Which revolver/pistol?

RanchMan · Jul 8, 2002

Knucklehead -

Simple answer - I like them all!! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

It depends on (1) the specific use and (2) the ability to expand one's collection. (i.e. become more specialized)

I'll just throw out a couple of things related to some of the topics to date...

CC Holster - I've found that an inside the pants holster flipped for cross-draw works very well in comparison to some others. Here are some of my observances....

Pluses
1) It allows you to use your non-draw hand to move clothing out of the way,
2) it removes your non-draw arm/hand from the possibility of crossing the "sweep" of the gun,
3) it works for a variety of clothing situations,
4) the handgun is drawn very close to one's body enhancing concealment while standing, sitting, or moving around,
5) "binding" is minimal, which enhances comfort,
6) inexpensive "cheap" holsters work VERY well ($7) - no need to spend $60-$100 for a holster as with some other carry methods.

Minuses
1) Holsters most often must be "appended" to prevent grip/hammer from "digging" in to one's side,
2) the arc of the "sweep" is longer and covers a lot more area, therefore additional attention and technique is needed to ensure non-targets are kept out of the sweep,
3) as with any "pants" mount, issues with weight/balance have to be addressed.

Of course, these are just the "highlights".../w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

CC Calibers - WOW! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif THERE's a controversial topic (even more than Deere vs. Kub vs. NH vs...../w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif) While most folks would agree that a .22 is better than a sharp stick and "stopping power" of a .454 isn't a big worry, beyond that, there's a lot of "it depends." Evan Marshall's statistics, the Strasbourg tests, and ballistic gelatin all have their controversies, so there's no true "definitive" answer. I have my opinions on the subject, but a lot of this area depends on beliefs/preferences as much as science.

Question: Does anyone out here shoot 6mm PPC?

RanchMan · Jul 8, 2002

Ozarker -

My hide/carry gun is (now don't laugh) a Makarov9x18. 

/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

I'm not laughing because you own/use a Makarov, but because you feel compelled to apologize!! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Nothin' wrong with a Mak! A little more power than (a .380 very popular small self defense gun), darn accurate, very reliable, very smooth, and some history to boot (it has seen combat in every military action that the Soviet Union (now Russia) has been involved in along with still being in service! ) Add to that it's great price for such a fine gun and seems like a heck of a deal to me...

NOPE! No laughs or apologies please!!!

/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Ozarker · Jul 8, 2002

Wasn't apologizing. Just trying to fend off the "bigger is better" crowd before they jumped. I got into a conversation about backups with a couple of St Louis officers a few months ago and they went bonkers when I said I carried the mak. I got a long lecture about ballistics and hydra shock and yada yada.

I love the mak and was impressed by it's accuracy. It's no tack driver but you don't need a tack driver for defensive shooting and the little 9x18 has plenty of punch. The only mod I made was the addition of a Pachmayr grip.

RoyJackson · Jul 8, 2002

Oh Boy!! Gun topics...my favorite!!!!

For CCW, it's one of 4 (dependent on mode of dress mostly):
Pocket carry:
.38 Spl. Taurus M85 Ultralight
9mm Kahr MK9 (small but a bit heavy, excellent shooter)
Strong side holster carry:
9mm Glock 19C (coolest of the bunch)
9mm Glock 17 (actually more of a target pistol as it was originally a 17L, I've got the long slide and standard slide)
.32ACP Beretta Tomcat (mostly for wife, but I carry it occasionally...watch out for slide bite with these!)

Target:
.22 Colt Woodsman
.22 S&W Model 17 (smoothest trigger of the bunch)
.357 Taurus Tracker (stainless steel version, real nice shooter, see attached pic)
9mm Glock 17 (see above)
and, of course, practice with any of the carry guns!!

Also got two (2) Colt 1911's .45ACP and a Taurus 607 (big .357 revolver), but I don't shoot 'em much.

I am a big Taurus fan. I think they're a heck of a deal. However, Taurus does have it's ups and downs with quality/reliability. I reccomend them but suggest anyone buying a Taurus put 200 to 400 rounds through it ASAP

RanchMan · Jul 8, 2002

Just trying to fend off the "bigger is better" crowd before they jumped.

I understand - all goes back to my earlier post on how caliber for CC is approached with a great degree of fervor at times.

fishman · Jul 8, 2002

I can answer the question about the Ruger Mk II cycling .22 shotshells . . . it won't, at least in semi-auto. The answer is simply to manually cycle the bolt for each shot. I used to hunt a little bit with mine for quail (Yeah, I know, way underpowered). Actually did kill the only one I shot at, but I wouldn't recommend the practice. The #12 shot runs out of juice at 30-40 feet.

Latest gun I'm working out is a Taurus Millenium in 9mm. It's the titanium slide version with Trijicon tritium nightsights. The titanium slide is so light that the recoil is sharp and quick, but it doesn't seem to last nearly as long so that you can get back on target quicker. With 10 shots at your disposal, sights you can see in pitch dark, ultra-compact size, and a loaded weight of under a pound and a half, it just might be the ultimate in personal protection. All that praise is from a Ruger fan./w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

Guns are like tractors, boats, cars, golf clubs, whatever. You really need more than one to meet your needs. At least, that's the reasoning I use when I visit the gun shop or a gun show!/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

GaryM · Jul 8, 2002

Favorite for just shooting fun?

S&W Model 43. Bought in 1968 and a great wheelgun. If unfamiliar with the model, it's a .22LR on a .32 frame. All aluminum but for the barrel and firing pin and such. Weighs 14oz and a joy to shoot. It goes back to the days when every hunter or fisherman carried a "kit gun".

knucklehead · Jul 8, 2002

I discount anything smaller than .40; having a 9mm is like having a .22 Yeah, me, too, generally. Since the .40 came out, I think the 9mm would be doomed, except for it's military and NATO (Ptoooie!) use. I let the discomfort of the S&W 681 make me leave it at home; when I get the tractor virus out of my blood (when does that happen, BTW? I already bought one) maybe I'll try for come more acceptable solutions. It's a nice firearm.

I've heard that about Rugers, but only have the 10/22, the MarkII, and a single six right now - come to think of it, the Single Six is a little dry. My Blackhawk was great, except I sold it (made $75) because I wanted a 7=1/2" barrel (it was a 10"). I know Ruger is concerned about liability, so I imagine he's not going to supply us with highly tuned triggers. Good thing is, there's plenty of room to do so.

Seemed there might be some opinions just waiting to break out around here, from the responses noted elsewhere.

Oh, I forgot - I had the smaller grips on my L frame 681 (Magnas?), and recently picked some of those S&W hardwood finger grip deals ($10 - what a score) - like the Hogues - I thought they would fit my hand and "point" the gun better, which they do, but they're not really comfy, being a bit wide. I was thinking of sanding them, or converting to the thinner rubber grips of similar style. Any comments on revolver grips? I have a fair sized hand, but not barnshovel sized. It's 7-1/2" from the bottom edge of the palm meat to the middle finger.

CVHoss · Jul 8, 2002

Oh boy!!! Guns & Tractors. What more could a guy ask for?

No one firearm can fill all requirements, so here are some of my choices.

For plinking, can killing, etc., you just can't beat a good 22. For an auto-loader, I chose the . For a revolver, the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kansascas.com/images/Firearms/ForTBN/DSC00930.jpg>Ruger Single Six.

For home/personal "protection" purposes, a <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kansascas.com/images/Firearms/ForTBN/DSC00955.jpg>Griffon Combat Model</A> based on a the Colt 1911 design. A proven design with a potent (45 ACP) cartridge.

For protection in the "woods", a <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kansascas.com/images/Firearms/ForTBN/DSC00941.jpg>S&W DA 44 Mag</A>. I usually set this up with the first round being a shot capsule (for snakes & such), the second round is a 240 grain JHP (for thin skinned critters) and the remaining four rounds are 240 grain JSP (for anything the first two didn't stop).

For nostalgia, fun, a "feel" in your hand like nothing else, and my main hobby (Cowboy Action Shooting), there's the Single Action Army. Here are a couple of mine. An and a <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kansascas.com/images/Firearms/ForTBN/DSC00926.jpg>USFA HN Cavalry Model.

For the most concealable weapon, it's hard to find one smaller than a 357 Mag, a 44 Mag, and a 45/70. I've never fired one of these little Derringers in 45/70 and don't want to!!

For centerfire target shooting, I just got <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kansascas.com/images/Firearms/ForTBN/DSC00890.jpg>this one</A>. Haven't even shot it yet./w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif

And lastly (yea, I know it's not a pistol, but it does have a pistol grip), you can just have too much fun wipin' out an attacking army of tin cans with <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kansascas.com/images/Firearms/ForTBN/DSC00891.jpg>one of these</A>.

Well, that's my choices. You have to make your own./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Hoss

patrickg · Jul 8, 2002

For CC I use a "Baby" Glock with 6 round magazine or 7 with one in the pipe in .45 ACP. For me it is not an accurate weapon (my fault, not the gun) but I do not forsee ever having the need to settle a life and death confrontation by seeing who can score the most points on a standard pistol target at 25 yds. I also disregard the worries some people have at not having 15 or 20 rounds in a "fat" staggered magazine. I like it because it is dead simple and just works. No safety to fuss with, no external hammer to catch on anything, extremely reliable, and in .45 ACP will get the job done. I don't like it nearly as much as my Army Colt .45 Gold Cup National Match with Pachmyers and oodles of gun smithing but it is light weight, very concealable, and did I mention, simple and reliable.

My wife's concealed carry is a .357 mag Airlight (hammerless 5 shot revolver and extremely light). If you believe the Glock is dead simple then the Airlight is a "coma" gun (you can load and shoot it while in a coma). Utter simplicity with sufficient firepower in the .357 mag.

Back to the baby Glock: It autoloads factory shot shells and makes a trememdous alternative to risking snake bite. I carry a second magazine loaded with shot shells to exchange when I go into "snake territory". I don't go "snake hunting" per se but I can ID all the poisonous snake varieties common to our area (and then some) AND if one of them is in an area of my property that is frequented or occupied by family or friends I will try to kill it. I live trap raccoons and deport them 7-10 miles away but I'm not that fond of handling poisonous snakes. So far in owning this land for 4 years I have shot at ONE snake (a cotton mouth wanted to exit a pond where my wife was standing) but expect a dramatic increase in action as time passes.

I have a Ruger Mk II auto pistol (.22) with zoom scope but will remove the scope in favor of a red dot aiming system (not LASER) in the fall for rabbit hunting. If I should ever need to go hunting for Grey Hound busses or cape buffalo I have a Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 mag in slightly less than 7 1/2 inch barrel (factory oops).

Regarding someones query/speculation regarding auto feeding of .22 shot shells in an autoloader. Depends on the auto loader and the shot shells. Don't recall the brand but the shells with blue plastic bullet shaped thingies full of small shot auto load better than the crimped metal cases style of shot shells.

I have a couple single six type .22 pistols but they are redundant now that I have found shotshells that auto load well in the Ruger MK II. I guess I will keep them for trying out the primer only .22 shells that let you simulate a pellet gun. If it were easy to lock the breach of the Ruger Mk II I would shoot them in it but don't wan't to "butcher" such a nice gun. Who knows, maybe they will not cycle the action enough to cause a jam then I won't need the "cowboy" .22s.

And finally, anyone here care to comment on or recommend a "starlight" scope?

Oh yeah, Ozarker, about the bigtger is better "Dirty Harry" syndrome thing. James Bond carried a Walther PPK in .380 auto. One of your Russian rounds, well placed, will get the job done without going through the intended target, down the block, through a couple citizens, and through the block of a city bus.

Patrick