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When Revolvers Ruled (Historical Gun Porn)
Self | 5/16/2015 | Self

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.


TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: banglist; readthislater; revolvers
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To: Tijeras_Slim

I love the old long-action S&W revolvers.


61 posted on 05/16/2015 5:13:54 PM PDT by ozzymandus
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To: yarddog

.38 Spl. easily outpowers the 9mm Luger. +P+ loads are in the .357 category. The old 158 gr. police load was underpowered, yes, but the modern loads are far hotter.


62 posted on 05/16/2015 5:16:48 PM PDT by ozzymandus
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To: Tijeras_Slim

I have a Colt 1917 and a S&W 1917 in .45 ACP. I have to say I prefer the Colt.


63 posted on 05/16/2015 5:18:03 PM PDT by ozzymandus
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To: ozzymandus

My Great Grandfather carried a Colt 1917 in the AEF. I can’t see how he could shoot it, since he was a little guy, and those need at least medium sized hands to use.


64 posted on 05/16/2015 5:22:21 PM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: Tijeras_Slim

When the Illinois State Police switched to Model 59s they dumped a bunch of semi-custom Model 19s on the local market. I bought one for $200 and a few years back in a weak moment I sold it. I should not have done that.

But I recently acquired a 4” nickel plated Colt Python made in about 1973. That has eased the pain of a poor decision considerably. I used it to qualify for my CCL.

Yes, I let the instructor shoot it. Got tired of the begging. LOL

L


65 posted on 05/16/2015 5:30:43 PM PDT by Lurker (Violence is rarely the answer. But when it is it is the only answer.)
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To: Tijeras_Slim

Back around 1970, roughly the same time Super Vel was making a fuss, a guy in one of the gun magazines, I think it was Dean Grinnell published what he called a hot 9mm load.

I will not repeat it here but it was 2 grains above what the Speer manual listed as maximum for Unique in the 9mm. I figured he would not have published it if it was not safe so I loaded maybe 20 rounds.

I loaded up a mag for the Browning Hi-power and let loose. It threw the empties around 30 feet and the primers were as flat as a frying pan. Some of the primers just fell out. The load was insane and it probably would have blown up some guns.

I still have no idea what the consequences of him publishing that load were. It must have resulted in some damaged guns.


66 posted on 05/16/2015 5:45:39 PM PDT by yarddog (Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded.)
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To: ozzymandus

Either gun is a fine self-defence weapon.The kind of gun that gives you confidence.


67 posted on 05/16/2015 5:48:09 PM PDT by Farmer Dean (stop worrying about what they want to do to you,start thinking about what you want to do to them)
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To: Farmer Dean

Maybe from too many early cop and PI shows where the 38 snubnose was prevalent. Just my theory.


68 posted on 05/16/2015 6:00:34 PM PDT by wally_bert (There are no winners in a game of losers. I'm Tommy Joyce, welcome to the Oriental Lounge.)
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To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

“I’ve got a VICTORY model .38 from S&W by way of England. While there it was converted to .22Long Rifle. New barrel, sleeved cylinders, modified hammer, adjustable sights. covered all over with British proof marks. ONE of some 300 made I have heard.”

Cool. I have a Swedish Nagant that was converted to .22 RF. I picked it up at a gun show for $75. Decent shape, shoots ok, but a quite loud report. I think the barrel/cylinder gap may be a bit oversized.


69 posted on 05/16/2015 6:35:19 PM PDT by marktwain
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To: Tijeras_Slim

Excellent work. Thank you for the article.


70 posted on 05/16/2015 6:50:27 PM PDT by marktwain
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To: dynachrome

Looks real easy to clean


71 posted on 05/16/2015 7:25:54 PM PDT by AZ .44 MAG (Repeal Obama)
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To: W.

That’s classy


72 posted on 05/16/2015 7:28:53 PM PDT by AZ .44 MAG (Repeal Obama)
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To: Tijeras_Slim

This is a really fun and informative thread you started. I would greatly enjoy seeing more like it in the future.


73 posted on 05/16/2015 7:54:28 PM PDT by circlecity
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To: W.

That model 22A came with a test fired .22LR case in a plastic bag. Some requirement from some states I assume. I wondered how they didn’t notice when they fired it but then remembered I had fired it several times before it jammed.

I have owned a couple of Beretta Minx in .22 short. They had no extractor as part of the design. The tip up barrel allowed you to remove rounds from the chamber. It was extremely reliable so an extractor might not be absolutely necessary in calibers with very short cases.

Of course there has to be some way to remove unfired rounds from the chamber.


74 posted on 05/16/2015 8:30:14 PM PDT by yarddog (Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded.)
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To: yarddog

“I still have part of a box of original Supervel 90 grain jhp in 9mm. It is extremely hot.”

Back in the days of transition from revolvers to semi-autos two Alaska State Trooper investigators engaged a perp with their S&W M 59’s loaded woth “hot” 9mm 90gr JHP’s. It was winter and he was wearing several layers of clothing incuding a Carrhart coat. The Troopers scored several torso hits but none of those rounds penetrated the clothing. Didn’t take the AST long to change to heavier bullets.


75 posted on 05/16/2015 10:23:15 PM PDT by 43north (BHO: 50% black, 50% white, 100% RED.)
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To: Farmer Dean

.38 special is a decent round, but don’t discount the 9mm - at close range, a regular round can go through one or two people. Put a decent hollow point in it and it has plenty of stopping power if you can hit anywhere near center mass.


76 posted on 05/17/2015 4:06:09 AM PDT by trebb (Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
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To: yarddog

IIRC , Super Vel was a 110 gr. round at about 1300 fps.
Back in the 60s the .38 ammo was hotter than today’s stuff.
I have a Speer reloading manual from 1970.
Chronographed velocities by Speer..
.38 Speer 125 g. JSP...1094 fps, 4” brl.
.38 Norma 110 gr.JHP....1366 fps, 6” brl
.38 Rem Hi Speed 158..1025 fps, 6” brl
9 mm Rem 124 gr.MC ....1131 fps, 4” brl
Don’t think you can come close to those in .38 today w/ factory ammo
Oh, SV 110 gr. JHP...1246 fps, 6” brl


77 posted on 05/17/2015 4:41:57 AM PDT by Vinnie
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To: Farmer Dean

You and me, both, if I’m in the house when the SHTF. Then it’s 12-gauge all the way.

Walking around town, though, a 12-gauge will get me arrested.


78 posted on 05/17/2015 9:57:38 AM PDT by ought-six ( Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule.)
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To: Tijeras_Slim
My Great Grandfather carried a Colt 1917 in the AEF. I can’t see how he could shoot it, since he was a little guy, and those need at least medium sized hands to use.

Glance over and see the Hun coming across the lines, you'll figure out how to shoot it.

I have one, customized, and it is a hand filler for my large hands.

79 posted on 05/17/2015 11:38:26 AM PDT by eartrumpet
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To: Tijeras_Slim

Damn I almost missed this thread Slim..... ya gotta kick me when ya do good stuff like this........:o)

I have my grandfathers M&P 38 that was chopped to 3 inches an his Tom Threepersons holster he purchased in El Paso back in early thirties. Also have a Standard M&P that you have pictured here that some damn fool cerekoted flat black ..... nice shooter that I’m trying to figure out if it can be restored. Great thread bub.....

Stay Safe !!!


80 posted on 05/26/2015 6:19:52 PM PDT by Squantos ( Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet ...)
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