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Ernie Bishop
Optics Professional Joined: January/26/2010 Location: Gillette, WY Status: Offline Points: 765 |
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Posted: October/08/2011 at 20:54 |
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Yesterday it rained almost all day. We dearly needed it, but it was also supposed to rain through most of the evening with rain also called for this morning.
Erik and I had already decided we were not going to make an early start, but sleep in and head out sometime before noon to avoid rain. Erik also had a friend stay the night who would be with us for the antelope hunt. I had my 6.5 Leopard XP-11 (AKA Pink Panther) with me but really did not intend to use it unless we just happen to come up on a big mule deer or some unsuspecting coyote. Erik is using the 7mm SAUM Remington XP-100, built by Mac’s Gunworks. Optic is a FFP Leupold Mark 4 6.5-20 with Holland’s ART reticle. I use H-1000, Federal 210 M’s, Remmy brass with the necks lightly turned and the brass worked over for consistency. Muzzle velocity with the 162 A-Max is 2759. Recoil is all but nothing with Holland’s Radial brake. Erik has been shooting this specialty handgun for well over a year out to 1000 yards, and has been real proficient with it from field shooting positions. While at Holland’s Long Range Shooting School this past spring he told me out of the blue, that come October he wanted to take a buck antelope over 500 yards. I didn’t doubt his ability for this distance if conditions were good and he was relaxed. I said, “Sounds good to me.” Once we got to where we could hunt, we quickly spotted a group of lopes and saw an average buck for this area. Erik had told me earlier he didn’t really care about the size of the antlers, but was looking for a good shot opportunity. First we thought he may be able to just go into the field a little bit for a shot, as they were 530 yards away, but the animals moved over a slope before he could get set-up. We moved further to the east and then started heading north to see if we could find them again. We kept seeing some does, but the buck wouldn’t show himself. Finally the buck popped out of the drainage. We made our way slowly (single-file) to a high spot, so Erik could set up prone. Made it there and ranged the buck at 510 yards. Erik is getting set-up and I happen to look at the XP and notice the bolt was missing! “Erik, where is the bolt?” He looked at me with ‘deer in the headlights’ kind of look. It ended up being back in the Tahoe. So now we have to go all the way back to the vehicle, get the bolt, and head back to where he had set-up. As you would guess, the buck had disappeared. Question now was, which way. We move off to the right into a north/south drainage to avoid a baby buck and some does. We spot him again, and get up on top set-up, but to no avail as he goes over another ridge. Now we are more or less in the open now going basically north trying see where he went, when we noticed a herd to our NNW. There he is, or it is possible it was another buck who was very similar. Regardless, we need to make our way to the left to a higher spot for a shot opportunity. The wind is almost a full value averaging around 7mph. With the terrain and everything I told him to dial for a 5mph full-value wind. The buck had been herding does around off and on, so we waited till he had his fill of that and was standing still eating. At the shot, I was prone with my binos, and I could tell he had hit him, but it took some time for the meat report to make its way back to us. The rest of the herd moved to the west going up the hill, but the buck turned and went the other way going down the hill. We saw him crash, about 50 yards away. Erik’s classmate was using my Swaro LRF and I was using the Leica 1600 LRF. Both worked great, but I was wishing for my small tri-pod to make ranging easier. Erik made his 500 yard goal and then some. He killed that buck with one shot at 690 yards. Not bad for a teenager with a specialty pistol. I am very proud of him! |
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Ernie
"If you think you are perfect, just try walking on water." |
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Kickboxer
MODERATOR Moderator Joined: February/13/2008 Status: Offline Points: 23679 |
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Fabulous... you have much to be proud of, as does Erik. Bringing him up, unafraid, undaunted by the "long shot". Great stuff... a new generation of hunters. I love it. Thank you for telling us the tale.
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Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.
There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living |
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stickbow46
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/07/2009 Location: Benton, Pa Status: Offline Points: 4678 |
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Great shooting & a great story. Kudos to Ernie & son
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Pearls of Wisdom are Heard not Spoken
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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Thanks for sharing this....excellent.
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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silver
Optics Master Joined: November/04/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2291 |
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The -BOLT-was missing?
RULE 1) The Gun is ALWAYS loaded!
Great story! Nice Goat!
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"If we weren't all crazy we, We would go insane." Jimmie Buffet
WWW.formitch.com |
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Ernie Bishop
Optics Professional Joined: January/26/2010 Location: Gillette, WY Status: Offline Points: 765 |
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This is a center-grip, single-shot XP with a Dell trigger that has a pull weight of around 6 ounces.
Erik has grown up with BR triggers. Because of the trigger weight I have on my specialty handguns we never carry "hot."
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Ernie
"If you think you are perfect, just try walking on water." |
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338LAPUASLAP
Optics Master Scope Swapper Joined: October/17/2009 Status: Offline Points: 2596 |
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So these don't pass the drop test...
Never hot. From that range have you ever been heard put one in the tube??? |
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No one
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Ernie Bishop
Optics Professional Joined: January/26/2010 Location: Gillette, WY Status: Offline Points: 765 |
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I doubt it. Not worth having an AD over.
I have never had an animal react yet to our voices at that distance.
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Ernie
"If you think you are perfect, just try walking on water." |
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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That does it.
Building one of those bolt handguns is officially on my list. Thanks for the story Ernie! Ilya |
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silver
Optics Master Joined: November/04/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2291 |
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If all it takes is a strong breeze to to make it go off, then it is not safe enough to be in the field with. Anything you have to set up anytime with special rules, you are setting yourself up for problems down the road.
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"If we weren't all crazy we, We would go insane." Jimmie Buffet
WWW.formitch.com |
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Kickboxer
MODERATOR Moderator Joined: February/13/2008 Status: Offline Points: 23679 |
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Well, on that note, I guess I need one...
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Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.
There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living |
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Ernie Bishop
Optics Professional Joined: January/26/2010 Location: Gillette, WY Status: Offline Points: 765 |
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I have used these triggers in two tactical matches so i have confidence in them. Never had an ad with them. At the same time, there is no need for me to have one in the chamber. This is my choice for my safety, IF Murphy decides to show up. |
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Ernie
"If you think you are perfect, just try walking on water." |
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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Ernie,
Are these handguns custom jobs only? or is there something reasonably affordable out there for people who are simply curious about them? Thanks ILya
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Ernie Bishop
Optics Professional Joined: January/26/2010 Location: Gillette, WY Status: Offline Points: 765 |
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In the XP's, yes.
The best custom/factory specialty pistols for LR shooting is the MOA Maximum. Falling block action, interchangeable barrels. You can have one built for right around $1,000. Are they accurate? Well, my 15" MOA chambered in 6.5-284 shooting 130 Berger's had a 5-shot group at 1000 yards during a match that measured 5.25" Total weight of the specialty handgun with a S-III 6-24 is 7.5 pounds
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Ernie
"If you think you are perfect, just try walking on water." |
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