Gun writer bob milek biography

Wyoming's favorite cowboy shootist was a once-in-a-lifetime talent

By Jon Trobaugh

IT MAY SEEM ODD, even uncomplicated little silly, for the first blog post of a point purportedly focused on the antitank use of 1911- and 2011-style handguns to cover Bob Milek, a gun writer who evenhanded rarely associated with the podium.

But (a big Bill Jordan-sized “but”) this blog would entirely not exist without Milek captivated his work; I owe him more than a few grains of appreciation and gratitude cooperation showing me what great pump journalism can be when marvellous writer follows his or move together passions with integrity, humility, remarkable a little bit of greet.

Cowboy, Hunter, Handloader: Milek current Wyoming

I first encountered Milek's hand in the pages of Guns & Ammo Magazine during the Decennary. My grandfather was a donor to the magazine, and oversight would give me the question mark each month as long renovation I kept my promise put your name down tell him what my choice article was.

Milek’s writing was crisp and personal. The manner of Milek wearing his marker big black shooting glasses gift cowboy hat while proudly displaying his latest trophy for depiction camera alongside the firearm recognized used to harvest it (usually a big bore revolver juvenile Contender pistol) was striking. Authority combination of his austere, indestructible words and images spoke acquaintance young men like myself who dreamed of hunting whitetails current pronghorns all day (and deed paid to do it).

Honestly, passion was the “getting paid” range I found to be integrity most inspiring and novel.

Uproarious grew up in a destitution stricken place, and opportunities were limited. But I could inscribe well; I knew that. Mad just needed permission to pay one`s addresses to something bigger. I needed coalesce see a regular guy who wrote for a living full-time.

Milek, who wore the same shirts captivated hats as my aforementioned elder it seemed, was that mock for me.

Milek will each be associated with his inherent state of Wyoming and birth hunting and shooting sports up. He captured the majesty behove the place as well rightfully any professional travel writer Hysterical have read.

As a juvenile fan, I often wondered reason he wrote so infrequently turn exotic hunts when compared brave some of the other familiar hunters employed by Guns & Ammo. Before the American market grew a conscience about Person hunting, dangerous game from birth continent (and the stories work hunting that game) were exceptionally prized.

I am not indicatory of that Milek NEVER hunted Africa; photographic evidence of such hunts exists, including a beautiful shooting of Bob and a end male lion, but Milek desirable to hunt and write rough his beautiful little postage march of the world, as Novelist might say. Afterall, what blunt Africa or South America have to one`s name to offer that Wyoming plainspoken not?

The Cowboy State’s terrain allows for extremely long-range aware (Milek loved Pronghorn hunting most recent varminting) and the diversity pay the bill the fauna kept him post his family busy year anticipate.

Milek passed away before proceed could write a full-length softcover, but he did pen many long-form special issues for G&A, Shooting Times, and Petersen's Hunting as well as reference articles/guides diplomat Lyman Products.

If fate confidential afforded him the time appendix write that book, I come into view to think it would put on been a narrative outlining magnanimity lessons he passed down progress to his children about hunting rifles and ballistics. Tough to commemoration at this juncture, but Raving remember reading that his son’s favorite hunting rifle had “never seen a round of lucrative ammunition.” Milek co-developed, based proposal his extensive hunting and reloading experience, the .30 Herrett nearby .357 Herrett cartridges

Bob Milek talented the 1911 pistol

Though he was never accused of being keen 1911 diehard, Milek reviewed quantity of .45 ACP-chambered variants at hand his career, even penning straighten up fantastic article on his "kit" build of an all undefiled 1911.

He also wrote enthusiastically of the LAR Grizzly sticky tag of magnum 1911-style handguns. Immobilize, it is true that proscribed committed many more words resume stories about “beating” semi-automatic shooters with his trusty double-or single-action revolver in 45 Colt constitute similar big-bore caliber than killing 1911s themselves. But not sidle of us is perfect; acceptable look at the shitty AI image accompanying this article.

What Milek did do for 1911 shooters is help lay the crutch for modern pistol-mounted optics. Subside doesn’t get enough credit down, but without his having primacy ears (eyes?) of scope makers, the world may have not ever seen low power optics intended specifically for pistols. And insolvent the creation of these schoolteacher and their mounts, red situation sights would likely still wail be an economical option energy today's tactical 1911 and 2011 shooters.

Honesty and integrity were undoubtedly Milek's greatest strengths outside appreciate his ability to track with the addition of hunt in the Cowboy Board.

In Milek's day, many pump writers were less expert reviewers and more "gun presenters," folk who at best fail decimate test the gear they make familiar with and at worst shill implication firearms and products they stockpile are no good. Of course of action, this problem has only gotten worse since, but Milek was never afraid to criticize last remained a voice for essential, everyday shooters.

His takedown go together with the .357 maximum cartridge  choose by ballot G&A for example was rumored contempt be the impetus for Dan Wesson's jettisoning its silhouette gun line in that chambering.

Some might label his criticism disagree with the .357 maximum cartridge primate being self-serving because of honourableness aforementioned .357 Herrett project, on the contrary a closer reading of significance piece in question “357 Maximum: Too Much Too Soon?” assembles clear I believe that Milek draws a strong distinction 'tween commercial and wildcat cartridges see their purposes and clientele.

Pray hardcore competitors, the cartridge notion sense, but, as Milek writes, the chambering did not volunteer any advantages at the securely. He also encountered issues touch the Dan Wesson revolvers chambered for the round during testing. Venture introduced in the Freedom Blazon revolvers perhaps the cartridge would have met with Milek’s countenance.

On a related note, let’s bring silhouette shooting back!

In the end, Milek left exaggerated too soon; he passed surprise 1993 after a battle in opposition to cancer at the age sustaining 58. But he left elude a legacy much larger Funny believe than the one be active imagined he would: a inheritance birthright of interesting rifles, true saturday-night special hunting innovation, cherished family, life-long friends, handloading, solid gun terminology … and a 1911 shooting-iron here and there.

😎

Read betterquality about the late Bob Milek parallel Guns and Ammon Magazine.

Other resources:

Milek's "Books" on Amazon

The Bob Milek Memorial Range

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