Success In The Field

With all of the recent posts of members taking game with their FA's (Randy), I decided it was time to add mine. Having only recently acquired my FA97 in 45 Colt with a 7 1/2 inch barrel I wasn't certain it would be available for this hunting season. Several things had to happen quickly in order to get it into the rotation, starting with getting a TSOB mount in order to mount some glass. I had purchased a TSOB for one of my other FA97s from SSK sometime last year, and while I could have pulled it off for the 45 Colt, I elected to purchase another. While I was waiting for the mount to arrive I sorted through my extra handgun scopes to see which would look right as well as be the best choice of magnification. I finally settled on a Simmons Gold Medal 2.5-7X in silver. It's actually a little bigger than I would like but should be okay. Without time to work up a dedicated load for this shooting iron, I tried the loads I had worked up for other 45 Colts in my collection. After a rough site in at 50 yards, I tried several loads and this one proved the best.

I ended up carrying it off and on for a few hunts before I got an opportunity to take this turkey. It was maybe a 20 to 25 yard shot, and it crumpled upon being hit.

I really like the balance of this revolver, even with a slightly oversized scope on it. In the off season I think I'll work up a dedicated hunting load and plinking load for it. Now if only I could find a matching one in 41 Mag(?).