2017 Hunt

"2017 Hunt"

by Bryan Austin

Mid 1970's Timmonsville SC

Cartersville, SC   December 16th, 2017

The year before was the first time I had been deer hunting in at least 32 years. It was nice to be able to get back into the woods. I had forgotten just how quiet being in the woods can be and the solitude is wonderful. The hunt was pleasant, not too hot nor was it too cold and most of all, it didn't rain.

November 16th, 2017 I was able to go on a short hunting trip to SC for the second year in a row. Only a three day trip but this time...successful. 

   Backing up a bit, I wanted to explain about my choice of firearm and ammunition. I enjoy old west guns and feel they are so under rated in today's hunting world. For some reason "The Gun That Won The West" is no longer considered by many to be "worth a toot". I decided to take a better look at it's past history. Much of that history can be found in other posts here on this site. My choice of firearms is either the Winchester 73' or it's distant cousins the Marlin 1889 and 1894CB. 

I love the Winchester 73' just as much as the Marlin but my eyes are not what they used to be. Thus, I added a scope to my modern Marlin 1894CB so I can see what the heck I am shooting at!

Along with the Marlin I needed to choose a cartridge load I wanted to hunt with. For years I read about and even tried a handloaded caseload of Reloder 7 and a 240gr lead bullet. One can actually get 10%-20% higher performance out of using this powder and stay below max pressures....especially with a 240gr bullet. Read more Here about this powder/load combination. Current Winchester hunting ammunition uses only a 200gr JSP with velocities at 1,190fps. Using a caseload of powder and a Hornady 240gr SWC-HP gives me 1,425fps velocities and very nice groups at 75 yards with moderate pressures just above Max pressures listed by SAAMI and CIP. Plenty safe for the Marlin but might be a tad too much for the 73'.

 I wondered how it would perform on whitetail. First lets get back to the woods..... So my brother-in-law set me up in this nice stand big enough for two people and it even had a roof!!!! I was used to the old days when ya sit next to a tree or maybe in a ladder stand built out of 2x4s with a platform barely big enough for one's rear-end to sit on. The stand was not very far from where we parked (my dad and I) and just a short walk later, we were in the stand. The stand was positioned where I could see about 65 yards down a narrow cleared out corridor overlooking a corn pile

2017 My dad, first time hunting together in over 32 years.

Day one was disappointing. Being back in the woods, however, gave me the familiarity and confidence I needed for the next day. I was told exactly which direction and at what time the deer came to the pile before moseying out to the fields about a 100 yards further. 

Looking down the corridor over the barrel of my Marlin model 1894CB.​

Sure enough, at dusk I first spotted the young eight point buck coming in from the far distant left (behind the forked tree). He eased off out of sight to the right. Within a few seconds, he came back into view as he passed the slightly leaning tree to the right. As he began to eat I could only see his neck and then eventually the front half of the left shoulder.

As soon as the full shoulder was in view, I squeezed off the shot. The buck was hit just above mid shoulder and dropped straight down...he never took a step.  

By now it is dark. It was time to drag him out and get him to the processor. Over the next few days the processor gave up looking for the bullet. It was obvious that it did not pass through but it could not be found. Finally, while processing the hind quarters, it was found lodged in one of them. The bullet had penetrated the shoulder, turned 90 degrees (from a broadside shot) and traveled down the spinal cord to lodge in the hind quarters....travailing about 24"...obliterating everything in it's path. 

Everything fell into place and the bullet did it's job. I am very pleased at the performance of this load and the ole 44-40 Marlin 1894CB. Can't wait till next year.

Hornady 240gr SWC-HP #11118 recovered bullet weighed in at 194.4grs  .55" expansion.