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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Mannlicher Discussion forum & Archive
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malco
.275 member


Reged: 11/02/09
Posts: 76
Loc: montana, usa
Montana Mannlicher pronghorn
      #144345 - 24/10/09 04:23 PM

Traveled to the eastern part of the state last week for a combination pronghorn/upland bird safari. Shot pheasants, huns, sharptails, and the subject of the current post, the featured prong buck. I used my 1903 Mannlicher-Schoenauer with 140-grain Hornady softpoints.

My buddy John and I spotted several telltale white dots through binos on DNRC land at a distance of maybe three miles, which we were able to cut roughly in half by driving. We made an hour-long stalk through the sagebrush, approached downwind of the animals, had to back off twice to reposition ourselves, and finally belly-crawled to the top of the rise in the background (about 160 yards away).

My buck, two lesser bucks, and two does were grazing just out of the wash you see in the photo. I shot it from a prone position as soon as it quartered to a generally broadside position. The bullet entered the ribcage, destroyed one lung, and exited through the right shoulder. The buck humped up once and then rolled into the draw without taking a voluntary step--I'm pleased to report that it appeared to expire in under two seconds.

John shot one of the lesser bucks immediately after, using a 1950-vintage BRNO 21 in 7x57, with original factory mount and Meopta 3x scope. Also a one-shot, lightning-fast kill.

To corroborate another Montana antelope report in the "Hunting in the Americas" column, we saw very few pronghorn in the 700 district of the state, and a biologist at the BLM office in Miles City told us that numbers did indeed seem down. I know blue-tongue killed a bunch off in other areas last year, and would not be surprised if the problem extended into the 700 region as well (although its admittedly a huge chunk of ground). If they are down, here's hoping for a fast rebound.




Edited by CptCurl (25/10/09 11:46 PM)

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GG375
.333 member


Reged: 27/02/04
Posts: 347
Loc: Brisbane
Re: Montana Mannlicher pronghorn [Re: malco]
      #144352 - 24/10/09 08:31 PM


Nice one Malco. How do the 140's feed? Are they round noses or spitzers?

I'm taking my newly aquired 1903 for a trip next weekend (her first)and hope to do some damage.

Cheers mate.

GG

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malco
.275 member


Reged: 11/02/09
Posts: 76
Loc: montana, usa
Re: Montana Mannlicher pronghorn [Re: GG375]
      #144354 - 24/10/09 09:28 PM

Hello GG--

The 140 Hornady is a spitzer which I seat to approximately the same length as the Hornady 160 RN (about 3.05" COL). They feed, but not in the lightning-slick manner we all know and love. After I shoot up this box of 140's, I'll frankly probably start to use the 160 for everything.

Is your 1903 a carbine also? What have you been feeding through her for ammo? Good luck in the field!

Malcolm

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mehulkamdar
.416 member


Reged: 09/01/04
Posts: 3688
Loc: State of Ill-Annoy USA.
Re: Montana Mannlicher pronghorn [Re: malco]
      #144367 - 25/10/09 12:27 AM

Very nice, Malcolm! Didn;t Elmer Keith also love the little Mannlichers in the only departure from the big bores that he was so fond of? And you;re hunting with an M-S rifle in his home state!

Thanks for sharing the lovely trophy pic and I hope you have many more superb hunts with the little rifle!

Good hunting!

--------------------
The Ark was made by amateurs. Experts built the Titanic.

Mehul Kamdar

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malco
.275 member


Reged: 11/02/09
Posts: 76
Loc: montana, usa
Re: Montana Mannlicher pronghorn [Re: mehulkamdar]
      #144371 - 25/10/09 02:01 AM

Thanks so much, Mehul. I was fortunate to know and learn from an old-time Selway Wilderness guide and bush pilot named Erv Malnarich, who also happened to be Elmer's close friend. Erv was about 6'6" to Elmer's 5'? 4"maybe?, so the old-time pictures I've seen of them together are pretty hilarious. Erv had an early ivory-stocked S&W .44 Mag given to him by the factory, probably by sheer dint of his friendship with Elmer.

Once when Erv was teaching a bunch of neophytes the ins and outs of horse packing Elmer showed up with some new factory big bore offering and proceeded to touch one off from a prone position. He got whacked in the eye with the scope, stood up dripping blood, and without missing a beat announced that "anyone who thinks this gun kicks is wearing lace on his underpants." He and Erv then went off to scrounge up a bottle of whiskey, leaving the students to work out their own salvation with the offending rifle.

While Elmer did once suggest that the .30-06 wasn't good for anything, he did like the 6.5 Mannlicher. He recommended it be outfitted with the Lyman peep sight designed for the rifle, which I'm fortunate to have on mine. I'll be taking the rifle out again soon for deer and hopefully elk in the timber, and I'll continue to report.

Best,
Malcolm

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9.3x57
.450 member


Reged: 22/04/07
Posts: 5521
Loc: United States
Re: Montana Mannlicher pronghorn [Re: malco]
      #144395 - 25/10/09 02:04 PM

Great post.

Thanks for showing us yet another little 6.5 that puts up the winter's meat.

Elmer pretty much gave up on the .30-06 back in the '20's, and most of his gripes centered around the game-killing performance of the 150 grain M1906 round...

Ya gotta love Elmer!!!

--------------------
What are the Rosary, the Cross or the Crucifix other than tools to help maintain the fortress of our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

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CptCurlAdministrator
.450 member


Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5284
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...
Re: Montana Mannlicher pronghorn [Re: 9.3x57]
      #144408 - 25/10/09 11:47 PM

Very nice buck, and a fine rifle.

Curl

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.



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nhdblfan
.300 member


Reged: 31/08/07
Posts: 102
Loc: NH
Re: Montana Mannlicher pronghorn [Re: CptCurl]
      #144543 - 27/10/09 10:06 AM

Wonderfull picture, and great story.Its so good to see others who hunt with the M/S's and what a winner of a trophy.
As a fellow "Stones" fan the sweatshirt is winner as well!

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mehulkamdar
.416 member


Reged: 09/01/04
Posts: 3688
Loc: State of Ill-Annoy USA.
Re: Montana Mannlicher pronghorn [Re: malco]
      #144577 - 27/10/09 09:50 PM

Malcolm,

Another great post! The more that I read and hear about ELmer Keith, the more I enjoy it. He was truly a great man and thanks are due to you for posting about this incident. I am laughing as I type this - hopsfully, someone does a movie someday on Elmer Keith's life!

Good hunting!

--------------------
The Ark was made by amateurs. Experts built the Titanic.

Mehul Kamdar

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Paul
.400 member


Reged: 28/08/07
Posts: 1031
Loc: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Re: Montana Mannlicher pronghorn [Re: mehulkamdar]
      #144580 - 27/10/09 10:36 PM

Great hunt and EK story, Malcolm. I've only put 160-grain ammo thru my '03 but assumed the rotary mag would handle everything the same. We live and learn.
- Paul

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