Do I need another gun? If so, what?

[JB]

I have a collection of Browning long guns. Belgian .22 semi-auto, BLR model '81 in .243 Winchester and a Belgian 20 guage superlight superposed.<br /><br />I also have a Beretta .22 semiauto pistol and a Ruger .45ACP semiauto pistol.<br /><br />Up to now I have always had an appropriate gun for whatever came up.<br /><br />New situation: There is a wild bison heifer, around 400-600lb., loose in my woods. She escaped from a ranch just after being imported from an open range herd in Colorado. <br /><br />She has busted down three fences and spooked heck out of my horses. Her owner gave up trying to catch her after two days of frustration and "gave" her to me.<br /><br />I propose to move her to my freezer. I am very fond of bison and a yearling heifer is perfect for the purpose.<br /><br />I am a good shot. My .243 will put a deer down within feet every time. I think it would put her down, too, but 100 grains from a .243 has to be perfectly placed to drop an animal that big (and tough). I think something heavier would be more suitable.<br /><br />I am addicted to premium grade guns and don't care for bolt actions. I like falling block single shot, breaking and lever guns.<br /><br />Some candidates I am thinking of are:<br /><br />Browning/Winchester single shot in a 30-35 caliber magnum.<br /><br />Ruger Number One single shot, same caliber family.<br /><br />Browning/Winchester 1886 in .45-70.<br /><br />Marlin 1885 in .45-70.<br /><br />Am I overlooking other good candidates? Is the .45-70 too short-ranged for consideration?<br /><br />Other ideas and suggestions? I don't spend many hundreds of bux lightly.<br /><br />Thanks.

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: Do I need another gun? If so, what?

Use a 300 magnum longrifle.<br />Its good for any of the largest north american game.<br />Its flat shooting and heavy enough to penitrate<br />the thick hide.<br />You can drop a 1400lb moose at 400 yards with<br />a well placed shot.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Do I need another gun? If so, what?

When I used to hunt, which was a while back, all I ever used was a 44 Ruger Blackhawk.<br />It will stop anything.<br />Also had a 44 long gun too.

 

[Specks n Reds]

Re: Do I need another gun? If so, what?

 

[plywoody]

Re: Do I need another gun? If so, what?

A 270 Winchester will take down anything that walks, and is accurate long range

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: Do I need another gun? If so, what?

45/70 goverment will sure do the job , just be<br />reasonably close. Not much of a rifle for accuracy

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Do I need another gun? If so, what?

JB I too have a love of long guns especially shot guns. My Brownings are some of my favorite. Over and under lighting in 12,, <br /><br />sweet sixteen, need I say more about that nice little piece,,<br /><br />Bt 99 special trap grade in 12. <br /><br />Any how I think that Browning/Winchester 1886 in .45-70. Is a nice choice. Heck even if you don't use it to clobber that Bison. It sure would be nice to have. I am drooling just thinking about it though I am not a lever handle fan. I would guess you are thinking of the repo anniversary model?

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: Do I need another gun? If so, what?

I love talkn about rifles.. <br />Plywoody 270 is a great gun, and would fix up<br />JB'S problem as well. However when you are after<br />large game, its no fun chasing a big animal after<br />you've wounded it with a good deer rifle, belive<br />me! . You want bone crushing knock down power<br />when you want to pursue large game.<br />Just because the world record grizzley bear was<br />taken with a 22 dosent mean you would be holding<br />the right rifle if you had one.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Do I need another gun? If so, what?

JB, any excuse for a new gun is a good excuse! Shucks, I broke a finger nail today, I think I might need to get another gun! <br /><br />As far as cartridges go, Man, I can't believe I am agreeing with PW here, but you sound like you are a pretty decent shot, so anything from a .270 (esp. a magnum) on up will do just fine on a 400-600lb Bison. The .45/70 is a fine caliber if you are thinking of other big game expeditions, but can be overkill if you want to go for marginal game (IMHO). After all, how dead is dead? I actually get a good bit of grief, but I like lighter cartridges and although I would not recommend them for Bison, I usually will use my .220 Swift, .223, .243, or 6mm for deer. The 7mm, .257 Weatherby Mag and .270 - get pulled out for anything else. I leave the .308, .30-06, and .35 Rem in the safe or on display anymore. However, must say I don't get the opportunity to go after too much of the really big stuff, though.<br /><br />That's just my .02

 

[Specks n Reds]

Re: Do I need another gun? If so, what?

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: Do I need another gun? If so, what?

edited..<br />It is illegal to hunt large game with any thing<br />less than .23 caliber here in Canada.

 

[JGREGORY]

Re: Do I need another gun? If so, what?

JB I own a ruger mkII 7mm remington mag great for deer and elk flat shooting and better ballistics that a 30.06.<br /><br />However, I would go for the 300 weatherby mag. Great gun lots of power, Bullet retention is great. Check this link out will cover everything you want to know. <br /><br /> http://jagt.net/Weatherby/300/ <br /><br />I was going to get the 300 but I won the Ruger in a rafle. Not complaining.<br /><br />There was a bank that used to offer a CD(certificate of Deposit) where if you bought the CD you received a .300 weatherby mag. You gave them the money you received the gun after 10 years you got your money back, the rifle was the interest. Do not know if they are still doing it. I thought it was the Bank of Colorado but not sure.

 

[Bob in Calif.]

Re: Do I need another gun? If so, what?

If you have a single barreled, 12 guage shotgun, and you can get close enough to the "intruder", say 100 feet, you might want to try "rifled slugs". They are 1 to 1 1/4 ounce of "bullet" and have magnificent knock down power. They work well on engine blocks, so I'm sure you could say "Adios" to the Bison. <br /><br /> ...Bob in Calif...

 

[tylerin]

Re: Do I need another gun? If so, what?

JB, You mean you can't POOOF!!! him into the frig

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Do I need another gun? If so, what?

Bob in Calif. You are not kidding. I killed a lot of deer with those slugs. I live in a county that has shotgun only laws. Knocks the heck out of em. Never did one get away.

 

[Skinnywater]

Re: Do I need another gun? If so, what?

JB, tried and true, versitile, easy to come by and cheap ammo a huge variation of grains, accurate and perfectly capable of bringing down any beefalo. <br /><br />30.06.... Any arguement against it is silly.

 

[DJ]

Re: Do I need another gun? If so, what?

12 guage slugs, preferably 3" with as much weight as you can get. I don't know how close you can get to this critter, but anything within 50 yards is a sure kill.<br /><br />7mm Mag. Shoots flat, very strong punch and not overkill for other game. There are lots of them out there and you can probably find a nice one for a good price. I doubt you're going to find one, readily, in a block or lever though.<br /><br />JB,<br /><br />If you buy another gun, just for this, that is going to be some VERY expensive Buffalo. However, I can't deny a guy wanting to add to his "collection".

 

[bubbakat]

Re: Do I need another gun? If so, what?

use the 45-70 will knock him down and then prob quarter him for you to<br /> be sure to take the ben gay with you will need it after shooting that round<br /> If you want to stay with what you got go get you some 95 or 100 grain nosiler ballistic tips for that 243 and one well placed shot in the chest, heart,lung area will do it.

 

[Specks n Reds]

Re: Do I need another gun? If so, what?

 

[Homerr]

Re: Do I need another gun? If so, what?

I finally got my dream gun...Remington 7mm Magnum. It will just about any big game in our area. I reload for all my guns, and I load the shells depending on what I'm going after.<br />160 Grain Barnes for the Elk, and lighter 140 Nosler Partitions for the deer.<br />I sometimes use the 7 mag and some 120 gr. ballistic tips for the rabbits in the desert. Now thats fun! They never knew what hit 'em.<br /><br />I've seen WAY overkill weapons on deer, and I've seen a .25 cal. take down an Elk with one shot.<br />It all depends on how well you know your weapon and how to use it.<br /><br />As far as getting another gun?<br />Well, the last time I checked, the average American houshold had 3 guns per person.<br />My family was close to that quota, but now that the son was born... I need to go shopping!<br /><br />Good luck, and be careful!<br /><br />H.