Yesterday I joined Tom Gresham on Gun Talk Radio to talk about “the year of the revolver!” As Tom and I discussed, 2017 has seen a ton of new interest in revolvers, as evidenced by RevolverGuy.com and others. We chatted about how I got into revolvers, new revolvers on the market, Lobo Gunleather, and whether or not RevolverGuy.com will ever cover single-action revolvers! Check it out HERE!
VZ Grips L-Frame Tactical Diamonds
Since reading Protect Yourself with your Snubnose Revolver by Grant Cunningham, I’ve been convinced I need to try revolver stocks sans finger grooves. Unfortunately, finding stocks for a square butt revolver isn’t the easiest task. After my dismal experience with the Pachmayr Presentation, I decided to just go with something I had a bit more confidence in: the VZ Grips L-Frame Tactical Diamonds. Continue reading “VZ Grips L-Frame Tactical Diamonds”
The Backed-Out Ejector Rod Malfunction
Last weekend I drove out to an old military buddy’s house. He has a multi-acre yard with his own range and I was looking forward to clanging some steel. We set up the range, I loaded up, and began with six shots at his dueling tree. As soon as I hit the sixth plate I brought the gun back to my workspace to conduct a universal revolver reload. Something was wrong. The middle and ring fingers of my support hand could barely budge the cylinder open. I put a little “oomph” into it and the gun popped open, but I knew I had a problem. In a first for me, I had just experienced a backed-out ejector rod malfunction. Continue reading “The Backed-Out Ejector Rod Malfunction”
Protect Yourself With Your Snubnose Revolver
As an individual trying to learn a new platform, I’ve done quite a bit of reading on revolvers. Some of this has been historical, some has been quite technical, and some has been good, old fashioned how-to. One of the best books I’ve read on the topic of running a defensive revolver is Grant Cunningham’s excellent Protect Yourself With Your Snubnose Revolver. Continue reading “Protect Yourself With Your Snubnose Revolver”
Missing Link: The Smith & Wesson Model 68
When Smith & Wesson introduced their Model 69 Combat Magnum revolver in .44 Magnum back in 2016, there were a few RevolverGuys out there who wondered if S&W skipped a model number. The shooting world already knew about the popular Model 67 Combat Masterpiece Stainless, and now we had the new Model 69 Combat Magnum in .44, but shouldn’t there have been something in the middle? A Smith & Wesson Model 68, perhaps? Continue reading “Missing Link: The Smith & Wesson Model 68”
The Speed Beez Speedloader Review
The search for the perfect revolver speedloader continues. I’m willing to try pretty much anything to find that balance of speed, comfort, concealment, and logistical feasibility (cost and availability). This week I am trying the Speed Beez speedloader. Continue reading “The Speed Beez Speedloader Review”
Safariland Split-Six & DeSantis Second Six Pouches
Recently I had occasion to visit Prescott, AZ. I was invited out to tour the Ruger factory Mike Wood was invited out to the Ruger factory and he was gracious enough to ask me to tag along. During the rest of our time there we did some shooting and did the “mall crawl” through many of the local gun stores. A lot of them had bins of used grips, pouches, nylon holsters, and miscellaneous magazines. There aren’t many guys that enjoy rooting around through stuff like that, but I do, and apparently Mike does, as well. I found some pretty interesting items, but nothing as cool as a beat-up pair of Safariland Split-Six pouches! Continue reading “Safariland Split-Six & DeSantis Second Six Pouches”
Ammo Evolution: .38 Special Treasury Load
When I was a young man in the 70s, my brother and I spent a lot of time on police ranges, because our dad was an officer and rangemaster for the California Highway Patrol (CHP). As “range rats” of the highest order, we gladly took care of the chores that none of the officers wanted to do, such as posting targets, policing spent brass, issuing ammunition, and so forth.
In between relays, we got to shoot a bit ourselves. Mostly it was with our .22s, but sometimes we shot our dad’s duty gun (a 6” Python) with the hot .38 Special cartridge issued by the Patrol. This cartridge, known as the “Treasury Load,” is frequently confused with the more popular “FBI Load,” and there’s a lot of misconceptions about it in the shooting world. Therefore, I thought the RevolverGuy audience might enjoy it if we explored this interesting bit of revolver history and set the record straight on it. Continue reading “Ammo Evolution: .38 Special Treasury Load”
A Gen-X’ers Review of The DeSantis Speed Scabbard
Ok, guys, I have a confession. I’m one of those shifty, self-centered, good-for-nothing Gen-X’ers. It’s true. In addition to the other flaws inherent in this condition, I am also one of those guys that doesn’t really know leather. Sure I like the smell of it, but beyond that I’m pretty much lost. Take a look at the photo below. Does that look like a guy that knows the first thing about leather? Nope! So when Gene DeSantis offered to send me DeSantis Speed Scabbard, I said “sure!” but I knew I had to get smart on animal hide pretty quickly.
Continue reading “A Gen-X’ers Review of The DeSantis Speed Scabbard”
Grip Gripes: The Pachmayr Presentation Grip
As most of you regulars probably know, I grew up on the Marine Corps’ MEU(SOC) .45, a custom 1911A1 issued to a handful of Marines. In my day this gun came with a Pachmayr wrap-around grip that covered the front strap with a thin layer of checkered rubber. With this memory in mind, and memories of a good set of Pachmayr revolver stocks I once owned, I recently purchased a Pachmayr Presentation grip to replace the Hogue finger-grooves on my 686.
Continue reading “Grip Gripes: The Pachmayr Presentation Grip”