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Post by whitworth on Nov 2, 2016 12:28:02 GMT -5
This October marked the 2nd Annual JRH Holiday, sometimes referred to as the Bovine Bash where handgun hunters descend upon Hondo, Texas at Action Outdoor Adventures for some live bullet testing on really big game. The emphasis here is bullet/caliber testing. It was attended this year by some folks on here that you will recognize. The whole point is to test calibers and bullets in the best media known to man. In the course of two and half days, a dozen or so animals bought the farm (so to speak) almost triggering a strike by the skinners' union. Boy did they have their hands full. I will post initial results with more detail to follow. First up and first animal downed was this water buffalo tag teamed by Jack Huntington (JRH) and yours truly with .500 JRHs (imagine that). Mine was my custom Bisley by Huntington, while Jack was shooting a BFR in .500 JRH. Jack was shooting Buffalo Bore 425 grain loads but also had a couple of Punch bullet loads in for just in case. I was shooting 440 grain Buffalo Bore loads with Punch bullets in my cylinder as well. He didn't go down immediately as we buggered initial shots a bit on the moving animal and things got a bit dicey in the thick stuff going in after him. He did fall however. Another view: Forum member and handgun hunter and a half, tradmark shot this axis deer with his .41 Mag FA83 at about 45 yards with 210 grain Swift A-frames. Jordan, a member of the JRH Advanced Gunsmithing team shot this wild hog with a rifle (gasp!) in .30-30 Ackley Improved. The results were decisive to say the least! And with that, day one came to a close. Standby for days two and three.
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Post by whitworth on Nov 2, 2016 12:29:16 GMT -5
The next kills will not be in order as I can't honestly remember the order. But, I believe day two began with the aforementioned Jordan, this time shooting a double rifle, built by Jack Huntington in .450/400 Nitro Express, at a Watusi. This was one of a couple of rifle kills during the hunt. Jack backed him with his Chapuis 9.3x74 double rifle. Michael was up next, I believe, with his watusi. He was shooting 325 grain Swift A-frames out of his .454 SRH. Great load, great bullet, and great shooting! Jason Menefee blooded the all-new .475 Special chambered 629, for the very first time, by killing this goat. I shot this watusi with my custom six-shot .45 Colt Bisley loaded with Grizzly Cartridge's 335 grain WFN .45 Colt +P load. I shot the moving target four times offhand before it went down. Recovered one bullet that was badly damaged. Tradmark made a great 85 yard first shot with his 6 1/2-inch S&W .500. Don't recall the load. Mark, want to fill in here? More later!
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Post by whitworth on Nov 2, 2016 12:30:46 GMT -5
Here's the red deer shot by Jordan with trademark's FA83 in .454 Casull. It was loaded with 325 grain Swift A-frames. This is an animal that was shot at point blank range while still alive with 300 grain XTP Mags (in .45 Colt) that failed miserably. Here is a photo of what was left of a recovered XTP next to an unfired one.
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Post by whitworth on Nov 2, 2016 12:31:40 GMT -5
Here are some more animals from Hondo. The only two animals that I don't have photos of are a pair of wild hogs that were killed by the skinner/taxidermist who was hunting with a compound bow. First up is grip master Rob Rowen and the watusi he killed with his 7 1/2-inch .45 Colt Bisley. It was loaded with Garrett 365 grain .45 Colt +P loads. Rob's shooting was impeccable, mortally wounding it with the first shot, and spinning it with the second. Forum member CraigC killed this huge by large longhorn with his Super Redhawk in .44 Mag. It was one of the smallest calibers used on the hunt, and one of the biggest animals taken. He used his 355 grain WLN load to great effectiveness. Lastly, Jason Menefee and Jack Huntington tag teamed the behemoth longhorn with .500 JRHs, loaded with Buffalo Bore 440s and Punch bullets. This animal was easily the biggest one taken weighing right around one ton on the hoof. That's a lot of beef! While the animal was being gutted, this bison kept coming in menacingly. It was a bit unsettling. He may have been attracted to the blood on the ground, but he seemed agitated.
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Post by whitworth on Nov 2, 2016 12:32:29 GMT -5
Thank you gentlemen! This photo is simply for perspective. If your load/caliber/bullet works well on an animal this big, you are on to something good.
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Post by whitworth on Nov 2, 2016 12:33:07 GMT -5
We drove past this ornery bull water buffalo on our way back to camp. He showed absolutely no fear and he was a big boy.
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Post by mike454 on Nov 2, 2016 12:43:30 GMT -5
Fantastic. Lots of meat on the ground!
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Post by bulasteve on Nov 2, 2016 13:03:24 GMT -5
WOW ! The price of chili in Texas just dropped ! How heavy was the critter that the XTP "failed miserably on" ? I like XTP's up to a certain point, and may want to adjust that point !
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Post by jfs on Nov 2, 2016 13:23:55 GMT -5
that has the look of a fantastic handgun hunting get-to-gether........
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Post by whitworth on Nov 2, 2016 13:31:04 GMT -5
that has the look of a fantastic handgun hunting get-to-gether........ It was awesome, James -- as you will find out next year!
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Post by whitworth on Nov 2, 2016 13:35:54 GMT -5
WOW ! The price of chili in Texas just dropped ! How heavy was the critter that the XTP "failed miserably on" ? I like XTP's up to a certain point, and may want to adjust that point ! It was between 250 and 300 lbs give or take.
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Post by bulasteve on Nov 2, 2016 13:37:38 GMT -5
Thank you, so big buck, hog kinda sized. Hmmnnn..
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Post by tradmark on Nov 2, 2016 15:15:01 GMT -5
Just to clarify, the xtp was a 300 mag around 1200 fps or so i dont know what to say other than the bullet whit posted was the only one that made it into the chest cavity. The other one partial expanded and took a turn in the shoulder and never made the chest cavity. Complete failure!
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Post by foxtrapper on Nov 2, 2016 15:36:21 GMT -5
Great shooting to all! Mustof made the ground shake when all that beef hit! Whit whatcha got sitting on your 45 bisley?
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Post by bigbrowndog on Nov 2, 2016 15:39:07 GMT -5
Did anyone notice the skinning pole bend with the bull hanging from it??? The pole base is in the corner of the pic, and parallel for a bit with the image edge and then Starts to favor itself into the pic. Quite a bend!!!! I'd be a bit leary standing under it.......
Trapr
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