2018 Forum Handgun Hunt

I look forward all year to getting together with the group of men and women from this site. This year our gathering turned out to be the best one yet in my opinion. We all used different types/styles of handguns, we used various bullet configurations/styles, and we shot varying sizes of animals at different distances. By far the best part of our hunts is the comradery. The subjects and topics that come up around the campfire are both educational and hilarious. I am already looking forward to next year's get together

Matthew Nash...TC Contender...22 Mag..Turkey

Matthew Nash...TC Contender..35 Rem..200 gr Hornady FTX..Watusi/Scottish Highland Cross

Cole Cash..SSK Encore 50 AE...335 gr HP..Mouflon Cross Ram

Cole Cash..SSK Encore 450 Alaskan..450 gr Swift A Frame..Feral Boar

Cole Cash....SSK Encore 50 AE...335 gr HP..Catalina Goat

David (me) SSK Encore 500 S&W...375 gr Barnes XPB..Scimitar Horned Oryx

Jim Crisafulli...Freedom Arms 44 Mag...300 gr Hornady XTP..Scottish Highland

So, who are these people and what are they shooting?

And where is it? Looks like a good time for sure!

We went to Southern Ohio and it was a great time...Salt Creek Hunting Preserve

Sorry about that Zee. I've gotten the missing info filled in now

Thanks!!

You got it man!

From L - R...45 caliber 300 gr cast (2), 44 caliber 300 gr XTP, 35 Caliber 200 gr FTX...there were no recover 22 mag bullets, 335 gr 50 AE bullets, nor was the 375 gr 500 S&W bullet recovered....and the 450 gr. 450 Alaskan bullet was also not recovered

What was the load for the 300gr 44 XTP?????

This looks like it was an amazing hunt and I can only imagine how much fun the campfires were. Congrats to all.

Awesome. Eric and the staff at Salt Creek are good folks.

James, the 44 Mag load was 23.5 gr of H110 with the 300 gr XTP crimped in the bottom cannelure....Randy, next year, you've got to be there with us....Yes Sir magman, they are some of the good guys

Looks like a good time some great animals. Congrats.

This was the second hunt with fellow forum members that I have attended. They are at a minimum, fun, and can be educational and informative. Witnessing guns and bullets at work in the flesh, and then debriefing and discussing the action afterwards is more tangible than reading it on the internet.

I have a fantastic opportunity to go elk hunting this October in Colorado. I am taking my trusted Contender in 35 Rem with 200 grain Hornady FTXs. I have used that combo on two cow elk previously with complete satisfaction. But... I found myself second guessing my decision after conversations with others. The additional weight and tenacity of a bull elk gave me concerns.

I took advantage of this preserve hunt to test my elk load on an animal with the approximate weight and resilience of a bull elk. A Highland/Watusi cross weighing about 700 lbs. was selected. It helps that this animal yields excellent tablefare.
My goal was to test the ammo on flesh at an extended range of around 150 yards. That shot never presented itself. The shot I took involved threading the bullet through a 4" opening in a stand of saplings into the broadside bull. The bull stood motionless for a second. He then took two steps forward, dropped his ass, then fell over dead. And I mean DEAD. Maybe two kicks and no wiggles or head rolls. Time elapsed from shot to last wiggle had to be less than 10 seconds and I would say closer to 5. Everyone was impressed, especially the preserve owner.

The bullet struck as intended on the point of the shoulder, slightly lower than 1/3 up his body. Despite the heavy bone contact, the bullet traveled straight through the chest, coming to a stop in an offside rib. If it had not lodged in that rib, but gone between ribs; would it have exited?? One lung had a hole the size of a golf ball, the other lung had a baseball sized hole. The bullet penetrated the heart, leaving a quarter sized hole through, and popping the the large arteries off the top.
Bull elk beware.

Congratulations, gentlemen!! Nicely done!

Did anyone video tape any of these hunts? I?ve found that to be really useful particularly in the deconstruction process.

For a second time, I chose to shoot a turkey during the forum hunt. Shooting a turkey in the preserve lets a handgunner test his marksmanship , guns and ammo. This year I chose to attempt a headshot from a distance with a Contender in 22 Mag topped with a 4X Leupold and 40 gr HPs. I practiced to complete confidence, but in the end was unable to place the bullet perfectly in the head. I knocked him down but multiple shots were fired and a finisher was required. I thought a 22 Mag to the head or neck would be explosive and deadly. I was wrong. I have not yet shot a turkey to my satisfaction.

This bird was massive! I dubbed him double wide. Not official, but I honestly think he weighed 37 or 38 lbs.

TURKEY HUNTING WITH A HANDGUN IS TOUGH.

We videoed all of the hunts/kill shots. They were videoed on my wife's phone...and if I had a censor/beep button, they'd probably be good enough for public display...LOL...All these years of talking to James on the phone have wore off on me..hahahahaha

The really impressive thing to me that we continue to see is that the combination of speed and power with correct shot placement trumps the "animal's size". Truly no more than two shots were needed on any of the animals, regardless of size and structure. These gentlemen can really shoot

That's funny right there!

Matthew's extended range shot with the single shot 35 Remington with the 200 gr Hornady FTX spoke in volumes...he hit heavy bone, destroyed the vitals, and put him down in extremely quick fashion with 1 well placed shot

Well done.

Do we know a Muzzle velocity of the .35 Rem load?

I might try to mimic that load in my Contender. I have those bullets as well.

I used the Hornady factory loaded 35 Rem. When I chronographed it years ago, it clocked 1960 fps. I had to move the screens away from the muzzle blast, so the corrected muzzle velocity might be flirting with 2000 fps.

I have found the FTX to be a hard bullet; expandind less violently than the traditional 200 gr roundnoses I prefer. This was the first FTX I have recovered. I chose it for elk because of its superior downrange numbers. I don't use it for deer sized game.

However...Racksmasher Jim uses the 200 gr FTX to great success in his .357 Max at around 1650 fps. We witnessed him nail two hogs with two headshots that displayed violent expansion . Must be a better bullet than I thought.

Not trying to be funny but after reading your hunt report and looking at the photos I have to say that you guys almost made this look easy..... Kinda like science without being scientific

JD Jones always said KISS...keep it simple stupid....like with most things, I always try to make it harder than needed...I'm learning to lighten up...LOL..no magic, shot placement trumps everything, always has, always will, but like everything, there are parameters

Well done guys,Well done!!!!!
Good companions and a target rich environment,almost heaven for a dedicated handgunner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This event was a display of some great handguning. Ten animals fell, and 8 of those to one shot each.

My turkey required more than one shot. Turkey hunting with a handgun continues to challenge me. Perfect shot placement on turkeys still eludes me.

I FIND THE 35 REM 200 FTX INFO VERY INTERESTING AND INFORMATIVE. THE 35 REM IN A RIFLE IS A HISTORICALLY GOOD KILLER, AND THE INFO PROVIDED IN THIS TOPIC SHOWS HOW IT USEFUL IT CAN BE WITH FACTORY AMMO IN HANDGUN APPLICATIONS. I AM TRYING TO SELL SOME STUFF AND ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE MY EYE ON ONCE I AM FLUSH IS A REAR GRIP XP-100 IN 35 REM THAT A BUDDY OF MINE WANTS TO MOVE.

Congratulations to all involved. Another thread asks about what would be one's "dream" hunt. To get together with members on a hunt such as this would make my list for sure. But, not likely any time soon due to restrictions on my end. Thanks for sharing!

Looks like it was a great time, congrats to all.

Franchise, I would be willing to attempt to edit you videos, then post them on the Big Bore Handgun Hunter youtube channel.

Just PM me if your interested, and I'll run an option by ya and see if that will work for ya.

The company on this hunt was the best, we all had a very memorable time together, hunting , and just shooting the Bull, LOL, David talked me into taking a body shot on the Highland with a larger bullet, the 300 XTP, In 44 Mag James helped me out with some John Taffin loads for the new Freedom, I was happy with the results, the one XTP That was recovered held together, and was up against the hide on the off side, Thanks to the staff at Salt Creek, thanks to my friends, who look forward to seeing me as much as I look forward to seeing them, I look forward to the next one, I was impressed with everyone?s shooting skills, as Matt said, I encourage folks to do this if you can!

Have any idea the weight of the two bulls you guys shot????

A huge congratulations to all of you hunters that participateD; and for the organizer of the hunt, nice job! Lots of work in the background goes on but it is all worth it, IMO!


Gregg

Jimmy with two little porkers.....

This is what the terrain looked like on our hunt

Racksmaster cooked supper for the gang on the first night of the hunt...we all ate like kings.

Well tell us about these meals.

Jim made homemade meatloaf with gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, and garlic bread for supper Wednesday night.

It appears a great time was had - congrats to all! I hate I missed out on all the fun, but maybe next year.

I really hope that you can attend next year's hunt Kim...they seem to get better every year

Wow, looks like it was a great time. How many members attended, and how many are allowed each year? If I draw a bear tag this year, I won't be bear hunting next year and will be looking for something else to hunt.

This year we only had 3 members attend and 5 total..we can have 10 in our group. We would love it if you would like to and be able to hunt with us next year..it's a real Blast.

Jennifer made the mashed potatoes, we did eat pretty damn good Wednesday night, these hunts do get better each year!

Sounds like you did eat well. This is my kind of eating. It would be fun to join in. Sometimes Work causes problems !!

I guess I need to run for Congress or Senate then I would not have to show up, and could still get paid.

Looks like a great hunt!! Obviously great shooting guys! Congrats!!!

I got to watch the videos today and they are not suitable for sensitive ears ( language ).
I was present for the kills, but watching the videos reinforced how hard we hit them; particularly Jim and his Highland. Wow we were hard on 'em. And we cuss. A lot.

Looks like a great time! I agree with Rey. I'm a little surprised, but very happy, to hear the great results from the grand old .35 Rem. on that rather large beast. I'm also a little amazed someone would cross watusi with little, hairy Welsh cattle!

My buddy Cole killed a Scottish Highland Bull a few years ago...

Scottish Highland Bull

Cussing is temporary, lol, we were all in the moment.

Well for many it isnt especially chicago boys. I aint afraid. I wanna watch!

If anyone is interested in joining us next year in Ohio at Salt Creek at the end of March, PM me...with the possibility of this site shutting down, I'd like to be able to contact y'all.....Thank you, David

I am in!

David, Looks like you guys had fun. I know what you mean, the comradery is half the fun for me now! Plus good food helps! and Handguns!

Rocky, you should hunt with us next year at Salt Creek

I just weighed the XTP from the 44 Magnum, the recovered weight is 297.1 grains.

You can't ask for anything better...That's very impressive Jimmy!

So impressive, I repeated myself 3 times!

I wanna once again encourage everyone to share a hunt with a fellow handgunner or two. It doesn't have to be on a preserve, or with members of this forum (which has been great). But make it a point to try. For years I handgun hunted in solitude, but in the last couple of years I have participated in some group events and have very much enjoyed them.

If I was a "one maker only" bullet person, which I`am not, its results like this that would almost make me want to cling to it

Hey Dave, any idea on the dates for the 2019 hunt yet? I work 2 weeks on and 2 off. If it is during my off time I'd love to attend.

That would be great! The dates are April 24, 25, and 26....Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday

Arrggh. I work thru April 25th, and Friday 26th I will be at the annual NRA convention. Dang, maybe the next year.

I hope so man, we'd all love to hunt with you and anyone else who'd like to come