Shooting a horse, to test the power of your Rifle?

Might want to take a look at this: http://www.thegunzone.com/strasbourg.html

I think you're referring to the "Thompson/La Garde Test" from which they settled on a .45 caliber weapon (prior to the adoption of the 1911). I can't find the exact details right now, but I believe they did shoot live animals (among other things) in the process.

Back not even long ago, they'd shoot goats and sheep to doctor up.

Back in "those" tests, they found that a 3" ball worked about the best. That went through the animal and it died very quickly.

I'd imagine that after the first test, it would be just beating a dead horse.

Or choosing the least weevil!!!

The term "BBQ gun" came to be. And all was good and tasty.

The Samurai had "three body blades" and we have "five horsemen of the paco lips".
Well, that's not even funny.
Happy cinco de mayo/drinking day!

Post #4 is correct, there is almost a whole chapter about those tests in "The Gun" by C.J Chivers. Kinda goes without saying, but I recommend the book.

Certaindeaf said:

The Samurai had "three body blades" and we have "five horsemen of the paco lips".
Well, that's not even funny.
Happy cinco de mayo/drinking day!

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cinco de mayo is the 5th....lol

Hello,
I can't remember where but I seem to remember that the Tsarist Russian 1895 Nagant revolver was required to prove that it could make a one shot kill on a horse at 35". I am still looking for the article. At time of testing, pre 1900, this was easily tested by using a horse with problems or using a healthy one that was going to be butchered for dinner. Remember this was a Russian army requierment listed prior to 1895. This gun is sold as a C&R now and russian ammo is available. Condition of revolver is pretty good and ammo price is variable. Best work around I have found is using 32-20 brass resized through a special set of Lee dies. It is accurate, built like a tank and about $100. After all this time they still work well, Ivan was never a fool.

blindhari

I was once ask to shoot a bull that had got out and become very wild .... difficult to get within 200 yds of the animal. I declined as I wasn't sure I had enough rifle to put in down, wasn't sure where to shoot it, didn't want to shoot it anyway!

I had to shoot my wife's favorite horse who had been hit by a truck, had a broken leg, was bleeding internally, and suffering badly. No vet available.
I used a .30-30 centered on an imaginary X on the forehead drawn from each ear to the opposite eye. It worked as you would want it to.
One of the sadder days of my life.

Tinpig

thedriver101 said:

I think you're referring to the "Thompson/La Garde Test" from which they settled on a .45 caliber weapon (prior to the adoption of the 1911). I can't find the exact details right now, but I believe they did shoot live animals (among other things) in the process.

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Yes I had heard of it as well

http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/history/background.htm


Sent from my 300 baud modem

Actually Price Per Pound, Sheep cost the most at over 4.00 per lb.

When faced with one of these occassional unpleasantries I always puck one of my .45's and a well placed Gold Dot always does the job quickly. For a bull at 200 yds, I would undoubtedly pick my 30.06 with a good rest. 7mag or .300 mag would also be a good choice.

I have put down horses using a 357, aiming for the center of an x of the animal's ears and eyes. Works rather quickly.

I've only had to shoot a dog.
My dog.
And it broke my heart.
But the .45acp did it's job.
I realize there's a huge difference between a dog and a horse however.
But the dog weighed in at 135lbs.
That's pretty close to human weight in some cases.

"my horse broke his leg and I had to shoot him. Now, he's got a broke leg and a bullet wound. If he don't get better quick, I'm gonna shoot him again."

Anybody else hear Larry the Cable Guy saying the words when they read em?
Just me?
Ok, nevermind......

In my ramblings I've heard the SAA .45 Colt was a respected horse-downer. I'ts very little realized how in a running battle how advantageous it was to shoot your opponent's horse. The word I've heard is that the Long Colt was a fairly effective sidearm with the power to down a horse.

I've also heard, can't confirm, that in the century old trials of the 1911 that it may have been tried upon an equestrian example.

In my first long-time job, in the eighties, the plant manager was elderly and in rare moments of camaraderie, mentioned his still seething hatred of being trained, in the post WWI era, to ensure the horse pulling the gun was first fitted with its gas mask. He didn't hate the horses, but still complained the realization a horse was the more valuable warm body anywhere near the front line.

poor animals,when politicians would have been much cheaper

poor animals,when politicians would have been much cheaper

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that's going to be highly dependent on whether lawyers are involved...but likely you are still correct