cloverleaf
Handloader
- Sep 10, 2006
- 4,397
- 1,056
Writing briefly to share about the passing of my wifes uncle. John went home to be with his Lord about a week ago. Back about 1987 I asked him to help me look for a rifle, as I wanted something in .25 cal and they were a lot more common back home in SD. He knew I needed something with minimal recoil. A 25-06 was not to be found at least in my poor mans price range. What he did find was a 93 Mauser in a Ram line stock chambered in 250 Savage. That original rifle was pictured in the photo below of Dad and I.
Any way, Over the next 30+ years I was Johns "guest" on several antelope trips. He was county extension agent in prime SD antelope country, and since he knew everybody, at times I had access to the "back pasture". John did a lot of that for many people. He would "sponsor" a hunter, some times just as a contact and other times giving up time in a very busy schedule to guide them as well.
One of those trips included my first success with that original 250 Savage. We had spent a day or two watching a small bunch of antelope that were hanging out in a big pasture. As they are want to do, once the season was open they stayed just stated out of range. This was back before range finders and "long range shooting". Anyway, eventually we figured out they were using a "cattle trail" to move from one part of the area to another. Dad set me up in range of that trail below a low rise, my back to some buck brush. Eventually a small buck walked over the horizon and slowly into range. When the 250 went off, I missed the heart but the bullet broke the neck of the buck and dropped him like a sack of cement. From that moment on I was sold on the 250 Savage. When Dad arrived, he said, "that worked just like they write it up in "Outdoor Life"! He didnt say it out right, but I know he was pleased with the shot. John would later estimate the range at "at least 150 yards". A long way for me at the time, and I think he probably padded the estimate and my ego. I carry that spent case in my pocket to this day as a memento of that day. John was behind the camera.
John was a very involved reloader. As I recall, that original 250 came with a box of balistic tips. A big proponent of Nosler bullets, he was forever experimenting, swapping and trading rifles that he would subsequently reload for. After Dad and my uncle Don passed, he was my go to for conversations on shooting and reloading.
John was an avid photographer. As such, there aren't many photos of him, since he was always behind the camera. This one I did find was of him and a very nice whitetail he took just a few years ago. Sorry for the poor quality of the pic. I may add more as I can find them.
Aside from the shooting, hunting and reloading, John also liked to fish. He was a great resource to his community through his work as extension agent, 4-H and Rodeo. He will be missed by many. CL
PS- thatnks all for your condolences so far.
Any way, Over the next 30+ years I was Johns "guest" on several antelope trips. He was county extension agent in prime SD antelope country, and since he knew everybody, at times I had access to the "back pasture". John did a lot of that for many people. He would "sponsor" a hunter, some times just as a contact and other times giving up time in a very busy schedule to guide them as well.
One of those trips included my first success with that original 250 Savage. We had spent a day or two watching a small bunch of antelope that were hanging out in a big pasture. As they are want to do, once the season was open they stayed just stated out of range. This was back before range finders and "long range shooting". Anyway, eventually we figured out they were using a "cattle trail" to move from one part of the area to another. Dad set me up in range of that trail below a low rise, my back to some buck brush. Eventually a small buck walked over the horizon and slowly into range. When the 250 went off, I missed the heart but the bullet broke the neck of the buck and dropped him like a sack of cement. From that moment on I was sold on the 250 Savage. When Dad arrived, he said, "that worked just like they write it up in "Outdoor Life"! He didnt say it out right, but I know he was pleased with the shot. John would later estimate the range at "at least 150 yards". A long way for me at the time, and I think he probably padded the estimate and my ego. I carry that spent case in my pocket to this day as a memento of that day. John was behind the camera.
John was a very involved reloader. As I recall, that original 250 came with a box of balistic tips. A big proponent of Nosler bullets, he was forever experimenting, swapping and trading rifles that he would subsequently reload for. After Dad and my uncle Don passed, he was my go to for conversations on shooting and reloading.
John was an avid photographer. As such, there aren't many photos of him, since he was always behind the camera. This one I did find was of him and a very nice whitetail he took just a few years ago. Sorry for the poor quality of the pic. I may add more as I can find them.
Aside from the shooting, hunting and reloading, John also liked to fish. He was a great resource to his community through his work as extension agent, 4-H and Rodeo. He will be missed by many. CL
PS- thatnks all for your condolences so far.
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