Mule Deer With An Original 1894 Takedown 32-40

[Shrapnel]

Chasing these critters around with old guns and iron sights makes the hunt more worthwhile. I spent the morning spotting for deer and seeing a few. I did get within range of a nice 4 point, but he took off at the last second and went around a hill.

I followed where he went, got distracted and had to go back in search of him. I found this buck bedded and snuck up on him from the downwind side to about 100 yards. I stuck the rifle over the ridge, he caught the movement and stood up. I shot him through the heart and liver with a 180 grain grease groove round nose bullet...

[Merle]

Chasing these critters around with old guns and iron sights makes the hunt more worthwhile. I spent the morning spotting for deer and seeing a few. I did get within range of a nice 4 point, but he took off at the last second and went around a hill.

I followed where he went, got distracted and had to go back in search of him. I found this buck bedded and snuck up on him from the downwind side to about 100 yards. I stuck the rifle over the ridge, he caught the movement and stood up. I shot him through the heart and liver with a 180 grain grease groove round nose bullet...

nice deer - and nicer rifle!!!

[M. M. Wright]

Nice job man, and a lovely rifle.

[piller]

Not being able to get time off during Flu Season, I can't do any deer hunting. Congratulations.

[earlmck]

Dang, that makes me smile to see that fine old rifle put back to its intended use. Good job Shrapnel!

[JRD]

Well done Shrapnel. I enjoy seeing your hunt reports with vintage rifles.
Jason

[Bill in Oregon]

Wow! Cast boolit out of a .32-40! Very well done sir!

[Grizz]

great scene for the photo too. looks like a perfect hunt. with perfect equipment. time for some tenderloin over the camp fire...

[gamekeeper]

Congratulations Shrapnel, that's hunting as it should be alright..

[ollogger]

As always a great photo with a awesome gun!
Is the body on that buck that big or is it just that kind of a photo ?




Brad

[OldWin]

Very nice. I have a solid frame rifle in 32-40 but have never shot any game with it.

[Rusty]

Nice pictures of a beautiful rifle.

[AJMD429]

Cool.

I think of how many 'deer-capable' rifles (and handguns) I have, that I will probably never get a deer with, because I've my favorites, plus a few 'must-use' ones.

[fordwannabe]

Any more details on the load and the rifle? Year of manufacture, any history?

[Shrapnel]

Any more details on the load and the rifle? Year of manufacture, any history?

It was made in 1897. The 32-40 and 38-55 were the first chamberings in the model 1894 and they were loaded with black powder, the 25-35 and 30-30 came in 1895 as the first smokeless cartridges for th 1894. I took a picture of the 32-40 between the 25-35 and the 30-30 for comparison. The second picture shows the cast bullet I am shooting in it, I use 5744 powder...

[Merle]

Any more details on the load and the rifle? Year of manufacture, any history?

It was made in 1897. The 32-40 and 38-55 were the first chamberings in the model 1894 and they were loaded with black powder, the 25-35 and 30-30 came in 1895 as the first smokeless cartridges for th 1894. I took a picture of the 32-40 between the 25-35 and the 30-30 for comparison. The second picture shows the cast bullet I am shooting in it, I use 5744 powder...

obviously it is enough to do the job!

[JDL]

Congratulations Shrapnel nice deer and rifle! I have come to the same conclusion as you about what I need to hunt with for more enjoyment. I just returned home after a morning's deer hunt with my Savage 99H Carbine chambered for the .303 Savage. My ammo consists of a hand load with a 171 grain cast bullet. I had almost forgot how wonderfully these little carbines carry and no scope makes them balanced and lively. I may never go back to a bolt gun. Now if the bucks will just cooperate and give me one shot.

[piller]

Enough is a good concept. Many people around here seem to think that a 7mm Remington Magnum on a deer lease with 100 yard shots is necessary. Texas has deer that are usually on the small side of normal whitetail size. A 100 pound deer hit by a 7mm Mag at 100 yards loses a lot of meat. I sometimes wonder how Daniel Boone ever killed even one deer with his muzzle loader when every gun magazine tries to convince us that a .30-30 is underpowered. That 32-40 cannot generate the 1,000 ft-lbs of energy at 200 yards necessary to kill a deer. Of course, deer don't read magazines. If they did we would never have been meat eaters.

[Rimfire McNutjob]

I like the look of the 26" barrel on the early originals. I'm assuming it's 26" ... because it has "the look".

[BenT]

Nothing better than putting the sneak on a buck. It's a great feeling. Great picture and story.

[FLINT]

wow, great job! that is awesome! I love the 32-40 and that's a great looking buck!!

I'm planning to have my 32-40 with me when rifle season starts next saturday.

I last took it out about a decade ago. I had worked up a load also with 5744 and with 170gr (actually weighed a little over 180gr IIRC) FNGC boolit. I made a good shot on a nice doe. She ran 20 yards or so and then stumbled and wobbled. I'm sure she would have gone down, but then the landowner came walking out to see what I had shot, which of course motivated her to run directly over onto the neighbors property. I'm sure she didn't make it far, but my landowner didn't want to cross the fence, so I lost her I'm sure the gun and load did its job fine, I just had a little too much "help" that day.

This year I've worked up another 32-40 load with Hawks awesome bullets and IMR 3031, that hopefully will put one down in the right property.

[RIHMFIRE]

very nice! congrats
awesome rifle

[Nath]

That's a hunk o' deer there.
Congrats and how many deer are going to be harvested with 32-40 this season? Not many I bets!

[Pitchy]

Beautiful picture, rifle and buck.

[stretch]

What Pitchy said....

-Stretch

[marlinman93]

That's a great looking buck with a big body! Nothing better than hunting with vintage rifles either! After spending decades using modern bolt action rifles I switched to hunting with old single shots and leverguns about 15-20 years ago. It takes more work to get closer and within my self imposed 150 yd. maximum, but when you bring down a buck it's so much better, and much more memorable!

[fordwannabe]

Thanks Shrapnel.
THAT BUDDY of yours, does writings that suckered me in like a kid to CRACK. So as I got older I have acquired a meager assortment of older calibers. I have been on the lookout for a decent 32-40, and last year our own Sixgun made me a deal I couldn’t resist, on one. He also said 5744 for the powder, so be it. Thanks for the info on the gun and the load. This years doe gun is the 1886 SRC in 45/70, but I am thinking that 32-40 for next year. Tom

[Merle]

My only 32-40 is a TCR-83, with double set triggers.
Since it is a single shot, I tried to use it as a Schuetzen rifle, but found I wasn't all that adept at it.
At least I did have fun with it at some local matches, so.......

[piller]

Merle, isn't fun a big part of the reason for using old guns like that? If just plain simple function and accuracy without any concern for ofter hard to define factors were all, then we would all be shooting the same bolt action rifles in maybe only 3 different calibers. Can you imagine anything less enjoyable without it causing nausea?

[Merle]

Merle, isn't fun a big part of the reason for using old guns like that? If just plain simple function and accuracy without any concern for ofter hard to define factors were all, then we would all be shooting the same bolt action rifles in maybe only 3 different calibers. Can you imagine anything less enjoyable without it causing nausea?

Yep, fun is a big part - that and having something most people have never seen....

[Griff]

Congrats Shrapnel.