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Grant Super Member
Joined: Aug 28, 2006 Posts: 325 Location: Grande Prairie, Alberta
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 6:12 pm Post subject: First critter with the new 45/70 |
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So after a fair bit of experimenting and practice with my new H&R 45/70 Ultra Hunter, my better half and I headed out for opening day of Alberta's Elk rifle season. I had a bull tag in my pocket and she had a limited entry cow tag.
We camped on her uncles grazing lease down by the Little Smoky River the day before it opened. We laid in bed all night listening to four, yep, four bulls talking trash. Ever tried to sleep knowing four bulls are within 500 yards of your camp the night before opening day not knowing if they'd still be there when first light came around? Well, I'm here to tell ya, you don't sleep...
The first hint of light started to silver the eastern sky behind our camp after what felt like an eternity. I could still hear three bulls talking close and the other had moved off up the creek valley several hundred yards by the sound of it. I got out of the camper and made my way to a round bail in the alfalfa field where I could see Elk moving on the tree line, heading into the trees heading back up the ridge. I started to cow call and let out one immature bull bugle. Two bulls came back into the field in a heart beat with 3-4 cows. Now, Sammy saw these elk come back out from the camper and decided to stay put as there was now several sets of eyes looking our way. Too bad cause I'm sure she would have filled her cow tag too. Anyway, after sizing up the two bulls I decided that the second bull was bigger, 5 point and waited for my shot. (He ended up having a deformed right side of his rack, the side away from me, but who cares it is great table fare.) I ranged him at 208 yards, got set and waited for the tell tale broadside shot. Boom and he dropped like a stone. Sammy couldn't believe how fast he dropped being hit with that 45/70. It kind of caught me by surprise too actually. He lifted his head once and I hit him again just under the ear and it was all over.
That 45/70 performed amazingly and was deadly accurate. I have it sighted in 3 inches high at 100 yards and it lands about 3 inches low at 200. I will be using this gun a lot from now on.
BTW: My better half filled her cow tag the next night (No picture, sorry) hunting with her Uncle in the same field......
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_________________ If God wanted us to be vegetarians, he would have made broccoli more fun to shoot!.. |
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BigBlue Super Member
Joined: Jan 16, 2006 Posts: 1108 Location: Lehigh Township, Pennsylvania
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 6:34 pm Post subject: Re: First critter with the new 45/70 |
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Congrats!! There's no better eating than elk backstraps. The 45/70 is one of my favorites and by far the best offering in H&Rs lineup. I have a short 18" barreled version. Several years ago I was lucky enough to get a shot at a bison and just like your elk it dropped at the shot. I used handloaded 405 gr. Remington bullets over RL-7 powder juiced up to 1600fps.
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Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15715 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 7:26 pm Post subject: Re: First critter with the new 45/70 |
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_________________ Cheers, Vince
Illegitimi non carborundum
(Never let the bastards grind you down)
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
"Nulla Si Fa Senza Volonta."
(Without Commitment, Nothing Gets Done) |
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slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8314 Location: Fort Worth TX
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 8:30 pm Post subject: Re: First critter with the new 45/70 |
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Congrats, Grant! Thanks for posting the picture.
_________________ "To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Theodore Roosevelt
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein |
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gelandangan Super Member
Joined: May 07, 2006 Posts: 6397 Location: Sydney Australia
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 10:23 pm Post subject: Re: First critter with the new 45/70 |
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Awesome!!!
Yeah love the H&R 45/70.
_________________ A straight line is the shortest distance between two points.
A smile is the shortest distance between two people.
Do - Not try!
gelandangan.weebly.com/ |
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Elvis Super Member
Joined: Jul 27, 2008 Posts: 9253 Location: south island New Zealand
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 10:49 pm Post subject: Re: First critter with the new 45/70 |
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good stuff...nothing like pure horsepower.
_________________ You shot it You pluck it !
Them who eats the most duck eats the most feathers! |
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Pumpkinslinger Super Member
Joined: Sep 22, 2007 Posts: 5001 Location: NC foothills
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Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2014 12:21 am Post subject: Re: First critter with the new 45/70 |
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Well done! The .45-70 is a favorite of mine too.
_________________ Mike
"I ain't no better than anybody else, and there ain't nobody better than me!" Ma Kettle |
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shrpshtrjoe Super Red Neck Member
Joined: Jan 26, 2005 Posts: 2965 Location: Maryland
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Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2014 6:08 am Post subject: Re: First critter with the new 45/70 |
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Nice!!! Some goooood Eatin there...
_________________ "MOLON LABE"
P E T A
People Eating Tasty Animals |
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Ominivision1 Super Member
Joined: Sep 20, 2010 Posts: 2984 Location: Iowa
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Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2014 7:23 am Post subject: Re: First critter with the new 45/70 |
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Congrats.
_________________ Regards
Limitations are but boundaries created inside our minds. |
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chambered221 Super Member
Joined: Aug 17, 2007 Posts: 3455 Location: Lost for good !!!
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Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2014 9:34 am Post subject: Re: First critter with the new 45/70 |
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Enjoyed your story Grant, reminded me of some of my earlier days at deer camp !!!
Congrats and thanks for sharing.
_________________ Ask as many people needed, sooner or later your question will be answered the way you want it answered !!!
A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government.
~George Washington |
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Grant Super Member
Joined: Aug 28, 2006 Posts: 325 Location: Grande Prairie, Alberta
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 9:44 pm Post subject: Re: First critter with the new 45/70 |
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Thanx all!
I love classic calibers and when they update one like the 45/70, it's even better. With 51grs. of IMR4198 driving the Hornady 325 grain FTX bullet, I get an average velocity of 2249 fps. It sure does hit like a freight train.
Vince, you know you'd always be welcome to attend a BBQ over here, especially if you come with a stocked cooler... (We also dropped two Moose on the last weekend of the season in November, we'll have a good variety of meat for the BBQ... )
_________________ If God wanted us to be vegetarians, he would have made broccoli more fun to shoot!.. |
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DallanC Site Admin
Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 11:32 pm Post subject: Re: First critter with the new 45/70 |
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Thats cool stuff. I'm surprised to hear they were chatty up there. Late Nov I've heard them but not much beyond that. Great job!
-DallanC
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Grant Super Member
Joined: Aug 28, 2006 Posts: 325 Location: Grande Prairie, Alberta
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DallanC Site Admin
Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah
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Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 9:37 am Post subject: Re: First critter with the new 45/70 |
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Well now, that explains it
-DallanC
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Grant Super Member
Joined: Aug 28, 2006 Posts: 325 Location: Grande Prairie, Alberta
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