Tweet
Originally Posted by sirgrumps
There are many ways to go
Cheap way- another Glock that uses the same mags you have now.
Semi-cheap way-another 9mm doesn’t really matter other than its different.
Super cheap way- any .22lr
the American way - a solid 1911
Simple way- a revolver
There are many ways to go
Cheap way- another Glock that uses the same mags you have now.
Semi-cheap way-another 9mm doesn’t really matter other than its different.
Super cheap way- any .22lr
the American way - a solid 1911
Simple way- a revolver
Then someone sends you a video of Jerry Miculek shooting 12 rounds with a reload out of a 625. He must know better, so you acquire your first N-Frame. The gun is cool and 45 ACP works well. It is very fun to shoot, but also expensive.
You walk into the gun store and see a S&W 617...a ten shot 22 with 4” barrel. Or, perhaps, it is a classic K17 with those nice lines and a 6” barrel. You grab a used one from the 1950’s with four inch barrel and a few thousand rounds of 22 LR. You shoot it for awhile and improve your double action trigger work. You decide to go back to centerfire for awhile. Then you realize the gun is now massively out of time and the ejector is bent. S&W has no replacement parts and the nationally known revolver gunsmith couldn’t find parts. You are stuck with a shot out gun.
That 686 just doesn’t cut it! The recoil is hard with 357 Magnum and what you taught yourself on the 617 was bad recoil management. So, wondering what to do,you stumble across a Dirty Harry movie. This gets you thinking about the iconic 44 Magnum cartridge. You do research and find Hickock45’s revolver videos and binge watch them (including his Dirty Harry ones). Then you find 44 Associcates on Facebook and the Elmer Keith archive. Maybe you shell out a few hundred bucks for a few of Elmer Keith’s books on Amazon. Next, you have visions of shooting sharks off a boat in the ocean.
Off you go to the gun store and acqure a S&W 629 or a Ruger Redhawk. You decide the 4” is the way to go, but that Ruger Alaskan sure looks neat. You like the classic lines of the Model 29 with 6” barrel. You end up with the 4” because that is what Elmer Keith carried. Somehow, you also end up with the Ruger Alaskan too. Remington UMC 180’s are a total hoot at the range out of that Alaskan as the fireball is four feet around, orange and yellow, and visibly travels at least five yards. Neighboring targets are violently moved. You start thinking about Hickok45’s 29 with 8 3/8” barrel that soaks up recoil after your carpal tunnel is activated. You end up trying to appendix carry the Alaskan and the Redhawk needs an IWB. You start making kydex holsters since it is difficult to find exactly what you want. The Redhawk is front heavy and you end up selling off both the Alaskan and Redhawk.
Next, you realize that there is a whole snubby club called “I’m with Rosco” revolving around the 38 Special cartridge and in some cases, 44 Special. You acquire a S&W 642, but shooting it is a biatch, so you try the Ruger LCR. The LCR trigger is much better and you are shooting better. The 642 maybe gets converted to a Ruger SP101 or a 640 PRO in 357. The gun is a real firecracker.
Tired of the high recoil guns, you discover S&W, and now Ruger, offer EIGHT shot 357 Magnum revolvers. Maybe you get a S&W 327 TRR8 or the new GP100. You manage to find a holster and start carrying it. It is not bad but definitely requires a great belt. Six belts later, you found “the best” belt. A custom holster maker’s wait list opened up and you are now on the hook for a $250 custom BBQ holster.
44 Magnum is getting to be too much and research reveals that a 240 grain 44 caliber bullet at 1,000 feet per second from a 4” N Frame is pleasant to shoot. Georgia Arms makes this load in a 44 Magnum case and you acquire 300 from a gun show. They are amazing but never in stock online and you never see a bag of 50 ever again. You find that 44 Special does most of this despite falling a bit short on velocity unless you reload. You acquire your first reloading setup and dies for 357 and 44. Off you go with lead casting and bullet prep.
Next, you realize that your old 686 with 4” barrel is a bit big for carry and it needs work anyway. You send it off to a gunsmith for night sights, trigger work, cut forcing cone and muzzle, chamfered charge holes, radiused trigger and and softened hammer checkering. Why not? It is there and you won’t need to spend another $100-150 in shipping.
While you wait, you acquire a 686 with 2 1/2” or 3” barrel. This carries easier than the 4” and has smaller grips. The holster you had is a bit long, so you get one for a 3” and it is more comfortable. Then you realize the K-Frame is the true way to go. You acquire a Model 19 with 2 1/2” barrel, but shooting magnums out of it hurt.
Finally, after all that, you sell off all the guns except for the original 357 Magnum, a mutant LCR in 9mm, and a 629 customized by a gunsmith. Elmer Keith was right: go big bore or go home. The Herrett Stocks Jordan Troopers make all the difference in the world for the magnum loads and you carry it occasionally. You get the itch for another revolver and acquire a 629-6 3”. Unfortunately, the gunsmith that did such a beautiful job on the first passed away. You are stuck with a cruddy S&W that needs lots of work and nobody to do it. You cruise gunbroker frequently and find a near mint Model 19 4” for $600. Shipping, background check, and a seven daily constitutional suspension period later, you put on one set of those extra Herretts you ordered...and proceed to fire exactly 12 rounds through it. Back to the safe it goes.
You feel like you did it all and you are kind of “done” with revolvers except as a trail gun. Then you find Korth revolvers on Nighthawk’s website....
This may or may not be based upon true events.
Comment