Mark Allan Hampton loved handgun hunting and he supported handgun hunting at every event possible. Mark was known by the firearms community as a writer for multiple magazines through FMG Publications. Mark traveled the world hunting with a handgun every where he possibly could and he took multiple SCI record book animals doing so.
Mark was not only a writer for FMG but he also wrote several books. Like many handgun hunters, his books were what got me to start handgun hunting a couple decades ago.
Mark’s passion for handgun hunting never wavered. He attended multiple handgun hunting events around the United States. One of these events was just one week ago, Handgun Hunter’s Competition in Newcastle, Wyoming.
Mark (left) won single shot division at HHC 2024. As always he was humble about his accomplishments. Mark was an amazing shot. Of the four years he attended HHC he always won at least one division with some of those wins being by a great margin.
Mark was not only an inspiration to me as a handgun hunter but an inspiration to my professional career as a gunsmith and now as a writer. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to build Mark several custom firearms and even had him reference me in some of his writings. When I retired and started writing more, him and I would bounce ideas back and forth and he helped me along the way as I got started. I am glad that I had the opportunity to influence him on acquiring the last firearm that I know he did a review on before his passing; his writings have caused so many other handgunners to acquire the latest and greatest out there, now it was my turn to influence Mark!
Following Handgun Hunter’s Competition Mark went to Africa.
Mark was doing what he loved, pursuing big game with a handgun on the Dark Continent. Mark passed away from natural causes while on his final hunt.
Mark Allan Hampton was and still is an inspiration to the entire handgun hunting community. Mark is the whole reason we are where we are at now as handgun hunters with multiple gatherings across the country. The handgun hunting community has a big gap in it with Mark’s passing. Mark was my friend and I will forever be grateful for his help and inspiration along the way.
Handgun Hunting Afield 
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