Long Range Elk Gun Prep - Season Over

[LarryBud]

Regulars may recall that I’ve been diligently working on preparing two rifles for a NM Elk Hunt. The challenge was to shoot to 300 yards.

Well, I returned last night and will happily share that the work was not needed. I had a 85 yard shot. I did clip the front shoulder blade but the 545 lead conical, shot from my Super Disc 45, punched through and was found on the offside hide. Powered by 85 grains of Swiss Black, it was a very effective round.

After hunting the territory, a long range shot was a very likely scenario. I’m glad I didn’t have to test my skills.

This was my first guided hunt. It was an interesting experience. Sadly, it was supposed to be a Father / Son trip but my Son picked up Covid a week before and had to drop out. I went alone. Not ideal but the memories will be with me for a good long while.

 

[michiganmuzzy]

Congrats on a successful hunt. Hope your son only has mild symptoms and recovers quickly. I dont recall what bullets you used but it looks like it did a great job.

 

[HC]

Hot Dang Larry! You got it done. Congrats. Hope your son gets well soon.

 

[shguns]

Nice bull Larry!
Congrats!!

 

[LarryBud]

The Boy is fine. Thanks for the well wishes. A couple of days of flu like symptoms and no taste or smell for a week.

 

[ronlaughlin]

Sweet

 

[MrTom]

Another great animal taken. Congrats on the successful hunt and on your son's successful battle with the virus!

 

[Idaholewis]

BIG Congrats on a Fine Bull!!

 

[Muggles]

Nice looking bull! Congrats Larry.

 

[52Bore]

Congrats on the hunt and success with Big Lead and Black Powder in the old SuperDISC.
Too bad about your son and him missing the trip.
Enjoyed your range testing prior to the hunt that you shared.

 

[gle3105]

Happy for your success fellow hunter. I was able to hunt this season with my son in Utah. Would have been entirely different without him. So I very much feel for ya. Hope and best wishes to his health.

 

[WV Hunter]

Hey awesome, congrats! Nice bull, sorry your son couldn't go. Way to make the best of it though! I'll take 85 over 300 any day! But we know you were ready...

 

[BuckDoeHunter]

Congrats!

 

[Grizwatcher]

Nice Bull Larry! What Unit were you hunting?

 

[Hatchet Jack]

Congratulations on a great bull! Glad to hear your son is doing fine.
Just out of curiosity, why is your face blacked out in the picture?

 

[LarryBud]

Nice Bull Larry! What Unit were you hunting?

New Mexico, Unit 36. I now know what was meant by the term " rough country ".

 

[LarryBud]

Congratulations on a great bull! Glad to hear your son is doing fine.
Just out of curiosity, why is your face blacked out in the picture?

Its a work related issue. It would be more exciting if I was in the Witness Protection Progam.

 

[Barn]

Congrats on one fine animal. Did the 85 seem like a chip shot after practicing at 300 all pre-season?

 

[LarryBud]

Congrats on one fine animal. Did the 85 seem like a chip shot after practicing at 300 all pre-season?

It was no problem. I had the perfect set up with shooting sticks and plenty of time for my heart rate to settle in. If anything, I was a little worried at the distance because I hadn't shot under 200 all summer. I knew it was 4" high at 100 and went from there.

 

[LarryBud]

Congrats on the hunt and success with Big Lead and Black Powder in the old SuperDISC.
Too bad about your son and him missing the trip.
Enjoyed your range testing prior to the hunt that you shared.

A little more on the Super Disc. I bought it at a Pawn Shop years ago. It came with a T-Hole Stock. After an initial shot or two, I paid it little attention until I drew this tag.

When forum members convinced me that big lead was the way to go, I glass bed an old Humpback Original Disc Stock I had sitting around with no butt pad or hardware. I bought a slightly ill fitting butt pad from a member and added the sling studs from an ebay puchase. I removed the ramrod slide ring from the barrell ( no stock hardware for it anyway ) and went with a CVA Paramount collapsable ramrod.

I had to add a 25 MOA scope rail as my Nikon Omega BDC bottomed out. I started with T7 3F ( cheap and readily availanble ) but ended up switching to Swiss Black as it proved more accurate. After all of the tweaking, it would shoot about 1.5 MOA with my skill set.

After all I've gone through and all I've learned I think the only thing I'd do different is that I'd buy a custom scope with a custom turret for the load. If I was presented with a long range shot and had to act quickly ( which was a likely scenario ), I would have had a little trouble setting up the drop on the fly. Especially since I now need cheater glasses to read the cheat sheet on my stock. Counting clicks would have been easier.