My son and bull

[Idaho Mule]

My youngest connected on a nice bull elk this morning. Justin has taken several cows in the past but this is his first branch antlered bull. He was kind of elated, to say the least. Not a cast kill but he used my old Lee Enfield 303 British. Speer 150 gr. and IMR 4895, a proven load in that rifle. Shot was broadside at about 200 yds. He broke the onside shoulder and sliced the heart as well as wreaking havoc with the lungs. No tracking, the bull tipped over and stayed down within 20 yds.



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Justin and his bull in the back of the pick-up just before we back it into the barn for processing. Notice the SMLE.



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Another shot in the pick-up.


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And the boy can smile. This is after the elk was removed from the hide and head. JW

[Littleton Shot Maker]

SOOOO cool, even cooler with the Old Brit Kit
Next year he'll need to haul out the M1 Garand JUST 'cause

[RugerFan]

Nice! I'd love to do that with my #4.

[Got-R-Did]

I volunteer as gun-bearer for him if he uses the Garand for filling his next tag. Seriously though, I would certainly love to see a chronicle of such an endeavor. Likewise, the "Brit Kit" (love that) sure holds up to it's legendary reputation.
Wonderful all around thread!
Got-R-Did.

[Littleton Shot Maker]

My Father always wanted to do and elk hunt or deer with that M1- no going to happen, Maybe I'll have to start taking it out for Coyote. 30-06 to the side of a dog w/ 30-06 should be fun/
the 303 seems a bit lighter to carry though???
in days gone by I read stories from the old days of African hunts with that 303...sporterized of course.

Again- very cool guys, keep smiling you earned it

[PS Paul]

Good show, JW! Proud Dad, right?

[Idaho Mule]

Good show, JW! Proud Dad, right? Yes sir. JW

[runfiverun]

Woah,, nice.
is that a no smith mount?

your load sounds similar to mine sept I use the sierra 150 the number-4 loves the combination.
the number-3 is a bit pickier and seems to do better with heavier bullets.

[OnHoPr]

Bravo, that's a great first bull and hope there is many to come.

[35 shooter]

Nice first on the bull and sounds like he put a really good shot on it.
Congrats!

[ammohead]

Congratulations John,

Nice first bull and a nice looking son. Those Idaho elk must be weak or something...not needing a super magnum to bring them down. I got to connect on a cow 3 weeks ago. No cast for me neither. A 185 gr barnes tripleshock in my 338-06.

[nagantguy]

Great pics and story, nice shooting, great bull! Taking the kids hunting is time well spent.

[white eagle]

very nice
congrats to your son and boy is he happy

[JDL]

Most excellent Justin, and with a classic!

[bullet maker 57]

Good shootin and good eatin.

[siamese4570]

Wait! I thought anything less than a 300 mag would just bounce off an elk. Guess that elk doesn't read all the gun rags. Great Pics/Nice Elk! Congratulations to both you and your son. Just reinforces my belief that it's not what you hit them with but where you hit them. Good shooting.
siamese4570

[tdoyka]

congrats!!!!


lol!!! i would have thought that a 416 rem would have bounced off an elk!!!



Wait! I thought anything less than a 300 mag would just bounce off an elk. Guess that elk doesn't read all the gun rags. Great Pics/Nice Elk! Congratulations to both you and your son. Just reinforces my belief that it's not what you hit them with but where you hit them. Good shooting.
siamese4570

[onceabull]

This young fellow also benefits from having not just one great game cook at home,to get all the benefits from his hunting success.. I'm hoping that some of the elk makes it to NCBS 16,so I can share in the bounty...Insofar,as whether or not a handloaded 303 Brit is enough gun for North Id.bulls,remember that JW harvested a moose not that long ago,with a 270 Win..(Elmer K.'s favorite caliber for coyotes and foxes)....[smilie=s: Onceabull

[swheeler]

Congratulations! Elk steaks in the freezer is a good thing:-)

[smokeywolf]

Great hunting and great fathering.
Can't wait for my sons to start putting food in the freezer.

Props to Justin and his dad.

[Smoke4320]

the storys you both can tell .. good times ..

[thegatman]

Good job. Keep it up.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
My Congratulations to your son ! May there be many more opportunities to sit for photos after a hunt.
Keeping at it is always the best way to see a desire completed.
Mike in Peru

[petroid]

Way to go!!!

[Idaho Mule]

Woah,, nice.
is that a no smith mount?

your load sounds similar to mine sept I use the sierra 150 the number-4 loves the combination.
the number-3 is a bit pickier and seems to do better with heavier bullets. run, the mount is actually a Weaver side mount. I had to grind some off the top for the scopes turret area to fit. I have used the Sierra as well, but Speers are what I have in stock at this time, they are pretty equal in that rifle. Oh, that sidemount sets the scope about 1/8" to the right of the bore but it still seems to work ok. JW

[Idaho Mule]

Congratulations John,

Nice first bull and a nice looking son. Those Idaho elk must be weak or something...not needing a super magnum to bring them down. I got to connect on a cow 3 weeks ago. No cast for me neither. A 185 gr barnes tripleshock in my 338-06. Thanks Bruce. Yes, he is a fine young man and he is turning out to be a great hunter- I LOVE hunting with him. As far as the wimpy Idaho elk you must be right, heck, I've even killed 'em with a lowly 25-06 and so has Lagene. Matter of fact, a couple years ago she killed a nice cow with her .260!! JW

[SSGOldfart]

congratulations to both of you man that's a lot of good eat'n their.

[taco650]

Woah,, nice.
is that a no smith mount?

your load sounds similar to mine sept I use the sierra 150 the number-4 loves the combination.
the number-3 is a bit pickier and seems to do better with heavier bullets.

My #3 is the same. My cast load is with a 224 gr .316 cal and it shoots 1.25 inch groups at 50yds with the battle sights.

[TCLouis]

Way To Go young man.

And with a real Milsurp too!

Congratulations

[JeffinNZ]

Go the .303 Brit!!!

[runfiverun]

heck an 1/8th inch off to the side is nothing.
the mount on my 7.5 swiss is off an inch or so, it works out pretty well since I cut the stock down just enough to set my chin on the wood and use both eyes to look through the scope. [I can still use the open sights normally]
the cross hairs and the bullet cross paths out at about 150 yds and it works out so that it's just to the right to that point and just to the left at 300 yds.
I always figured if I needed to be a lot closer than 2" one way or the other, I better not shoot.

[pls1911]

So much for the "Gotta have a magnum crowd".
The old school KEAD (Kill 'Em All Dead) family..30-30, 300 savage, .303 Brit, .270. 30-06, 7mm mauser, 284. & etc. will work fine so long as the hunter honors the limitations of the cartridge and his/hers own ability.

[Tazzy]

Congrats on a great hunt.
Up here in Canada everyone seems to have a .303. It was probably the most used caliber at one time and has killed every game animal in the country.

[Idaho Mule]

Thanks to all for your comments. They are most appreciated. To me the most important thing is hunting with my son, I am very fortunate that they both like to hunt and shoot. As in anything else, there is a natural maturation as they progress farther and farther. This is what I love. Justin is mature beyond his years in the hunting fields, a very good man to hunt with. Another thing that needs mentioned is that the rifle he uses was handed down to me from my father, big importance too. Funny story tho. When Justin turned 12, old enough to hunt in Idaho, he was packing that 303 the first year as money was tight and I had not found "his" rifle yet. Well, later I found and bought a certain Ruger #1 in 270 and presented it to Justin for his birthday. He shot it quite a bit as we worked up loads for it but then said he didn't like it. Just wanted to shoot my old 303 he said. Well, I could hear him at night, running that bolt, pushing the clip in, taking it out, etc... as he fondled the 303. Later he offered to trade me rifles, so, what could I do?? Hell, he's gonna get 'em both anyway, and the 270 and I have been getting along nicely so what's to lose I ask you?? JW

[TXGunNut]

Nicely done, both of you. How does the young-un feel about boolits?

[GunnyJohn]

That's great. Nice elk and a nice rifle. I know you both must be proud. I can't wait to hunt with my son again. Maybe in Wyoming where he lives now. Mmmm.

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

Hey there Ideeeeho Mule,[smilie=s:

What, is going on? He didn't have your "almost" 45/70 with cast boolits?

We may need to look at revoking your good Ol'Ideeeeho boy's grade #1 classification.

You have taken a wrong turn someplace!

Oh, by the way congrats to the son on a job well done even if he did to deal with a bit of fatherly misguidance. :bigsmyl2:

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

[7s&8s]

Well done!

[Shuz]

Congratulations to both you and your son!

[4719dave]

congrats ..it nice to see that smile ....

[woodbutcher]

[smilie=s: Hi Justin.Congrats on a fine bull.Happy eating.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[cigarman454]

Congrats to your son and a great memory for dad.