Helping out my deer herd

[dubyam]

It's just about a week prior to the peak of the rut here in north Alabama, so I decided to sneak away for a quick hunt before church this morning. As I'm getting dressed, my wife lets me know she and my youngest haven't slept well as they've both been feeling a little puny, so no church, and I should just hunt as long as I want.

Got out early, and donned my rain gear. Walked in and set up looking across a draw over a steep creek bed. Saw a doe early, but no shot between the fog and brush. Woods are super quiet from four days of solid rain. Put the sneak on her, but either she zigged when I zagged or I pushed her. Well, I head down to the creek bed and figure to walk out, when along comes this little blonde fellow:



Well, you can see that the 350RemMag 673 works just fine with open sights through about 60yds of woods, offhand. I was pretty pleased with the shot, and I think the hide may still be salvageable for a rug for my wall. Now to figure out how to get it skinned out without freaking out the wife and neighbors!

[badsection]

Cool!   

[eford]

Keep helping the herds, every chance you get.

[PAbuckhunter270]

Looks like a nice pelt. I would skin him/her and make a nice rug.

[Chris338378]

Congratulations on a nice coyote and a great rifle and caliber.  I've always wanted a .350 Remington Magnum and have been looking for one in a 637.  How accurate is it and do you load for it?

[dubyam]

Chris, I do load for my 673.  I'm using 220gr Speer Flat Points (because I like Speer and all I had were these Speers and some Sierra 225s.  I don't like Sierra much after them being rude to me several times when I called to ask for information, plus the Sierras sucked as far as accuracy is concerned.  Best group was the lowest charge of two different powders, and the group was just under 4" at 100yds.  With the Speers and BL-C(2) I was able to get my best group at max charge, so I decided that was the way to go.  Best group was under 2", but may have been under 1.5" (I'm pretty sure it was, but I don't have it to measure, because I got in a hurry leaving the range and my targets blew off the tailgate and I only found some of them.

I have mine set up with just the open sights as it came from the factory, so it's a small notch rear and the sharkfin front.  So 1.5-2" at 100yds, hitting about .5" high, gives me a great short range woods gun, that points well for snap shooting.  I bought it to use as a stalking gun, for the drains and draws on our mountain lease.  After today's experience, I believe my thinking was absolutely correct.  I managed to snap shoot a jogging coyote at over 60yds, through an opening in moderately dense woods, hitting him in the ribcage about 2" below the spine.  He nosed over at the shot and never took another step.

I have talked to other folks with these 673s and they've had differing experiences, with the worst offenders requiring action bedding and barrel floating along with a ton of loadwork.  I've been lucky with this one, and won't complain.  I wanted one of these for a long time - I saw a 300SAUM in about 2005 and wished I'd had the $379 asking price then.  I snapped up this 350Rem when it came available via a friend of mine.  Picked up some dies and brass from him and a couple other guys, along with a couple "half boxes" of bullets.  I've stocked up on the 220s now that they're the choice, and I doubt I'll need any before the next presidential election!  I certainly hope you can find one.  Keep an eye on gunbroker.  Oh, and if you're interested in paying a hefty price, I know where a brand new one sits on a dealer's rack.  Or at least, it sat there in November, and had been there since March or April.  They're asking something like $800 for it (maybe $750?) but I suspect there's some room to negotiate.  Shoot me a PM if you'd like me to check on it.  Could do that one day this week, probably.

[badsection]

I`m loading the 220gr flat points in my .35 Remington. Did the bullet expand in the coyote? They look pretty soft for use on hogs,probably good for deer.I don`t have many choices on bullets for the lever action.   

[terminator]

Nice shooting.

[dubyam]

The 220gr Speer expanded a fair amount through this coyote.  I'm pretty sure I hit ribs in and out, and may have hit the spine, as it was an angling shot and the actual exit wound is near the bottom of the skin tear, but that tear goes up near the spine (no bone showing, though).  Either way, it definitely expanded on the yote.  In your 35Rem, though, I suspect it would not expand nearly as rapidly, and would definitely be suitable for deer and may be suitable for hogs.  Remember that the 350RemMag is pushing this little 220 about 2700fps, though I have not chrono'd my final load (forgot my tripod that day...).  If you have the opportunity, shoot into some water jugs and see what it does at 35Rem velocity.  Or contact Speer - they've been good about giving suitability info for their bullets when I've needed it, unlike Sierra who is just rude no matter who you get on the phone.  Notice I use Speer, Hornady, and Nosler bullets a lot, but zero Sierras?   

[badsection]

Thanks,Duby! The most accurate(so far) are the Hornady factory 200gr. FTX,1.5" at 100yds. That might be a better choice for hogs,also.  I have loaded the 200gr.Sierra,just got 180gr. Speers.