Hell, I invented the magnum! Tribute page. Thoughts, opinions, and excerpts from Keith’s writings, “Hell, I Was There”, “Sixguns” & more. Also, some gun history
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Reply to this post with a month and year (between Nov 1961 and Nov 1982) and I’ll give you your Elmer Keith “Gun Notes” horoscope advice.
Never cared for the smaller Weatherby calibers, like the 240, for large game. However, I’ve always held the 340 and 378 Weatherby cartridges in high esteem.
“Gun Notes” (November 1965)
J.H. Fitzgerald was an artist on the cross draw, and phenomenally fast under any condition. He held his guns and wrists close in against the body and aimed by body movements, usually shooting at objects to one side or the other, depending on which hand he used.
“Sixguns” (1961)
Elmer Keith retweeted
@MagnumKeith My teen son took this photo the other day. Thought you'd like it. Bought new in 1929 by the Father of Elmer Keith's Salmon, ID barber. It has brought down many elk. In the family now for 5 generations.
Of these 30 caliber cartridges, I’ve seen best average results over the years from the 303 Savage 190 gr, and the 38-55 in 255 grain. These two penetrate much better for any raking shot under average conditions in single shot or lever guns
“Elmer Keith’s Big Game Hunting” (1948)
If a cartridge is hard to extract, it indicates excessive expansion in the chamber, which suggests the chamber itself is bulged.
Time to replace the cylinder.
“Sixguns” (1961)
The 350 Griffin & Howe Magnum rifle offers a little more power than does the 35 Whelen, but at the expense of carrying a longer and heavier action, which in turn makes up into a heavier rifle for the same relative barrel length and weight.
“Big Game Rifles and Cartridges” (1936)
It is a wonderful cartridge, one I personally prefer to the 375 Mag. It is one of our finest cartridges for the larger game and has been used successfully on about all species.
I taught Lorraine to shoot during the summer of 1925. First with a little 22 Colt pump gun I gave her, then I graduated her to a 45 single action with full loads, and finally to the 1903 Springfield service rifle. She did very well with all three.
“Hell, I Was There” (1979)
