An old Winchester comes through on Election Day

[David LaPell]

Well, at least where I am there was some good news on Election Day. First thing in the morning, the wife and I went out to vote, so later in the afternoon, I got out to hunt. I have been taking with me another old Winchester I picked up, an 1894 rifle made in 1909 with half-mag in .32-40. I only got the gun about three weeks ago and sighted it in maybe 10 days bag. I worked up some handloads of a 170 grain JSP.

I have been sitting on my own property where the wife helped me clear out a lot of brush because we've been seeing a lot of deer. About 4:30 in the afternoon I had been calling on the grunt tube and spotted a nice buck at about 50 yards but the only shot he gave me was on his neck. I took it, he ran off, and I checked and found blood, lots of it. He bled like a stuck pig the whole way, the bullet clipped an artery. I trailed him for 200 yards or so where I found him, a nice 5 point buck.

It's been a long time coming, the first buck I've killed in 10 years. There's been a couple does in between, but with all the surgeries & injuries and rehab from everything, it was a lot of work. I butchered him on the spot because I can't drag out a whole deer anymore, and the wife helped me with this one. Still, it's a nice feeling to have meat in the freezer and especially with this old Winchester.

 

[Rudi]

Cool old rifle and a nice buck!

 

[CW3Mike]

I hate cold weather but man, snow makes tracking so much easier.

Well done!

 

[Rpg]

Congratulations!

Glad you're up to getting out this year!

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Outstanding in every respect! Well done.

 

[bummer]

a cartridge you dont hear much about

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Happy for you. Nice deer and rifle.

 

[kraynky]

Nice buck, Nicer Rifle! Glad to hear you made it back out there, it gives me incentive to go next weekend myself. It's our opening weekend for modern firearms here in Ky.

My own health issues have kept me from going for the last 3 years. But I've really been trying to get my mind to overcome the pain and go next weekend. You may have given me the last push to just go!

Glad to hear your wife is so supportive. Congratulations!

 

[inspcalahan]

Congrats! Well done - and even better with that old smoke pole still doing it's job. Simply outstanding.

 

[beeps]

Nicely done! Nice rifle too.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Skyhunter]

OUTSTANDING!
Thanks for the story and photos.
I'm glad you had the opportunity and where-with-all to get out in the woods and collect some prime venison!
Enjoy the rifle AND the venison.

WYT-P
Skyhunter

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

That's inspiring, David. It's good to see an old rifle still being used afield. I have a pair of old 94s. A 30-30 octagonal barreled rifle and a 38-55 take down with a half octagon, half round barrel. Both date from the twenties and are good shooters. I need to take one of them to camp next month for the two week rifle season.

John

 

[Golphin]

Nice rifle hunt and post. Thanks for sharing.,

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Outstanding, and with a rifle extra nice with the half mag and a scarcer round barrel.

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

Nice in every way! The last deer I killed was about like your buck. I went
with my older brother who passed away the next year, I'm really glad I
spent the last hunt with him.
That morning this buck and 2 does came down to water and I shot him in
the neck, broke his spine and he dropped in his tracks. Only trouble was
he was across this big running spring and I had to wade over
to him and wade back with him. Used my old Marlin 30-30 with open
sights at about 70 yards.
Your story and pictures brought back memories. I'm really glad your
health has improved enough for you to get out and I appreciate you using
the old rifle to get the job done. It also sounds like your wife is a keeper.
Thanks for posting.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

Well, at least where I am there was some good news on Election Day. First thing in the morning, the wife and I went out to vote, so later in the afternoon, I got out to hunt. I have been taking with me another old Winchester I picked up, an 1894 rifle made in 1909 with half-mag in .32-40. I only got the gun about three weeks ago and sighted it in maybe 10 days bag. I worked up some handloads of a 170 grain JSP.

I have been sitting on my own property where the wife helped me clear out a lot of brush because we've been seeing a lot of deer. About 4:30 in the afternoon I had been calling on the grunt tube and spotted a nice buck at about 50 yards but the only shot he gave me was on his neck. I took it, he ran off, and I checked and found blood, lots of it. He bled like a stuck pig the whole way, the bullet clipped an artery. I trailed him for 200 yards or so where I found him, a nice 5 point buck.

It's been a long time coming, the first buck I've killed in 10 years. There's been a couple does in between, but with all the surgeries & injuries and rehab from everything, it was a lot of work. I butchered him on the spot because I can't drag out a whole deer anymore, and the wife helped me with this one. Still, it's a nice feeling to have meat in the freezer and especially with this old Winchester.]



Great story and a grand old rifle. 1909 was my Mother's birth year.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

 

[D Brown]

Nice post and photos. Thank you!

 

[ACP230]

Very nice description and picture.

 

[KalamazooKid]

Awesome story, thanks for sharing! Love that old rifle - especially leaning on a nice eater buck!

 

[cowboy4evr]

I enjoy old winchesters and Marlins . I have a 1894 Winchester in 38-55 made in 1897 and another 1894 Winchester 30-30 made in 1948 and an 1894 Marlin in 44-40 with a low 3 digit serial # . An early one for sure and all 3 are shooters . Been having a desire for another lever gun , a 94 Winchester in 25-35 . Regards Paul