Today is the 5th anniversary of my late father's passing, so I knew I didn't want to spend it at work sitting at a desk... Nope, I just "had to do something special" today, or I think I would have regretted it forever... It was not a day to "celebrate", no, but rather one to "commemorate" the memory of the old man's (and I say that with all due love and respect) life and spirit -- by shooting several of the guns he introduced me to, and especially one that he himself owned and left to me...
So after a round of physical therapy for my ongoing rotator cuff tendonitis, my daughter's boyfriend (someday son-in-law, I hope) joined me at the local range. We shot over 100 rounds of 357 Mags each, his from the Rossi M92 that we gave him for his recent college graduation gift, and me using my Marlin 1894C and new-to-me S&W 686. Matt calls the 357 leverguns "plinkers for the big boys", as we were using lead RNFP reloads and busting clay birds out at 50 yards. Lots of fun! He also shot his Beretta 92 and I put 100 rounds though my S&W 32 Mags, models 631 (4" j-frame, stainless) and 6" 16 (6" k-frame, blue). Love those 32s. I didn't think to grab a cell picture of those or the levers though.
But I did snap a photo of the two Winchester Model 1885 High Walls that we shot. The top one is a relined circa-1910 in 22 LR, that has a half-round, half-octagon heavy barrel. With a "pin" front sight that I hand filed from a stock Lyman bead/post insert, I was shooting as well as the young buck was at 50 yards -- and he was using a scoped 22. The checkering on that one was done by my twin brother. I still shudder to think that my Dad had guts to let him do that job, but with the relining done, it wasn't 100% original anyhow. Then he did such a nice job, his next project was checkering the stock of my Marlin 39M Mountie, which came out great. The bottom High Wall is a made-in-Japan Winchester-marked (Browning/Miroku) in .38-55 that is a joy to shoot. "High Cap Matt", as I now call him ('cause he just got a 32-round mag for his Beretta -- "just because") had never shot any single shots before, but he really like those High Walls. And he was surprised at just how heavy they were. I think it helps them hold on target myself. Here they are... If you think of it, those High Walls really are "single shot leverguns", right?!? Works for me.
Anyway, my shoulder was toast by the end of the day, so I'll skip my exercises tonight -- all except for a 12 ounce curl as I raise a glass to the man who introduced me to the joys of shooting.
So "Thanks Dad", and thanks to all those who take a peek...
Tight groups to all -- and call/hug your fathers while you can.
Old No7
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