Barranti Buck

[dobegrant]

Congratulations,very nice buck

[Doc Barranti]

Thanks for posting the photo, Dick!!

We took a week off for the 4th Annual Texas Safari hosted by our good friend Mark Hargrove on his Spectacle Ranch. The Spectacle brand is a family brand that dates back to 1889, and the original ranch is across the highway from my place in Dunn, TX. There were several invitees this year. A photographer/videographer, a Shuckmaker (yours truly), a retired cop turned sixgun sightmaker (of course you know who that is!), an active Border Patrol Agent, and a retired school teacher. Quite a diverse bunch! Mark had suggested that the theme for this year’s Texas Safari be a handgun hunt. I was extremely hesitant, since I haven’t had much time to do any serious handgun shooting over the past year, so I brought along my Ruger No.1 in 7x57.

On opening day, we had to break up into groups of two and take different blinds. It was just my luck that I drew the short straw and had to sit with Fermin. So I grabbed my No.1, and Fermin his legendary Hoover’s Hammer. For those not familiar with ‘The Hammer’, it started life as an Old Model Super Blackhawk that Tank Hoover gifted to Fermin several years ago. After finding that it possessed magic and the ability to send bullets with precision at any target, Fermin added some custom touches to create the ultimate 44: he converted it to Bisley configuration, added a 10” heavy barrel and scoped it. The end result was a shootable sixgun capable of delivering the heaviest load with as much accuracy as the shooter was capable of. After being dropped off at the side of the trail, we walked in to our blind and got settled an hour before the feeder went off. After first light, a smallish buck made his way to the feeder. We watched him for about 20 minutes, pinpointing where we would shoot as he picked around at the corn on the ground. He finally had enough, and moved off into the mesquite.

Another half hour or so passed, when in came a respectable 8 point. At the sight of the buck, Fermin shoved The Hammer into my face and said use this! The deer was feeding at just a tad over 100 yards, the crosshairs settled surprisingly calmly on his shoulder, and the gun went off as if it had a will of its own! At the shot, he launched into a very short sprint and I saw him fall just as he made it into the mesquite barely 20 yards away. Fermin whispered “Good shot!”, and we sat quietly as a watched the white spot through the trees where he fell.

We waited a few minutes before making our way to where we found the deer. The distance was a lasered 103 yards. The 44 Thompson 255gr gas checked hollowpoint, which was launched at 1550 fps, clipped the top of the heart and shredded the lungs before exiting on the offside. The chest cavity was completely filled with blood, and the sheared petals of the cast hollowpoint left behind proved that the bullet acted as it was supposed to.

The magical powers of the Legendary Hoover’s Hammer obviously aren’t the sole possession of Fermin, and that sixgun has me thinking about scoping one of my own guns. I just hope I can steal some of the juju from the Hammer! Many thanks to Fermin, for having faith in his sixgun and in me to make that shot!

[Ken O'Neill]

Lookin' good, Mike!

[woody]

Nice buck Mike!!!!!

[contender]

Good one Doc! Even if you had Fermin there with ya!

[gunsbam45]

Good pic and sounds like a great hunt. Congrats Doc!

[2 Dogs]

How do you describe the perfect shot? While it was 40 degrees that morning there was a frost on everything indicating the wind chill was a factor. We bundled up and headed to our 2 man blinds. I drew the short straw and got Doc. The blinds themselves were rock solid and comfortable.

It was a still morning and warming up when Doc’s 8 point came into view. A quick decision was made to use The Hammer and I corrected the scope from its 50 yard zero to a 100 yard impact. I’m often asked if I carry The Hammer in a chest rig. I actually keep it in a soft gun case because I can fold the case itself and use it to brace up for the shot.

When Doc took The Hammer from me I said “mind that trigger” while I folded the soft case and nestled it into the window sill for Doc to use as a rest. I picked up my Swarovski binoculars up and at the shot (which was almost immediate) clearly saw that buck take the hit.

The buck was immediately deflated and his break for safety turned to stumbling on weakening legs until he collapsed some 20 yards away. Examination revealed the cast HP slug had taken the top of the heart off and the lungs were damaged as well. The shank of the bullet exited and we found shards of the hollow point slug in the skin on the off side. Perfect shot with excellent bullet performance. I told Doc all that remained was to get The Hammer in Hoovers hands for our next hunt!

[contender]

Good follow-up Fermin!

[sixshot]

Had to be a big blind with the 2 of you inside, what were you using a school bus?

Dick

[Doc Barranti]

Nov 16, 2022 11:39:41 GMT -5 sixshot said:

Had to be a big blind with the 2 of you inside, what were you using a school bus?

Dick

You can be sure it was a short bus, Dick!

[lobo]

Congrats on a great buck!!

[jgt]

Congratulations!! Doc were you just on a visit or have you moved your home and shop to Dunn?

[Doc Barranti]

Nov 20, 2022 9:33:04 GMT -5 jgt said:

Congratulations!! Doc were you just on a visit or have you moved your home and shop to Dunn?

Just a quick trip for the hunt. Things are moving along in Dunn, and hopefully by early spring we can be there full time.

[jgt]

Thanks for the update. Hope the transition goes well.

[rWt]

Congrats, Doc!!