Shiloh Rifle Forums

I don’t have the ability to get things down in writing that can express my true feelings like many of you reading this.
This hunt took place with the Sand Hills Outfitters near Stuart Nebraska on the Hamilton Ranch. I arrived on Sunday afternoon and stayed in their guest cabin and left Thursday morning.
First of all I can’t say enough about the hospitality that Rick and his Wife Doris gave my Wife Carolyn and me. They made us feel like we were part of their Family during our stay with them. Rick and Doris are some of what I call first class sincere folks I know.

The Hunt started on Monday morning with a very large breakfast Doris prepared; I have to say right now, (This Lady can cook!!!) The three meals Doris prepares an old fashion verity farm meal. I don’t know how she does this and keep up with all of the other things she has to do.

The hunt is on an open 2000? Acer rolling sand hills Ranch that is very good for a concealed stocking hunt. If you think that a Buff hunt is a pen shoot, get this out of your mind on this hunt!! We made several long stalks using the rolling sand hills between us and the herd but the heard tightens up making it very hard to get a clear shot without getting a double hit with a pass through.
I was after a yearling bull and there were several in the herd but getting one in the open before they get you sighted is tough and there were times when we were in close and old Brutus started to get a little agitated and shaking his head and the cows grunting made the hair stand up on Carolyn’s head and no trees to climb up in. Carolyn was in charge of the camera and I’m very proud of her for staying composed and not making a sound. She is still talking about her excitement and thoughts about her first hunt she went on with me and Rae and Lee if you’re reading this; NO SKUNK!! LOL. LOL.

For this hunt I used my .44-77 Shiloh with the blade front and a Lawrence rear sight with a powder load of 75 grains of 2fg Olde Eynsford and the bullet is the original round nosed Sharps PP bullet and I cast it using 6 oz of tin with 20 lbs. pure lead making it close to 1/50 T/L

This stalk and set up lasted about four hours. The first clear shot I got was within 100 yards shooting through the sun flours off my fork I used for support. I let the shot go holding just behind and slightly below his knee that should have got the top of the heart or the lower lungs for sure and when the shot went off he went down like a rock flat on his belly kicking his feet and I saw sand kick up past him so I know the bullet passed through. Rick turned around and said GOOD SHOT!! I extracted the empty case and loaded a new round and I said couldn’t be he is getting back up again.
The herd took off and he followed wobbling but I lost sight of him when he mixed in with a bunch and couldn’t get off a second shot. We set up again and found him not in the open but with a good blood spot on him for identification and it was just a matter of getting him in the opening. Well the herd took off on a run and when he finally got in the open I stood up and took a second off hand snapshot and saw sand kick up under his chest just as he jumped and I thought I shot low and missed.
When the herd came back into view from behind a hill four cows followed some way behind on a run that made me relieved knowing they stayed behind with the downed bull. And sure enough when we went on the other side of the sand hill we found him down.
When I looked at the wound I could only find one entrance and one larger exit hole that was a lot higher then I was aiming for that I can’t quite explain but we had fairly dark cloudy overcast and the hide was black. I think I just had too much blade above the rear sight.
Doris came out with a car trailer and we winched him on and off to the locker Rick and I went.
After the buff was skinned out and the gutted we found two holes about 2” apart at the same height so my second shot did not miss. The first shot went through a rib and just got the spine taking a chunk out of it and passed through. The second also caught bone and the lungs and passed through.
A fine Animal that was what I think large for his age at 363# hanging weight that filled my freezer.

Rick has a very fine healthy looking herd and if my steaks taste as good as the one I ate for supper at his place it will be gone by next year.
Thank you again Rick for the two day flint knapping lessons and Doris thank you for making us welcome in your home.

Kurt

Come on Kurt tell the truth, Carolyn shot it and She let you get the photo Nice buff!!!

I'll be there next fall to give it a try.

this is all I can say, superb !

Dave

Tnx. Jim--Dave.
Jim Carolyn dont need to use a rifle to take that bull down. I think the way she takes care of me a little league slugger would be enough

Absolutely a first rate trip! Nice meat buffalo, and best of all you got Carolyn involved in the experience. Congratulations, and have a safe trip home. Shoot straight, rdnck.

The 44-77 is still doing the job as it did over 100 and some odd years ago.

Bill she really enjoyed the hunt. On a couple of the stalks I could smell the herd before I could see them on the other side of the hill and we got very close, close enough to put an arrow in them but could not get one in the clear. Carolyn said she got a little nervous when she heard the cows starting to grunt and the herd bull was staring at us but she held tight and said nothing. This is something she will always remember.

Kurt

Orville.

Yes it did and did it well.
I wanted to use a 75 grain load with a 405 gr patched bullet but I could not get a load in the short time I had after the shoots I came home from to perform the way I wanted it so I used a 480 gr that has always performed well in this rifle. The bullets passed through despite going through the ribs and spine to kick up a bunch of sand on the far side.
The .44-2-1/4 is enough for Buffalo to get the job done in good shape.
And I might add; this Shiloh with a light weight 30" barrel with the barrel sights and single trigger makes a fine hunting rifle. The rifle is well balanced and the crescent butplate makes the butstock narrow and lite, very important for a long stalk while being bent over for a long time. The rifle comes up fast and points well with a snap shot. It's a fine rifle, but I will have to change the throat to get rid of the paper ring that gave me a little hard push to seat the follow up round.

Kurt

Good shooting Kurt. I hope to do the same thing next year. I love bison meat and so does my wife. She knows it is a costly hunt but she has been asking when I am going to take another buffalo.

Good story with the photo.

Nice work Kurt!
Enjoy the fine eating! The 2 1/4 strikes again!

Dang good thing you had your spotter with you
Nice shot, and glad to see you get to use that rifle

Carolyn and the rifle did well Don.

I did something today I said I would not do; I put a tang sight on the 77 and changed the front blade to a globe to really see what it will do.
I will be taking off for a iron critters shoot next week and also take the .45-70.

Kurt

Kurt from what I saw from my 44 in the midrange before the firing pin break you should do very well with the tin can shoots with that rifle.
Ron Walters is really looking forwards to your shooting his midrange as well.
Make your schedule for the week of Sept 14 next year for the nationals at Raton. You and Carolyn will enjoy that one as well. Carol already has the rv spots picked out she wants to try and reserve, and is planning her assault on the midrange prone matches already..

Kurt,

I don't often visit this forum, but I need to congratulate you and Carolyn on that nice picture you two make. The buff added some color also.

They do take a good picture together, don't they. You won't find two nicer people either. Shoot straight, rdnck.