roysclockgun
Handloader
- Dec 17, 2005
- 736
- 1
I will celebrate my 73rd on Monday July 13, 2015. Looking back on over 55 years of deer hunting, I wonder about my *real* reasons for not just sticking with my first deer rifle. In 1964 when I came out of the Army, I did not have much cash to spend on a deer rifle. Pawn shops had US Model 1903 rifles, lined up and looking new for $30. That seemed pricey, so I bought a US Model 1917 for $15. I shortened the barrel, sheared off the rear sights and had a 4X $19 "Monkey Wards" scope installed. I honed my skills slaying groundhogs that first summer home and by deer season, I was confident that I could cleanly kill deer out to 250 yards, which was about the limit of any shots that I would get in my area. Most shots were under 100 yards, but on occasion, I caught a buck crossing a cut over corn field further out than 100 yards. The old 30-06 performed well. I picked my shots and didn't bring under fire any deer that I did not believe I could anchor with one shot. I had worked up a load for 150gr bullets that worked for me.
During the next three years, I took four bucks and countless groundhogs with that rifle. Then, I became more flush with disposable income and I coveted another rifle. I sold the M1917 for $100. After that, I never hunted with the same rifle for more than 3 years, before getting the itch to use something else. Another caliber. A magnum cartridge. A lighter package. For whatever reason I have been through countless rifles, both old and new and never did find one that I could not pass along, just to partly finance buying something different.
I did keep a Browning B78 in 7mmRemMag for quite a while, even after I replaced it with a Browning Stainless Stalker in 280Rem.
Of course, over the years, I got into hand loading. The 280 makes me happy. I have killed muley, pronghorn, wild pigs and white tail with that rifle. I love the way 7mm bullets fly.
That said, I have only taken two deer that the old M1917 in 30-06 may have had a problem hitting. Both were muley at over 400 yards. The cheap 4X scope on the M1917 may not have been enough to drop those deer at that range.
The only conclusion that I can make, is that most of us buy what we want and not what we need.
What was your first deer rifle and why did you get anything else?
Steve Ashe
During the next three years, I took four bucks and countless groundhogs with that rifle. Then, I became more flush with disposable income and I coveted another rifle. I sold the M1917 for $100. After that, I never hunted with the same rifle for more than 3 years, before getting the itch to use something else. Another caliber. A magnum cartridge. A lighter package. For whatever reason I have been through countless rifles, both old and new and never did find one that I could not pass along, just to partly finance buying something different.
I did keep a Browning B78 in 7mmRemMag for quite a while, even after I replaced it with a Browning Stainless Stalker in 280Rem.
Of course, over the years, I got into hand loading. The 280 makes me happy. I have killed muley, pronghorn, wild pigs and white tail with that rifle. I love the way 7mm bullets fly.
That said, I have only taken two deer that the old M1917 in 30-06 may have had a problem hitting. Both were muley at over 400 yards. The cheap 4X scope on the M1917 may not have been enough to drop those deer at that range.
The only conclusion that I can make, is that most of us buy what we want and not what we need.
What was your first deer rifle and why did you get anything else?
Steve Ashe
