July is a word with several meanings. As a youngster and even today it is the month of my birth. July during my youth was the pivotal month of summer vacation. July too, was a breed of hound my dad had for a while when he was running fox, back when I was a big kid. July was also the name of a man who lived down the road known for his toughness and willingness to throw a first punch. July was the gateway to the “dog days of summer.” Too, it meant fuzzy headed whitetail bucks that lived in the woods behind my youthful home were once again starting to look interesting.
Years later because of the Texas summer heat I looked for ways to spend my Julys in Africa, particularly Namibia where July meant early fall, complete with near freezing temperatures in the morning. And if not there, in the Rocky Mountains scouting for mule deer and elk.
During the last couple of years, July found me dreaming of Africa rather than boarding a flight and heading to where kudu, eland and their kin roamed the Kopjes and Jess.
This particular July, I am resolved to read the latest C.J. Box book, one of my favorite authors and to start getting in shape for elk and mule deer hunts that are just around the corner starting in late September. I suspect I may be a bit late in beginning my walking and weight-packing routine, particularly since I have been making nearly daily treks to the Blue Bell Creamery, best ice cream in Texas and arguably the world. Those sojourns seemed to have added a few pounds to my normally not so svelte body. But it’s July and I’ll make the effort!
Recently while teaching a widely encompassing wildlife biology, as related to hunting, class at the FTW Ranch’s New Hunter Program I had the opportunity to meet and visit with Bret Vorhees, President/CEO of Taurus Holdings, and Mark Sidelinger with Media Direct Creative. Mark with his team do the PR/Media and the like for Taurus.
The three of us got to spend early mornings and late afternoons together while Bret hunted for an exotic doe, or an aoudad. While visiting I learned several Taurus guns are now made in Covington, Georgia as opposed to a few years ago when all were manufactured in Brazil. My first hunting experience with a Taurus came in the form of a 44 Mag Raging Bull revolver back when I was with Shooting Times and Handgunning magazines, where I served as the hunting editor. I used a Taurus to shoot numerous really nice whitetails.
Two or three years ago, I noticed Taurus introduced their Raging Hunter hunting handgun, a double-action revolver. I remembered too, seeing that gun in several magazine articles and it being awarded with several gun awards and accolades. Frankly, at the time I did not follow up on learning more. That was a mistake on my part!
While on the FTW, Mark Sidelinger, pulled me aside and showed me Taurus’ new Raging Hunter. It was a dark olive drab color, had soft grips that seemed like they were made specifically for my somewhat over-sized hands and would assuredly help reduce recoil. I swung open the double-action’s cylinder, made certain it was empty and nothing obstructed the 8.37-inch ported barrel. I swung the cylinder back into place, looked at the integral picatinny rail base sight/scope mount. Then pointing the empty revolver in a safe direction, cocked the hammer, placed a finger between the cocked hammer and frame and pulled the trigger, single-action. The trigger was crisp and not overly heavy. I repeated the process a couple more times. Leaving my finger in place so the hammer could not hit the firing pin, I pulled the trigger to “work” it double-action. Smooth and easy. Hmmmm!
About the time I laid it on a FTW SAAM classroom table, one of the FTW’s instructors, Doug Prichard walked in. “What you got there?” Before I could respond “Oh yeah, that’s an interesting handgun, really accurate! I helped Bret, Mark and Michael (as in Michael Bane of TV show Fame) sight-in two of those before you got here. It really liked Hornady’s 240gr XTP.” I did not say anything but his words reminded me nearly every 44 Mag hunting style handgun I have ever shot seemed to really like Hornady’s 240gr XTP loads for accuracy, and, I loved what the XTP did terminal performance-wise.
“Weishuhn, you need one of those Taurus Raging Hunters. They’re chambered in among other things 44 Mag, 454 Casull and 460 S&W Magnum, and I know you like those large bore guns…” suggested Prichard. I saw Mark Sidelinger smile.
As I write this, it is early July. Before leaving the FTW to spend the Independence Day with my family, I told my new friends at Taurus to please complete an order for me for a Raging Hunter in either a 454 Casull or 460 S&W Mag, knowing that in the 454 Casull I can also shoot 45 Long Colt, and with the 460 S&W Mag I can also shoot 454 Casull and 45 Long Colt in the same chamber.
Too, before leaving the FTW I also ordered a new Trijicon SRO red-dot sight for the Taurus Raging Hunter, which I intend to hunt whitetails and hogs with this fall.
I’m usually not one who names guns, but my new Taurus Raging Hunter just might be an exception. I’m thinking calling my new hunting revolver “July” as that will put a whole new connotation and meaning to that word. What do you think?
