Scored with my old hunting buddy

[reflex264]

I have drug one of my old rigs out of its hiding place in one of the safes and brought it back into the mix. I know some of you have seen the posts about putting the new mount on it along with a new FXII-4 Leupold. This gun killed more deer than I can remember. When they oppend 3 does a day in the 90s this was one of my prefered guns to do it with. I took it out Saturday evening and shot a big doe. It had the weirdest feeling. Just business as usual for the old gun. The doe was 33 yards and kept intentionally hiding behind trees. It took about 10 minutes of cat and mouse before I got a shot. She was looking for me the whole time. She stuck her neck out and that was that.
Here is a pick of the gun with her and one with Matt behind her for scale.

[bigbrowndog]

I wanna see you score with Skeeters gun!!!

Trapr

[reflex264]

Dec 11, 2023 9:00:26 GMT -5 bigbrowndog said:

I wanna see you score with Skeeters gun!!!

Trapr

It is still in Rotation. I think it puts off a vibe that scares deer for miles! I have had it out several times but this crazy weather has the deer all messed up. Supposed to have good weather ths weekend. Temps back in the 30s.

[seminolewind]

Good shooting with your old friend. It’s funny how my perspective changes with the two photographs of the doe. In the first, I’d say she’s an average doe. In the second photo, she looks huge. It’s a good handgun kill no matter how you look at it.

[reflex264]

Dec 11, 2023 9:46:24 GMT -5 seminolewind said:

Good shooting with your old friend. It’s funny how my perspective changes with the two photographs of the doe. In the first, I’d say she’s an average doe. In the second photo, she looks huge. It’s a good handgun kill no matter how you look at it.

That is why I decided to take the pic with Matt. The one pic she doesn't look nearly as big as she really is. Live weight she was around 150 lbs. Around here that is huge. Midwest she would be average.

[pete]

Nice big doe. What was the load?

[contender]

I love seeing this. Kudos on letting that workhorse do it's job again. I also prefer a neck shot,, but only use it when I'm using a scoped handgun with proven accuracy. My workhorse for this is my T/C Contender in 7x30 Waters. Neck shots are preferred due to instant kills, & no ruined meat or trimming away blood shot stuff.

Good to see this!

[reflex264]

Dec 22, 2023 10:50:17 GMT -5 contender said:

I love seeing this. Kudos on letting that workhorse do it's job again. I also prefer a neck shot,, but only use it when I'm using a scoped handgun with proven accuracy. My workhorse for this is my T/C Contender in 7x30 Waters. Neck shots are preferred due to instant kills, & no ruined meat or trimming away blood shot stuff.

Good to see this!

Love the 7-30. Absolutely wonderful cartridge.

[reflex264]

Dec 21, 2023 18:03:54 GMT -5 pete said:

Nice big doe. What was the load?

240 grain Montana Bullet Works WFNGC over 8.4 grains of Unique. The nose profile is nearly identical to my old standby load with the discontinued 255 grain Cast Performance. The loads run right at 1000 fps. Never had one stop in a deer. It will blow right through both shoulders if needed.

[x101airborne]

Big girl for sure. Good job harvesting meat.
As a side note, the 7-30 is about as good as it gets for a scoped long range handgun hunter.