SINGLE SHOT VARMINTING

Although I've only shot revolvers the last several years there was a time when the single shots ruled my hunting world. I located several old photo's of some of my success hunts using any of the 41 different barrels I used to own. All these barrels (and actions) are scattered somewhere around the US now.
Of these 41 barrels, mostly Bullberry there were 8 of them that had shot under 1/10" at 50 yds, I wrote this up in the Varmint Hunter magazine some years back, can't remember the issue.
If you haven't shot a well tuned single shot handgun you've never lived, they will outshoot many rifles, fact is, it takes a very good rifle to outshoot one.
These first photo's will show some of the varmints I've taken, many at extended ranges beyond 300 yds clear out to....... whatever! Shooting at long range, at least to me means hitting the target, taking 4,5 or 6 shots to hit something in my eyes isn't accurate shooting, its just shooting, others may think different, no problem, thats just my personal feeling. If it takes me half a dozen shots or more, so I can say I killed something at 800yds with my 24 caliber super duster is more of a stunt, again, thats just my feelings.
In the country where I live (SE Idaho) you always have to deal with wind, I love that, being able to make consistent hits at long range while holding upto 10-12 inches of wind or more makes hunting big game in the fall a snap.
First photo is with a Bullberry 6 TCU & a Bullberry 6.5/284...deadly!



This is my Ruger SRH 44 maggie & an XP100 in 25 BR.



Red Fox, I think the distance was 286 yds, Bullberry 6 TCU



Not sure which gun this is, maybe a Bullberry 22-250 IMP.



Couple of real fat hogs......three if you count the guy holding them!



More tomorrow. Dick

Very nice Dick.
Looks like some good memories for sure.
An accurate SS handgun is a joy to behold.
Only the accurate ones are interesting to me:)

Hi Dick,
It's a wonder that the rockchucks are not extinct around Soda Springs! I believe I recognize that rocky area in the last photo.
You live in Paradise.
I sure enjoy my single shots too, when I break them out.
Ken

Excellent!!!

I enjoy my single shots quite a bit. Charlie hunting is the best with them.

Looks like it was a lot of fun. Great shoot'n!

Great pictures! Thanks for sharing with us!

Dick lets not forget that you do still have one of those XP100s! What is it a 223AI that your son built? I know it is just a rockchuck gun but I also know you still know how to make it talk...

Here's to it sir--well done!! Nothing like the SP's for hunting, no matter how u slice it.

Yep, nothing like single shot varminting!

Outstanding, again, Dick!

Nice! do u 2 hunt together? wow what a combo.

Gregg- what cal is that short Contender?

.22 Magnum. I sold it though.

Badgers have been one of my passions since I was a kid, we've tangled many times, some of them were very interesting encounters!
This is the largest badger I've ever seen, shot him in DECEMBER, thats almost unheard of, he had burrowed up through the snow & was laying on a mound of dirt when I spotted him, one shot with the Bullberry 6 TCU & it was lights out, he might have weighed over 50 lbs, he's was fatter than me! B&C for sure!
Thats a full size porcupine laying next to him, I shot it with my Browning Hi-Power.




My best day ever on chucks, I shot 41 & only hunted half a day, the guns in my pistol box are my 6 TCU Bullberry, my Bullberry 22-250 Imp & on top of the box is my Browning Hi-Power. Now for the crow....towards the end of the day the wind really kicked up, I could hardly keep my hat on, the chucks were going down because of the high winds. I was about to leave when this crow landed on a distant lava reef, I think I ranged him at 246 yds, he would hop & the wind would move him 2-3 ft before he landed, he kept doing this several times. I settled into the 22-250 Imp & lite the switch, the 50 gr Nolser BT knocked feathers half way to Utah, when I got over there he had a golf ball laying beside him, the ranchers wife where I was hunting had told me earlier in the year that the crows & the seagulls would steal the golf balls thinking they were eggs! That crow had the ball with him when I shot him, true story I swear!



Rock chucks love barley, its like ice cream to them & some of Budweisers finest is grown right here in SE Idaho, some days I'll cover 30 miles of lava reefs whacking chucks for the greatful farmers. A cooler full of soft drinks, a couple of sandwiches & sometimes an umbrella.



More tomorrow, Dick

What a target rich environment! Great stories Dick - keep 'em coming...

Badgers are beautiful, their faces look like a clown IMO.





Dick, nice rave-.... er... I mean... CROW! BTDT

Nice Badgers, Gregg!

They also make beautiful mounts, I"ve probably given away at least 25 badger pelts.
This is a big badger, you can tell from the elk horn he's quite large, taken with the Ruger OM 41 maggie & 230 gr Keith.




This one isn't quite as big but its still 38" from nose to tail, nice markings. Ruger OM 45 & 260 gr Keith.




You can see the difference in the markings, every badger is different.




Another nice badger, I think with the Ruger 357 maggie, they are a fascinating animal.




Dick

They do make some beautiful rugs.

Those are colorful animals! I have seen many many badger holes out on the prairie, they sure ruin the territory! I have heard that ranchers want them killed as their holes pose a danger to livestock breaking a leg.

I hope to have my badger back soon....just had the pelt tanned. I'm gonna slide it over a remote control car and chase the wife's chihuahua around the house with it!!

Nice pics everyone.

Best off-hand running shot I have ever seen with a handgun, and it was a center-grip XP shooting 7WSM with a riflescope on it-Simply amazing!

Dan,

Better make sure the significant other doesn't shoot it again!

Doc

Sixshot,

It looks as though you may need a hand with those "illegals." Wouldn't want you to "wear out" your guns or run out of ammo. Next time I visit the folks in McCammon, I'll make a point to look you up.

Doc

Very cool.
I've killed plenty of prairie dogs but I haven't taken any chucks or badgers.
Closest I came to a killing a badger was I was bow hunting for elk and caught one on the prarie.
He and a Eagle were fighting over something dead...true story and have a witness. They were going back and forth pretty good.
I ended up chasing him around trying to shoot him with my recurve closest I got was about 60yds...he got away.

Nice trophys guys,makes me want to go hunting right now,but I got things to do.Oh well,maybe tomorrow!

Enjoying the photos!! Thanks, guys!

Badgers are the ultimate varmint!!!

One time me & my 4 son's were ground squirrel hunting & we spotted a badger laying on top of his den hole, I let one of the boys whack him & he dropped down into the hole, we ran over there & he had started digging to safety but died before he dug his way out of sight. We drove over to a farmer friends house & borrowed a shovel, went back & I started digging down to get him, all the boys were huddled around the hole watching. When I got him almost dug out I decided to thump him with the shovel to make sure he was dead, when I whacked him on the noggin he grabbed the shovel, scared the crap out of all of us, we took off running & I ran right over Marty, it was every man for himself, Marty was bawling, I felt awful, just a natural reaction when something like that happens.



Dick

Incredible story! Thanks for sharing!