frankwright
Senior Member
In 1981 I bought my first real deer rifle from Oshman's Sporting Goods at Southlake Mall. It was a Ruger 77R in .243!
I ordered a Leupold Vari X III 1.5X5 for it and killed my very first deer that season with it. It was a big,old 8 point I killed on a freezing cold,windy December day from a stand nailed between three trees. It was the biggest buck killed that year and I got a free membership the next year which was about $65.
This was my primary rifle for 20 years and I killed a lot of deer with it using handloaded Hornady 100gr Spire Point bullets. 90% of the deer never took more than a few steps and most went down in their tracks. Never had one go out of sight with neck or high shoulder hit.
Around 1999I got bored with rifle hunting and bought a T/C Contender in 7-30 Waters. Between it and a few more handguns I did not use a rifle for the next 20 years during gun season unless it was something different. I killed deer with an M-14, a British Lee Enfield and a very old Remington 740 someone gave to me.
This year I decided to hunt with a Winchester 94 in .32 Win Spl from the 1940's that my Dad gave me about 50 years ago and I never killed a deer with it. I had some close calls but no deer yet. I am limited with my old eyes.
Then I saw the old Ruger in the back of the safe, stock has 10,000 dents from climbing trees. I ordered a new stock from Boyd's just to dress it up and sighted it in. A few inches low and left and soon it was dead on.
First night I dropped a doe at about 70 yards, bang flop. Next time I went out I shot a doe at 82 yards in a field bang, flop. Neither took a step.
You just can't beat a well placed shot with any rifle but I have enjoyed reunited with this old Ruger.
Remainder of the season I am going to use the Ruger or the Winchester depending on where I am hunting and would like one more deer in the freezer for more jerky!
I ordered a Leupold Vari X III 1.5X5 for it and killed my very first deer that season with it. It was a big,old 8 point I killed on a freezing cold,windy December day from a stand nailed between three trees. It was the biggest buck killed that year and I got a free membership the next year which was about $65.
This was my primary rifle for 20 years and I killed a lot of deer with it using handloaded Hornady 100gr Spire Point bullets. 90% of the deer never took more than a few steps and most went down in their tracks. Never had one go out of sight with neck or high shoulder hit.
Around 1999I got bored with rifle hunting and bought a T/C Contender in 7-30 Waters. Between it and a few more handguns I did not use a rifle for the next 20 years during gun season unless it was something different. I killed deer with an M-14, a British Lee Enfield and a very old Remington 740 someone gave to me.
This year I decided to hunt with a Winchester 94 in .32 Win Spl from the 1940's that my Dad gave me about 50 years ago and I never killed a deer with it. I had some close calls but no deer yet. I am limited with my old eyes.
Then I saw the old Ruger in the back of the safe, stock has 10,000 dents from climbing trees. I ordered a new stock from Boyd's just to dress it up and sighted it in. A few inches low and left and soon it was dead on.
First night I dropped a doe at about 70 yards, bang flop. Next time I went out I shot a doe at 82 yards in a field bang, flop. Neither took a step.
You just can't beat a well placed shot with any rifle but I have enjoyed reunited with this old Ruger.
Remainder of the season I am going to use the Ruger or the Winchester depending on where I am hunting and would like one more deer in the freezer for more jerky!
