PP Bison
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 10:16 am
Just got back from the Montana-Dakotas border (16 hr drive) with a nice yearling meat bull of approximately 800#'s. My buddy and I booked a yearling bull hunt with the Crazy Woman Bison Ranch about 25 miles from Ekalaka. The weather was beautiful with a low around 20F and a high a bit over 40F. The last 4 miles to the ranch was a two track road through the hilly country that became a steeringwheel clenching ordeal on the way out due to the mud! We almost didn't make it out of there! To say this ranch is in BFE is the polite way to put it. The owner is an an interesting character and I really enjoyed his conversation and way of life. He owns approximately 4400 acres and raises bison only letting the yearling bulls (best meat) to be harvested.
I dont recommend this hunt to anyone thinking there is a sporting element to the hunt. Although the animals graze over a large area they have been conditioned to the owners truck. I did not shoot from the truck, but I could have very easily. I shot the bull quartering away low behind the right shoulder at less than 50 yards. The bull hit the ground feet in the air immediately. I put one more through the boilerroom to put it out of its misery, although it wasnt needed.
My load was a 405 grain round nose with a flat tip and straight sides 0.425" wrapped with thick paper to 0.436". I had Accurate make me the bullet mold to my specification with the sole purpose of hunting. Under the bullet sandwiched between 0.030 wads was a 3/16" 2:1 peanut oil/beeswax cookie. I drop tubed 76 grains KIK 2F in the baco reformed case primed with a BR-2. With this load I can shoot several times without any blowing or wiping, but can continue shooting with a breath of air down the pipe ever once in a while. Accuracy is about 2" for 4 out of 5 shots at 100 yards. The bullet was cast 50:1. I tried KIK 1.5, Swiss 1.5, and KIK 2F and 2F was the best and cleanest for that bullet. Powderburner sent me some 405 gr tapered Gibbs bullets that shot better and loaded easier than my bullet so I have one of KAL's molds on order.
My rifle is a plain wood 28" business rifle in 44-77. I added an extra 1/2" length of pull and bone/charcoal case hardening. I swapped out the silver blade and replaced it with a penny. I filed out the vee in the semibuckhorn slightly for more light.
Special thanks to Powderburner for answering my countless e-mails and coaching me along the way! I'd also like to thank Orville and Rdnck for getting me set up right and sharing their thier hard earned knowledge and experience.
Normally I would paste the bbc code (whatever its called) for the photo but photobucket isnt working for me now so i'm trying flickr. Hope it works.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/90157711@N03/8193646880/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/90157711@N03/8193645498/
I dont recommend this hunt to anyone thinking there is a sporting element to the hunt. Although the animals graze over a large area they have been conditioned to the owners truck. I did not shoot from the truck, but I could have very easily. I shot the bull quartering away low behind the right shoulder at less than 50 yards. The bull hit the ground feet in the air immediately. I put one more through the boilerroom to put it out of its misery, although it wasnt needed.
My load was a 405 grain round nose with a flat tip and straight sides 0.425" wrapped with thick paper to 0.436". I had Accurate make me the bullet mold to my specification with the sole purpose of hunting. Under the bullet sandwiched between 0.030 wads was a 3/16" 2:1 peanut oil/beeswax cookie. I drop tubed 76 grains KIK 2F in the baco reformed case primed with a BR-2. With this load I can shoot several times without any blowing or wiping, but can continue shooting with a breath of air down the pipe ever once in a while. Accuracy is about 2" for 4 out of 5 shots at 100 yards. The bullet was cast 50:1. I tried KIK 1.5, Swiss 1.5, and KIK 2F and 2F was the best and cleanest for that bullet. Powderburner sent me some 405 gr tapered Gibbs bullets that shot better and loaded easier than my bullet so I have one of KAL's molds on order.
My rifle is a plain wood 28" business rifle in 44-77. I added an extra 1/2" length of pull and bone/charcoal case hardening. I swapped out the silver blade and replaced it with a penny. I filed out the vee in the semibuckhorn slightly for more light.
Special thanks to Powderburner for answering my countless e-mails and coaching me along the way! I'd also like to thank Orville and Rdnck for getting me set up right and sharing their thier hard earned knowledge and experience.
Normally I would paste the bbc code (whatever its called) for the photo but photobucket isnt working for me now so i'm trying flickr. Hope it works.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/90157711@N03/8193646880/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/90157711@N03/8193645498/