David Bradshaw photos - Vol III

[Lee Martin]

I'll let David tell the stories behind each of these shots....















-Lee
www.singleactions.com
"Building carpal tunnel one round at a time"

[hammerdown77]

Looks like some pitch adjustment on that rifle stock. I've seen shotgun guys do that to Mossbergs to keep 'em from getting bopped in the nose every time the gun fires.

Boy, those Pachmayrs on that Redhawk are grips only a mother could love

[bradshaw]

This is the dope on the pix, from the top:
1, 2, 3) S&W M29-2 4" and Redhawk 5-1/2" .44 mags. Two utterly reliable and accurate revolvers that love to go to work. Different strengths and personalities.

This Redhawk has the hammer pin tab on the left. Most have the tab on the right side. The tab is retained by the grip. Without a speed loader scallop, the right grip can provide better coverage. Mike Brazda of Bayou Teche Guns fit a retaining screw to secure the tab, which rubber grips cannot be trusted to hold.

4) Pachmayr Gripper with finger grooves carved off. Wide grooves spread fingers. Result: vertical stringing. Redhawk Grippers are thin and ugly, but cushion against heavy recoil, which for my hand the factory stocks do not.

5) Winchester New Haven M70 Classic stainless .338 Winchester Magnum 26" 1:10. Factory "rubbermaid" stock, full float pillar bedded with Marine Tex epoxy. Leupold Var-X III 2.5-8x36mm with German #4 reticle, Leupold Dual Dovetail mounts. Sling swivel through grip cap to raise rifle when slung muzzle down.

6) Kick-Eez recoil pad angled after trial and error to provide least felt recoil with best accuracy from field positions.

7) The Model 70 floorplate catch has proven itself over the years to be the most secure ever put on a bolt rifle. Cannot be tripped by finger in trigger guard. Recoil acts to tighten lockup.
David Bradshaw

[bradshaw]

Hammerdown.... you are correct on both counts: the Pachmayr Gripper is ugly; pitch of Kick-Eez 1.2-inch recoil pad is angled to protect cheek from a violent jab, a jump which also kills accuracy.

To my hand, of the Pachmayr Gripper series, the T/C Contender is by far the best, the Redhawk by far the worst. The grip shown on the Redhawk is my attempt to salvage it.
David Bradshaw

[bigmuddy]

I have those exact same revolvers, right down to the hammer pin on the Redhawk. That version is considered "rare" but the first 5.5" guns had that feature. I am sure it was changed back for the reasons mentioned as it can come out when using some grips. My first big game animal with a handgun was taken with my Redhawk. Mine shows many miles of usage but still is one tough accurate revolver.

I tried every grip imaginable for the Big Red until I found the "Uncle Mikes" version. Those fit my hand perfectly. They have finger grooves but are not too wide for me like most.

Dan

[bradshaw]

Dan.... thanks for the tip. I'll look at the Uncle Mike's Redhawk grip. Perhaps I'll like 'em and carve off the finger grooves. I could never abide the exaggerated groove Hogue hollow plastic grips, some of which place the pinky finger behind the others----all wrong for a proper hand position.

I like Uncle Mike's Boot Grip on J-frames, and their birdhead J-frame grip, which excels at controlling the M-640 .357 Centennial.

Not sure how one goes about wearing out a Redhawk. My is from the early 5-1/2" batch, started life laying deer down with Federal 44B 180 JHP at 1610 fps, which quickly had me reaching for the pachmayr Presentation grip, and narrowing the toe with a pen knife.
David Bradshaw

[paul105]

I know a guy that "wore out" a Redhawk. Ruger actually charged him to replace the barrel and cylinder. He worked at a remote mine cleanup site in New Mexico and shot everyday after work. He had a Dillion 650 and shot the Redhawk relentlessly five days a week, for several years. Never got the details but knowing this guy and quoting Dave Petzel "This is No BS".

I'll email him and get the details if anyone is interested.

I had one of the first 7 1/2" Redhawks with the integral scope base on the rib. Was a great gun and very accurate. I never could find grips that allowed me to shoot it comfortably. The factory's would hammer the bone at the base of my thumb and the various rubbers were just too big.

I finally sold the gun.

I now have a 7 1/2" Super Red Hawk and the grips are great -- hogue "tamers"? i think. Unfortunately, the gun is just too big for me for anything other than shooting off a rest. It currently has a 2x7x Bushnell attached and is unbelievably accurate but just lacks ? I keep it to dispose of "mistakes".


Paul

[bradshaw]

Paul 105.... please get the skinny on shot-to-death Redhawk. Loads, etc., and whether or not he oiled or greased the gun and, if so, which lube. Photos would be great, if available. Description is all: forcing cone, various parts, etc.

Beaucoup thank,
David Bradshaw

[Fowler]

Paul has tried hard to wear out at least 2 S&W 329 guns (and pretty much succeeded), he will know how to ask the right questions.

[bradshaw]

Paul....
REDHAWK
I reckon Ruger replaced the RH barrel as their expedient to eliminate forcing cone erosion. And then replaced the cylinder on general principles. Sounds like frame checked out fine, which I would expect. Which suggests volume of fire made for wear & tear, not abusive handloads.

Again, the rule of LIVING ON THE EDGE----one gross overload wreaks havoc thousands of magnums do not.

If you know the loads which wore out yon Redhawk, please inform us.

M-329
I would not trade one of my old Model 29's for a boxcar full of 329's. Leastwise, not if I had live the rest of my life with the result of that trade. M-329's I've handled shake like a rattle next to my high mileage 4" 29----which brings me joy, not pain, when I shoot it. As for the superiority of aluminum magnums on the trail, and I shall include hot rod automatics shooting magnumized .45's, let us see how many of the exotics go twenty, thirty years without a single stoppage of any kind.

Scandium is touted as the material of these lightweight cannons, as though S&W was embarrassed to say "aluminum." But aluminum they are, with a small alloying component of scandium, among other ingredients, to greatly increase strength, while bringing it nowhere near steel.

Now, if you were standing on the wing of a jumbo jet like Bruce Willis, having a fistfight at 30,000 feet and 500 mph, probably 40-below ZERO, the aluminum gun should be very strong, as the colder you make aluminum, the stronger it gets.

I have a strong practical affection for the aluminum J-frame Centennial. I prefer a certain five to a questionable ten. A steel frame magnum is all by itself on the mountain, standing at the top.
David Bradshaw

[paul105]

David,

I emailed request for information on the Redhawk that was worn out.


Before I start on the 329, (and people get bored with the length of this post), I tried your deep seated .44s (bare base Thompson GC 265s w/5.5gr HP-38) in a couple .44s yesterday. As previously posted elsewhere, I’ve done this for years in the .45 Colt. They worked well in both a 329 and a 629 PC Stealth Hunter.

The 329PD.

Any handgun is a compromise – and all can fail to function for any number of reasons at the most inopportune time (which is why I carry two guns most of the time). Here are my thoughts on the 329:

It is a specialized defensive weapon that can be carried on your person while leaving your hands free for other activities. It can be carried unobtrusively to others and virtually unnoticed by the user. It will always be with you no matter what activity you are performing. It can be loaded (up or down) to handle the threat level in your area. At contact ranges (unless hunting, an “encounter” will most likely be at contact range) it may just save your life.

The feature (light weight in this case) that makes the 329 so desirable for all day, every day comfortable carry is also the feature that makes it more difficult to load for, shoot comfortably/accurately and leads to increased repair frequency.

I live in Montana and the 329 has been my all day, every day carry gun for the last 6 or 7 years. I’ve shot around 8,000 rounds of 240-260gr bullets at 1,100 to 1,300 fps thru 2 guns. They have been sent to S&W for wear related repairs on several occasions (all at no cost to me). For my purposes, the 329 provides the best compromise of weight to power -- I don’t leave home without one.

Everyone is different, but heavy guns just don’t work for me for all day carry (I do like them for extended range use).

I’m not trying persuade anyone, just relating my experience.

I can put up with the wear related issues, It’s the weight that I have a problem with.

Ruger’s Website lists the Alaskan’s weight as follows:
Alaskan .44 Mag = 45 oz
Alaskan .454 C = 44 oz

On my electronic scale S&W’s weigh (unloaded and Hogue 500s):
629 Mtn Pistol .44 Mag = 39 oz
625 Mtn Pistol .45 Colt = 37 oz
329 PD .44 Mag = 25 oz (empty) 29 oz (loaded w/260WFNGCs)

That is from 3/4Lb to 1 1/4Lb more for the above listed handguns vs. the 329 PD. That is a lot of additional weight to carry all day every day, even more so if you are in mountainous terrain above 5,000 ft. It is even more noticeable bow hunting elk above 6,000 ft in the Rockies. For this old body, it makes a huge difference.

I’ve tried all the different kinds of carry – shoulder holsters, cross draw, inside the waist band, dedicated belt/holster rig, wide belts, narrow belts, etc., etc. I can do many of these for limited periods of time – just not all day for multiple days.

I’ve settled on the 329 in a Simply Rugged sourdough pancake carried on a Milt Sparks 1 ½” gunbelt threaded thru my pants loops and positioned over my right kidney – for me this has proven to be the best compromise. For sure, everyone is different and what works for me won’t necessarily work for others.

Several things to take into account if you anyone is considering the 329.

1. No matter what some say, the recoil is fast and can be painful with full magnum loads.
2. Make sure the ammo you chose doesn’t exhibit “crimp jump”.
3. There have been reports of the internal lock engaging under recoil.
4. Some ignition problems due to short firing pins have been reported.
.

.

,



FWIW,

Paul

[Fowler]

I carried Mountain Gun in my Milt Sparks AW200 holster all weekend intown and around as I would any other gun (except I normally carry in the pants not on the hip) and it was very handy. I have often carried it out on trails and working in the back country but I have never worn it around as a carry gun town, I leave that to a Les Baer and/or Smith snubby.

That having been said I have been shooting it more and more, I have found a 45acp equivalent load that the gun and I really like and we have been getting along much better since finding this load for the gun. I find N frames and my hands dont get along with even moderate loads of 250gr @ 1000fps, I can do a cylinder or two but not much more. But I know the gun is capable if asked though and that is a big plus to me. I do find the weight of the Mountain Gun to be borderline for me, any lighter and it is very hard to shoot accuratly in my hands. I struggle with this gun to shoot good groups on paper at 50 yards but I rang a 6" gong 5 out of 6 shots with on Sunday as well so its clearly me not the gun.

I still want a 329 one of these days, I can not for the life of me figure out what it would do that my 45 colt Mountain Gun wont but that isnt really the point is it? It would live life with modest 44sp level loads and get a Bowen rear sight with a normal square notch in the back, I dont know about the high vis front, it might stay or go.

The thing with these guns is they can be run at pleasant levels and stoked heavier if required such as spending time in big bear country or loaded with top notch self defense loads if traveling in 2 legged vermin territory. A good, well tuned Smith is a wonderful thing...

[bradshaw]

Paul.... thank you for the info and pix. For sure, together we know more than any one alone. I understand the need to travel light in the mountains. Alone the shooter must be the arbiter of what he or she carries.

The old school 29 is such an arm, and I consider in steel its configuration a language my hand and eye understand.
David Bradshaw

[paul105]

Don’t want to belabor the point but the 329 is not designed to be a precision, long range shooter. It is a light weight, everyday carry, always available, defensive handgun. To me it doesn’t make sense to change the front or rear sights (I get a tritium front and laser grips). Without reading glasses, which I don’t wear in the field, traditional front sights are fuzzy at best – in poor light conditions or against a dark background, they are invisible. The v-notch, red fiber optic front sight on the 329 fits the purpose of the 329 -- to acquire close targets under bad light conditions against dark backgrounds – put the red fiber optic front on the target and press the trigger.

Again, everyone is different and YMMY.

Paul

[bradshaw]

Paul.... Comfortable looking holster; I like the absence of exaggerated pancake flaps. I keep my leather going with periodic saddlesoap, Pecard's leather dressing, Snowseal, or such treatment, rubbed inside and out. I am not afraid to wash fine leather, dry it thoroughly, and repeat process.

Chinese garbage tanned "leather" and other chemically burned hide----South America, etc----cannot be saved.
David Bradshaw