I admit it. I have a love of useless and inane trivia and minutiae. I like trying every variable just in case there's something I may have missed or just for info's sake! This explains the plethora of bullets and powders on my shelf even after I've found a great load!

Anyway, after my last post I got to thinking about what would have been my first kill had my Model 600's firing pin not gummed up and gone 'click' on a bitter, November morning in N. Wisconsin.

So my first big game kill ended up being with a 1966 Rem 700 in .270 WCF loaded with (the then fairly new) 140 Ballistic Tips. Can't remember the powder or amount and we didn't have a chrono but it killed quite dead nonetheless!

I know many of the guys here on the Fire are, ahem, 'older' gents and I would be fascinated to know what rifle, cartridge and even bullet you made your first bag with. Might as well throw in your first elk, too, for giggles.

Is this important info? No, but that's part of why I would just love to know! Thanks.

First deer,,,,30-06 factory 150 gr (before I started reloading) @ 10 years old. Don`t remember the bullet.

First elk,,,,,30-06 factory 180 gr (before I started reloading) @ 13 years old. Don`t remember the bullet.

First hog,,,,,30-06 factory 150 gr (before I started reloading) @ 11 years old. Don`t remember the bullet.

The rifle was a `03 Enfield that was converted over to a sporter by my dad. Had a Redfield on it.

My parents divorced in `67 and that bastid took the darn rifle....LOL!

Good question, should be some fun answers.

First deer was downed with a 50cal ML. Probably some cast bullet and whatever "youngster" powder charge my dad used to dump in there for us boys huntin out in the back 40.

Elk was with a 308win. running 165 PT around 2775fps.

First deer.... 270 factory 130gr
First elk..... 270 factory 130gr
First hog..... 270 factory 130gr

The elk was shot when I was young and dumb and before I found out a .270 wouldn't work on them.

I'm not one of the "'older' gents" (I'm 41) but my first deer was killed on Nov. 7th 1987 on a dog drive with a Benelli 121 SL 80 12ga with Federal Premium #4 buck 2 3/4". First with a rifle was with a Ruger 77 6.5mm Rem. Mag. with Remington 120 gr CL.

First deer - .243 Win. M788 100 gr. Partition ahead of 43.5 gr. IMR 4831
First elk - still hoping...will use a .260 Rem with 140 gr. Partition or a .30-06 with 165 gr. Partition

First deer- 1974, Marlin 336, .35 Remington,200 grain Remington Core-Lokts
Firts Elk- 2009, (Rifles Inc.) Remington 700, 6.5X55 Swedish, 140 grain Core-Lokt
Bucket List- Hog, Pronghorn, Caribou, Moose, Mt. Lion not in any particular order.

Deer - iron sighted thuddy thuddy at age of 12. Prbly 150 core loks

Elk - hoping 300 saum next fall. Either 180 partition or accubond

Hog - colt king cobra 357. Don't recall bullet

How are you ever going to compile any data on what will work if you keep using so many different rifles and bullets?

First deer 8mm Mauser BCD code WWII cheap Herters 196g
Have not as of yet got an Elk
First Caribou 30-06 Winchester Model 70 180g Nosler

first deer - (about 1964/florida) - lc smith double barrel 12 ga and buckshot

first elk - 1973/colorado - browning nomad stalker 50# recurve

First deer--Marlin 336 in .30-30 (1959). Factory iron sights and Peters factory loads (I can still see that purple and white box).

First elk--pre-64 Winchester Model 70 in .30-06 (1964). Hand load with 165 grain Partition.

First deer (doe)...65lb Person Renegade compound bow with Easton 2216 aluminum arrows. Wasp 125gr. broadheads...1988.

First buck...Rem. SPS 300WM...185gr. Berger loaded over RL-22...Nov. 2010. I hunted deer with a bow for a long time and never could connect on a buck...I missed a few, probably buck fever. Took 4 years to get a rifle buck tag.

First antelope (Buck)...Ruger #1 25-06...100gr. factory Remington Corelokt bullet...1992. Borrowed from a co-worker cause I didn't own an "antelope" rifle.

First Elk (Cow)...Remington 700 BDL LH 30-06...180gr. Hornady loaded over IMR-4831...1993.

Not very exciting, but that's my list...I have Elk, Deer, Antelope, Goose and Pheasant in the freezer right now!

Shoot straight,

Elk Country

First deer was taken with 308 Model 99.
First elk with 50 cal renegade.

First deer, H&R 12 ga single shot and 00 buckshot 1976
First hog old Winchester lever action in 38-40.

Probably the first dozen deer I shot (probably more) was with a 700 ADL in .270 Winchester. Bullet was a 130 grain Hornady, same as dad always loaded in his .270.

First deer...Rem 700BDL in .243..Williams Reciever sight ( ! ), 100 grain Hornady..

First Elk; Herters Commercial Mauser Bbl action on a Flaigs stock, Williams Reciever Sight ( ! ) .300 Win Mag, 150 Grain Nosler PT

Didnt use a scope for quite some time.....

1st deer tang saftey 243 Ruger

1st elk tang saftey 7mm Ruger

Yeah but back in those days most large big game could be killed with a .270 or .30-06 using nothing more than standard cup & core bullets.

It wasn't until years later that hog, deer, elk and other big game started wearing Kevlar body armor, requiring at least a .300 Whiz Bang Super Magnum cartridge to bring them down.

First Whitetail, A large doe. Browning Nomad Compound with Easton XX75 alumimun arrows and 125 grain muzzy broadheads. I was hunting central Wisconsin and sitting in a Baker climbing tree stand.
That was close to 30 years ago and I still remember the arc of the orange XX75 intersecting with the ribcage.

First whitetail gun kill, A six point buck. Remington 760 pump with lupy scope and 100 grain core-lokts. Wisconsin

First Elk, 5x5 in Colorado, Sako deluxe in 280 Remington with 140 grain core-lokts. about a 250 yard shot that took the bull down so fast I thought I had missed and the bull had some how ran off without me seeing him. This bull, and the hunt may have been the most memorable/enjoyable hunt I have been on. I have returned to Colorado several times and taken several bulls, but that first one was intoxicating.. A drop camp at treeline in the rockies is one of the most rewarding adventures.

00 buckshot on my first out of my dad's 870 Wingmaster
next was his Jam o mattic 742 30-06

First deer 3x3 Whitetail at 40 yds 140 gr NPT 7x57 1972 1 shot DRT
First elk 6x6 Bull at 140 yds 180 gr NPT 300 Win Mag 1994 1 shot DRT

First deer
Blacktail - .308 Win with Speer 150gr Hot Core (circa 1980)
Mule Deer - .300 Win Mag with Nosler 180gr BT - 1992
Whitetail - .375 H&H Mag with Speer 285gr Grand Slam - 2004

First bear - .45-70 and Speer 400gr flat point.

30-30 Marlin, 1975. It was a small whitetail doe, which was not legal at that time in East Texas. It kinda took some of the fun out of it and may be one of the reasons that I am a pretty ethical hunter today.

First Whitetail (1959) 250-3000 Remington 100gr pointed soft point

First Mule Deer (1963) 270 Win Remington 130gr pointed soft point

First Elk (1966) 270 Win Speer reload 150gr spitzer

First deer with Marlin .30-30, Winchester factory ammo., 150 grain Power Point, IIRC.

First elk, .50 caliber 350 grain conical bullet and 90 grains Pyrodex, T/C in-line muzzleloader.

First Deer-Savage bolt action in 243 using handloads with 100 gr Hornady spitzers.

Elk-someday, hopefully with a Savage 99 in 358

Dale

First deer and moose with a .303 Brit, Parker Hale deluxe sporter. Factory 180 grain Federals for the moose, 150 grainers for the deer. 2.5 power Burson Command Post scope.

R.

First two with an old 94 winchester 25-35 saddle ring carbine...factory 117 gr. flatpoints... made em chit in their tracks...

First Deer
Winchester 94 30-30 factory Winchester silver tip

First Antelope
Savage 110EL 7mm Mag - factory Winchester 154 gr?

First Elk
Savage 110EL 7mm Mag - Factory Winchester 154 gr?

First Bison
Sako Finnbear 338 WinMag - Factory Remington 250gr core-lokt

First Mule Deer; (1974) Rem 788 with Win 150gr Silvertips. Bullet made small "pencil" hole through and deer ran across the canyon before falling. Dad and I took up reloading after that.
First Whitetail: Same 788 and 165gr Nosler partitions. No problem...
First Elk: PSE compound bow
First Antelope: 1885 single shot 7mm Rem.
John

1st was with my Grandfathers NRA 30-40 Krag carbine 220 gr. factory loads. (1965)

Good One! There are some memories here for most of us...

First mule deer,,,,.300 Savage Remington 150 gr @ 12 years old. I owned a 99R Savage with tang sight. Heavy thing. I reloaded practice ammo for it.

First blacktail deer,,,,, .300 Savage 150 grain.

First elk,,,,,.308 Win, 165 gr Sierra Boattail. An early Federal Premium load.(long after I started reloading) @ 33 years old. I used my Savage 99E, .308 with a 4x scope.

First whitetail deer,,,,,30-06 factory 180 gr Core Lokt @ 41 years old. Pre war Standard Grade 30 Govt '06 in a Pacific Research stock with a 2x7 Leupold.

First Bear without hounds,,,, 20 gauge slug @ 52 years old. I have never reloaded slugs. Stevens fixed barrel pump, shortened with Polychoke and 1x4 Bushnel 1.5x4.5.

Ah heck, here it is:

1st Muley - 1980 see signature, Rem 700 BDL Custom Deluxe 22-250, Redfield peep, CoreLokt likely
1st Rocky Mtn elk - same 22-250 w/ Leupy VariX II 2-7, it was a young 'un and so was I
1st Alaska Yukon moose - Rem 700 Classic 7mm Rem Mag, Leupy 2-7, CoreLokt likely
1st Blacktail deer - one of about a dozen rifles but I think it was a 50s vintage Win 94 30-30
1st Roosevelt elk and black bear too - Rem 7400 30-06, Leupy M8 6x42
1st Whitetail deer - Rem 7, 7mm SAUM, Leupy 3.5-10

First buck deer - .243
First antelope - the same .243
First elk - .300 H&H
First bull elk (spike) - .270 Win

All shot with handloads.

First Deer; Spanish Ovideo M1916 Mauser Sporter w/ Weaver k4, 7x57 calibre, 150 grn SP Norma Factory loads.

First Elk; Husqvarna 648 re-chambered to 9.3 x 62 w/ old Redfield "low profile" tele 2x7; 285 grn S&B factory loads.

First Hog; Custom JP Beck flintlock (L&R Durs Egg lock), Bill Large bbl. .50 cal. round ball; 70 grns FFFG Black Powder.

First deer - Browning Abolt 243 win
First Elk - Weatherby Ultralight 280 Rem

I don't have the Abolt but will never sell the Weatherby.


ddj

Wow
Great Thread

First Whitetail (12 point buck) Browning trombone 22lr( probably Whiz Bang) no kidding

First black bear 303 #3mk1 Lee Enfield 180 gr sabre tips Dominion

First moose 410 Ranger 2 3/4" slug Canuck(same gun for first grouse but with #4 shot)

First elk, 1991, R700 7mag
First deer, 1996, R700 7mag
First hog, 2009, R700 that same 7mag.

I should probably put to bed the idea of buying more guns or building a custom, she's a trusty 7mag (my Dad nailed his first hog with her too). Though i'm taking my brother and his son on their first hunt this year and feel obligated for them to get first blood with her too.

1st deer winchester 30-30 150 federal 1985-6

1st elk cow rebarreled rem. 700 6.5x55 120 ttsx 2010

Haven't shot an elk yet, hope to change that this fall.

Every deer I've ever shot has been with a 270 of some sorts, except one with a 300 Win mag. A M70 XTR Featherweight has accounted for the majority of the 270 deer.

First deer, circa 2000: 30-06, 150-gn factory Corelokt

First (and second) elk, 2008: .325 WSM, 200-gn Accubond

1st Deer 1989, whitetail doe, Interarms Mark X Mauser 30-06, Remington 150gr spitzer Cor-Lokt...

Never taken an elk

1st Deer: 11 years old with a Win 94 30-30, Kwik-Site side mount, 1-3/4x5 Redfield and 150gr Power Point.

Elk: Haven't killed one

First buck(button buck) with a Mossberg pump 12 ga/ No.1 Buckshot in 1982 when I was 12.
First doe with a Westernfield 30-30 bout 2 weeks later
First Elk(6x7) was in CO on Monitor Mesa...Browning A-Bolt 300 Win



I saved the best for last......My first Gobbler with my Mossberg. He was in some thick junk bout 20 yds, what I DIDN'T know is that there were 2 more standing behind him..........OOOOOP's



I was one scared kid........but I had plenty of turkey breast and a nice beard collection for a beginner.....Lol

My first deer was killed with a Remington 700 ADL 270Win that was was/is my grandmother's with the stock cut down. Shooting 130gr Nosler Partition handloads.

My first elk was killed with my custom 7mm-300 Weatherby with 160gr Sierra soft points.

First deer: a 10 point whitetail - Marlin 336C .30-30 probably with Imperial 170 grain KKSP (Kling Kore Soft Point).
Never had the opportunity to hunt elk.

First deer, a California blacktail in Sonoma County, with a factory loaded (180 gr IIRC) Winchester 351 SLR. First elk outside Leadville Colorado with a 338-06 and a handloaded 210 gr Partiton.

First deer (when I was 6) was with a .410 slug from an Iver johnson single shot. First deer with a rifle was two years later with a Savage 99 in .308.

First hog was with a Remington 33 single shot rifle in .22 LR when I was 8. Killed several with buckshot and .22's before the first with a "real" rifle at age 13....used a Ruger carbine in .44 magnum.

Didn't hunt outside East Texas until I was "grown".

Killed first elk with a Remington 700 in .338 Magnum.

Killed first pronghorn with a Custom Mauser in .30-06.

Still haven't had the chance but moose, bear and caribou are on the menu in the next few years.

First deer was with a Winchester Model 94 in 7-30 Waters using Federal factory 120 grain ammo. That was in 1989.

No elk, but my first hog was taken with a Thompson Center TCR 83 in 22-250. 55 grain core-lokts. That was in 2008.

My first and still biggest buck after 36 yrs., an 11pt. 254# Maine bruiser was shot with a Winchester M/88 lever action. The load was a Hornady 180gr. RN over IMR 4895. First elk was a Colorado 6 X 6 taken with a Pre '64 Winchester M/70 .338 Magnum, .275gr. Speer RN over IMR 4350.

1st deer: 1966: Rem 870 with a "pumkin ball"
1st deer (rifle): 1972: Model 70 (1952) in 257 Roberts with a factory 117gr RN.
1st and only elk: 1985: Hoyt

First Deer, Bear 45 pound recurve with a Wasp 6 bladed head.
Second Deer, Winchester Pre-64 FWT in .308, Win 180 Silvertip

First Elk, still waiting

First Hog, Ruger Blackhawk, .45 Colt, Speer 300 gr. Uni-cor, 1275 FPS.

Whitetail Deer: Remington 788 in .243, factory 100 grain CoreLokts, 12 years old.

Mule Deer: Remington 700 in 7mm RM, factory 150 grain Sierra boat tails

Elk: Remington 700 in .30-06, factory 165 grain Interbonds

Hog: Remington 700 in .30-06, factory 180 grain CoreLokts

Moose: Remington 700 in .35 Whelen, 250 grain Interlock over RL-15.

FC

Deer- 250 Sav.
Bear- 250 Sav.
Moose- 308 Win.
Elk- 308 Win.
Caribou- 308 Win.


All with factory ammo.

Funny story along those lines. I shot the first deer of my life, a doe with a 270 from about 150 yards standing at the edge of a creek. When I looked back thru the scope after the recoil, she was still standing there so I shot again. Same thing happened again, 3 shots at the doe. After the third shot, she was no longer there so I figured I finally got her. When I walked down to check her out, there was 3 deer piled up on top of each other, a mature doe, a yearling doe and a button buck. The two yearlings were stepping out of the creek when I looked back each time. I'll never forget the look on my Grandfather's face when I walked in the house and told him I'd shot 3 deer.

Knowing your family, and when that was, I can imagine...

First deer, in 1967 Colt 12 ga. with a Winchester 1 oz. slug.
First elk, hasn't happened yet, but it will be with my Whelen and 250 grain rn Hornady.
First muledeer 6mm Rem. 85 grain Barnes

First critter was a pronghorn with a 22-250.
Shot my first deer a week or two later with the same rifle.
No elk.

First elk, a hand me down 30wcf made in 1916...
First deer, a blacktail, the next year with a 700ADL 7mag. I traded my dad rifles for the day...

first whitetail deer single shot 16 ga #1buckshot
first whitetail buck remington 700ADL 270
first mule deer ruger 77 tang 7 x 57

First Deer, Bear Grizzly recurve cedar shafts and Zwicky 4 blades

First Deer gun, T.C. Hawken .50, 90 gr FF Goex black powder, Speer round ball

First Deer rifle, Mauser 98 in .308, 45 grains 4064, 165 gr NBT

No Elk to date after four bow hunts.

First Hog, bow, Hoyt Huntmaster Recurve, Cedar shafts Zwickey 4 blades

First Hog, rifle, Mauser 98 in .308, 45 grains 4064, 165 gr NBT

First deer.... 12g Slug *Near Albert Lea, MN
First Buck..... .243 (100g psp) *Near Mobridge, SD
First elk..... 7mm Mag (160g Fail Safe) *Rochford, SD
First hog..... Arrow (125g Thunderhead I believe?)
*Somewhere in TN

First deer was with my ADL 243. Factory federal hollow points....prolly was 85 gr game kings if I had go guess?

First deer (4x4 muley) - 180 gr Copper Point Expanding, Imperial (or was it Dominion?) Ammo, .303 Brit., Lee Enfield, circa 1968. (Still have that rifle in my safe.)

First elk (6x5)- Circa 2001, 200 gr Sierra GameKing, Federal Premium, .300 WM, Vanguard.

First deer.... Ruger 77 .25/06, WW factory load with 120 gr. "positive expanding point", MV unknown. (1977)

First elk.... Browning A-Bolt .270 Win, 130 gr. handloaded Speer Grand Slam, MV 3050. (1984)

The Browning still sees action every year.

First deer,1965 with a Savage 1899 Take-down (1915)in 250-3000 caliber. 100 grain Remington cor-lockts round nose.
Still have that rifle.

First deer was with a .270 Browning BAR shooting 130gr Ballistic tips.

First whitetailed deer = 12 gauge shotgun with remington sluggers
First mule deer = 30/378 Weatherby
First elk = Archery equipment
First hog = Archery equipment
First antelope = Archery equipment

First wt deer - Browning Safari .270 Win. 130gr. Factory Hornady SP.

First elk - Rem. 700 300 Win. Mag. 200gr. Federal Premium Trophy Bonded Bear Claw.

First muley - see first elk.

First Deer Buck Marlin 336 30-30 with what ever amo Peet's Hardware had that would work (Remington IIRC )1968

Hog 454 Causull in a Freedom Arms 83

My first deer was also shot with a 1966 Remington Model 700 BDL .270, though I was only a teenager, didn't know about reloading so was shooting standard Winchester 130 grain Silvertips.

First deer with a .284 Winchester, 130 Speer handload in 1967.
First elk with a .30'06, 180 Nosler Solid Base/Hercules ReLoader 21 handload which also worked fine on several deer through the years.

First Deer - Marlin 30-30 with Factory 150gr Cor-lokt
First Hog - Ruger 270 win with Factory 130gr Win PowerMax
First Elk is still out there waiting to die.

Old Sears and Roebuck 30-30 carbine made by Winchester in the 1950`s Winchester SilverTip Ammo.
Eight point buck that field dressed 168 lbs.
My first and to date BEST Buck ever!!!
1/30/1983
AMRA

First whitetail deer was with a Rem600 in 243 using 100gr corelokts in PA.
First muledeer was with a Rem760 243 also using 100gr corelokts in AZ.
My first elk was with a Ruger77 (pushfeed) 30-06 using a 180gr Nosler Partition in ID.

RH

First deer was with a Win Mod 70 in .243 win using 100gr coreloks
First elk was a couple days later with the same rifle and load, all in MT

1st Muley=M77/270 with 130 Sierra BT, 55/IMR4350

1st Whitey=M77/270 with 130 Sierra BT, 55/IMR4350

1st Elk=M77/270 with 130 Sierra Bt, 55/IMR4350

1st Lope=M77/243 with 100 Sierra BT, 42/IMR4350

1st Bruin=M77/270 with 140 Horn Bt, 53/IMR4350


Dober


thinking I should grab a .270 and try it some time

My first deer I killed w/ a single shot 20ga. and two slugs per tradition at my family's shack. My dad and I went and sat on the ground against two trees in a pine grove and waited quietly, after an hour or so, he fell asleep, shortly after that, two does and a fawn came out and started feeding in front of us, so I raised my grandpa's borrowed H&R single shot 20 ga., aimed at the bigger of the two does, but I was shaking horribly, I also was whispering to my dad trying to get him to wake up, but he was out for the count, so I took a couple of deep breaths and let them out slowly, gathered myself, took one more deep breath, took aim at the bigger doe again, and let it out as smoothly as I could back then while squeezing the trigger,shot the doe and scared the living crap out of my dad at the same time. There was no blood, just fur, but I watched what way it ran off luckily, and we found it roughly 75 yds. from where I shot it, it was still alive. I actually double lunged on the first shot, but when we got up to it, I felt bad that it was still suffering, so I put another slug in it's head, killing it instantly. I was 12 years old and on top of the world at that moment. So next season and every one after, it's been my goal to kill any deer I choose as fast as possible so as they don't spend a lot of time in pain and suffering, I feel I owe it to the animal, since their death is providing me with food. If they need another shot, so be it, I won't let one suffer just to say I killed it with one shot or bullet. Most of the time they don't need another, but I give'em one if they do, I feel it's the respectful thing to do. My first doe inspired how I harvest deer to this day. Btw, I'm not implying anyone has to do things my way, just sharing my feelings and opinion on the matter.

1st Whitetail.......Remington 870 12ga pump Rem slugger

1st WT with rifle...Rem 700 7mmMag 154gr Hornady SP

1st WT with bow.....Oneida Scream'in Eagle Thunder head BH

1st Mule deer.......Rem 700 Classic .300 Weatherby 180gr TBBC

1st Axis Deer.......Kampfeld Custom .257 Weatherby 100gr TSX

1st Elk.............TC Omega 50 cal MZ'er 405gr PB

1st Antelope........Savage Striker Pistol 7mm-08 140gr BT

1st Bear............Rem 700 Classic .300 Weatherby 180gr NP

1st Caribou.........Rem 700 Classic.300 Weatherby 180gr NP

1st Hog.............Kampfeld Custom .257 Weatherby 100gr TSX

1st WT ..... .50 T/C Hawken, maxi ball/Pyrodex

1st WT with CF........12 ga 870, Win sabot

1st WT with CF rifle........Ackley Bob, 100 Horn SP/RL19

1st Hog.......41 Mag Blackhawk, 250 LBT

Pete

1st deer 1974, a 7 pt. in SE La. Win. 1894 30-30, Win. 170 grn. St.

No deer at the time where I grew up in East Texas. First deer was at age 16 in Georgetown, Texas. Shot him with my Remington 788 .30-30 at about 100 yards. It had a Galaxy 2-1/2X scope. One shot with DWM 170 gr. ammo. Still have the brass. That would have been in 1969. Was in Austin paper because he was such a big bodied deer.

First deer..1949 .257 Bob..7 years old
First elk...1955...270 Win

1st WT doe with a 20ga. double barrel Savage and a 7/8 ounce "punkin ball" slug
2nd WT buck with a 20ga duble barrel Savage and a 7/8 ounce "punkin ball" slug
3rd WT buck with a .357 160 grn soft point from a 6 in. Colt Python.

All taken in Madison County Iowa. kwg

Just don't go to Texas!

First buck and just so happened to be be a mulie as well, I used my blue steel/wood Ruger M77 MKII 30-06 w/ a Bushnell Trophy or Banner w/ Circle-X reticle I bought myself at 16 and handloads I made using Winchester brass, Winchester 8 1/2 primers, Hornady 165gr BTSPs, and 59gr of IMR 4350. My dad took me and out to Wyoming mulie hunting with him, we were walking up a hilly road when my dad spotted a fork mulie at a lasered 200yds. up a ridge in front of us, so I took off the safety as quietly as possible, squeezed that heavy ass trigger, and bang,flop. My dad didn't see it drop, so he thought I missed it, or made a bad shot, so we argued about it all the way up the ridge, and when we got to the top, there it was, dead as a doornail. After we got the deer cut up and packaged, I took a look at my fired case, and it said 270 Winchester on it. At first I thought I shot my buck w/ a 270 round, then I though about it more and realized I resized it and loaded it up w/a 30 Cal. 165gr Hornady. I was 16 yrs. old, and that was the coolest hunting adventure I had ever been on at the time, I still like Wyoming quite a bit, to me it's like a whole different country because of the scenery and remoteness of the cattle ranch we used to hunt. That next year I was finally able to afford my own reloading manual and I bought the most current Hornady manual at the time, #6, read it front to back at least three times, learned about excessive pressure, and realized my folly w/ my reloads at the time. When my dad taught me to reload, he told me nothing of excess pressure, working up, or the like, so I took a load out of my grandpa's 1960's NRA reloading manual which he gave to my dad, and it was Winchester brass and primer, the Hornady 165gr SP, and 59gr of DuPont 4350. So I loaded it up and used it for a year not knowing any different, they shot pretty well, so I figured everything was fine. One day at the range, my uncle shot my rifle, and said it kicked pretty hard, I didn't think much of it because he used a 25-06, so I figured he was just being a wimp and the 30-06 was supposed to thump you fairly hard because it was such a powerful round, and I was so happy to have my own rifle, it honestly could've been a 300 Win. Mag and I would've shot the crap out of it. After I read my new manual though I looked at my brass and there was shiny extractor marks on the case heads, so I threw that brass out, started over, and worked up to 57gr which is max. in the Hornady manual, without incident or pressure signs, and stopped there with even better accuracy, and now I'm super anal and always double and triple checking load data and everything else when reloading.

First deer elk and bear were all with a Ruger 77 SS/boat paddle .270, VXII 3-9 and 130 gr NP's circa 1988

I shot my first buck November 18th 1987 with a model 94 Trapper in .30-30 using Remington 170 grain core-lokt's. It was a beautiful 7 point and I was hunting with a group of high school friends.

Only shot 2 big game animals in my life.
Both shot on 2008 with a 7mm RM
First deer a mule deer doe at over 200yds with 140gr Winchester Supreme CT
Antelope October that year with the same gun, but with Federal Premium ammo with 160gr Nosler Partitions (also planning on a failed elk hunt that year).
Anteloped dropped on the spot, deer went less than 20yds

If you had used 30-06 brass you probably would have missed the buck al together. The 270 part turns the bullet into a heat seeking missle.

! Too Funny.

Got my first whitetail in 1987 in Missouri with a Ruger #1V 6mm Rem topped with a Burris 2-7x Compact shooting handloaded Hornady 100 gr BTSP.

Got my first antelope in Wyoming in 1993 with a Ruger 77 Mk II LH in 30-06 topped with a Burris 2-7x shooting a handloaded 150 gr Ballistic Tip. 380 yards.

Got my first hog in Oklahoma in 1993 with a Marlin 1895 45-70 topped with a Burris 1.75-5x and shooting a handloaded 300 gr Sierra HP.

Got my first elk in 1996 in Colorado with a Winchester 70 push feed 338 Win mag topped with a Burris 2-7x and shooting a handloaded 210 gr Barnes boat tail original X.

My first mule deer was with my bow in 1997 in Colorado.

Rem 700 classic 257 roberts

First wt was about 1968-sporterized M94 Swede with Herters manlicher style stock...probably Norma factory loads, 156 softpoints that stuck out forever!

Blacktailed deer- Marlin 336 30-30

I bought one box of 139 gr Norma and got 20 one shot kills with it. Never bought another box of factory loads for my 6.5 x 55 collection. Shot mostly 160 gr Hornady and they made the rounds look way top heavy, but killed stuff dead every time I shot it at game.

I shot my first deer when I was 13 with a Remington Model 7 in .243 Win. I was using the first rounds that I had ever handloaded, a minimum load of IMR4350 behind a 85 Nosler Partition. My grandpa rattled him up, and he had us pegged. He started walking away so my grandpa grunted, he turned his head and I put one in his neck. DRT at 50 yards. Good times.

My 1st deer was shot with a Savage 99F---300 savage. 180 Remington Core-lokt. Bushnell Scopechief 4X.

1st elk----30/06 Model 700LH topped with a Leupold VarX-III 2.5x8 180 grain Core-lokt----factory load. Being using that combo since 78.

1st handload was bighorn sheep same 30/06. Used 56 grains of IMR4350 & 180 Hornady spire point--interlock.

I remember when Russell Tinsley was the ourdoors writer for the Austin American-Statesman! ("American" was the morning edition, and the "Statesman" the evening) If I remember correctly ,in those days the Saturday morning paper sports section was the one that had all the game and fish photos from the locals. Now those were the days!!!!! I suppose if you went so far as to post such pics in the current Austin editions, it would be tantamout to committing murder or som other heinous crime against humanity....

K

first deer Mossberg 20ga

first elk stick and string

First deer = Ithaca Model 66 single shot 20 gauge, Remington Sluggers

First deer: Model 07 Winchester. Factory .351 SL ammo, Imperial brand 180 grain.

First whitetail - doe - approx. 4 yrs ago in S AL with a Rem. 710 in 30-06 using 150gr corelokt.

Pulled the trigger on that gun 4 times while I owned it and killed 3 deer. Used it as partial trade for Browning A-bolt in 300wsm with a Nikon Monarch.

Used the A-bolt with 150gr Fusion three weeks ago to kill my first buck. 10 point with 20in inside spread.

No opportunity to hunt elk yet but hoping. Even recently bought an older gentleman's elk gun that he last used back in the early 90's for the purpose. 700 BDL in 300 Win Mag.

1st deer, Win 94, 30-30, was new, was a pre-64, what else?
Actually, in my home county in South Georgia, the deer population was zero between around 1900 until the 1960's when a few were released on the creek by the Georgia Game and Fish Dept. Numbers increased rapidly and now deer everywhere...unsafe to drive after dark.
Looking for a panther return as well as when the deer disappeared in 1900...so did the panther. Guess coyotes are doing the job instead!

First deer was shot on opening day Nov 17 (my birthday) in Oklahoma with a Italian made Winchester Model 1866 "Yellow Boy" in .44-40

1st whitetail buck- Win. 94 in 30-30
1st Elk- LH Rem. Custom KS in 300 Win. mag
1st Muley- Win 70 in 270
1st Antelope- Win. 70 in 270
1st Bear- Win. 70 in 30-06

Whitetail-Remington 660 .243 Winchester/factory 100 gr sp (8 years old)
Elk- .451 cal Whitworth Rifle replica/600 gr hexagonal bolt 100 grains FFG!
Mule Deer - 7x57 Mauser/162 gr hornady btsp 52 gr H4831/2nd muley .375 H&H/235 gr speer and 80 or so grains of imr 4064!

Remington 740, 30-06 loaded with IMR4831 and 150 grain Sierras.

Deer: .50 Muzzle Loader

Hog: .25wssm with 115g BST

Buck: .338 Federal 185g TSX

First deer and elk were with a 700 BDL in .270 WCF. 150 grain factory loaded Core Lokts.

Older Gents !!! I'm just a 12 year old kid trapped in an older mans body,
1st Deer, Surplus 6.5 Swede Mauser, around $30 for it at Warshalls in Seattle in the late 60's IIRC
1st Elk Mdl.71 Winchester, 250gr. Silvertip

Wt. Deer: Remington 870 Express, 20 gauge, Remington Slugger
Mulie: Sporterized 96 mauser,6.5x55, Norma Alaska 156gr.
Elk: Same as mulie, just with handloaded 160gr. Sierra

First deer shot with a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in .270 Win.

First deer - T/C Thunderhawk - 90grs FF 275gr T/C Maxi Ball - 1998

First rifle deer - Remington 700 Mountain Rifle .260 Remington 140gr Federal Sierra Gameking - 2000

First deer: Rem 760 .30-06 W/factory 180 gr Core Lokt, 1957

First elk: Win. Model 70 .30-06 w/factory 150 gr Silvertip, 1961

1st deer Swiss K-31 about 1972 norma ammo
1st black bear Ruger super blackhawk 240gr SP Magtec ammo,last year

First deer, around 1957-1958 with M760 Rem. pump in .270 Win. 160 gr. Dominion Kling Kor over 56 gr. of original H-4831 surplus.

First moose, 1963 or 1964 with the above combination. Actually the majority of my moose have been taken with .270's of one flavour or another and usually with a 150 gr Partition.

Jim

First Whitetail, H&R 20 ga single shot 6 pt (Eastern count) 1966
First Mule Deer. 7 RM
First Elk, 300 WM

First deer 25-06
first antelope 25-06
first elk 378 WBY

First deer [doe] .410 slug
First elk [bull] 338-378 Wby 250 Barnes X

Deer & buck (same deer): Marlin .30-30 w/factory ammo (can't recall which)

Archery deer: Bear Super Kodiak

ML deer & buck (same deer): Thompson Center TreeHawk

Pig: CZ550 9.3x62

Turkey: Spanish Mauser converted to 7.62NATO with a 147 grain surplus FMJ

Bear: Remington 700 .30-06, 168 TTSX

VA, what's a TreeHawk?

Never mind, googled it. Looks pretty cool.

deer -280
feral hog - 30/30
skunk - 255/75-15

It sucked, actually.

Well, it looked cool. Not that I'm in the market, I have three T/C in-lines and a Hawken.

A 338WM Rem 700BDL with 200g Horn bullets at about 2800Ft/sec

1st deer - sporterized 30-06 180gr silvertip coues whitetail buck 1982

1st elk - same sporterized 30-06 180gr silvertip bull elk 1986

First deer no 4 mk 1 Lee emfield 180 gr factory dominion KKSP
First Moose No elk. Pre 64 winchester 70 featherweight. 180 gr old style silvertip handloads. Average retained wt 129 grains.

First deer with Ruger #1A 7x57, factory Federal 140g Sierra.
First elk with Rem. 700 Ti .280 Rem., handloaded 150g TSX over RL22.

My first deer was a small 8 I took with a Remington 721 in 30/06 loaded with factory 150gr corelocks. I think it was about 1978.



My first and only Elk, was a spike taken with a Hart barreled .270 shooting 140gr Hornady BTSPs loaded to 3076fps. Complete pass through. Elk was DRT. That was in 1990 or 1991.

John

Wow you can really age the posters by the hardware they were using.

My daughter hunts with a Stevens Favorite, and a Savage 99. She started at 12 and is only 23 now. Some youngsters eschew traditions, others do not. She has chosen the route she has because she hunts the same bush her great grandfather, grandfather, and father hunted. She opines the equipment they used is proven to work.

I respect her choices, and attitude, and have returned to my routes again from a fling with magnumitis. The old classics still work well. I am glad I never sold them. I did get rid of a 3006 that I replaced with a Tikka a couple years ago.

Randy

...or clothes they were wearing or vehicles they were using, etc. Sure brings back great memories.

Deer - 7mm RM 140 Sierras Winchester M70
Elk - 338 WM 200 NBT Sako AV Fiberclass

first whitetail deer 30/30 factory loads 1987
first bear 416 rem handloads 2000
first sitka blacktail 7RM handloads 2002
first mule deer 7RM handloads 2005
first elk 338 rum factory loads 2008
first antelope 338 rum handloads 2010

First deer, 1972 (Oregon Blacktail) Rem 742 30-06, Dad's 180 gr Nosler Partition handloads (with the cannalure rings...)

First elk-1979 (Oregon Rocky), compound bow
First mulie-1978 (Oregon) compound bow

First whitetail-1988 (Georgia) .44 Mag pistol 240 handloads
First hog-1988 (Georgia) .44 mag pistol. 240 handloads

Last elk-2000 (Oregon Roosey) .54 Muzzleloader
Last deer- Georgia whitetail a week ago. .308 w/handloads..
Last hog- a few weeks ago, .308 w/handloads

First deer: .270 Win. 130 gr. Ballistic Silvertip
First elk: .270 Win. 150 gr. Nosler Partition

First two whitetails: 1977, 220 Swift in Ruger 77 Tang Safety with factory Shilen barrel.

The stupid stupid man I see in the mirror every day traded that gun away. What an idiot he is/was.

Indeed. And, many of them had some nice stuff back then they should have never let get away from them !! I am 52.

Wow, guys. Great response to the topic!

What I found most onteresting was the amount of shotguns used; esp, 20 gauges. I don't know if a lot of those were in short range only areas but I still find it fascinating that so many scatterguns were used.

I'm still looking for my first elk but along with the WT my first muley was a Kimber 84M 7-08 with Nosler 160 Accubonds at about 2750 fps. 46 grains of H414 was pushing it and it was a steep raking shot back-to-front with complete pass through and dead right there (lasered 200 yds).

Thanks for all the replies and keep 'em coming!

My first deer was killed with a 1948 vintage Ithaca model 37, 16 gauge, 28 inch barrel, no sights, Remington slug. Range was under ten yards. Heart was smashed, deer ran bout fifty feet. That was in 1965.

My first deer was a 4X3 whitetail, shot with a M94 30-30 and 170 grain Imperials at 40-50 yards. The second was the doe standing beside it, and the third shot was at the first buck when he got back up and moved toward me. The noise must have inspired the doe to greater effort so I had to put down again when it got up and moved away. The buck got up again and was subsequently flattened at about 20 yards. The doe, with one shot through the ribs and one through the shoulders pushed herself into the bush where I followed up and shot it again. This may be the only case of a 1894 going full auto, but I was still a few years away from shaveing and didn't appreciate the rarity of that event. I had a .270 real soon after that.Some of the caseing were still in the air.

My first moose: .270
First mule-deer .270
First pronghorn .270
First elk 7mm STW
First grizzly .338 Win
First crap load of things .375 H&H

First deer was taken with a T/C Contender 10" barrel in .357/.44 Bain & Davis.

My first deer was killed with a Weatherby Vanguard 25-06. Not sure of the bullet, but I would guess 115 grain nosler partitions that my dad would have reloaded. Age 14.

My first Elk was taken with an Inline muzzleloader 100 grains of Pyrodex RS and can't remember the bullet weight, but they were called deerslayers. Age 15.

Killed my first deer with a Winchester 670A in 30-06 and cheap Prvi-Partisan ammo........in 1988,...I got a late start...:-)I was 30...

First deer 1979, 700 ADL 30-06, hunted with the same rifle until about 2004 when I bought a 7-08. Both kill deer about the same, 7-08 a lot easier on the shoulder. Going to give the 243 a try this year with 80 grain ttx.

My first deer was with my marlin 30/30 and a bushnell sportsview in see through mounts.

First deer: 223 with 55gr Hornady's
First elk: 375 h&h with 270gr XLC's

first elk 30-06 M77 180gr NPT's 1990.
First deer 270 130gr coreloct 2001

First deer, bear, pig all with a Winchester M94 .30-30, still using it 40 years later, though not as much.

First Deer, Savage 219, 30-30 Win, don't know what bullet,1959.
First Elk, Ruger 77ts, 7x57 Mauser, 160 gr Hawk bullet,1995.

First deer: Rem. 700 Classic 7X57, 140 grain NBT handloads

First deer was a doe taken with a Marlin 336 (1977 vintage) in 30-30 using 150gr Winchester power points (I believe). I had borrowed it from the man that would become my father-in-law. He had never fired the rifle, and gave it to me after I shot the doe with it.

I'll never sell that gun.

1st deer, Savage 340 30-30.
1st elk, Rem 700 30-06 w/200gr Speer

First deer: 6.5 x 50 Japanese in a self-sporterized Arisaka using Norma factory loads with a 139 grain bullet -- over 40 years ago.

I am 39 and killed my first deer Nov 17, 1989. Used my uncle's 303 british and I forget the bullet. My dad and uncle were there with me. Good time.

Remington 7400 .270.....iron sights.

Deer - Browning Nomad Deluxe bow (first 5 deer actually)
Elk - Browning A-bolt 300WM w/ Remington Safari 200 grain swift a-frame

First deer Rem 760 30-06.
First buck Rem 760 30-06.
First deer with a handgun S&W 629 .44 mag. 240gr XTP.
First buck with a handgun S&W 629 .44 mag with 210gr SJHP.

First "deer" (moose) - M670 Winchester 30-06, 190 Hornady Interlock

first caribou - M788 Remington 22-250 - 50 Sierra Blitz

first whitetail - M670 30-06 again, 150 Partition

first bear, a blackie - M1895 Marlin 45-70, 385 soft cast rn

First deer, Rem 700 BDL 243 100g corelokt
First black bear, Rem 700 BDL 243 105g Speer spitzer handload 3000 fps
First elk, Rem 700 BDL 243 105g Speer spitzer handload 3000 fps
First grizzly, Rem 700 BDL 270 Win 150g Nosler handload 3050 fps

First moose 257 Bob 117gr Hornady

Deer 30-06 180gr Federal Hi Shok Soft point.

Elk same as deer.

1974: Browning Auto 5 with cut down stock in 20 gauge. Used 3" 00 Buckshot on a little 8 Point.

1976: Marlin 336C in 35 Cal. Used 200 Gr. Core-Lokt on my first piggie maybe 120 lbs.

Never hunted Elk.

A pre-64 Winchester M70 Featherweight with a 4x Bear Cub mounted.

First deer: 165-gr. Hornady handload from a Rem 600 .308.

First elk: 180-gr. NP in the Federal High Energy load from a Rem 700 30-06.


Kind of a nice progression on a number of fronts, eh?

Both were Remington 760 in 30-06 back in the early '60s.

First Deer: 44 LB Browning Wasp recurve on October 21, 1978 in Green County, Ga.

Glen

Mojohand;
Thanks for the interesting thread and thanks to all who've responded to make it a good read.

My first deer was a whitetail buck shot near the Torch River in northern Saskatchewan in 1976. I shot it with Dad's Winchester Model 100 in .308 and likely was using 180gr Imperial factory ammo.

Strangely, my first big game animal was a kongoni shot near the Rift Valley in Kenya in the last days of 1975. I used a pre-'64 .30-06 and RWS factory ammo.

My first mule deer was in 1981 here in BC shot with a Browning BBR in .30-06 with Remington Bronze Point 150gr. bullets. It was the only animal I've shot with that bullet to date.

The first and lone moose thus far was 2004 I think, shot with a much modified tang Model 77 that was rebarreled to .308 Norma, lauching 220gr Hornady RN that morning.

I've yet to find a legal - 6 point required - elk here, but when I do I'll report back to you all.

Thanks again for the interesting reading folks.

Regards,
Dwayne

First Whitetail: 12 ga. High Standard pump with Remington
Slugger Foster type slugs.
First Mule Deer: 300 WSM handload running 150 gr. Accubonds
at 3207 fps.
First Antelope: 25-06 handload running Sierra 117 gr. Pro-
Hunters at 3228 fps.
First Elk: Maybe someday. Want to use the 300 WSM most likely
with 180 gr. Partitions.

First moose - circa 1965 with a JC Higgins 30-06 and open sights. Had a handful of bullets - I think a 150 did the deed.

First deer - a 22LR.

First bear - 12 guage with SSG Spl.

Most of my game animals since have been laid to rest with either a 30-06 or a 300 mag and I seriously prefer the 30-06.

1st elk, Ruger M77 7mm RM, 162g Hornady BTSP
1st deer, same rifle, 160g Grand Slam

A late start to deer hunting, took my first at age 31. The first deer was a small 8 point Texas buck. He was walking with his head down, 200 yards away, and the wind was blowing fairly hard in a crosswind. I held over his head, and hit him behind the shoulder. He went 15-20 feet and piled up, probably the best shot I have ever made. I still have the rifle, a Browning B78 high wall, .25-06, shooting Nosler 100gr ballistic tips.

My only mule deer in California, a young 3x3, fell to a Browning A-bolt Micro in .308. Managed a few other deer since those.

I am still haunted by a shed antler another hunter showed me in the Inyo mountains of California. Rodents had eaten most of the antler, but about 8 inches of base remained, and it was as large as my wrist. Still want a big mulie someday, as well as an elk.

First deer - 12 gauge 3" Browning A-5 with #1 Buckshot out of a modified barrel. I shot the little spike buck in the face at about 10 yards.

First elk - M70 Stainless Classic 7mm RM shooting 160 grain Barnes TSX reloads. It was a one shot kill at about 150 yards.

First antelope - The same M70 7mm RM and same load.

First Mule Deer - 30-30 from a Marlin 336.
First White Tail Deer - 30-30 from a Marlin 336
First Antelope - 30-30 from a Marlin 336
First Elk - 30-30 from a Marlin 336
First Black Bear - 30-30 from a Marlin 336

All of these kills took place back in the day before internet and I didn't know that a 30-30 wouldn't kill squat.

First deer: Remington 870 federal 1 oz fosters slug. First (and only) elk: Ruger M77 MK II in 30-06 running a 180 grain Nosler partition over a book max load of Ramshot Hunter.

1st deer was with a Winchester Model 12, 16 ga. it was modified to shoot 2 3/4" shells and i was using winchester paper cartridge slugs....

1st, and only elk was with a takedown Savage 99, in .300 savage... Unknown load... my uncle had handed me a mixed handful of cartridges, and sent me hunting...

First deer....5x5 200+ lb. MN whitetail shot with a Winchester 30/30 that I got on my 11th birthday.
Also shot a P&Y Couse deer (1st and only Cous) with bow at 10 yards.
First Elk.... was a P&Y 5x5 I shot with a Bear Flare II bow. This was my first ever elk hunt and it was self guided. I called the bull in after an hour and a half of bugling/cow calling. Shot it braodside at 12 yards. I have shot more elk with archery tackle than I have with firearms.
First Moose....small fork horned bull shot with a 30'06 a tad over 100 yds with 180 gr. Hornady Interlock handload.

My first deer was taken with an old, borrowed, army surplus Enfield .303 British. Iron sights, head shot at about 20 or 30 feet.

My first elk was last fall. My customized Model 70 in .338wm. On a remote mountaintop in northern BC. The elk was running at about 125 yards, double lung, the elk just piled up. 250 grain Nosler Partition, 73 grains of H4831sc.

Hunting in our family traditionally starts with waterfowl and I do remember shooting ducks and geese in 2nd grade with my Grandfather�s 12 gauge single shot that I still have. Even with reduced loads that thing kicked like a mule! Big game hunting was based on a strange tradition started in my Dad�s youth that you earned your right to big game hunt by killing a magpie with bow an arrow, legend harking back to an elder who had a stalk on a huge deer blown by one of the raucous creatures and then developed an undying hatred for them. Fact is the darn things are actually pretty wiley and hard to sneak up on to within 30# recurve bow range. Anyway, I finally accomplished it at age 9 and took my first deer, a small 4 point mulie that year with a Bear recurve that, like the shotgun, I still have. First elk, a cow, followed 3 years later with a Jennings �Expert Hunter� two wheeled hanger bracket compound. With rifle first critters were a 3x4 whitetail and a 13� antelope, both killed with a Remington .30-06 at age 10.

great post , one of the best I've ever seen, don't let Al Gore's invention ever alter your reality Allen Magnum Man

First deer; Savage M110 243
First archery deer; Jennings Stealth
First handgun deer; Ruger SRH 44 mag