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Blame Dick Metcalf #205402 02/01/2020 2:10 AM
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jamesfromjersey Offline OP
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Some time around 2005 Dick Metcalf published an article using a then new Taurus Tracker in 41 mag with a four inch barrel to take a treed mountain lion. That immediately caught my interest and the little Tracker stayed with me until I recently found one in good condition at the right price. I saw that the Taurus designer`s spent some time on this one with features like a tight cylinder gap, a solid lock up at the point of ignition, eight ports at the muzzle, a recessed red enamel front sight and W/O rear blade, and a forgiving rubber grip that all came together in a neat little stainless package that is a candidate for a perfect packer. Fast forward to last Sunday and the shooting range at Tioga Ranch (high fence) where I dialed in the rear sight to match the point of aim at 25yds of some 210gr XTP handloads along with my DW 357 Max sporting a new scope and my handloads using the 180gr Partition. The accuracy with the small 41 with iron sights was more then my old eyes could ask for so I asked to guide to do what he could to close the distance on a good boar so I could use this little hammer. After a few blown stalks we managed to get behind a large pine that gave me no option except to try an offhand shot. At 30 or so yards walked four boar with my target in the lead. As I leveled and cocked the Tracker all four came to a stop giving me a 1/4 toward shot that absolutely rocked that boar. Three steps more and I hit `em again that flopped him on his side and in the time it took to walk the distance he was finished. My classic 22 to the ear shot was`ent needed... This handload is the only one I use in my 7 1/2" S&W 657 and has performed without a hitch on all the game its taken showing excellent expansion for an XTP, however, the shorter four inch barrel on the Tracker had to give lower velocity which in turn gave less expansion with the bullet. The one bullet I recovered tracked through the boar and stopped at the rear leg bone with minimal expansion of only 0.510" and just 0.6grs weight loss coming in at 209.4grs recovered weight..... My days of shooting high velocity, heavy weight bullets from my 475 and 500`s were fun but are becoming less and less but after seeing what a well placed 41 from a four inch barrel can do on a 250+lb boar I realized that all that power is not needed for most of what I and 90 percent of todays handgun hunters try to achieve in the field.
Blame it on Dick Metcalf....


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Re: Blame Dick Metcalf [Re: jamesfromjersey] #205403 02/01/2020 2:26 AM
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cmnash Offline
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It didn't take long for you to put the Tracker to work. Very impressive!

Re: Blame Dick Metcalf [Re: cmnash] #205404 02/01/2020 3:21 AM
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jamesfromjersey Offline OP
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What`s really ironic is that after reading another Dick Metcalf article over 35 years ago where he recommends Winchester 158gr JHP ammo for handgunning deer I also listened to what he said and took my first whitetail using that ammunition.... Back then my eyesight was 20/20, my hands were as steady as a tight steel cable so I thank the good Lord that I still have the ability (even though it was only 30 yards) to use iron sights on a four inch revolver and shoot straight and true...


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Re: Blame Dick Metcalf [Re: jamesfromjersey] #205407 02/01/2020 11:01 AM
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Randy M Offline
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The hog whisperer does it again! Congrats James!


The meat won't fry if the lead don't fly.
Re: Blame Dick Metcalf [Re: Randy M] #205408 02/01/2020 11:46 AM
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REDHAWK1954 Offline
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Good shooting as always.


Michael Joe Moore
Re: Blame Dick Metcalf [Re: REDHAWK1954] #205411 02/01/2020 1:53 PM
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KRal Offline
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Great job, as always, James! That?s a neat little belt gun. I bet Dick Thompson?s 230 PC Keith would be good medicine for the little tracker. My 6? Blackhawk really likes it pushed with 8.5 of unique....oh by the way, that?s a great looking boar! Congrats!


It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
Re: Blame Dick Metcalf [Re: KRal] #205415 02/01/2020 4:21 PM
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You've proved what "we've" known all along....boar are not bullet proof 😉🤔😜😂....and porcelain 😉 Flesh isn't made of kevlar 😳 Basic ballistic common knowledge goes a long ways 😬 Congratulations James! Now to Christen a certain "useless" 50 Caliber 😛😂🤣🤘🏼


The Eyes are Useless, When The Mind Is Blind
Re: Blame Dick Metcalf [Re: Franchise] #205418 02/01/2020 9:27 PM
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junebug Offline
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Way to go James! Old age and treachery make up for youth and younger eye sight. Sneak up behind a pine tree and whack some more!


junebug
Re: Blame Dick Metcalf [Re: junebug] #205419 02/01/2020 9:29 PM
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Russell Offline
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Looks like you've gone and done it again! Congratulations!


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

Sheriff Russell Cottle, Ret.
USMC; 1967-1970; Vietnam-'68-'69
Re: Blame Dick Metcalf [Re: KRal] #205420 02/01/2020 11:04 PM
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jamesfromjersey Offline OP
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 Originally Posted By: KRal
Great job, as always, James! That?s a neat little belt gun. I bet Dick Thompson?s 230 PC Keith would be good medicine for the little tracker. My 6? Blackhawk really likes it pushed with 8.5 of unique....

Kim, one of the first things I did was to load a dummy round using Dick`s PC 41 bullets and they are much to long for the Tracker`s short five shot cylinder. A 210XTP almost fills the length of the cylinder....


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Re: Blame Dick Metcalf [Re: junebug] #205421 02/01/2020 11:10 PM
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jamesfromjersey Offline OP
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 Originally Posted By: junebug
Way to go James! Old age and treachery make up for youth and younger eye sight. Sneak up behind a pine tree and whack some more!

JB, your a man who`s been "around the block"....
;\)


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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: Blame Dick Metcalf [Re: jamesfromjersey] #205422 02/02/2020 12:35 AM
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KRal Offline
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 Originally Posted By: jamesfromjersey
 Originally Posted By: KRal
Great job, as always, James! That?s a neat little belt gun. I bet Dick Thompson?s 230 PC Keith would be good medicine for the little tracker. My 6? Blackhawk really likes it pushed with 8.5 of unique....

Kim, one of the first things I did was to load a dummy round using Dick`s PC 41 bullets and they are much to long for the Tracker`s short five shot cylinder. A 210XTP almost fills the length of the cylinder....


Wow...it must be a very petite cylinder. Those 210 deep curls would prolly be a good choice as well.


It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
Re: Blame Dick Metcalf [Re: KRal] #205425 02/02/2020 3:13 AM
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wheelguns Offline
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Good one James, congratulations on a great shot and great hog. Had a Taurus Tracker in 357 that was a great gun, extremely accurate.

Last edited by wheelguns; 02/02/2020 3:19 AM.
Re: Blame Dick Metcalf [Re: wheelguns] #205437 02/02/2020 11:25 PM
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dave thomas Offline
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james
great job and way to stick with the open sights. Just goes to show that a well placed bullet will get the job done.
nice boar btw!


Ephesians 6:10-18 because we are warriors.
Re: Blame Dick Metcalf [Re: dave thomas] #205438 02/03/2020 1:15 AM
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Congrats James.


With God all things are possible. Matt.19:26
Re: Blame Dick Metcalf [Re: Okie Hunter] #205439 02/03/2020 3:44 AM
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Chance Weldon Offline
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Nice! Always neat to see the recovered bullets, too.


Formerly TN Lone Wolf

"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." - J.K. Rowling
Re: Blame Dick Metcalf [Re: Chance Weldon] #205448 02/03/2020 1:22 PM
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jcp161 Offline
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Good read and nice shooting.
\:\)

Re: Blame Dick Metcalf [Re: jamesfromjersey] #205455 02/03/2020 5:28 PM
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reflex264 Offline
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Very nice kill. I still have the hankering for a Tracker.


"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: Blame Dick Metcalf [Re: reflex264] #205463 02/03/2020 9:09 PM
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Outstanding Job James!!

Re: Blame Dick Metcalf [Re: rougerocco] #205484 02/04/2020 8:46 PM
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RBO21 Offline
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Congrats! I am a fan of 4" revolvers as well.


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