A retired Trooper turned me onto it. I've tried other disciplines over the years, from IDPA type matches to high power rifle competition. The one thing that's really turned me off in almost every one was the fact that there always has to be a certain element that takes things far too seriously and spoils the fun for everyone. From the guys who work the drive through at Burger King during the day, yet think they're a steely eyed pistolero when they strap on their space pistol for the runin' gun meet, to the hyper competitive types who constantly have to game the system.

Fortunately this group is the exception to the rule. At fourtyfour I'm one of the "kids" in the group. It's mostly older men with a lot of former and retired LEOs, I'm one of only two currently active LEOs in the group. (I don't spend much of my off time with other cops) We generally have a group of twenty to thirty shooters every night and we shoot in seven week strings then begin again. The system is very relaxed and it's really just an excuse to get together and make some noise. Shooting is done in a fifty round string of fire: fifteen rounds at seven yard, fifteen at fifteen and twenty at twentyfive, all completed in fifteen minutes, with a prefect score being five hundred. Shooting is done from a free-standing position with a two-handed hold. Any centerfire pistol is allowed with both iron sights and optics being an option.

Since it's hardly hardcore some interesting things show up on the firing line. A couple of weeks ago I used my recently acquired Model 29 with some full power magnum loads. Needless to say it was quite a show. I managed to score a 494 out of 500, so I dropped a few points from my 497 average but it was fun. The last ten or fifteen rounds were a lot of work! Some of the guys decided to go cowboy this string and are shooting single-action revolvers, so it should be obvious that fun is the operative word. All we're competing for are a few gift certificates from the range, so far I've managed to keep myself somewhere between first and third so it pays for itself it regards to primers and powder.

The retired Trooper that introduced me to the group is my main competition and he shoots a six-inch 27. However, he shoots mostly .38 wadcutters so when I show up with this one and some fire belching magnum loads it should get everyones attention.

Trooper, you dah man! Gamers will screw up any type comp. from pistols-shotguns-rifles. Shoot anywhere ,anytime to build and maintain the skills, scores will take care of themselves. Sounds like you guys have discovered a fun and interesting way to maintain a strict gun control policy ( a sharp eye and a steady hand) the only one needed. What were your loads with the 44 if I may ask? bobw

I've never been much of a group activity kind of guy, and gamers and hyper competitive types tend to make me cranky. I did rifle competition for several years after a severe wrist injury made shooting handguns uncomfortable for a time. An old boy I used to see at the range talked me into it. He saw me out one day with my M1 and approached me and I thought I'd give it a shot. (pun alert!) Typically at local and regional matches he'd take first place and I'd be behind him at first place loser. I didn't mind because I really didn't care, and he'd been doing it since the flintlock era and it was a pleasure to watch him work. It would aggrivate a lot of the other competitors when they'd be out there with their fancy shooting coats, gloves and widgets, and I'd show up with my stock rifle while dressed in a t-shirt and smoke them. Some folks just have no sense of humor. One thing my career has given me is a perspective on life, enough to realize that none of this stuff is really that important.

At one point I was invited to shoot with my agencies pistol team. I showed up at one practice and there were far too many young type-A personalites puffing out their chests for me. I never went back. This particular goup is really a great bunch of people and I'm glad I found them. I usually look forward to Monday night as my favorite time of the week. Everyone is very helpful to those who need it and very supportive when someone does well. So far there are several guys who are doing really well this string and they may just give me a real run for the gift certificate. I personally think that's great and I hope one of them stomps my butt, because if he does then he's really bringing on his A-game and that's cool. I got my nextdoor neighbor involved and he's having a great time. For a begining shooter he's been doing very well, and he says it's because of my advice. A few weeks ago he shot a 490 for the first time and I told him, "You know what that means don't you?". "What?" "No more free advice."

The loads I shot out of the 29-2 consisted of a 240 grain XTP hollowpoint over 19 grains of 2400, at a velocity of around 1350-1400 fps. I think I found that guns magic load right off the bat because it shoots it like a laser beam. My score of 494 out of 500 was solely due to my own fatigue as the gun sure can deliver the goods. I typically shoot a 1911 with a standard hardball type load, nothing hot. However, most of the guys are shooting light target loads of various calibers so I get chided about me "big boomer". I thought, "I'll show you guys what a big boomer really is." It was amusing to watch all the targets move every time I pulled the trigger when we were shooting at seven yards. One of the guys shooting about three lanes down from me later commented, "I could feel the muzzle blast down there!" It took me a few additional seconds between shots for my eys to readjust due to the considerable muzzle flash. After I'd finished shooting the member acting as the range master said, "That was so cool!" Tonight I'll use the 29 again but with a lighter load of a 240 grain SWC over 8 grains of Unique, those XTPs are too expensive to shoot every week!

Trooper, I also find the "hardcore" (in any activity) people (Type A personalities) to be very amusing. They all brag about themselves and their "abilities". They take all of this too seriously....IMO!

In the club I belong to, there are very serious .22 Pistol and Rifle Target Shooters, and we usually win the Western Mass Pistol Competition. But, I can't shoot a revolver or a rifle very good without resting on a bench. My bad shoulder (rotator cuff) prevents me from holding anything extended forward. So, I just do some casual shooting with my rifles and revolvers during the week (since I am retired), when nobody else is around. I tend to be a loner, who minds my own business.....and does "my own thing". I was never much of a "group person".

Since I retired at just at my 52 birthday, I get to "hang around" by myself. Most other people were busy working. At 60, I see more people "just hangin' around" and drinking "senior coffee" at McD's ! Bob

So true, Trooper. All of my shooting is done for fun. It is great to build up your skills, but if you taking competition too seriously then it stops being fun. I always have had more fun when I get near the person who is the type that we share firearms and try out each other's weapons.

If you don't mind trooper, I'd like to post mine:



Mr. Saxon Pig don't like the oversize stocks but that's the way she came.

Not at all. You can't have too many photos of the finest revolver even made!

Some days it just pays to get out of bed, congrats on an outstanding revolver.

Great looking gun. A wise man once said the value of anything is what someone is willing to pay for it. "The Holy Grail" would go for almost any price one would pay. Enjoy it.

When I first became a cop in 1968, I was introduced to Combat Pistol Shooting. The league we shot in was made up of all kinds of people, but there were only a few "jerks". Later, it became bigger and the types described above began to show up. I quit after a few years but the specialized training was valuable in my LE career.

Drop dead gorgeous!!!! Hope you don't mind, but I added your photos to the other ones on my screen saver.
Older Smiths are getting very pricey, but I still manage to find a good deal now and them.
Shoot that little jewel and tell us how she does!
Steve