Rather than resurrect an old thread with a lot of pages, I thought I'd start a new one to share your worst shot ever.

I had two this past deer season, both with my Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt, shooting Marshall's 280gr WFNGC at 1200fps:

The first one was about bragging rights; my uncle didn't believe I could hit a tree about 120 yards distant. The tree was big, maybe 3 feet across, and I can usually get pretty close or actually hit clay pidgeons at that distance, so I said "No problem, watch this!" BANG! the shot splashed in the pond behind the tree, missed it by a good 6 inches.

I redeemed myself that night by killing the biggest bobcat I've ever seen while I was up in my tree stand. The cat came from my right, and behind me, so no way I could get my rifle around (tree at my back). I pulled out the Blackhawk, and twisted around, with a one-hand grip, as the cat was directly behind my tree. He looked at me when he heard the hammer cock back, and i drilled him through the left eye. The bullet didn't even touch his eyelid, and exited neatly through his neck, left him dead as a nail.

So, my confidence restored, I loaned my rifle to my brother in law and hunted with just the Blackhawk the next night. I sat on the ground above a little creek, and about dusk a group of 5 does came down through the creek and headed toward me. It was perfect, I was in camo, sitting on the game trail with my back against a tree, perfectly still. I let the lead doe get right up to me, about 5-6 yards away, and figured I better shoot before I get stepped on. I let fly with the Blackhawk, and the doe just turned sideways and stopped. I was kind of blinded by the muzzle flash, but tried another shot at her, which made her run off, and a third at another doe that just stood there. I couldn't believe it, no blood trails, and no indication that any of the deer had been hit. I went back the next morning and found a small tree directly between me and the first doe, with a hole in it. I also found a thick vine with a bullet hole, it must have deflected my third shot. I still don't know where the second shot went, but it sure wasn't in that doe!

I was pretty embarrassed to explain it to my family; especially since none of them are handgun hunters and don't think a handgun has the power or accuracy to do the job. Maybe next year I can prove them wrong!

A couple years ago I put , I think, 4 rounds in this rascal. I have told the story here before so I won't go into the details but he was riddled from stem to stern. I think the first shot was lethal but the next 3 were not exactly a testament to my off hand shooting skills, to say the least.

I caught a lot of heat for this one from my buds. Pretty embarrassing but he still tasted pretty good.

Okay Chief,
I had to go back a ways for this one.
1964, recurve bows only, buck at the base of the tree, three yards away. I had shot at this young spike five times and missed him as he walked around the tree looking for the cause of the disturbance. Finally on my last arrow, I put an old Bear broadhead at the base of his head.
I wasn't aiming there but it worked and I finally got my first deer with a bow.

Oh, deer don't run far when you hit them there!!

hellom there read your thread,

interesting story, i want to point out something here, i have taken five deer with my ruger single action black hawk .45. i use handloads a little more stout than store bought stuff you understand and would agree i believe is better percentage wise... anyway the farthest shot i made was big doe about 51 yards away. so case in point i really hope you get the solid oppurtunity to show your friends and family that this round with the right loads are lethal in every sense of the word.. when i hit that doe at 51 yrds. she fell like boy kissing his first girl friend.!!! all the others were closer in proximaty shot wise there was only one runner in the bunch...... and she didn't run far about 70 yrds giv or take few.. so i am living breathing proof that that pistol of your hits with more than substantial energy.... let put it another way it would be like you or me getting hit head on by best buy box truck doing about 40 miles an hour!!! need i say more!!!! your friends are living on the old day myths that say pistol are for other arenas. well things are differnt in the modern age. these newer pistols are built much stronger and can handle the heavier loads... don't feel inadequate in any way your as good as your rifle shooters with in relative distance of course. so good luck next year . also keep informed of what happens this upcoming season!!!
later and best wishes Karl J(a.ka. joekid25)


















Rather than resurrect an old thread with a lot of pages, I thought I'd start a new one to share your worst shot ever.

I had two this past deer season, both with my Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt, shooting Marshall's 280gr WFNGC at 1200fps:

The first one was about bragging rights; my uncle didn't believe I could hit a tree about 120 yards distant. The tree was big, maybe 3 feet across, and I can usually get pretty close or actually hit clay pidgeons at that distance, so I said "No problem, watch this!" BANG! the shot splashed in the pond behind the tree, missed it by a good 6 inches.

I redeemed myself that night by killing the biggest bobcat I've ever seen while I was up in my tree stand. The cat came from my right, and behind me, so no way I could get my rifle around (tree at my back). I pulled out the Blackhawk, and twisted around, with a one-hand grip, as the cat was directly behind my tree. He looked at me when he heard the hammer cock back, and i drilled him through the left eye. The bullet didn't even touch his eyelid, and exited neatly through his neck, left him dead as a nail.

So, my confidence restored, I loaned my rifle to my brother in law and hunted with just the Blackhawk the next night. I sat on the ground above a little creek, and about dusk a group of 5 does came down through the creek and headed toward me. It was perfect, I was in camo, sitting on the game trail with my back against a tree, perfectly still. I let the lead doe get right up to me, about 5-6 yards away, and figured I better shoot before I get stepped on. I let fly with the Blackhawk, and the doe just turned sideways and stopped. I was kind of blinded by the muzzle flash, but tried another shot at her, which made her run off, and a third at another doe that just stood there. I couldn't believe it, no blood trails, and no indication that any of the deer had been hit. I went back the next morning and found a small tree directly between me and the first doe, with a hole in it. I also found a thick vine with a bullet hole, it must have deflected my third shot. I still don't know where the second shot went, but it sure wasn't in that doe!

I was pretty embarrassed to explain it to my family; especially since none of them are handgun hunters and don't think a handgun has the power or accuracy to do the job. Maybe next year I can prove them wrong!

hellom there read your thread,

interesting story, i want to point out something here, i have taken five deer with my ruger single action black hawk .45. i use handloads a little more stout than store bought stuff you understand and would agree i believe is better percentage wise... anyway the farthest shot i made was big doe about 51 yards away. so case in point i really hope you get the solid oppurtunity to show your friends and family that this round with the right loads are lethal in every sense of the word.. when i hit that doe at 51 yrds. she fell like boy kissing his first girl friend.!!! all the others were closer in proximaty shot wise there was only one runner in the bunch...... and she didn't run far about 70 yrds giv or take few.. so i am living breathing proof that that pistol of your hits with more than substantial energy.... let put it another way it would be like you or me getting hit head on by best buy box truck doing about 40 miles an hour!!! need i say more!!!! your friends are living on the old day myths that say pistol are for other arenas. well things are differnt in the modern age. these newer pistols are built much stronger and can handle the heavier loads... don't feel inadequate in any way your as good as your rifle shooters with in relative distance of course. so good luck next year . also keep informed of what happens this upcoming season!!!
later and best wishes Karl J(a.ka. joekid25)

Thanks Karl. I agree, heavy 45 Colt loads have plenty of power for deer, as long as you don't have a tree in the way!

Once while helping my uncle bale hay, I spotted a coyote at about 400 yards next to his farm pond. Taking careful aim with my .243 Win mod 70 I fired one shot and the coyote took off and disappeared into the adjacent woods. We rode down to the pond and looked for blood sign but didn't see any. Declaring that I had not hit anything, my uncle said yes you did and pointed at a nice hole in his new aluminum boat next to the pond. Sure enough, there was an entrance and an exit wound on the boat. Thank goodness for steel putty.

What luck! Do you even remember seeing the boat in your field of view. I would swear that I hit that yote and it got the boat on the pass thru. Of coarse that is just me.

missed shots...
Last week I missed two coyote pups with one bullet shot at 275 or so.
I have a 9 point non typical whitetail rack on the wall with a bullet hole in the left antler... the bullet following that one hit a more vital area...
Those are the two that stick in my mind.