Author Topic: Bison in the Freezer (Read 3346 times)

Ken ONeill · « **on:** April 04, 2011, 04:01:46 AM »

I just returned from spending a few days in Nebraska hunting bison on the snow covered plains and sandhills. After approaching a herd first spotted in the furthest open plains area shown in the photo below, I was able to set up an ambush spot concealed in the treeline shown over my right shoulder.

As the herd slowly grazed in my direction and past me, this bull was taken at 56 yards with one shot from my 6" octagon barreled FA Mdl. 83 in .500 Wyoming Express. The bull ran about 50 yards and dropped. The 350 gr. XTP @ 1350 fps penetrated both lungs, just missing the heart, and exited. Plenty of meat in the freezer!

Here's the revolver:

drdougrx · « **Reply #1 on:** April 04, 2011, 05:11:05 AM »

Very, very nice job!!!! I'd LOVE to do another bison!!!!!

sixshot · « **Reply #2 on:** April 04, 2011, 05:50:35 AM »

Hey Ken, nice job on the bison! Looks a little nippy with all that snow. Congratulations!

Dick

Elwood · « **Reply #3 on:** April 04, 2011, 06:06:27 AM »

That is a great photo!
I'm glad that you had a sucessfull hunt. Thank you for sharing your story with us.
Elwood

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #4 on:** April 04, 2011, 07:04:13 AM »

Ken

Excellent! Great photo and looks like you had a great time, at least up until after the photo....then the work started

The 350 gr. XTP @ 1350 fps penetrated both lungs, just missing the heart, and exited. I wonder how that can be when a lot of "experts" tell us that only a heavy hardcast bullet will do for such. According to many of them your XTP should have blown up on entry and failed miserably. Now I do love my cast bullets but there is certainly something to be said for XTPs

All that aside, great shot and a wonderful trophy (should be some very good eating also).

Larry Gibson

Silvertp · « **Reply #5 on:** April 04, 2011, 07:40:29 AM »

Looks like you had a great hunt and collected a large freezer load of fine eating!

What are your plans for the hide and skull?? Ive always thought a tanned buffalo hide would be wonderful.

Silvertp

S.B. · « **Reply #6 on:** April 04, 2011, 10:14:44 AM »

Nice job Ken, congratulations.
Steve

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #7 on:** April 04, 2011, 12:09:16 PM »

Silvertp,
I left the hide with friends in Nebraska. The skull will probably be mounted on a plaque, and displayed with a couple others.

Silvertp · « **Reply #8 on:** April 04, 2011, 12:52:47 PM »

Good for you, that bull will make a nice skull mount and a good reminder of your hunt.

I don't know if you have ever had your skulls cleaned by dermaticide beetles, but the last skull I had done turned out wonderful. The beetles eat everything and makes finishing off the skull a pleasant experience.

Silvertp

Mohawk · « **Reply #9 on:** April 04, 2011, 01:10:27 PM »

Nice Work! Got some great meat there.

Mikey · « **Reply #10 on:** April 04, 2011, 02:12:24 PM »

Ken: very nice, very nice indeed. Congradulations.

Hey Doug: I'll back ya up, just lemme know what you're thinkin'....

Ak.Hiker · « **Reply #11 on:** April 04, 2011, 06:03:16 PM »

Very impressive performance from a handgun. Nice shooting. It looks like the Hornady 350 grain MagTip XTP is a pretty tough bullet. I know they have a very thick jacket from testing them out in the 454 300 grain loading.

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #12 on:** April 05, 2011, 02:33:36 AM »

I've used the .475 400 gr. XTP even more than the .500 350 gr. XTP and .45 cal. Magnum XTP. All three are excellent. The original 300 gr. 45 cal. XTP (not Magnum) is too soft for .454 velocities in my experience - but it sure will expand.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #13 on:** April 05, 2011, 03:03:55 AM »

ken if you dont mind me asking what did it cost and what did it weight? Prices around here on them has doubled in the last year. By the way great job!

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #14 on:** April 05, 2011, 03:10:43 AM »

Congratulations Ken

drdougrx · « **Reply #15 on:** April 05, 2011, 04:36:58 AM »

Hey Mikey! I'm think'n of a giganto herd bull and my 480ruger with a 375gr LWNGC at 1200fps and a pint'o Guinness to celebrate. You in?

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #16 on:** April 05, 2011, 06:08:17 AM »

Lloyd,
PM sent. Yep, bison meat and bison hunt prices have increased in the last few years.

Mikey · « **Reply #17 on:** April 05, 2011, 07:19:08 AM »

Doug: Sounds good.

temmi · « **Reply #18 on:** April 05, 2011, 08:41:09 AM »

You ARE the MAN!

irold · « **Reply #19 on:** April 05, 2011, 01:42:27 PM »

Nice Job , good photo. I can only dream ! I'd settle for a good bear hunt with my handgun. Glad ya mentioned the XTP. I have a lot of faith in the XTPs.

regards, irold

tanoose · « **Reply #20 on:** June 05, 2011, 06:58:28 PM »

Nice Ken congrats, what kind of rear sight are you using?

ratgunner · « **Reply #21 on:** June 06, 2011, 01:53:58 PM »

Congrats, that's something I'd love to do.

temmi · « **Reply #22 on:** June 09, 2011, 12:42:29 PM »

Very nice...

I hope to hunt a cow with ny 480 Ruger.

Congrats

GMHNTR · « **Reply #23 on:** July 08, 2011, 07:45:50 AM »

I am planning on hunting out in South Dakota late Oct. Doe any one have experience with .45-70 loads and distance taken. I am currently loading some .45-70 loads in my Marlin. Any advise is appreciated.

Swede454 · « **Reply #24 on:** July 08, 2011, 10:43:39 AM »

Congrats on the Bison.
Where are you going to find a Zip Lock Bag that big?

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #25 on:** July 08, 2011, 12:09:55 PM »

Quote from: tanoose on June 05, 2011, 06:58:28 PM

Nice Ken congrats, what kind of rear sight are you using?

Sorry for the delayed response. I just saw your question. I use the standard FA Premier Grade rear sight, with my own undercut patridge front sight.

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #26 on:** July 08, 2011, 12:17:38 PM »

Quote from: GMHNTR on July 08, 2011, 07:45:50 AM

I am planning on hunting out in South Dakota late Oct. Doe any one have experience with .45-70 loads and distance taken. I am currently loading some .45-70 loads in my Marlin. Any advise is appreciated.

There were about a blue billion of 'em killed with the standard 405 gr. bullet at about 1300 fps or so in the 1870's - 80's, out to very long distances.
My own experience with .45-70's on animals the size of bison bulls is limited, but I did kill this ~ 1800 lb. Himalayan Yak in 1991 with a 405 gr. Remington bullet @ 1110 fps from a 12" Contender. One shot, under 50 yds., dropped without moving.

sixgunner · « **Reply #27 on:** July 10, 2011, 11:43:00 AM »

Way to go Ken. Nice looking 500

critter44 · « **Reply #28 on:** August 03, 2011, 04:41:01 AM »

Fantastic! What a great experience.

chefjeff · « **Reply #29 on:** August 03, 2011, 10:13:11 AM »

If you thought to save a hoof, it can be made into a neat ashtray,coffee table ornament.Buffalo sure have their own distinctive smell.