The .45 Colt and the bison cow
#185149
10/18/2017 1:46 AM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,105
Russell
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OP
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Sometimes folks hafta be shown to believe. Such was the case with my recent trip down to Gracemont, Okla as a guest of NO Mercy Hunting Services, LLC for a 'meat' bison. First, let me state that the folks at No Mercy are good folks, but like a lot of non handgunners they had their doubts about the ability of a .45 Colt shooting a home cast 305gr, powder coated, WFN style bullet to cleanly kill a mature bison cow, but they were willing to let me try. A 2-day hunt was booked, releases were signed, monies paid and a gentleman's agreement reached whereby a cripple was the same as a kill and full price would be paid. I arrived on the evening of the 16th, met everyone, signed the agreement, forked over the cash and made arraignments to met Denny Betty, my guide at the skinning shed/office the next morning at first light. Morning came, crisp, with a southerly wind at 15mph. We met, loaded my stuff in the UTV and headed south into the wind. We snaked through the creek bottom, then climb out on top onto a cedar choked pasture. Driving on to the dam of a pond, Denny spotted a small group of 5 bison to the south, grazing their way towards the pond. Hiding the UTV in an old sunken railroad bed we worked our way south toward the group, checking our progress against theirs. When we came almost abreast of the group, we crawled out of the roadbed, hidden by a small cedar thicket, slightly ahead of the bison. We worked our way north toward where the thicket thinned enough to allow a clean shot and Denny ranged the leader, an old bull, at 40yds. The others were meandering along behind him loosely grouped in pairs. I took a kneeling position, set up my cross-sticks and turned on the Burris Fast Fire III. Denny eyeballed the herd, spied a cow with a blond 'mane' and asked if I like liked her. I did and begin to track her with the red dot. As she drew broadside to us, Denny stated take her when you're ready, then as I begin to squeeze the trigger, Denny said wait, there's another on her off side a pass thru would hit, I slacked up on the trigger but keep the dot on my cow. As she fed, she begin to circle in our direction and the other cow moved on. When my cow reached the 180pt, I held tight up against her shoulder and squeezed one off. At the shot, she shuddered, her rear sagged and she begin to turn away from us toward a cedar thicket some 30yds east of her. Denny begin shouting hit her again don't let her make the thicket. By now she was almost going straight, but I held tight in front of her right hip, angling for the off shoulder, and gave her an insurance shot. At the shot, she collapsed, rear end first, threw her head once and died. After waiting a few minutes for the bull and other cows to check on her, then leave. We went out and admired my cow. In prepping her for the glamor shots it was noted that the first shot had clipped the shoulder on the near side then exited slightly back of the off shoulder, taking out a rib as it left. No exit was found for the second shot. The heart, lungs, and ribcage entrance/exit are shown in the photo gallery. The second bullet was not found in the gut pile. https://scontent-dft4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...8f3&oe=5A768DE7
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: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: Russell]
#185150
10/18/2017 1:54 AM
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 131
BKS
member
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member
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 131 |
Thats awesome, some good eating right there.
NRA Life Endowment Member
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Re: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: BKS]
#185151
10/18/2017 2:03 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,861
Franchise
Distinguished Expert
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Distinguished Expert
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Posts: 4,861 |
Congratulations on the Bison, and I know that you have a freezer full of meat for a long time. We'll done
The Eyes are Useless, When The Mind Is Blind
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Re: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: BKS]
#185154
10/18/2017 2:10 AM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,669
Chance Weldon
Distinguished Expert
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Distinguished Expert
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Great shooting! What did the guides think about your choice of weapon afterward?
Formerly TN Lone Wolf
"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." - J.K. Rowling
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Re: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: Chance Weldon]
#185156
10/18/2017 2:23 AM
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,006
Zee
Shooting Expert
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Shooting Expert
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,006 |
Nice.
I love the .45 Colt.
"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
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Re: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: Russell]
#185158
10/18/2017 2:57 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608
s4s4u
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608 |
Congrats! I expect you made some believers.
Rod, too.
Short cuts often lead to long recoveries.
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Re: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: s4s4u]
#185159
10/18/2017 3:43 AM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,020
tradmark
Shooting Expert
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Shooting Expert
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Great shooting and ya did us handgunners proud. Thats a real nice sized cow. Great write up too. Thanks for sharing!
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Re: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: tradmark]
#185162
10/18/2017 5:09 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 818
sixshot
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 818 |
Russ, ever since you sent me that photo this morning I've had a huge grin on my mug, love it that you knocked off that Bison with you 45 & a good cast slug that you made. I never doubted that you would because I've watched you shoot. A large Bison is no match for an old Oklahoma law man, great job buddy!
Dick
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Re: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: sixshot]
#185164
10/18/2017 7:55 AM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,209
REDHAWK1954
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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Great trophy. Great photo.
Michael Joe Moore
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Re: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: Russell]
#185165
10/18/2017 9:31 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,461
pab1
Distinguished Expert
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Distinguished Expert
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Experience is the best teacher, hunger good sauce. Osborne Russell Journal of a Trapper
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Re: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: pab1]
#185166
10/18/2017 9:45 AM
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 649
dhom
addict
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addict
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Congrats!! Very good sir. Do you mind giving the load info?
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Re: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: dhom]
#185167
10/18/2017 10:51 AM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,596
racksmasher1
veteran
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Re: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: racksmasher1]
#185169
10/18/2017 11:32 AM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963
KRal
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963 |
Congrats! That's a beautiful trophy with lots of great meat.
It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
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Re: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: pab1]
#185170
10/18/2017 11:36 AM
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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,821
45MAN
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RUSSELL: VERY GOOD, BUT WHAT GUN DID YOU USE AND WHAT WAS YOUR LOAD AND/OR PROBABLE fps? CURIOUS MINDS WANT TO KNOW.
P.S. NEVER MIND, SAW THE GUN/LOAD INFO IN THE BRAGGING BOARD.
Last edited by 45MAN; 10/18/2017 11:44 AM.
"ADAPT OR DIE". I USE ALL CAPS, NOT BECAUSE I AM YELLING, BUT BECAUSE IT IS AN OLD HABIT FROM MY ARMY DAYS, PLUS IT IS EASIER TO TYPE AND READ.
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Re: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: 45MAN]
#185177
10/18/2017 5:05 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,715
jamesfromjersey
Shootist
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Shootist
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Posts: 9,715 |
DAMM good shootin Russell You put a smile on DT`s face as well as mine... Your gun, load and shooting made short work of your bison with a FAST kill....my sincere congratulations...Please say hi to that super wife of yours...
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: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: jamesfromjersey]
#185294
10/21/2017 12:28 AM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,105
Russell
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Drove down and picked up 706lbs of bison roasts, steaks, and burger today. After loading everything, the butcher said 'by the way' and handed me the 2nd (insurance)shot bullet and said he recovered it in the 'brisket' area during the butchering. Here it is between two unfired bullets. The powder coating was mostly gone, the nose slightly deformed, and the gas check was missing. http://www.handgunhunt.com/photopost/data/500/bison_hunt_003.JPGThe two unfired ones are slightly different than the fired one as they are what I call a Rounded WFN and the fired one is a LFN. They shoot to the same point of aim and I interchange them depending on which I grab out of the box.
Last edited by Russell; 10/21/2017 1:11 AM.
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: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: Russell]
#185299
10/21/2017 1:59 AM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,020
tradmark
Shooting Expert
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Shooting Expert
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Cool. I love recovered bullets
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Re: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: tradmark]
#185300
10/21/2017 2:08 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,715
jamesfromjersey
Shootist
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Shootist
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bullet looks great especially after what it went through.....
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: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: jamesfromjersey]
#185302
10/21/2017 3:56 AM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,669
Chance Weldon
Distinguished Expert
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bullet looks great especially after what it went through..... X2 Neat that it was recovered.
Formerly TN Lone Wolf
"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." - J.K. Rowling
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Re: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: Chance Weldon]
#185308
10/21/2017 5:17 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 818
sixshot
old hand
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old hand
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Beautiful bullet Russ, you did great!
Dick
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Re: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: sixshot]
#185311
10/21/2017 9:29 AM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,276
cfish2
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Congrats. Fine eating right there and great memories. Nothing like it to put a spring in your step.
Life Member NAHC HHI Member #7149 NRA Member
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Re: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: cfish2]
#185343
10/21/2017 9:57 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,155
Gregg Richter
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Great job Sheriff Cottle!
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Re: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: Gregg Richter]
#185374
10/22/2017 4:52 PM
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 36
jaydub in wi
newbie
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newbie
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Nicely done. I shoot a similar load in my 45 colt. Just haven't had game cooperate when I have that gun afield.
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Re: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: jaydub in wi]
#185389
10/22/2017 9:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,715
jamesfromjersey
Shootist
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Sheriff, That is a GREAT photo.....
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: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: jamesfromjersey]
#185401
10/22/2017 11:18 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 97
Dekker
journeyman
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journeyman
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Congrats! Enjoyed the write up.
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Re: The .45 Colt and the bison cow
[Re: sixshot]
#185443
10/23/2017 6:20 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 430
Craig44
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That's awesome, will be some fine eating!
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