Rio Grande Goes Mule Deer Hunting but...
Posted: 05 Dec 2016 15:24
Just could not find a mule deer to point it at. I've been really looking forward to this hunt, heading to the Rolling Plains of Texas rather than my usual haunt in the Texas Big Bend. The hunt took take place in Garza County where this very isolated herd of mulies are located in a complex set of canyons, quite a distance across the flat country to where other mule deer are found.
I arrived on Wednesday and spent the remainder of that day scouting and then with my three hunting buddies we spent all of Thursday on the scout and deciding just how we would hunt. Unfortunately at midmorning on Friday, the front that has been influencing the entire country rolled through dropping a huge amount of rain, where rain is not the norm, and the deer went to ground for the entire three day weekend. I did not see a mule deer Friday through Sunday and was treated to a seven hour drive home through some of the heaviest rain I've driven in.
It doesn't look like much but the canyons drop out of the rolling plains toward a fork of the Brazos River. They are steep, rocky, and clogged with junipers. Once the rain hit the rocks and dirt, it was impossible if not dangerous to hunt. One of my friends shot his first mule deer right before the weather hit and that was about it for deer sightjngs from the four of us.
Of course, we had a great time and despite the weather really enjoyed each other's company.[hr]
I had intended to take my R92 chambered in 454 Casull but two days before the leaving on the hunt I had a complete case separation, just ahead of the web of the case. I had just gone from new Starline cases to once fired and this was only the third cartridge fired from that reloading lot. There was no difference in the bang other than the bullet striking the 100 yard target about 18" low, centered. The brass did not want to eject and when I forced the lever it popped open with just the case web exiting the rifle. I let the rifle cool and then dropped an appropriate diameter roll pin down the barrel and it ejected the remainder of the case.
I'm not too disappointed in the failure, I will figure it out after hunting season, as it gave me an opportunity to do some shooting with the Rio Grande 45-70 Govt. I honestly think that this rifle, out of all the leverguns I own, the most accurate. It is a solid 1.25 MOA rifle out through 200 yards with my 424-grain cast bullet at a muzzle velocity of 1895 FPS. I was really on the fence about taking the 454 Casull as it cannot complete with its big brother. The 1:30 used in the 92 series does not do them any favors down range.
I shot the Rio Grande 52 times in a day and a half prior to leaving, some shooting that I've wanted to do but never could see to find the time.
Here is my load...
... and what I had intended to apply to a mule deer.
I'm going to kill a whitetail and a hog with the RG here on my place as I promised the rifle a hunt.
I arrived on Wednesday and spent the remainder of that day scouting and then with my three hunting buddies we spent all of Thursday on the scout and deciding just how we would hunt. Unfortunately at midmorning on Friday, the front that has been influencing the entire country rolled through dropping a huge amount of rain, where rain is not the norm, and the deer went to ground for the entire three day weekend. I did not see a mule deer Friday through Sunday and was treated to a seven hour drive home through some of the heaviest rain I've driven in.
It doesn't look like much but the canyons drop out of the rolling plains toward a fork of the Brazos River. They are steep, rocky, and clogged with junipers. Once the rain hit the rocks and dirt, it was impossible if not dangerous to hunt. One of my friends shot his first mule deer right before the weather hit and that was about it for deer sightjngs from the four of us.
Of course, we had a great time and despite the weather really enjoyed each other's company.[hr]
I had intended to take my R92 chambered in 454 Casull but two days before the leaving on the hunt I had a complete case separation, just ahead of the web of the case. I had just gone from new Starline cases to once fired and this was only the third cartridge fired from that reloading lot. There was no difference in the bang other than the bullet striking the 100 yard target about 18" low, centered. The brass did not want to eject and when I forced the lever it popped open with just the case web exiting the rifle. I let the rifle cool and then dropped an appropriate diameter roll pin down the barrel and it ejected the remainder of the case.
I'm not too disappointed in the failure, I will figure it out after hunting season, as it gave me an opportunity to do some shooting with the Rio Grande 45-70 Govt. I honestly think that this rifle, out of all the leverguns I own, the most accurate. It is a solid 1.25 MOA rifle out through 200 yards with my 424-grain cast bullet at a muzzle velocity of 1895 FPS. I was really on the fence about taking the 454 Casull as it cannot complete with its big brother. The 1:30 used in the 92 series does not do them any favors down range.
I shot the Rio Grande 52 times in a day and a half prior to leaving, some shooting that I've wanted to do but never could see to find the time.
Here is my load...
... and what I had intended to apply to a mule deer.
I'm going to kill a whitetail and a hog with the RG here on my place as I promised the rifle a hunt.