Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Old deer/old gun

I took this buck yesterday with an m1 garand. He doesn't seem like much but what a big old warrior. Where I hunt, big bucks can hit their prime years, but they are also targeted too. They don't go unnoticed. Yet, this one made it through all those hunting seasons.

Where he came in was the only place I couldn't see into, thick patch of cedars of all sizes and hedge trees. Just caught a glimpse of him although he was really close. He went about horning a couple of cedars and the only shot I could get or see of him was his chest. Gun goes off, nothing happens. He doesn't drop, run, nothing. I knew then I missed, but he didn't even flinch at the sound. It was almost like he had been through this before, where if you run off all crazy, you could get shot. It took him forever to walk out of that cover and then I put him down as he was sneaking off through the timber. His neck was huge; swollen up from rut. The half main beam ended in a small club, it hadn't be broken off from fighting. Nice to see an old deer.

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Noble end to a noble warrior. Fine gun and good story.

Congratulations to you LNF150. I hunted with a Garand once many years ago; it didn't seem heavy back then.

I'd really like to know what load you used, if it's not a bother.

Thanks

beefan, I was using the Remington 150 gr. core-lokt in the green box.

It does it's job, the gun digests the rounds ok and on paper it alright. But, in the back of my mind; I wonder if I should be reloading hunting rounds for my m1. Work up a round that is close to the military ball ammo it was designed for shooting. I think this remington load is a little hotter/bullet faster, maybe if I could just tone down the speed somewhat with a reload the gun might like that.

(when I pick up that garand, the weight of it always get me. Humbles me too when I think of the solders who carried them in WWII, Korea and early Vietnam.)

Congrats on that great buck and rifle.

Yes. Hornady publishes Garand appropriate loads, and you could plug in hunting bullets at the same weights as the match types in the data.

Look at powders such as IMR4895 and IMR4064 for the right burn rate. I have found my M-1 Garand's have grouped best with 165/168 grain bullets. Nice Buck - congratulations!

Fun!!

I love hunting with the old guns as well as old cartridges. My favorite rifles for this are a pair of Remington 722's in .300 Savage made in 1948 and 1951. I have passed a pair of other 1950's guns in .300 to my son, a Remington 760 and my Dad's 99. The 760 was my first deer rifle. The .220 Swift is another cartridge I really enjoy...

IFN150, it looks like a buck past his prime. The beams seem heavy but the tines are short. Did it have much for teeth left?

You improved the herd by removing him from the breeding pool.

What he said.


The use of slow powders in M1s can damage the action due to high port pressure. The 4895s are ideal. I've gotten excellent accuracy with the Hodgdon starting load of 46gr H4895 in RP brass with F210s and 150gr Partitions. This was in a bolt gun, but it's a mild load and plenty for bambi whacking.

I don't know what powders they use in run of the mill factory ammo, but I'd definitely steer clear of the high-performance stuff in your M1.

Congratulations! You had a great hunt!