Posted on 05/16/2015 2:54:18 PM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
A selection of .38 Special revolvers from their "Golden Age"
1930's Vintage Smith & Wesson M&P
1930's Smith & Wesson M&P Target, serial number only a few hundred off the one Ed McGivern used to set several speed shooting records.
1920's Vintage Colt Army Special
1920's vintage Colt Officer's Model.
I have news...Revolvers still rule!
I know,I load thousands of rounds in both caliber every year.The new .38 loads are nothing to sneeze at,the 135 grain gold Dot load intended for short barreled .38’s is probably the nastiest .38 load out there.I carry them in my .38 Detective Special-as my back-up gun.My main weapon is a model 19 or a S&W MP in .45.
The Detective Special is another interesting story.
Around 1987 give or take, Colt produced some Detective Specials with rough finish but internally supposed to be equal to the others. They were not lying.
Wal-Mart used to carry handguns and cleared that model out at some really low price. I bought one and it had the worst finish I have ever seen. Performance wise it was great.
It loved 148 grain wadcutters. I mean it loved them.
The 28 is a great revolver. Don’t have one currently, but do have a 3 1/2” pre-27.
I carry one on ankle holster,it was made in the mid 50’s.Very smooth,and the 6th shot available makes it better than the S&W 5 shot models-at least to me.
Although I’m mainly a Smith guy, I’ve never warmed up to the J-frames. The DS is the best snubbie IMO... regret I sold the one I had.
I had a 1968 Mod 14, 6”. What a piece! Had it for 2 yrs. before I realized the side plate was a separate piece from the frame, the fit was that tight.
Used to be more accurate than a friend’s Python.
Foolishly I sold it to finance a Browning Hi-Power. Ended up selling that too.
Stupid moves, both.
I know what you mean.
If you’re a gun guy and have no regrets about what you bought, what you sold, and what you let get away... you’re a bigger fibber than Clinton.
I have a Colt New Model Police revolver. Slick trigger. It is a .36 cal percussion cap revolver from the mid 1800’s. All matching SN’s. Never fired a round from it myself.
.38 Spl is certainly effective, but a 9mm does have a bit more “oomph.” Now, a .38+P is another story. Out of a snubbie a .357 magnum has pretty much the same ballistics as a .38+P (in order for the .357 to rise to its full potential it needs at least a 4” barrel).
I have .38, .38+P. .357 magnum, and 9mm. I do not feel under-gunned with any of them.
Love the Highway Patrol. I had one back in the 80’s. A beast of a revolver on the mighty N-frame. I replaced the stock grips with Pachmayrs and it took some of the bite out of shooting. Damned heavy though.
Bfl
You can dry it out more quickly if you turn on the range fans ;-)
My Brother, the same guy who had the Colt New Service dug up a Colt 1851 Navy from the ground in his Wife’s parents barn.
As you might guess it was pretty rough. With the help of Dixie Gun Works, he actually restored it to working order. I am not sure how many original parts it had but the frame and cylinder are original. I guess his Son has it now.
One night of New Mexico winds should do the trick. Can’t complain too much , we need the water big time.
Although I shoot a LOT of 9mm,I never have had much respect for the caliber.It’s great for plinking,but I’ll fall back on my .357 or .45 pistols for life and death .Or better yet my 12 gauge or MP5.
LOL @ regrets. Not goin’ there tonight!
On the other hand, I also saw a .38+P round that couldn't penetrate the side (about one inch thick) of a wooden chair. Makes one think.
Ed
-biggest regret, didn't buy a probably unfired Winchester '95, 7.62mm Russian, musket style, about twenty years ago---
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