Old ideas

[Ken O'Neill]

It's funny how your mind changes over time. More than 30 years ago, I thought I'd create the "perfect" revolver for hunting mountain lions, hogs, and black bears.
It would "have to" be a .44 Magnum, and I selected a Redhawk that I already owned. Red Dot sights were in rather limited use then, but I had some experience with them. The dot should show up well in the shadows. But in those days, battery failure was a concern. I'd seen it happen in matches. What to do?

In a Hunters Pistol match a couple years earlier I'd seen a guy utilize an idea I thought was goofy: he had a scope mounted in see-thru rings so he could also see the iron sights. I still thought THAT idea was goofy, since scopes seldom failed … but with a red-dot the idea seemed to make some sense to me at the time, given the battery concern.

Pistolsmith buddy Gordon Logan crafted a slightly undercut patridge front sight, removed the billboard, polished the flutes and pins, did a trigger job complete with an overtravel stop (which I consider necessary on a Redhawk) and jeweling, then fine bead blasted the rest. Lett laminated grips were added. Sling swivel studs and a sling were somewhat in vogue at the time, so they were also added .A Holden "Iron Sighter" see-through mount was selected as the best available to hold the UltraDot.



The concept of the red-dot and iron sights worked well. The rear sight could be easily adjusted, thanks to judicious mounting of the UltraDot. Zeroing was no problem, and in fact the gun seemed to shoot flatter when using the red-dot, due to its high mounting. BUT, the Redhawk is heavy. Not a desirable trait when chasing lions up and down mountains in the snow. By the way, there's always more "up" than "down". The sling carry was an affectation with no merit, exposing the revolver to snow, twigs, and all manner of dirt. In a bear tree stand everything is fine. However, I came to use FA .475L's for bears, none of which were taken from a tree stand.

So … I came to change my whole idea on this concept, with the passage of time and gaining of more experience. Like I said, it's funny how your mind changes over time.
I came to use all manner of guns on hogs, and .475's on bears. My lion gun? A 629 with an UltraDot. And yes, with a spare battery in my pocket:

[foxtrapper]

Gotta say those lion trophy pictures with snow and the dogs is just about perfect!!!

[Fowler]

My brother knows a couple hound guys who chase lions religiously. I want to go along one of these days just for the thrill of the chase. Ultimately the shooting the cat out of a tree is as anticlimactic as possible to my personal hunting ethics. Nothing against those who do, they need to be harvested and managed like anything else I just don’t have the desire to kill one that way. They say cats kill 3-4 times as many deer in Colorado as hunters do!

But I have pondered what would be my lion gun of choice for the chase. Light, right hip holstered handgun naturally, I lean towards a S&W 45 colt Mountain Gun loaded with 260gr hollow points most likely. But my #5 44sp calls out for obvious reasons as do a number of what I think of as “working guns” in the safe. Heck even a good 1911 is a fine choice for the task at hand. Fun thoughts for a winter day morning.

[KRal]

Ken, that redhawk is prolly the most interesting I’ve seen - very unique! I too hope to be able to chase lion someday and often think of what I’d use. My choice always seems to steer towards my 5.5” FA M97 45 colt with reflex sight in a FA crossdraw holster and a 260 partition over 17.0gr of 2400.

[Ken O'Neill]

Kim, my 97 .45 was always extremely accurate with a 250 XTP over 17 gr. of 2400. Do lion hunting while you're young(ish) and tough.

[bradshaw]

Dec 15, 2019 9:32:47 GMT -5 Ken O'Neill said:

It's funny how your mind changes over time. More than 30 years ago, I thought I'd create the "perfect" revolver for hunting mountain lions, hogs, and black bears.
It would "have to" be a .44 Magnum, and I selected a Redhawk that I already owned. Red Dot sights were in rather limited use then, but I had some experience with them. The dot should show up well in the shadows. But in those days, battery failure was a concern. I'd seen it happen in matches. What to do?

In a Hunters Pistol match a couple years earlier I'd seen a guy utilize an idea I thought was goofy: he had a scope mounted in see-thru rings so he could also see the iron sights. I still thought THAT idea was goofy, since scopes seldom failed … but with a red-dot the idea seemed to make some sense to me at the time, given the battery concern.

Pistolsmith buddy Gordon Logan crafted a slightly undercut patridge front sight, removed the billboard, polished the flutes and pins, did a trigger job complete with an overtravel stop (which I consider necessary on a Redhawk) and jeweling, then fine bead blasted the rest. Lett laminated grips were added. Sling swivel studs and a sling were somewhat in vogue at the time, so they were also added .A Holden "Iron Sighter" see-through mount was selected as the best available to hold the UltraDot.



*****

Ken.... good report on the all-time tank of double actions. The Holden Iron Sighter remains far and away the sleekest, smartest see-through mount to select optic or iron in the same breath. See-through mounts were a fad in the deer woods of the northeast, as was the bolt-action-accurate Remington 760 pump. I say “fad,” as hunters who should have known better failed to practice both ways. Thus, a buck jumps, hunter shoulders carbine, to find his Redfield scope has fogged. (Or, the ocular is packed with snow.) Instead of automatically assuming his irons, he is stymied for a critical second. The deer hightails it. Writers with scant knowledge of hunting the North Country, condemned see-through mounts as a gimmick. For those who know----and I speak specifically of the Holden Iron Sighter----see-through mounts are anything but a gimmick. The cheek-weld stuff helped bury popularity of see-throughs; fact is they work.

This is the first I’ve seen em on a pistol. No argument here.
David Bradshaw

[reflex264]

That is a neat set up.

[squawberryman]

Neat Redhawk, who made the knife?

[Ken O'Neill]

Dec 27, 2019 19:39:39 GMT -5 squawberryman said:

Neat Redhawk, who made the knife?

The knife was made by Bill Snow of Columbus, Ga., and formerly of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit. It was a gift to me from seven friends when I retired.

[Burnston]

I've never been one to use optics on handguns, for three reasons. One, my youth and naivete give my sense of western/shooting romance far too much say in my pistol decision making. Two, my vision has not yet necessitated any alterations to my iron sights. Three, every time I scrounge up the money for something like a red-dot and mount I always spend it in leather, reloading implements, or other "necessities" whose importance I gauge as more critical than a new sight.
That said, I'm very impressed with your practical approach to this type of set-up. I've often heard critics disparage see-through mounts as silly and unnecessary, though usually in the context of rifles. Though I do not use them, you've certainly succeeded in proving their value and practicality.

[45MAN]

KEN: WHY DO YOU CONSIDER A TRIGGER OVER TRAVEL STOP A NECESSITY ON A RUGER REDHAWK?

[Ken O'Neill]

Rey, I first discovered the really excessive trigger after travel on Redhawks when shooting them in Bowling Pin matches all those years ago. Muzzle dipping. This, all double action, of course. The overtravel stop really helps, and improves hit-ability in both s/a and d/a. Naturally, they must be carefully properly adjusted.

[Frank V]

I have never owned a Redhawk but have shot other peoples. I think they ate a fine gun.

[rWt]

And, once you get into his photobucket there are other jewels to see!!