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Reminiscing about my Big Irons #206396 04/09/2020 6:40 PM
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wvhitman Offline OP
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I've been watching Max's Big Iron shows. A great tribute to revolver hunting "big stuff". In this currant lock down I've only been able to take groundhogs, but I got to thinking about my "big iron" adventures. I'd like to share them and the way I get prepare for them.
In the past I've had almost unlimited access to massive amounts of groundhogs. They're my proving grounds for my upcoming hunts. Sadly, their numbers are dramatically decreasing mostly due to me (13,666 as of Dec. 2019) and the local coyotes.
My big irons are my 10" .500 Taurus RB and 6" .500 Smith, plus a FA .475 Linebaugh.
.500s first. I've never had a scope on my Smith so it hasn't had really big game taken with it. I didn't get it until after most of my big adventures. My RB, though, has gotten some work. The way I go about my trails is first to shoot targets and see what works.

As you can see the RB is no slouch at 100 yds. That's 4 different bullets in 1.45".
The next step is groundhogs.

As I posted recently, this was taken with a head shot at 139 yds. with a 400 gr. Woodleigh. So much for cheap, inaccurate Raging Bulls.
The next step is deer. Unfortunately, my computer crashed and I lost the photo of a 160 yd. permit doe taken with a 375 X.
After deer the .500 was ready for serious hunting.

This 8' brown bear was taken from the little island to the right of me. 129 yds. Dropped at the shot, dead, but the guide had me shoot him again. Here's the bullet

As much as I like the .500s, they're very heavy and not friendly to packing for my old back and knees.
My other big iron, the .475L, is more to my liking. It's much lighter than the .500, and very close to the power level of the .500 while using 400/425 gr. bullets. They take a little toll on my old hands, so I use some lighter bullets, but at full power, then switch to the heavier ones in testing just before my hunts.
I'm not real big on taking a lot of photos of targets ( I make notes on groups/etc.), so I can't show a 5 shot, 1 1/2" group at 25( open sight) or a 3" group at 100 (scoped). They satisfied me that my gun is a shooter.
As usual, groundhogs first

Another milestone with a 325 gr. XTP, but a most recent one (2 days ago)

Notice the head shot, at a social distancing range of 55 yds. with a 400 gr. Punch bullet. The Ultradot helps a lot, but I have a "new" eye now (cataract repair) and I think open sights may be in my future. The Punch is very accurate with good penetration on groundhogs (!!!). I'm hoping to use this combo before my legs play out ( getting old really sucks).
After 'hogs come the deer
A corn eater at 40 yds., open sights, and a 275 gr. X
A little bigger stuff

Limpopo bushbuck, open sights, 70 yds, 325 gr. Speer Gold Dot. Dropped at the shot.
Now it was time to get serious.

90 minutes of tracking in soft sand. 325 #, 275 gr. X (excellent damage on this size animal). Shot a little high with open sights at 35 yds. (probably a little excited). Needed a finisher. A real rush.
It was time to prepare for a hunt of a lifetime. I neede to something pretty big.

40 yds., 425 gr. lead SWC. Dropped at the shot. It's buddy false charged to 20 yds. Wow!
Now it was time for the ultimate, rectum tightening, harrowing hunt.

Came on 3 sleeping rhinos. Sat on the ground at 35 yds. Told the PH he was crazy. They woke 15 minutes later, while I went thru 3 or 4 lifetimes. They all stood. I shot the second biggest one (#11 SCI. another was probably #1, $$$). 425 cast SWC. Got in a second shot before he ran. One of the others charged. Got to 3 FEET of me before PH threw me in a massive thorn bush. Closest I've ever come to dying on a hunt. After we calmed down! and I picked over 30 3" thorns out of me, and we changed our underwear, we went after him. 3 shots total.
So, that's my "big iron" story and my prep for using my big irons. I love this stuff and I hope I have enough life left in me to keep on doing this. I guess you could say I love hunting!

Last edited by wvhitman; 04/09/2020 6:42 PM.
Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: wvhitman] #206397 04/09/2020 7:42 PM
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Doc, I could read your stories all day. Your knowledge is irreplaceable..you have seen and done it all. I love the Raging Bulls...my 454 Raging Bull was as accurate as any other revolver that I've owned..I, for one, have truly been inspired by all of your adventures..keep it up Doc!!!


The Eyes are Useless, When The Mind Is Blind
Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: Franchise] #206398 04/09/2020 8:45 PM
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jamesfromjersey Offline
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Your rhino, with a revolver, is the one I`ve always admired. When talking about you to someone, I only need to say that you took a rhino with a revolver which say`s how much of a handgun hunter you are... Well done Doc Rogers...


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Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: jamesfromjersey] #206399 04/09/2020 9:43 PM
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Russell Offline
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Well done, Doc!


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

Sheriff Russell Cottle, Ret.
USMC; 1967-1970; Vietnam-'68-'69
Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: Russell] #206400 04/09/2020 10:32 PM
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wvhitman Offline OP
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Thanks, guys. I gotta add something. Today was brutal. 50*, 25 mph wind with gusts of 40. I stayed in until 5 PM. Couldn't take it anymore. Told the wife I was going out. She said I was a crazy nutcase. Whatever. Can't kill anything watching TV with your finger....
Went to one farm. There 90 seconds. Groundhog pops up. Goes in. I get set up with my 6mmAI Encore 7 70 gr. BT. 175 yds. Out he comes in 3 minutes. Read the wind. Adjust. Dead.
Then I go to another farm with a lot of chicken houses. Been chasing a 'hog there for 6 weeks. Spooked him a lot. No sign of him when I arrive. Park my Bronco to block the wind. Dress up. Glove up. Set up the Bog Pod/PSR. Wasn't 2 minutes before I saw his head come out, only his head. I had my "little" big iron, the Smith .500 with 240 gr. Sierra HPs (super deer bullet). He never moves. Turned the UltraDot to a low setting. At 55 yds. I couldn't see squat, BUT there was a dark piece of grass just below the hole. I held the Dot there and fired. I saw a very large hole in the dirt just above the hole. Figured I missed.

Figured wrong. Notice the head shot with contents coming out of the 1 1/2" exit. The Smith is very accurate.
Just another big iron story.

Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: wvhitman] #206401 04/09/2020 11:28 PM
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Pa. Mike Offline
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Very well written Doc, your dedication sure pays off!

Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: Pa. Mike] #206403 04/10/2020 12:18 AM
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Over 13K groundhogs ! That?s certainly a record with a handgun, gotta be. My hat is off to you Sir !

Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: Drycreek3189] #206404 04/10/2020 1:18 AM
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dave thomas Offline
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great stories Doc, your a living encyclopedia of handgun hunting and your number of animals killed with a handgun are amazing


Ephesians 6:10-18 because we are warriors.
Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: dave thomas] #206405 04/10/2020 2:43 AM
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45MAN Offline
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DOC: MORE GOOD READING, WTG.


"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: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: 45MAN] #206406 04/10/2020 3:27 AM
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Love it Doc! Lots of game with a revolver, iron sights & many times cast bullets, how cool is that. Sounds like you took more of a beating than that Rhino, 3" thorns, yikes! Keep pounding them buddy! And I know you don't mind putting up with bad weather.

Dick

Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: wvhitman] #206407 04/10/2020 4:21 AM
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jamesfromjersey Offline
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 Originally Posted By: wvhitman
I had my "little" big iron, the Smith .500

Doc...only you could say that
\:\)


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Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: sixshot] #206410 04/10/2020 5:31 AM
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BIZZMO Offline
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Holy Cow!I get goose bumps just reading your stories and looking those pictures!You're Teddy Roosevelt and Ernest Hemingway combined! "everything else is just a game"

Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: BIZZMO] #206411 04/10/2020 10:44 AM
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Doc, you are one of a kind.

Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: racksmasher1] #206412 04/10/2020 4:16 PM
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Just keep walking those hills Doc, long as you can, its good for the body and soul.Love your stories.


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Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: wvhitman] #206413 04/10/2020 4:48 PM
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Always amazing.

Never disappointing.

It seems to me that anyone that develops an affliction with big iron, needs to see THE DOC.

Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: sixshot] #206414 04/10/2020 7:18 PM
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Just like your articles in the discontinued HHI Sixgunner. Please keep sharing your adventures with the terminal performance data! I have most all my issues starting in 1995, when I question caliber or bullet use, I pull them out and pour over your data. Enjoy your ground hog season, around my place I might see two per year.
D.


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Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: Buck_358] #206415 04/10/2020 11:32 PM
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popo Offline
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Way to go Doc. Keep those critters in check while having fun.

Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: popo] #206416 04/11/2020 2:26 AM
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You Sir are an inspiration. I have the book that Larry Kelly and J D Jones wrote years ago, Hunting For Handgunners, and you wrote a chapter in it about various handguns and loads and what works, for you, and I find that it?s just as informative today as it was back then.
I enjoy the stories, keep it up.
Keith

Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: Shortgun] #206417 04/11/2020 1:12 PM
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 Originally Posted By: Shortgun
You Sir are an inspiration. I have the book that Larry Kelly and J D Jones wrote years ago, Hunting For Handgunners, and you wrote a chapter in it about various handguns and loads and what works, for you, and I find that it?s just as informative today as it was back then.
I enjoy the stories, keep it up.
Keith


You beat me to it Shortgun,
I just bought and read that book this winter. definitly a good read and enlightened me to some of the true mavericks in the handgun hunting world.

Doc James and the others have said it already, A WHITE RHINO with a revolver! just do not see that often. very cool.

How are rhino steaks?


"If you are going to go through all the trouble to put a hole in something, why not make it a big one?"
Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: Shortgun] #206418 04/11/2020 1:15 PM
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Thanks for sharing, Doc! I always love reading about your hunts. Now that you?re retired, this would be a great time to write your book - it?d also give the ground hogs time to regenerate😜.


It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: KRal] #206420 04/11/2020 3:15 PM
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I'm with KRal...it's time for a book...and who could do it better than, The Man, The Myth, The Legend....Larry C Rogers....you introduced the world to the power of the 375/284 and the 416 Taylor...they're Big Iron in anyone's book.


The Eyes are Useless, When The Mind Is Blind
Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: Franchise] #206426 04/11/2020 8:29 PM
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REDHAWK1954 Offline
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I am another fan of you writing a handgun hunting book.


Michael Joe Moore
Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: REDHAWK1954] #206428 04/11/2020 11:52 PM
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wvhitman Offline OP
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Hmmm! A book is definitely in my future, just don't know when.
KRal, I tried cutting back on 'hog shooting, but it's like Lays chip. I can't just do one. I'm trying to give them a chance by using revolvers and some lesser guns more, but this mysterious force keeps pulling my hand back to .22-250, 6mmAI, 250 Sav.AI. I think I need treatment for this disease.
My only hope is to get more deer permits than I had last year and book some more hunts to keep me out of WV.

Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: wvhitman] #206429 04/12/2020 1:10 AM
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REDHAWK1954 Offline
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The sooner you write a book the better as far as I am concerned.


Michael Joe Moore
Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: REDHAWK1954] #206430 04/12/2020 1:11 AM
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 Originally Posted By: REDHAWK1954
The sooner you write a book the better as far as I am concerned.


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Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: jamesfromjersey] #206431 04/12/2020 1:18 AM
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"The West Virginia Hit Man- A True American Handgun Hunter"...

Or something along these lines....


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"I have more guns then I need but not as many as I want" "Handgun hunters HAVE to be good"
Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: jamesfromjersey] #206440 04/12/2020 5:14 PM
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dave thomas Offline
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you could definitely share your vast knowledge in book form. all handgunners could learn from your experience and it could be your legacy for all that follow in years to come.


Ephesians 6:10-18 because we are warriors.
Re: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: sixshot] #206448 04/13/2020 1:28 PM
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reflex264 Offline
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Awesome All the way around Doc. Ground hogs are a great warm up!


"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: Reminiscing about my Big Irons [Re: reflex264] #206454 04/14/2020 4:50 AM
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Absolutely awesome.

Put me down for a pre order on the book.

Thanks!


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