Italichester 73' 44-40 6x Malcom scope, zeroed in for 265 yards (long story) 30-40 yard shot, 120 yard run/recovery
Probably the coldest I have ever hunted. Gun season was over for Burke county so the migration north to Wilkes county proceeded. Upon arriving to the public game lands, I discovered I was the only one there...go figure! The morning started out at -1 degrees and warmed to a toasty 13 degrees by noon. I had about a half mile walk in ( I wanted to go 1.5 miles) and I had to cross a partially frozen creek several times so I entered after daylight. I made it to an area I did not expect any big deer but was too cold and tired to proceed any further, really didn't even expect to see anything in this area so close to the trailhead.
As I was about to set the stand up, I saw hope...a small rub! It was cold but there was wildlife activity most of the morning. By 12:00 It maybe 13 degrees with a 10 mph wind at the ridge tops, and was trying to make myself get up and go home....but I was too cold to move. Less than 20 minutes after I took a range finder at 81 yards on video, I noticed movement 100 yards to my far right. A deer was coming down and crossed over a draw into the flat hollow. Eventually it walked right over to the tree that was 81 yards away. Still thinking it was a doe, I just sat back and watched "it" meandered around. When it came out in from of me from behind a small pine thicket, I dropped the scope on it at 33 yards and saw it was a spike and pulled the trigger.
If you remember, I had "missed" an 8-10 point on opening gun day in Buke count and let a doe and 6 point go the following week. It was time to get some meat in the freezer. I thought I missed this one too but it was a good passthrough double lung hit but he ran 120 yards and lay where he stopped trying to get back up the draw from where he descended.
Desired stand placement was to be a 1.5 mile hike in but I settled for only a half mile hike in the freezing cold. Total was a 2 mile hike (in and out [equipment] and in and out [deer])
I don't feel like trying to resize all of the photos so thy fit the forum.
That whole area is a good hunting. Years ago hunted with Elk Knob hunt club up that way. Dean Pruitts dairy and all-around Millers campground. The Bledsoe farm, all told about 1800 acres way back when. Most all in Allegheny Co. Hunted deer, grouse, and groundhogs. Sadly, all grown up now with houses everywhere! Hard to find a safe direction to shoot lol.
Last edited by Featherweight6555; 01/03/23.
"Aim right, squeeze light" " Might as well hit what you're aiming at, it kicks the same whether you miss or not" NRA Life, GOA
Nice. I too am interested in your load. Used to shoot a 240 LFN over 12.7 gr of Bluedot. Recently got a couple of new .44-40's and am working up new loads.
Can't post photos because I can't seem to get the photos sized small enough. Try the link above the video I posted.
I use 26.5gr of Reloader 7 behind a 215gr 43-214A lead bullet. It is very important to know your bore size and bullet diameter and adjust the charge and amount of crimp to maintain 1,350fps or less for the 73' types. This load produces less than 13,000cup in my applications. Your milage may vary!!!
Sounds like that load would work in a Uberti Henry reproduction as well. Does 26.5grs fill the case?
It does, however, I would suggest trying 23.5 to 24 and loading to 1,300fps first. This is the only powder I load for velocity....other powders can create way too much pressure before 1,300fps is achieved.
or those that are curious, Hercules 1995 data and later Alliant 2005 data using Reloder 7 shows 23.5gr using a 240gr lead bullet @ 1,290fps and creating only 12,100cup. That can be up to 20% more power than with a 200gr lead bullet. [img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/K...tP5KyDM28PzPO7pgNSEiFsUVz13GELiWdK=w1280[/img]
Sounds like that load would work in a Uberti Henry reproduction as well. Does 26.5grs fill the case?
It does, however, I would suggest trying 23.5 to 24 and loading to 1,300fps first. This is the only powder I load for velocity....other powders can create way too much pressure before 1,300fps is achieved.
or those that are curious, Hercules 1995 data and later Alliant 2005 data using Reloder 7 shows 23.5gr using a 240gr lead bullet @ 1,290fps and creating only 12,100cup. That can be up to 20% more power than with a 200gr lead bullet. [img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/K...tP5KyDM28PzPO7pgNSEiFsUVz13GELiWdK=w1280[/img]
Thanks for the information!
Will Munny: It's a hell of a thing, killing a man. Take away all he's got and all he's ever gonna have.
The Schofield Kid: Yeah, well, I guess they had it coming.
Can't post photos because I can't seem to get the photos sized small enough. Try the link above the video I posted.
I use 26.5gr of Reloader 7 behind a 215gr 43-214A lead bullet. It is very important to know your bore size and bullet diameter and adjust the charge and amount of crimp to maintain 1,350fps or less for the 73' types. This load produces less than 13,000cup in my applications. Your milage may vary!!!
Hey Bryan! FirstBubba from F&S here! Been here for quite some time. Not sure who chose/set up the picture posting scheme, but it sucks. I've posted butt loads of photos on F&S, OL and several.orher venues. This picture posting set up is the most perplexing I've ever encountered.
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/X0n16mr.png)
