Posted on 07/03/2010 11:11:27 AM PDT by calex59
Take it from someone who once faced six armed men with only a 22 - you'll be wishing you had a bigger gun...
I have two rugers 22s; what a great pistol...
The targets are so close and large that I see absolutely no point in punishing myself with anything heavier. I use a fairly heavy load in .38 sp and it's more than adequate. Even a bonus round where you could use the rifle to knock down the shotgun targets was no problem at all.
My skinny little 22 year old daughter used my firearms for the first time (her first Cowboy match, AND the first time she had fired any of my Cowboy firearms) and shot a clean match. She was slow, but she shot a clean match!
You are still here. It could have been that bad. Either that or you are such a bad ass that you really do not need a gun. ;-)
The thing about the .22 is that you will probably carry it if for no other reason than it is small and comfortable. The .44 Special left at home because it is too big to carry on a hot day is not going to do one much good.
I'm from Detroit. That would be a mistake. Trust me, you want a major caliber. .357 would be OK. .44 Special, .45 ACP, .45 Colt or 10mm would be better.
Maybe we need to review Detroit Basics 101?
All those Mosin’s and not one Model 39? What’s up with that?
Asked why he carried such a heavy sidearm as the .44, the old cowboy answered, “Because they don’t make a .45.”
My most honest advice when one of those derringers is requested: don’t. It is heavier, larger, and more expensive than a lightweight .38 from S&W or Taurus. It is also innaccurate.
If you like, I offer a gunsmithing service to make your Smith and Wesson handgun work just like a Taurus or a Charter Arms. First, I remove the sideplate and use a plumber’s torch on the hammer, sear, and trigger. This removes any tempering that may have been done at the factory so that the parts are nice and soft.
Then I adjust the timing of the cylinder or the barrel lock-up so that it usually works.
Finally, I fill the action with fine grained sand and put it back together. If you feel that your handgun is too accurate or too reliable, I highly recommend this relatively inexpensive service package.
I offer an additional service for your .22 revolver. I add lead weights and a 25# trigger return spring to it so that it shoots just like an N.E.F.
Snagged one of those earlier this year.
You know I’m a great fan of the .44 Special, although it’s old school loading with a 246 grain round nose leaves a bit to be desired in comparison to a semi-wadcutter or Keith bullet, even at original velocities.
I once faced 8 guys with my 22 revolver...maybe they didn’t realize it was a 22, or maybe they couldn’t do math real well, or maybe no one wanted to be first at getting shot in the nose with a 22...in any case, I left without shooting a round. Having a gun you’ve fired 10,000 rounds thru is a nice feeling even if it is too small.
And it IS too small for self defense. Not all bad guys quit. My S&W Model 60 is smaller than my 22, easier to hide, and even foregoing the .357 for the .38+P, pushes a 158 grain bullet at 1000 fps. For home defense, I prefer a .44, but it is kind of hard to conceal on one’s person...
Stolen :)
I don’t know... it was the stock pic from wiki.
Like Mr. Rogers, I managed to avoid a fight as they crudeonly left the area. One guy threw his beer bottle down, busting it and I distinctly remember wishing I had something larger than a 22. ;)
The thing is if a guy handloads he can buy .44 bullets for the magnum, lighter than the factory load and any shape you want, keith, semi wadcutter, hollow point. I load a 200 grain, with 14.8 grns of 4227 which gives me about 900 FPS.
Well, it doesn’t feed to well in auto-loaders, so its mostly limited to revolvers. That’s an unpleasant limitation.
But it feeds in my Marlin, and works in my Ruger Bisleys, so I’m with you!
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