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The .30-30 Ackley Improved Contender Strikes!
Got called yesterday from a Rancher friend of mine to come cull a deer off the ranch this evening. Who am i to say no to that?
Met him at the gate at 4:00 and he told me where to go. Got set up next to a food plot about 4:20 and the wait began.
I'd brought the Contender in .30-30 AI and a new rest I'm playing with.
It's something I've had around for awhile and it's designed for rifles. Or.............it was. I slightly modified it to accept Specialty Pistols and................oh wow..........this thing is AWESOME!!!!! About as good as shooting from a bench. It's rather quickly adjustable and rock solid. Disadvantage..........it ain't light.
Anyway, I built a ground blind tucked back in the bushes to overlook the food plot and a feeder on the far side.
Placed my Redhawk on my ruck..........just in case a deer decided to come out right in front of me. You know...........self defense.
About 5:00, these two does came out. A big one and a younger one. Nothing had been said by my friend as to what he wanted me to shoot. But, I assumed it was the same as last year and that he wanted mature does taken. So, I planned to take the larger of the two does. Problem is.........she wasn't having any of that. See how she is rather intently staring off into the brush?
I don't know what she was looking at, but she wasn't too keen on it. She wouldn't stand still and kept going back into the brush. Of course, the smaller doe stood perfectly still forever. But, not the big one. They both finally disappeared into the brush and the wait began again. I was actually fine with it as I wasn't really in a hurry and honestly.........if I didn't get a deer this trip..........I'd get to come back again. That, is kinda what I wanted. I just enjoy being out hunting. Even if I don't take game.
About 5:35, this big boy walked out from my left and started walking across the field.
Nice buck, I thought. But, I'm not allowed to shoot nice bucks here. So, I just sat and watched him. Then he stopped and looked off into the brush.
When he turned to his left, I got a look at his off side antler. Hey wait!!!! He only has a FORK on his left side!! No brow tine and no other points!! With 4 on the right and 2 on the left.........that's a cull buck!
I quickly called my rancher friend and described the buck to him. "Take him", was his response.
Didn't have to tell me twice.
I quickly discovered what the buck was looking at as two does entered the field in front of him. He perked up and started following the does around in circles. I tracked him in the scope as the rest swivels flawlessly. Finally, with his left side presented and slightly quartering away............he stopped walking at 197 yards. I locked the rest and exhaled.............."BOOM!"
The Contender recoiled as it sent a 125gr Hornady SST across the field. Coming out of it's slight recoil, I reacquired the buck quickly as he came down from a jump and gathered himself to run. Turning to his right, he began what I knew was a frantic death run off into the brush. Not going around bushes, but plowing through them. Oh yeah, he was mine.
I gathered my Contender and camera, put the Redhawk in it's holster, and walked across the field to the point of impact.
No blood. I wasn't too worried, there were tracks and I was pretty darn sure it was a good hit. After about 10 yards, the faucet opened and the blood trail became a highway.
15 more yards into the brush and..................
D-U-N............Done. He's traveled a total of 25 yards before expiring................from a .30-30 AI............at 197 yrds. That's pretty cool.
As the sun set, I took pictures and smiled like a boy at Christmas.
See, I don't own property and don't have a lease. I rely on the generosity of friends to allow me to cull deer and hogs for them. I don't get to shoot big bucks. Those are for the owners, clients, and paying customers. There are some monsters on this place! But, I am tickled pink to take this buck. He is the biggest bodied whitetail I've ever taken. Later weighed on the scale at 204 pounds live weight. Not big by northern standards, but pretty good around my parts.
He was 16" wide and not up to spec for the ranch. To big and old for so little headgear. But, he was JUST RIGHT for me!
The rancher was exceptionally pleased that I'd gotten him off the ranch. One mans trash is another man's treasure.
And that's a lot of "trash"!!!
I can't express how pleased I am with the performance of the Contender. This is the first animal I've taken with this gun and the first I've taken with a Contender in about 20 years. The love has been rekindled.........................
Met him at the gate at 4:00 and he told me where to go. Got set up next to a food plot about 4:20 and the wait began.
I'd brought the Contender in .30-30 AI and a new rest I'm playing with.
It's something I've had around for awhile and it's designed for rifles. Or.............it was. I slightly modified it to accept Specialty Pistols and................oh wow..........this thing is AWESOME!!!!! About as good as shooting from a bench. It's rather quickly adjustable and rock solid. Disadvantage..........it ain't light.
Anyway, I built a ground blind tucked back in the bushes to overlook the food plot and a feeder on the far side.
Placed my Redhawk on my ruck..........just in case a deer decided to come out right in front of me. You know...........self defense.
About 5:00, these two does came out. A big one and a younger one. Nothing had been said by my friend as to what he wanted me to shoot. But, I assumed it was the same as last year and that he wanted mature does taken. So, I planned to take the larger of the two does. Problem is.........she wasn't having any of that. See how she is rather intently staring off into the brush?
I don't know what she was looking at, but she wasn't too keen on it. She wouldn't stand still and kept going back into the brush. Of course, the smaller doe stood perfectly still forever. But, not the big one. They both finally disappeared into the brush and the wait began again. I was actually fine with it as I wasn't really in a hurry and honestly.........if I didn't get a deer this trip..........I'd get to come back again. That, is kinda what I wanted. I just enjoy being out hunting. Even if I don't take game.
About 5:35, this big boy walked out from my left and started walking across the field.
Nice buck, I thought. But, I'm not allowed to shoot nice bucks here. So, I just sat and watched him. Then he stopped and looked off into the brush.
When he turned to his left, I got a look at his off side antler. Hey wait!!!! He only has a FORK on his left side!! No brow tine and no other points!! With 4 on the right and 2 on the left.........that's a cull buck!
I quickly called my rancher friend and described the buck to him. "Take him", was his response.
Didn't have to tell me twice.
I quickly discovered what the buck was looking at as two does entered the field in front of him. He perked up and started following the does around in circles. I tracked him in the scope as the rest swivels flawlessly. Finally, with his left side presented and slightly quartering away............he stopped walking at 197 yards. I locked the rest and exhaled.............."BOOM!"
The Contender recoiled as it sent a 125gr Hornady SST across the field. Coming out of it's slight recoil, I reacquired the buck quickly as he came down from a jump and gathered himself to run. Turning to his right, he began what I knew was a frantic death run off into the brush. Not going around bushes, but plowing through them. Oh yeah, he was mine.
I gathered my Contender and camera, put the Redhawk in it's holster, and walked across the field to the point of impact.
No blood. I wasn't too worried, there were tracks and I was pretty darn sure it was a good hit. After about 10 yards, the faucet opened and the blood trail became a highway.
15 more yards into the brush and..................
D-U-N............Done. He's traveled a total of 25 yards before expiring................from a .30-30 AI............at 197 yrds. That's pretty cool.
As the sun set, I took pictures and smiled like a boy at Christmas.
See, I don't own property and don't have a lease. I rely on the generosity of friends to allow me to cull deer and hogs for them. I don't get to shoot big bucks. Those are for the owners, clients, and paying customers. There are some monsters on this place! But, I am tickled pink to take this buck. He is the biggest bodied whitetail I've ever taken. Later weighed on the scale at 204 pounds live weight. Not big by northern standards, but pretty good around my parts.
He was 16" wide and not up to spec for the ranch. To big and old for so little headgear. But, he was JUST RIGHT for me!
The rancher was exceptionally pleased that I'd gotten him off the ranch. One mans trash is another man's treasure.
And that's a lot of "trash"!!!
I can't express how pleased I am with the performance of the Contender. This is the first animal I've taken with this gun and the first I've taken with a Contender in about 20 years. The love has been rekindled.........................
"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Replies
Keep up the great work brother.
I am a hunter and I love reading your posts about hunting Zee. Once again a flawless performance and an enjoyable read. Looking forward to the autopsy.
Sako
[email protected]; I need my meds.
THE WINDS OF TYRANNY ARE BLOWING FROM OUR OWN CAPITOL.
-Mikhail Kalashnikov
If that was me I would be grinning like a school girl with a kitten!
You Sir, have re-awakened my desire in a Contender, AGAIN!
Thanks for Shaing the experience
I'll get the autopsy pics up this afternoon. Thanks.
From a 13" barrel.
The .30-30 was the round Ackley got the biggest performance boost out of when he improved it. The Little Voice in the back of my head sometimes says I should give my Springfield/Stevens/Savage 840 the treatment, but I bought the thing to be a $250, short range hunting rifle, and I have .30-06's galore if I want more horsepower - just can't bring myself to do it.
And yeah. . .Contenders. I have never owned one, but handled a bunch when I was selling guns. They're a bit like Freedom Arms in that you have to look REALLY hard to find things that are that well made.
"Nothing is safe from stupid." - Zee
Oh, I was quite giddy.
I love the Contender Pistol. Very compact and a joy to carry around. Not a long range endeavor, but it can handle most hunting situations specific to the chambering.
Appreciate the kind words.
I went the AI route with this one to make up for the shorter barrel's loss in velocity. It seems to have done well. I can get this bullet out to 300 yards and stay above 1,800 fps.
Shut up, you.
.30-30 Ackley Improved
125gr Hornady SST
Muzzle Velocity: 2,550 fps
Estimated Impact Velocity: 2,041 fps
Entrance Behind Shoulder Quartering Forward:
Entrance / Hide Removed:
Entrance / Meat Removed:
Entrance / Ribs Removed:
Entrance / Vitals (Left Side):
Exit / Vitals )Right Side):
Exit / Ribs (Broke 1 Rib):
Exit / Hide Removed:
Note: The blood clotting you see at the lower part of the chest in the above picture is likely from "transport" and just blood moving under the skin. It is not directly related from the bullet impact. It just wiped of basically. Never seen it travel under the skin like that. Weird.
Exit:
This boy was in rut!
My daughter had a good time helping me and playing with the parts.
I'm surprised he only ran 25 yards. Considering the relative lack of damage to the lungs, and no damage to the heart, I would have expected that buck to run much farther. I assume the heart is undamaged as you didn't show any pictures of it individually.
NRA Life Member
I am too. Like I said, there was no blood the first 10 yards or so. Then......drop...drop...DROP....POUR.......FLOOD!!! There was less coagulated blood in the chest cavity as I normally experience. But, he didn't run far at all. Just another reason why the science of death is interesting. Just when you think you have it figured out, it surprises you.
Conversely, I've seen deer with more internal damage to the heart/lungs run further than this buck. You just never know.
I wonder if that had anything to do with the "reduced" antler on his left side.
That could be. After observing all the city deer back home that get hit by cars and survive, there does seem to be a correlation between having an injury on one side, and having a deficient antler on the opposite side.
-Mikhail Kalashnikov
"The Un-Tactical"
JAY
A - Buck Entered Field
B - Second Two Does Entered Field
C - Shot Buck Here
D - First Two Does Entered Field
* - Feeder
That's because he's in rut.....