I've seen a reference to his passing today, but haven't been able to confirm online beyond noticing that a Wikipedia page on him was updated.

Mr. Jurras was the originator of the famed Super-Vel ammunition among other noteworthy accomplishments.

I still have a partial box of .45 ACP 185 grain Super-Vel JHPs.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
I still have a partial box of .45 ACP 185 grain Super-Vel JHPs.

My father, an LA County Sheriff's Deputy in the early 1970s, still has some .38 Special Super-Vels, too. He talked glowingly of their performance.

Another admirer of the man and his work here. A box of 380ACP is somewhere in my collection, mostly full after nearly 50 years because the gun makers couldn't keep up with the ammo makers (wouldn't feed in my Browning 380).

His Wikipedia page was just updated moments ago to say he died today. Another great one gone.

I've got a bunch, some made before he sold the company, some after. Before = good/fast, after = not so much. Sorry to hear of his passing.

I still have a box of Super-Vel in 380cal and 357 Mag. Those 357mag rounds are real hummers!!

He'd had cancer for a while but was a forgone conclusion for a while now and just a matter of time.

I bought this TCR rifle from him many years ago now and always wanted to have him write a a provenance letter for it, but I never felt right in asking (even well before he was sick) Quite a life and one of the last of a bygone era in shooting.

I have some 357 Magnum Super-Vel, they shoot good too.

quote:

Originally posted by stiab:
I've got a bunch, some made before he sold the company, some after. Before = good/fast, after = not so much. Sorry to hear of his passing.

I wonder if after he sold the company, the new owners had some pressure measurements made on the old loads and were shocked at what they found. You don't get that level of performance for no reason.

He was the Weatherby of handgun cartridges. Shooting the lighter high velocity bullets in a Python was know to crack the barrel and Smith & Wessons as well. I cracked the barrel in my Python and a S&W M10.

Gary Reeder is suppose to build a limited run of Howdah pistols in his honor.

RIP Lee and thanks for the memories.

quote:

Originally posted by Cycler:

quote:

Originally posted by stiab:
I've got a bunch, some made before he sold the company, some after. Before = good/fast, after = not so much. Sorry to hear of his passing.

I wonder if after he sold the company, the new owners had some pressure measurements made on the old loads and were shocked at what they found. You don't get that level of performance for no reason.

I'm not sure, but some claim he partially achieved the velocities by using undersized bullets, don't know if that is true or not. I do know by actual testing that his 110 grain .38 Special far out performed the so called "hot Treasury load" in the same bullet weight.

RIP Lee. One of the gun rags just ran a story about the resurgence of Super Vel ammo. I think they said some of the new stuff was pretty hot.

flashguy

Rest in Peace. I didn't know him, but I have shot some of his ammo.

His work is mentioned in the May Dillon Blue Press article "A Brief History of Pressure" which starts on page 78.

http://www.dillonprecision.com...7_Blue_Press_web.pdf

Here is a picture of Lee shooting his Ruger pistol. One of the last times he went shooting. He was tough to the end. Jerry Moran, the best gun smith and tuner I have ever seen was a good friend of his. He will be updating Wikipedia, and American handgunner is going to do a story. A great man, great American. RIP.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: greco,

Gary Reeder built a 475 Linebaugh for him in his last days.



Even as weak as he was, he took it to the range and shot it.







There should be an article about him in the next issue of the American Handgunner by John Taffin.