Mr. Jack

troutseeker said:
You mean that Fudd, Keith?:D But was he not a revolver guy...
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Lol, yeah, that's the dude. He was a revolver guy. Also one of the world's premier big game hunters at the time. And one hell of a shotgunner. Figured real calibers started at 33, and the 270 was a "damn fine coyote gun". Can't say I disagree. Once you chase a moose 5 miles up a half frozen creek and then have to start gutting it on the side of a beaver dam, you tend to lose a little confidence in the caliber. But I digress. It's only premium bullets that have made smaller calibers into all around game rifles, IMHO. Keith wrote books on all aspects of the sport he was involved in, they still make a good read with a great deal of useful information. - dan
 
O'Conner thought that big game hunting with a handgun was a stunt. This was one of the few points on which I would disagree with him. He seemed to think highly of the 7X57, .270, and the .30/06 but didn't seem to appreciate the .300 Winchester or for that matter anything ending in Weatherby. The .375 H&H was his "heavy" rifle and his wife killed a tiger with her '06. Of course there are few hunters who would ever need more than a .375 but to my way of thinking the .375 is a general purpose hunting cartridge, not a heavy. He also liked semi-autos for hunting deer in the woods.
 
Jack "liked" a lot of calibers ... recommend a good read of his various books. Hard to find some of his texts... but try your local library before you start ordering from a book dealer or e-bay.

The Hunting Rifle, Big Game Rifle, Sheep & Sheep Hunting & The Gun Book (co-authored) are good places to start.


If you're ever in, or near Lewiston, Idaho ... be sure to visit the Jack O'Connor Hunting & Heritage Centre at Hells Gate State Park on the Snake River.

Jack possesed a Master's in Journalism from, IIRC, Missouri State. Widely recognized as the dean of outdoor writers, Jack was the Shooting Editor of Outdoor Life for nearly 40 years.

Both Elmer Keith & Francis E. Sell were his regular "opponents" in print ... it's lots of fun re-reading the potshots they took at each other in their respective magazine columns and writings.
 
Another gun writer that delighted in shooting down some of his fellow writers was Col. Charles Askins, I used to like his stuff too. None of them ever mentioned the writer that their critcism was directed at by name but we all knew who they were referring to.
Elmer Keith and Jack O'Connor were the main antagonists though.
 
Mike Webb said:
Another gun writer that delighted in shooting down some of his fellow writers was Col. Charles Askins, I used to like his stuff too. None of them ever mentioned the writer that their critcism was directed at by name but we all knew who they were referring to.
Elmer Keith and Jack O'Connor were the main antagonists though.
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Jack liked to infer that all the recoil that was absorbed by his "big bore"
fanatic associate had somehow also diminished his faculties (Keith) ... he often referred to Sell as "the backyard ballistician".
 
I have most of Jack's writings. He was capable of holding one's attention easily. When I was young, I doted on his stories and writeups in Outdoor Life, and couldn't wait for the next issue. As I have gained experience, I have made some of my own opinions, and don't always agree with everything I read, even from relatively "savvy" writers. But several very fine writers come to mind fondly. Jack is one of these. Regards, Eagleye.
 
Yes, his wife and kids did use the .257 Roberts. As mentioned he was also fond of the 7x57, .30-06 and .375 H&H. Interestingly he did not consider the .270 Winchester an "ideal Moose cartridge", but he thought it was great for Elk. Odd, as I think Elk are much tougher than Moose.

He also spoke highly of the .358 Win and wrote that its lack of popularity is a great mystery.
 
Boomer said:
......... He seemed to think highly of the 7X57, .270, and the .30/06 but didn't seem to appreciate the .300 Winchester or for that matter anything ending in Weatherby........
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I believe it was the lack of reliable bullet performance and meat destruction that turned him off of the 300's.

I believe "California" Roy Weatherby himself turned OConner off of the 300Wby. :D
 
1899 said:
... Interestingly he did not consider the .270 Winchester an "ideal Moose cartridge", but he thought it was great for Elk. Odd, as I think Elk are much tougher than Moose....
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Yet he took 11 or 12 Moose with the 270.

According to him, none of them ran away !

One thing Jack was abundantly clear on ... put a well constructed bullet.
suitable for the purpose intended, in the right spot !
 
beretta boy said:
Yet he took 11 or 12 Moose with the 270.

According to him, none of them ran away !

One thing Jack was abundantly clear on ... put a well constructed bullet.
suitable for the purpose intended, in the right spot !
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I was just re-reading "the hunting rifle" He mentions numbers of upwards of 15 Moose and most with 130 grain bullets.

As much as he championed the 270 I believe he held the 30-06 in the highest regard.
 
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