Hal Swiggett

Longtime gun writer Hal Swiggett, 87, has died in San Antonio, Texas. A gun writer for over fifty years he was an African big game hunter with over 25 hunts with a handgun only, a 30-year contributor to Gun Digest, Field Editor of the "North American Hunter" and Senior Editor of Harris Publications. Swiggett was included in the "Top Ten" Outstanding American Handgunner Award ten times, served on the committee that built the NRA National Firearms Museum and was an ordained minister. 
 
Hal was a good friend of mine. We worked together on a couple of Committees for the Outdoor Writers Association of America. Among other things, Hal also ran hunting on the famed Y.O Ranch in Texas.

What was his biggest African Trophy? What caliber handgun did he use?
 

I have no idea what his biggest might have been, although I'guess that one of the elephants might have been it. He used many different calibers in Africa, ranging from .357 Remington Magnum through .500 Smith & Wesson , with stops in between for the .454 Casull and .475Linebaugh. I know he took a buff with a .44 Reminton Magnum years ago.

Just joined this forum to further my knowledge about road food and stumbled upon this about Hal.   I first met Hal in 1979 at the Outstanding American Handgunner Awards Foundation banquet.  In 1987 I was elected to the board of directors and and Hal was elected Chairman.   In 1990 I was elected Secretary so I had the oportunity to work with Hal quite a bit.  In 1999 Hal presented me with his personal Ruger 22 auto.   Every Ruger of that serial number was assigned to Hal and with a son due to be born April 20, 1999 Hal made sure that he was going to get his first .22.   As it was Adam was born early morning the 20th of April, (I was due to fly to Denver on the 21st), I signed my son up for a life membership in the NRA and heard the news of the Columbine shooting.   By this time John Taffin had taken over the Chairman's job in the OAHAF and I was still Secretary.  Hal had stepped down but was still President and Ted Nugent was VP.   We ended up cancelling our banquet as did most of the NRA activities.  The gun was shipped to my local gun shop along with a letter from Hal.  We remained in touch for about 7-8 years and at the end, Hal was so overcome with alzheimers he didn't know me or John, Larry Kelly, J.D. Jones or any of us. My heart bleeds even today as my remember some of my last converstations with Hal. 
 
I'll have to dig out that Ruger and photograph it with the letter and post it.  Any shooter of worth will remember Hal.
 
Steve Wynn    
Columbus Grove, Ohio

Steve Wynn. What a surprise seeing you on here. Welcome.
 
You might be interested to know that Michael Stern, who, along with his wife Jane is the author of the Roadfood books and sort of runs this place, has been a handgunner and is familiar with a guy named Elmer Keith.

I met Elmer Keith once, in 1979 at the OAHAF awards. I have a photo of the two of us together.  I believe that he was in the company of Robert Peterson, chairman of Peterson Publications.  (Hot Rod magazine, Peterson's Huting, Guns and Ammo along with a bunch of others)
 
The OAHAF was where you could find EVERY gun writer out there along with the excutives of all the handgun and most of the gun companies.   Barb Kelly from Mag-na-port got me started getting the fabulous programs from the banquet autographed by all the nominees and I still have them.
 
Steve Wynn
 

The picture of Hal posted here and in the Obit in the San Antonio paper looks terribly familar.  In the 20 years I was either at or with  the OAHAF, I THINK I may have taken it, possibly the year Hal one the award.
 
Steve Wynn

Steve Wynn, the casino guy? (Guy, putting it mildly) Or a different Steve Wynn? If the casino guy, I love your places. They don't always love me.

Either way, welcome to Roadfood. Please comwe back often and enjoy the food.
 
Michael, thanks for the sad news about Hal Swiggett. I always liked his writings. Him and Skeeter Skelton were two of my favorites. Handguns have always been my favorite form of firearms. I prefer to shoot them more then any longarm I own. Working on my .44 Remington Magnum skills currently.

Steve Wynn


I met Elmer Keith once, in 1979 at the OAHAF awards. I have a photo of the two of us together.  I believe that he was in the company of Robert Peterson, chairman of Peterson Publications.  (Hot Rod magazine, Peterson's Huting, Guns and Ammo along with a bunch of others)
 
The OAHAF was where you could find EVERY gun writer out there along with the excutives of all the handgun and most of the gun companies.   Barb Kelly from Mag-na-port got me started getting the fabulous programs from the banquet autographed by all the nominees and I still have them.
 
Steve Wynn
 

I first met Elmer Keith at the 1977 NRA convention in Cincinnati. I was sitting at a table in the hotel with Hal when Col. Charles Askins and Elmer came by. They saw Hal and sat down. I just sat there in awe, enjoying the conversation when another legend stopped at the table. It was Bill Jordan, and he was with Sheila Link, who later became the first woman president of OWAA. Now that was a night to remember.
 
Are you still OAHAF official?

MikeS.


Steve Wynn, the casino guy? (Guy, putting it mildly) Or a different Steve Wynn? If the casino guy, I love your places. They don't always love me.

Either way, welcome to Roadfood. Please comwe back often and enjoy the food.
 
Michael, thanks for the sad news about Hal Swiggett. I always liked his writings. Him and Skeeter Skelton were two of my favorites. Handguns have always been my favorite form of firearms. I prefer to shoot them more then any longarm I own. Working on my .44 Remington Magnum skills currently.

It's a different Steve Wynn.

Michael Hoffman

MikeS.


Steve Wynn, the casino guy? (Guy, putting it mildly) Or a different Steve Wynn? If the casino guy, I love your places. They don't always love me.

Either way, welcome to Roadfood. Please comwe back often and enjoy the food.
 
Michael, thanks for the sad news about Hal Swiggett. I always liked his writings. Him and Skeeter Skelton were two of my favorites. Handguns have always been my favorite form of firearms. I prefer to shoot them more then any longarm I own. Working on my .44 Remington Magnum skills currently.

 
Still with that name I'll bet he has no trouble getting last minute reservations, anywhere!
It's a different Steve Wynn.

Nope, wrong Steve Wynn

We disbanded the OAHAF, registered trademark on the name, sold it and the rights to American Handgunner Magazine.

In the 20 years of the OAHAF I wish I had recorded or made notes of all the stories that Larry Kelly, J.D. Jones, Hal Swiggett, Bill Jordan, Col Rex Applegate, Col. Jeff Cooper, John Taffin, Ted Nugent, Harlon Carter and dozens of others told in our evenings together.  It would make a fantastic book.  If you think Peter Hathaway Capstick could tell a story, it would be a tough contest between all these people.  And fantastic people they all are !  Never got to know Skeeter or Elmer other than meeting them a couple of times.  I do have a great photo of Elmer and I together though.

Steve

I didn't realize you'd sold it to American Handgunner.

Sorry to hear about your friend, Michael.

mar52


Sorry to hear about your friend, Michael.

Thank you. I seem to be losing more and more of them lately.