Fine memories of handgun hunting adventures with “Lorraine”

Tom LounsburyBucks n Bears, Friends of ELO, Gear Reviews & Recommendations

Cover Pic:  Author and his 1987 Thumb 8-point buck he shot with “Lorraine” on the first opening morning handguns were allowed for deer hunting in Michigan’s Shotgun Zone.

In 1974 I travelled to Williams Gunsight in Davison with the goal of purchasing a .44 Magnum Ruger Super Blackhawk revolver, having the intention of using it for big game handgun hunting adventures. I had already enjoyed hunting rabbits and squirrels with a Colt .22 single-action revolver and was hoping to take a step up for bigger game animals, such as deer and black bear.

I soon found myself examining a .44 Magnum Super Blackhawk, which is a dandy revolver. However, another Ruger Blackhawk, in .45 Colt, caught my eye. Although I have big paws, the smaller (than the Super Blackhawk) grip melded perfectly into my hand, just like the Colt .22 revolver. Having a 7 ½ inch barrel, it possessed the perfect balance, was love at first sight, and we’ve been together ever since! For whatever reason I automatically dubbed the fine revolver “Lorraine”, which I do sometimes with hunting arms, because my beloved longbow of many seasons is named “Henrietta”. Nope, folks, I don’t know where the names come from, they just pop out and seem to naturally fit.

In those days, there wasn’t much selection of .45 Colt ammunition, and I ventured into reloading for my trusty revolver. The Ruger Blackhawks are stout affairs, and I got into some “beefy” loads which were a delight to shoot. There is no question in my mind that the .45 Colt round can readily hold its own in “wallop-power” with the .44 Magnum, and in some cases, even exceed it. It is also an inherently accurate round. However, other than targets and local woodchucks, that was the extent of my field experience for the next decade.

Lorraine after a Mag-Na-Port “facelift”, including custom caribou-antler grips.

During the mid-1980’s, I had gotten into outdoor writing and had the wonderful opportunity to meet and do an interview with legendary handgun hunter Larry Kelly. I had long admired his articles and ads in outdoor magazines, featuring him bagging everything from whitetails to African elephants with a handgun. Larry did this not only to promote his Michigan based Mag-Na-Port International business (which ports gun barrels to manage recoil, as well as fully customizing firearms), but also to promote handgun hunting in general (the Handgun Hunting Hall of Fame is located at the Mag-Na-Port facility). I also met Larry’s son, Ken Kelly, who grew up in the family business, and is an award-winning gunsmith.

I began the process of customizing Lorraine, and upon Larry Kelly’s recommendation, I would start with just the basics, which were porting the barrel, trigger-work (for a crisp 3-pound pull) and better sights. The original sights were bulky “partridge” type, and I went with low profile express sights, featuring a fine bead, which I absolutely loved for quick and accurate target acquisition.

What put me into the “customizing” mode at that time was a movement, which I fully supported, to legalize repeating handguns, .35 caliber or larger, using a straight-wall cartridge case, for deer hunting in southern Michigan’s “shotgun zone”. Much to my delight, it would soon come into fruition, and I was more than ready and waiting for that first opening morning in 1987, which found me using a compass and flashlight to locate a specific huge birch tree in a dense cedar swamp. I was quite happy that my holstered revolver allowed both hands to be free in negotiating through such a maze.

I soon found myself seated at the base of the ancient large birch, with unholstered Lorraine resting in my lap, when the first rays of dawn began streaking the sky. This was a favorite spot of mine which had already provided some opening morning bucks but entails very intense cover where shots often require “threading the needle”. Shortly after daybreak, I picked up the motion of a fast-approaching deer, which turned out to be a large doe. I had Lorraine in a solid two-handed grip resting on my upraised knees and was cocked and ready when the doe crossed a small gap 30 yards away.

Although I had an antlerless deer tag, she wasn’t my target that morning because the rut was in full swing, and I sensed by her manner she might have a suitor in tow, which happened to be the case, because another deer wasn’t far behind. I noticed some respectable ivory on top of this deer’s head and was ready for him to hit that gap for a clear, unobstructed shot.

Everything felt right as the buck briefly appeared fully in sight and I touched the trigger. When the 300 grain Hornady bullet passed completely through both shoulders, his frontend folded right up while the hind legs gave a final thrust of momentum which had him landing headfirst with his nose plowing a furrow through dead leaves. I had just bagged my first deer with a handgun, and needless to say, folks, I was fully smitten with this form of deer hunting. The buck turned out to be a dandy 8-pointer and it was a moment in time I will never forget.

Lorraine with all the necessary accoutrements required for handgun hunting. All the leather holsters fit Lorraine like a glove and are worn in the cross-draw mode for easier access while seated, kneeling or stalking.

Time catches up to you, and your pet handgun as well, and when my “owl-eyes” in lowlight conditions took a hike causing difficulty in seeing the fine-bead front sight, as well as I could tell certain revolver parts were becoming worn, I sent Lorraine to Mag-Na-Port for some rejuvenation. Ken Kelly worked his usual artistic magic and not only tuned up matters, but my revolver’s exterior also took on a whole new two-toned silver and blue blend making it real “purty”. Ken Kelly had also installed a rear peep sight and green Hi-Viz front blade sight which resolved my lowlight issues and proved to be quick to acquire and very accurate.

When a full handgun makeover occurs, grips need to be in the picture and the standard walnut was replaced first with rosewood, and then simulated ivory, but something seemed lacking. Upon Ken Kelly’s recommendation, I decided to go with custom antler pistol grips made by Patrick Grashorn in Wyoming. I had Ken Kelly disassemble my Blackhawk and send the grip frame to Grashorn’s Gunworks, and during a phone conversation with Grashorn I let him know I wanted “no bark”, as I prefer a smooth single-action revolver grip which allows the plow-handle design to rock naturally in the palm during recoil. Grashorn let me know caribou antler made the best “no bark” grips and that is what we decided upon. 

All turned out marvelous in my eyes, with the antler grips being a gray-streaked-on-ivory pattern which is custom-fitted perfectly to the grip frame and offering a very natural feel in the hand. As a final touch, I had Ken Kelly add a lanyard ring to the bottom of the grip frame, something I have long wanted to do, because a lanyard is a handy addition for certain hunting situations which keeps your handgun attached to your person (especially in bear country).

Holstered handguns allow hands to be free for glassing and negotiating rough ground.

Yep, folks, although I frequently field-test and hunt with other firearms, especially since Michigan’s Shotgun Zone became the Limited Firearms Zone, Lorraine and I still find time to spend together in the deer woods, just the two of us.

It was meant to be.

Tom Lounsbury
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