Once I got Home from the above two Hunts, I had one more Hunt planned but I was not going to tell anyone in the Family where I was headed. However, I rested from the driving and contemplated how to make the next Hunt be unique.
In unique, at least to myself, I wanted to use either a 577-450 Martini (Seen in British fighting Zooloo'zz ) or a 7.7 Jap from WWII.
The Hunt had all the making of a driving trip far North and never finding the one animal I was after. At the last minute I packed a Ruger #1 375 H&H Mag and a WWII M1 Garand. I think I spent more money on buying new 375 H&H Mag ammo than I spent on Gas in the new Truck for the entire last trip. It's the same one I wrote about last year with the 6 cyl eco boost. Still hardly used and showing only 3700 Miles by Fall 2016.
This particular M1 Grand is bone stock battle rattle and not my Match M1 Garand. However, at 100 yds it keeps shots in 1" and windage adjustment is very precise. I decided to try something known to be bad for M1 Garands and such is, shoot factory ammo. I tried just a few Remington 180 Grain Swift Scirocco's and they printed 2" high at 100 yds and in a 2" group of Five shots. I decided that at my age, it is OK to fire a few "IF" (Big If) I decided to use it instead of a much better Scoped 375 H&H.
So away I drive and the weather is great. I arrive at my destination days later and I just say the heck with it and grab the M1 Garand. I can't say much but the Critter I am seeking has been hiding in Willows and has been both, a solo 12 yr+ old busting down fence lines at night and not seen for quite some time. It does what it wants, when it wants and Horses have been going through open fences. It was once, the head Critter but age had him give way to younger new challengers. So as a cast away, he traveled and remained unseen.
Long story short, I spotted him 200 yds away in the Willows. I had major fears he would smell me and run back into the thick Willows. As I gaze at his massive size, my mind is back on the Scoped 375 H&H but, I am obligated because I'm in the open, never expecting to find him this way or he smells me and may actually see me. OR... I am imaging this is a TV Movie of Two Gun Fighters Facing off...(Humor). I get some luck. He moves out slightly away from the Thick Willows and it's: "Game on".
During the long drive I imagined all types of scenarios. For your entertainment and departing from my lack of graduating from the University of Brevity, I'll say....I imagined him Running. I shot competition Running Deer (Once an Olympic Sport) so I had that covered. If he charged straight at me, he would get hit on the forehead by 1+ 375'zz or 1, 2, 3+ enblock clips from the M1 Garand. I had fun mentally playing games as I drove. Maybe we all do such dreams...? Consequently I had a lifetime of skills and as said; "It's Game On"... No wiggle room now but mental focusing.
I had studied on the Internet where Vital Organs were and I found Skeleton pictures and had memorized both. I knew where I must hit and it's the Heart. I wasn't doing any Neck hits. Luckily his Winter pelt (coat) was clearly visible with the Sun behind me. I had to shoot off hand and I knew his Heart was far larger than an NRA 200 Yd High Power X-Ring. As I apply pressure to the Trigger....Bang. I can see the Impact. It is exactly text book alignment of the Heart. GOT HIM...!!!!
No one would ever guess what my most memorable thought is but, I will write it. Please do try to understand, things I have written and what tiny thoughts you the reader might have about my shooting ability and past. Having said that, I'll tell the truth, as I always do. My most memorable thought is a gripe. Everything went better than most any man could expect yet I am grouchy. My negative is against myself. I doubt most will understand this but, here goes. I was mad at myself for never taking the time to affix a narrow match front blade on the M1 Garand. Trying to use my still, 20/10 vision had me looking at a WWII Front Battle Sight Blade. It's as wide as a fat person's butt, like my own big butt. How can I have precision if I never did this modification...? I know it doesn't matter if sights of any size are aligned yet still, I wanted to kick myself. Kinda stupid to try to explain after making such range groups and now, a 200 yd Heart shot....But it's a massive sized Heart. I had never seen such a sized heart or, animal. Luck is still better than skill
I owe the past Fall Hunting to all of YOU.
After he was down I needed help. My GoPro has great video's but are to large. Of course, my Cell Phone decides to take crummy pictures. Two real cameras died due to batteries being cold.
I wanted to roll him over, like BIGJOHNT had but there was NO WAY humans were going to move this guy. BIGJOHNT, I am not saying anything bad. Simply I am disabled and even once in kneeling, I needed help to stand back up.
With bad Camera luck came unexpected Good luck. Inline with the Heart in fat against the hide's opposite side this is shining in the sun. Possible lesson might be a Bullet going slower has less SPIN and this = additional Penetration. But as in any Ballistic topic, opinions vari.
My John Deere T-Shirt with a John Deere
If using modern equipment = cheating, ok...I had to. 10 or 20 years ago I would never needed such. But we make due to get things done.
As for my opinion, yes, I would like to see more men using an M1 Garand. The WWII 7.7 Jap is ugly bet the strongest ever made and, some REALLY shoot well.
After-all, General Patton once said, The M1 Garand is the finest Buffalo Fighting instrument ever developed...or something like that...
