Cast boolets, black powder and buffalo

[Big Goose]

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Hi all,
some pics of buffalo hunting with my older son Zac. He used an original 1861 Springfield musket ( 65 grains 1 & 1/2 f Olde Eyensford, .575 dia. 515 grain old style Minie boolet) and I used a 191 year old Model 1819 Hall rifle, converted to percussion, with 75 grains of 2 f OE and a .530 round ball with single wrap of wax paper. The Hall has become my current favorite old timey rifle, its handy, accurate and hits hard.
Big Goose

[Beerd]

MOST EXCELLENT!
(and nice hat)
..

[Wayne Smith]

Most excellent, and I'm jealous of the opportunity, the Hall, and the meat! Two iconic rifles, as far as I'm concerned, are the Ferguson and the Hall. Will never have either, but can dream.

[alfadan]

A glimps into to the past! Great job!

[ascast]

Nice choice of tools. Was that a one shot? and where did you hit em, from how far?

[pworley1]

Almost 200 years old and still getting the job done. Congratulations.

[Winger Ed.]

Way cool.
I want one of those coats and hat. There's only about 2 days a year here to wear it, but they'd be great for that.

I'm not sure what to say about the buffalo in the picture though.
Everybody knows you can't kill even a prairie dog beyond 50' unless you have the latest and greatest magnum.:bigsmyl2:

[sailcaptain]

Big Goose,
As “ascast” mentioned, what was the distance of your shot?
And if I were a bettin man, I say there’s a pair of Steger MukLuks hidden in that snow? It’s what I use exclusively and wouldn’t think anything less. My Quetico Style Mukluks(-30 below and better)
I want to outfit myself as you did for my next hunt. Tell us more.

[stubshaft]

Awesome!

[scattershot]

Nice buffler.Congrats all around.

Watch yer topknot.

[hawkenhunter50]

Excellent on all accounts. I am envious of your coat, that is sweet.

[Big Goose]

308198
this is a pic of one of the front quarters from Zac's huge buff cow.. most bison cows mature at 900 to maybe 1100 pounds on the hoof. That was the size of the cow I shot with the Hall, she totaled just over 500 pounds of hanging meat. Zac's was one of the biggest bison cows I've seen in decades of experience with bison. She yielded more than 700 pounds of hanging meat, that front quarter is just shy of 170 pounds.
The coat was a gift from a couple dear friends who are often too generous. My wife showed dogs with them and I had done some scrimshaw work for them and so they surprised me one Christmas with it. They purchased it from a collector and supposedly it is grizzly or brown bear, was originally made around 1890, redone in 1948 at a New York furrier. It is really awesome . but is getting a bit fragile and the fur is thinning at the cuff and elbows. I only wear it for very special events... The hat is a Canadian cap, like those made popular by Ben Franklin in France in the 1770s. The body is heavy wool duffle, double thick, with wolf trim. Its the warmest hat I own. The wife has made them for about everyone in the family, some with fox trim, or otter, or fisher, and least one with bobcat .
So here's a couple perspectives of the hunt; first from Zac, and then my own...
Here is Zac's perspective-
Cold, deep snow, some places waist deep snow in the coolies. Mostly between ankle and knee. Flurries and blowing snow most of the day. We were prepared, except honestly we could have used snowshoes. We were out in the cold from sunrise until 11pm. Never been more sore and tired coming off the prairie. Really a good hunt though. Many exciting moments. Full stories we can relay later , but for me it was the best hunt ever. I was extremely pleased, my '61 Springfield musket at about 80 yards on one of the biggest cows I've seen taken out there. Hit her just above the heart, she only made it about 60 yards and stopped broadside to me. I dropped my musket in the snow and cross drawed my rolling block pistol with those 180gr 1400fps hard cast 357s, she was way over 100 yards, 120-135 yards out and teed up slightly more than halfway up her body with a level bead and touched it off. I heard the bullet slap her and snow poof off her hide right in the kill zone. She staggered a bit and I had extra 357 in my heavy choppers so I shot her 2 more times in quick succession. Each time slapped her hard and the last one she tumbled over. Upon examining the body, my musket shot and all 3 shots with the pistol were less than 2 inch spread up and down, and perhaps 7 or 8 inch spread laterally spread, the musket shot was directly above her heart, one of the pistol shots an inch away from that hit, one pistol hit 3 inches further back, and one another 2 or three inches further yet. Every bullet broke a rib, and every one was in the lungs or plumbing above the heart. Could not be more pleased, I felt good with the musket but I knew that would be good. I felt ok with the pistol but now I feel supremely confident after slapping 3 shots in a row at 120 yards in the wind, standing on a snow covered slope and all into the kill zone on a bison. None of the shots went through both sides, all the bullets were in the heart lungs or far side. Very interesting forensic investigation

Dad hit one just a little while ago with the Hall rifle, I handed him my Springfield musket and he was gonna hit her again but my musket misfired. The cap went off but didn't set off the main charge. Then she was out of sight, he and Bronc are tracking it now, I made my way back to Colton's truck and am warming up right now
I'm sure dad hit her, she was running almost full tilt and, I don't know know maybe 60 or 70 yards. He thought he may have hit her a little far back but all I know is I heard his ball hit her good.
Just recovered Dad's buffalo--
And my perspective-
I finally got an opportunity just before dark, same snowy coulee, a big cow was leading out a couple lengths from the ones behind her.( It didn't seem like they were running so fast, but Zac said they were really moving and maybe a bit surprised I took the shot.. it was kind of like the one I got with the trade gun way back in 05.) The 1819 Hall rifle fired instantly and as she was moving pretty fast, I figured the hit might have been a bit far back... but she left the herd right away , and slowly walked about a mile before we could get around her. Bronc dropped me and Beans off and we slogged through more deep snow a few hundred yards to the backside of the old reservoir dam and sure enough she was slowly walking towards me. At about fifty yards I partially stood up and she turned just a bit. She was almost straight on, just quartering slightly and I held a good bead just left of her sternum. The Hall cracked again and she stumbled sideways, that ball went through her right lung and pierced her heart. . She was literally dead on her feet but still slowly turning and started wobbling up the rise- she didn't make it more than a few more yards.
The first shot was a bit far back,( I like to put the ball right behind the elbow for a heart shot) but went through both lungs, broke a rib on the way out and exited, the second, as noted, went through part of the right lung and through the right side of her heart, and into the liver.
Some folks may be critical of shooting running animals, but these are wild bison on over 30,000 acres. We select older cull cows and have to be careful not to shoot through one and hit another. The opportunities are fleeting at best, and sometimes - maybe most of the time you need to be skilled at hitting moving animals. We shoot a lot, and practice from every conceivable position at stationary and moving targets
Bison are remarkably tough animals, with enormous lungs, able to run 20 miles without stopping, yet the Hall rifle at 191 years old( Made by S. North in 1831) did just fine. I make paper cartridge similar to the ones for the 1861 Springfield, only with 75 grains of 2 f and .530 roundball with a single wrap of wax paper.
The Springfield gets 65 grains of 1 & 1/2 f and a 510 grain .575 Minie boolet.
Both have been absolute devastators on whitetail deer, and I guess on the largest land mammals in North America...

Though we live in northeastern Minnesota ( maybe a half hour to the Boundary Waters wilderness area), and raised bison for a number of years, We have been blessed to be able to hunt cull cows from a big herd in north central Montana.
Sorry for being so windy folks....
Big Goose

[Big Goose]

Forgot to say , sailcaptain, you are right! we aren't too far west of Ely and get our Steger mukluks there. And yes for cold weather comfort, and especially on snowshoes, they are the best! Mine are mid-height with the leather uppers, also have knee high ones with wool uppers, and an older pair with canvas uppers. They're all great! Maybe not so much in warm winter weather when its sloppy, but for real winter they are the best! Did I say that already?

[elk hunter]

Congratulations to both of you. I've said for years I would love to do a free range buffalo hunt with my original sharps 45-70. Unfortunately that dream has all but expired. I wouldn't make it 100' in that kind of snow.

Again, WELL DONE! and congratulations on a hunt done the proper way with vintage rifles.

[ChristopherO]

Best meat there is. Very glad you shared this hunt with us. Just excellent.

[Mikedominick]

Great story and pictures, you win the day!

[Chena]

Wow, just wow.

[technojock]

Congrats on a great hunt. I sure wish we had buffalo out west in Oregon...

Tony

[sailcaptain]

Great Hunt….thank you for your story! I have to go look at the Steger style you have though.
Enjoy your reward of the hunt.

[MrWolf]

Thank you. Great telling and description. Very impressed and the fact you did it with your son makes it so much more special. Congrats to both of you. Merry Christmas. I love the hat also. Will have to get one.
Ron

[JDL]

Most excellent Big Goose and thanks for taking us along on the adventure.

[lar45]

Most excellent!
Big congratulations.
I really like your coat also.

[centershot]

A Hall rifle?! You have a working Hall rifle??? You, Sir, are blessed! My congratulations to you and your son, great hunt and write up, enjoy that buff'!

[Cast10]

A story that personifies the legend and lore of muzzle loading. Well done by you both!

To be able to take a true working antique onto the prairie, during a snow storm, hunting free range ‘tatanka’, and score two kills = PRICELESS.

A story for the ages. Thank you for sharing such a great hunt!

On a side note; I just lost my dad of 91. I am presently on our ranch hunting, first time since losing him on Thanksgiving day. I did not get the chance to take him this season. Previously, I would take him out with me to sit the blinds. My son couldn’t come, work. I’ve never felt more alone and blessed at the same time. It’s so great to see you and your son hunting together; Heritage. Even though, life is short, we are forever blessed with memories. Bravo!

[centershot]

A story that personifies the legend and lore of muzzle loading. Well done by you both!

To be able to take a true working antique onto the prairie, during a snow storm, hunting free range ‘tatanka’, and score two kills = PRICELESS.

A story for the ages. Thank you for sharing such a great hunt!

On a side note; I just lost my dad of 91. I am presently on our ranch hunting, first time since losing him on Thanksgiving day. I did not get the chance to take him this season. Previously, I would take him out with me to sit the blinds. My son couldn’t come, work. I’ve never felt more alone and blessed at the same time. It’s so great to see you and your son hunting together; Heritage. Even though, life is short, we are forever blessed with memories. Bravo!

Cast10, my condolences to you and your family, I am sorry for your loss. It was exactly thirty years ago that my father passed away, it has been some lonely hours in the forest since then. You are correct, we are blessed with the memories.

[Cast10]

Cast10, my condolences to you and your family, I am sorry for your loss. It was exactly thirty years ago that my father passed away, it has been some lonely hours in the forest since then. You are correct, we are blessed with the memories.

Thank you sir. Much appreciated.

[white eagle]

very ,very nice
way to go on the hunt especially with your son
congrats

[JDL]

Condolences Cast10. I've walked that path too.

[Cast10]

Thank you sir. Not a club I wanted to join.

[Geezer in NH]

Thank you both for sharing that great hunt!

[T-Bird]

what a cool story and hunt big goose. I've been muzzle loading since the '60's but nothing as cool as this. Cast10 sorry for your loss. I've been there.

[Cast10]

Thank you T-bird….

[Messy bear]

Very nice story and details. Congrats to you both.
I read these with interest as we have done many bison hunts on our place over the years. Always a different ending to it as no two hunts are the same. We had a large bull taken last year in December by a guy with a muzzleloader and this year in November a guy took a large bull with a modern bolt gun. Over the years though the majority have been prime young animals for meat. And most guys hunted with lever guns or six guns. Good memories. And congrats on your success

[Big Goose]

Thanks for all the kind comments folks. Cast10, condolences for sure... I lost my Dad in 1974, I was 16 at the time, he suffered from a lengthy illness and my sister and I helped my Mom with the farm work and pay bills. Had a couple uncles who were incredible mentors, and later had a stepdad who was as good a father as my own Dad was. Blessings of life those have been, Lost my stepdad 4 years ago in September- miss them all every day. But, I and my two boys hunted with my 93 year old Mom this deer season, and that's a rare blessing too!.
She didn't see a deer( if she had(in the words of Jed Clampett) it would have been casting a polka dot shadow. She can still hit with her old Marlin 30-30. but we have a lot of wolves and have had a couple tough winters for the whitetails up here.
Anyway, when I carry my Grand Dad's old 86 Winchester out hunting its kind of like having Dad and Grandpa along with .. you know? Maybe that's just silly, but sometimes I feel like they're with me in the woods...
I figured maybe some might like to see a couple pics of the Hall rifle up close, so here goes...308405308406308407

[Big Goose]

Forgot to say Messy bear, that's pretty cool, dont know too many folks who get to experience bison hunting. And it is hunting in every sense... taken a great many whitetails deer, several black bears , but buffalo for me bring me to tears...

[Milky Duck]

great stuff,good to see old rifles out there doing what they were made to do.

[No_1]

Great job! It is good to see stories of family hunting together.

[725]

This is why I love this site.

[ChristopherO]

Cool old rifle. I'm intrigued and will need to research these; how much powder, weight of boolit, etc... One would think reproductions would receive strong interest.

[Cast10]

Thank you Big G…..

I know exactly what you’re saying. Same here. Merry Christmas!

[GregLaROCHE]

A very impressive accomplishment!

[Big Goose]

Good morning all, figure I should post a few pics for anyone interested in some details of the Hall rifle,- and it's effectiveness on game as this is a hunting topic.
The Hall was first developed by John Hancock Hall in 1811, and officially accepted by the US military in 1819. Originally of course in flintlock, mine is a Federal conversion to percussion done just before the Civil War. It is rifled with 16 deep grooves( and I always thought microgroove was a Marlin thing..)and originally with a .525 bore. The muzzle end is counterbore for a couple inches to allow easier traditional loading of patched round ball if the breech should happen to become to fouled to open . In the research I've done it is indicated that the original flintlock model took a charge of 100 grains of powder and a .525 ball. My Federal conversion has a reinforced sleeve in the chamber and will accept 75 grains
of powder and a paper patched .530 ball.( about 225 grains in weight)
It is very accurate, out to 100 yards or so shoots as well as about anything with open sights. I shot a nice whitetail doe at 110 long paces, she was quartering towards me and the ball struck just behind her shoulder, angled back through the right lung, through the liver, out her belly, re-entered her left hind leg and shattered the femur and still exited. pretty darn good performance from a 225 grain lead sphere...
though it is a breech loader I can load an 1861 Springfield much faster, but it is quicker than a patch round ball rifle, and you can pretty easily load it from a prone position.308659308660308661308662308663
anyways here's some pics...
Big Goose

[Big Goose]

forgot to add that it is claimed that soldiers would often carry their Hall breech blocks loaded as a back up hand gun... though that would work in a pinch it would not be pleasant to hang on to...
the paper cartridges are formed from regular kitchen waxed paper, fairly durable in a cartridge box and somewhat water resistant, and the wax paper patched ball sure shoots well. Anyways, though the Hall is not legal for a muzzleloader season it's become one of my favorite guns for the regular firearms deer season...
The offset sight picture is awkward at first but Ok once you get used to it... kind of like my son's Bren gun actually...308664308665308666308667

[elk hunter]

Thanks for the write-up and the pictures. I've always been drawn to black powder firearms. For a number of years I hunted strictly with muzzleloaders. I always thought the Hall was a unique and interesting rifle. Maybe some day I'll find one. During the past year I built an interesting breechloading flintlock, the British Ferguson. Being an early breechloader you might say it is a distant cousin of the Hall. As you stated neither one would be legal in a muzzleloader season but, I'd still like to hunt with it. Since we don't have Bison I'll have to settle for a deer or an elk.

Keep the wind in your face and your powder dry.