280PLUS
Member
This weekend I had the pleasure of meeting and shooting a few rounds with Cortez Kid. I was headed for my XXth ( 
) HS class reunion and darned if my path didn't pass right by his door. So how could I resist? We started out with a little .38 fun out in his back yard (I'm jealous of anyone that can just go right out and shoot in their back yard!) and then it began to get interesting! The next things he pulls out are a couple of Ruger Blackhawks in .44 Mag. One 7" and one 10" barrel. So we loaded them up with something mild at first but as things progressed the kabooms got bigger and bigger as we tried hotter loads. I'd never really fired a .44 Mag with a nice hot load in it before so I was pretty excited by the whole thing and finally ended up shooting them one handed with the hot loads. It wasn't bad at all. It actually makes me think I might want that lightweight .44 Mag S&W has in the catalog now that I've got a little experience with one. You would think that was enough right? WRONG!! The next thing he does is opens this blue plastic S&W case and pulls out the mother of all handguns. Yes, a S&W 500 MAG!! 
I almost fell out of my chair except for I was standing! 
So we banged off a few of the mildest rounds he had and it had gotten late so we ended there with a promise on my part to return on the way back through Sunday morning to which I happily complied. Honestly, the recoil wasn't too bad at all. I'd say the hardest part of shooting it was holding it up and on target. WHEW!! is that thing heavy and it doesn't seem to get any lighter as you're trying to zero in with it. Come Sunday we warmed up with a little more .38 and .44 but then it came time, I couldn't leave without popping at least ONE of the super hot loads he had for that 500. He loaded it with 5 and I was going to try it one handed first shot but we decided that might not be the best idea so I popped the first one holding on for dear life with two hands. WOW!! what a bang BUT still, to me, it wasn't all that bad so I finished off the other 4 one handed no problem. IIRC he loaded it again for me and I emptied it one handed again. The rounds make such a lovely "THUNK" when your dropping them into the cylinder. It's the sound of authority I tell you!! So you would think THAT was enough right? WRONG AGAIN! He had mentioned a rifle in .45/70 that his wife had confiscated from him and when he asked if there was anything else I wanted to try I mentioned the rifle and within minutes I was holding it in my hands. I don't recall the maker (He might interject here and tell us) but it was stainless and a lever action carbine type. Little tiny thing with a great big bark! His wife loves it which we all know is pretty cool of her. So I finished the day busting a few rounds out of that one at some full gallon water jugs at about 100 yds and after a few shots when I finally got zeroed in on them they blew sky high in a huge spray of water. Totally awesome, totally. Then, sadly, it was time for me to go and leave all those beautiful guns with their rightful owner, but with an invite to return and visit them again. I certainly can't thank him enough for what was an outstanding couple of sessions. The only part that wasn't so good is now I want a .44 Mag, a S&W 500, a nice 45/70, a...
Thanx again KID!!
) HS class reunion and darned if my path didn't pass right by his door. So how could I resist? We started out with a little .38 fun out in his back yard (I'm jealous of anyone that can just go right out and shoot in their back yard!) and then it began to get interesting! The next things he pulls out are a couple of Ruger Blackhawks in .44 Mag. One 7" and one 10" barrel. So we loaded them up with something mild at first but as things progressed the kabooms got bigger and bigger as we tried hotter loads. I'd never really fired a .44 Mag with a nice hot load in it before so I was pretty excited by the whole thing and finally ended up shooting them one handed with the hot loads. It wasn't bad at all. It actually makes me think I might want that lightweight .44 Mag S&W has in the catalog now that I've got a little experience with one. You would think that was enough right? WRONG!! The next thing he does is opens this blue plastic S&W case and pulls out the mother of all handguns. Yes, a S&W 500 MAG!! I almost fell out of my chair except for I was standing! So we banged off a few of the mildest rounds he had and it had gotten late so we ended there with a promise on my part to return on the way back through Sunday morning to which I happily complied. Honestly, the recoil wasn't too bad at all. I'd say the hardest part of shooting it was holding it up and on target. WHEW!! is that thing heavy and it doesn't seem to get any lighter as you're trying to zero in with it. Come Sunday we warmed up with a little more .38 and .44 but then it came time, I couldn't leave without popping at least ONE of the super hot loads he had for that 500. He loaded it with 5 and I was going to try it one handed first shot but we decided that might not be the best idea so I popped the first one holding on for dear life with two hands. WOW!! what a bang BUT still, to me, it wasn't all that bad so I finished off the other 4 one handed no problem. IIRC he loaded it again for me and I emptied it one handed again. The rounds make such a lovely "THUNK" when your dropping them into the cylinder. It's the sound of authority I tell you!! So you would think THAT was enough right? WRONG AGAIN! He had mentioned a rifle in .45/70 that his wife had confiscated from him and when he asked if there was anything else I wanted to try I mentioned the rifle and within minutes I was holding it in my hands. I don't recall the maker (He might interject here and tell us) but it was stainless and a lever action carbine type. Little tiny thing with a great big bark! His wife loves it which we all know is pretty cool of her. So I finished the day busting a few rounds out of that one at some full gallon water jugs at about 100 yds and after a few shots when I finally got zeroed in on them they blew sky high in a huge spray of water. Totally awesome, totally. Then, sadly, it was time for me to go and leave all those beautiful guns with their rightful owner, but with an invite to return and visit them again. I certainly can't thank him enough for what was an outstanding couple of sessions. The only part that wasn't so good is now I want a .44 Mag, a S&W 500, a nice 45/70, a... Thanx again KID!!
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