Another Mule Deer Buck With The Lever Action

[shrapnel]

This time my son shot his buck with his Montana Centennial 1886 in 45-70. I have been shooting one for years and it has been a favorite of his. He shot a nice deer with mine several years ago. This year we got him his own and he used it on this buck...

http://i.imgur.com/HrxRtmG.jpg (https://imgur.com/HrxRtmG)

[Conditor22]

Nice, I love my levers :)

[ole_270]

Nice to see another lever with open irons being used in the field. Also nice to see you posting, I've been missing your hunting pictures over on the fire.

[shrapnel]

Nice to see another lever with open irons being used in the field. Also nice to see you posting, I've been missing your hunting pictures over on the fire.

That place has gone to hell. The inmates took over the asylum...

[Kev18]

Nice rifle, and big buck. I just made a custom big loop lever on mine. I find it alot more useful especially in the winter like you are hunting in. I posted a thread on the gunsmithing side of things. :)

[ole_270]

That place has gone to hell. The inmates took over the asylum...

Pretty much

[osteodoc08]

Nice buck and nice rifle. Definitely a proud father moment.

[Shuz]

Nice buck and nice rifle!

[shrapnel]

Nice buck and nice rifle!

We have killed a few with the Montana Centennial 1886. They were made to shoot, not collect...

http://i.imgur.com/vY8Uroj.jpg (https://imgur.com/vY8Uroj)

http://i.imgur.com/eI2QNAA.jpg (https://imgur.com/eI2QNAA)

http://i.imgur.com/RZHAjI5.jpg (https://imgur.com/RZHAjI5)

[murf205]

Man, that rifle is indeed made to hunt with and you guys are putting it to good use. What load did you use for the buffalo? Tell Mike hello for us.

[sac]

I was wondering what loads where used as well. Nothing to me is better then 1886.

[missionary5155]

Good afternoon and Congratulations !
Thank you for the photos ! That 'ol Wooly must have provided a bunch of good eating.

[Beerd]

That place has gone to hell. The inmates took over the asylum...

you're not referring to BozAngeles are you?
..

[shrapnel]

you're not referring to BozAngeles are you?
..

No, the 24hourcampfire. It used to be a site with shooters and hunters and turned into a drama center full of critics and losers. Most people posting there now wouldn’t know a rifle from a toaster...

[shrapnel]

Man, that rifle is indeed made to hunt with and you guys are putting it to good use. What load did you use for the buffalo? Tell Mike hello for us.

I loaded 405 grain cast bullets with a stiff load of IMR 3031. We shot a buffalo the year before with my Sharps and 500 grain bullets and it took 3 shots with that combination, so I wanted to make sure the 405 would do the job in the 1886. Since then, I have kept the loads to original velocity with the 405 and 5744 powder.

I am going over to Mike’s today to get a set of Saeco handles for a Saeco mould I have to cast some 40 caliber bullets for my 1895 in 40-72. We did an article a couple years ago on the 40-72 and 405 Winchester. I have some Hornady 416 gas checks he is going to try on some cast bullets to see how well they work. I spent a bunch of time casting bullets for my Colt Lightning 40-60-260 and the 416 gas checks didn’t work for it, thankfully I had some other 41 gas checks that did work.

The December issue of “Handloader” magazine will have an article on the 222 Remington Magnum that we worked on for several months. Mike has been fighting some health issues that have made it hard to get around, so everything involving shooting takes just the right conditions to get it all done.

I will pass along your best wishes...

[Minerat]

Nice article on the 222 mag you guys did good.

[murf205]

How hard did you cast the 405's for the buffalo hunt? Did it penetrate anywhere close to the 500 gr performance? I know that hunting buffs, there is no "bang-flop" or even close to it, but how many shots did it take with the 405.

[shrapnel]

How hard did you cast the 405's for the buffalo hunt? Did it penetrate anywhere close to the 500 gr performance? I know that hunting buffs, there is no "bang-flop" or even close to it, but how many shots did it take with the 405.

We shot 2 bulls a different time at another location with the 1886 45-70 and shot them through the heart. They jumped, took off running/limping for about 50 feet, then fell over and kicked. Both shots through the heart, both buffalo reacted identically. They both died from the heart shot, although not instantly. When I shot mine with the Sharps, you could see the bullets hitting the dirt on the other side of the buffalo, but there is no way to measure how much harder they hit the dirt than the 405 cast. I use wheel weight alloy for my cast bullets and never checked for hardness, I just hunt with them.

I believe there is a lot more thought and effort put into loading ammunition than really is necessary, as I don't do too many things that people will claim they do to get maximum performance out of their ammo. I believe shooting is more important than most of the rest of the stuff, so I just plan on making good shots with whatever ammunition I have.

[Shawlerbrook]

Very nice ! Leverguns and game, truly an American portrait.

[Kev18]

Maybe one day il go hunt a buffalo with mine. Its a 40-82 though.

[superior]

251286Sir, both your rifle and buck are things of beauty. Check this out.

[murf205]

We shot 2 bulls a different time at another location with the 1886 45-70 and shot them through the heart. They jumped, took off running/limping for about 50 feet, then fell over and kicked. Both shots through the heart, both buffalo reacted identically. They both died from the heart shot, although not instantly. When I shot mine with the Sharps, you could see the bullets hitting the dirt on the other side of the buffalo, but there is no way to measure how much harder they hit the dirt than the 405 cast. I use wheel weight alloy for my cast bullets and never checked for hardness, I just hunt with them.

I believe there is a lot more thought and effort put into loading ammunition than really is necessary, as I don't do too many things that people will claim they do to get maximum performance out of their ammo. I believe shooting is more important than most of the rest of the stuff, so I just plan on making good shots with whatever ammunition I have.

No doubt that we casters have a tendency to over think the process. The wheel weight mix has done the job for me for 45 yrs in hand guns and rifles. My by line pretty much sums it up and it was told to me by one heck of an old rifleman.