Tundra Swan with a Hammer 10

Jay Oliver · 01-13-2019, 10:26 AM

I had a good hunt on Friday morning at Lake Mattamuskeet in North Carolina. I was using a zero grade 1882 Parker Top Action 10 Gauge #2 frame with 32” twist barrels. It was about as perfect as you could get. Three of us were hunting and a flock of 3 came in 30 minutes after we got into the blind and each of us got our bird.

I was shooting 2 7/8” Track of the Wolf brass shells with a hefty scoop of 4 drams of Goex 2f and 1 ½ oz, of ITX BBs. I shot first and my bird dropped

My 2 other friends were shooting 3 ½ 12 gauge autoloaders and were amazed at how effective my old Parker was on those big birds. The guide said it was the first time had ever had someone hunt with black powder and he too was impressed.

I was thinking of trying to write all this up for a Parker Pages article as that has been on my list for a while. It was a fun hunt in some beautiful country.

I am not sure what happened when I uploaded the picture, but double click for a nice close up...

TxHuntermn · 01-13-2019, 10:30 AM

Wow! How cool Jay,!!

Congrats!

Mills · 01-13-2019, 10:57 AM

Awesome

Kevin McCormack · 01-13-2019, 12:29 PM

I stopped by the taxidermist on the way home yesterday to drop off a duck that I want mounted and there were at least 3 Tundra Swans in various stages of completion; every one of them tagged from that area in North Carolina. Must have been some season down there! Never ceases to amaze me how huge and beautiful they are.

Matt Buckley · 01-13-2019, 02:06 PM

I am a believer in the ITX shot. I hand load it in 12 and 16 gauge for water fowling and have had good success with it. I contacted Ballistic Products about shooting ITX through my 10 gauge lifter with twist barrels that is choked full and full and they recommended against it. They recommended Bismuth.

Jay Oliver · 01-13-2019, 03:01 PM

I wish I had room in my house to do a full body mount of a swan flying and hang it with fishing line from the ceiling. There were a lot of birds and I wish I had taken more pictures. Here is a quick cell phone video to give you an idea of the numbers: https://youtu.be/qEzn0Kqksko

Matt, that is interesting what Ballistic Products said about ITX shot. I had "assumed" it was softer than steel and would be safe in composite barrels. Especially using black powder shells.

birddogdoc · 01-13-2019, 05:40 PM

Freaking awesome! Parker goals right there.

6pt-Sika · 01-13-2019, 05:49 PM

Congrats ! Im curiouse how these things are as table fare ?

Randy Roberts · 01-13-2019, 05:57 PM

Really cool. Congrats!!!!

charlie cleveland · 01-13-2019, 08:42 PM

love the storey of the black powder swan...and with my favorite gauge the old 10 gauge.....charlie