What did you use for your first elk/mule deer rifle?

I just outfitted Snellstrom's youngest son with a big game rifle that I sure hope he kills a slew of elk and mule deer with in the future. As well as anything else he wants to lay the cross hairs on. It sure was fun giving him the rifle I think he'll be very happy with it. He has a little growing to do to fit it but I'm sure in the three years before he can chase elk with it he'll do a lot of that.

The rifle should weigh right around 8 lbs all up. So it shouldn't be too much for him to carry and hunt with while starting out. Plus with Snellstrom down loading the rifle he should be able to handle it and work into those full house loads for knocking down his first big bull when he is ready.

I'm glad I didn't own this one very long. The rifle made it to the proper owners hands in the end.




I really dig the roller hockey uniform with cowboy boots!

My family didn't hunt, so I killed my first deer with an old used Parker Hale .243 I bought for $175 at an estate auction when I turned 18. My first elk was killed with a borrowed .30-06 after I came home from a four year stint in the Army.

Hey Chad
Thanks a bunch for making us a "deal we couldn't refuse" on that rifle for Cody.
He is really excited about having an elk rifle to grow into and pretty excited to see his picture on the imternet as well!
The boy is only 9 and he is a gun nut through and through, like some other people I know.
Thanks again !

Like I posted, the rifle found the proper owner. You know how I feel about the .280 I'd probably turn it into a .270 or something else. You saved me a ton of money in the end. I just couldn't stand the thought of that rifle staying in the pawn shop.

I can't wait to see him shoot it!

Snell I've told you before "that boy looks just like you"

You won't need this but here is some reading

.280 Rem

Well now
I don't know any particulars about the trade
swap,barter but I got to say...
That was a Damn fine thing to do for a young
fella.
Thou it was a LONG time ago, I remember that moment in my young life when I was concidered "old" enough to be included in the ranks of
my family's hunters. Was a proud day.
Hat's off to you taylorce1, you did a good thing.

quote:

Originally posted by ravenr:
Well now
I don't know any particulars about the trade
swap,barter but I got to say...
That was a Damn fine thing to do for a young
fella.
Thou it was a LONG time ago, I remember that moment in my young life when I was concidered "old" enough to be included in the ranks of
my family's hunters. Was a proud day.
Hat's off to you taylorce1, you did a good thing.

Not much to say on the deal, I stole this rifle from a local pawn shop on Friday last week for $625. I had been looking for a donor for a .338-06 to fit my Hunters Edge stock. I found this rifle and couldn't leave it sitting in the pawn shop. I got to weigh it on a postal scale and I realized that when the rifle only weighed 7.65 lbs it was a purpose built rifle. Later I figured out the Pre-64 FWT action was sitting in a Brown Precision stock. I still don't know what barrel is on it but most seem to think it is a Douglas.

I quickly realized this rifle would either be changed or left sitting in my safe since I'm not fond of 7mm rifles. I realized as well it would be a shame to not to have someone using this rifle. So I sent a shout out to all my hunting buddies first to see if any of them wanted to buy the rifle Snellstrom, Ted Thorn, Trick, Graybird, and Snell's brother.

I wanted to keep the scope for a Whelen I recently purchased. So I discounted the rifle appropriately, and Snell was the first to say he'd take it for his boy. I was excited to hear it was going to his youngest son. Snell's boy and my daughter are shooting patenters and took their hunters education together this year. They passed so both are hopefully getting to do a youth deer hunt in OK on Graybirds place.

My only hope is that the rifle shoots well, since I didn't get a chance to test it.

Yep, I almost pulled the trigger on this gun when I got the text! Glad I didn't as he needed it much more than I!!!

I'm sure we'll be helping him pull an elk out of some hell hole his dad will drag him into here in a couple of years!!!

I'll bring my frame and a smile.....can't wait to see his face

So this is how the rifle shoots in the hands of a 9 year old. Granted he has had a bunch of trigger time for being 9 but I was impressed with his shooting and the rifle!
Load was 53 grains of IMR-4350 and 130 grain Speer bullets, not max but no slouch load either, he said it kicks "insanely" but he shot it 4 times, then went on to shoot the .257 Roberts about 10 shots. Sorry for the picture camera phone. The orange center is 1" and the groups was shot from sandbags at 100 yards.

DAMN ! That'll do
better bring 2 frames Ted

Yep, I see another elk being strapped to our backs Ted!!!

Those are some great times

Couldn't think of better rifle for a young hunter. Heck any hunter. The .280 offers quite a bit more versatility than the .270 IMHO. Both great round though.

If that rifle were for one of my kids I'd load it with a 150 or 160 gr bullet @ about 2400 to 2600 FPS which would be a very gentle load and let them start adding to the "already got one" list.

Karma was watching...Good thing will come to those that help young hunters. Good on all involved.

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
Those are some great times

Ted
That picture doesn't do that hillside justice, I remember it a bit steeper than it looks in the photo!

Dave, this is a shot of you I took just before we dropped off the edge of that rocky lip into that deep valley Rick killed that elk in.

Steep?

No body here in Southern Missouri understands what those mountains are about when I tell my stories. I don't have any friends or co-workers who could hunt there past one day.


Steep and tall.....nothing but rock.

I can't keep up with you and the rest of the gang as it is (I try hard) but....Cody will run circles around me.

But I can't wait to share those times also. I'll bring my frame.

I think the best part of that story is when Rick and I were talking to some other hunters later in the week.

One of the older gentlemen asked us if we were the guys who pulled an elk out of that hole opening day, which we responded with a yes.

He then promptly said, "I've been hunting up here for almost 20 years and have never seen or heard of anyone going off in there. You guys are f-ing crazy!!!"

quote:

Originally posted by graybird:
I think the best part of that story is when Rick and I were talking to some other hunters later in the week.

One of the older gentlemen asked us if we were the guys who pulled an elk out of that hole opening day, which we responded with a yes.

He then promptly said, "I've been hunting up here for almost 20 years and have never seen or heard of anyone going off in there. You guys are f-ing crazy!!!"

Were just elk crazy thats all willing to go off the edge for a lowly cow.

Dave, happy that the rifle shoots well and your mini-me is enjoying it! Now you need to hurry up and grow that boy into the fine pack mule like your oldest, that upu let sneak away to college this coming season.