Well guys I haven't done anything stupid lately and decided I was overdue. A couple weeks ago I ordered a SST Super 14 .45 Colt / .410 Vent Rib Contender Barrel. Well it arrived on Friday. I had great plans to do some pattern testing this weekend and maybe try my hand at shooting a clay bird or two, but our famous South Dakota Wind has been rearing it's ugly head all weekend and this morning I woke up to rain.

At any rate I am sure you are all aware of the Kid with a new Toy syndrome. Well last night I just had to take the .410 Contender Handgun with me to work. I have been having a real problem with Skunks this year. The grubs are horrible and the skunks are litterally tearing yards apart. A buddies yard looks like some one chisel plowed it, so I have been making a nightly drive past his place and so far managed to kill 3 skunks and a raccoon there.

Well last night I drove past his place and low and behold there was a skunk on the north edge of his yard, out about 20 yards. By the time I got the .410 Contender in my hands the skunk decided he had stuck around way to long and took off running. Well I swung the bead on the end of the Vent Rib in front of the skunk and pulled the trigger.

Imagine my surprise when the skunk rolled with the first shot and was absoluately motionless. I was shooting a Federal Power Shok 3" # 6 Shot .410 Shotshell. I was kind of shocked that #1 I hit the skunk on the run and #2 that the .410 killed it stone dead at what had to be about 25 yards.

Now granted shooting a running skunk with a .410 Contender Handgun is going to be a lot different than trying to shoot Birds on the Wing, but the way I look at it is this "If I can hit a running skunk I just MIGHT have a chance at getting to eat some Pheasant Fajitas this fall yet.

Thanks for reading.

Larry

It can be done but, it's very challenging...but, that's why we hunt with handguns, right....KRal

Those 45/410 barrels pattern much better than you'd think, at least with the choke installed. When I first got my 10"er I shot a pattern board at 15 yards and got a nice 12" group. I'd be confident on anything grouse sized out to 25 yards +. Without the choke it shot a 3' pattern on a 3'x3' cardboard box at 10 feet. I only checked to see if a person could quickly change from slug to shot and make it work. The answer to that was a definite no, gotta have the choke for shot. I'd like to try Turkey with one but most states require 12 guage. I think within 15 yards with #2's it would hold it's own.

Nice shot Larry! Sounds as though there are probably quite a few more targets around there still.

Nice shooting Larry.

You started the story with... being overdue for doing something stupid, then started talking about a skunk...

for sure I thought you and your buddy got sprayed, maybe even thought the skunk was dead and picked it up and then he sprayed ya...

Sounds like the 410 contender became an extension of your hand very fast. Enjoy it.
Vin

I saw an old Ben Pearson video w/him taking pheasants w/his take down recurve. I'm sure you could do it w/the Contender!

Hope you saved it.

French Fried Skunk
Recipe #75396 | 1½ hours | 20 min prep |

Not for everyone, but good.
SERVES 3 -4 (change servings and units)
Ingredients
2 skunks, skinned and cleaned
1 tablespoon salt
water, to cover
2 cups bear fat or lard
2 egg yolks, beaten
3 cups milk or cream
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons baking powder
Directions
1Clean and wash the skunks, making sure that the scent glands are removed.
2Cut up into small serving pieces.
3Put a soup kettle on the stove and add the meat.
4Cover with cold water and bring to a boil over high heat.
5Lower the heat and boil until the meat is tender, about 40 minutes.
6Remove all the scum that rises to the surface.
7Make a batter by mixing together the egg yolks, milk, flour, salt and baking powder.
8Mix real good until the batter is about like cake batter.
9Heat the bear fat or lard in a deep fryer to about 360 degrees.
10Dip the pieces of skunk in the batter and then fry them in the deep fryer until golden brown.
11Drain well and serve.

Enjoy,
Shawn

Thanks guys. This is going to be interesting to say the least. However I am thinking it is gonna be fun.

Not sure if I am brave enough to try that skunk recipe. Besides if I brought a dead skunk into the house I am quite sure I would be living alone and have to do my own cooking, which is scary enough all buy itself.

Larry

Guess I never thought of looking at it that when when I typed it, but then it wouldn't be the first time my fingers typed something other than what my mind was telling them to.

Larry