Back country revolver BULL

HandgunHunter

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756
Location
Wyoming
Back country Bull.

I packed into the wilderness in Wyoming the day before opening day to set camp. That night I was able to locate a couple herds either by sound or with glass.

The morning of opening morning the bulls were screaming. I began to work through a bottom towards the roar. I then hit an unmistakable odor….ELK! I knew the herd was close. I drew my 629 smith and Wesson and continued creeping through the dark timber. As I climbed out of a low bottom I spotted cows…

I paused and got ready not knowing what to expect. I observed a bull in a thicket to my right mounting a cow then he beat up the trees with his antlers. Cows began to pass behind me and in front of me. Finally the bull steps out and a 240 Sierra was put to work from the 44 magnum. The 40 yard shot was taken from the standing. In seconds a bull was on the ground and the work got serious.

Multiple trips at about 4 miles with 1800’ gain to get this guy out. A memory of a lifetime.

Gun details:

629 S&W
44 mag
Trijicon SRO
Hogue custom shop Big Butt grips
4 port Magnaport
Accuracy work by me.

Processing knife by Ben Sutton of AK
 

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Very impressive! I have a similar setup with the 8 3/8" barrel. Never taken any game with it though.
 
Great kill with a handgun! Daunting task, that 4 mile uphill pack. I killed a bull many years ago with my SRH .44Mag loaded with 300 gr Hornady XTP. Washington had this rule back then that to hunt elk with a handgun it had to have 750 or 1000 lb ft of energy at 100 yds, can't remember which. Now you can hunt them with a 9mm if the barrel is longer than 4", one extreme to the other.
 
Very impressive with the handgun! Nice to see more of the uncommon hunting methods. Makes me real curious about handgun hunting!
 
Back country Bull.

I packed into the wilderness in Wyoming the day before opening day to set camp. That night I was able to locate a couple herds either by sound or with glass.

The morning of opening morning the bulls were screaming. I began to work through a bottom towards the roar. I then hit an unmistakable odor….ELK! I knew the herd was close. I drew my 629 smith and Wesson and continued creeping through the dark timber. As I climbed out of a low bottom I spotted cows…

I paused and got ready not knowing what to expect. I observed a bull in a thicket to my right mounting a cow then he beat up the trees with his antlers. Cows began to pass behind me and in front of me. Finally the bull steps out and a 240 Sierra was put to work from the 44 magnum. The 40 yard shot was taken from the standing. In seconds a bull was on the ground and the work got serious.

Multiple trips at about 4 miles with 1800’ gain to get this guy out. A memory of a lifetime.

Gun details:

629 S&W
44 mag
Trijicon SRO
Hogue custom shop Big Butt grips
4 port Magnaport
Accuracy work by me.

Processing knife by Ben Sutton of AK
That's all the orange you're required to wear in Wyoming? Must be nice. I hate that shit!
 
Something Ive always been interested in. How about a close up of that piece, it looks like a dandy!?
Just out of curiosity what would your max range you'd be comfortable taking an elk with that setup be?
 
Something Ive always been interested in. How about a close up of that piece, it looks like a dandy!?
Just out of curiosity what would your max range you'd be comfortable taking an elk with that setup be?
Elk. Cow 100 yards bull. 80

Deer, lope, and the like…..there is a thread on here from a couple years ago where I took them to 150 yards.

It’s a 629 smith and Wesson. Trijicon rmr. Hogue big butt grips from their customs shop. Guns been magnaported. I tuned up the gun (retired in May 2022 from my day job)

Same gun. 125 yard rock chuck…AB7A5294-7FE9-4B2C-B7B7-A68248929640.jpeg
 
How do you holster that thing during hikes?... hip or chest? Seems like a great way to keep your hands free for treking poles.
 
but but but that's not right you need a .338 to kill an elk!

Congrats on the kill. The pack in must have been really nice.
 

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