(09-05-2013, 11:39 AM)Denali Wrote: Thanks for sharing Kurt! You are a better shooter than me. I put a lawrence on my 44-77 but have not shot it yet with that sight. With the 100 yard zero what is your ladder up staff base vee approximate zero? Is it 200 or a little more or less?

I might have to try the Gibbs at the longer length one of these days.

I appreciate your info on this and other forums. Thanks!

Mike

Mike with the 77 grain load of 2F KIK it's on at 230 yds. using the bottom notch with the slide up.
With the 2f Olde E it shoots higher at 230 yds. I haven’t done much with the .44-77 to really have settled down on what I will use in it.
I did get a chance to shoot it at Raton last winter on the silhouette range but I don't have the load information right now it's still out in the camper, but with the staff up using the notch on the slide 1/2 way between the 2 &3 it's on the pigs. A 1/16" above the 3 it's on the turkeys. 4-1/4 it's knocking down the rams. At 7 1/2 it's on at 1435 yards

I don't know how good your eyes are but I had to open the notches using a 1/4" 3 corner file to get enough light on the front blade sides to be able to pick it up. I have a 1/16" flat bottom knife file that I will use to make a flat bottom notch instead of a V. I think it will help my eyes better to center the blade in the rear sight.

Kurt

Thanks Kurt!

Im waiting for jamison to make brass so i can work up something with it before taking the file to the front and back sights. Still considering the possibility of making a tapered hunting bullet with that brass also. Probably going to be a winter project.

Just got back from bear hunting. Too hot 80F. If i got one 5 miles in i might have had spoiled meat. Didnt see any. Took the 45-110 but never got to use it. Probably a good thing. Lots of huckleberries.

Hey! I like huckleberries better than Bear meat anyway
Taking off in the morning in hopes of filling my freezer with Buff meat.
I hope this cool mid 60's temp holds up. They are calling for frost in the UP Mich. I might be heading back up there for Deer.

Kurt

The .44-77 drew blood last monday. Details later just too tired after the long trip home today.

Congrats Kurt, there will be some fine eating for the your family and good memories. bobw

Great photo Kurt ! Looking forward to hearing the story. Damn..another shot of that terrible looking rifle Smiles all round... has to be a good thing.

Congrats Kurt, fine looking buff and a wonderful pic all around. Like others I am anxiously awaiting all the great details of what seemed to turn out to be a wonderful hunt.
Again, Congrats
Sam

I don’t have the ability to get things down in writing that can express my true feelings like many of you reading this.
This hunt took place with the Sand Hills Outfitters near Stuart Nebraska on the Hamilton Ranch. I arrived on Sunday afternoon and stayed in their guest cabin and left Thursday morning.
First of all I can’t say enough about the hospitality that Rick and his Wife Doris gave my Wife Carolyn and me. They made us feel like we were part of their Family during our stay with them. Rick and Doris are some of what I call first class sincere folks I know.

The Hunt started on Monday morning with a very large breakfast Doris prepared; I have to say right now, (This Lady can cook!!!) The three meals Doris prepares an old fashion verity farm meal. I don’t know how she does this and keep up with all of the other things she has to do.

The hunt is on an open 2000? Acer rolling sand hills Ranch that is very good for a concealed stocking hunt. If you think that a Buff hunt is a pen shoot, get this out of your mind on this hunt!! We made several long stalks using the rolling sand hills between us and the herd but the heard tightens up making it very hard to get a clear shot without getting a double hit with a pass through.
I was after a yearling bull and there were several in the herd but getting one in the open before they get you sighted is tough and there were times when we were in close and old Brutus started to get a little agitated and shaking his head and the cows grunting made the hair stand up on Carolyn’s head and no trees to climb up in. Carolyn was in charge of the camera and I’m very proud of her for staying composed and not making a sound. She is still talking about her excitement and thoughts about her first hunt she went on with me and Rae and Lee if you’re reading this; NO SKUNK!! LOL. LOL.

For this hunt I used my .44-77 Shiloh with the blade front and a Lawrence rear sight with a powder load of 75 grains of 2fg Olde Eynsford and the bullet is the original round nosed Sharps PP bullet and I cast it using 6 oz of tin with 20 lbs. pure lead making it close to 1/50 T/L

This stalk and set up lasted about four hours. The first clear shot I got was within 100 yards shooting through the sun flours off my fork I used for support. I let the shot go holding just behind and slightly below his knee that should have got the top of the heart or the lower lungs for sure and when the shot went off he went down like a rock flat on his belly kicking his feet and I saw sand kick up past him so I know the bullet passed through. Rick turned around and said GOOD SHOT!! I extracted the empty case and loaded a new round and I said couldn’t be he is getting back up again.
The herd took off and he followed wobbling but I lost sight of him when he mixed in with a bunch and couldn’t get off a second shot. We set up again and found him not in the open but with a good blood spot on him for identification and it was just a matter of getting him in the opening. Well the herd took off on a run and when he finally got in the open I stood up and took a second off hand snapshot and saw sand kick up under his chest just as he jumped and I thought I shot low and missed.
When the herd came back into view from behind a hill four cows followed some way behind on a run that made me relieved knowing they stayed behind with the downed bull. And sure enough when we went on the other side of the sand hill we found him down.
When I looked at the wound I could only find one entrance and one larger exit hole that was a lot higher then I was aiming for that I can’t quite explain but we had fairly dark cloudy overcast and the hide was black. I think I just had too much blade above the rear sight.
Doris came out with a car trailer and we winched him on and off to the locker Rick and I went.
After the buff was skinned out and the gutted we found two holes about 2” apart at the same height so my second shot did not miss. The first shot went through a rib and just got the spine taking a chunk out of it and passed through. The second also caught bone and the lungs and passed through.
A fine Animal that was what I think large for his age at 363# hanging weight that filled my freezer.

Rick has a very fine healthy looking herd and if my steaks taste as good as the one I ate for supper at his place it will be gone by next year.
Thank you again Rick for the two day flint knapping lessons and Doris thank you for making us welcome in your home.

Kurt

Kurt, thanks for the story on your wonderful successful hunt. Nice shooting by the way. Sounds like the 2 of you had a wonderful time. Is your wife ready to go hunting with you again?
Good shooting and great eating.
Sam

Great Job Kurt!