I spend my days working in the training division; my title is “range master”. Last Friday morning I met three retired LEO’s on the range. There were three of them, one retired city officer, one retired deputy, and a retired federal agent (DEA). Their mission for the morning was to complete the Georgia POST LEO handgun qualification course and secure another year of LEOSA carry credentials.

The morning was very nice, cool and sunny, a pretty much perfect day to be on the range. After a short class on “Use of Force” and a safety brief, we headed outside to get the fun part done. All three passed the course the first time around, with mid-range scores, 260’s out of 300, about 80-85% for the group. They performed like most retirees do, looking a little rusty on the draw, a little jerky on the movements, the indicators of what time has a way of doing to us all. No worries. I always allow this group to stay on the range and continue to shoot on their own. It makes the drive, about an hour for the closest and 1.5 hours for the long man, worth it to all. It also gives them a chance to bring along a few extra firearms to knock the dust off of.

As I headed off the range to complete the qualification paperwork, the retired deputy said; “Hey, I was wondering if I could qualify with a revolver too?” The Georgia POST Council requires retirees to qualify with either a pistol or revolver, or both. The qualification is type specific, not model/caliber specific, so any pistol/revolver will do. I said, “Yeah, no problem”, expecting to see some sort of IWB/J-frame sized/exercise unfold. Imagine the look on my face when the deputy pulled his old, and I mean OLD, Sam Brown duty rig out of his range bag!

Now this rig was a beautiful thing, well-worn black basket weave with a silver buckle, standard “Law Man” for sure. The belt sported a baton loop, a handcuff case so worn it had spots that looked just like brown suede, a double speed loader pouch, and a right hand six inch revolver holster. Nothing more…Nothing more, save a radio, really needed. The holster looked like a Tex Shoemaker, but I didn’t poke my nose into that too much. Resting in the holster was a 6 inch 686, good old Pachmayr Presentation rubber grips on the square butt. Again, straight “Law Man”.

The deputy picked up that old rig, swung it around his hips, and secured the buckle…..And that’s when it happened. I Saw It With My Own Eyes! He stood different. He walked different. His face changed. Not bright and cheery. Not cold and hard. Stern….”Seriously Stern” is how I describe it. He moved to the 25 yard line, made ready, and when those targets faced that 686 came so effortlessly out of that old holster, like sweet tea pours from the pitcher. Just tip it, and out it comes, every time. The old deputy double actioned that 686 from the 25 yard line all the way to the 3. Like a well-oiled machine, round after round, smooth and deadly accurate, on and on he went. Watching the whole thing, it was so amazing, at times I felt like my head was detached from my body. I don’t remember, but I think my mouth was open during the whole course of fire.

When it was all over, I walked forward to score the targets, but I already knew. I had watched every hole magically appear in the SQT-1……298 out of 300….99.33%. I completed the paperwork, still reeling over what I had just seen. When the trio was through for the day, they stopped in the office to say goodbye. I wanted to say something to the deputy, somehow acknowledge what I had witnessed. I just couldn’t think of what to say. So as I shook his hand I said, “You sure can run that 686.” He just smiled and said, “I don’t know. I think sometimes it runs me.”

My Model 19 is way more accurate than any bottom feeder I have.

Thanks for the story.

That is a great story, and wonderfully written.

Thanks, I enjoyed it a lot.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Too bad I can't give two likes for your post.

I did all my twenty years wearing a revolver...Got some autos now to keep up with the times. BUT my carry gun is my model 36, it always will be....

i agree, you Sir, could write for a living...

It's true......and taught me a valuable lesson. Never underestimate a man, no matter his age, when he is sporting the "go to" weapon of his generation.

If no one else will say it I guess I'll have to




PICS OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN!!!!



Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

very good story thanks you

Thanks for sharing this. I'm not completely sure why I ended up with a little lump in my throat. I guess it has to do with a man who has spent the better part of his life protecting the largely ungrateful with finely honed skills.

Muscle Memory. The result of years and years and years of doing it the same way, over and over and over again.

I saw my dad do things with a gun while in his mid 80's that he should not have been able to do in the physical condition he was in. But, for that one fraction of a second he could pull it all together and for just an instant be the man he once was.
Thanks for bringing back some good memories.

What a great story......thank you very much for sharing that with us.

Don

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Laus Deo! <><

I thoroughly enjoyed that -- thank you. I felt like I was there which is a credit to your writing.

Revolvers still getting it done! LOVE me some SIX-EIGHTY-SIX!!!

Never would have questioned my Dad with his 1939 Colt New Service in .357..........duty, carry and target gun ......for 50 years...............an extension of his being.....................

CQB27, thanks for the great story, it put a chill down my spine.

Great story. A good revolver becomes a part of you, just like pointing your finger.

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Just a shooter

f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

fat tom, I thought West Virginia was God's country. Everyone here calls it: West By God Virginia. Am I wrong.

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My brother is my Hero

CQB27, I can see the whole thing unfold, and it was beautiful. We may be old but we can still kick it when we need to.

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My brother is my Hero

Love it! Thanks for sharing!

Nice story. I'm waiting for my initial LEOSA permit to be processed.

FYI - If you retired from the Army or Air Force with at least ten years of MP/SP/OSI experience in your DD Fm 214, you are also eligible for the LEOSA permit.

Surely 113 likes (so far) must be close to a record.

They're deserved.

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Oh well, what the hell.

I take my ol duty belt out and wear it inside the house once in awhile. It's sweet memories carring a real handgun. 686 of course.

Well written and an amazing thing to see!

I could see it and smell it just like I was there.

I ran into an older gent (when I was a younger gent) at the range one time that was retired army and had been captain of some military shooting team (this was about 35 years ago so I can't remember the details). He had his 'best ever' revolver, a SS Ruger .357 Blackhawk. All I can say was that if somebody messed with this guy, they were making a huge mistake. If I could describe his demeanor, it was 'relaxed but concentrated and intense'. My wife and I were talking to him and he raised that gun and one handed, single action of course, let off a BLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAM!!!! that sounded like one continuous roar. I love it when you run into somebody that just impresses the heck out of you.

Another thing that I remember is that he let me shoot his .357 and not having shot one before I cupped my hand around the cylinder. That was the first and last time I did that.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

God is with you wherever you may be. I'm in South Carolina.
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

Great story and well written. Thank you for sharing.
Helps explain why I carry a revolver most of the
time and feel safe.

"like sweet tea pours from a pitcher" Great story!!

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PTLAPTA!

My wife used to tell me that my entire demeanor changed when I put on my gunbelt and prepared to head out

Thanks for a well written story. Less than a month ago 20 of us retirees showed up at the range to qualify. I enjoyed the whole experience. I used a M&P 9 and scored higher than I thought I was going to so I counted bullet holes. Yep, I had six extra on my target. The guy that put them there still managed to qualify. One of the best scores was from a 74 year old female former officer. She told me she "practiced a little" a few days before. I'm looking forward to doing this again next year. I might take my 6" model 19 next time.

Wonderful story, you made it live and breathe.

For those of us that cut our teeth on the revolver in the beginning I think we will always have a special place in our hearts and holsters for it.

Sadly, I foolishly traded/sold the revolvers I carried for so long and kick myself for being such a fool.

A S&W 4" model 19 and a 4" 586. Man I wish I had them back.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

Great story, and thank God that there are many in the front lines of his caliber.

I enjoyed reading that very much! It's a nice, feel-good story and well written, Thank you!

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Real men love cats!

Thanks for posting a really good read. I was seeing visuals in my mind as I was reading your text! Loved it.

Pete99004

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Don't tread on me

Great story! My Dad is a WWII and Korea War vet. When I was out of college a buddy came out to shoot at my folk's farm with an M-1 rifle. It was like my Dad transformed from a 70 plus year old to an intense 18 year old again. Neither my buddy or I will ever forgot the twinkle in his eye and the swift moves as he executed manual of arms and proceeded to field strip it. He's 90 now and can still recall the SN of his first M-1.

What a terrific story, thanks so much for sharing. I'll be passing this one on to some friends.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

This reads like a story out of one of the better gun/fishing/hunting/sporting magazines from the 60's.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

What a sad statement on today's gun magazines. I have loved guns my whole life, and NEVER pick up any of the multiple current gun mags. The covers look exactly like my 10 year old son's xbox Call of Duty games.

I didn't really learn to read until the 70's. Missed the 60's gun magazines.....Makes me sad to think of it. I wish there was a way to go back in time

Enjoyed the story here as well. If open carry were legal here I would love to carry my Model 19, 4 inch. I love the gun, and shoot it better than almost anything else I own. But its just too big for me for concealed carry. I have a 642, but in honesty, can't fire it well without the CT laser on it, so mostly I carry a compact 9mm semi auto. But then again, I was not in law enforcement and don't have years of experience carrying revolvers.

FORTY posts before mine and, best I can tell... not one mention of PPC.

While it is certainly possible that putting on his rig transformed him, it seems to me that you were watching a dedicated PPC shooter who honed that craft weekly. Not divine intervention, but a guy that put in a lot of time, care and work at running his revolver.

Fantastic story!

The only thing better would have him shooting an N frame in .44 Special. A revolver can become part of your soul.

I really enjoyed your story.. I kinda know what you are talking about.
I have lots of fancy and impressive guns, but when I pick up that old duty revolver, it's like putting on a favorite old pair of gloves. It just feels right.

Thanks for sharing.

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Eccentric old coot

Excellent recounting of what was obviously an interesting an eye opening day. I heard once, " beware the man with one gun as he probable knows how to use it ",. Granted, he didn't have jusyt one that day but he obviously shot awfully well with the one he KNEW. Thanks for the tale.

I only own a few S&W's, all N frames. I have owned a few K's and J's, but the N frame really fits me well. A .44 Special might have been icing on the cake, but that old 686 just turned out to be the perfect gun for that space and time. The whole thing was really much more impressive than words can describe.