Give us your Ruger story - win a shirt!

[Build Well, Train Safe]

I have an old flat top Blackhawk my Dad picked up when he was a youngster. To proud of the gun to carry, I moved to a newer Redhawk. I carried my Redhawk for years while hunting in Alaska; a mere pea shooter back-up to my .338 Win Mag. If it worked for Dirty Harry's street thugs, I figure large game would be know problem. The differance is, Harry carried .44 Special loads, I did not.
So, moving on...no issues in the great Alaska outdoors, but the North Dakota hunt turned ugly. Yes, been to NoDak (and SoDak). Preparing for a hunt in the frigid NoDak environmenmt, I thought I would just carry my Redhawk so I could keep my hands in my pockets. Well, there he was, just at the break of daylight, he walked by me and stopped to graze. I aimed and fired. I hit him clean and he went down. I waited about 30 minutes and went to harvest my game, only to find him still alive. I did not miss the animal, only my mark. See, the .44 went right through both shoulders. He was not going anywhere, but a strategic head shot was necessary to finish thne job.
The Redhawk performed exactly as designed. The Trigger Actuator Nut needed serious adjusting on his ammunition selection.

[Mig214]

       I had never been a rifle shooter. So last year during my birthday week I took the Precision Hunting Rifle Course up at the SigArms Academy (I know, just before it became the SigSauer Academy). Well needless to say what a fantastically fun course!!! But they left off the equipment list, the most important piece of equipment any novice rifle shooter should bring to his first hunting rifle course,  that's right a good shoulder padding system!!! So, anyway the only rifle I had ever shot was the military version of the AR-15,  and anyone who has will tell you not a lot of kick!! So there I am, happily stupid as George Harris puts me down behind the buttstock of a 308 R-93 Blaser Rifle. I'm sure all of you have figured out what was about to happen  I discovered why the 308 is such a good hunting cartridge.

      Needless to stay my shoulder got it’s ass kicked that first day. So, day two I left my macho manlyness in the parking lot and got some padding (thank you George for the bag of swatches). Continued the course but the damage had been done.

       On the last day I woke up with that funny feeling, you know, when you’re not really sure if your shoulder will fall off!! After reading all this, your probably saying um Mig214 this is a Ruger Story page, not ad space for Ben-Gay, so what’s your Ruger Story.
       
        Well, throughout the course you can try whatever rifle you want and if the other shooters bring personal weapons and allow you to shoot them that’s allowed too. The guy that I had been shooting next to for the entire class had a special weapon. His father’s M77 in .30-06, something his father had wanted him to have. I had been eying that rifle all three days, but dared not ask to shoot it. Murphy’s Law being what it is, I didn’t want to be the one holding the rifle when the engine fell off the jet, or the cow that got picked up by the tornado fell to earth right on that beautiful weapon. But by the last few hours of the class, I was saying now or never so I asked and was allowed to shoot it.

         From the walnut stock, to the machining of the action, to the placement of the Leupold scope that M77 was a piece of artwork, an incredible demonstration of functionality and creativity. Even though it was not My Father’s Ruger, holding it took me back to frequent father and son trips to the woods/beaches near our home. My father had taught me to be a man on those trips and holding that Ruger brought all that back.

          Standing on that line holding that M77 I thought what a great way to end the course. So I steadied it, took aim and fired. Freaken thing nearly killed me!! Drove back to the B&B where I was staying, left handed the whole way. Buried my poor shoulder in a shallow grave by the Lamie Inn. But all in all, what a fun course, beautiful area, and great intro to the different types of rifles out there, including that M77!!!

[tombogan03884]

Hey Mig214, Don't feel bad, I've been shooting for years and only learned about pads after 80 rounds from a surplus Mauser 98 in 8mm, couldn't lift my arm by the end of the day. Then I got a PAST brand shoulder pad you can put it on over (or under) your shirt. I had it on (under my shirt) the next time I went shooting with 2 of my "Friends" one guy told me the other guy had a gun to try, a Ruger 77 in .358, He handed me the rifle and 3 rounds, I fired all 3 REAL NICE RIFLE, 1 inch group at 100 yards but I was just putting head shots on a silhouette, not trying for real accuracy. Afterwords the guy who suggested it said "Wow, he gave ME the rifle and 3 rounds I tried it and handed him back the rifle and 2 rounds." Truth is it kicked like a MULE, but the pad kept my shoulder in its socket     I would buy a model 77, but not in .358 !

[DDMac]

Congratulations, Marshal'ette! Although this thread has been quiet for some time, and the shirts must be all gone, you personally prompted over 5,100 hits with your now famous PAGE 1 attention grabber. I assume Marshal did the camera work, and he obviously sees the impact your presence and input bring to the forum.

What I don't understand is why there are so few ladies logging on? I see lots at the Cowboy events and we sure do train more and more in our CCW classes. I always mention your site for any questions they may have after the class is over. Guess the gun world is still pretty scary for ladies. They just haven't met the single Gentlemen on the DRTV forum yet. And if I get caught admiring Page 1 again, I might be joining them!!
Anyway, take care and keep up the good work, Y'ALL.
Mac.

[Teresa Heilevang]

Thanks..

Actually I still have shirts. Some of my sizes are getting down to the short rows, but I am going to draw a few names before the week is out.

[Sponsor]

[DDMac]

That's great. Hope there is no repeat of the Hazcat size malfunction though. I hear his son finally explained it to him, and everything was fine after that. Still waiting to see THAT picture pop up somewhere, but don't tell him I said that. Love my shirt. Thanks.
Mac.

[Hazcat]

Mac...

I heered that!   It's actually all HER fault!   She put the 'note' to my son with the large shirt and you know how easily I get 'confusticated'.

[DDMac]

We all know who is to blame, but you have been very easy on her about it I think.. Time to move on.  Man!, you are EVERYWHERE! I'll get a report on Bobalu's soon, I'm sure. Thanks.
Mac.

[SIG229DAK]

Marshalette,
Heck, keep the shirts ....
an just post more self-portraits 

Psssst
Don't tell da marshal 

[blackwolfe]

Just registered late last night/early this morning akthough I've been reading the Michael Bane Blog for along time and occasionally lurking here.  I don't type to well and spent about an hour early this morning typing my Ruger story and iwhen I tried to post it disappeared, S I'll try any abbreviated story now.
I got my first Ruger and Handgun over 30 years ago when I was 19.  I craved for a stainless steel Ruger Security Six with a 4" barrel.  I had been reading gun magazines and catalogs for awhile and knew Ruger had a good reputation for their .22autos and Blackhawks.  Ruger was also affordable to me when compared to S&W and Colt.  Went to several gun shops and none had any Ruger Security Sixes.  At 19 I couldn't buy one from a FFL dealer anyway.  I couldn't find one from a private party either.  I resigned to the fact that I'd probably have to wait untill I turned 21 to get one.
A few days later I had a softball game and as I was walking to the field from the parking lot I ran into a guy I had worked with when I was 16 working in a fulll service gas station.  I hadn't seen this guy since then and we were playing his team that night.  We exchanged a few pleasantries when he asks out of the blue, "do you know anyone that wants to by a gun?"  I asked him what he had and he said he had it in the car and would show me.  I was filled with delight as he pulled out an almost new Ruger Security Six 4" barrel in stainless steel.  He had borrowed the money to buy it from his sister.  She wrecked her car and needed the money back as soon as possible.  We settled on a price of $120.00 for the revolver, box, two holsters, and the remaining 35 cartidges from a box of 50 that he got when he bought the gun.  I promptly named the gun Maggie.  He said I could pay him on payday the next day and took it home that night.
In Michigan you have to have a safety inspection (registration) done the local police department for handguns.  I proudly took Maggie to the police department the next day for the inspection.  When I presented it to the police I also found out that before you can by a handgun in Michigan you have a permit to purchase a handgun issued by the local police department.  I had been working summers, home from college, for my town's public works department.  I had gotten to know some of the local cops, so instead of being in serious trouble they helped me fill out the permit to purchase form and signed as references.  At that time you had to have the form notorized and they got that done for me also.
I was a newby to handguns and guns in general and the local cops were very helpful in telling me about the laws regarding guns.  Went shooting with some off them at the police range and they even supplied some ammo when I was shooting with them.  They helped me apply for a restricted carry permit, which is all I could get.  At that time in Michigan the only people that got unrestricted permits were judges, lawyers, retired cops, and people with money that the County gun board liked.
A few years later I used Maggie to repel a drug dealer that was roughing up my father in his garage.  I didn't have to fire, but I did thumb the hammer back as I aimed squarely at his chest.  He put his hands up and exclaimed everything was cool as he backed out of the garage. Since then Maggie has been there when needed including a couple of attempted break ins at the house.
Maggie has since been joined by a speed six, another security six, couple of SP101s, a GP100. and a few Redhawks.  Not to mention the autos, single actions, 10-22s, Mini 14, and others.  I did let a Red Lable slip away once. Maggie has never given me any problems and has had countless thousands of rounds fed her.  Maggie was my first Ruger and handgun and you nevr forget your first.
Wolfe

Marshal'ette, Those other guys are right.  You are something for the eyes to behold.  Hard to believe you have sons that age, let alone grandchildren