Well Known Shooter?

[MePlat]

We all are aware of John Linebaugh,  John Taffin,  Gary Reeder, Randy Garrett, ect..  Does anyone know about their game takingl as to hunting and if anyone of them has killed much game or are just known and consumed with either the custom gun, ammo making, or writing business?
We hear or read of their hunting but do they have much experience?
Who else either deceased or living has had much game killing experience?

Thanks

[Ken ONeill]

Most game ? Dr. Larry Rogers. Most species and countries: Mark Hampton. Greatest innovators and high volume game takers: J.D. Jones, Larry Kelly. Most responsible for others successfully handgunning Pronghorn: Gregg Richter. Most Afican experience: Bill Weiss. Others with a BUNCH of handgun hunting experience: Paul Dachton, Ray Young, the late Dale Kelling. Not to diminish his overall contributions in any way whatsoever, but each of these men have handgunned far more big game than Elmer Keith did. 
Oops! I walked away, forgetting the ladies: I believe Pamela Atwood leads the women, hands down. Madeiline Kay and Beth Lysne also have a great deal of handgun hunting experience

[MePlat]

Thanks,  Ken.  I was mainly focusing on the guys I mentioned because so much is heard about them and they have given advice on many forums and or their websites and just wondered about them mostly.  I have heard of many of the ones you named especially JD and Larry Kelly.
Sometimes ones reputation is built up by many followers to be better than actually they should be.  I have know for years that Elmer Keith wasn't actually a handgun hunter by its strictest definition.  Many of his followers have built that reputation out of not knowing anything but what they have conjured up in there mind.

BEFORE anyone jumps me about my comments on Mr. Keith I am a die hard Keith fan and think there will never be anyone like him now or in the future. I am strictly Keith probably 95 percent of the way.

I have a letter somewhere that he wrote me saying he had killed some 40 head of big game with a sixgun over his life.  Some cattle and horses added to that though.

There are people (people with alot of greenbacks and can afford the trips) that will kill that many in a year or two  nowadays. 

I've seen Pamela Atwood on TV.

[Lloyd Smale]

John Taffin used to do alot of handgun hunting but i think age is catching up to him and i dont think he does much anymore. John linebaugh goes on a few hunts every year and he and his family have taken lots of game with a handgun but hes far from a profesional hunter. Hes to busy with his bussiness and his semiars. Gary Reader shoots ALOT of game with handguns he goes to africa with them every year and does other hunts as well.

We all are aware of John Linebaugh,  John Taffin,  Gary Reeder, Randy Garrett, ect..  Does anyone know about their game takingl as to hunting and if anyone of them has killed much game or are just known and consumed with either the custom gun, ammo making, or writing business?
We hear or read of their hunting but do they have much experience?
Who else either deceased or living has had much game killing experience?

Thanks

[fowler]

Ross Seyfried probably killed as many animals with a handgun as anyone back in his african professional hunting days. Many of those animals were back when people were just getting to understand big bore revolvers, much of it from what he learned sticking his neck out there. When he killed his first Cape Buffalo in the very early 80's with a heavy Linebaugh built 45 colt it was pretty uncharted territory. As far as pure numbers it should be said that most of the animals he shot had been wounded by poor shots from his clients. This typically makes for tougher to kill animals because you can't really pick your shots. I know Ross said that in the 6 weeks leading up to the Cape Buff hunt he had killed something like 35 head of big game with that gun and had become extremely confident in it to the point he seldom carried a backup rifle any more!

As far as the other go I really don't know.

[MarkH]

I would certainly not discount John Taffin's handgun hunting.  My old friend Bill Buckman - though as a writer is only known in a few circles - is one of the best as well, strictly North American game.

[S.B.]

John Taffin used to do alot of handgun hunting but i think age is catching up to him and i dont think he does much anymore.

Lloyd, I think carple tunnel has Mr. Taffin sitting out for any more hunting or shooting of the bigger calikber guns?
Meplat, check the Hunting Africa forum with the guy who has posted his views of handgun calibers and ammo for bears. He was a government hunter and has a lot more experience than most. Here's a link to a couple of threads that are second hand (posted by others)  http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,89450.0.html  , his name is JJ Hack.

[weasel]

Didn't see Elgin Bates name in earlier posts, if I remember right he put more animals in the record book than anyone else (at one point). Leupold used to use footage of some of his hunts in their old commercials, sometimes you still see little blurbs on the Outdoor Channel, they call it Quest for the big ones or something like that.

All you need is lotsa animals, time, money, and a wife like mine! (grin!)

[Ken ONeill]

Elgin Gates did indeed take a lot of big game in various corners of the world. However, although he was a founder, and long time president of the International Handgun Metallic Silhouette Association until his death, he was not primarily a handgun hunter. He mostly used rifles, and particularly liked the .300 Weatherby Magnum.
On one occasion though, he was treed by a Cape Buffalo, who wouldn't leave the tree. Elgin happened to be carrying a S&W Highway Patrolman .357 as a sidearm, and shot the buff through the head with an "armor piercing" FMJ load, killing it.

[S.B.]

We all are aware of John Linebaugh,  John Taffin,  Gary Reeder, Randy Garrett, ect..  Does anyone know about their game takingl as to hunting and if anyone of them has killed much game or are just known and consumed with either the custom gun, ammo making, or writing business?
We hear or read of their hunting but do they have much experience?
Who else either deceased or living has had much game killing experience?

Thanks

I suppose one could read their books?

[lonegle57]

 read a number of great articles as well as a book/magazine by Bob Milek back in the 80's. He and Steve Herret were the guys that came up with the 30 and 357 Herret for TC. Mr. Milek was a major factor in me now carrying a handgun to hunt with.

[CJ]

I agree on Bob Milek. Also Phil Johnston, Al Georg, Wooters, and my personal fave even though not strictly handgun hunting SKEETER SKELTON. Big points for style of storytelling Not hugely impressed with Hamptons book, and just read one from Clair Rees that underwhelmed me.
Guess I just like the older stuff.