story and vid

Oh Darn, better luck next time, at least when you hit them with that big slug they should go down quick.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Awesome vid
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Shit shooting

Yeah. Good to get a miss out of the system early in the year!

Bugger!

Nice piece. Thanks.
When I looked at the vid it looked like the bullet went just over?