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Stop by Booth #15129 to grab your #BlackHillsAmmo

Stop by Booth #15129 to grab your #BlackHillsAmmo stickers. Post them proudly and tag us in the pictures. #truthinadvertising #shotshow #shotshow2020 #bumpersticker #vivalasvegas #quotestoliveby

Getting set up for SHOT! Stop by booth #15129 to s

Getting set up for SHOT! Stop by booth #15129 to see our new 2020 product lineup, take a virtual reality tour, and pick up some new BHA swag! #blackhillsammo #HoneyBadger #shotshow2020

This is my S&W Model 36. When I was a new cop in 1

This is my S&W Model 36. When I was a new cop in 1980, I put it on layaway at Reloader’s Corner, a local gun shop in Rapid City. My new wife, Kristi surprised me by paying off the balance and presenting it to me for Christmas. It was a very memorable gift. I later had the hammer bobbed and had it hard chrome plated. The rubber bands are an old school trick so you could carry it tucked inside your belt with no holster. The rubber bands kept the revolver from slipping out of position. I carried it every day on the job as a second gun.
Second guns were officially allowed by regulation back then, upon approval by an officer, Lieutenant or higher. Unofficially, however, no officer ever signed off to my knowledge because the Chief of Police did not believe in guns, so I was in violation of policy. I didn’t care, because my life is important to me, and I viewed a second gun as a necessary precaution. For those interested I recommend an old book by Joseph Wambaugh, called ‘The Onion Field” based on a real life occurrence where several cops were disarmed. I won’t spoil the ending, but that book was a big part of my decision to carry a second gun.
I also had to supply my own ammo for it, also a policy violation, because the department only issued 20 rounds of ammunition, 6 for your duty revolver and six for each dump pouch with one extra for each dump pouch if you asked nicely for them, because 1) More ammo is good 2) The dump pouches would actually hold 7 rounds and 3) In a gunfight it was highly likely you would drop rounds loading out of a dump pouch. I carried either the same type as issued or my handloaded cast semi-wadcutters because every one know hollowpoints wouldn’t actually expand when fired from a 2” barreled revolver. (Today I would carry HoneyBadgers!) - Jeff Hoffman

My Grandpa's pistol. A K-38 also known as the Smit

My Grandpa's pistol. A K-38 also known as the Smith and Wesson Model 14. It was the first pistol I ever fired at about age 10. At a fence post. At about 10 feet. I missed. I was hooked. Anything that hard needed to be mastered. In my teens I used it rabbit hunting. I later took it with me as my duty weapon on the Rapid City Police Department, and qualified NRA High Master in Police Pistol competition (PPC). As a new cop in 1979 I made just over $5.00 an hour, including 10% extra for having gone to college. My first check after getting paid was always for a case of 1000rds of remanufactured 38 special ammunition for $60-$70. That came before food, rent or house payments. My theory was 1) I liked winning, I hated losing and 2) I believed that my skill with that gun would likely make the difference some night whether I came home or not at the end of my shift. Thanks Grandpa.

This was my first rifle; a precious gift from my G

This was my first rifle; a precious gift from my Grandfather. A Winchester Model 74 .22. My Dad and Grandfather taught me to shoot with it when I was about 8. It was magic to be in one spot and have an effect 50 yards away. I would later spend countless days with it hunting. I would hike through town to the railroad tracks and take the tracks out to brushy river bottoms south of town. The cops and game wardens totally understood, even though I was underage. There was no panic at the sight of an armed boy with his rifle. I have tremendous memories of silently stalking the snowy woods for rabbits when it was so quiet you could hear the snowflakes landing. It was great training for life and the experience and skill gained served me well later for 27 years as an SRT sniper.
- Jeff Hoffman

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