IMHO today the best on hunting handguns is Max Prasac.

What do you think?

Brian Pierce

Skeeter Skelton!

Hate to let you know, but today he is dead

yeah I know but he was my favorite, now I just stay on 24 hr and read what you guy's talk about and that better than reading some old gun rag! you guy's rule!

Mine is Ross Seyfried -- at least if he was still writing about handguns.

I movedBrain down a few notches on my list because what he prints isn't always factual. Such as when he wrote that the 454 cases sticking in the SRH was because the steel stretched due to the pressure and then contracted back. I have news for Brian that all steel stretches with high pressure and then contracts back as long as it is not stretched past its elastic limits.

I thought that was what he meant.

It contracts back. The brass, maybe not so much... Hence sticky brass.

I know of nobody else that puts as much work into his work as Brian.

I still go with Brian Pierce as the best

In my books too, Bea.

I've known him for years. Hunted with him, shot with him. Never had a moment that I didn't think he really knows his stuff.

I'll second that.

Me three. I still remember his articles of maybe 20-25 years ago. He brought big bore revolvers to their current popularity.

No if the stretch and contraction were the issue then all revolvers would suffer the same sticky case problem but, they do not. The problem was a bit of reamer walk that cause reverse taper in the cylinder chambers. When this taper is corrected or not present the cases no longer stick

The new SRH's have not suffered this problem.

He certainly did and I have not read anything that he wrote that was not technically correct.

Max has taken up the slack and takes great care to research and be technically correct. I believe he has modeled that portion of his writing after Ross.

Skeeter Skelton still gets my vote.

Thanks for the kind words, I try.

What magazines are you usually in Max?




Travis

American Hunter and Gun Digest most frequently. I write for some online publications as well. I've dialed back a bit as I am in the middle of another book.

I didn't know that. I have a lot of respect for pearce being in the been there, done that camp i think.
Few years ago i bought a new vaquero and had questions on the throat diameters. Couldn't get ruger to answer anything. Ended up contactin brian through handloader, and danged if i didn't get a chance to talk to him. Very nice fellow to take the time to answer a question. Plus i like casting and lead bullets, and he really knows his stuff. I have a file folder full of his articles that i have kept.

I always smile when I think of my first morning hunting with Brian. I always carry my Colt 1911... First thing he did was ask me to see it.

He gave it the once over, and them some. I had put the pistol together myself and customized a standard 1911 with all sorts of extras and custom parts for a decent build. Brian mentioned all of the custom parts and features I'd added, then proceeded to ask me everything he could think of about this or that on the gun. I told him I had lots of ammo if he wanted to try it out. He did. I guess it won his stamp of approval.

I've hunted with his oldest son and him too. Met his wife. They raise those kids really well. Nice change from what's in the news today.

Lucky you

I've always been rather partial to John Taffin.

I'll go with Max.

Great thread.. We are lucky to have so many truly great writers to choose from, both in the past and present..
Of the old school Elmer and Skeeter were tops.. Still have many of their articles.. All of the others mentioned here are favorites for one reason or another..

MY favorite is bfrshooter.

I hate to be a me to guy, but I've also enjoyed Ross's writings and his experiments.

Would be nice to see him pen another wheelgun article or two. I still find myself re-reading his older writings.

No matter I go with Max. I know what he does personally.
Taffin is so far out I will not read him. Ross is OK. Brian is a reasonable guy.
I agree with JWP, Max is about as good as you can get today.
All three of us have had issues of course. Much was my fault.
But you need to see Max is not pulling the wool over you. He really does shoot the way he says.
Max loves the big bores like I do and shooting animals at any distance is proof, better then shooting 7 yards with carry guns.
You do not know until you see max take tiny bottles of water at near 100 yards off hand with guns you fear.
Taffin needs a ransom rest or a young shooter to replace him.
I enjoyed shooting with Max and he has a great wife that carol misses and that is saying something. Max knows she is not easy to make friends.
But he is REAL.
Thank you John for a good post. You expected worse from me, I know, but not going to happen. Max was a dear friend but I will not beg.I also have ethics. I have been correct.

Kevin Gibson

You owe me a keyboard!

John Taffin - I have sat in his living room and swapped stories on several occasions. He is the real deal.

Jeff Cooper. E

lmao

Yep, I know they are both dead, but Skeeter Skelton & Elmer Keith are both still my favorites, and were responsible for me spending large amounts of money on Colt & Ruger Single Actions, S&W N Frames, and Freedom Arms revolvers. Also, Bowen & Clements Customs.

Bfr and KG are still above ground and going strong.

Here's my list in order of preference:

Skeeter: A superb writer and story teller, even if he never delved into the technical aspects that later writers did.

Ross: A much more technical writer, and one who I enjoyed reading immensely. His intelligence came through in his methodical approaches to projects, and to his writing.

Brian: I see him as similar to Ross, but more rancher and less college polish..........and the methodology that comes with it. I always look forward to his writing, which is strongly experienced based, and seldom boring.

Elmer: The true pioneer of the group. Poorly educated and it showed in his writing, but still carried decades of experience to the pages he wrote. His status is well earned.

Max: Relatively new on the scene, but obviously knows his stuff. Being newer to the fold means he wasn't the first to write some of the handgunning truths, but what he does write rings true. I'm looking forward to his next book coming out.

John T: Has at least one of everything I'll ever dream of owning, so I look forward to the color photos more than the text. I don't care for his writing style, but still own all of his books.

Brian Pierce. Hands down.

Then Flave. His utube channel is the bomb.

His channel is UBER.

Seyfried.

Bob Milek in the past, never heard of Max will look into it, Pearce is always good!

Mike

Max is the Whitworth dude who is probably the bestest and most knowledgeable gunriter since Elmer passed on to the great Range in the Sky.

though i haven't seen any of his handgun articles for quite some time, i've got to vote Ross Seyfried--for 3 reasons:


1. he was very instrumental in bringing the "ultra big bores" to the fore-front, spicing the articles with a decent amount of technical info, and those articles were accompanied by a few demonstrative photos that made nimrod handgunners salivate;


2. he did some challenging hunting with those sledgehammer revolver rigs;


3. he was a world class handgun competitor.



pretty fine resume.........................

Elmer Keith

I've read and like most of what those who have been doing for 35 years, but every one of them have nothing to write about without Elmer Keith.

FWIW, even the WFN killing and maximized powder capacity design goes back to an Elmer Keith Belding & Mull mould 454260, 429260 and 429280 in the 1920's.

One could read and use most loads from 1955's Sixguns and still be fully capable of North American handgunning, even if you ditched the magnum stuff.

Ross Seyfried followed by Brian Pierce.

Exactly what rifle cartridge?

Wow, cheap shot alert!

Huh? What in God's name are you talking about? Rifle cartridges? Bfrshooter my understudy? Please enlighten me as to the tuthfulness of your claims.

I think it's guilt by association. BFR is always talking about you so folks assume you're crazy too.

I've never seen Max get crazy. In fact, he seems to show a lot of restraint with BFR.

That was a real cheap shot and not true either. Par for the course for you though. I guess you don't actually pay attention too much.

How 'bout yesterday?

He's my favorite all time. I still use his load with 38 special brass with the Lyman 358156 HP seated out with 2400 in my Model 19 and at regular length in 357 cases.

Brian Pearce and Ross Seifried are my favorites of current writers.

480, 500, 454 Casull=rifle cartridges. IOW, a joke.

Gosh, I guess it was a cheap-shot. Now quit worrying so much and go douche. Your presence is stinkin' the joint up.

elmer

The only person who is stinking up this thread is you.

Really? I guess I got carried away. Apologies to all involved, especially some douche bag who is here so much she's posted 19 times. Again, my sincerest apologies ma'am.

Is it that time of the month, or is it your ass/knees that are giving you fits?

I wish Taffin would write an article about a Perfect Packing Pistol.




Dave

Ross Seyfried, John Taffin, and Skeeter Skelton. They were who I was reading when I was coming up to speed on handgun hunting. They created, and fanned the flames, of my addiction.

For a while, the best information was coming from Jim Wilson, Dick Metcalf, and Layne Simpson ... not necessarily great writing but they each wrote a few articles I was able to find value or at least inspiration (which generally cost me money) in.

Today, Brian Pearce.

So far I have not read any of Max's work.

Tom

Jim Wilson and Dick Metcalf?

I've read cereal boxes more interesting than those two.




Clark

It was a cheap shot. Max has agreed with my findings, done by hard work. Yet he is his own man too.
I had issues with CraigC too for a while. He is a good man so don't run him down either. You need to know these guys.
I don't like poor comments about Max either. JWP and I have had a hard time but you don't know him either.
Yes, some older writers were great but things are different today with calibers never thought of. It takes more thinking and ability to handle them.
To say bad is just an indication of lack of knowledge, jealousy or just plain stupid.
Max has brought the big bore to life like no other. Those dead guys could not handle what we shoot now.

You just moved up to #1 in my book.

I wish you'd post more often.




Travis

I honestly laughed out loud. [bleep]' A. Bfr is THE MAN!

I agree with DeFlave. You're my new favorite gunwriter. I'm burning my two books by that dead guy from Texas.

Both, how'd you guess?

He's actually correct. Dead people suck at shooting, their grip is always jacked up.

You don't have any proof of that. Where's your evidence? How many dead folks have you shot or shot with? You gotta kill several grizzly bars before you can comment on how well dead gunwriters can shoot.

I think Jack O'Conner can outshoot DeFlave.

I watched Pirates Of The Caribbean and there's no way those skeletons could handle the recoil of a .475480500JBHLukenbach.

If you spent more time instructing and less time trying to look cool, you'd know the biggest problem with teaching a dead person to shoot is their abysmal eyesight.





Dave

HA!

The only thing myself and that skinny fugker have in common is our obsession with sheep.




Travis

3rd.

I have made some dastardly posts it is true but it was a hard lesson. We all need to respect each other. We can have a difference of opinion to discuss but never get personal.
My feeling is you are all good people.
I am the biggest old bastard ever but come here, I will take your hand and give a hug. You are a fellow shooter.
You can call me anything, I don't care but don't bash each other. I forgive but please be friends.
My pain is to live so far from such wonderful people.
Some still flame me, It is OK. You do not know me at all.
Max was a good friend and I want him to come and have a BBQ and hunt again. It is my loss. I was stupid.
I see some of you doing the same thing. Do not suffer my loss.
But I will never capitulate over anything, if I am right, give it up or show.

Some of those old dead guys are tough.

I remember somebody posting an article about a 50 caliber revolver that was made back in the 40's or 50's, essentially the 500 Linebaughs predecessor. The article might have even been penned by Elmer.

That's all I ask.




Travis

You're so selfless......

Yeah, but you're looking at the limited edition sheep bondage porn Cheerios box, that's *cheating*.

I didn't say their stories were interesting (or if I did, I really screwed the pooch) what I tried to say is they contained useful data that sometimes caused me to spend money. It was Wilson's article about a Blackhawk .45 Colt that caused me to go out and buy one. It was Metcalf's picture of a blued Ruger Bisley in an article about .44s that convinced me to buy one.

Tom

I really miss Skeeter Skelton. I always found Ross Siegfried's articles very interesting. My current favorite is Brian Pierce.

I think if Metheifer or SHERIFF Jim Wilson recommended something, I'd be more inclined to not buy it. But we are all equal in God's eyes and that's what really matters.




Travis

You just earned yourself a hug. Meet me in West Virginia.




Travis

I hear banjos playing the background.

Naw, cant shoot what we do.

….so much for your obsession with sheep…… :-)

You SOB. You beat me to it. What I get for working.

The idea of a skeletal O'Conner servicing a sheep gives new meaning to the term "boner".

Favorite Handgun Writer

Massad Ayoob and Jeff Quinn (GunBlast) come to mind.

Max's work is always good. I like Brian Pearce and Dave Scovill. Seyfried is in a class all his own.

I used to say John Taffin but that was before his head got too swole for his hat. Now he's struggling for relevance and I'm struggling to give a s-h-i-t.

Ayoob is by far the most entertaining.




Travis

One can find John Taffin most Friday mornings on the smaller side range at Black's Creek south of Boise, he has his own heavy wooden bench at the right end of the line. He gets there early like I do so it's him and his friend at one end and then me about 20 yards away on the left end of the line.

Not trying to name drop since I doubt he could pick me out of a line up of one. I've only spoken to him two or three times except to call the range hot or cold, mostly we each mind our own business. But yesterday he pulled out "the original .41 Special", a Ruger 3 screw customized by Bowen, so I had to walk over to examine it briefly. Very nice handgun if I do say so myself.

He certainly owns or has owned some really nice stuff and he's probably forgotten more about handguns than I know, but one thing about meeting folks like that is that you realize people are just people and subject to all the foibles of human beings, and that's all I'll say about that.

I read everything by everyone but most handgun stuff goes back to Keith. Back then the .357 was not possible or the .44 mag. Too big and too much pressure. S&W and Ruger proved them wrong. Writers were either bringing the revolver into hunting or 7 yard BG stuff, quick draw or hunting. It is the same today with so much about carry, QD and feet instead of many yards. Writers need a Ransom rest to test, I don't remember Elmer using one. I shot my flat top .44 at way over 400 yards back then, took hair off a running chuck at 550 yards with it. Elmer did it.
But today Max actually hunts as do I and JWP.
Who do you read? Someone at 7 yards, someone with a Ransom rest? Max and I can out shoot a Ransom 6 ways to Sunday.
Max has brought the big bore revolvers where they belong.
I still read posts with a guy at 17 FEET with a .44. Ever think of a rock?

Some people (Me) think shooting a three pound revolver at 400 yards would not only be stupid, but incredibly boring.

Shooting at seven yards has far more relevance to me and is much more interesting to push my abilities in a way other than long range shooting.

Not that any of that will make any difference to you, BFR. Because you're insane. But I thought I'd mention it anyway.

Sometimes. On the dark days. I've killed more rocks than I can count. They haunt me.

Jim,

I too am a fan of John Taffin. The man is a wealth of knowledge and a real pleasure for me was sitting in his living room and discussing guns and reloading and, and...

I own several handguns that John has called "The Perfect Packin Pistol" and enjoyed discussing them with John. All in all an enjoyable visit. For a man in his mid 70's, John still gets around pretty well.

Rest easy my friend........ You put them out of their misery. That bastard Powell throws them in the fire!

Having grown up in the 60's, I enjoyed Skelton the most. Askins, like him or not, was a gem in his own right. Ross Seyfried has always written well and Brian Pearce has done a lot of good stuff. Mike Cumpston never fails to pen a good article.

Admittedly, I quit subscribing to gun rags 16 years ago and rarely buy one off the rack anymore. The tactical drivel and non-shooting reviews finally wore me out.

I am jealous.

I live a scant half mile form his house, and have yet to meet the man. Though I have met his brothers.

I am not one to intrude upon a man's privacy and go knocking on his door.

My kids and grandkids have gone to school with the Pierce boys. And I have met a couple of the boys. Mom and Dad are doing right by those kids.

That is where I am. I got F&S dirt cheap and the hunting and fishing stuff is inane. I like the rag for the recipes in most issues. Handloader went to pot and so many others.
Long ago work was done for information and Ken Waters was best. Today writers work to satisfy advertisers.
Look at tests done now, $1500 scopes and $3000 or more rifles. Turn the page! Most of us will starve or sell the house to have one. An old beater savage can out shoot them.
There were good writers back then. Some are still kicking but after WHAT THEY WRITE WILL BE A FULL PAGE ADD FOR WHAT THEY USED. I could do with a $96 Ruger flat top and do not need a $4000 custom revolver.

A little off subject, but I hope that shooting handguns at long range is not the definition of insanity.

If so, then there are a bunch of us on this board. One of the most enjoyable shooting days I have experienced was with RJM busting badger mounds at 500 yds and beyond with our 41 mag revolvers.

An N Frame Smith can do surprising things. And even a novice pistolero could put any man in mortal fear at several hundred yards with a short bit of practice.

As for practical applications........I have a hard time imagining the need (for me)to ever shoot at anything less than fifty yards away.

Could be a matter of longitude.

That's just evil. About what you would expect from a Jack booted thug.

Idaho, I was thinking the same thing myself.. I shoot some at 7 yards defense targets, but it is more enjoyable to try and pop a jack or p.dog at 25-100 yards with my sixguns than punch a target.. I feel some close shooting is necessary if God forbid I would have to use my sixgun or pistol in self defense..
We shoot a lot of plastic jugs filled with water and rocks with our sixguns.. love it.. In a way rocks are better because you don't have to pick up the pieces..

No, insanity is BFR. He's kra-kra. I don't think long range handgunning is insane, it's just not something I'd enjoy.

I have a hard time imagining the need for me to shoot something with a handgun beyond 50 yards. Neither is wrong, just different strokes.

The only thing you've ever found is the "exit" of a psychiatric hospital, and i'll bet that was by mistake

That seems pretty ridiculous in my opinion.




Travis

I hear you! I could go for a $96 Roooger too!

Got to agree with this!

When I was in Boise visiting my daughter I contacted John Taffin (through a local gun & pawn) and asked if it was OK to come over.

Bottom line, if I lived within a half a mile of Brian Pearce, I would find a way to go see him. He has written some great stuff on big bore revolvers. However, just like the rest of us, he puts his pants on one leg at a time...

But it does take him longer. The man has about a 38 inch inseam.

long range handgun shooting doesn't have to make sense, it's just fun.. I was shooting a 115 year old revolver yesterday and got bored pretty quick. 100 yards isn't really long range but it was more fund zinging t hose in than a paper target in ten yards.

Bill Jordan

I like most of the current writers and I read almost everything I can get my hands on about every type of gun. My favorite handgun writer by far is John Taffin. I like his technical style and I really enjoy his philosophies about life. He is a Christian man and that part of his writing show through and has helped me a lot in my personal life.

Met John several times.. He is in everyway a gentleman..
I especially enjoy some of his articles looking back in time..

Bill Jordan, Border Patrol officer wrote " No Second Place Winner."

Maybe so but he has a mean streak and attacked me and so did the 1000 followers. I was booted from the SA site. I know Lee Martin and shot with him. A great guy. He wanted me back after seeing I was not lying. He never seen a revolver shoot like me and Whitworth did. I said "NO" I have ethics. Everything I have done is to advance others and I don't want butt draggers. The saddest ever are those that drag with no work of their own.

Frank De Haas.
I take guns apart to check out the designs.
When Frank did it, he saw more than I do.
We stand on the shoulders of giants.

Seriously... Elmer Keith couldn't handle what you shoot. PLEASE put the crack pipe down and back away slowly.