Axis with the Sharps!!
Axis with the Sharps!!
Disclaimer: It wasn’t a hunt. It was a target of opportunity cull. But, I wanted to use my new Sharps.
The owner had asked me to take an axis for a needy family she knew. When she asked, I knew exactly which management buck I wanted. We’ve taken a lot of axis does lately and I try to balance and manage the buck/doe ratio. So, I needed to take a buck.
When Joe and Chris were down, my intent was to take him them. But, the sucker eluded the opportunity for the past month.
Sunday, I was leaving the ranch and saw him. Didn’t have my rifle. So, I ran home and got it. Returned to the ranch and found him again. Fighting with other bucks in the pasture. When I got near him in my truck, they all ran. It took about 30min of cat and mouse to get close enough. Finally, he was distracted fighting another buck and when they broke up and he started posturing, I shot him in the neck at 120yrds w/ a 405gr Cast Bullet. Dropped him on the spot.
It was 95 deg at the time so I had to rush and take a few pics then get him to the barn, skinned, cleaned, quartered, and on ice.
He’s a management buck because at his age he should have longer brows and he’s missing a fork on his left side. Not a trophy. But, still a cool buck to take with a sharps.
The owner had asked me to take an axis for a needy family she knew. When she asked, I knew exactly which management buck I wanted. We’ve taken a lot of axis does lately and I try to balance and manage the buck/doe ratio. So, I needed to take a buck.
When Joe and Chris were down, my intent was to take him them. But, the sucker eluded the opportunity for the past month.
Sunday, I was leaving the ranch and saw him. Didn’t have my rifle. So, I ran home and got it. Returned to the ranch and found him again. Fighting with other bucks in the pasture. When I got near him in my truck, they all ran. It took about 30min of cat and mouse to get close enough. Finally, he was distracted fighting another buck and when they broke up and he started posturing, I shot him in the neck at 120yrds w/ a 405gr Cast Bullet. Dropped him on the spot.
It was 95 deg at the time so I had to rush and take a few pics then get him to the barn, skinned, cleaned, quartered, and on ice.
He’s a management buck because at his age he should have longer brows and he’s missing a fork on his left side. Not a trophy. But, still a cool buck to take with a sharps.
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.
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Wambli Ska
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Re: Axis with the Sharps!!
Damn fine rifle, cool looking buck and a great shot! Who could ask for more.
Re: Axis with the Sharps!!
He could have done it with bare feet and a loin cloth. Ok the feets a given. He could have been wearing a loin cloth.
“The shepherd slaughters more of the flock than the wolf ever will.”
Re: Axis with the Sharps!!
very nice was to bloody the Sharps.
Re: Axis with the Sharps!!
I like culls in general.
I think this one is exceptional.
Beautiful Rifle!
I think this one is exceptional.
Beautiful Rifle!
"The Untactical"


Re: Axis with the Sharps!!
He looks like a trophy to me. Great rifle to take him with
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Wambli Ska
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Re: Axis with the Sharps!!
Re: Axis with the Sharps!!
AWWWWWW YEAAAAH!! 
WWJMBD?
I believe we should stand on Ceremony. . . while our friends handcuff the sanctimonious little prick and take him away.
I believe we should stand on Ceremony. . . while our friends handcuff the sanctimonious little prick and take him away.
Re: Axis with the Sharps!!
It all worked out perfect for a cat and mouse cull. I like that it was a bit of a challenge. Took a month to find him again. And the a bit of movement and distraction.Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 9:29 pm Damn fine rifle, cool looking buck and a great shot! Who could ask for more.
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.
Re: Axis with the Sharps!!
Hell, if you’d have said naked I’d have obliged. .
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.
Re: Axis with the Sharps!!
I do too. I like odd.
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.
Re: Axis with the Sharps!!
Thank you sir. It’s been a desire for a long time.
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.
Re: Axis with the Sharps!!
The one elk I shot with my C.Sharps 40-65 Win was a neck shot at just over 100 yards. Also a 1 shot stop Those big lead bullets just work.
Re: Axis with the Sharps!!
Yep. Note that I didn't ask about bullet recovery.
Until you soften those bullets down into maybe the 10-11 BHN range, you won't likely see anything in terms of meaningful deformation with those solid flat points - certainly not in the Trapdoor/Sharps speed range. Commercial cast is typically gonna be a good bit harder than that - mostly to prevent having a bunch of dented up bullets when they arrive after shipping. A bullet with that profile of12 BHN (wheel weights) or harder is just gonna truck on through.
And the older stuff can surprise you. I melted down a couple boxes of commercial cast .45 pistol bullets that Pop and I bought WAY before we started casting that I found in the dark recesses of our component storage. They tested at 22 BHN - linotype. Linotype is currently regarded as almost gold among casters due to it's high tin content (a very helpful additive), but back in the day, the casting company probably just lucked into a print shop that went out of business or had switched to more modern printing tech.
WWJMBD?
I believe we should stand on Ceremony. . . while our friends handcuff the sanctimonious little prick and take him away.
I believe we should stand on Ceremony. . . while our friends handcuff the sanctimonious little prick and take him away.
Re: Axis with the Sharps!!
Cast bullets excel at hole punching, not expanding, at those speeds. No margin of error, just put it where you are supposed to and it will drop. Other than that, they aren’t special or magical.
“The shepherd slaughters more of the flock than the wolf ever will.”
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Wambli Ska
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Re: Axis with the Sharps!!
That's great! It is a better hunt when they are sneaky!Zee wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 3:10 amIt all worked out perfect for a cat and mouse cull. I like that it was a bit of a challenge. Took a month to find him again. And the a bit of movement and distraction.Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 9:29 pm Damn fine rifle, cool looking buck and a great shot! Who could ask for more.
Re: Axis with the Sharps!!
Note to self....
Very cool, axis is some good eating and I would take those horns in a heartbeat.
I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn away from their ways and live. Eze 33:11
Re: Axis with the Sharps!!
No idea what the hardness of the bullet Zee used is. They’re powdercoated cast bullets on IMR4198 going just a touch over 1500 fps. I’m sure it made a fine spine smasher.Bigslug wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 12:23 pmYep. Note that I didn't ask about bullet recovery.![]()
Until you soften those bullets down into maybe the 10-11 BHN range, you won't likely see anything in terms of meaningful deformation with those solid flat points - certainly not in the Trapdoor/Sharps speed range. Commercial cast is typically gonna be a good bit harder than that - mostly to prevent having a bunch of dented up bullets when they arrive after shipping. A bullet with that profile of12 BHN (wheel weights) or harder is just gonna truck on through.
And the older stuff can surprise you. I melted down a couple boxes of commercial cast .45 pistol bullets that Pop and I bought WAY before we started casting that I found in the dark recesses of our component storage. They tested at 22 BHN - linotype. Linotype is currently regarded as almost gold among casters due to it's high tin content (a very helpful additive), but back in the day, the casting company probably just lucked into a print shop that went out of business or had switched to more modern printing tech.
It’s the same load Zee tried at 700 yards, when we found out gravity works REALLY well on that bullet…
Re: Axis with the Sharps!!
Yeah, that sucker drops like a rock!
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.
Re: Axis with the Sharps!!
Awesome way to 'blood' a rifle.
Well done!!
Well done!!
- bullsi1911
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Re: Axis with the Sharps!!
Henry nice, and a great way to bloody the rifle!
To make something simple is a thousand times more difficult than to make something complex.
-Mikhail Kalashnikov
AKA ‘Admin’
-Mikhail Kalashnikov
AKA ‘Admin’
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Wambli Ska
- Posts: 4084
- Joined: Tue Jun 20, 2023 3:09 pm
Re: Axis with the Sharps!!
At those distances you have to think mortar…Jay wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 1:52 pmNo idea what the hardness of the bullet Zee used is. They’re powdercoated cast bullets on IMR4198 going just a touch over 1500 fps. I’m sure it made a fine spine smasher.Bigslug wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 12:23 pmYep. Note that I didn't ask about bullet recovery.![]()
Until you soften those bullets down into maybe the 10-11 BHN range, you won't likely see anything in terms of meaningful deformation with those solid flat points - certainly not in the Trapdoor/Sharps speed range. Commercial cast is typically gonna be a good bit harder than that - mostly to prevent having a bunch of dented up bullets when they arrive after shipping. A bullet with that profile of12 BHN (wheel weights) or harder is just gonna truck on through.
And the older stuff can surprise you. I melted down a couple boxes of commercial cast .45 pistol bullets that Pop and I bought WAY before we started casting that I found in the dark recesses of our component storage. They tested at 22 BHN - linotype. Linotype is currently regarded as almost gold among casters due to it's high tin content (a very helpful additive), but back in the day, the casting company probably just lucked into a print shop that went out of business or had switched to more modern printing tech.
It’s the same load Zee tried at 700 yards, when we found out gravity works REALLY well on that bullet…