In Memory of a Friend

[snert]

Today I prepped 25 fireform loads for my 30 Herrett. I obtained the barrel recently and mounted a 2x Leupold on it (given to me from a LEO buddy who no longer shoots). It is mounted on a frame purchased in 1989 for by my wife to me for our first anniversary. My dear friend Bud Morse helped me locate the frame and a 357 Herrett barrel which started my wildcat forming days. (Hence the natural purchase of a 30 Herrett) That 357 H took a pile of deer including my largest several years ago.

Sadly Bud passed away several years ago in his mid 90's. I miss him dearly every fall as I check zero on the old Herrett.

Today in the mail I received a Pachmyer grip and forearm as a gift from my son. These were Bud's favorite set up on a TC Contender.

As I built those fireform rounds I looked at the display of antique powders on my bench. Bud gave those to me. I shook the 2400 and lo and behold there was a touch left. I loaded 25 rounds in honor of my buddy to initiate the new Pachmyer grips, and to help me remember a man who I cherish to this day. I will shoot it in a gun given by my wife, with a scope given by a dear friend, with grips and forearm given by my son. Yep, I might be sentimental. But hey, I am blessed as well.


Merry Christams to all, and may your days be blessed.

Snert

 

[M-61]

There’s nothing like having a story or sentimental attachment to something you own.

 

[K22]

Losing friends is difficult. I have loss a few also but have great memories of our friendships.

I have Pachmyer stocks on all my pistols. I especially like their non-slip surfaces and their relatively economical pricing.

However, when I competed, I use Steve Herrett's custom-made stocks on my S&W Models 17 and 14. These stocks were ideal for timed and rapid-fire shooting keeping the hand in place for follow on shots.

 

[AA Ron]

Thats good stuff right there, ol Bud musta been a good one!
Merry Christmas,
Aaron

 

[Cecil S.]

Today I prepped 25 fireform loads for my 30 Herrett. I obtained the barrel recently and mounted a 2x Leupold on it (given to me from a LEO buddy who no longer shoots). It is mounted on a frame purchased in 1989 for by my wife to me for our first anniversary. My dear friend Bud Morse helped me locate the frame and a 357 Herrett barrel which started my wildcat forming days. (Hence the natural purchase of a 30 Herrett) That 357 H took a pile of deer including my largest several years ago.

Sadly Bud passed away several years ago in his mid 90's. I miss him dearly every fall as I check zero on the old Herrett.

Today in the mail I received a Pachmyer grip and forearm as a gift from my son. These were Bud's favorite set up on a TC Contender.

As I built those fireform rounds I looked at the display of antique powders on my bench. Bud gave those to me. I shook the 2400 and lo and behold there was a touch left. I loaded 25 rounds in honor of my buddy to initiate the new Pachmyer grips, and to help me remember a man who I cherish to this day. I will shoot it in a gun given by my wife, with a scope given by a dear friend, with grips and forearm given by my son. Yep, I might be sentimental. But hey, I am blessed as well.

View attachment 1723209
Merry Christams to all, and may your days be blessed.

Snert

Amen. Merry Christmas to you and yours. Sweet shooter!

 

[dellet]

First thought was,
just great, everyone gets to heckle me one more time.

Second thought was,
What I wouldn’t give to get heckled by a couple old friends, just one more time.

Thanks snert, enjoy shooting that pistol.

 

[snert]

Thats good stuff right there, ol Bud musta been a good one!
Merry Christmas,
Aaron

Bud was a WW2 vet who served in Japan. He returned to Dryden NY and bought a farm back in the 60's. He built a house and worked for the NYS Electric and Gas for many years. I met him in 1988 when I moved to NY as a pastor. He was "an old guy" who sat in the back row. Bud was "different" and eccentric, but he was 100 percent a gun guy. When I grew weary of the dumb shotgun only thing for deer up there he suggested the TC. I got a permit and he took me to buy it at the Creekside Gun shop in Rochester. We found the barrel nearby at another shop. The scope was purchased there too. (a 2X Leupold that is still on the 357H). He taught me how to make cases. Then he and PAtsy took me and my wife out for dinner.

Bud had a range in his front yard and I tought my kids to shoot there. I hunted on his farm. He loaned me a double Diamond grade M42 skeet gun to hunt rabbits! (I still want that gun!)
Over the years he retired, then spent long years visiting his bride in the nursing home every day when she developed dementia. He took to feeding all the lonely and helpless residents there until Patsy passed. Late in his life he paid for 1/2 of a Superior BR rifle I wanted to buy for my daughter. He called it his/her gun. He never shot it. He was a good friend with Ross Sherman, the maker of Superiors. He owned Ross's #31. After Bud passed away I found #1 at the Shooters Corner and now Bud's grandson owns the first and last Superior.
In the 30+ years I knew Bud I never called to ask if I could stop bye. I'd just drop in. Never once was I turned away. He fixed my gas pipes, rode around on back roads with me, talked guns, gave me 1957 vintage 3031 I still shoot (he bought a 35 pound keg and when he died there was still powder in it.) He paid something like 12 cents a pound back then. He would open his safes and say "Here are all the wine, Wimmen and song in my life". He always carried cash on his jobs and colloected up a bunch of guns. He considered himself a caretaker of memories. He knew every person who sold that gun or owned it before him and told their stories. He loaded countless rounds to give away to guys who were learning.
I remember the last time I visited him. We sat in his room at the nursing home and he looked out the windows and asked me about his farm, about my "lil devils" (kids) and talked about a few Ithaca 45's that he should not have owned back in the day that were likely still encased in a tub of grease and chained to a rock in the bottom of the creek that runs into Lake Cayuga. He was tired and nearing his end. The phone rang and he answered it with his usual "Start talking it's your dime" hello, forgetting I was there. I quietly left him as he gave his full attention to another friend and the view of the hills outside. I will always remember my friend in that moment, happy to hear a voice of someone else who loved him dearly.

I was asked to do his eulogy and funeral service and it was one of greatest honors of my life. I was and am blessed.

 

[jpjulian]

Today I prepped 25 fireform loads for my 30 Herrett. I obtained the barrel recently and mounted a 2x Leupold on it (given to me from a LEO buddy who no longer shoots). It is mounted on a frame purchased in 1989 for by my wife to me for our first anniversary. My dear friend Bud Morse helped me locate the frame and a 357 Herrett barrel which started my wildcat forming days. (Hence the natural purchase of a 30 Herrett) That 357 H took a pile of deer including my largest several years ago.

Sadly Bud passed away several years ago in his mid 90's. I miss him dearly every fall as I check zero on the old Herrett.

Today in the mail I received a Pachmyer grip and forearm as a gift from my son. These were Bud's favorite set up on a TC Contender.

As I built those fireform rounds I looked at the display of antique powders on my bench. Bud gave those to me. I shook the 2400 and lo and behold there was a touch left. I loaded 25 rounds in honor of my buddy to initiate the new Pachmyer grips, and to help me remember a man who I cherish to this day. I will shoot it in a gun given by my wife, with a scope given by a dear friend, with grips and forearm given by my son. Yep, I might be sentimental. But hey, I am blessed as well.

View attachment 1723209
Merry Christams to all, and may your days be blessed.

Snert

You almost made me cry.........

 

[AA Ron]

Very well said.
Thank you for sharing.
Aaron