From Long Ago and Far Away in Another Century

[JimT]

Some photos from the first Shootists Holidays

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L - R: Bud McDonald-Ron Ptashkin-Jim Taylor-Jerry Danuser-Allen Taylor-Mel Snider-John Taffin-Robert Smythe

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Dick Casull shooting his cool little .22 Magnum machine gun.

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L-R..Rear: Robert Smythe-Phil Johnston-Allen Taylor-Mike Venturino-John Taffin-Deacon Deason-Ron Ptashkin-Dick Casull
Front: Brian Pearce-Phil Johnston's son-Bud McDonald-Jim Taylor-Dave Andrews-Jerry Danuser and his son.

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Some of the ladies from Freedom Arms showing the boys how to shoot a 454.

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Allen Taylor knocking down silhouettes.

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John Taffin-Deacon Deason's nose?-John Linebaugh-Brian Pearce-Dick Casull-Bob Baker?

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Dick Casull and Allen Taylor. Robert Smythe in the background.

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Allen Taylor shooting cans in the air.

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I think this is The Second Shootists Banquet. L-R: Deacon Deason-Jim Taylor-Allen Taylor-Paco Kelly-Bud McDonald-Ron Ptashkin-John Taffin

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L-R: Bob Baker?-Jerry Danuser-Bill Grover

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Jim Taylor learning about 454 Casull's.

[GunnyMack]

Real history there !

[CowboyTutt]

Those are great pics Jim! I got to shoot that 22 mag machine gun by Casull. IIRC directly he almost had a contract with some Israeli arms company to make it, but they wanted to pay him half now and half later and he would have had little legal protection with them being out of the country, so he turned down the deal. I'm pretty sure it ended up in the Cody Museum with many of his other guns where it belongs. As far as I know, it is one of a kind. -Tutt

[Walt]

Wonderful pictures and stories, Jim. I've always been fascinated by Bill Grover's story. What a tragedy.

[Bill in Oregon]

This is pure history. Thanks for sharing, Jim.
I admit running a .44 Magnum on the mild side of wild is about my maximum these days!

[JimT]

This is pure history. Thanks for sharing, Jim.
I admit running a .44 Magnum on the mild side of wild is about my maximum these days!

My "heavy" .45 Colts these days are a 260 gr. Keith SWC at about 800 fps.

[weiler]

Thanks so much for sharing these Jim

[samsi]

Fun stuff, thanks for posting them. Somewhere I read that Dick Casull had also once built a nifty .22 "Boy's Rifle" but I've never seen anything detailed about it. Anyone know about it or have pictures?

[JimT]

Fun stuff, thanks for posting them. Somewhere I read that Dick Casull had also once built a nifty .22 "Boy's Rifle" but I've never seen anything detailed about it. Anyone know about it or have pictures?

No Sir. Sorry.

[CowboyTutt]

I never heard or saw of a "boy's rifle" so can't say. -Tutt

[JimT]

The person who is referring to a "boys rifle" may be talking about the Rocky Mountain Arms rifle that Dick Casull invented. It was a black powder rifle with a revolving turret that you loaded with a #4 buckshot and powder and fired with a cap gun cap. Quite ingenious and from what I've read worked well. The Model A22 .. loaded from the rear by rotating the breech block. I heard they were made in other calibers also, but I never saw or handled one.

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[samsi]

That might be it. It's been quite a while since I read about it and I've slept a time or two since then.