Predator Call

I purchased my first deer rifle when I was thirteen years old.  Being a southpaw and wanting a bolt gun, my options were somewhat limited.  Savage Arms was making the Model 110 in a left-handed model and Remington was beginning to build a few as well.  After comparing the two rifles and pricing, I chose the Savage in .270 caliber.  Over the last 40+ years, “Old Nasty” has served me well.  I have no idea how many deer, whitetail and mule deer have fallen to this sweet shooting rifle, but no doubt in the hundreds. 

While working the Savage Arms booth at the NRA Convention in Phoenix this last season, I found myself handling the recently introduced Model 14.  The smooth action, straight stock and 24 inch barrel in the magnum calibers were most appealing.  The Model 14 features a new bolt release, cleaner lug that locks the receiver to the action, hinged floor plate and Accutrigger.  Another feature that I am a huge fan of is the three positon safety.  The first position locks the bolt and prevents firing.  The second position unlocks the bolt but does not allow firing.  The third position (full forward) is the “fire” position.  When walking through the brush which I seem to do quite often, I have had a problem of the bolt on my rifle hanging on brush and coming open, ejecting the round.  The locking position prevents this accidential ejection from occurring. 

A few years ago, I hosted a predator hunt along with Winchester/Olin in South Texas.  The writers and the folks from Winchester/Olin had hunted Nilgai on the King Ranch before arriving in Tilden to hunt predators.  The .270 WSM had been recently introduced and the group was testing it’s killing power on the tough gray ghost of the Texas plains.  The group of hunters had orders to shoot all Nilgai cows in the shoulder region with 140 grain Fail Safe ammo.  The results were amazing as 17 of the 21 cows dropped in their tracks.  The guides on the King Ranch had never seen a rifle of any caliber perform as the .270 WSM.  After hearing this report, I had to have one.

I mounted a Nikon Monarch 2.5-10×42 BDC on the Savage 14 with a DNZ mounting system.  I have not found a system that is so easy to install as this new one piece system.  If you have not seen this new mounting system, I strongly recommend that you do so.

After zeroing the rifle 1 1/4″ high at 100 yards (zero at 200 yards) while shooting 150 grain Winchester Ballistic Silvertip ammo, I was ready to take it on it’s inaugural voyage.

I decided to deer hunt at the head of a rough canyon for a period of time and if nothing showed, to move west with the sun at my back to another huge bowl where I had seen deer in the past.  After sitting for about an hour and freezing until I was shaking like a leaf, I decided that it was time to make a move.  As I stood up, something caused me to look over my shoulder to the northwest.  There on the crest of a low ridge was one of the largest whitetails I had ever seen in West Texas.

The buck was standing broadside looking straight at me no doubt somewhat blinded by the intense early morning sun.  Approximately half of his side was shielded by extremely thick catclaw brush, making my favorite shot to the pocket behind his front shoulder impossible.  I estimated the distance to be approximately 200 yards and held at the top line of the dense brush.

After recovering from the recoil I saw the monster whirl, make a couple of jumps and disappear over the low ridge.  I was sure that I had made a killing shot and fully expected to find the buck just over the hill.  Topping the hill, I scanned the low brush for the shine of a heavy dark antler.  When the deer was not readily visible, I unsuccessfully began to look for any sign of blood.  I decided that I should step the distance back to where I had taken the shot to ensure that it was indeed 200 yards.  To my suprise, I had misjudged the distance as I stopped counting when I reached 250 steps.  The extra 50-60 yards would have caused my bullet to drop approximately 2 inches which would have caused my bullet to impact deeper into the brush.  Boy, I can really come up with excuses. 

What a way to break in a new rifle, miss the biggest whitetail that I have shot at in many years. 

See you outdoors.

Gary Roberson