Deer Hunting With Milsurps 2014 Edition

[harry mac]

Well, for some reason I can't seem to upload pics on to the thread, so I'll just have to post links instead. I shot these two muntjac does last week with my BSA Mod E in .303.
It's a factory sporterised P14, so qualifies for milsurp in my book.
I got the adult doe first and then the (weaned) kid came out to see what the bang was.
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/j...psff742d5d.jpg
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/j...ps458fd35f.jpg
This is another one that fell to the .303 earlier in the year. He measured as CIC Bronze
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/j...psb00ebdf0.jpg
And this is the bullet that did for him.
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/j...pse78762fc.jpg

[browningautorifle]

Thought my garage would smell like smoke and terryiaki forever!

That wouldn't be so bad Harlan, except whenever you go out there you'd get hungry.

[vintage hunter]

I killed my first deer 35 years ago today, January 1, 1980, with buckshot while on a dog drive with my dad. Today I killed my first one with a shotgun slug while on a man drive. Both were does. Today was also the first time in 35 years I wasn't sorry to see the season close. Except for a couple short spurts I just didn't get into it this year. Lots of firsts for a last day.
I was perched on the toolbox of my truck about midway down and on the opposite side of a field bordering a Carolina Bay when I saw 4 deer heading straight to me jogging along in single file. Uh huh, this is about to get interesting. Just before they came out in the open the lead doe spotted me as I shifted position for a better angle and they all came to a halt behind a big privet hedge just inside the wood line about 90-100 yards away. They weren't gonna get any closer and being pretty sure I had a slug up the spout( this gun also serves as my primary home defense weapon and usually stays loaded with 1 slug backed up by 7 buckshot) I drew a bead on the lead does neck and let fly. All I saw next was deer turning about face and running back where they'd came from so I let go a quick double tap with buckshot toward their retreating posteriors. No dice. I didn't see any go down so I just sat where I was thinking I'd missed. Finally I couldn't stand it no longer and went over to have a look just to make sure. I almost didn't bother but I'm glad I did because I hit the big doe right in the neck with the slug. That worked out just fine, I needed one more to turn into sausage.
BTW, I don't own any milsurp scatter guns so had to improvise. Would like a Model 12 trenchie but can't quite justify forking over that kind of $$ for a shotgun.

[Aragorn243]

I haven't really been into hunting for a couple of years now. Not really sure why. I'm going for my daughter but I half feel she's going for me sometimes. If not for her I'd probably hunt more which may sound odd but she can't hunt the first couple of days and I would but I don't want to have her miss out. I keep saying we'll go out for squirrels too but the season comes and goes so fast it's gone before we start thinking about it. I keep think if making it more interesting by doing different things and carrying a Thompson Contender and no rifle for back up was a first this year. Keep thinking about taking a milsurp but the lack of scope holds me back on that. I could put the scope back on my Enfield I guess. I did kill two deer with that years ago.

[harry mac]

I let go a quick double tap with buckshot toward their retreating posteriors. dice. .

Flinging buck shot at deer from 90+ yards? Way to show respect to your quarry

[vintage hunter]

I haven't really been into hunting for a couple of years now. Not really sure why.

Me either. This year it was almost the same as going to work. It wasn't no fun and I didn't want to go but I did anyway. I was just in it for the meat.

making it more interesting by doing different things

Have'nt hunted with them in years but next season I'm thinking of digging out the muzzle loaders and the tree climber again.

I got the adult doe first and then the (weaned) kid came out to see what the bang was

Way to show respect to your quarry

What do you mean? Really I misjudged the distance, didn't realise it was that far until I got to where the doe was laying and looked back. But I will say this, hunting shotguns and the short barrel open choke riot types and worlds apart when it comes to the effective ranges. The gun I was using yesterday has a custom modified barrel and choke tube specifically designed to shoot 16 or 20 pellet #1 and 12 pellet single O buckshot loads and has an effective range of 75+ yards.

[jmoore]

I actually had a good time this year, but after seeing no deer at all last year, things had to be better. But this was a particularly educational season. Open terrain, new rifles, old rifles in the new territory, an unsupported 200+ yd sitting shot and a 160+ yd standing shot on deer.


Not to mention small game hunting. That's still happening.

[maxim]

Last year took a 6 point with a 1903A4 clone. We are in antler restriction for at least 3 points on one side. It takes some doing at early dawn and late evening to find them. This year took a doe with and AR just once to say I did it. 60 yards, split the heart but no exit wound. She took off running and was dispatched with a head shot at 40 yards. My experience is, yes you can take deer with an AR, but the hydrostatic shock to surrounding area causes excessive damage for my liking.

[jmoore]

This year took a doe with and AR just once to say I did it. 60 yards, split the heart but no exit wound. She took off running and was dispatched with a head shot at 40 yards. My experience is, yes you can take deer with an AR, but the hydrostatic shock to surrounding area causes excessive damage for my liking.

The meat damage can be extensive! But usually I try to get just behind the shoulder, so most of the damage is just to the ribs. And the lungs, which generally aren't there anymore, the bullet having disintegrated 'em!. Lost probably 2/3 of the ham on my last one. Not my best hit...but still effective it was.


Lower femur was hit with 55gr .223 bullet. Range 160+ yds. Lots of meat damage, with bonemeal throughout, but little excess blood, probably due to an artery being cut forward of the diaphragm.

[jmoore]

Random M39 photo. Having a hard time getting savvy with new small computer. Hard to sort pictures!:



Didn't take any deer with it, but did scope several. I seemed to own all 900 yards to the far treeline!