I grew up reading E.K in Guns & Ammo in the 70's. I had just got paid my 2weeks vacation money and my regular weekly check from Kmart, I went into one of the LGS I would visit and as a joke I asked if they had a 4 inch Model 29. The Shop owner pointed at the counter. I gave him my 3 week's pay on the spot. I came back after the waiting period, picked up my 29-2. I was broke and spent the next 2 weeks just looking and cleaning that gun, without regrets.
Bill and Ken, you guys are so cool. As a young guy I still like all of the revolvers and classic 1911s... keep up the content, probably my favorite on TH-cam
Hello Ken & Bill, I made 9 hunting trips from Pa. to the Salmon River Country beginning in 1991. I hunted some of the same drainages Elmer did but never knew it till I read his book '' Hell I Was There ''. I visited the Elmer Keith museum in Salmon before they moved it to Boise. Shoup in a neat little place and had my hunting buddy take my picture in front of the gravity flow gas pumps at the General Store. From what some of the locals told me back then, Elmer was a living legend in the Salmon River Country !
While vacationing in Elmer Keith country with my family in 2003, we stopped at the little store in Shoup for a cheeseburger and chocolate milkshake, and I got my picture taken out front by the old glass-bulb gas pump. Wish I would have known that EK story then. I'm a big fan of Elmer, Ken Hackathorn, Bill Wilson, and S&W 29's. Cool story.
My great uncle was named Arthur "Red" Thompson. He lived ihn Salmon, Idaho at the time and was one of the co-inventors of the .357 Magnum round there with Elmer Keith. As a boy I grew up listening to his stories about working and shooting with Elmer and their adventures. I am so thankful for this episode. Thank You.
I got my Smith and Wesson 44 magnum's from Mel Rodgers who was a World Champion back in the thirty"s forty's and fifty's as a pistol shooter, got them in 1975,and 1976 by way of J&G when they were in Montana. Model's 29-2 6 1/2" nickel plated, Model 29-2 6 1/2" blued and Model 29-2 blued 4". Great guns they are...
Love this...it is akin to listening to two, that have been there and done that, reminisce about the glory of honor, good friends, fine arms and good stories. I LOVE being an American and our proud gun culture.
Awesome show! Whenever I think life gets rough, I think of what Elmer Keith went through in his lifetime... If you have never read his book: Hell, I Was There, then you are missing out on a fantastic piece of history. IMHO.
@@larryalexander4833 im a learning reloader under very experienced teachings. I love h110 in both my smith and ruger. 357s. Seems like my teacher has a load in .44 mag thats a 200gr cast wadcutter in front of blue dot that my 10.5 in Blackhawk loves. And enjoyable to shoot.
@@derekskinner2347 Cool we are always learning if we have a open mind. I use h110 but it's not my most accurate powder load. And I too have a 200 gr 44 mag load I hunt with. Around 1800 fps out of a carbine accurate out to 200 yards + . But I keep inside 200.
I gotcha. I'm confident with my ruger out to 100yds. Anything beyond that is test n tune with my pistol. I know h110 is .44mag in all its glory. I just haven't really bought the bullets to support the powder.
I remember a similar story, He was guiding some hunters and one of them questioned if he could shoot that big gun? I don't remember what type of bird was flying but without hesitation he shot one in flight and holstered.. LOL... Great Stuff Guys ... Stay Strong and Be Safe.... Enjoy the holiday !!!
I just love listening to you 2 !! I don’t know how many years well I guess at least 2 decades I have been buying products from Wilson combat. This channel is for me educational , relaxing and a true joy. Thank You
I had a buddy who owned a Mdl 29 once and I found out later he sold it because he was scared of himself. Breaks my heart that I didn’t get a crack at owning it.
For those interested, there's a LOT of "Elmer Keith" stories. One of which is that while going to town one day, his dad disparaged the handgun. Elmer's response was to pull his handgun out and shoot a running rabbit at a fair distance (story varies from 30 yards to 100 yards). His dad never, according to the story, questioned Elmer's use of the handgun after that. Another one is that he actually started experimenting with the 45 Colt. After blowing a few up, he wrote to the American Rifleman asking why. Come to find out, he was using 45/70 bullets in his 45 Colt (458 diameter vs 452). Their explanation resulted in his switch to the 44. And then there's the one where, as an inspector for the Army during WW2, he was sneakily checked for accuracy of the rejected guns (his rejection rate was higher than average), by having those same guns sent through his inspection line again. The rejected guns were rejected a second time for the exact same reason - without fail. And there's the one about his promotion of the 41 magnum "for police use". That one confused me for a while. Yes, the 41 is good, but why this one, after the success of the 44? Finally found my answer in some of Elmer's very first writings. He said that the 41 Long Colt was a "much, much, better fight stopper" than the ballistics indicated. Suddenly, his promotion of the 41 for the police made sense. Unfortunately, the ammo companies ignored Elmer's plan to introduce it as a police cartridge FIRST, and then follow that with the magnum. The ammo companies went straight to the magnum cartridge first, and it failed to gain the police acceptance that Elmer visualized. Consequently, the 41 magnum is a cartridge in limbo. Yes, lots of Elmer stories.
A few years ago I bought some old magazines at a second hand store. They were American Rifleman 1956 and 57. New Blackhawk 44 magnum had a suggested retail of $96.
History of Elmer, comes down to the stories. And of course whether one could replicate. My 44 - was offered for sale as an unfired Ruger Super Blackhawk. I brought my cleaning kit with me - and swabbed the bore, because there was powder fouling. The green streaks told me it was shot enough to mark the bore with copper. I offered almost $100 off what he was asking. He wanted his full cup, so I passed. A month later - he called me - and asked if my offer stood. I drove out to pick up the gun, but wanted to recheck the bore. He had stuffed a cleanex in it so you could not see the bore. That has been 41 yrs. Still have it, and it still breathes Fire. Oh - and at 20 yds, I could punch 12 ga hulls. If someone asked again, I could run a whole cylinder and go 12 rounds for 12 hulls. Cheers
When I was a kid we had a 4th of July celebration out at Salmon’s airport. Elmer was there telling a crowd of people about the versatility of the .22 long rifle. He tossed a potato into the air and shot it into two pieces with the rifle. He tossed up another potato and shot it in two and then shot the pieces in two. Eventually some of our more athletic guys started throwing potatoes high into the air to see how many times Elmer could shoot the potato pieces before they hit the ground. The man was a very skilled marksman! Always wore an ugly “ten gallon” hat and carried a pistol at his side just like a gun slinger from a western movie. He was kind of like a living legend and yet still just one of the local guys.🤗
I received an Ruger New Model Blackhawk for Christmas in 1984 from my dad. Been hunting with it since, taken white tail deer and elk with it. That gun has never let me down, I hand load my own cartridges and just LOVE it.
.44 Mag may not be the top of the muzzle energy heap, but the 250 grain LSWCs I drive to 1400 fps using H110/WW296 from my 6 1/2" M29 Classic, do anything I could want a revolver to do, all the while cutting clover leafs on targets.
Elmer Keith was my unknowing mentor. I was trapping beaver and muskrats at 13 and packing mules in a wilderness area by 15. Started reloading before I was old enough to hunt big game. His Keith type hardcast bullets hit HARD! I still remember the big ol "slap" when my .44 mag would hit a mule deer in the ribs.
Elmer Keith was an hero to me for hunting big game with a large handgun which was slow to really take off at first .. I have 3 books Elmer wrote , quite a person .. To this day i still use the bullets he designed for .44 and .357.... To this day the .44 /255 grain Keith SWC bullet i still load after all those years .. It's been great for me and other hunters and still is after my 56 years into the hunting /shooting sports ... Great history you guys ..
My dad gave me a Ruger Blackhawk 3 screw flat top in .44 mag made in the late 50's. It's built like a tank, hard as hell on the bare hands to shoot, and my absolute favorite gun to carry while hiking in the woods. The way I see it if the .44 is to rough on you took shoot then you should probably take up knitting or something else
I bought a Mod 29 with 6 1/2 bbl while I was stationed in Gernany...in late 73 for $205.50 though the Illesheim Rod and Gun club...it was the last one in the S&W bonded warehouse inUlm...which they were closing down...unfortunately it was stolen in Feb of 82..still have the tag from the post MPs...
The 44 magnum is the 30/06 of the handgun world. It does it all from elephant down to rabbit. Properly loaded of course. I own a Model 329PD as my 44 magnum. Changed out the titanium cylinder it came with and use a Model 629 stainless steel cylinder instead. Quad ported by Mag-na-port too. Love that revolver.
I own a 460 Smith and Wesson magnum revolver with a 5 inch muzzlebrake equipped barrel. Like the 5 inch barrel balance. And also have a 500 Smith and Wesson revolver with a 6.5 inch barrel semi-lug barrel.
I'm only 54 Years old but Elmer Keith was my favorite Writer and of course I started out a 44 Magnum guy . My first hand gun ever was a Blackhawk 44 Magnum. After many many years of shooting and unknown amount of loading . I shoot 44 Special about 90% of the time .
For people out there that shoot, but do not have a revolver, do yourself a favor and get a S&W (pre-lock) .357 Magnum Revolver. Believe me when I tell you, that you will never regret it. They are sweet shooters and can the ammo can be ramped up or down as needed.
Darn right. The first handgun i ever bought was a 4" 686, brand new, right after my 21st bday. I ourposely wanted the L frame, in order to stand up better to pmenty of magnum rounds. It is the last gun i would ever sell, and one of the most accurate guns i own. Ditto for the 6" M28 (N frame) that i bought about 22 yrs later. I have 2 K frame magnums also, mostly shot with 38 or 38+p, and some otheer S&W revolvers, but the 686 is my favorite.
great video,lots of history, elmer and the 44 magnum was and still are one of a kind,, i was born in salmon idaho, and still live near there, lots of good stories about elmer,, and its true,,,,,,he could shoot,,,,,,,
Worked 82 till 85 at the counter of the Sporting Goods store . Back then model 29 s were marked a Hundred Dollars over Retail and on Display . They were in Demand and people would pay the extra 100 to have one . You made a wise choice with the Ruger .
@@demandred1957 I bought a super blackhawk years ago with a 10.5 inch bbl on it and couldn't stand it so I cranked in a vice and sawed 5.5 inches off of it made a real gun out of it in my opinion if you want a carbine buy a carbine if you want a handgun buy a handgun nothing over 5.5 inches long for my handguns
@@jeffreyhershey5754 good way to ruin a fine gun.. I'm sure you could have sold it to someone that would have appreciated it, and bought whatever you wanted with the proceeds.
I didn't want the fuss of two 44 magnums. When they first came out with Dan Wesson an 8" heavy 44 magnum was at a gun show, it came home with me. Later a 4" light and 8" light were added
I lived at 117 Lombard street in Salmon. I would mow the yard for Loraine Keith every week. After I finished she would have me come in and write out a check in the living room. I always told her just seeing Elmer's trophy's was enough. I spent every cent on ammo to go out to the old National Guard range by the air strip.
Hello, I made 9 elk hunting trips from Pa. to Salmon and would always go to the range out by the airport to shoot my rifle, and I would always shoot from the bench dedicated to Elmer Keith. I fell in love with the town of Salmon and wished I had been born and raised there. I am jealous of the people that call the Salmon River Country home !
What about the .45 single action that Elmer Keith blew up. I think it was an original first generation too. You can actually buy the blown up cylinder. The problem was Elmer Keith used a .458 diameter projectile in a .454 bore causing an explosion. His obsession was getting heavier and heavier bullets to go faster. He purchased some .45 bullets for .45-70 and loaded them in a .454 bore which caused the pressure to spike. The single action army actually has relatively thin cylinder walls. The single action army was designed for Black powder pressures. A gun smith recommend that he should use a smith and Wesson .44 special revolver to hot load. And from there a legend was born. Dick Casull would actually make the .454 Casull cartridge. It would take until 1983 to get a commercial mass produced revolver out to the market.
I'm in the same general age range as Ken and Bill and remember many tales about Elmer Keith. Ken was spot-on about there being various opinions of the man. My favorite gunsmith met him once at an industry show during the cocktail hour. He admitted to me in retrospect that he probably would not have been so frank with Elmer had he not already enjoyed a few drinks. His comments had something to do with bovine scatology. Suffice it to say Elmer was not impressed and promptly turned around and left the conversation. In fairness to Elmer, my gunsmith had far coarser things to say about Charles Askins, whom he had dealt with on numerous occasions. I freely admit these men could out-shoot me on their worst days, and since we only have their version of events to go by, I am hesitant to claim they ever embellished the truth. I do wonder though. Regarding the S&W Model 29, Ken's experience matches mine, only by the time I could afford one, they were as scarce as hen's teeth. I ended up buying one from a fellow Air Force officer, a 4" blued version which I later had tuned. I finished off a 700 pound Waterbuck with it, using a custom 255 grain load I'd worked up for my one and only African adventure. I still have this fine revolver, but it is relegated to dispensing with varmints around the house while loaded with rat shot.
Out and out vandalism on Elmer's part, shooting guns while indulging in adult beverages, and gambling to boot. I would have loved to have been there to watch this. I myself carried an S+W M-29 while I lived and worked in Alaska. I could shoot it ok but now that I am old, I prefer more reasonable handguns. If I need a 44 mag, then I am going to want a Rifle.
I have a 329PD and at 26 oz the 180 gr bullets are more comfortable to shoot. I have a Galco chest holster for it, like a shoulder holster but centers gun on chest so you can use waders.
Thanks for the history :) Besides firing handguns in 22LR, 38 special, 9mm. I've fired the 357 (which stings my palm a bit), 45 ACP, hot loaded 45 Colt rounds with my 7-1/2" Bisley Blackhawk, and 454 Casull in my R92 lever gun (but not in a revolver). When comparing the 44 magnum, you've mentioned the other bigger magnum calibers .454, 480, 460, 500. Where does the .480 Ruger fit in, in terms of power, felt recoil, range, energy on target, when compared to the other big bore revolvers?
(1971) But being that this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well do ya, punk?
When I shoot my .357 magnum revolvers, I generally use .357 magnum. I’ll be 60 years old soon, so that might change later. While I’ve shot .44 magnum, it’s not my thing.
It’s really a shame that the supposed successor to the .44 Mag, the .41 Magnum, never really took off, especially considering it came out before the .44 got that push in sales by the Dirty Harry franchise.
The 41mag is actually a "better fit" in the S&W N-frame. The 41 is just that little bit smaller that results in much better margins in critical places like in the cylinder notches. I shot IHMSA around 1980 and a 57 would last much longer than a 29 with "silhouette loads".
I grew up reading E.K in Guns & Ammo in the 70's. I had just got paid my 2weeks vacation money and my regular weekly check from Kmart, I went into one of the LGS I would visit and as a joke I asked if they had a 4 inch Model 29. The Shop owner pointed at the counter. I gave him my 3 week's pay on the spot. I came back after the waiting period, picked up my 29-2. I was broke and spent the next 2 weeks just looking and cleaning that gun, without regrets.
Must've felt like a dream when you saw what he pointed at...
Mr. Keith and Col. Askins were prolific writers in the 70s. They are greatly missed.
I understand and you were lucky ! You’ll never regret it especially the 29-2 welcome
Still have it?
I can dig that...spent my $$$ on cameras and guns and been down that road many times, my friend...
Anyone who writes a book called “Hell, I was there” is a legend.
One of the best books in my library!
👍 He certainly is.
Great book. Was a present to me from my raised in Idaho dad.
Loved Elmer Keith’s caliber development notes: “The top strap and cylinder departed the gun, finishing up in the bronc corral.”
Bill and Ken, you guys are so cool. As a young guy I still like all of the revolvers and classic 1911s... keep up the content, probably my favorite on TH-cam
Hello Ken & Bill, I made 9 hunting trips from Pa. to the Salmon River Country beginning in 1991. I hunted some of the same drainages Elmer did but never knew it till I read his book '' Hell I Was There ''. I visited the Elmer Keith museum in Salmon before they moved it to Boise. Shoup in a neat little place and had my hunting buddy take my picture in front of the gravity flow gas pumps at the General Store. From what some of the locals told me back then, Elmer was a living legend in the Salmon River Country !
Elmer Keith there was a legend. So are those two.
Yes, there will be someone like these 2 talking abt. Bill & Ken someday. ☑☑
While vacationing in Elmer Keith country with my family in 2003, we stopped at the little store in Shoup for a cheeseburger and chocolate milkshake, and I got my picture taken out front by the old glass-bulb gas pump. Wish I would have known that EK story then. I'm a big fan of Elmer, Ken Hackathorn, Bill Wilson, and S&W 29's. Cool story.
My great uncle was named Arthur "Red" Thompson. He lived ihn Salmon, Idaho at the time and was one of the co-inventors of the .357 Magnum round there with Elmer Keith. As a boy I grew up listening to his stories about working and shooting with Elmer and their adventures. I am so thankful for this episode. Thank You.
.338-378 KT is one also to mention that later became .338-378 Wby .
I love 44mag/special as well as 357 mag/38 special.
I love the 44 Magnum, thank you Elmer!
Wheel guns is REAL guns!! God Bless Elmer Keith and all he did for us shooters today!
I got my Smith and Wesson 44 magnum's from Mel Rodgers who was a World Champion back in the thirty"s forty's and fifty's as a pistol shooter, got them in 1975,and 1976 by way of J&G when they were in Montana. Model's 29-2 6 1/2" nickel plated, Model 29-2 6 1/2" blued and Model 29-2 blued 4". Great guns they are...
Love this...it is akin to listening to two, that have been there and done that, reminisce about the glory of honor, good friends, fine arms and good stories.
I LOVE being an American and our proud gun culture.
Awesome show!
Whenever I think life gets rough, I think of what Elmer Keith went through in his lifetime...
If you have never read his book: Hell, I Was There, then you are missing out on a fantastic piece of history. IMHO.
Gunwriter Jon Sundra has written a book entitled "Hell, I'm Still Here". He has some good Elmer Keith, Jack O'Connor, and Charles Askins stories.
All the modern advances in cartridges and the .44 magnum still holds its on.
Full house load of h110 250 or 300 grain wadcutter will hold its own.
@@larryalexander4833 im a learning reloader under very experienced teachings. I love h110 in both my smith and ruger. 357s. Seems like my teacher has a load in .44 mag thats a 200gr cast wadcutter in front of blue dot that my 10.5 in Blackhawk loves. And enjoyable to shoot.
@@derekskinner2347 Cool we are always learning if we have a open mind. I use h110 but it's not my most accurate powder load. And I too have a 200 gr 44 mag load I hunt with. Around 1800 fps out of a carbine accurate out to 200 yards + . But I keep inside 200.
I gotcha. I'm confident with my ruger out to 100yds. Anything beyond that is test n tune with my pistol. I know h110 is .44mag in all its glory. I just haven't really bought the bullets to support the powder.
@@derekskinner2347 yes sir. With a pistol I agree . I have two carbines I hunt with . I need to get my revolver tuned in tho.
Elmer Kieth and Colonel Cooper my two biggest heroes
Hit the "Like" just for the Elmer Keith story...
Great story,of the guy at the Bar unknowingly, calling out the inventor/Father of the .44 Magnum!
Just seeing that gorgeous presentation/commemorative.44 Magnum was enough. Listening to two living legends tops it off. Thanks guys.
I remember a similar story, He was guiding some hunters and one of them questioned if he could shoot that big gun? I don't remember what type of bird was flying but without hesitation he shot one in flight and holstered.. LOL... Great Stuff Guys ... Stay Strong and Be Safe.... Enjoy the holiday !!!
I could listen to Hackathorn tell stories all day long!
I just love listening to you 2 !! I don’t know how many years well I guess at least 2 decades I have been buying products from Wilson combat. This channel is for me educational , relaxing and a true joy. Thank You
Thanks for sharing!!
So that’s where the “Shoots lights out “ saying originated 😄
This is the best entertainment/information about guns I have found and just wanted to say thank you.
That’s a good Elmer story. I also like the one about the seagull on the wing. 👍🏻🇺🇸
Nice. I have the Elmer Keith Commemorative M29. Wonderful revolver. Excellent trigger.
This is gold! I just don't understand how folks could give this a thumbs down......
Eilmer was an inspiration.
I had a buddy who owned a Mdl 29 once and I found out later he sold it because he was scared of himself. Breaks my heart that I didn’t get a crack at owning it.
For those interested, there's a LOT of "Elmer Keith" stories. One of which is that while going to town one day, his dad disparaged the handgun. Elmer's response was to pull his handgun out and shoot a running rabbit at a fair distance (story varies from 30 yards to 100 yards). His dad never, according to the story, questioned Elmer's use of the handgun after that.
Another one is that he actually started experimenting with the 45 Colt. After blowing a few up, he wrote to the American Rifleman asking why. Come to find out, he was using 45/70 bullets in his 45 Colt (458 diameter vs 452). Their explanation resulted in his switch to the 44.
And then there's the one where, as an inspector for the Army during WW2, he was sneakily checked for accuracy of the rejected guns (his rejection rate was higher than average), by having those same guns sent through his inspection line again. The rejected guns were rejected a second time for the exact same reason - without fail.
And there's the one about his promotion of the 41 magnum "for police use". That one confused me for a while. Yes, the 41 is good, but why this one, after the success of the 44? Finally found my answer in some of Elmer's very first writings. He said that the 41 Long Colt was a "much, much, better fight stopper" than the ballistics indicated. Suddenly, his promotion of the 41 for the police made sense. Unfortunately, the ammo companies ignored Elmer's plan to introduce it as a police cartridge FIRST, and then follow that with the magnum. The ammo companies went straight to the magnum cartridge first, and it failed to gain the police acceptance that Elmer visualized. Consequently, the 41 magnum is a cartridge in limbo.
Yes, lots of Elmer stories.
Elmer was the reason I got my .44mag. in the mid 60's.
Your talks are very interesting-almost like being a fly on the wall during a private conversation. Thank you again. I enjoy your talks!
I grew up reading Elmer Keith
Yep, Andy, me too.
Just a great video remember reading Elmer Kieth Articles in Guns And Ammo way way. Back ..
Best show on the net!
Dirty Harry is an example of a film where the gun is the actual star.
Amidst all this excitement you gotta ask yourself did I fire 5 shots or 6 ? Well do you feel lucky punk ? Wait I gots to know !!! CLICK !!!!
@@jeffreyelliott622 hahaha, awesome scene. Guy in the end wasn’t as lucky as that bank robber was 💥
Like many movies where the car is the star. (Smokey and the bandit; Vanishing Point; etc.)
Winchester '73 also is one of the gun is the star of the movie.
@@MrPh30 exactly! Jimmy Stewart right? I gotta see that one. He’s a great actor.
You had me at Elmer. Let us hope the Lehmi County Big Bore Revolver Shoot is a go this Fall. My 338 RCM came with 3 empty cases.
I’m very grateful that you two are capturing your knowledge on video for future generations. I really appreciate the revolver content.
A few years ago I bought some old magazines at a second hand store. They were American Rifleman 1956 and 57. New Blackhawk 44 magnum had a suggested retail of $96.
Bill I also want to thank you for all you have done and keep doing for us shooters.
Guns and Geezers with guidance. Nice 👍
Great video - thank you both very much!
The fastest 91/2 minutes I can listen to these guy's talk all day. Love these stories.
History of Elmer, comes down to the stories. And of course whether one could replicate. My 44 - was offered for sale as an unfired Ruger Super Blackhawk. I brought my cleaning kit with me - and swabbed the bore, because there was powder fouling. The green streaks told me it was shot enough to mark the bore with copper. I offered almost $100 off what he was asking. He wanted his full cup, so I passed. A month later - he called me - and asked if my offer stood. I drove out to pick up the gun, but wanted to recheck the bore. He had stuffed a cleanex in it so you could not see the bore. That has been 41 yrs. Still have it, and it still breathes Fire. Oh - and at 20 yds, I could punch 12 ga hulls. If someone asked again, I could run a whole cylinder and go 12 rounds for 12 hulls. Cheers
When I was a kid we had a 4th of July celebration out at Salmon’s airport. Elmer was there telling a crowd of people about the versatility of the .22 long rifle. He tossed a potato into the air and shot it into two pieces with the rifle. He tossed up another potato and shot it in two and then shot the pieces in two. Eventually some of our more athletic guys started throwing potatoes high into the air to see how many times Elmer could shoot the potato pieces before they hit the ground. The man was a very skilled marksman! Always wore an ugly “ten gallon” hat and carried a pistol at his side just like a gun slinger from a western movie. He was kind of like a living legend and yet still just one of the local guys.🤗
You 2 guy’s are true gentleman and professional, and more so legends also 🍸great videos as always SIR🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I received an Ruger New Model Blackhawk for Christmas in 1984 from my dad. Been hunting with it since, taken white tail deer and elk with it. That gun has never let me down, I hand load my own cartridges and just LOVE it.
Thank you - I appreciated the story about Elmer Keith's shooting ability.
.44 Mag may not be the top of the muzzle energy heap, but the 250 grain LSWCs I drive to 1400 fps using H110/WW296 from my 6 1/2" M29 Classic, do anything I could want a revolver to do, all the while cutting clover leafs on targets.
Elmer Keith was my unknowing mentor. I was trapping beaver and muskrats at 13 and packing mules in a wilderness area by 15. Started reloading before I was old enough to hunt big game.
His Keith type hardcast bullets hit HARD! I still remember the big ol "slap" when my .44 mag would hit a mule deer in the ribs.
Elmer Keith was an hero to me for hunting big game with a large handgun which was slow to really take off at first .. I have 3 books Elmer wrote , quite a person .. To this day i still use the bullets he designed for .44 and .357.... To this day the .44 /255 grain Keith SWC bullet i still load after all those years .. It's been great for me and other hunters and still is after my 56 years into the hunting /shooting sports ... Great history you guys ..
I loved reading his books. Great video thanks for sharing.
My dad gave me a Ruger Blackhawk 3 screw flat top in .44 mag made in the late 50's. It's built like a tank, hard as hell on the bare hands to shoot, and my absolute favorite gun to carry while hiking in the woods. The way I see it if the .44 is to rough on you took shoot then you should probably take up knitting or something else
I bought a Mod 29 with 6 1/2 bbl while I was stationed in Gernany...in late 73 for $205.50 though the Illesheim Rod and Gun club...it was the last one in the S&W bonded warehouse inUlm...which they were closing down...unfortunately it was stolen in Feb of 82..still have the tag from the post MPs...
Forgotten weapons actually fires Keiths first 44 mag S&W given to him by S&W. .
Always enjoy your talks and stories.
Thnxs ...
Nice to know about EK didn't know he started the 44mag. I Frist saw it in Dirty Harry..now I carry it in my Desert Eagle 44 Magnum
Thanks for these videos. Enjoyable and informative.
Worked at Sam Fowlers stockade in the 80s...met a lot of legends.....was the best job a teenage boy ever had.
Neat Elmer story. Good stuff.
Thanks for listening
Great video, thanks for posting!!
👍 for the story l do like my 44 ☺️
The 44 magnum is the 30/06 of the handgun world. It does it all from elephant down to rabbit. Properly loaded of course. I own a Model 329PD as my 44 magnum. Changed out the titanium cylinder it came with and use a Model 629 stainless steel cylinder instead. Quad ported by Mag-na-port too. Love that revolver.
I own a 460 Smith and Wesson magnum revolver with a 5 inch muzzlebrake equipped barrel. Like the 5 inch barrel balance. And also have a 500 Smith and Wesson revolver with a 6.5 inch barrel semi-lug barrel.
A record polar bear at that.
I'm only 54 Years old but Elmer Keith was my favorite Writer and of course I started out a 44 Magnum guy .
My first hand gun ever was a Blackhawk 44 Magnum.
After many many years of shooting and unknown amount of loading .
I shoot 44 Special about 90% of the time .
For people out there that shoot, but do not have a revolver, do yourself a favor and get a S&W (pre-lock) .357 Magnum Revolver. Believe me when I tell you, that you will never regret it.
They are sweet shooters and can the ammo can be ramped up or down as needed.
Darn right. The first handgun i ever bought was a 4" 686, brand new, right after my 21st bday. I ourposely wanted the L frame, in order to stand up better to pmenty of magnum rounds. It is the last gun i would ever sell, and one of the most accurate guns i own. Ditto for the 6" M28 (N frame) that i bought about 22 yrs later. I have 2 K frame magnums also, mostly shot with 38 or 38+p, and some otheer S&W revolvers, but the 686 is my favorite.
great video,lots of history, elmer and the 44 magnum was and still are one of a kind,, i was born in salmon idaho, and still live near there, lots of good stories about elmer,, and its true,,,,,,he could shoot,,,,,,,
Always enjoy gun guys videos. Often wondered if Bill ever thought about tweeking revolvers as he has with 92's and the polymer guns.
EK was part of a unique breed. I learned about him from another great man’s writings : John Taffin
Great stuff guys !
Again -- good talk
I enjoyed this video great job fellas
Thanks 👍
Great video, thanks for sharing.
Awesome! 👍🏻😃
Thanks for teaching us millennials what is worth knowing.
Because I couldn't find a 29 I bought a Ruger Redhawk to take into bear country. (1982) 20,000 rounds through it now.
Worked 82 till 85 at the counter of the Sporting Goods store . Back then model 29 s were marked a Hundred Dollars over Retail and on Display . They were in Demand and people would pay the extra 100 to have one . You made a wise choice with the Ruger .
I have had a 10.5 bbl Super Blackhack for a long time now, great gun. Just bought a 9.5 bbl Super Redhawk a few days ago. Can't wait to compare them.
@@demandred1957 I bought a super blackhawk years ago with a 10.5 inch bbl on it and couldn't stand it so I cranked in a vice and sawed 5.5 inches off of it made a real gun out of it in my opinion if you want a carbine buy a carbine if you want a handgun buy a handgun nothing over 5.5 inches long for my handguns
@@jeffreyhershey5754 good way to ruin a fine gun.. I'm sure you could have sold it to someone that would have appreciated it, and bought whatever you wanted with the proceeds.
@@demandred1957 they were cheap and plentiful back then
I didn't want the fuss of two 44 magnums. When they first came out with Dan Wesson an 8" heavy 44 magnum was at a gun show, it came home with me. Later a 4" light and 8" light were added
the classic n frame 27 29 () etc ,are still the best looking revolvers,
I lived at 117 Lombard street in Salmon. I would mow the yard for Loraine Keith every week. After I finished she would have me come in and write out a check in the living room. I always told her just seeing Elmer's trophy's was enough. I spent every cent on ammo to go out to the old National Guard range by the air strip.
Hello, I made 9 elk hunting trips from Pa. to Salmon and would always go to the range out by the airport to shoot my rifle, and I would always shoot from the bench dedicated to Elmer Keith. I fell in love with the town of Salmon and wished I had been born and raised there. I am jealous of the people that call the Salmon River Country home !
My favorite model 29 is my 10 3/8" silhouette.
Ken says, I always tell people. Ken is the i always tell people expert.
What about the .45 single action that Elmer Keith blew up. I think it was an original first generation too. You can actually buy the blown up cylinder. The problem was Elmer Keith used a .458 diameter projectile in a .454 bore causing an explosion. His obsession was getting heavier and heavier bullets to go faster. He purchased some .45 bullets for .45-70 and loaded them in a .454 bore which caused the pressure to spike. The single action army actually has relatively thin cylinder walls. The single action army was designed for Black powder pressures. A gun smith recommend that he should use a smith and Wesson .44 special revolver to hot load. And from there a legend was born. Dick Casull would actually make the .454 Casull cartridge. It would take until 1983 to get a commercial mass produced revolver out to the market.
Elmer Keith's was one bad ass dude 👍
I'm in the same general age range as Ken and Bill and remember many tales about Elmer Keith. Ken was spot-on about there being various opinions of the man. My favorite gunsmith met him once at an industry show during the cocktail hour. He admitted to me in retrospect that he probably would not have been so frank with Elmer had he not already enjoyed a few drinks. His comments had something to do with bovine scatology. Suffice it to say Elmer was not impressed and promptly turned around and left the conversation. In fairness to Elmer, my gunsmith had far coarser things to say about Charles Askins, whom he had dealt with on numerous occasions. I freely admit these men could out-shoot me on their worst days, and since we only have their version of events to go by, I am hesitant to claim they ever embellished the truth. I do wonder though.
Regarding the S&W Model 29, Ken's experience matches mine, only by the time I could afford one, they were as scarce as hen's teeth. I ended up buying one from a fellow Air Force officer, a 4" blued version which I later had tuned. I finished off a 700 pound Waterbuck with it, using a custom 255 grain load I'd worked up for my one and only African adventure. I still have this fine revolver, but it is relegated to dispensing with varmints around the house while loaded with rat shot.
Love my 454 casull
Out and out vandalism on Elmer's part, shooting guns while indulging in adult beverages, and gambling to boot. I would have loved to have been there to watch this. I myself carried an S+W M-29 while I lived and worked in Alaska. I could shoot it ok but now that I am old, I prefer more reasonable handguns. If I need a 44 mag, then I am going to want a Rifle.
Try .41 magnum. Easier on the wrist, similar power.
Get a 44 Magnum lever action, they are a hoot to shoot. I have a JM stamped Marlin 1894 in 44 Magnum, and I love it!
Great story!
I have a 329PD and at 26 oz the 180 gr bullets are more comfortable to shoot. I have a Galco chest holster for it, like a shoulder holster but centers gun on chest so you can use waders.
Awesome strory!
Thanks for the history :) Besides firing handguns in 22LR, 38 special, 9mm. I've fired the 357 (which stings my palm a bit), 45 ACP, hot loaded 45 Colt rounds with my 7-1/2" Bisley Blackhawk, and 454 Casull in my R92 lever gun (but not in a revolver). When comparing the 44 magnum, you've mentioned the other bigger magnum calibers .454, 480, 460, 500. Where does the .480 Ruger fit in, in terms of power, felt recoil, range, energy on target, when compared to the other big bore revolvers?
(1971) But being that this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well do ya, punk?
"you sob..."
I gotsta know...I gotsta know.....
actually at that time the 44 mag was not the " most powerful handgun in the world ".
@@Krobear 454 Casull in 1958 . Even though S.A.A.M.I. didn't list it until much later .
(1973) It’s a light special. This size gun it gives me less recoil, better control, like a .357 Magnum with Wadcutters!
Elmer Keith. He was big bore gun fan. the bigger the cal. the more he liked it. He did not like those speedy little cal too much..
Being a collector of insulators, that part hurt a little, but I enjoyed the Elmer references.
When I shoot my .357 magnum revolvers, I generally use .357 magnum. I’ll be 60 years old soon, so that might change later. While I’ve shot .44 magnum, it’s not my thing.
It’s really a shame that the supposed successor to the .44 Mag, the .41 Magnum, never really took off, especially considering it came out before the .44 got that push in sales by the Dirty Harry franchise.
A 41 Magnum is an awesome gun!
The 41mag is actually a "better fit" in the S&W N-frame. The 41 is just that little bit smaller that results in much better margins in critical places like in the cylinder notches.
I shot IHMSA around 1980 and a 57 would last much longer than a 29 with "silhouette loads".
Dirty Harry in one of the movies said that he only shot .44 specials.
A 5" model 29. My dream. The Henry Bowman special
San Francisco police inspector Dave Toschi carried 44 Mag 29 and the Dirty Harry charactor is based after him.