- Joined
- Aug 29, 2016
- Messages
- 16,096
On this end of state...big "trophy" bucks are few and far between. As a result... I try to challenge myself in different ways.
This year's challenge....old school. I've mentioned a project I've been working on...
I bought this '65 Winchester model 70 225 Winchester from @Kahrman a month or so ago. Got the "59-'64 Leupold W7 4x from someone on Armslist. The vintage Redfield rings came with it. I did have to buy some Leupold bases for it...as the vintage Redfields were to complicated to work out before season.
@Tnshooter15 hooked me up with some ammo/brass for the 225, as it's been discontinued since '71...and it's very hard to come by.
I fired a round to get a water weight on the brass...and to say their was issues would be an understatement. Ended up pulling all of them down and starting over.
@jlanecr500 was gracious enough to help me out as I had sold all my reloading equipment last year.
Being as the 225 was a varmint round...with a 14 twist...I did have to use a modern bullet to make ethical for deer. I chose the 55g Norma Oryx. We went with a middle node load at about 3250 or 3350 fps...don't remember what it was.
Got it sighted in and was just waiting for an opportunity to hunt.
Hunted yesterday but because of weather I carried my 308.
I figured with it turning cold over night that this morning would have them moving.
Got up at 3 to hit the head...but couldn't make myself stay up to go hunt. I was whooped and very sore from yesterday. Back to bed I went.
Woke again at 730. Got up and had couple cups of coffee with the wife...then we had breakfast together.
Around 930 or so I decided to go for a walk. We have one camera that you have to pull cards...and it hasn't been checked since put up.
Grab the 225, orange, etc...and out I go. Oh yeah...and this year I chose to hunt in vintage mil surplus...no fancy modern camo.
Got up on the hill and I looked all over it...nothing.
As I worked my way towards the camera I bet I checked the field both ways 100 times... nothing.
This field is 700+ yards long and couple hundred wide in the section I was in.
Just as I was getting to the edge of woods where camera was...I looked back down the field. What the heck? I just walked across the middle of the field...and there is a deer standing down there now. He was facing directly at me.
I squatted down and setup my bipod sticks. We just watched each other...then he took a couple steps towards me...then turned sideways. Let's just say...a 65 yr old 4x scope at 150+ yards doesn't offer the best... whatever you call it.
At the shot...he dropped. Maybe moved 5' from original location while he flopped around. Was motionless within 5-10 seconds.
I waited a few minutes and started that way. Just as I was getting to him... another one just behind some brush took off across the field.
While taking this pic...a doe walked right up to me in the woods. As I reached for my rifle...she bolted.
Walk home to get the BX and a trailer. Enroute...3 more does presented themselves but wasn't a safe direction to shoot, so...
When I got back to my buck...there was a huge buck standing near him...bigger than any we had seen on camera. I proceeded on. Got to my deer and backed up to him with trailer...and just sat there watching that monster work the scrapes down the tree line. He didn't care that I was there.
Loaded my deer while watching him...now about 200 yards away.
Went to far end of field to gut deer. While there.. another little buck came down the fence line...then stopped and watched me for a few.
They were sure moving mid morning...for sure.
FWIW...my shot was just a little farther back than I would have liked. Gutting him there was no gut damage...but it was way too close.
Bullet did pass through though. No heart or lung damage. I assume it was hydrostatic shock that dropped him so fast. He was plum full of blood.
I'll need to practice at that distance for future hunts... and I do have modern glass for it.
Sorry for the long post. To be completely honest...I deleted my account the other day. But I had promised those that helped make this possible that I would post about it when/if it happened...so here I am. Guess I'll have to start the process over again.
God bless and happy Thanksgiving.
This year's challenge....old school. I've mentioned a project I've been working on...
I bought this '65 Winchester model 70 225 Winchester from @Kahrman a month or so ago. Got the "59-'64 Leupold W7 4x from someone on Armslist. The vintage Redfield rings came with it. I did have to buy some Leupold bases for it...as the vintage Redfields were to complicated to work out before season.
@Tnshooter15 hooked me up with some ammo/brass for the 225, as it's been discontinued since '71...and it's very hard to come by.
I fired a round to get a water weight on the brass...and to say their was issues would be an understatement. Ended up pulling all of them down and starting over.
@jlanecr500 was gracious enough to help me out as I had sold all my reloading equipment last year.
Being as the 225 was a varmint round...with a 14 twist...I did have to use a modern bullet to make ethical for deer. I chose the 55g Norma Oryx. We went with a middle node load at about 3250 or 3350 fps...don't remember what it was.
Got it sighted in and was just waiting for an opportunity to hunt.
Hunted yesterday but because of weather I carried my 308.
I figured with it turning cold over night that this morning would have them moving.
Got up at 3 to hit the head...but couldn't make myself stay up to go hunt. I was whooped and very sore from yesterday. Back to bed I went.
Woke again at 730. Got up and had couple cups of coffee with the wife...then we had breakfast together.
Around 930 or so I decided to go for a walk. We have one camera that you have to pull cards...and it hasn't been checked since put up.
Grab the 225, orange, etc...and out I go. Oh yeah...and this year I chose to hunt in vintage mil surplus...no fancy modern camo.
Got up on the hill and I looked all over it...nothing.
As I worked my way towards the camera I bet I checked the field both ways 100 times... nothing.
This field is 700+ yards long and couple hundred wide in the section I was in.
Just as I was getting to the edge of woods where camera was...I looked back down the field. What the heck? I just walked across the middle of the field...and there is a deer standing down there now. He was facing directly at me.
I squatted down and setup my bipod sticks. We just watched each other...then he took a couple steps towards me...then turned sideways. Let's just say...a 65 yr old 4x scope at 150+ yards doesn't offer the best... whatever you call it.
At the shot...he dropped. Maybe moved 5' from original location while he flopped around. Was motionless within 5-10 seconds.
I waited a few minutes and started that way. Just as I was getting to him... another one just behind some brush took off across the field.
While taking this pic...a doe walked right up to me in the woods. As I reached for my rifle...she bolted.
Walk home to get the BX and a trailer. Enroute...3 more does presented themselves but wasn't a safe direction to shoot, so...
When I got back to my buck...there was a huge buck standing near him...bigger than any we had seen on camera. I proceeded on. Got to my deer and backed up to him with trailer...and just sat there watching that monster work the scrapes down the tree line. He didn't care that I was there.
Loaded my deer while watching him...now about 200 yards away.
Went to far end of field to gut deer. While there.. another little buck came down the fence line...then stopped and watched me for a few.
They were sure moving mid morning...for sure.
FWIW...my shot was just a little farther back than I would have liked. Gutting him there was no gut damage...but it was way too close.
Bullet did pass through though. No heart or lung damage. I assume it was hydrostatic shock that dropped him so fast. He was plum full of blood.
I'll need to practice at that distance for future hunts... and I do have modern glass for it.
Sorry for the long post. To be completely honest...I deleted my account the other day. But I had promised those that helped make this possible that I would post about it when/if it happened...so here I am. Guess I'll have to start the process over again.
God bless and happy Thanksgiving.
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