In doing research for my “Lee Jurras and His AutoMags” article (2001 Annual Handguns) I was fortunate to be able to spend two days with Mr. Jurras. I say fortunate because several others have attempted to do a story on Lee Jurras but were turned down, I say Mr. because I have the utmost respect for him. Mr. Jurras does not own an AutoMag or have dealings with AutoMags any more and keeps a low profile.

In my article I mentioned a 217-yard antelope shot that Lee Jurras made using a 6.5-inch 357AMP (his second favorite AutoMag). George Nonte, Ray Speer and New Mexico Game Warden Pete Nylander witnessed this amazing shot. Well, I’m here to tell you “The Man” can still display some outstanding shooting.

Mr. Jurras and I went to a 1000-yard range to shoot. I took my standard 6.5-inch 44 Automag and a camera. Mr. Jurras took a S&W model 629 8 3/8’s barrel 44 magnum. I ask Mr Jurras to try my AutoMag and let me know what he thought. With some reluctance he did. 300 yards (yes, I said 300 yards) out was the bottom half of a steel 55- gallon barrel painted a fluorescent red.

I’m thinking surely he’s not going to try and hit that? It’s too far away. In a sitting position with his back against a metal building, he fired the first round. Looking through binoculars I could see a 240 grainer hit about 2 feet low to the left. I said, “damn that’s good shooting”, he said nothing. Second round hit one foot low to the left. Nothing was said about either of us but I’m thinking he’s going to put #3 in the barrel. Not only did he put #3 hit the barrel but also #4, 5, 6 & 7 all hit the barrel.

Upon closer examination of the barrel the five rounds that hit the barrel were in an area the size of a pie plate. I stood there in awe, my mouth hanging open. All Mr., Jurras said was, “When we are done shooting, let’s go back to the shop and try to improve the sight picture. I said, “Mr. Jurras what is there to improve with that kind of shorting”. He replied, “you have to remember Rick, I used to own an ammunition factory (Super Vel) and had all the ammunition I could shoot. Practice, practice, practice and you can shoot the same way.” I thought, yea and all the 44amp ammo in the world wouldn’t help me shoot half that good.

After shooting we went back to the shop. I was told to remove the rear sight. Mr. Jurras put on the rear sight blade a black molly coat baked-on finish. The barrel was taped and the entire rib including front sight bead was blasted. He put several horizontal grooves in the backside of the front sight. Mr. Jurras said, “that should help”. Looking down the barrel I could see the improvement made would help a bunch.

Well, there you have it, “The Man” is in his sixties and can still outshoot anyone I have ever witnessed. Now, every time I look at my AutoMag I think of “The Man, Mr. Jurras” doing some outstanding shooting with an AutoMag.