Author Topic: HANDI success stories (Read 19867 times)

godogz · « **Reply #270 on:** January 02, 2012, 11:33:06 PM »

Oh we have snow too . . .older pic in profile. Last morning of extended doe season in Mi, son was lucky to see one before a storm hit - and as they say meat in the freezer . . .

jeneks84k10 · « **Reply #271 on:** January 05, 2012, 12:12:21 PM »

Does a chicken count?

Looked out my front window a few minutes ago (I do from time to time when Im home to see if coyotes, deer, etc are in the field) saw something running accross the field, looked like a dog but couldnt quite tell what it was. Had my .223 sitting next to me, freshly modified and zeroed in, thought Id take a quick look through the scope. Prettiest grey coyote I have ever seen trotting along with a chicken in his mouth. I ran outside with the gun, plopped down in the yard with a rest and started looking. Found him in the scope so I made some barking noises. By the time he stopped I had lost him again and had to repostition and then he started running again. He was about 30 yards from being in the woods and about 300 from me. Couldnt get him to stop but I figured at his speed and the distance if I aim for the chicken I should hit the dog. Cocked the hammer, took a breath, and took aim. Fired the shot and out of a cloud of chicken feathers this coyote shot like rocket straight into the woods. Guess he wasnt going as fast as I thought.

rugerfan.64 · « **Reply #272 on:** January 05, 2012, 02:31:55 PM »

I hope you converted that yote into a vegan because you knocked all his teeth out. We can only hope for the best.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #273 on:** January 05, 2012, 03:13:43 PM »

Quote from: jeneks84k10 on January 05, 2012, 12:12:21 PM

Does a chicken count?

Looked out my front window a few minutes ago (I do from time to time when Im home to see if coyotes, deer, etc are in the field) saw something running accross the field, looked like a dog but couldnt quite tell what it was. Had my .223 sitting next to me, freshly modified and zeroed in, thought Id take a quick look through the scope. Prettiest grey coyote I have ever seen trotting along with a chicken in his mouth. I ran outside with the gun, plopped down in the yard with a rest and started looking. Found him in the scope so I made some barking noises. By the time he stopped I had lost him again and had to repostition and then he started running again. He was about 30 yards from being in the woods and about 300 from me. Couldnt get him to stop but I figured at his speed and the distance if I aim for the chicken I should hit the dog. Cocked the hammer, took a breath, and took aim. Fired the shot and out of a cloud of chicken feathers this coyote shot like rocket straight into the woods. Guess he wasnt going as fast as I thought.

GREAT STORY!! I LOVE IT!!!!

Ruger fan is right, you likely kilt him too, that chicken ain't much at stoppin' a bullet, just having it expand in him shows how fragile that bullet was! But its very likely he is containing quite a bit of shrapnel....

GOOD JOB! BTW HELL YEA it qualifies... for NEXT YEARS thread.

CW

thejanitor · « **Reply #274 on:** January 05, 2012, 06:14:24 PM »

Was the chicken already dead? We could have maybe counted it as a mercy killing, but we disqualified the cow mercy killing a few pages back. I love the story, but.... you were trying for the coyote... If I agree it could open a whole can of worms. So although to hit a chicken going the speed of a coyote at 300 yds when you were actually aiming at the chicken, I think you deserve some kind of merit badge. It just could be the "top shot" (except for the part about the coyote). Maybe repost the story about how the chicken was about to do crop damage 300 yds out and you smoked him in one shot.... Sorry.
Here is what I will do- Anyone want to PM me their "YES it counts" or "NO it doesn't" and I will update the tally Friday evening. I will stop counting the PMs after 7:00 pm Friday 1-6-12 MN time, It will be listed as (shooting a 300 yd dead chicken on the run .223 1) I will count it as the vote deems. You will have to trust me on the outcome, but your story deserves a chance (But you did miss the coyote, so this may not go the way you want...) But for fun- here we go. PMs ONLY don't post a ton of them here... I will not post who voted yes or no, but will give a total number of voters for and against. Thanks thejanitor

jeneks84k10 · « **Reply #275 on:** January 06, 2012, 02:26:59 AM »

GOOD JOB! BTW HELL YEA it qualifies... for NEXT YEARS thread.

CW

whoops, forgot it was next year

Anyway, I didnt figure it would count since I technically missed what I was aiming for and the chicken was already dead but thought it was a good story. I laughed about it for a while.

AtlLaw · « **Reply #276 on:** January 06, 2012, 04:08:59 AM »

Quote from: cwlongshot on January 05, 2012, 03:13:43 PM

GOOD JOB! BTW HELL YEA it qualifies... for NEXT YEARS thread.

Now wait just a chicken pluckin minute here!

We still got 2 weeks of deer season in Jawja! If I get a-nuthern will it count in the 2011 Handi success stories or will TJ have to start a new thread for 2012?

thejanitor · « **Reply #277 on:** January 06, 2012, 04:09:44 AM »

This is still going- through all deer seasons and even some coyote hunting after if you want to dig the thread back up to the top. But I wanted to Tally through the whole hunting season, and if yours is still going- cool. I know TX goes into later Jan as well.

About the dead Chicken.....I have no PMs on it yet this morning, But the fact you aimed at the chicken and hit the chicken is pretty funny. thejanitor

spikehorn · « **Reply #278 on:** January 06, 2012, 10:33:14 AM »

This should be about the 2011-2012 hunting season, In New York our hunting liscense runs from Oct. 1, 2011 to Sept 30, 2012. Just my 2 cents.

thejanitor · « **Reply #279 on:** January 06, 2012, 04:21:45 PM »

No one PMd about the chicken shot- so the tally stands.

Same tally,
45-70 18
.357 Max 14,
.280 1,
7mm08 5,
30-30 17,
.22 hornet 9,
Huntsman .50 5
35 Remington 3,
44 mag 11,
357 mag 10,
.500 4
444 Marlin 6
454 Casull 1
.243 Win 6
45 LC 2
.308 Win 6
USH 20 6
30-06 1
25 Remington re-bore 1
Tracker II 20 4
Tracker II 12 1
.223 Rem 7
20 ga pardner/smoothbore 3 (30 ducks & 1 grouse, 1 snow shoe hare)
Sidekick .50 1
38-55 1
270 1
thejanitor

rugerfan.64 · « **Reply #280 on:** January 07, 2012, 04:26:12 AM »

The primitive weapon season doesnt open here til Jan 18. So I wont be counting any til then with the 444 and it closes the end of Jan. So thats a prospective 12 deer for the 444. Down in MS zone 2 it runs to the middle of Feb. This is the 2011 2012 season.

silver surfer · « **Reply #281 on:** January 08, 2012, 01:23:47 PM »

Sat. stalked into an 8 pt. with the 45-70. 135 lbs. dressed. My son took pictures with his phone but hasn't down loaded them yet. That's #2 for me with the 45-70 this year, both with home rolled 325 grn. Hornady FTX's. In both deer the bullets fragmented. This time it was really bad; a shoulder shot at 60 yards knocked it down and Coupe De Grace from a 9 inch knife finished the job. During the autopsy the bullet exploded 2.5 inches into the shoulder and only a little fragment lodged between two vertabra in the lower kneck.

I will be upgrading to the Sierra 300 grn. similar to the Federal factory loading. They have served very well in the past and shoot very very good in the BC.

gendoc · « **Reply #282 on:** January 08, 2012, 01:30:20 PM »

Quote from: silver surfer on January 08, 2012, 01:23:47 PM

Sat. stalked into an 8 pt. with the 45-70. 135 lbs. dressed. My son took pictures with his phone but hasn't down loaded them yet. That's #2 for me with the 45-70 this year, both with home rolled 325 grn. Hornady FTX's. In both deer the bullets fragmented. This time it was really bad; a shoulder shot at 60 yards knocked it down and Coupe De Grace from a 9 inch knife finished the job. During the autopsy the bullet exploded 2.5 inches into the shoulder and only a little fragment lodged between two vertabra in the lower kneck. I will be upgrading to the Sierra 300 grn. similar to the Federal factory loading. They have served very well in the past and shoot very very good in the BC.

in that application, i've found the 300gr rem sjhp the best in hold together and expansion without frag.....
but i like the rem 405gr jfp the most of all my 45/70 projectiles. but thats just my opinion... i'm sure others will find fault with my likes......but, i don't really care

congrats on your forest groceries...........

thejanitor · « **Reply #283 on:** January 08, 2012, 02:21:18 PM »

Good Job Silver surfer, I will add it to the 45-70 instead of the knife category ( I think thats reserved for gutsy pig hunters)

New tally,
45-70 19
.357 Max 14,
.280 1,
7mm08 5,
30-30 17,
.22 hornet 9,
Huntsman .50 5
35 Remington 3,
44 mag 11,
357 mag 10,
.500 4
444 Marlin 6
454 Casull 1
.243 Win 6
45 LC 2
.308 Win 6
USH 20 6
30-06 1
25 Remington re-bore 1
Tracker II 20 4
Tracker II 12 1
.223 Rem 7
20 ga pardner/smoothbore 3 (30 ducks & 1 grouse, 1 snow shoe hare)
Sidekick .50 1
38-55 1
270 1
thejanitor

Slufoot · « **Reply #284 on:** January 08, 2012, 02:37:06 PM »

My season ended yesterday in VA. I had a totally Handi season with 4 deer in the freezer.
I shot 3 deer with my custom 45 caliber muzzleloader that I made from a 45-70 Handi and one deer with my 30-06 Handi.
The load I use in my muzzleloader pushes the Hornady 200 grain SST to 2400fps, sighted 2.5" high at 100 yards lets me hold on the vitals at 200+ yards. The first deer I shot with the ML was a doe at 150 yards, the SST right behind the shoulder let her go about 30 yards before piling up.
Deer #2 was a nice 7 point buck, he was about 80 yards in thick woods and walking at a very steady pace. I picked out the best opening in front of him that I could find and when his shoulder hit the opening I hit the trigger. At the shot he dropped like a sack of taters but I couldn't see him when he fell, I quickly reloaded and started making my way toward him. When I got about 20 yards from him I saw his rack move, he was laying with his belly toward me so I put another SST into the brisket between his front legs. When I skinned him out I found the SST under the hide above the spine, it was a classic mushroom and weighed 145 grains, almost 75% of it's original weight.
Deer #3 was taken with my 30-06 Handi and a 180 grain Speer Mag-Tip bullet. This was another doe and she was angling away at a very steep angle. I aimed for the off side front leg and hit the trigger. She went about 30 yards and piled up. The Mag-Tip hit the last rib on entrance and broke four ribs, then went through the boiler room and broke the off side shoulder and wound up in the dirt somewhere close to where she was standing. I think I'm going to like these Mag-Tips from Speer.
Deer #4 was taken in the late ML season. It was a 4 point buck about 25 yards away. I watched him come in from about 100 yards through the woods. I had my custum 45 caliber muzzleloader cocked and the crosshairs from the 3-9 Leupold on him the whole way in. When he got about 25 yards from me the wind shifted and his nose went straight up. I knew the gig was up and it was now or never, he turned his head to the side and the 200 grain SST went in his right eye and the lights were out.

GOOD SHOOTING!
Slufoot

gendoc · « **Reply #285 on:** January 08, 2012, 02:41:41 PM »

robert, you hadda amaze'n season with your great experiance....it always pays off when
ya know what ya do'n my friend..............

oneredbarn · « **Reply #286 on:** January 08, 2012, 03:09:02 PM »

Took two more squirrel with the 22 Hornet this morning. Still have a few more in the woods that need to meet up with a Handi rifle !

thejanitor · « **Reply #287 on:** January 08, 2012, 04:20:41 PM »

Another new custom Handi joins the tally- Thanks Slufoot! Sounds like that 45-70 turned muzzle loader is a deadly hunter.
And the Hornet is back out in the woods, Thanks oneredbarn!

New tally,
45-70 19
.357 Max 14,
.280 1,
7mm08 5,
30-30 17,
.22 hornet 11,
Huntsman .50 5
35 Remington 3,
44 mag 11,
357 mag 10,
.500 4
444 Marlin 6
454 Casull 1
.243 Win 6
45 LC 2
.308 Win 6
USH 20 6
30-06 2
25 Remington re-bore 1
Tracker II 20 4
Tracker II 12 1
.223 Rem 7
20 ga pardner/smoothbore 3 (30 ducks & 1 grouse, 1 snow shoe hare)
Sidekick .50 1
38-55 1
270 1
Custom Handi 45 cal muzzleloader 3
thejanitor

Jal5 · « **Reply #288 on:** January 10, 2012, 03:43:28 AM »

Shot a small spike Sat. afternoon with the 50 Cal. Sidekick. Didn't get to harvest the meat though.
Went out Sat. for muzzleloading saw nothing all morning till around 10 am. then went out again around 3pm. At last light, the last minutes of being able to see through the scope I see movement in the brush about 25 yds. in front of me, then I can't see it, then it steps out and I shoot right behind the shoulder like I always do and that rifle is dead on for 50 yds. But I cannot see any blood even though I think I hear it fall down further into the woods while I am looking for blood trail. Its dark so I decide to back out and took a gamble to wait until morning since I didn't want to push it over the property boundary. I should have waited a half hour then gone into those woods with a good flashlight. It was warm around 40 deg. until late into the evening that night. The next morning I found it not 30 yds away from where I hit it in the woods, but the shot went in just behind the shoulder and took an angle through the body blowing up the guts on the way out. I was using a PowerBelt in my inline ML and always got a pass through hit before. This time a nice clean entry wound but the exit wound was plugged up with guts and it stunk with the warm evening weather. Coyote dinner.

thejanitor · « **Reply #289 on:** January 10, 2012, 01:26:45 PM »

Jal5 - Sorry to hear you lost the meat, sometimes even getting them right away once that juice form the innards gets on the meat the garden hose can't even always save it. I have been known to hit a couple at a bad angle.... but if you can't get it rinsed ASAP you do lose meat. Hope you get the next one to the freezer.
New tally,
45-70 19
.357 Max 14,
.280 1,
7mm08 5,
30-30 17,
.22 hornet 11,
Huntsman .50 5
35 Remington 3,
44 mag 11,
357 mag 10,
.500 4
444 Marlin 6
454 Casull 1
.243 Win 6
45 LC 2
.308 Win 6
USH 20 6
30-06 2
25 Remington re-bore 1
Tracker II 20 4
Tracker II 12 1
.223 Rem 7
20 ga pardner/smoothbore 3 (30 ducks & 1 grouse, 1 snow shoe hare)
Sidekick .50 2
38-55 1
270 1
Custom Handi 45 cal muzzleloader 3
thejanitor

thejanitor · « **Reply #290 on:** January 10, 2012, 07:04:32 PM »

Well tonight I got to sit with my friend Tim in his ground blind watching a bait pile for Predators. And thanks to Petemi for selling me his 22-250 barrel I am now able to add a grey fox to the tally. Thanks Pete! With the 6.5 x 20x 50 scope it worked pretty good in the snow with the moon partially shining through light cloud cover. thejanitor

thejanitor · « **Reply #291 on:** January 10, 2012, 07:06:37 PM »

Welcome 22-250! New tally,
45-70 19
.357 Max 14,
.280 1,
7mm08 5,
30-30 17,
.22 hornet 11,
Huntsman .50 5
35 Remington 3,
44 mag 11,
357 mag 10,
.500 4
444 Marlin 6
454 Casull 1
.243 Win 6
45 LC 2
.308 Win 6
USH 20 6
30-06 2
25 Remington re-bore 1
Tracker II 20 4
Tracker II 12 1
.223 Rem 7
20 ga pardner/smoothbore 3 (30 ducks & 1 grouse, 1 snow shoe hare)
Sidekick .50 2
38-55 1
270 1
Custom Handi 45 cal muzzleloader 3
22-250 1
thejanitor

shinjin · « **Reply #292 on:** January 11, 2012, 05:11:12 AM »

I failed miserably with my Handi this year. I took my 38-55 barreled handi to the rnage in Texas and it printed so far off the target that I was shocked. Hadn't I JUST bore-sighted this baby before I drove 550 miles to hunt? So I ended up shooting a box of hard to find 38-55's TRYING to sight her in before I gave up and switched to my Remmy.
Back at home I discovered the crosshairs in the scope were busted. DERN! Put a Nikon on her and back in the safe she goes till next year.

Monteria · « **Reply #293 on:** January 15, 2012, 04:34:28 PM »

So, I guess that I have to apologize to the 30-30 fans on this thread. Though I had every intention of padding the count for my favorite handi cal, I just got done building a 45/70 shorty and had to see what it would do. And what it did was kill the hell out of the first doe which presented herself.

Steve

gendoc · « **Reply #294 on:** January 15, 2012, 04:37:50 PM »

ok brent, chalk-upa couple more for me and J2..... we call'n it tha swamp double slam !!!

j2 got this 6pt 145lb @70 yrds with his 45/70 trapper in tha swamp bottom

and i got this lil' interbread spike, 120lbs @ 160yrds on tha creek bed i mentioned to yall last
week

with tha whelen........he had too go, he don't belong in my heard

160yrds ain't nuthin with my handload in tha whelen....it goes where ya point it and drops'um where they once stood !!!!!!!!!!!

tomorrow we will continue on to other scrapes ana rubs

streak · « **Reply #295 on:** January 15, 2012, 04:43:08 PM »

Quote from: gendoc on January 15, 2012, 04:37:50 PM

ok brent, chalk-upa couple more for me and J2..... we call'n it tha swamp double slam !!!

j2 got this 6pt 145lb @70 yrds with his 45/70 trapper in tha swamp bottom

and i got this lil' interbread spike, 120lbs @ 160yrds on tha creek bed i mentioned to yall last
week with tha whelen........he had too go, he don't belong in my heard

160yrds ain't nuthin with my handload in tha whelen....it goes where ya point it and drops'um where they once stood !!!!!!!!!!!

tomorrow we will continue on to other scrapes ana rubs

gendoc,
Keep us posted on that .35 Whelen! Especially your favorite loads!!

gendoc · « **Reply #296 on:** January 15, 2012, 04:50:38 PM »

will do, in tha last 15 months (bout 800-1000+ rounds) this one has never, not even come close to tha mis-fire others have experianced. it was produced after tha service notice....
and has only spent my handloads

ya meen this is tha only whelen in this success line-up

thejanitor · « **Reply #297 on:** January 15, 2012, 05:29:05 PM »

Welcome the .35 Whelen! Good shootin’ John.
Monteria Good job! You guys are keeping the 45-70 as TOP DOG.
New tally,
45-70 21
.357 Max 14,
.280 1,
7mm08 5,
30-30 17,
.22 hornet 11,
Huntsman .50 5
35 Remington 3,
44 mag 11,
357 mag 10,
.500 4
444 Marlin 6
454 Casull 1
.243 Win 6
45 LC 2
.308 Win 6
USH 20 6
30-06 2
25 Remington re-bore 1
Tracker II 20 4
Tracker II 12 1
.223 Rem 7
20 ga pardner/smoothbore 3 (30 ducks & 1 grouse, 1 snow shoe hare)
Sidekick .50 2
38-55 1
270 1
Custom Handi 45 cal muzzleloader 3
22-250 1
35 whelen 1

thejanitor

Joe S. · « **Reply #298 on:** January 15, 2012, 05:42:44 PM »

Gendoc, How can ya tell its an inbred and not just a small deer? Ive seen a couple spikes around. Wonderin if i need fo pound em out

gendoc · « **Reply #299 on:** January 15, 2012, 06:02:18 PM »

Quote from: Joe S. on January 15, 2012, 05:42:44 PM

Gendoc, How can ya tell its an inbred and not just a small deer? Ive seen a couple spikes around. Wonderin if i need fo pound em out

grey face and horn base. not good strength in tha horns. compare him to tha 6pt
both deer are about the same age, cord'n to teeth.
and they are within 2800 acres of other type feeding.
we have very many deer in this area because of it being private. most all are small but usually have excellent horn structure.
as some would might think, poor minerals and foliage.....WRONG !! not here...
we feed these deer all year like we would feed our own.
some of tha inbred stay around an area all year. while tha dominate bucks will cover
wide areas daily. even in tha summers heat, we have some inbred that do not go to low covered areas.
mostly.... maw-maw isa retired biologist

" definitely genetics "