Always learning
#137700
11/15/2013 12:28 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,715
jamesfromjersey
OP
Shootist
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OP
Shootist
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,715 |
What happened on my first mule deer handgun hunt has to be shared with you guys. First, I was very lucky to get this buck in New Mexico with a handgun. Second, it took two shots... As the guide and I were sitting at sunset in a box blind, all types of mule deer came out to graze. My buck walked out and I put the crosshair on him and followed. I could not keep a tight grip on my FA`s 41 mag as I would get a shake so I loosened the grip and continued to track him. He finally stopped at a ranged 100yds. and I put the sight on his shoulder and squeezed. The 210gr Swift A-frame bullet fired from a heavy AA#9 powder charge and clocked at 1641fps, missed and hit high and left of my point of aim. The buck ran to my right and the guide gave his best doe call that stopped him at 90 yards. I re-cocked my single action and threw the crosshair on his shoulder, squeezed the trigger, and was rewarded with the sound of a hit and seeing the back legs kick out. He ran 30 yards and dropped. Thinking back to my missed shot I remember a perfect sight picture but have to say that my grip was not as tight as it should have been. So after 30 years of handgun hunting I learned last week to make sure my grip is tight when pulling the trigger on game. As to the terminal effect of my second shot, I can say the 210gr A-frame took out the top of the heart and destroyed both lungs and exited. Not bad performance from a 41 mag on a 230lb mule deer at 90 yards...... PS- The gun was rested on a leather sandbag that I have used for years which eliminates the idea of the gun kicking off of a hard surface.
Life member-NRA-SCI Member-HHI #2900-HHASA #067 Colt-Ruger-Freedom Arms-and S&W Collector Assoc.s "I have more guns then I need but not as many as I want" "Handgun hunters HAVE to be good"
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Re: Always learning
[Re: jamesfromjersey]
#137701
11/15/2013 12:39 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608
s4s4u
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608 |
Thinking back to my missed shot I remember a perfect sight picture but have to say that my grip was not as tight as it should have been. So after 30 years of handgun hunting I learned last week to make sure my grip is tight when pulling the trigger on game. It doesn't take much to make a big difference, especially off bags or a rest as you aren't holding the weight of the gun. Congrat's on a great buck my friend. Story has a happy ending ;-) Great lesson for all.
Rod, too.
Short cuts often lead to long recoveries.
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Re: Always learning
[Re: s4s4u]
#137702
11/15/2013 12:52 AM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,378
Darrell H
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,378 |
Awesome buck James, congratulations!
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Re: Always learning
[Re: Darrell H]
#137703
11/15/2013 1:25 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,861
Franchise
Distinguished Expert
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Distinguished Expert
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,861 |
I'm glad you had such a good hunt buddy & congrats on handgunning such a nice buck!
The Eyes are Useless, When The Mind Is Blind
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Re: Always learning
[Re: Darrell H]
#137704
11/15/2013 1:28 AM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 830
rlb
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 830 |
Good job and another great story.
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Re: Always learning
[Re: rlb]
#137705
11/15/2013 1:30 AM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 465
WiseGuy
addict
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addict
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 465 |
Nice buck and very cool story James!
Bigger ain't always better....according to who???
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Re: Always learning
[Re: racksmasher1]
#137711
11/15/2013 2:00 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,116
GlennS
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,116 |
Congratulations Buddy!!! That's an awesome trophy!
"Better to Remain Silent and Be Thought a Fool than to Speak and Remove All Doubt"
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Re: Always learning
[Re: GlennS]
#137716
11/15/2013 11:04 AM
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 493
wyote
addict
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addict
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 493 |
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Re: Always learning
[Re: wyote]
#137717
11/15/2013 12:12 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 750
bluecow
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 750 |
Everything before "but" is B.S.
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Re: Always learning
[Re: bluecow]
#137720
11/15/2013 1:13 PM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,502
reflex264
Gun Slinger
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Gun Slinger
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,502 |
Awesome buck!!! Huge congrats!!! What part of New Mexico were you hunting? My very first hunt ever was chasing mulies with my dad on Mcgregor Range. reflex264
"A quiet hit in the right place is better than a loud miss in the wrong place followed by 10 more shots on the run"
I was a handgun hunter, when handgun wasn't cool.....
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Re: Always learning
[Re: bluecow]
#137727
11/15/2013 1:52 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,725
500WE
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,725 |
That's a great Muley, James!
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Re: Always learning
[Re: 500WE]
#137728
11/15/2013 3:20 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,105
Russell
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,105 |
That's a great one, James!
It's not the gun, but the man behind it.
Sheriff Russell Cottle, Ret. USMC; 1967-1970; Vietnam-'68-'69
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Re: Always learning
[Re: Russell]
#137734
11/15/2013 3:36 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,101
Bearbait in NM
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,101 |
I was hoping you'd share the story. I saw your pics on the BB. That is a dandy mulie, and I most certainly would have spaced my grip, as I was trying to steady my knees ;^)
I hope you were not in unit 52 or 53, as if that was the case, you missed my house, suds and a meal........
Craig
Northern born and Southern bred
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Re: Always learning
[Re: Bearbait in NM]
#137745
11/15/2013 7:42 PM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 765
wheelguns
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 765 |
James, first off what an awesome buck, congrats. When it comes to the grip on handguns i concur hole heartily. The heavier the round, the more important the grip becomes.
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Re: Always learning
[Re: wheelguns]
#137750
11/15/2013 9:12 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 204
Anniex
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 204 |
Hey friend What a handsome dude! I mean the mulie...lol As a woman handgun huntress, how we hold the gun is very important. Thanks for sharing a great lesson for us all
Ann HHI # 8353
"Life's tough....It's even tougher if you're stupid" ~John Wayne~
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Re: Always learning
[Re: Anniex]
#137761
11/16/2013 12:17 AM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,276
cfish2
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,276 |
James, when you sent the picture I was in my deer stand. I was hoping your good fortune would rub off on me. No deer for me but a real beaut for you. Congrats buddy. Awesome buck.
Life Member NAHC HHI Member #7149 NRA Member
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Re: Always learning
[Re: cfish2]
#137766
11/16/2013 1:39 AM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,020
tradmark
Shooting Expert
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Shooting Expert
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,020 |
Nice buck james. Good story and i love the honesty. It was a btter ending than my touch off the trigger as i was resettling my gun on the bags and blowing a 30 yard shot on an impala. It happens.
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Re: Always learning
[Re: tradmark]
#137772
11/16/2013 2:16 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 20
BlueDuck
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 20 |
Very nice buck. Well done.
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Re: Always learning
[Re: tradmark]
#137926
11/21/2013 5:43 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,155
Gregg Richter
Distinguished Expert
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Distinguished Expert
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,155 |
Nice buck James. Good Story and I love the Honesty. It was a better ending than my touch off the trigger as I was resettling my gun on the bags and blowing a 30 yard shot on an Impala. It happens. Good buddy, Congrats and WTG. Gregg
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Re: Always learning
[Re: Gregg Richter]
#137930
11/21/2013 8:53 AM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 566
mike.44
addict
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addict
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 566 |
Great job James. You get to play in neat places.....
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Re: Always learning
[Re: mike.44]
#137933
11/21/2013 11:58 AM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,836
Whitworth
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,836 |
Congratulations, James! Nicely done! If you hunt enough, stuff like this happens. Whenever someone starts a statement with "I never" it indicates to me that they don't have much experience. Stuff happens, you corrected, and then when the dust settled, you collected a beautiful mulie -- well done!
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