Heads up with the sad news gun writer Mike Venturino has passed today after a long battle with heart issues.

One of the few gun writers I have followed for years, and by all accounts, a fine human being.

RIP Mike.

Larry

Sorry to hear-enjoyed reading his columns. Based on outward appearances, I'm surprised he lasted as long as he did.

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Forum consigliere

I appreciate your relaying the sad news.I always liked his articles, and the range of subjects he wrote about was educational. RIP indeed.

Prayers for the family.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Another gun writer I enjoyed gone. RIP Mike, you lived a dream life. Larry

An interesting writer and sorry to see him pass away. He had mentioned his poor health several times in the last few years.

God Bless, Mike , and may you rest in peace . Deepest condolences to his family .
Always enjoyed your articles and you will be greatly missed .

I was thinking the same thing, unfortunately

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"I drank WHAT?" (Socrates)

He seemed to have diverse interests and somehow got away with writing about them and getting it published. That by itself is a good thing these days, and quite a bit of his stuff I found entertaining. Let’s hope he has gone to the big shooting range beyond and maybe our paths will cross again. RIP.

That’s sad to hear. He was a good writer and I always enjoyed his articles.

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Wheel guns are real guns.

I found his last article in Handloader about "is the .44 handgun fading away" very interesting. Though at first I didn't necessarily agree his logic seemed quite sound after reading the article.

He was a black powder and cast bullet guru for sure and won his share of competitions. He'll be missed.

Bryan

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Ordnung muss sein
SWHF #789

Well, bring back the Model 24!

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"I drank WHAT?" (Socrates)

My prayers to his family. I enjoyed his writings over the years. Seems like I just read a recent post of his listing a close call with his heart.

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Kevin in Oregon

Larry, do you have a link to an obit? All I can find is a rumour of his passing bck in 2021!

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"I drank WHAT?" (Socrates)

One of the few gun writers that I followed years ago and actually enjoyed reading his work. Sad to hear of his passing. RIP Mike….

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"Your other right........."

I have read his articles for many years. I especially liked his articles about milsurps in Rifle magazine. RIP Mike.

May he rest in peace.

Thanks for the post; I'm really sorry to hear that. May God be with Yvonne and all who miss him.

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How God has blessed us!

There is a thread here on The Colt Forum from May 28

"I just got the word Mike is in hospice and not expected to live out the week.

I don’t know if he will be back on the forum. I was asked to post this.."

and a related post from Mike himself on the 31st at the bottom of the page:

#1 May 31, 2024
I have experienced a miracle and found my own personal angel. Last Wednesday May 22 four doctors stood by my bedside and grimly told Yvonne and I that there was no hope. My only choice was to determine where I wanted to die. True that. I was put in ICU where I met my angel. She just wouldn’t give up on me. With some research she determined a med that might help and a doc to prescribe it. My blood pressure at tha time was about 70/50. The new med started raising my blood pressure, making taking another med possible. I started gaining strength so I’m now home: a place I never expected to see again.

I’m not entirely out of the woods. The entire bottom could drop out. And I have to carry around an infusion device, probably for as long as I live. As for writing more and shooting I’m not sure. I’m just going to take a hiatus for awhile.

PS: could someone put this message on the Shiloh forum? News of my impending demise make it there and I’d like to correct it now.

Alas, it was not to be

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"I drank WHAT?" (Socrates)

I met him several times at gun shows. Real person who would visit with you and show of his purchases. RIP Mike.

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Front sight and squeeze

I had read his articles for many years. I enjoyed his stories about reloading the .45 Colt. I will miss him.

Condolences to his family. Another Great one gone, many will miss him.

RIP. Thanks for the information over he years sir, enjoy the big gun writers campfire in the sky.


Back before the internet I enjoyed print magazines. When I moved across country I tossed several hundred magazines from late 90s through early 2000’s. Even the local gun shop didn’t want them for free for their lounge. Always enjoyed his writing as much as Taffin and Boddington among others and the books of Keith and O’Connor before him.

RIP Mike
Enjoyed your work.

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213th FBINA

I followed him for decades. He was a cast boolits and long range black powder shooter, and a real good (accurate) one at that. RIP Duke, you will be missed.

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Can my S&W Mdl 10 shoot +P

Moderators ...
Hope it’s okay to post this link regarding Mike’s passing on his publishers website.
Attention Required! | Cloudflare
R.I.P. Mike

Enjoyed his articles concerning the vintage Winchester levers and his loads for them. He will be missed.

Sad news indeed. Mike was one of the few remaining columnists from what I call the golden era of gun writers, where we also had the likes of Bill Jordan, Skeeter Skelton, Elmer Keith, John Wooters, Bob Milek, and so on, gracing the pages of our favorite gun mags.

On the Handloader TV YouTube channel, Mike did a series with host Jeremiah on WWII Small Arms, if you haven't seen them it is worth watching, and a tribute to Mike.

He will be missed... my condolences to his family.

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Conrad
SWCA #1830 SWHF #222

Not sure why you felt it necessary to state the obvious with your veiled response about his weight. The man battled a weight problem and I’m sure it adversely affected his health. He was a great gun writer and died much too young.

I once bought an old Winchester from Mike that he was selling for the widow of a friend. He so enjoyed the Yellowstone River area. A good man, I also enjoyed his writings. He will be missed.

My source was the Colt Forum article you quoted. Wasn't sure if I could post a link.

Larry

(Already posted)

May he rest in peace..

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Always Stay Strong!

I enjoyed his writings over the years.

I am personally very sorry to hear this news. Mike and I corresponded now and then on gunwriter subjects, and his wife Yvonne gifted me with a picture she shot of Mike's rare German MP44, which I used in my book "101 Classic Firearms."

Sad to see a good man and fine writer go.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Reminds me of when we lost Denis Prisbrey, now another one gone...

R.I.P.

There is a several page thread on him on The 24hr Campfire, with updates from "Shrapnel", who knew himand also posted on the Colt Forum. A couple of excerpts:

from May 29

...We have shared so much for the past several decades and it is coming to a sad conclusion. I have been in contact with him daily, and hope we can still share a little more time once he is able to get home from the hospital in Billings.

He has battled a heart condition for years since they left him on a gurney in the emergency room in the hospital while he was suffering from a heart attack. The damage was permanent and his heart continued to be problematic ever since...

May 31:

He called last night, said he’s on his way home from the hospital. They have administered a new drug that should give him more time without hospice. I’m hoping for more time and conversations with him soon…

June 1

I spoke with Yvonne yesterday, it doesn’t look promising. Evidently she has to load Mike up on drugs to help keep his heart going, but other drugs to counteract what another does, is leaving him mostly asleep...

June 8:

Nothing positive to report. There is no progress, he is slowly slipping away.

June 9

I just got the call, Mike is gone. It’s a sad day even when you’re prepared for it you were never ready.

No mention of his age, though. I'd think there will be an obit at some point in one of the Billings MT papers.

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"I drank WHAT?" (Socrates)

Think I saw he was 75...
Thought he was a bit younger.

RIP
Great writer.......

You are correct-it was a pretty unvarnished truth to say. However a lot of good men died wayyy to young due to lifestyles. Skeeter Skelton is one who comes immediately to mind. Fat people have certain morbidities as a result of their weight. I know that first hand. I've dropped over 100 pounds because I've realized that there aren't too many old fat men. I've quit smoking because there aren't too many old men who smoke 4 packs a day. Drinking....well two out of three ain't bad. If I die early it is because of my disregard to health issues in my younger days and my own choices. I am sure Mike Venturino lived his life good and as he saw fit and I'll not take that away from him. I'm just stating the obvious. 75 years in that shape is a pretty good run. I suspect I have shaved many years off my life due to life-style choices. Not good-not bad just is. If I offended you, **** it, but it is what it is.

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Forum consigliere

Someone once quipped, "If I knew I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself."

"Fat" is one thing but some people are just predisposed to be "large" (Something to do with Body Mass Index?) From a couple of pics of him when he was much younger, he looked a bit chunky but healthy. Latterly he did seem overweight but that may not have been due to being "fat" and not taking care of himself; it may also have been glandular. I guess only the people who knew him personally would know for sure.

As I type this I'm remembering his visit to Iwo Jima in 2009, inspired at least in part, as I recall, by Clint Eastwood's 2-part "Letters from Iwo Jima" a few years before.

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"I drank WHAT?" (Socrates)

Just a moment...

Thanks. I was going to post that. Clearly a fella who loved his work

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"I drank WHAT?" (Socrates)

RIP Duke! I've enjoyed his articles about vintage firearms for many years. His writing and humor will be missed!

Sad news indeed, I always enjoyed his stuff, especially his writing on historical guns, and knew he was a fellow Montana resident. RIP sir, and peace to your family.

A good friend of mine was a UPI photographer, and he met
Mike a couple of times* He told me that Mike planned when
he was still in college to be a gun writer* Said he was the
only person he knew that actually set out to be a firearms
magazine writer* I've always enjoyed his writing, and I will
personally miss him for that* Rest in peace, Mike!

I met him in 1988 when we went to Livingston, MT. Mutual friends set it up. At his house almost every gun I saw I had already seen in articles, and a couple that popped up later.These included a Walther PP .32 on his dining room wall for quick access. His Triplelock Target, original K32, Colt Frontier Six Shooter, .a .50 trapdoor and Rem. RB .43 Spanish on the wall, and a Shiloh Sharps military musket. He was a really nice guy and very down to earth.

An updated post regarding Mike. Obviously a truly stand up guy ...

Just a moment...

I cannot believe I missed this; I just found out when this month's GUNS magazine came in the mail today.

He was one of my favorites. I shared his love of bullet casting and WWII firearms. I corresponded with him once regarding cast bullets in the M1 Garand and he seemed genuinely appreciative of my information and experiences which I shared.

He was one of the last of the writers I read in what I consider my formative years. I will truly miss him.

RIP, Mike. Enjoyed your columns for years.

Thanks to the above … I saved a big tote of vintage Gun magazines.

R.I.P. Mike V. You knew your stuff.
( a heck of a lot of firearms authors are now gone)

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Dino in Pittsburgh's Rat Pack