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Post by Plainsman on Mar 13, 2023 8:56:08 GMT -5
You know the times they are a-changing when an old, long-time 44/45 snob totes a P365XL as EDC.
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Post by instymp on Mar 13, 2023 9:40:14 GMT -5
P365 is a nice gun, sold my 9mm & have the .380 now on a Wilson XL grip.
Better for my bad wrist.
Although for SD only, I wouldn't feel the difference.
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Post by Plainsman on Mar 13, 2023 10:01:34 GMT -5
My SD load is the Hornady Critical Duty 135gr Flextip. But I also shoot a .357 130gr lead round-nose-flat tip for non-SD uses. Works a treat and very accurate. “Normal” 9mm are .355 but I went to the lead .357s on the advice of a guy who builds really sweet 9mm comp guns. It was good advice. Bought a “lifetime supply” of 10,000 of them from some great folks who mould them down in Texas. (Rafter T Bullets, Coleman) They work especially well in the SA35 and the CZ75. Sub 2” @ 25Y.
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Post by toshtego on Mar 13, 2023 15:33:48 GMT -5
My SD load is the Hornady Critical Duty 135gr Flextip. But I also shoot a .357 130gr lead round-nose-flat tip for non-SD uses. Works a treat and very accurate. “Normal” 9mm are .355 but I went to the lead .357s on the advice of a guy who builds really sweet 9mm comp guns. It was good advice. Bought a “lifetime supply” of 10,000 of them from some great folks who mould them down in Texas. (Rafter T Bullets, Coleman) They work especially well in the SA35 and the CZ75. Sub 2” @ 25Y. That seems a well thought out solution. |
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Post by Plainsman on Mar 13, 2023 22:52:39 GMT -5
Why shoot $1.25/per round ammo when you can do it for 10¢.
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Post by toshtego on Mar 14, 2023 7:24:17 GMT -5
Why shoot $1.25/per round ammo when you can do it for 10¢. Thrift is an important characteristic. |
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Post by Plainsman on Mar 14, 2023 22:58:53 GMT -5
 image hosting websiteGetting back to revolvers… For many years S&W rocked along with three frame sizes: J (small), K (medium), and N (large). Inspired by the failure of the K-frame (largely in the Model 66) to stand up to steady diets of full-bore 357 Magnum loads, they brought out the L-frame. Between the K and N frames the L-frame proved up to the job and then some. They retained the K-frame grip which was an excellent idea. Here are three examples of the type from my stable of Smiths. The top is a 686 6” version that served as a backup when I was shooting PPC matches. In that role it wore a slide-on heavy underlug. The bottom is a 686 4” that has had gunsmithing to accept a special spring-loaded front sight for rapid and accurate gross sign chances. The middle revolver is a 3” 686 Customs Service model. The U. S. Customs Service commissioned these revolvers just before the service went to auto-loaders. Janet Reno had most of them destroyed, but a few survived. There are collectors and users who claim that this model is the “finest revolver Smith & Wesson ever made.” I don’t know about that, but can say that its fit and finish is about the best I have ever seen or worked with. All three of these have had action jobs that make them as smooth as butter and as crisp as glass rods. There is not much to choose between them for accuracy, altho the longer sight plain of the 6” is an obvious advantage. Smith folks may notice that the 6” and 4” wear “strange” grips. I dislike the target grips that used to come standard on most L-frames so I cut them down to make for a more comfortable and practical grip in the hand. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Mar 14, 2023 23:11:31 GMT -5
image hosting websiteGetting back to revolvers… For many years S&W rocked along with three frame sizes: J (small), K (medium), and N (large). Inspired by the failure of the K-frame (largely in the Model 66) to stand up to steady diets of full-bore 357 Magnum loads, they brought out the L-frame. Between the K and N frames the L-frame proved up to the job and then some. They retained the K-frame grip which was an excellent idea. Here are three examples of the type from my stable of Smiths. The top is a 686 6” version that served as a backup when I was shooting PPC matches. In that role it wore a slide-on heavy underlug. The bottom is a 686 4” that has had gunsmithing to accept a special spring-loaded front sight for rapid and accurate gross sign chances. The middle revolver is a 3” 686 Customs Service model. The U. S. Customs Service commissioned these revolvers just before the service went to auto-loaders. Janet Reno had most of them destroyed, but a few survived. There are collectors and users who claim that this model is the “finest revolver Smith & Wesson ever made.” I don’t know about that, but can say that its fit and finish is about the best I have ever seen or worked with. All three of these have had action jobs that make them as smooth as butter and as crisp as glass rods. There is not much to choose between them for accuracy, altho the longer sight plain of the 6” is an obvious advantage. Smith folks may notice that the 6” and 4” wear “strange” grips. I dislike the target grips that used to come standard on most L-frames so I cut them down to make for a more comfortable and practical grip in the hand. No X frame? |
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Post by urbino on Mar 14, 2023 23:17:15 GMT -5
Those are some lookers, Bob. I get the impression perhaps you like the 686. (My .357 is a 4" 586.)
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Post by Ronv69 on Mar 14, 2023 23:27:26 GMT -5
I shot my FIL's 686 and I loved it. I should have accepted when he tried to give it to me. The only other S&W revolver I have shot was a Model 57,which I didn't like at all.
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Post by instymp on Mar 15, 2023 8:04:49 GMT -5
Like my S&W 19 a lot.
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Post by Plainsman on Mar 15, 2023 9:16:30 GMT -5
The 3” 19 (K-frame) is a gem.
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Post by toshtego on Mar 15, 2023 14:35:36 GMT -5
Nice collection of modern revolvers.
I agree about the 686. Had one with a six inch barrel.
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Post by Plainsman on Mar 15, 2023 14:45:42 GMT -5
No X-frame. Ever.
I feel privileged to own quite a few modern S&Ws— exclusive of those with those silly “safety locks.”
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Post by toshtego on Mar 17, 2023 17:02:17 GMT -5
So, how about posting a photo? |
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Post by instymp on Mar 18, 2023 7:32:59 GMT -5
So, how about posting a photo? Will try. Never posted a photo. Out of town and will try when home. |
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Post by toshtego on Mar 18, 2023 17:43:34 GMT -5
So, how about posting a photo? Will try. Never posted a photo. Out of town and will try when home. Try "postimages.org". It is free and simple to use. Upload your photo and choose the Forum url, click to save and post on the Patch. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Mar 24, 2023 13:17:17 GMT -5
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Post by Plainsman on Mar 24, 2023 14:53:49 GMT -5
That’s very sad, and a great loss. I’m blessed with one of his guns— an old model Vaquero (the BIG one!) with Bisley grips and short barrel in 45 Colt. Smooth and powerful. |
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Post by toshtego on Mar 25, 2023 13:18:20 GMT -5
That’s very sad, and a great loss. I’m blessed with one of his guns— an old model Vaquero (the BIG one!) with Bisley grips and short barrel in 45 Colt. Smooth and powerful. I had one of those Ruger old model Vaqueros, "Sheriff's Model" with a 3.5 barrel. WOnderful gun. I have seen the Linebaugh modified models and they are moe so. Enjoy it in good health! |
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Post by Plainsman on Mar 25, 2023 14:25:30 GMT -5
Mine…  |
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Post by toshtego on Mar 25, 2023 16:22:43 GMT -5
^^^^^^^^^^ Very nice gun piece, Bob. I like the lanyard ring and the grip furniture.
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Post by Plainsman on Mar 25, 2023 16:29:03 GMT -5
Definitely a “bear-country” gun.
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Post by toshtego on Mar 25, 2023 16:39:32 GMT -5
Buffalo Bore produces some fine bear medicine in .45 LC.
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Post by Plainsman on Mar 25, 2023 17:18:09 GMT -5
I have some of those artillery rounds for a 7-1/2” Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt. Not much fun to shoot.
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Post by Ronv69 on Mar 25, 2023 22:27:05 GMT -5
The original load for the 45 Colt were quite powerful enough for most anything that requires a thumb-sized hole.
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Post by Plainsman on Mar 25, 2023 23:03:00 GMT -5
It was SO good the army reduced it for wimpy recruits. At LBH they were shooting 30 grains instead of 40.
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Post by toshtego on Mar 26, 2023 4:46:29 GMT -5
I have some of those artillery rounds for a 7-1/2” Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt. Not much fun to shoot. The Bisely grip in the Super Blackhawk Hunter model I owned years ago, also a 7.5 inch barrel, sure helped with recoil. In my 5.5 Redhawk .44 magnum, Buffalo Bore heavy loads are painful to shoot. Somewhat similar to the .45 LC. I have not fired BB heavy rounds since switching from the stock wood grips to a Pachmyer rubber grip. That is target shooting or plinking. If dealing with an aggresive bruin, I doubt it would be all that noticable given the amount of adrenalin circulating in my system. My previous encounters with bears from long ago, both Blackies and Canadian Brown, was with a rifle. . |
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Post by trailboss on Mar 26, 2023 14:30:27 GMT -5
A beautiful stable that you have there, Bob!
I wish I had gotten into the wheel gun game years ago, the ones I would like to get now command prices the would ensure domestic chaos instead of domestic tranquility.
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Post by toshtego on Mar 26, 2023 16:09:40 GMT -5
A beautiful stable that you have there, Bob! I wish I had gotten into the wheel gun game years ago, the ones I would like to get now command prices the would ensure domestic chaos instead of domestic tranquility. That is one way to make certain guns do not get into the hands of people. I wonder...? |
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