Rodfac, Tell your son the rest of the state is darn proud of him and good on his family!! I'm a son of an island hopping WW II Sea Bee and brother to a wounded-in-action Nam vet.
Guess that shows what a phone call is worth. I talked to Bud's a week or so ago and was told they didn't have or expect a Flat Top. Congrats on your good luck.
Sounds like a great buy your friend got!!
The load you mention is real close to one of my favorites.
The pack-in-pocket-a-bility of the shorter gun also crossed my mind and MIGHT be a determining factor IF I didn't already own a .454 Alaskan, and a pair of short .45 Birds Heads, short S&W 629, 625, 24, 66, 60, etc. (I'm old and retired and must work two days a week to help pay for my packin-piece addiction and to prevent my wife's murdering me).
Lucky for me, my better third is interested in looking at a mandolin in a Luh-vil shop, so this trip to Knob Creek may turn into a family outing with a supper stop at Natural Bridge SP for their annual Buffalo Supper.
Thanks for the encouraging words, Chris.
Gittin eager, now,
Rich