Mike Venturino - from American Handgunner

[JimT]

https://americanhandgunner.com/news/pas ... venturino/

[rock-steady]

Sad to hear that. I liked Mike.

[Bill in Oregon]

Jim, that's a nice start, but I hope to see a lot more about Mike, his work and the influence his passion for the real guns of the Old West and the Great Buffalo Hunt have had on the shooting public. I had an early edition of the "Black Powder Cartridge Reloading Primer" that he and Steve Garbe wrote -- autographed by both of them -- and was a charter subscriber of the Black Powder Cartridge News years back. I recently gave my copy of Mike's "Shooting Buffalo Rifles of the Old West" to a young friend in hopes there is a deep and lingering infection ...

[Pat C]

I'm hoping that there will be a number of dedications made about him . I have many many of his articles in various magazines,trade papers ,and the like.

[Griff]

I first met Mike in 1986 at EOT when it was held in Coto de Caza in Southern California. After he witnessed my attempt at the long range side match with a .53 caliber Hawken, he suggested a cartridge rifle would be a better choice. Over the next several months we talked quite a bit about the various choices available. We also discussed cartridge options. As I wanted the rifle for both match shooting and hunting, I settled on a .40-90SBN in an 1874 Sharps. We posse'd together one year before we renewed our acquaintance in 1990 at the NRA BPCR Silhouette Nationals at the Whittington Center, in NM. I finished my first match as a firm middle of the pack "B" class shooter. A few weeks before the 1991 match he called and asked if I was attending again. He asked if I would show up in my full cowboy gear, and compete so attired. We both acknowledged that I really wasn't a real serious contender, and he knew I enjoyed all aspects of the guns and lore of the old west.

When I arrived, he told me he had an ulterior motive. He'd been asked to have someone available to pose for a sculptor for the New Mexico Champion trophy BPCRS. I said sure... but was very nervous. The lady sculptor took several pictures and was gracious enough to send me copies.

I believe this one was the pose selected.

th_sititing.jpg

As the 1991 match progressed, I had a protest lodged against me for the standing, off-hand 200 yard chickens. As part of my attire I wore a cartridge belt, that held approximately 50 or so rounds of ammo. The protest was based on the prohibition against wearing a back brace. As a match official Mike made the call that I couldn't wear the belt, and personally informed me of the decision; gracefully apologizing for having asked me to compete in my full regalia, including the belt, then telling me I couldn't. At the conclusion of all rounds, I found myself in a 10-way tie for 3rd place in "B" class. By foregoing any sighters I had enough rounds to survive 3 rounds in the shoot-off. Prior to 4th round shoot-off I asked around if any one had any 370 grain .410 diameter bullets so I could reload some ammo. Mike V. was also shooting a .40 caliber Sharps and kindly offered me however many bullets I needed and any primers, or additional powder I might need. He was shooting 410 grain bullets, that difference in weight, and the condition of my shoulder after 210 rounds in the .40-90SBN at 85 grains per had me declining his offer. I finished the match in 7th place, having run 30 pigs in the shootoff.

DSCN1583[1].JPG

That small trophy sits on my mantle as a reminder of that achievement and of a gracious and honored friend, Mike Venturino. Truly, a scholar and gentleman. He will be missed by many, especially this man. My prayers for his many friends, colleagues, and especially Yvonne.

Sorry for being long winded, as I'm sure others have stories to tell of their interaction with him.

[Bill in Oregon]

Griff, please feel free to be long-winded any time you want to! Thank you so much for sharing these personal memories. I never met Mike except in print. I am heartily sorry the glory days of BPCR seem to be behind us. I shot very informally at long range steel with a Trapdoor, but never seriously, with a Soule-sighted Sharps or Remington. Always wanted to.

[william iorg]

Sad news indeed. I remember pictures of a much younger Mike shooting .44 Magnums from his Ransome rest. That and his Love for the .308 Winchester.

[KWK]

Venturino had written about his wife's contributions to his work a while back.

[GunnyMack]

She did the photography for his articles as well.

[OldWin]

Sad news. I always liked his writing. He seemed like a straight up guy.
God Speed sir.

[Bob Hatfield]

I remember back in the early 80s (I think) buying his book (big magazine) on 22 Centerfires. That was my first exposure to his writing. He told of going to live in Montana and needed to make himself a varmint rifle. He said the guy's that lived there outshot him with their 270s and 3006s shooting critters at long range because they knew their guns.

Bob

[olyinaz]

I very much enjoyed his writings over the years, and this is sad news indeed.

Oly

[peter richards]

Very sad, I have enjoyed his writing for many years. RIP.

[LeverGunner]

I was saddened to learn of his passing. I enjoyed his writings from the early even unto the later stuff.