Finally Vallidation!!!!!

strictlyRUM · 10-28-2007, 06:32 PM

Well it has been a year for the books. I started the year loosing one of the best duck dogs. Lost a pregnancy to miscarrage. Lost my father about two and one half months ago. Two car wrecks since then(neither was my fault). Two pain block injections in my lower back. The list goes on. I had eastern oregon tags but wasnt in the mood for a large scale hunt after loosing my father. I did however have a Mackenzie unit doe tag along with one of my good friends who has since moved out of state. He called and we made arrangements to stay at my house and go out with 4 year old Aydn in tow. With my back surgery eight days earlier I wouldnt be doing much walking. I know alot of you look down on the whole long range hunting thing, but this has brought me to an understanding as well as a good defense for something I love so much. The days of practice and thousands of dollars I have spent, over the last 10 years, on this addiction of mine would allow me to hunt off landings and overlooks instead of just driving around and shooting deer that run accross the road the way SOOOO many western hunters do. That being said here comes the vallidation part. I can bust milk jugs out to 1500 yards and sometimes beyond. I have busted rocks out to 2300 yards now. I have never shot an animal over 400 yards. I believe it is your job to get as close as conditions allow. I have always been able to get closer. Well the first clear cut we came to this saturday morning was bare. I scanned down to the bottom opening 1000 yards away and there were two mature does feeding away. After watching for a while to make sure there were no little ones we manuvered down the ridge to the lowest flat we could get to, and have an open shot on them. Mike was calling range while got the gun level and conditions off my handheald weather station into the palm pilot. 925 yards to the snag that they were standing just infront of. 3% downward angle on the angle indicator. 2-3 MPH head wind that I guessed to be a thermal draft actually coming up and accross the mountain which actually causes bullet lift at that range. I entered all this into the exball ballisic program on my palm and it told me to dial 14.75 minutes of angle into the scope. I did this. Settled into the gun. Breathed. Shot. The 7mm ultra mag entered just back from my hold by about 4 inches. Instead of getting high shoulder I got double lung. This is why I aim high shoulder. Any where in 10 inches of direct you have a killing shot. The dear did the death march to the bottom of the clearing in about 3 seconds. At the shot the other dear ran to the left. Out of sight. We sat for about 45 minutes and she fed back out. With no change in conditions I had Mike saddle up the old 7 once again. BANG! FLOP! His shot hit just about 6 inches forward of point of aim in the neck. No death run there! We were extatic. Like I said I have been shooting at distances in excess of 500 yards for ten years now. I have been machining for 17 years now. Been building rifles for 3 years pretty steady now. I have not had the satisfaction of putting everything together till now. I now know what it is like to shoot an animal with a rifle I built, at a distance I have practiced for for years. In a condition most wouldnt leave the couch...... I was able to hunt. I was only able to do this with the help of good friends also. Making me get out, and also packing my meat out. It was about a mile pack since we couldnt find a road that went to the bottom? Thanks to Mike and Jeremy. Jeremy is another very good friend of mine that came out at a seconds notice to help pack meat. Sorry I kept you from mowing your lawn man. I know its not one of the big bucks that you guys are pulling out right now, it is a trophy to me though. Its right up there with my antelope buck I shot with a bow. Here is some pics for you. My pic came out a little over exposed but in the picture of Mike you can look between the barrel and his head and might be able to see the maroon tundra up on the landing. We shot from about half way down from there. There is also a picure of the rifle pointed at the clearing the deer were in just after the fact. Oh yeah and one of our future long range hunter checking things out after the shot. Thanks for looking. Oh yeah Friday we went to the doctor and my wife Leslie is 10 weeks pregnant. Saw the little heartbeat. Its gonna happen this time. We have been trying for 2 years now. After all the losses this year we are in need for good things to look forward to.

Jason

anschutz1913 · 10-28-2007, 06:49 PM

That's awesome!, thanks for sharing!!!

WHen a guy can build his own stuff, practice at those distances and be confident enough to make an ETHICAL shot, and THEN DO IT, that is truly AWESOME!!!!!! Congratulations!

Just in case of any future flaming, dont listen to em. Congratulations on a great hunt, and on your family.

ANZ

Rank Amateur · 10-28-2007, 07:28 PM

Wow, nice shots! Glad to see you could get out and get some venison.

HOGGEMIN · 10-28-2007, 08:17 PM

Good shooting there. What stock do you have and is it a right handed or ambidexterious?

beardbuster · 10-28-2007, 09:02 PM

Way to know your ability on the shot. Sounds like you know what your doing when it comes to long range shooting - me, I would have had to get closer. Deer in the freezer!!

strictlyRUM · 10-29-2007, 03:01 AM

Thanks guys for the possitive comments. Its nice to be able to feed your familly with your hobby. The stock is a Manners composite GAT model. It is 90% carbon and weighs just under two pounds. This model is a right hand but he makes them in ambi also if you want. Very comfy. Really aids in good shooting form. PM me if you want contact details. Thanks Again guys.

Jason

Quaka Wacka · 10-29-2007, 07:01 PM

Great job and nice shooting Jason.

shadowstalker · 10-29-2007, 08:15 PM

Congrat strictly RUM
Nice story, and the start of some happy outcomes, to what sounds like has been a tough year. Don't worry about any "Holier than Thou" flaming; everyone has thier own likes, styles, passions, etc... about hunting. Looks like alot of fun building and shooting those long range guns.

GO-FASTER · 10-30-2007, 06:40 AM

You Rock! Nice shot! Now fill that buck tag at 1200

buck0523 · 10-30-2007, 10:23 AM

Nice job Jason!!! Wish you and Leslie the best...

Eric

strictlyRUM · 10-31-2007, 03:10 AM

Thanks alot guys. I think that this will be the longest kill in my books. I may shoot farther on a coyote or something, but it is not too often you get a near conditionless day like we had. Any wind at that far and I would have been in the next county. I am happy with this. Infact if I wouldnt have seen my huge buck from last year out walking around I would probably just be sitting on the couch for the rest of season. I saw him though. Right where I had seen him before when the timber was there and not a clearcut. I will be on him till the end of season. Hows a 24-26in 4X4 with some trash and eyeguards sound. I think I will grab dads old savage and wait for him to give me an opportunity. Thanks again for the nice words and flameless post. You guys are ALL RIGHT!

Jason

QH's Paw · 10-31-2007, 04:17 AM

Just awesome! Sounds like you've turned your luck around. Now start building a rifle for that new crumbcatcher you have in the oven.