Time to get stuff ready. First hunting will be in Texas. Leaving April 12th. After that 2 weeks in TN then leave the 31st headed to Kentucky. Doing something new in Texas. Going to handgun hunt one bird. That will be different for sure. We can't hunt them with handguns here and truthfully I don't think in our type of hunting it would be safe. Where we are going they do it all of the time. Known backstops and tons of private land with no one else on the place. We are planning on killing a few hogs while there. Should be a blast.
Good luck,...and get us a good 'un! :icon_thumright:
That is the plan. Except for the year with covid and the year with staph infection I generally nail a big one or two.
Quote from: reflexl on March 28, 2023, 08:18:08 AM
Time to get stuff ready. First hunting will be in Texas. Leaving April 12th. After that 2 weeks in TN then leave the 31st headed to Kentucky. Doing something new in Texas. Going to handgun hunt one bird. That will be different for sure. We can't hunt them with handguns here and truthfully I don't think in our type of hunting it would be safe. Where we are going they do it all of the time. Known backstops and tons of private land with no one else on the place. We are planning on killing a few hogs while there. Should be a blast.
what handgun and load are you taking? I know you have a few cannons, dont think you need the 1 you used to kill deer!?!
Quote from: JeffC on March 28, 2023, 03:46:11 PM
Quote from: reflexl on March 28, 2023, 08:18:08 AM
Time to get stuff ready. First hunting will be in Texas. Leaving April 12th. After that 2 weeks in TN then leave the 31st headed to Kentucky. Doing something new in Texas. Going to handgun hunt one bird. That will be different for sure. We can't hunt them with handguns here and truthfully I don't think in our type of hunting it would be safe. Where we are going they do it all of the time. Known backstops and tons of private land with no one else on the place. We are planning on killing a few hogs while there. Should be a blast.
what handgun and load are you taking? I know you have a few cannons, dont think you need the 1 you used to kill deer!?!
I have been trying to decide. I really want to take my old flat top .44. I could do Turkeys and hogs with it. This is when having too many is a disadvantage. I have flip flopped about 20 times. I have thought about one of the custom long slide Glocks. They are incredible shooters as well. The last long slide I built is an absolute tack driver and plenty of power for hogs. It's a .45 Super. Really fun gun.
(https://i.imgur.com/vajF6O1_d.jpg?maxwidth=520&shape=thumb&fidelity=high)
I haven't decided which handgun to carry and actually haven't decided which shot gun to carry either. If running and gunning that little 28 gauge is mighty nice and with TSS works great at 40 yards. The muzzleloaders are fun and I can nearly bank on another record book bird but a bit messy. The 12gauges are ready to pick up and go as well. I am taking my Riley Corder pot and one of my Mark Cornelius pots. Probably one of Matt Vancise's boxes. No antiques on this trip.
(https://i.imgur.com/GHnoK0h.jpg)
Good luck, have fun,and be safe!
cannons for a, at best, 20lb animal, unless you're going for head shot? Do you reload? are you backing down on load? I would love to take a deer with handgun, but for turkey I want to use a bow. Jersey wants another $140 for separate license. So someday I will try here in Maryland. Sorry for all the questions, just find it very interesting.
I have toyed with the idea of killing one with a bow myself. I am just not sure if I have the necessary horsepower to get adequate penetration. I hear they are pretty tough.
if your pulling at least 50lbs, its more about shot placement, I shoot 64lbs, fixed head now, had 2 bucks killed with Rage 2 blade heads, terrible blood trails, so saved Rage for turkey's, shooting Iron Wills now, great fixed head. But just like I am questioning handgun bullet loads for a turkey, fixed broad head blows right thru turkey a expandable head will do a lot of damage, a bullet will just blow thru? Dont know, havent done either, reason I am asking questions..
Mine was tongue in cheek. It's about like reflexl using the 45 super on a turkey.
80lb pull, 29" draw, 340 IBO rated speed. 550 grain arrow with a qad fixed head.It works fine on deer, so I am thinking it should work on a turkey.
Anyways back to the subject at hand. Reflexl, would you have any bullets on thos hand cannons that would open up a little on a turkey? I would think they would just punch more of a hole, making shot placement pretty critical
Hey man have a safe trip and a good hunt
I shot a fall Jake with a .405 grain hard cast lead bullet out of an old 45-70 trapdoor at 24yds.
knocked him down and he flopped but wasn't going any where, very little meat damage
Quote from: crow on March 28, 2023, 10:35:55 PM
I shot a fall Jake with a .405 grain hard cast lead bullet out of an old 45-70 trapdoor at 24yds.
knocked him down and he flopped but wasn't going any where, very little meat damage
Big heavy bullet, did it pass thru? Would think that would knock him into next county..
Quote from: JeffC on March 28, 2023, 08:08:18 PM
cannons for a, at best, 20lb animal, unless you're going for head shot? Do you reload? are you backing down on load? I would love to take a deer with handgun, but for turkey I want to use a bow. Jersey wants another $140 for separate license. So someday I will try here in Maryland. Sorry for all the questions, just find it very interesting.
All of the guys that I have talked to that have already killed turkeys with handguns recommend a quick opening bullet and shot placement 5 to 6 inches from the neck base if facing away or on a broadside shot just below the wing attachment point. The broadside shot gets the top of the lungs and usually the spine. With the perfect opportunity (turkey standing very still ) I would take the head shot. I handload so I can tailor a load just for this purpose. I am still trying to decide which gun. I have a super accurate .357 Blackhawk that shoots 1" groups at 100yards. It may get the nod.
(https://i.imgur.com/ao5iLf5.jpg)
As far as taking deer with handguns it is my preferred way. We actually have a handgun hunting organization called Handgun Hunters International. It is a huge source of knowledge for handgun hunting. There is a Bi-monthly online magazine that you can subscribe to without being a member of HHI. Its called Sixgunner. HHI and Sixgunner were originally started in the 1970s by J.D. Jones and Larry Kelly of SSK Industries fame and Magnaport fame. J. D. retired and it set dormant for a few years until J.D. gave Ryan Hoover his blessing to resurrect it. If you are seriously interested in handgun hunting it is a good place to start. Not bragging but my deer kills with handguns are in the hundreds.
I have carried my bow several times but have had some terrible luck. Funny things happen and usually when I am trying to kill them with a bow. In TN I buy sportsman license so all of my bow hunting is covered. My current bow shoots so flat (343 fps chronographed) that I can use one pin out to 40 yards.
Quote from: JeffC on March 29, 2023, 08:02:54 AM
Quote from: crow on March 28, 2023, 10:35:55 PM
I shot a fall Jake with a .405 grain hard cast lead bullet out of an old 45-70 trapdoor at 24yds.
knocked him down and he flopped but wasn't going any where, very little meat damage
Big heavy bullet, did it pass thru? Would think that would knock him into next county..
It passed thru, shot deer and bear with them and never recovered a bullet. They were Laser cast brand, very hard alloy, could shoot them pretty fast (relatively speaking) before you need a gas check.
Quote from: reflexl on March 29, 2023, 08:48:42 AM
Quote from: JeffC on March 28, 2023, 08:08:18 PM
cannons for a, at best, 20lb animal, unless you're going for head shot? Do you reload? are you backing down on load? I would love to take a deer with handgun, but for turkey I want to use a bow. Jersey wants another $140 for separate license. So someday I will try here in Maryland. Sorry for all the questions, just find it very interesting.
All of the guys that I have talked to that have already killed turkeys with handguns recommend a quick opening bullet and shot placement 5 to 6 inches from the neck base if facing away or on a broadside shot just below the wing attachment point. The broadside shot gets the top of the lungs and usually the spine. With the perfect opportunity (turkey standing very still ) I would take the head shot. I handload so I can tailor a load just for this purpose. I am still trying to decide which gun. I have a super accurate .357 Blackhawk that shoots 1" groups at 100yards. It may get the nod.
(https://i.imgur.com/ao5iLf5.jpg)
As far as taking deer with handguns it is my preferred way. We actually have a handgun hunting organization called Handgun Hunters International. It is a huge source of knowledge for handgun hunting. There is a Bi-monthly online magazine that you can subscribe to without being a member of HHI. Its called Sixgunner. HHI and Sixgunner were originally started in the 1970s by J.D. Jones and Larry Kelly of SSK Industries fame and Magnaport fame. J. D. retired and it set dormant for a few years until J.D. gave Ryan Hoover his blessing to resurrect it. If you are seriously interested in handgun hunting it is a good place to start. Not bragging but my deer kills with handguns are in the hundreds.
I have carried my bow several times but have had some terrible luck. Funny things happen and usually when I am trying to kill them with a bow. In TN I buy sportsman license so all of my bow hunting is covered. My current bow shoots so flat (343 fps chronographed) that I can use one pin out to 40 yards.
Awesome info, thank you, good luck, hope your able to find some birds to put lead into, looking forward to some pictures.
Quote from: reflexl on March 29, 2023, 08:48:42 AM
Quote from: JeffC on March 28, 2023, 08:08:18 PM
cannons for a, at best, 20lb animal, unless you're going for head shot? Do you reload? are you backing down on load? I would love to take a deer with handgun, but for turkey I want to use a bow. Jersey wants another $140 for separate license. So someday I will try here in Maryland. Sorry for all the questions, just find it very interesting.
All of the guys that I have talked to that have already killed turkeys with handguns recommend a quick opening bullet and shot placement 5 to 6 inches from the neck base if facing away or on a broadside shot just below the wing attachment point. The broadside shot gets the top of the lungs and usually the spine. With the perfect opportunity (turkey standing very still ) I would take the head shot. I handload so I can tailor a load just for this purpose. I am still trying to decide which gun. I have a super accurate .357 Blackhawk that shoots 1" groups at 100yards. It may get the nod.
(https://i.imgur.com/ao5iLf5.jpg)
As far as taking deer with handguns it is my preferred way. We actually have a handgun hunting organization called Handgun Hunters International. It is a huge source of knowledge for handgun hunting. There is a Bi-monthly online magazine that you can subscribe to without being a member of HHI. Its called Sixgunner. HHI and Sixgunner were originally started in the 1970s by J.D. Jones and Larry Kelly of SSK Industries fame and Magnaport fame. J. D. retired and it set dormant for a few years until J.D. gave Ryan Hoover his blessing to resurrect it. If you are seriously interested in handgun hunting it is a good place to start. Not bragging but my deer kills with handguns are in the hundreds.
I have carried my bow several times but have had some terrible luck. Funny things happen and usually when I am trying to kill them with a bow. In TN I buy sportsman license so all of my bow hunting is covered. My current bow shoots so flat (343 fps chronographed) that I can use one pin out to 40 yards.
Good shooting. I think you need to call one up and then try to Quickdraw and head shoot him. Buster Scruggs would do it.
I don't know about quick draw on one. I will probably treat it like a shotgun bird. If I see them coming I shut up and wait. I really like them in 20-25 yards. I am a bit sadistic. I have intentinaly seen how close they will come. So far 20' is the closest shot. If I had my gun pointed right I could have touched his head with the barrel. I know someguys like to see how far they can shoot them and if that is what turnes them on I am cool with it but I like them in my face. That is what I am leaning to an open sighted pistol for the pistol bird.
Just kidding on that reflexl. I wouldn't recommend it for safety or accuracy. Good luck with it though. I agree that up close is where the fun is.
so what's next spear?? or wrestling ?? :character0029: :TooFunny:
Spears, definitely spears
Quote from: JeffC on March 29, 2023, 09:04:47 PM
so what's next spear?? or wrestling ?? :character0029: :TooFunny:
We have a local guy that goes to Alabama and spears deer and hogs. I would love to see they guy that could spear a turkey.