Originally posted by lazs2
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If I had to pick one handgun for every use it would probly be the 44 mag.
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Nothing more fun to plink with than a 44 mag either.
Absolutely, same here. One handgun only, gotta be the .44MAG. Love it, most versatile thing out there. Only reason I choose the 1911 for carry is its size/shape (I'm large, it fits behind my hip almost invisibly, and is low drag on the draw) and the very slight second shot speed advantage it has over the revolver.
Speaking of "small" in .44MAG, ever see a ROHM MOD.57 .44MAG? 4" DA revolver. I have never heard of this, but ran into it in a pawn shop for $200 a few years back. The size aspect was so cool I had to grab it. Its about the size of a typical .357 service revolver, heavier of course. Piece of crap in terms of finish appearance, but I've shot a few rounds through it, it works ~shrug~. I keep it as a curiousity and potential "not essential to retain after use" auxiliary carry piece.
I can't find it by Googling, could take a digital pic if ya haven't seen one and want to.
Originally posted by lazs2
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Alternately... the .357mag is a great round and I have a j frame of scandium that weighs 12 oz in .357... can be fired from inside the pocket if you were so inclined (shrouded hammer) if you didn't mind setting yourself on fire. a good .357 is my second choice for plinking with the .45 third along with a 22
I like .357 third behind the stated choices (it is still #1 on the one-shot-stop charts, isn't it?). Although I prefer large bore, you can't argue with performance and some would decide its more versatile than .44MAG (I won't digress to .41MAG which IMO is an oddity).
My wife has a SWEET S&W 686-3 6 inch I am really impressed with, its had a custom trigger job somewhere and I've never felt as smooth a double action as this particular individual. Only knock is the damn trigger is TOO hair, prolly 2 ounces with zero creep, so its dangerous as anything but a target piece. Damn shame, the gunsmith shoulda known better. Still, beautiful finish, strong as an ox, nice piece. I just can't get to like the shape of S&W pistol frames, tho, they simply don't feel natural in my hands, I much prefer Rugers.
My favorite .357 is my stainless 4 5/8ths Blackhawk, stock grips. Its a knocked-around tool (I've actually used the grip framemember to drive a small nail once, long story but true
) with stock trigger. I use it to carry in the boat, salt air and all that. Strictly a tool, but I can shoot a 25-cent-piece size group with it at 25 feet, so it works as a defense weapon just fine.
Originally posted by lazs2
snipYour load sounded way hot even in a carbine but I was thinking 250 grain slug... with a 225 it is still kinda hot for a hndgun tho. I have settled on loads that run about 1200 fps out of a 4" with 250 grain semi wadcutter or... in the house... 240 grain hydrashock by federal.
lazs
Yeah that load was one I creeped up to from several grains of powder less, yer right its pretty damned hot. Its the max my 7 1/2 Super Blackhawk will eat with no visible signs of case/primer distortion. Matter of fact, my carbine is a Savage 1894 Model and apparently its a tad looser than the pistol, because the same load produces just a teeny hint of a lip around the pin mark in the primer. I use it there with a little trepidation
I worked up this load after a shooting incident, only true self-defense with a weapon discharge involved I've been party to. I was motivated to research the load for a quite interesting and amusing reason. Indulge me, you'll like this
I awoke one night to the sound of men shouting, about midnight. I went out my back door to investigate.
Parked in the driveway that runs past my house to the pasture behind my house, just in front of the closed gate, I saw a car, engine running, headlights on. Two men were in front of it, between the car and the gate, engaged in a fistfight.
I walked over there, stopped at 50 feet distance, and trained my Maglight on them, announcing my presence in my best drill instructor voice (my life experience includes the command of two different military precision drill teams, one ROTC one USAF Regular) "WTF, OVER???"
The closest subject turned to face me, they stopped fighting, and he told me "Turn that ***** flashlight off!" Of course, I didn't, and repeated myself.
This moron's reaction was to yell "I told you to turn that ***** flashlight off, now I'm gonna whup yer ass!" Then, with that said, he charged me at full speed.
OK. Normally, my protcol by dint of my study of CQB and philosophy of application of force at this point would be to stand my ground, time a sidestep to allow him to begin to pass, and stroke him carefully across the head with the Maglight, being careful to stun him but not create more than maybe a minor skull fracture at most, ideally just a minor concussion. Just put him down, no need to hurt him badly.
But, problem. I've got the Maglight in my weak hand. I can still go, but only 85% confidence of precision as opposed to close to 100% with strong hand.
Reason its weak hand is I have the Super Blackhawk in strong hand.
Now, my dilemma is that he's started from 50 feet, closing fast, decision time. I do not believe in pistol whipping, too much bad can happen. Probability of a stop with the Maglight is high, but not certain.
Deciding factor is the possibility he manages to engage and grapple for the weapon somehow. I rate this as unlikely but unacceptable as a risk. So, I did what I do not believe in, but quickly decided was necessary.
I fired a "warning shot".
I just raised the weapon at arm's length straight up and fired it. This is a rural area, I'm OK with the "where's it going" thing for expediency's sake. I want to both announce that he's bringing his unarmed stupid prettythang to a potential gunfight, AND at the same time place the weapon as far away from him as possible if he chooses to continue to close. Next step is back to standard doctrine (engage with the Maglight if necessary). I'm doing my best here to deter contact, OK?
Ever see a rock singer take a run at the audience, then lean back while dropping to his knees and sliding on the stage? That's what this butthead did, screaming "NOOOOOOOOOO DOOOOOOONNNNNN'T SHOOOOOOT MEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!" The change of facial expression from belligerent to panicked beyond imagination was truly remarkable
Whole thing played out well, the other guy ran but returned after a while when it became apparent I was yelling lessons at a live and mobile idiot rather than a corpse, they left without further incident and never returned. End of problem.
The whole point of this story was about the handload, tho. See, I was just beginning to learn handloading at that time. I was using something like Unique or Bullseye or something similar, don't remember exactly.
Anyway, the muzzle flash was ENORMOUS, dude! I was flabbergasted. I saw side flame at least 8 inches long in my peripheral vision. I have no clue as to how long the main flame was, but it lit the scene up like a lightning flash. If I hadn't had the weapon high, I woulda been blinded for sure (remember, midnight and pitch friggin dark).
My next opportunity to study the matter focused on researching the subject and obtaining various powder types. IMR4227 proved in my experience to produce the least flash in relation to power I could figure out. I could be wrong, but that's where I got (20+ years ago, I haven't loaded much in the last 18 so you may know something better available now).
So I creeped it up observing case/primers until I saw a problem, and backed down a few tenths of a grain. I never intended this as a round to use a lot of, but rather as a "keep it in the gun for emergency use or hunting" thing, no need to abuse a good weapon.
If I remember right that was a compressed load at that weight.
Side note, I used the same powder and method to max out a load with Hornady 240gr FMJ point. I wanted to experiment with what 44MAG could do in terms of penetration.
There's a 10" creosote post (or was) in good shape with explosive-looking exit wounds from full-diameter penetrations out there in that pasture, I was kinda pleased/amused with that for an afternoon once
culero
