Jack O'Connor

[postoak]

Jack O'Connor was a bit ahead of my time (born in 1902, his heyday for writing was the '40s and '50s. About all I knew of him was that he was a popularizer of the .270 WCF and an avid mountain sheep and goat hunter.

Recently I picked up two collections of articles on hunting that he wrote:

"The Lost Classics of Jack O'connor: Forty Exciting Stories From the Pages of Outdoor Life" and "Jack O'Connor's Big Game Hunts", which, together, consisted of about 70 of his articles. Jack wasn't a great wordsmith, but to any hunter, these are really interesting -- and sometimes humorous -- tales.

It's interesting to see how attitudes toward hunting have changed since that time. It was quite normal for O'Connor to take running shots on game at 200, 300, sometimes 400 yards. He didn't worry about where he hit, he figured he could just keep slinging lead until he brought the animal down. (He was quite skilled at these shots.)

[Altjaeger]

I would disagree a bit. JOC was coming into his own in the 40's and 50's. I suspect his popularity was at a peak in the 1960s as the shooting editor for Outdoor Life and the 1970s as the original Editor for Petersen's Hunting magazine.

I am not sure who you were quoting there but as a former English professor he was about as much a wordsmith as we are likely to see.

[MOGC]

JOC also wrote several books that did quite well. I think you would have to be pretty critical to offer that JOC wasn't a good "wordsmith."

[Altjaeger]

JOC also wrote several books that did quite well. I think you would have to be pretty critical to offer that JOC wasn't a good "wordsmith."

I doubt many gun enthusiast have read it but I would recommend his first book, "Horse and Buggy West". It is a somewhat autobiographical story of his growing up with a single svhool teacher mom in Tempe, Arizona.

I remember one short passage that showed technologies change, but people don't. He told of being down at the livery as a young boy when a rented carriage was returned. The older boys were making a show of and laughing at the woman's footprints on the interior of the canvas roof. :)

[postoak]

Altjaeger, by the 60s, O'Connor was too old to do the kinds of hard mountain hunts that he was famous for. This is evident in his stories. He also had enough money to be making multiple trips to Africa. As a teenager, I couldn't relate to that rich, old hunter. I know he was quite famous then.

As for O'Connor's writing ability, that's my own assessment. He was a good writer -- for a gun writer.

[dave-t.]

I spent a ton of time in the library between classes going through the old Outdoor Life mags reading only Jack O's articles. Wonderful writer and shot, but he stated several times that the shots he took shouldn't be taken by everyone.

One in particular was a running shot at a lion in tall grass at 150-175yrds, with a 375h&h. It was a one shot and down hit, but repeated in the story was how he got away with a lucky shot on dangerous game, and that it should not have turned out as good as it did.

He also shot deer at 300+yds, in the wrong end on a few occasions. They were facinng the wrong way when he was wanting to shoot, and shot anyway. Not recommended.

Another one, he shot an elk at an estimated 600yds, 270/130grn, with a 6 moa dot scope.

I don't see how anyone could place shots decently at long range with a 6moa dot. That is a 36" dot at 600yds for an aim point.:rolleyes: 18" dot at 300yds, and that would cover up a whole lot of the deer at that range. Back then, getting a hit was good shooting.

[postoak]

He also used a lot besides the .270. I think he mentioned the .25.06, .257 Roberts, .7 x 57, 30-06, .300 Weatherby, .300 WM, .375, and .416.

[Altjaeger]

He also used a lot besides the .270. I think he mentioned the .25.06, .257 Roberts, .7 x 57, 30-06, .300 Weatherby, .300 WM, .375, and .416.

I would agree he may have done his most vigorous hunting as a younger man. I considered the 60's and 70's as his zenith as a writer.

Yes, he enjoyed many cartridges. His wife Eleanor was deadly with her 7x57 and killed an elephant with the .30-06 and a 220 grain FMJ. He was reported to have once been asked in an interview whether the .270 or the .30-06 was the better round. Reflecting a moment he stated he had 3 of each in his gun cabinets and that probably reflected his opinion..:)

[GF.]

Yep... He got 'famous' for advocating the .270, but mostly, he advocated using a round that didn't kick the individual shooter hard enough to bring on a case of the flinches. Which means, generally, lighter, faster bullets. And the .270 is about the fastest non-magnum going that launches a heavy enough bullet to be a useful all-rounder. Especially given the bullets available at the time...

That pretty well places the .270 at one extreme of the spectrum, and since Elmer had the other end staked out for 'slow & heavy' with 'overpowered' .45/70 handloads, for instance, well, it wouldn't have been much of a 'feud' if ol' Jack had settled on a 180-grain load for the '06, then would it? :rolleyes:
:D

Seems to me, though, that with the bullets we have now, a 165-grainer for the '06 is hard to fault as a middle-o'-the-road, 1-load-for-life proposition. Provided you shoot often enough to ignore the recoil, anyway....

[Bushman]

I nearly wore out Jack's book "The Rifle" from the school library when I was a kid. It didn't make much of a book report according to the English teacher, but it did make an impact on me early on. With Jack as the author of the Shooting column in Outdoor Life, that was a must read every month too. As a couple of 16 year olds, my buddy bought a .270 M700 and I bought a .30-06 Post M70 on Elmer's recommendation. My buddy's M700 always shot better than my M70 maybe because at every shot that stock design unfocused my eyeballs and clobbered my cheek bone like I'd been in a street fight. Elmer sold out to the advertisers when he told me that a post-64 was better than a pre-64. I've been holding an Elmer grudge ever since.

[Smokey]

I have always felt JOC was the most honest of the gun writters. I think I have read most of his books multiple times and frequently use them as a refrence.

[Hi Ball]

I very much appreciated the writings of Elmer Keith and his knowledge but Jack O. was my idol as a your hunter armed with a .22LR in the late 50's. I now have collected many of his works, even though for me reading was a real chore in those days and is more of a strain today. These will all be passed on to those who can derive much more out of Jacks works than I could.

He was very very good at writing and hunting and I for one am glad he shared his hunts, with those who enjoyed and wanted to take part in his world. He has my vote for being one of the top writers in the sport! Now as a young hunter, I knew someday I would hunt those mountains and go to the Dark Continent as well, dreams that people like Jack plant in ones mind for a life time.:)

[Pat Hurley]

I have read everything Jack ever wrote and consider him one of the legends. He was one of the few to tell of his missed shots. What he did with a .270 Win and Silvertip bullets (which he considered the best of his day before Nosler Partitions came along) were amazing. My only wish is that he could have shot the .270 WSM (mine shot a 230 grain bullet 3462 fps last week with pin point accuracy) and wrote about it. Good shooting.

[Altjaeger]

I have read everything Jack ever wrote and consider him one of the legends. He was one of the few to tell of his missed shots. What he did with a .270 Win and Silvertip bullets (which he considered the best of his day before Nosler Partitions came along) were amazing. My only wish is that he could have shot the .270 WSM (mine shot a 230 grain bullet 3462 fps last week with pin point accuracy) and wrote about it. Good shooting.

As i recall (and I could be wrong) he was not especially fond of the .300 WM and probably would have felt the same about the .270 WSM. Make it .007 of an inch larger and Warren Page would have fawned over it with todays powders.:D

[MOGC]

I have read everything Jack ever wrote and consider him one of the legends. He was one of the few to tell of his missed shots. What he did with a .270 Win and Silvertip bullets (which he considered the best of his day before Nosler Partitions came along) were amazing. My only wish is that he could have shot the .270 WSM (mine shot a 230 grain bullet 3462 fps last week with pin point accuracy) and wrote about it. Good shooting.

Of course you are being sarcastic. No .270 cartridge on the planet shoves a 230 gr. bullet @ 3,400+ fps. Right...?

[Altjaeger]

Of course you are being sarcastic. No .270 cartridge on the planet shoves a 230 gr. bullet @ 3,400+ fps. Right...?

LOL, and they talk about the 6.5x55 having long bullets. I am sure that fat fingers caused that reading of 230 grain bullet.:)

[MOGC]

Ahhh, I see, a 130 gr. bullet... I really wasn't thinking too quick or I would have picked up on that. Sorry for being overly picky.

[Hi Ball]

Hey MOGC.........YES, that was a typo no doubt about it as we all do make such mistakes now and then, me especially since I seldom proof read my type.;):D :D

[Chuck S]

Here's another Jack OConner fan. I've read most of his books and articles and rate him as one of the all time best outdoor writer/hunters. He sure had a way with a tale that still rings true today.

[Lumox]

If your ever in Lewiston Idaho stop in at the Jack OConnor center in Hells Gate State Park, on display you will find Jacks trophy collection. Animals he took from all over the world. One in particular scared the krap out of me, a lion so real and posed as if it is about to pounce on ya. Entry is free but donations are appreciated.