July/August 1978 - American Handgunner

Search for theHumongousFivefoot black bear taken with the SuperBlackhawk shown. Ruger is stock exceptfor Mag-Na-Porting and action job byPhil Crowley.is..ARRY KELLY, president of Mag-L Na-Port Arms, and Gerry Kraft, presidentof Magnum Sales Limited, Inc. arethe most successful black bear handgunhunters I know. For the past severalyears they have invited me to go bear' hunting with them, but due to business,. commitments I couldn't make it. Eachyear I heard the tales of their successfulhunt and made up my mind that this yearI was going to make it.In "77" though, the OutstandingAmerican Handgunner Awards, were inconjunction with the N.R.A. show in Cin- foraging and their hides were in goodcinnati. Since Kelly is Chairman of the condition I would fly to Kalispell and weOAHA Foundation, and I'm Vice- would hunt from there.President, it was necessary for both of us Prior to the anticipated departure date,to be in attendance-during prime bear I had decided to use a 10.5 inch scopedhunting time..44 Auto Mag on the hunt as it was as-Larry had severe reservations about sumed that fairly long shots in poor lightthe condition of bear hides that late in the would be likely. I intended to take an ironspring. He and Gerry were to leave the sighted 8.5 inch barrel assembly along today after the awards dinner, drive to switch to in the event we hunted in heavyMontana and let me. know how things brush. It only takes a few seconds tolooked on the following Wednesday or switch barrels on the Auto Mags.Thursday. Assuming the bears were still I had had good results with 28-29 grainsAMERICAN HANDGUNNER JULYIAUGUST 197&