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Handgunning fun with good friends #205279 01/27/2020 12:37 PM
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Ernie Offline OP
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Last week I got to spend time with friends, and some hunting and shooting outside of San Antonio, TX.
I took three handguns: a custom 357 Magnum Ruger GP-100 (Franken-Ruger), and a custom Pachmayr Dominator in 25 Creed. Both of these were built by Chris Rhodes/Bayside Custom Gunworks. The third is a center Grip XP-100 in 6.5 PRC that Tim King built. Tim lives outside of Rapid City, South Dakota, and has even attended WY-SHOT once, and will be there again this year.
All three of these handguns shoot lights out. I used Factory Hornady ammo for the Franken-Ruger: 158 grain XTP HP that has served me so well on everything it has touched.
I used Hornady ammo with the 6.5 PRC (143 grain ELD-X). Hornady ammo continues to amaze me with its consistency/accuracy, even at distance.
First thing is to check zero?s after a flight. Of course, Matt needed to shoot all three handguns. I think the 357 Magnum Franken-Ruger is his hands down favorite. Once that was done, we went out for an evening hunt, and although we saw game, it was not what we were looking for. After a great meal and a time of catching up, sleep was welcome.
The next day involved another morning in a box blind. Again, we saw game, but not what we were looking for. After the morning hunt, Matt and I met up with my buddy who came in for the day. Corn was put out in an open field where Axis and Blackbuck like to hang out. We were comfortable and waited. Shortly, the field began to fill up and the Axis we were wanting showed up.

Now, I had to make sure I had a clear shot. I had the Pachmayr Dominator ready to go. Once I knew I had a clear shot, I sent one and he piled up in about 50 yards.

He was in full velvet which is a bonus for me.


The 110 grain AB did great. He was a little heavier than I expected. Took him back and then time was spent taking care of him. Once all of that was done, we got a tour of the ranch Matt manages. It is beautiful! Before we went into eat, we went a steel range Matt built, that had targets out to 1010 yards. I will make a separate post about some of the LR shooting with various handguns.
After a late lunch, we again went out where I had shot the Axis buck, looking for a Blackbuck. We saw Blackbuck, just not the one I had spotted earlier on Monday afternoon. After dark thirty, just for fun I took my Franken-Ruger and smacked their 200-yard steel plate. My buddy had to head out.
Wednesday brought rain and fog for most of the day. Morning hunt brought no joy for what we were looking for. After lunch we spent a soggy afternoon waiting on that Blackbuck. Have you ever noticed, that whatever you are not hunting for tends to show up?
Around 3:30 that Blackbuck finally did show up and the Franken-Ruger barked once, and in about 50 yards he was down for the count. Range was 70 yards or so, which is not a problem for the Franken-Ruger.

Took care of the Blackbuck quickly and now off to our evening blind, a little late mind you. On the way we happened across some Javelina. The Franken-Ruger again came out and made a nice shot at 132 yards?Did I ever tell you this revolver is very accurate?

The little guy ran about 50 yards again, and he will make a nice European mount. Now we have even less time, but the cards have been falling into place. Again, we saw game, but not what we were wanting. The 6.5 PRC had not been able to eat yet, so it was up, but I had the FR with me for up close and personal. It was really dark, and we had agreed I could not make out a target by the feeder. Our only hope was the white gravel road which was going away from us up a hill. We had agreed it was time to head to the house when a black form showed up on the road. It was a hog. I already had the XP set-up, so I quickly ranged the pig (171 yards), closed the bolt, made a quick adjustment and easily pressed on that Dell trigger. The muzzle flash was stupendous with that Tubb brake. We both heard the meat-report, and he was down on the spot.

What a busy afternoon and evening. We went spot lighting for predators (legal where we were at), but brought nothing home. I wasn?t really set-up for that, but had a great time. The morning hunt was not profitable, but a good time together enjoying a beautiful morning. We made another trip to the range, and then it was time to get ready to head to the airport. Good friends were also great at taking pictures and editing-Thanks guys!


Ernie the Un-Tactical
Re: Handgunning fun with good friends [Re: Ernie] #205280 01/27/2020 1:15 PM
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jcp161 Offline
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That's a pretty good week.
Looks like a great time. Good shooting!

Re: Handgunning fun with good friends [Re: jcp161] #205283 01/27/2020 2:36 PM
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Russell Offline
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Congratulations! 4 shots, 4 dead critters! Great Axis and Black buck!


It's not the gun, but the man behind it.

Sheriff Russell Cottle, Ret.
USMC; 1967-1970; Vietnam-'68-'69
Re: Handgunning fun with good friends [Re: Russell] #205291 01/27/2020 3:43 PM
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KRal Offline
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Great hunt, Ernie! That was a handgunners dream hunt. There?s not much flesh on this earth that?s better than Axis.


It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
Re: Handgunning fun with good friends [Re: KRal] #205294 01/27/2020 4:19 PM
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reflex264 Offline
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Awesome all the way around.


"A quiet hit in the right place is better than a loud miss in the wrong place followed by 10 more shots on the run"

I was a handgun hunter, when handgun wasn't cool.....
Re: Handgunning fun with good friends [Re: reflex264] #205296 01/27/2020 5:07 PM
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Zee Offline
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Good stuff!


"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Re: Handgunning fun with good friends [Re: Zee] #205297 01/27/2020 5:32 PM
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Great shooting Ernie. Sounds like an awesome time.

Re: Handgunning fun with good friends [Re: cherokeetracker] #205303 01/27/2020 7:07 PM
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45MAN Offline
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VERY, VERY GOOD, EXCELLENT VARIETY OF TEXAS GAME, NEAT GUNS, GOOD SHOOTING.


"ADAPT OR DIE". I USE ALL CAPS, NOT BECAUSE I AM YELLING, BUT BECAUSE IT IS AN OLD HABIT FROM MY ARMY DAYS, PLUS IT IS EASIER TO TYPE AND READ.
Re: Handgunning fun with good friends [Re: 45MAN] #205305 01/27/2020 7:56 PM
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Looks like an outstanding week! Congrats on all the game.


The meat won't fry if the lead don't fly.
Re: Handgunning fun with good friends [Re: Randy M] #205306 01/27/2020 8:41 PM
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Nice work Ernie!

Re: Handgunning fun with good friends [Re: RBO21] #205319 01/28/2020 11:39 AM
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dhom Offline
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OUTSTANDING!!!!!!

Re: Handgunning fun with good friends [Re: RBO21] #205321 01/28/2020 12:26 PM
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racksmasher1 Offline
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Looks like a great time

Re: Handgunning fun with good friends [Re: racksmasher1] #205330 01/28/2020 3:33 PM
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RSW Offline
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Congrats on the hunt!

Re: Handgunning fun with good friends [Re: Ernie] #205357 01/29/2020 1:52 AM
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cmnash Offline
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That looks and sounds like an action packed trip! Those are some great looking trophies as well.

Re: Handgunning fun with good friends [Re: cmnash] #205382 01/30/2020 2:48 AM
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Off season exotics with friends...it doesn't get much better than that!


The Eyes are Useless, When The Mind Is Blind
Re: Handgunning fun with good friends [Re: Franchise] #205394 01/31/2020 5:38 PM
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Ernie Offline OP
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It was a lot of fun.
I recognize that high fence hunting, especially when feeders are added, is primarily about patience and shooting.
I recognize that for what it is.
It wasn't physically demanding and shots were easy in terms of distance.
It does not take away from having a great time with a couple of good friends, and getting to shoot and see some awesome animals...Some of which I could not shoot.
Will I do it again? Sure!


Ernie the Un-Tactical
Re: Handgunning fun with good friends [Re: Ernie] #205405 02/01/2020 3:57 AM
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Zee Offline
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Well said.
Don?t pretend to make it more. Accept it for what it is. Enjoy it for that and don?t mislead.
👍🏻


"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Re: Handgunning fun with good friends [Re: Zee] #205406 02/01/2020 10:35 AM
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jamesfromjersey Offline
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you put that perfectly Ernie (you to Zee)... a Texas ranch hunt is a great way to keep shooting your handguns until opening day...


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Re: Handgunning fun with good friends [Re: jamesfromjersey] #205409 02/01/2020 12:23 PM
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billa Offline
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Ernie, what a great outing. Thanks for sharing. Great handgunning fun. I need to put aTexas hunt on my gotta do it list.


"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,... "
Matthew 28:19

Handgun hunter since 1979 - haven't used a rifle since!
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Re: Handgunning fun with good friends [Re: jamesfromjersey] #205416 02/01/2020 4:26 PM
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Ernie Offline OP
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 Originally Posted By: jamesfromjersey
you put that perfectly Ernie (you to Zee)... a Texas ranch hunt is a great way to keep shooting your handguns until opening day...


I have not done a lot of high fence hunts. One time I won a free cull Corsican hunt(had to pay guide fee-which was a joke). I went during the middle of the week, and there was basically no hunters there. I didn't want to be in a stand, as I wanted to spot and stalk, and the guy said the whole pasture was mine. It was a low fence area with a larger high fence. I never saw the whole low fence so it wasn't a small area.
Anyway, me and my trusty FA 454 were out and about and I ended up taking a Corsican around 75 yards from a seated position against a tree using shooting sticks-One and done. Waited for my guy to show up, brought the animal in and then they took me around and showed all kinds of nice critters that I could go after. At that time, money was so tight it wasn't even a possibility. It was a fun experience, but it was a lot different than antelope hunting on the eastern plains of Colorado or from hunting public land (packing in) for mule deer or elk in the Rocky Mountains. We lived in Spur, TX at the time, so it was probably early 90's.
One other time I was in a high fence area that my brother-in-law and his brother had. Whitetail and javelina. I shot a doe. This was all stand hunting with feeders as well.
South Africa at Big Waters Safari is a huge area, although it is high fence. No feeders, and no blinds, and the animals were as wild as anything on public land. We walked from 9-11 miles each day. All spot and stalk, and or doing the sneaky-sneak ever so slowly along the river or draw areas.


Ernie the Un-Tactical
Re: Handgunning fun with good friends [Re: Ernie] #205544 02/10/2020 8:35 PM
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Willicd76 Offline
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Very nice hunt.

Re: Handgunning fun with good friends [Re: Willicd76] #205552 02/11/2020 12:16 AM
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Ernie Offline OP
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Thank you!


Ernie the Un-Tactical

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