Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Obsolete cartridges hunting thread

Nice post Bob. It is so seldom an inanimate object has a traceable history past one generation. Shooting game with such historic pieces is humbling. I took a bison with an 1863-68 Sharps carbine in 50/70 Gov't. These guns WERE one of the guns that won the west. Their story is like reading a history book. When I got the opportunity to kill a bison I could think of no other more appropriate gun and round. I had several original rounds loaded in the 1880's so I figure it was worth a try. At the pull of the trigger a huge roar, lots of black smoke, and a staggering bison. Thirty seconds later it breathed its last. The shot was quartering away and the shot was behind the near shoulder and ended up in the off shoulder. A little over 3' of penetration. As a custom of many of us, I left the case on the ground where it fell so someone in the future can find it. If a knowledgeable person in the future find it and realizes it was found in historic buffalo country, he could reasonable guess it killed a buffalo which it did just 130 years after the evidence would lead him to believe.

I've thought of using my 1910 or 1907 but only if I shoot out of the tree house blind. The ladder stands and still hunting just don't cut it for me. I don't have as much brass as I would like and hate the thought of losing even a single piece.

speaking of obsolete I have a Bullard in 50x115 that's not Ballard. My son has one in 45x70.been kicking around a bison hunt for a few years soon I hope.

szihn, The Weatherby I'm talking about is a U.S. made accumark with a 26" fluted barrel. I bought it new in 1999. It's a lefty so it could have been in inventory for a year or two. I have a German 300 Mark V and it shoots 150's better than anything else. Weatherby moved Mark V production to Japan about 1971 or 72. I'll have to measure the twist rates one of these days. I'm busy getting ready for my trip to photograph engraved and special feature 1895's, 1899's and 99's so it may be a while before I have time to check the twist rates.

Po Conojack

Yes I have a 71 in 33 Winchester have been looking for a 71 in 45-70 I know of one have not got it

if any one knows of one I would like to talk about it

Fug, that pair of lever guns would be impossible to beat.

I can't say if it's true, but my understanding is that all 30 caliber Weatherbys that were made in Japan and later in the USA were 1-10". And that only some of the German made ones were 1-12.
But I am not an authority on this.
Maybe Mule deer can tell us?

OK FUG this is getting personal LOL 1895 WINCHESTER 40-72 36 inch half octogen half round all original .one of ? And have a lead on local buffalo herd at least 20 the owner wants to get rid of are you in? more info later.

That's a dream hunt!

Buffalo??? Where? Some people next to me have a large herd but I heard it's really expensive to get to hunt one.

I think it depends on want you want to kill. I bet it doesn't cost much to kill a cow or young cull bull. Probably eat better anyhow.

They had a place like that in Francistown NH., several years ago. I believe it is no longer there. And as far as I know, there is still a "game preserve" (AKA "farm") in Croyden NH. Open gate walk in look around a tad and shoot one. Two brothers live down the road from me and did a hunt like that in Fairlee Vt. They shot a huge bull but the two were very competitive and wanted to have it mounted. They got into a huge argument and could not decide which brother would display the animal. The taxidermist settled it. He cut the mount in half and the brothers agreed. Now each has a mount of half a head and shoulder mounted flat against the wall. Now the brothers hunt alone.

That is a dream hunt!
I was scheduled to hunt the South Dakota Triple U Ranch, where Dances With Wolves was filmed! That was about about 6-8 years ago. I was all set! I was taking an original Winchester 1886 Deluxe rifle in 45-70. That was the year they had that early heavy snow and then a ton of rain. It made the ranch 100% inaccessible so they cancelled and returned my deposit. I never had the chance to return, and I'm told the ranch was sold and now there is no hunting there.......

I was shooting my 30 Remington this morning, along with my 30-30. But I'm more leaning to use the 375 Win this year.

This herd is 20 miles from my house woodland bison. we do a lot of work for the owner he's not around much has full time caretaker still waiting on price. His prize Bull Woodie died a few years ago. He had a life size mount made on wheels it resides in his living room .

Me thinks Calhoun has a point about the 303 savage.....my uncle was totally ignant of it....when he bought one for me it was his favorite, he traded guns for a living.

The 30/40 krag aka 30 U.S. or 30 Army was very unexplored IMO.

The 35 Remington is also another un explored round.

But for vintage cartiridge I vote for the 45/70

King of cartridges!

I have a win 1895 take down 3003 with a climbing Lyman that needs resized 270 brass as the 3006 brass is too short and may predispose the firearm to " throat erosion". I was advised this by an 3003 enthusiast.

I wonder if I shoot 220 grainers if 30 govt brass could be used?

I shot some factory 150 grainers. It groups real nice.

John, I doubt that little bit of neck length difference will cause you any problems unless you plan on firing hundreds of rounds through it next month.

Thanks gnoahh I figured you would help me out!

I haven't posted here for some time ,but i have harvested Whitetail ,Fallow and Axis deer with the following calibers (all Savage 99's ) 22 hi-power ,38-55 ,32-40 ,303 , 375 win. ,300 sav. Tom