All Elk Are Not Created Equal

[shrapnel]

Everyone that goes to Las Vegas looks for the big win. That's what keeps the lights lit in the casinos. Elk are much the same, many come to Montana for the chance at a big bull elk. Leaving without one isn't always a loss. I have lived here all my life and have shot some good bulls, but elk hunting is more than big bulls.

I have shot plenty of cows as well as small bulls. I could never eat the tenderloins of any elk left on his feet because he wasn't big enough. Between elk tenderloins and mountain grouse, this is the finest eating you can get anywhere. So I ground sluice grouse and shoot the first legal elk I see.

This fall was no different, I shot this bull because he had an unusual horn and he was in range. I shot a bunch of grouse too, with an old damascus hammergun...

 

[EastTNHunter]

Good deal. The trophy is the experience, not inches of antlers.

Id also much rather eat one than to go home empty handed

 

[madtom]

Passing any legal elk that close to a two track should be a crime. Nice work!

 

[TrumpkinTheDwarf]

Love seeing that hammer gun, and I agree about not passing an elk that close to the road! I've been lucky enough to get two cow elk out whole in my lifetime.

 

[mdhunter61]

I have been lucky enough to shoot moose, caribou, and plenty of whitetail deer....the moose are the only thing I have ever measured the antlers on, and then only to ensure they are legal. The hunt is the trophy for me, as it seems to be for you also.

Congrats on an awesome combo hunt, and that's a beautiful shotgun that you have!

 

[The Hedgehog]

Any precautions with ammo and the Damascus shotgun? I have a similar shotgun but have never fired it.

 

[shrapnel]

Any precautions with ammo and the Damascus shotgun? I have a similar shotgun but have never fired it.

Bill Heckman used to have a shop in Livingston and he worked on all sorts of double rifles and shotguns. I took several British Damascus guns to him to have him analyze the safety of shooting those old guns. He told me the true “Damascus” guns, (not the twisted type barrels) were stronger than the fluid steel barrels of the same era.

Guild guns of Belgium and some other European origins were not the same and you had to be cautious with them. British guns are of extremely high quality and being free of severe putting and rust, are certainly safe to shoot. I shoot 2 1/2 inch shells in them with no issues and have several scarce hammer guns that I have taken all sorts of birds with, the oldest being made in 1867. That is not a typo, that is the year it was manufactured and very early in the cartridge firing era...

GEORGE DAW made in 1867



WEBLEY



COLT 1878

 

[Durango Mike]

Any precautions with ammo and the Damascus shotgun? I have a similar shotgun but have never fired it.

There are several good sources of 2 1/2 inch low pressure loads from Connecticut Valley arms and RST. The British Damascus is usually very safe as long as it was well cared for, if you see ANY pitting in the barrels be super concious that it might be like a 'dental cavity" with damage below the surface. Whatever you do do not lengthen the chamber to 2 3/4 or shoot 2 3/4 shells in a 2 1/2 chamber as peak pressure in a shotgun occurs in the first 6 inches in front of the chamber so taking marerial out could create a weakening in that critical area. I have a few cases of 2 1/2 in super light loads in the barn and have shot quite a few thru a Damascus 20 ga. European Damascus in general is low quality and IMO dangerous to shoot. Shrapnel knows this stuff better than me as I have only dealt with English proofed Damascus and nothing from the US like his Colt.

 

[Elkhunter24]

Congrats!

 

[CPAjeff]

Congrats - those old hammer guns are sure cool!

 

[Jape]

Cool bull and love that shotgun!

 

[Revenuer Man]

Congratulations on your season so far. Can you tell us a little about that rifle?

 

[shrapnel]

Congratulations on your season so far. Can you tell us a little about that rifle?

It is a Sako 75 Deluxe in 300 Weatherby. I like Sakos, but haven't really gotten into the later guns much as I love the older ones.

This, however, is a good shooting gun with a 26 inch barrel that I had a Vias style brake put on. It shoots a 180 NBT at 3360 using IMR7828 SSC powder. I have a Swarovski Z6 3-18X50 scope with a ballistic reticle so I can use it for longer range shooting without dialing turrets.

It works quite well for everything i have shot with it...