Author Topic: 45-70 gets bloody opening day! (Read 956 times)

MtJerry · « **on:** October 25, 2004, 05:51:00 AM »

Today was the gun opener for deer and elk in Montana. Took my wife this morning and we rode the 4-wheelers into some great country along the Missouri River (east of Great Falls). Saw quite a few deer, but none that would stand still for her to take a shot .

Went back out this afternoon with some friends and got a small spike buck with my new 45-70. (I'll try to post a picture)

I have to admit I was kinda disapounted with myself. I learned a lesson today. Never take a NEW gun hunting until you are SURE of where it will go when you pull the trigger. My other hunting rifles are very accurate and I know without a doubt where the bullet will stike at a given distance.

The deer I shot this afternoon was only about 80 yards away and I had to shoot 3 times just to get a hit, and then when I walked into the wast-deep buckbrush to retrieve him, he STOOD UP! I had left my rifle on the 4-wheeler so I drew my .45 ACP ... missed the first attempt at a neck shot from about 15 yards, but my second found it's mark.

I really wanted to keep this gun very simple and not scope it. I am re-thinking that.

I have only shot about 18 rounds prior to today's hunt. I thought that was enough to get familiar with it. It wasn't and that is the reason I was disappointed. I will be spending some considerable time at the range with the gun before it goes back into the woods.

Anyway - a bad day hunting is still better than a good day at work .

Hope your hunts are going well also!!!

jerry

mag41vance · « **Reply #1 on:** October 25, 2004, 06:22:41 AM »

Well Jerry,
I don't own a .45-70, but I would say that the operator is to blame, as is the case with most misses or bad hits. These NEF rifles are very capable once you test them and prove your set-up.
Shoot that thing about 40-50 times and you'll not only do better, but you'll be more confident. Don't give up on the NEF.
My .30-30 NEF is 100% on Whitetails. 11 straight, the farthest shot being 145 yds.

Good and better luck on your next. Good pistol shooting

.

Ed Hill · « **Reply #2 on:** October 25, 2004, 04:39:06 PM »

Jerry, take the load you'll use to hunt back to the range, along with a pen and notepad. If you have it zeroed at 100 yds, shoot targets at 25, 50, 75, and 125yds and record the height (+ or-) of the hits. You'll get a good idea of what they mean by rainbow trajectory as well as a good idea of how to compensate if your game isn't the same distance as your range target.

E.D.

gwhilikerz · « **Reply #3 on:** October 25, 2004, 04:58:28 PM »

3 shots at 80yds to get one hit. Sounds like Buck fever. Any rifle sighted in at say 100 yds is not going to have enough rainbow affect to miss a deer at 80 yds. My opinion only.

Mac11700 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 25, 2004, 08:03:00 PM »

I don't know if I would say it was buck fever...but tend more to believe he just plain wasn't used to the set up...after-all he had shot it...just 18 times...and was using open sites in brush....that can be very disconcerting to say the least...Jerry...wanting to keep it simple and not scope it

try a very simple scope...say a nice 2x with lots of eye relief...or even a peep site for it...if nothing else...you'll shoot it better and quicker having a good set of optics on it...or a larger apreature for the peep site...it will draw your eye to where they are supposed to be looking thru them instead of having to focus on the site then switch to the animal,and focus there...

Congrats on blodding it anyhow...it may not have been the ideal way of doing it...but it still counts :wink:

Mac

gwhilikerz · « **Reply #5 on:** October 26, 2004, 04:12:02 AM »

Mac11700 I agree that a scope will make anyone a better shot. But I have never been able to prove that a scope will give a "quicker" shot. I have heard this all my life. I use scopes, peeps, and open sights. I have tried to prove this to my satisfaction many times. No matter how I look at it the open sight is much quicker (for me) at ranges under 100 yds. The old paper plate is hit must faster with the open sight. I kind of think the "scope is faster" belief came from scope manufacturers. They said it so long that we all started to think of it as fact. my opinion.

handirifle · « **Reply #6 on:** October 26, 2004, 04:16:04 AM »

Quicker doesn't matter, if you have to shoot 3 times to hit it! I'd be willing to bet the difference of time on target with peep vs. good eye relief scope is way less than one second.

MtJerry · « **Reply #7 on:** October 26, 2004, 04:43:43 AM »

Some interesting comments here. Where do I start -

1. Nope, not buck fever. I have killed plenty of big deer and this was a small spike. Not near enough to get my blood rushing that fast.

2. Not familiar with the set-up. I think that is the biggest problem. I only put 18 rounds thru the gun prior to the hunt. And that was at a paper target. I have not shot at a deer with iron sights since I was 18 and shot one with my Marlin 30-30. I have been hunting with 3-9 variable since then. If you havent done this in a while, I suggest you try and sight in on a deer with iron sights - it's very different.

3. Scope it or peep sight? I am still thinking about that. I have a scope I can use for it. I have also thought about a williams FP peep sight. My original thoughts were to keep this a simple gun. You cannot believe how "handi" this Handi is without a bulky scope on it! It fits in the hand and weights almost nothing.

To sum this up, I will think about the scope possibility. I may just use it to test loads until I come up with one that shoots the most accurate, then go back to iron sights/peep sight and just shoot until I am more comfortable with it.

I REALLY appreciate the comments and the conversation it generated. I look form\ward to more replies.

THANKS!

Jerry

Mac11700 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 26, 2004, 07:54:30 PM »

Quote from: gwhilikerz

Mac11700 I agree that a scope will make anyone a better shot. But I have never been able to prove that a scope will give a "quicker" shot. I have heard this all my life. I use scopes, peeps, and open sights. I have tried to prove this to my satisfaction many times. No matter how I look at it the open sight is much quicker (for me) at ranges under 100 yds. The old paper plate is hit must faster with the open sight. I kind of think the "scope is faster" belief came from scope manufacturers. They said it so long that we all started to think of it as fact. my opinion.

There's always exceptions to the norms...but for most folks who have a rifle that fits them and having a low powered scope that they look thru with both eyes open ... they can aquire a target faster with the scope over open sites...namely because they can see it better(more magnification) and their eyes are aligned better,and they can put the cross hair-post-dot.on the target where it needs to be....and with practice hit it where their shooting easier and quicker...and it's not because of any scope manufacture saying so...if you can see the target more clearly...you'll get on it quicker,if you can see it better...you'll be more accurate...any of the optics work that way...scout scope...red dot...holo site...or a good peep site with a larger than target appreature...now...as with anything....personnal preference has a large bearing on this for sure...but it still a fact...check with an optomologist...

Jerry...The main thing...no-matter what you deceide....is to practice shooting it....and then practice somemore...then hopefully you do better with it...they are great little guns....

Mac

Mac

lik2hunt · « **Reply #9 on:** October 27, 2004, 03:27:00 AM »

Hey whether it's five shots or one....they all taste the same. Nice going there Jerry.

You'll be better prepared next time I'm sure.

Mohawk · « **Reply #10 on:** October 27, 2004, 02:43:06 PM »

Wow, Mt. Jerry, you done got tactical on that deer! Congrats on the deer, although it did not go according to plan.