Javelina With A Belly Gun

Almost 25 years ago when the Sixgunner.Com website was going, we had Gary Reeder build 20 Sixgunner.Com Specials.

I decided to take it for Javelina in Arizona's Handgun, Archery & Muzzleloading Season and started practicing with the little pistol every day. On the days that I could not actually fire it I dry-fired. My practice consisted of pulling the gun up, catching the front sight and squeezing the trigger while holding the sights steady. For dry-fire practice I used a 1" aiming point at about 15 feet. On the range I shot bowling pins and paper targets at ranges to 25 yards. All shooting was practiced using a 2-hand hold. I also practiced thumbing the hammer rapidly for a second or third shot. Practice like you shoot. Shoot like you practice. In the end it pays off.

The second day of the hunt I climbed up into hills and saw a group of 4 or 5 hunters about a mile away on the other side of the canyon in the direction I was heading. I watched them work their way down into the canyon as I moved in that direction. About a half hour later gunfire began racketing out of the canyon and as I watched I could see the shape of pigs running across the canyon in my direction. It was a quarter mile or more away but I could still see them as they ran through the brush. I figured the pigs would cross the canyon and come my way, especially since the cliffs were very steep on both sides. I was in a natural passage.

About 10 minutes later I began moving up around a hill in front of me to try and cut them off. As I came over the hill I pulled the sixgun and held it in my shooting hand, just in case. Coming around a point I was suddenly confronted by a large Javelina who had a younger, smaller pig running with it. At the sight of me the larger pig bristled up and began popping it's tusks at me. The distance was no more than 20 feet and the pig presented an almost perfect silhouette shot. I pulled the sixgun up and caught the front sight and fired.

At the shot both pigs ran directly away from me. I put the sight on the large pig and fired again. Then they were out of sight around the corner of a hill. I wondered to myself, "Did I miss?" ... but as I thought about it, the shot "felt" good. I replaced the 2 fired cartridges and then moved along the path they had taken.

As I rounded the hill I saw a large splash of blood on the rocks. A foot or two further and another... and another .. and another. I looked up ahead as I came through some brush and I could see the pig laying on it's side. It appeared to still be breathing and I did not want to spook it so I stopped and waited.

As I came up on it the pig breathed it's last. I got my camera out and set it on my backpack and took a self-portrait. I did not notice at the time but I did not get all the pig into the picture, but you can see where my first shot hit it. I took a couple more photos and then set to work cleaning it. I was using Cor-Bon 200 gr. JHP factory loads. The Limited Edition gun hit just above Point-Of-Aim at 25 yards with these. Both shots had hit the Javelina, the first being too far back, the second shot a better hit.

My practice at catching the front sight and shooting paid off. The Arizona sun was bright enough I could not see the rear sight very well. I shot instinctively, doing what was put into the computer, and it worked. Both shots were fired fairly rapidly. The ammo worked well also, the little pig going no more than 50 or 60 feet from where I hit it first.

The year was 2002. It seems like a long time ago. It surely was a different time