Got it done, with my late Uncle's .243

[T3ninja]

Excellent !

 

[DJ Fergus]

That's a great post! Glad to see you keeping that rifle in action.

 

[wapitiaddict]

Back in 2000, my Uncle Dan passed at the age of 46 (cancer sucks), he was my Dad's younger (and only) brother. In the wake of his death, Dad handed me his Remington 700 BDL .243 and his words were "Cherish it". I've kept it in the safe since, cleaning it once in a while and keeping it in the best condition. This year, I decided to work up a good handload for it, and finally take a deer with it. Not just any deer though, my Uncle never took a real nice buck, the one nice one he shot, he lost. I wanted to take nothing less than an 8 point, and after I seen this one on my trail cam, I decided this was the one I was going to hunt this year, with his rifle.

Well, yesterday morning, I was sitting on watch, and heard a 'twang" sound from behind some buck brush, across the creek I was watching.. He had jumped a fence, and about 10 seconds after he tripped the fence wire, he came trotting in front of me at about 65 yards away. I stood up, took aim and double lunged him with a 95 grain Match King. I heard the round snap as it hit him hard, but he kept trotting, for about 40 yards. As I walked around another tree, about 20 yards from my watch, I seen him, standing still in the creek bottom. He was dying on his feet, but he wasn't down, so I took aim, and put one more in him, again, through both lungs. He walked about 10 yards, and passed out, falling in the grass.

I have to think my Uncle was looking down with a smile on his face, seeing his rifle finally take a nice buck. I got home with him, and Dad's eyes were watering, so were Mom's. Great end to a great hunt...

I think that is the best way you can "cherish" a rifle passed down....go out and hunt with it.

My dad has an old Eddystone Model 17 that he hunted elk with for decades....never did get a single elk with it. Now that he is sick and no longer able to hunt, I hope to take it out and shoot a nice bull with it and dedicate the hunt to him.

 

[CW Boz]

That. Is. AWESOME.

 

[Doublezranch]

I absolutely love these stories. It's very difficult to put into words how hunting and the outdoors build family legacies and traditions that last well beyond our living years. My hats off to you for carrying the family tradition with memories that will never be forgotten. Congrats!!

 

[LVJ76]

Thanks for sharing. That is one nice buck right there and I agree that they look down on us every now and then. Great job getting your uncle a nice buck

 

[okie man]

That's so awesome. Great tribute to your entire family and it's appreciation for each other. Sharing the harvest with them only makes it sweeter.

 

[55stone]

Such a great story!! Congrats!!

 

[Nomosendero]

Thank you for sharing that story.
I know that hunt was very special for you and your family.
I hope my Sons and Grand children can have such an experience with my rifles!

 

[hrhunter]

My late father gave me his Remington 788 in .308 as well. We bought identical rifles in the late 70's and took many deer with it. We can't use bottle neck cartridges in Iowa but like to hunt out west with it some day. That was always his dream to go out to Wyoming and hunt deer but never was able to do that.

 

[Whiskey4]

Proud Moment, Congrats on your great hunt.....

 

[COhntr]

Great story and memories. Lost my father at 56 due to cancer, i was 16 at the time. I still have his 308 that he packed in the mountains, he never got a big bull with it but i killed a 315" bull 2 yrs ago with it and i cried like a little girl up on the mountain. The rack and rifle both grace my living room wall. Thanks for sharing