I have just learned that Larry Kelly, founder of Magnaport has passed away. For the uninformed, Larry was a pioneer in the sport of handgun hunting. He has killed more Cape buffalo than any modern hunter that I'm aware of (more than 50) and with a handgun.

In 1997 it was acknowledged by SCI that Larry had 59 animals in the top ten of their category including many entries for the Big 5, three Cape buffalo (#1, 2 & 5), two African elephants (#2 & 3), three leopards (#1,2 & 3), one lion (#1), one rhino (#3), hippo (#3) and crocodile (#1) and the #1 Alaska brown bear (#1).

Today Magnaport is run by his son Ken Kelly but we have truly lost an icon who's accomplishments with a handgun and contribution to the sport of handgun hunting will likely never be equaled.


Good Hunting and Farewell

I hate to hear that. I know that he has had a lot of heart troubles over the past few years. He definitely set the bar high for the rest of us handgun hunters.

Sorry to hear this sad news.

He truly will be missed, by family and Handgun Hunters around the world!

That is truly sad news. Yes he will be missed by handgun hunters around the world.

Larry

He will be missed.

hate to hear that! loved reading about hia adventures when is was growing up.

Sorry to hear that......

Our sport has lost another Icon!

Condolences to his family!

Jeff

Larry will sadly be missed. He was the man responsible for me to start handgun hunting. My first real hunting handgun was a RSB in stainless with a 2x Leupold scope. I never knew that Larry had so many animals in the SCI record books. You are right Gary, he wae truly a pioneer in the handgun hunting world.

Although I've never met Larry in person, Im a fan of his craft and his courage. Starting a buisness from the ground up, while financially struggling, with a young family in tow. Then later in life, the courage to hunt the earths largest predator at short range! I think it's safe to say he lived life to the fullest.
Magnaport is less than an hour from me, so I've been pestering Larry's son Ken quite a bit about future projects and admiring some of his custom creations. Ken is a good guy, blue collar all the way, and full of great hunting tales. Early this fall, I stopped in to have Ken slick-up the trigger of my G2. He showed me an old Contender in .357 Max that Larry was going to hunt with this year, if he was up to it. I dropped off a copy of Larry's hunting book for him to sign. When I got the book back I was thrilled to see Larry had went all threw the book, making little notes and details giving more info on all the photos, even a little humor too. He really exceeded my expectations, and gave it a personal touch.
Larry will be missed and admired, ... and my thoughts go out to his family.

And he actually stopped entering animals in the records book in 1987.

Larry was diffently a handgunning great. I never met him, but have enjoyed his work since the early eighties. He,and a few others, was responsible for my entering this sport of handgun hunting. I can only hope and pray to have tenth of the hunting success he had. He will be missed.

Rest in peace Larry.

I had the privilege of talking to Larry on the phone about the .375 JDJ concerning loads and the magnaport. Super neat guy and what a loss.

Condolences to his family!

He was a sort of pioneer in handgun hunting, I had lots of respect for him.

Larry Kelley was a great man. He showed what a hard working man and a dream can lead to in America.

He (Magnaport) has been one of our major sponsors for the HHI Antelope Hunt since 1987; and they still are.

I have his book personally signed by him.

He will be missed, handgun hunting is not the same without him.

He will be missed. One of my personal heros a man that lived life and made it with hard work and never give up attitude.
Still read his and JDJones book a couple times a year.

His additions to JD's books are read over and over again by me. The two of them together are the Lewis and Clark of handgun Hunting Pioneer world.

Indeed we have lost a legend...
Always heard of his book but have never seen it.
What's the name & is it available anywhere?

Larry Kelly`s handgun hunting basics booklet: [img]http:/[/img] This was a small 10 page booklet included with their finished work.It briefly covered the sport,caliber,barrel length
distance,sights,etc.

Thanks Gregg!