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Post by 500fksjr on Jul 20, 2019 19:03:07 GMT -5
Whiterabbit You are so correct on that Bearcat and 32 something...Being a ticket...I am waiting on one from the smith its been a year so should be close in 32 H&R mag...sent a Single seven 327/BH to another for some mods looking forward to that as well...2 new Simply Rugged holsters waiting!!!
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Post by Frank V on Jul 21, 2019 15:45:26 GMT -5
Reflecting on this more:as much as I like the Colt SAA, I'd probably go with a Ruger New Vaquero. Reason being, I can safely carry six rounds daily. Also springs rarely break, last but not least, if you are involved in a shooting your gun will become evidence. I can replace a New Vaquero next day @ my LGS
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Post by bobwright on Jul 21, 2019 16:43:21 GMT -5
...................... if you are involved in a shooting your gun will become evidence. I can replace a New Vaquero next day @ my LGS I know of three men who were involved in self defense shootings. In each case their guns were returned to them at the scene after the investigation was completed. No charges were filed by the police. Bob Wright
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Post by bradshaw on Jul 21, 2019 18:37:30 GMT -5
Were I to pack a single action strictly as a hideout, no other chores, to buy I would fetch a Ruger Model 5151 .45 Colt or Model 5152 .45 ACP, with birdhead grip and 3-3/4-inch barrel. The Model 10596 .44 Mag in same configuration would suffice without apology, as well. In .44 Mag, I’d download in mag brass in the upper .44 Special zone. Handed the same gun in .357, I wouldn’t complain. In .45 ACP this short birdhead configuratio, with Super Blackhawk hammer, screams smooth handling from draw to squeeze, clear through recoil and back again.
The deal with a single action is to HANDLE IT, and handle it well. Time on the Mountain. There is no excuse, never was, for a handgun enthusiast to not learn the song of a SINGLE ACTION. Great shooting has been done with single actions under every adversity. Lousy shooting has been done with single actions, along with every other action type. Were we to measure marksmanship by volume of fire, the modern double-stack auto looks pathetic. Come to the Firing Line, where there are no alibis. see what you can do. This is the start. David Bradshaw
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thor
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 31
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Post by thor on Jul 21, 2019 20:58:35 GMT -5
Bradshaw, TALO has exclusives in .45 ACP, .45 Colt, and .44 MAG in the smaller frame Vaquero with 3.75" barrel in both polished stainless or blue. I asked my LGS to see if he could find me one in .45 ACP stainless.
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thor
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 31
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Post by thor on Jul 21, 2019 21:00:45 GMT -5
Forgot to mention that they have the birdshead grip frame.
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Post by rexster on Jul 21, 2019 21:25:16 GMT -5
There it is. Define your Single Action for Self Defense. If you had to carry a SA or a pair or SA's all day every day for TWO LEGGED rannys what would you pick? Old Model? New Model?? Caliber? Would you like something that is not made? Looking for a concept here. We better go ahead and add in a companion lever action carbine. Winchester? Marlin?? Caliber? Barrel length? My mind wants to wander back to the Croft light weights.... I remember reading about the Croft light-weight sixguns, to address the last part first. Very interesting! On the main subject, well, my short answer is the good ol’ 4-3/4” SAA, a conclusion I reached as soon as late in the last century, though mine are USFA. Longer answer: Bat Masterson’s well-known order, placed back in the day, was based upon applicable, real-world experience. Why mess with success? Another factor is that there may be no weapon that is more comfortable for Mexican carry, at least for me. If compelled to use a holster that does not fit the belt well, or if I wish to loosen my belt, for whatever reason, such as an episode of IBS, an SAA, with 4-3/4” or more barrel, balances well, for comfortably stable carry. The standard SAA grip frame and stock panels work well for me. I might wish for a somewhat modified hammer spur; otherwise, the SAA, or faithful facsimile, works for me. I bought a USPFA, in the late Nineties, and then accumulated three USFA China Camp Single Action sixguns, all 4-3/4”, plus standard USFA Single Actions, 3”, 5.5”, and 7.5”, all .45 Colt. I have faith in the .357 Magnum, having used it to good effect while LEO-ing, but .45 Colt works better when loading single cartridges, especially when dealing with a lever rifle’s loading gate. I had a finicky Miroku-chester ‘92, .45 Colt, which I never trusted to feed. I recently added a Winchester 94AE, which I will soon start testing. During my LEO-ing days, there were handgun rules I had to follow, everyday, everywhere, on and off the clock. One of those rules was that I could only carry guns that met the PD specs, and with which I had fired a qual. Only 2” to 4” DA revolvers, and specified autos, plus some few shotguns and rifles, were OK. The only acceptable exceptions were while on family-owned land, and while participating in a firearms-related sport. Retirement, last year, freed me from those constraints. I recently added three new holsters, with which to experiment. I already know that Milt Sparks HSR holsters work well. Time will tell, whether I work one or more SA sixguns into my daily routine. I do not have a carry “rotation.” There is a reason for everything I carry, and my right wrist and hand are not aging well. While i am functionally ambidextrous with many handguns, some are better used lefty, and some better used right-handed. I write, and use small tools, lefty, but throw, and use some larger tools, right-handed. Handgunning, for me, is middle ground, mas o menos. The Colt 1873-pattern revolver is a very, very good lefty weapon, for me, and decently mild for my aching right wrist. Circumstances may well favor my future regular carry of an SA sixgun.
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Post by ddixie884 on Jul 22, 2019 2:28:53 GMT -5
I've got one of the 3 1/2" vaquero mid-frames in .45ACP in blue. It seems like it was made for this purpose.
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Post by 2 Dogs on Jul 22, 2019 9:04:35 GMT -5
One of my clients who is also on this forum messaged me and asked why I would ask such a durn fool question in the first place. I actually have 2 reasons: 1. I want to see what guys would like to have on their sixguns as far as improvments, parts and pieces. This gives me an idea where to focus my efforts to better respond to their needs.
2. I have been invited to Gunsite to visit with some gunriters and ply my wares along with some other good friends in the holster/sight/gun plumbing trade. It is a sixgun/lever gun shoot and I find myself at a sixgun/levergun buffet and only 1 small to go box! So I have to decide what to take. I have been to this kind of shoot before so anything that cracks me in the knuckle is staying home as such will wear you out in no time and you won't be having much fun.
For me, this all presents quite a problem because the obvious choice is sixguns is the Ruger NM's with a free spin pawl and transfer bar safety and super durable lockwork. As much as I admire and consider the NM a really keen mousetrap I find myself more and more leaning towards the traditional OM's more and more. In this regard I find myself multi-dexterous as I don't have any trouble running either even when switching back and forth between the systems.
Other considerations are managing the OM hammer with hot and sweaty thumbs, which grip frame is most appropriate, barrel lengths and finally calibers. For myself I would consider the NM hammer/action system more goof proof, use the XR3, No5, and Bisley grip frames, am leaning towards longer barrel lengths, and as much as I have shot the 327 Federal feel extremely confident using it with low end 357 Mag power level loads. Having said that, any Carbine/Rifle should be able to bring enough power to the total equation to penetrate barriers if needed. So that last brings my minimum caliber up to .357 Magnum with the carbine modified to handle the .357 loaded "long" and mean. If I did .357 Magnum the sixguns might not be loaded with full on .357 loads I don't think. I might instead load with heavy .38's. But I have to think about this some more....
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Post by azshaun on Jul 22, 2019 9:38:29 GMT -5
In that case, for ME, as I said earlier, is a carry system that allows for a minimal profile for concealment. Minimize leather, and only use what is necessary.
Free spin would be helpful for reloading under pressure, as I most likely will make mistakes... Otherwise, I prefer the slimmer profile grip panels, first thing I swapped out when trying. Altamont sells slim pannels, and made a remarkable difference for me.
I’ve heard that OM tend to be lighter than new models? At least in certain calibers, so may help, but I haven’t found the weight that bad overall. I agree with Bradshaw on making sure one has had adequate level of skills to handle one. That is a big reason, I hesitate... I haven’t quite got down the eject reload process to a solid level yet, I have improved, but still have a long way to go...
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Post by needsmostuff on Jul 22, 2019 12:06:30 GMT -5
Hey Fermin , Sounds like you are looking for some new products to make ,,,, in your spare time. How about a barrel band with a dovetail on top. Vaquero guys would love them as would the guys lopping off barrels. Maybe something for your to go box ?
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Post by magnumwheelman on Jul 22, 2019 12:16:35 GMT -5
Taking DOGS explanation into account... I'd still go with my snubbie as a 1st pick, & for a combo, then I'd go with my traditional cowboy CAS stuff, a side by side double 12 ga shotgun & my Lever action brass & stainless 45 Colt rifle ( found out in CAS, it's much more shooter friendly to match calibers on as many guns as possible ) if you're thinking New York reloads, then my Ruger Montado consecutive serial set, polished stainless 45 Colts with the brass Lightning grip frames, & custom LSCG walnut grips would get my nod... only issue with these, is I don't have any CCW leather for them... not sure I'd want to walk around in my traditional double cowboy rig Bottom two on the right are my octagon barrel stainless & brass lever "rifle" ( not a carbine... brass butt plate receiver & end cap, with the rest of the parts stainless ) in 45 Colt & one of many 12ga doubles pictured here, but the the bottom one, is a vintage, fancier class shotgun, & what I typically use with my 45 lever rifle... or, if you're partial to coach guns, the top 2 double barrels in this picture, are shorter & handier... all are vintage & reliable, & with buffed out chambers & smooth Winchester AA's & comfortable lighter loads, the hulls just fall from the guns during reloads although that 4th gun from the bottom, a Winchester 44 Mag Saddle Ring Carbine, with extra grade aftermarket wood, might pair up nicely with a flat top 44 special... but mine is a Bisley, & I don't look at the Bisley grips being very conceal friendly... though the 44 Special is my 2nd favorite CCW cartridge... & my 396 is a very special gun... but it's not a single action, so I'll leave it out of this post Shotgun of choice has a "doll's head" & "Greener Cross bolt"... a pretty nice vintage, that also has a little engraving... I bought this one with 4 others all slated to have the barrels cut to coach gun length... I couldn't make myself cut the barrels down on this one, & rationalize that they weren't overly long anyway ... found it on a Cabela's used rack for about 1/4 what I figured its worth... it's one of my Cabelas best buys...
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Post by Stump Buster on Jul 23, 2019 1:25:48 GMT -5
Stainless NMFT 45ACP/COLT... Have a new front sight blade with a S&W style orange insert coming from JRH to help my aging eyes pick it up in various environments. The ACP cylinder is consistently more accurate and load tolerant than the Colt cylinder, so I've toyed with the idea of having Jack build me an unfluted cylinder cut for 45AR (so I could ID each of them easier).
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Post by rjm52 on Jul 23, 2019 6:24:30 GMT -5
Have read all the posts here and have to admit to rarely if ever carrying a SA for SD other than occasionally in the woods or while hunting...
Of the guns I currently own the best fit would be the Freedom Arms 97 .41 Magnum that has a 4.25" barrel and round butt. Small, compact, easy to see sights and the grip fits me.
Bob
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Post by 2 Dogs on Jul 23, 2019 12:03:43 GMT -5
Hey Fermin , Sounds like you are looking for some new products to make ,,,, in your spare time. How about a barrel band with a dovetail on top. Vaquero guys would love them as would the guys lopping off barrels. Maybe something for your to go box ? I have looked at it some. On the NM full size Vaqueros the real issue is one of aesthetics. The length of the front blade itself leaves a footprint that is difficult to cover gracefully. You have to build a dovetail front that is "long" and try as might I can't get past the fact it just doesn't look right to me. To get it right, you have to either shorten the barrel, weld up the slot, or replace the entire barrel. One custom smith does a dovetail front that sits on a shelf to cover the silver solder slot left behind by the factory original sight. I am more inclined to install one of my screw on front sights. I would use the one intended for the Single Six so the base is nice and low. While this might indeed work fine if your sixgun shot to the sights, I might be more inclined to install a low profile drift rear dovetail sight to go with it. This would give you a very solid set of highly visible sights. Bear in mind there are a couple of tweaks we could add to strengthen this install for those in harms way. If you are interested in such, and so we don't derail this discussion, shoot me a PM and I will get with you.
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