Any GBO Members going to the Handgun Hunt at White Oak?

[Graybeard]

The XVI Annual Handgun Hunt at White Oak Lodge in south Alabama begins next week. Anyone else from GBO gonna be there? I've toyed with the idea of going in the past but just never got my "round tuit". But having gotten a chance to buy in this year at a discount due to a GBO member needing to back out for personal reasons I've taken the leap and will be heading down for a few days in camp with the various magazine writers and industry representatives who are always in attendance. I think they have over $10,000 in merchandise donated by the industry sponsors to give away to the hunters who show up.

As far as I know this is the first time ever they have fully sold out the hunter slots for this hunt. Someone will be walking away with a new Freedom Arms revolver and someone else will walk away with a Custom TC handgun or so it's always been in the past.

So are any of you other handgun hunters gonna be there?

[snorky]

what's the price?thank's,Archie

[Graybeard]

Here's the link to their website. I got mine at a discount from a GBO member who bought in at last years price but I think the current price is $1725.

http://www.whiteoakplantation.com/

You'll have a Friday afternoon hunt, both morning and evening hunts on Saturday and Sunday and a morning hunt on Monday. You're allowed two does per day and one buck for the trip.

[Dan Johnson]

I'll be there, GB. It will be a pleasure to meet you at last.

What handgun are you bringing?

[Graybeard]

Great Dan, we've been talking on the internet for years and it will be nice to finally meet with you.

I'll be bringing a SS G2 frame with blued 7-30 waters barrel and a Bushnell Trophy 2-6 scope for the longer range shots. I'll be using my standard load of 35.5 grains W748 and the Sierra 130 SSP bullets in Federal nickel cases.

For a hip holster gun I'll have my S&W 629 6" most likely using Hornady factory 240 XTPs altho I've still got another range session or two planned and some other stuff to try before a final decision is made. I've got some with the 240 XTPs loaded up over 24.0 W296 and some Keith 250s loaded up over 18.5 H2400 and I want to see how those shoot as well but I don't any will do any better than the Hornady factory loads.

I'll likely also have the FA83 .44 Magnum with me. Still undecided about putting scope back on or leaving it with factory irons. For it I'll be using either Sierra 210 or 240 JHC over W296 if it comes. The RB480 might make the trip also with either LBT 400 WFN or LBT 420 LFN bullets in it over W296.

All are shooting nicely for me so I might bring them all but the TC and the S&W are likely to see the most time at the stand.

I have a couple of things I want to talk with you about while were there anyway. Really glad to hear you'll be there. I was hoping JD would be there but hear he's not gonna be this year. Bob Baker will be and it will be my first chance to meet him after lots of phone calls and e-mails and talking on the internet as well.

[Dan Johnson]

It appears you will be well armed. I'm bringing a G2 also with an SSK 6.8mm SPC barrel and Burris 2-7X scope. I think I've finally found a good deer bullet for this cartridge. Remington sent me a bunch of their new 115gr. Ultra Core Lokt loads and some test in wet newspaper at various ranges look promising. Trouble was the factory ammo was about 150 fps slower than it should have been so I pulled the bullets and reloaded up to snuff.

I'll also bring my .309 JDJ barrel for backup and my Ruger SRH .44 in case they stick me in some thick cover. That's the nice thing about handguns, you can put a spare in your backpack.

Yea, I talked to JD last week and was sorry to hear he wouldn't be there also. He's at YO this weekend.

Hope you win some nice stuff.

[Graybeard]

It would be nice to win one of the better prizes but as I always say: "if it weren't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all". I think I've won one drawing prize in my life. Not exactly a good record. 

Do you have any idea who else is coming? The sponsor list is a bit smaller than I understood was normal but then they do say "any others" and I've seen nothing about what writers other than you are coming.

[Dan Johnson]

I don't know what other writers will be there. There will be someone from Petersen's Hunting but I don't know who. I know this because the Editor asked me to go for PH but I'd already been invited directly by White Oak so he said he'd send someone else also. Hopefully, we'll have a good crowd.

I do not even worry about winning anything anymore. I have been to countless events with drawings for prizes and have never won diddly. Some people are just unlucky I guess. A custom FA revolver sure would be nice though, woulldn't it?

[Graybeard]

Yup that would be nice, even nicer tho if I got to pick the specs of it to suit rather than it being one already made up. But I'd be happy either way. 

I'm just hoping to have a good time, spend some time out in the woods and maybe make a few business contacts to help the web site along some. More than that is gravy.