Firearms General (235)
Some short Barrel 357 Magnum chronographed loads
Written by reg mathuszFolks keep pinging me on data for short barrel revolvers and 357magnum. I am not done yet, but here is a snapshot of some of the data I have collected. It is limited but does have a sample from Ruger SP101 2.25", 3", Ruger GP100 3", and a couple of different S&W 2.5", 3" and 4" revolvers.
I know that some of them look weird (like the Speer 158gr 2.5" vs 3"), but that is what I have recorded. I will have to doublecheck those.
Just compiling data that I have randomly on sheets of paper all around :)
J frame ------------------- 1.3125"
J frame magnum ------ 1.34"
SP101 --------------------- 1.35"
K frame ------------------- 1.455"
GP100 --------------------- 1.557"
L frame ------------------- 1.562"
N frame ------------------- 1.712"
Redhawk ------------------- 1.78"
X frame ------------------- 1.92"
X frame widths courtesy:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/288271-x-frame-cylinder-width.html
measured 7 guns, all fluted cylinders
ejector ----crane
end --------end ----gun
1.921 -----1.921---460 12"
1.924 -----1.925---460 10 1/2"
1.925 -----1.926---460 8 3/8"
1.920 -----1.920---460 5"
1.920 -----1.920---460 ES
1.923 -----1.923---500 5" JR
1.920 -----1.920---500 5" JR
GP100 and Redhawk courtesy of http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/291958-gp100-cylinder-overall-vs-k-l.html#post136963544 which pointed me here: http://rugerforum.net/ruger-double-action/17967-cylinder-diameter-sp-gp-six-series.html which in turn points you here: http://=http//www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=491314]I%20Gotta%20Tall%20Request%20-%20THR
Buffalo Bore article answers often asked "stopping" bears question
Written by reg mathuszHow many times on an internet forum have you seen discussions about "gun x vs bear" or "will my (favorite cartridge) stop a bear" or "I am going hiking with my 380 and worried about bear..."? Much grief, angst and much speculation always fills these threads.
Anyway, in Buffalo Bore's FAQ I found an excellent article on the topic: https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=108
“Stopping” bears with handgun or rifle cartridges
I get asked about this OFTEN. Having killed dozens of bear and guided hunters for dozens more, I have firsthand knowledge. Additionally, I have been hanging around bear guides all my adult life and between us, we’ve seen over a thousand bears killed. We have come to some consensus on the best tools and methods of killing bears with guns.
First, not all bears are the same. Grizzly bears have a much different mindset than the black bears species. To stop a grizzly attack, you will PROBABLY have to kill it, but sometimes all you have to do is to hurt it badly and the bear will become dissuaded. So, when planning to stop grizzly attacks, it is best to use a cartridge that will kill it—the quicker the better. Interior grizzlies normally get no bigger than 500 lbs, but in Montana, I’ve seen interior bears around 900 lbs., but this is very rare. Coastal grizzlies, sometimes known as Alaskan Brown Bears, often exceed 1000 lbs. If you are relying on shoulder or heart/lung shots to kill such a bear, it takes a lot of cartridge. One that will make a big hole that goes very deeply through bone and into internal organs. If you hit him fatally in the chest area, you will then have roughly 15 to 30 seconds to stay alive before the bear learns he is dead. If you are relying on brain shots, it is not all that hard to kill adult grizzly bears. Almost any center fire cartridge of 357 bore or larger with a very hard non-expanding, flat nosed bullet will pierce a bears skull with direct /frontal (between the eyes) hits. From the side angle, shoot them right at the bottom of the ear canal. These two shots are instant death, if you are using correct ammo. The old MYTH that bullets will slide off a bear’s skull is pure hogwash, when using modern ammo featuring bullets that will not mushroom when fired out of a powerful handgun. When using high powered rifles, it is OK if the bullet mushrooms as the high velocity of the rifle bullet, will puncture the bears skull regardless, because of its high velocity. 150 years ago, when the early settlers were heading west, the muzzle loaders they used, fired pure lead (very soft) round balls that would or could flatten out against bone and possibly slide off, leaving only a surface wound, when hitting a bears head. Unless you are using pure lead bullets that are rounded, this situation is no longer a concern.
Black bears are very different mentally, than grizzly bears. Black bears come in red, brown, blonde, and black color phases, but they are all black bear species and should be considered “black bears” regardless of color phase. While black bears have much the same physical qualities (normally smaller) of grizzly bears, they GENERALLY have a much different mindset.
To stop black bears, all you have to do is hurt them; you do not need to kill them. Almost any center fire handgun cartridge will dissuade a black bear if you hit them well with it. The more powerful the cartridge, the more damage you’ll potentially do to the bear, but nearly any black bear will turn tail if he is hit with a cartridge such as good stiff 9mm load. I know this argues against prevailing wisdom, but prevailing wisdom is based mostly on speculation, not real world experience and is not really wisdom.
We make “bear loads” in smaller chamberings such as 9mm, (item 24F) 38 SPL+P, (item 20H) and 357 mag. (item 19A). We do this because a lot of people own those guns and don’t want to buy a 454 Casull or 44 mag. I would have no problem defending myself against a black bear attack (and have done so) with the proper 9mm ammo. I prefer a more powerful/bigger cartridge, but the 9MM will get it done, even on grizzlies, if you take their brain. Of course, making a brain shot under such duress, will take practice and cool nerves.
I hike, ride horses, hunt and fish in grizzly country. When relying on a handgun, I carry a 500 or 475 Linebaugh with heavy hard cast, flat nosed bullets. It hammers grizzlies. Such a revolver weighs no more than a standard Ruger Black Hawk, but has the killing power of a moderately powerful rifle cartridge. I find the big heavy X frame revolvers (500 S&W and 460 S&W) too heavy for hiking in steep country all day, but they do possess incredible power. However, if I am going to carry a handgun that weighs 5+ pounds, I’d just as soon carry a 6 pound rifle chambered in 45-70 that has a longer sight radius, more power and is shoulder mounted.
If I carry a rifle in grizzly country, which I do often, I carry a lever action 45-70 for summer horse pack trips, hikes and fishing excursions. I load it with Buffalo Bore items 8A, 8B or 8C. All three of these loads flatten grizzlies. I carry a revolver chambered in 500 Linebaugh too, along with the rifle. The handgun stays on my person in a shoulder holster and the rifle stays on the horse or in camp, unless I am feeling the need to have it in my hands, which does and has happened and has kept me from being injured/killed more than once. I have used both revolvers and rifles on bears, several times. When I elk hunt in grizzly country, I normally use a 338 Win. Mag. With proper ammo, the 338 Win Mag. is a decisive grizzly stopper. See our items 52A, 52B and 52D, (which will be released before summer 2012) for this application.
There are many in our society who believe the life of an animal has equal or greater value than that of a human. I disagree. A bear is a wild animal, that when not threatening human life, is a wonderful sight. However, when I encounter bears that act aggressively by popping their teeth, woofing, swinging their head from side to side, charging, etc. I shoot them. I do not give them a prolonged chance to kill my wife, children, myself or any one that is with me. When I encounter bears (which I do several times per year) that run at my sight or smell, they are safe from me because I know I am safe from them. When they show aggression to humans, it is irresponsible to let them live as they will eventually permanently harm or kill someone. I don’t care that our governmental wild life agencies are protecting bears. They are generally misguided in this tactic. The notion that bears are a spiritual, magical life form that has value over human life, is a point of view that not only comes from the typical tree hugger groups/mindset, but it is coming from various fish and game agencies, more and more often. I choose to protect human life over animal life, period. The notion that bears were here before us and therefore have rights to maul us, is not only untrue, but even if it was true, I am here NOW and assert my right to be so.
Bear aggression and attacks are far more common that most fish and game agencies want to report. In 2011, in Montana, there were seven REPORTED grizzly attacks on humans. Some of them were fatal to the human. Others simply mauled the human, who recovered from injuries. There were doubtless more attacks, but they happened to capable and prepared individuals who simply killed the bear and walked away, never wanting the problems that come with reporting the incident to “authorities”. I’ve had more scrapes with black bears than I have with grizzlies, but that is probably because there are a lot more black bears in the woods. Do not let yourself be misled by fish and game agencies that claim “black bears are not dangerous” or likewise about grizzlies. There is no need to be afraid of bears, but there is great reason to be informed and prepared. For those who don’t feel the need to be prepared in bear country, that is your right, but what about your obligation to protect your loved ones and others who rely on you? Every time I see an interview with a wild life official explaining away a recent fatal bear attack, they ALWAYS say something to the effect of “such bear attacks are extremely rare bla, bla, bla”. Truth is that bear attacks are not all that rare if you spend time in bear country and even if such attacks were rare, the person that has just experienced one, had a 100% chance of being attacked, no?
People argue this continuously. Yes, I know that people claim to do it all the time. They put a lot of trust on their 10mm's extractor to hold the 40 casing. It may work. Until it doesn't. It only takes one not to work to ruin your day.
Anyway, I was surprised to find this from Speer's FAQ: http://www.speer-ammo.com/general/faq.aspx#q25
Q. Can I shoot 40 S&W ammo in my 10mm pistol? The case is identical except for length.
A. No. Both headspace on the case mouth. The shorter 40 S&W will not be supported in the 10mm chamber, so headspace control is lost. You'll get misfires, blown primers, deformed cases and, potentially, gas jetting from the action. Always use the correct ammunition for your firearm. Don't cut corners!
Clackamas Mall Shooter was stopped by a CCW without firing a shot!
Written by reg mathuszOregon News
Clackamas man, armed, confronts mall shooterby Mike Benner
NWCN.com
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 11:03 PM
PORTLAND, Ore ... Nick Meli is emotionally drained. The 22-year-old was at Clackamas Town Center with a friend and her baby when a masked man opened fire.
"I heard three shots and turned and looked at Casey and said, 'are you serious?'"
The friend and baby hit the floor. Meli, who has a concealed carry permit, positioned himself behind a pillar.
"He was working on his rifle," said Meli. "He kept pulling the charging handle and hitting the side."
The break in gunfire allowed Meli to pull out his own gun, but he never took his eyes off the shooter.
"As I was going down to pull I saw someone in the back of the charlotte move and I knew if I fired and missed I could hit them."
Meli took cover inside a nearby store. He never pulled the trigger. He stands by that decision.
"I'm not beating myself up cause I didn't shoot him," said Meli. "I know after he saw me I think the last shot he fired was the one he used on himself."
The gunman was dead, but not before taking two innocent lives with him and taking the innocence of everyone else.
"I don't ever want to see anyone that way ever," said Meli. "It just bothers me."
RIA releases full featured 1911 in 10mm for $600!
Written by reg mathuszHey guys, check out this new 10mm 1911 that is being sold for $600! Here is the link on the CTD website!
It looks very nice.
BladeTech Revolution Paddle with S&W M&P 9c - perfect for car travel
Written by reg mathuszWell, I got my High Noon holster for my S&W 1066 to attach to my Galco Miami Classic II shoulder holster. It is absolutely perfect and I even wore it a couple of days to break it in.
But, I got to thinking about it...1066s are a bit hard to find, not to mention a bit heavy. Adjusting the holster for driving in a car I found that even a full size 5" (like the 1006 or a 1911) pistol is quite comfortable. I think that a pistol like the Sig P220 (alloy frame) would have been ideal for a driving shoulder rig.
I also reconsidered my previous selection of only a single stack. The pistol gets triple-locked into a hard case locked in the trunk for the duration of CA. If it was to come out of the case it would be in an emergency. If a life/death situation were to occur I would have much bigger concerns than being in possession of the "nuisance items" (as defined by CA Penal Code) high-cap mags. In fact, I am pretty sure the pistol would be confiscated regardless.
So after all that I decided to go the complete opposite route - something very small, easily worn, and that could be replaced by my local gun shop. I picked my S&W M&P 9mm compact.
I chose my BladeTech Revolution with the paddle attachment. I used 0 degree cant with the thought that I could wear it as a cross-draw to avoid seat belt entanglement. As it happens I wore it strong side. Its short length was quite comfortable even sitting 10-14 hours in a car. The paddle attachment was perfect for quick removal when stopping at the OR/CA border to lock the pistol up.
Sub-compact pistol + paddle holster for me is a perfect combo with a comfortable shoulder holster with a lightweight framed pistol as a good alternative.
I like this load conceptually. Back in the 90s I tried some CorBon 147gr +P which used Hornady XTP bullets. It was accurate in my HiPower. I wish they still loaded it. Anyway, this appears to be an excellent similar load. thegunwire® (@thegunwire) tweeted at 7:01 PM on Sun, Nov 18, 2012:
Short and Long Barrel Clear Gel Test 9mm +P Federal HST 147 Grain
I like this load conceptually. Back in the 90s I tried some CorBon 147gr +P which used Hornady XTP bullets. It was accurate in my HiPower. I wish they still loaded it. Anyway, this appears to be an excellent similar load. thegunwire® (@thegunwire) tweeted at 7:01 PM on Sun, Nov 18, 2012:
Short and Long Barrel Clear Gel Test 9mm +P Federal HST 147 Grain
More...
Conn. state police getting new .45-caliber pistols
Written by reg mathuszCSP switching from P229s to P220s. Just interesting.
thegunwire (@thegunwire) tweeted at 8:37 PM on Tue, Oct 30, 2012:
Dutch Police Adopt Walther P99Q http://t.co/R53yVbze
(https://twitter.com/thegunwire/status/263484864425254912)
Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download
5 stitch belt vs thick leather belt vs heavy pistol, part II
Written by reg mathuszPreviously, I had blogged that I didn't think that my Wilderness 5-stitch belt was as good balancing the weight of a heavy pistol as a heavy-duty leather belt. I few people questioned that statement pointing out that they regularly carry a 1911 with one. I don't doubt that, in fact I have also, so I decided to do a followup test.
The setup:
S&W 1066 10mm pistol (39.5oz unloaded)
Crossbreed IWB holster (actually for an M&P)
With and without a loaded spare mag in a Galco OWB mag pouch
Jeans
Wilderness 5-stitch vs Galco SB2 belt (both 1.5" width)
The scenarios:
Walking the dog along trails, not heavy trekking but up and down hills quite a bit
Driving
I started with Wilderness because that is what I was wearing. The weight of the pistol quickly was noticeable. Within 10 mins my back began to hurt. I took the spare mag off and moved it to my jacket. It was marginally better. Not something I want to try again purposefully.
The next day I switched to the Galco belt and did the same trek. Much more comfortable. I was able to do the entire trek (about an hour) before feeling back pain. I did not have to remove the spare mag. However, again not my favorite carry method - far from comfortable.
Now the driving test was pretty much a wash. They both were comfortable (as much as driving with an IWB holster can be) up until they weren't. I didn't particularly like either after about 1/2 hour. I can't imagine having to draw IWB while seated in a car but it was a convenient comfort test.
I have not yet gotten a reinforced Wilderness Belt but I suspect that would fare much better. Again the 1066 is a pretty heavy pistol so your mileage may vary, but I think an all steel pistol is better served comfort-wise with a good thick leather belt. However, I don't hesitate carrying a Glock or M&P on the Wilderness.
Anyway, I stand by my initial evaluation.
What states don't honor non-resident CCW licenses? (or explaining multi-state CCW)
Written by reg mathuszSomeone yesterday asked me what states honor what CCW licenses. I had to add the caveat that some states only honor licenses issued to their own residents. For example, I live in Washington but I have a Utah CFP, obviously as a non-resident. Florida honors a Utah CFP -- BUT only for Utah residents. Now, as luck has it Florida does honor Washington's CPL.
So, what states honor what is not always a quick and easy answer. To make matters worse it is not always the same. Some states add or remove other states. For example, New Mexico and Florida. First they were reciprocal. Then they were not. And now they are again. Best to check right before your trip!
The best two sites, IMO, for looking up reciprocity is Florida's site: http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/news/concealed_carry.html
and
Utah's BCI:
http://publicsafety.utah.gov/bci/FAQother.html
Both have a lot of information and links to the other states. They are also the two most common CCW licenses used for interstate carry.
To answer the original question of what states don't honor out of state (non-resident) CCW licenses I extract the info from the FL site (so you don't have to) they are: