Shot Show!
That’s right; I got 2 tickets to the GUN SHOW!
Ok, well I don’t actually have tickets and I only need one…It’s a joke, OK!
Anyway, I am finally getting to go to the Shot Show in
I will try and take notes so I can give all of you several write-ups when I get back.
Since I carry one every day for my safety I thought I would weigh in a little on the topic. The first thing you have to ask yourself is why do you have it? Then what do you expect to do with it? And how is it supposed to function?
In my case I carry it in an ankle holster as a back-up to my main sidearm. So, I have it as a last resort. I expect to use it when I am out of ammo for my main gun, or a malfunction has put my main gun out of service, or I am injured and can’t use my main gun, or I’m in a position that doesn’t allow me to get to my main gun.
So tactically where would I be if any of the above scenarios happened? If I have distance the little snubby is going to be a pure defensive gun. I’m taking serious cover and anybody gets to close and “BAM!” If I’m in the middle ground when I have to use the gun then I’m moving and not waiting around to engage someone…in other words back to serious cover. Finally if I’m in CQB then I want quick solid hits. Like Hicks says “I keep it for close encounters”
So how do I expect it to function? Well I need to be able to transition to it very quickly. That means smooth draws and no snags. I am not going to use it at any great distance (over 10 yards). When I do use it I need to hit fast and hard. To me that means I need a hammerless weapon with a smooth trigger, big sight, and a powerful punch…therefore my .357 Magnum S&W 640.
The Centennial line is the Smith & Wesson line of J-Frame revolvers meant to be conceal carried and have internal hammers so that the hammer doesn't snag on clothing or contaminated by the contents of one's pockets. Judge has got one of these guns and I'm sure he'll like hearing the high praise that his little 642 gets from revolver-smith Grant Cunningham in his post about the Battle of the J-Frames. (via Les Jones)
The Centennials also have one less part than the other models:since they have no exposed hammer, they don't have (nor do theyneed) the hammer-block safety common to all other "J" frames. Thatpart, which is quite long and rides in a close-fitting slotmachined into the sideplate, is difficult to make perfectly smooth.Even in the best-case scenario, it will always add just a bit offriction to the action. Not having the part to begin with gives theCentennial a "leg up" in action feel.
I've had this particular gun apart and worked on it for Judge and it never occured to me that the lack of the hammer block safety would make this a sweeter shooting revolver. Sadly, Copper Quincy's 637 does have the hammer block safety as it is a shrouded hammer model (exposed). Maybe you guys can compare actions sometime, I know I'd like to see if I can feel the difference.
So I was looking for some gun parts for my nephew today and ran across this new single-action revolver put out by STI. In reading the description, I was very interested in that they claim that with their manufacturing process, all the parts are perfect and fit perfectly thus saving you from sending it to a gunsmith, because, well, its perfect.
The whole time I'm reading all the great things about this gun, I'm thinking "I wonder how much STI is charging?" I figured that if it sold for under $800, they'd have guys lined up to purchase them. If it were under $1,000, they'd sell quite a few. I then saw the MSRP of $1,260.00 and thought "do they really think they can compete with Colt?" I mean seriously? If (and that's a HUGE if) I were to plunk down $1,300 bucks on a pistol, I sure as heck want Colt's name on the side so I know I can get that money back if I need it.
Forget it, I'll never spend that much for a gun I'll use at a CAS match, period. Not when I can buy a brace of Rugers and have $300 left over. The Texican might be the best thing since sliced bread, but I'll not find out anytime soon.
Maybe Judge can get ahold of one of these at the Shot Show and give us a report on what that action truley feels like.
You hear from time to time when you do enough shooting. "I love the smell of cordite" Its one of those things you never really give much thought to, at least I didn't, I know that cordite isn't used in modern small arms ammunition and I'm not loading it in the cartridges I load, so what exactly is cordite? The Box Of Truth knows.
Essentially, it is gunpowder made into spagetti and loaded into cartridges like the 4" shell to the right. (via Les Jones)
If they'd have just voted in #5 & 6, I think I'd have been happy, but the rest are garbage and so bad they washed away any good they did with the last two.
The TG/Regulator at Thunder Valley (Vaquero Hayes) is proposing that they not vote on new rules every year at the SASS TG Summit which takes place during the SASS convention in Las Vegas. The argument levied against that is that nobody would come, which might be true, but I doubt it. The convention was pretty fun when Judge and I went and we aren't TGs and didn't care about the Summit.
I suggested that instead of voting on new items every year, they vote items in for a grace period and the following year, those items are ratified or let sunset. That way, mistakes are easier to get rid of, it breaks the climate that they feel they have to change something and gives TGs a reason to go to the convention. Just my 2 cents. We'll see what happens, my guess is that status quo will prevail and nothing will change. At least I didn't have to hear about Cap's latest whiz-bang gun that's so much better than anything else... blah blah blah.
Sorry lurkers, no cute pictures of Judge's daughter or poems or witticisms, just dry old SASS talk.
Recently I’ve been thinking about the little one and what I should start looking for in the gun department. You see I would love it if she took up cowboy shooting with me. Now I know she is only 2 and she might not enjoy shooting at all, but just in case she gets interested I should be ready. Gun prices just keep going up all the time so if I come across a good deal on one of my gun choices I should snatch it up. With all of that in mind here are my gun choices for Sabrina;
A pair of Cimarron Lightnings; these little pistols are based on the Colt 1877 double action Lightning which has a birdshead grip and a smaller overall frame. They come in .38 and Redneck Rebel has proven just how far you can download one of these rounds. It should fit a little girl’s hands nicely and be very shootable.
Marlin 1894 Cowboy in .38; this rifle can be modified easily to make it smooth and easy to handle. I can also have the stock cut down if necessary to accommodate a shorter length of pull.
Stoeger Coach Gun, 12 gauge; I figure when the time comes I can give her my shotgun. Sure it’s a 12 gauge, but with feather light loads and a little practice she can shoot it just fine. Also it should be well broken in by then and open smooth and easy.
