OT selecting a new handgun...

Well...after much deliberation, I've decided it's going to be a titanium or aluminum J-frame Smith. (I'll bet you never saw that coming!)

There's only a few items left to decide

38 special only, or .357 (app. $200 more)

two or three inch BBL?

Hammerless or exposed?

the .38 vs. .357 is a bit of a toughy. It's main purpose in life will be every day concealed carry, around town. I'm sure I'll do like 99% of the rest of the world if I buy the .357- put a cylinder through it and say "sh!t that hurts, I aint doin' that no more!" and shooting nuthin' but .38 +Ps from then on. Besides I already have three .357 revolvers around. The main idea of the .357 over the .38 was something to take backpacking and fishing and such, but with a titanium Taurus, a S&W 586, and a Ruger Security Six I've got plenty of other .357s to play in the woods with, two of which I know I can shoot better, and one of which I'm pretty sure I can shoot better, but carries 7 rounds as opposed to 5 anyways.

On the other hand...over the course of a lifetime of owning a gun, an extra $200 is a flash in the pot. Sometimes I wind up in areas where ammo is very scarce, and would like the option of cramming .357s in the gun if the need arises due to ammo scarcity. Also, if I wind up hiking on trails, in protected areas, it might be nice to have a more powerful gun that can be concealed, so as not to upset the granola munchin' yuppie druid treehugger types. Also, if you take care of the ounces the pounds will take care of themselves, and 14 ounces is pretty darn light if you're on a long hike. And that means alot when you're old and out of shape. :D

two or three inch barrel...hmmm...leaning towards two. a little easier to deal with on a daily basis, and as I've mentioned, I've got other .357s with four inch tubes, not to mention the .45s. Also it's less barrel for someone to grab onto if the sh!t ever hits the fan and I should ever need it.

But a three inch BBl has adjustable sights, and will be just a little bit easier to shoot accurately, an important consideration if one should find themselves foraging in the woods and trying to shoot pot meat. On the other hand, a two inch barrel will have fixed sights, with no blades to ever break off, or shoot or fall out of adjustment.

As far as hammerless Vs. Spur hammer....well....I guess it's the same old toss up. I'd prefer hammerless for concealed carry, but in the woods it's awful nice to be able to thumbcock your gun. I like hammerless because it's less space for dust bunnies and such to gather, it's easier on your clothes, and a little safer. (I've bumped against car seats, doorways, etc. before and discovered hammers cocked, or safeties disengaged) Also always nice to be able to thumbcock a gun and take a more careful shot.

Right now I'm leaning towards a 442- hammerless, two inch BBL, and .38 special only. I could use the extra $200 to buy holsters, ammo, and speedloaders. But...that 360 still looks awfully nice....
 
In revolvers, a S & W 640 in .357, or an equivalent, would be great for concealed carry. Small, light weight, packs a punch, and it'll shoot .38 specials for practice and plinking. Though it's no target gun, with a careful aim you should be able to hit tin cans at a respectable distance. Any of the new lightweight compact revolvers will serve you well for defense. I would recommend buying the largest caliber you are comfortable shooting.

Are you looking specifically for a carry gun, or home defense? Around town, and in the city I carry my Springfield 1911 compact .45. When camping or hiking, particularly in bear country, it's my Redhawk .44 loaded with Garrett's 330gr Hammerheads: http://www.garrettcartridges.com/products.asp

I agree with Yahmanin's idea. Settle on an expensive Kimber..... and then go buy a small frame revolver, for carry, AND a 12 ga. shotgun for home defense. It shouldn't cost more than $650. for both.

I have a Mossberg 12 ga. It came with a pistol grip that I knew wasn't going to be ANY fun to shoot. I ended up buying a StockShox recoil absorbing M4 style butt stock for it: www.stockshox.com. My 100. lb 10 year old son loves shooting it. With this stock he's able to blast away at, and hit, water jugs at a distance of 10 yds, just as fast as he's able pump it. The downside is that I'm spending lots more for shells because we're shooting them like crazy, that is WHEN my son LETS me have a turn with it.

For all out FUN, a pump shotgun is real hard to beat, or a Redhawk .44, or lever action .22, or........... You'll just have to get one of each.

"I have more guns than I need, but not as many as I want"

Mike
 
Deinitely a very strong focus on concealed carry here. As far as home defense goes, I've already got a custom 1911 on my wifes side of the bed and a lightly modified Remington 870 on the other. The 870 is pretty much a business tactical gun, while the fun shotgunning is usually referred to my Savage 311 SxS 20 Ga. Know what ya' mean with the shotgun shells. I'm currently going through two cases of shotgun shells a month, one brick of .22 LR, and about a tin of .22 cal. pellets a month. I've got one friend that's teasing me that my ammo habit is getting as expensive as his smoking habit.


I finally got smart in my decision making process. I remembered that one of my buddies has a Model 36, and my Mother has an alloy 442. I'm gonna borrow both guns for a couple of weeks and see how they carry on a regular basis. (Both have graciously extended such offers before)

I'm also overcoming my prejudices adn paranoia and considering a couple of different autos.
 
Yikes.

Have things really gotten that rough down there? I'm getting a sense of most people armed to the teeth.
 
philthy;

If most of us in the States were armed to the teeth we wouldn't have as many problems here.




munk
 
Hmph.

One day, I'll be in Alaska.

I'm not sure if it's a blessing or a curse to have friends and family scattered all across the US.

John
 
Alaska is fantastic, One of the best places in the world to live in IMHO- absolutely beautiful country, lots of elbow room, and very few BS laws. You ever make it up here I'm sure you'll love it.

If you make it up here, be sure to drop me an email, I'd be more than glad to treat ya' to at least a steak and a beer, and I'd do my best to help ya' get set up for a visit. :D

That offer extends to the rest of y'all Cantina regulars also.

gcs2inak@hotmail.com
 
I can't figure out how to get past Canada to get there.


I have to ship my firearms?

Spectre, are you really going to live in Alaska?
Cliff; what runaround did you get? (I'm always up for Bureacratic runaround stories.)

munk
 
Runs,

Thanks for the offer.

munk, I had already set up a timetable, sent out some resumes, and was looking for housing when 9-11 happened. I was uncommitted when I joined the service, and was sent to Washington. Loved the weather and scenery, and Alaska will be similar in many respects, only wilder and colder (marginally, in lower coastal Alaska).

I have another year before I have my BA, and then, will be looking at more years to get my Ph.D, so it may be awhile before I hit the Last American Wilderness.
John
 
Spectre said:
Runs,

Thanks for the offer.

munk, I had already set up a timetable, sent out some resumes, and was looking for housing when 9-11 happened. I was uncommitted when I joined the service, and was sent to Washington. Loved the weather and scenery, and Alaska will be similar in many respects, only wilder and colder (marginally, in lower coastal Alaska).

I have another year before I have my BA, and then, will be looking at more years to get my Ph.D, so it may be awhile before I hit the Last American Wilderness.
John
Click to expand...

Dr. Spectre of the Alaskan wilds...nice ring to it, John;)
 
Have you considered a semi-auto, such as a Kimber .45 or a Glock 17? Buy the pistol & get a .22 lr conversion kit. I've shot a couple of conversion kits that will do better than the advertised 2" at 25 yards for groups & .22 lr can still be had fairly cheap.
 
munk said:
I can't figure out how to get past Canada to get there.


I have to ship my firearms?

Spectre, are you really going to live in Alaska?
Cliff; what runaround did you get? (I'm always up for Bureacratic runaround stories.)

munk
Click to expand...

I'll get some more detailed information for you in a couple hours, when I can talk to my father. He crosses the border umpteen times a year, I haven't crossed it since the early 90's.

As far as what I can guarantee you, DEFINITELY ship your handgun. they're forbidden in Canada, and the Canadians do NOT screw around at the border when it comes to that.

I can tell you that generally 95% of your typical sporting arms aren't a problem. Extra capacity anything I recall is a no-no, but you won't have any problems with your typical lever action or bolt action rifles and carbines. Shotguns with 21 inch or more barrels and no mag extensions I know are okay. Pistol grips, folding stocks, mag extensions,etc. I'm not real clear about. I do know alot of that has changed in recent years, and I've heard that it changes rapidly and frequently at times, so you'll want to double check all your information before you leave.

Spectre- Sounds like you already know your way around pretty darn well. The food and beverage offer still stands anyways. :D

Returning to topic...I bought my gun yesterday. It turned out to be a Scandium S&W 342 .357 mag. Hammerless w/ two inch bbl and fixed sights. Very light little thing, and it actually has a much smoother trigger than most unobtainium revolvers. I took a half hour and fired a couple dozen .38 and .357s through it. I was able to hit a couple pop cans and bottles pretty consistently at seven to ten yards. Doubletaps were do-able. Overall, the recoils not alot of fun, but highly overrated by people. It's not FUN to shoot with full house .357s, but it's managable. Certainly not the broken wrists, severed and avulsed fingers, spurting blood and crying I'd expected from everything I'd heard.

Eh, it's a belly gun...it'll work. I am considering selling off some other guns and knives to buy its more outdoorsy brother with a three inch barrel, adjustable sights, and larger grip. Either that or the .22 version of the same gun.

Anyhoo, thanks for all the thought and input. I'll let y'all know any interesting details about it that come up during practice, break in, leather selection and all.
 
Sure you don't want to go with a little more gun :eek: :eek:

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Looks like a Busse to me.

And is that a ported .357 Magnum? Or is it a phase plasma rifle in the 80 watt range? :p
 
Nice choice, Runs. Mine's quite a bit heavier but it's not unpleasant to shoot.
 
Doesn't sound like ya need any help. The 2 inch 38 you describe should be perfect. As you mentioned you have guns to fill other needs and I can't think of many guns that would serve better as edc sd guns. Enough power, super easy to carry and 38 ammo is pretty damn easy to find and it ain't likely that thats gonna change anytime soon. If you were gonna consider anauto for cc I would feel remiss if I didn't mention the glock 36.
 
Got my wife a Ruger SP101 in .357. Great gun and spurless. Only change I would make is I think I will get the barrel ported.
 
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