Posted on 11/09/2014 12:33:59 PM PST by lbryce
Garretts heavy .44 Magnum load proved exceptionally effective, going through-and-through breaking both shoulders of the pronghorn.
Sometimes what we hunt with is almost as important (and often more interesting) than what we hunt. You wont see a trophy buck antelope in the unit, Sam. Thats what Tracy told me. As a full-time professional government hunter he should know. After all, he lives day by day in the region. But undying optimism had me looking for that big boy anyway. I wont say how many bucks I ended up studying under 12X magnification. Might sound a bit unbelievable. But of course Tracy was right. I saw not one special buck. No rain. No new food. No horns. Since I live where a short walk from my front door puts me in antelope country, Ive taken the prince of the plains with bow & arrow, muzzleloader, the iron-sighted .30-30 clan, right up to my custom McGowen (Montana) sizzling .240 Gibbs with an 80-gr. bullet pushing four grand. But never a handgun.
It was time to change that. Know thyself has always been good advice, whether from Shakespeare or a pundit preaching around the back-room gun store cracker barrel. And I know me. I have some fine six-guns and semi-autos. But I end up packing only the least weighty when on foot in the game field. For pronghorns, I would employ a handful of potency in a light package. The Smith &Wesson Model 329 PD .44 Magnum Scandium. Easy on the hip at 25.5 ounces unloaded, the Scandium is heavy on smack-down.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanhandgunner.com ...
I have a Remington 1902 rolling block converted to .44 Marlin. A sweet rifle to shoot! Just not real accurate as it has the 1 turn in 33 rifling. I often shoot up old 44-40 loads I find around the house from when I had a 44-40 rifle.
I picked up a .44 Special S&W back in 1968. Great gun even with fixed sights.
I’ve found the m-29 S&W to be easy on the hand if I use Pachmayr grips with normal magnum loads.
I just realized I haven’t shot either one since 1988!
I recently got a #4 Rolling block. It’s chambered in .22 Short and is about 36” long overall. A tiny thing.
I got Mrs. L a set of Eagle grips in Rosewood for hers. A tad pricey but man does that gun look good. I’m fortunate in that I live about 3 miles from them so I can actually bring the gun in for fitting. If you’re a fan of nice looking wood on a revolver I recommend them. Nice folks.
Every grip is hand made to order so it may take a while. But I’ve got 3 sets and every one has been worth the wait and the money.
May have to road trip next spring to Sandia for widget work .....will keep ya posted ..... got to see that new range.
Myself ....looking for a model 58 to build me a copy of the rare 58-29. Only 3 left the factory as the SW 58-29 in 44 mag.
Want to get a 58 an slap a 44 mag cylinder an barrel on it. Make one for my own entertainment.
That fitz 44 special is gonna be very cool. Maybe a 44 bulldog from charter arms would be a great lightweight fitz 44 special ??
Perfect for old italian mining towns ....:o)
Never heard of the Fitz Special before tonight. Some research is needed on my part!
I just happen to own a Bulldog. Been thinking about bobbing the hammer. Maybe a Full Fitz on it is in order. LOL.
Sort of like the New York reload...... Lore of old that worked. I really like that kind of history regarding real gunfight experience.
Old bulldogs were steel frame, new ones are alloy I think, may be wrong, but mine sure seems light, almost like an Airweight or scandium smith ...not sure if the new manufactured bulldog can make the cut per se.
Something to ponder.... Stay safe !!
We actually have had bruins loitering. We’ve seen a sow and two cubs. And someone fired off the motion light one night and left a fine print in the sand below the front stair. The lab has been nervous.
Mine is an old steel frame. For 125 it was a bargain.
Yep.... Ya got a visitor named yogi or boo boo fer sure. Might be fun to put a game camera up. Watch yer self up there.
Very cool .... Yep the steel frames would be a good stout foundation for such a project..... Maybe a good pocket holster added would make it safe and fast. Mine loves the CCI Blazer 200gr GDHP loads, not reloadable but damn accurate in the little bulldogs.
I think charter arms is coming out with a 45 auto version of the bulldog. The CEO of charter arms used to be ole freeper Harpseals (rip) neighbor . He told us about that before he passed away long ago. Guess he saw a prototype for the 45, 40 and 9mm variants of the bulldogs.
125$ for a steel bulldog.... That was a steel steal for sure. Good deal.
I really miss Harpseal.
later read
Agree - as I get older, even though I can handle the push back of some heavy duty rounds, I find that I don't enjoy it. Even my Rossi carbine kicks too much for my liking with .357 rounds so I usually use .38 Specials in it (as in my revolver). I keep a supply of the .357 rounds "just in case" but my 1911 .45 is about the biggest round I actually enjoy shooting these days.
Always loved the mid-to-late 1800s stuff. Very innovative time for firearms.
ROlling blocks, falling blocks, trapdoors, levers, bolts... early semi-autos... Gatlings... everything was there, and being tried.
John Moses Browning (Peace Be Upon Him) was alive and well... as were the creations of Winchester, Colt, Remington, Christian Sharps, etc.,
Love old black powder cap and ball stuff too.
“...460s for chipmunk and squirrel ...”
Haha! Can you say “Vaporize”??? Once the red mist clears, is there anything left to put in the stew pot????
“...I find that I don’t enjoy it...”
Indeed.
I’ve been shooting since I was 10 years old, fell in love with the whole panoply of the shooting world. I don’t ever want to get to the point where it’s NOT enjoyable.
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