Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > General Topics > New Members Introduction
o

Notices

New Members Introduction A Big Welcome to you! Come in and tell us a little about yourself.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-20-2017, 09:09 AM
Gunloon Gunloon is offline
Member
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Nashville TN
Posts: 5
Likes: 24
Liked 5 Times in 4 Posts
Default A big hello from Nashville!

Hi, fellow hoplophiles-

I'm Glenn, I've lived here since 1993 and soon after arriving I knew I liked Nashville better than anywhere else I'd lived, so here I settled.

I'm one of the lucky ones...though I grew up in the uncouth Northern wilds of New York City, the collectivist indoctrination and rabid anti gun implantation just didn't take in my case. I purchased my first firearm, a Ruger Mk. II, not long after escaping that People's Republic in 1985 or so and never looked back.

I earned my private pilot certificate at age 17 in 1978 and it's no real surprise that I chose a career in aviation, one that ran from 1986 until disability knocked me out of it in 2006...it was a fun and exciting time that I never regretted.

I've owned and/or carried a number of guns over the years, when healthy my last EDC was a SIG P239 in .40 S&W that I traded when the multiple sclerosis that disabled me put me in a power wheelchair and ruined my dominant left hand...7+1 just wasn't really feasible when it became such a chore to rack a slide.

Since I don't wear anything with a belt any more, holsters are out so I carry in a gun rug secured in a shoulder bag, an unusual but practical solution. Since weight isn't an issue (the bag rests on my lap) I initially went with a gun I'd long admired, a Ruger SP101 in .357 Magnum supplemented by a couple of Safariland speedloaders. When I first took it to the range in 2014 I confess I was a bit nervous, but quickly found that even though I had to shoot both one- and weak-handed, it was entirely comfortable shooting even full power .357 loads safely and with reasonable accuracy. Quite a relief, you can bet!

Now, I moved my mom here in 2010 to get her out of Washington, DC and she requested I find her a handgun for security when I wasn't home. As it turned out she liked a S&W 642-2 I located even although I advised against anything with an internal lock.

Unfortunately she passed away in late 2014, and recently I dug the Airweight out and was so impressed with its build quality and feel (even with that infernal lock) that I made it my always-ready sidearm...though the SP101 is still always nearby. Hey, I love that little tank!

Also with practice and some experimentation I found I COULD operate a semiauto, so I did some horse trading and acquired a SIG P229 after finding a superb deal for a red-case CPO one with four 12-round .40 magazines. Still, it's tough to rack a slide, and worse, it takes a good 10-15 minutes to top off a mag even using an UPLULA tool, so it's my backup SHTF house gun.

What really drew me to this site, apart from my recent infatuation with the J-frame, was the fact that I'll be paying off my mortgage in a little over a year and I mean to finally indulge my decades-old desire for a classic K frame rimfire revolver. I've adored my .22s for so long and found I enjoyed relaxed plinking best, plus I was first taken with the K-22 Masterpiece many moons ago, so it's an easy call. Since I'm looking for a shooter, not a safe queen, I'm also considering some of the later Model 17s, perhaps even a recent 617 (though I'd want a pre-lock one). I figure there's plenty of time to learn and refine my choice before the budget opens up!

Last edited by Gunloon; 03-20-2017 at 09:40 AM.
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #2  
Old 03-20-2017, 09:38 AM
mrsig mrsig is offline
SWCA Member
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Tampa
Posts: 4,354
Likes: 19
Liked 659 Times in 615 Posts
Default

Welcome from Tampa.
__________________
NRA Bene Life, SWCA 2372
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #3  
Old 03-20-2017, 10:55 AM
lrrifleman's Avatar
lrrifleman lrrifleman is offline
Member
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Southern NJ
Posts: 4,678
Likes: 18,929
Liked 4,185 Times in 1,862 Posts
Default

Welcome from the Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey.
__________________
Judge control not gun control!
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #4  
Old 03-20-2017, 11:49 AM
MSG Glenn MSG Glenn is offline
US Veteran
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 5,478
Likes: 207
Liked 741 Times in 668 Posts
Default

Welcome from Wisconsin, Glenn! I'm also a Glenn, LOL.
__________________
Former USN, Retired US Army
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #5  
Old 03-20-2017, 11:54 AM
S&W Oldtimer's Avatar
S&W Oldtimer S&W Oldtimer is offline
SWCA Member
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: SW VA
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 4,647
Liked 1,645 Times in 1,283 Posts
Default

Welcome from Va.
__________________
Roger
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #6  
Old 03-20-2017, 12:08 PM
coachray coachray is offline
Member
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Cincinnati,Ohio
Posts: 2,226
Likes: 919
Liked 768 Times in 513 Posts
Default

Welcome from Cincinnati
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #7  
Old 03-20-2017, 12:16 PM
snubbyfan's Avatar
snubbyfan snubbyfan is online now
Member
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: WVa East Panhandle
Posts: 28,590
Likes: 70,879
Liked 81,379 Times in 18,440 Posts
Default

__________________
Keep on Chooglin'
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #8  
Old 03-20-2017, 12:50 PM
bigwheelzip's Avatar
bigwheelzip bigwheelzip is offline
Absent Comrade
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 12,990
Likes: 17,229
Liked 41,503 Times in 9,146 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gunloon View Post
Still, it's tough to rack a slide, and worse, it takes a good 10-15 minutes to top off a mag even using an UPLULA tool, so it's my backup SHTF house gun.
Howdy from South Carolina, and welcome to the forum.

Regarding one-handed loading. A while back, someone posted here with similar loading needs, looking for alternative options. I found and posted a video that showed a homemade loader that was a wood block that held the ammo in a slot, and the mag was pushed down onto it.

Some members here analyzed and tweaked that design to improve it. One member did a CAD/CAM study and 3D printed several excellent prototypes. That design seemed like an ideal solution for a person with limited dexterity.

I looked for that thread, and the original video I posted, but couldn't find them. Hopefully, someone can point you to it, because it was a simple yet effective solution.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #9  
Old 03-20-2017, 01:18 PM
Rustyt1953's Avatar
Rustyt1953 Rustyt1953 is offline
US Veteran
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hamilton, Ohio
Posts: 44,122
Likes: 61,588
Liked 188,369 Times in 36,198 Posts
Default

Welcome Glenn.

Sorry about your mom. You seem to have a great grip on life and I hope you get that K-22 and happy shootin'.
__________________
Music/Sports/Beer fan
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #10  
Old 03-20-2017, 03:04 PM
Gunloon Gunloon is offline
Member
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Nashville TN
Posts: 5
Likes: 24
Liked 5 Times in 4 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by bigwheelzip View Post
Howdy from South Carolina, and welcome to the forum.

Regarding one-handed loading. A while back, someone posted here with similar loading needs, looking for alternative options. I found and posted a video that showed a homemade loader that was a wood block that held the ammo in a slot, and the mag was pushed down onto it.

Some members here analyzed and tweaked that design to improve it. One member did a CAD/CAM study and 3D printed several excellent prototypes. That design seemed like an ideal solution for a person with limited dexterity.

I looked for that thread, and the original video I posted, but couldn't find them. Hopefully, someone can point you to it, because it was a simple yet effective solution.
Thank you!

I think I'm as good as it gets using an UPLULA and some patience. If I stay current I can get my time down to close to ten minutes for a pistol magazine. I just can't get in a situation where I'm pressed for time, which is why it's my SHTF house gun. Now, I still haven't shot my P229 yet, but my experience has been that SIGs just do not jam...my old P239 never once did with close to a thousand rounds through it over the years, everything from Cor-Bon hollowpoints to cheap gun show FMJ reloads. Four magazines gives me 48+1 rounds which should be plenty in almost any situation.



I use the 642 when I'm going out, also carrying a Safariland speedloader. I really like these, since you only have to locate the cartridges and push on the body to release them, unlike HKS that need a knob twist. I do a fairly speedy eject and reload, certainly not competition-worthy, but in a pinch I'd do all right, I think. Ten rounds of +P hollowpoints provides plenty of peace of mind.

A guy in a power wheelchair like me is a slow moving target to the wrong kind of people, but then those sorts are also the most cowardly and I bet once some .38+P started coming their way they'd vamoose pretty fast.

BTW, when loading my Ruger Mark II's magazines, I discovered the horribly named but fantastic 'Ultimate Clip Loader' a few years back and consider it the greatest invention since smokeless powder. Ever see one? You just shake some loose rounds into its hopper, close the sliding door, and it aligns those .22s automatically...then I can insert an empty magazine, press it into the chute, and load all ten rounds in a few seconds. Best little low-tech, inexpensive gadget I've ever seen. I would have wanted one even in my healthy days to save annoyance and sore thumbs!


Last edited by Gunloon; 03-20-2017 at 03:31 PM.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #11  
Old 03-20-2017, 03:20 PM
OLDSTER's Avatar
OLDSTER OLDSTER is offline
Member
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: North Dakota
Posts: 10,146
Likes: 14,187
Liked 12,739 Times in 3,480 Posts
Default

Welcome from North Dakota
__________________
John
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #12  
Old 03-20-2017, 03:51 PM
tekarra tekarra is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,131
Likes: 126
Liked 535 Times in 431 Posts
Default

Welcome aboard Glenn.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #13  
Old 03-20-2017, 03:52 PM
bigwheelzip's Avatar
bigwheelzip bigwheelzip is offline
Absent Comrade
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 12,990
Likes: 17,229
Liked 41,503 Times in 9,146 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gunloon View Post
I think I'm as good as it gets, using an UPLULA and some patience.
Yeah, that Uplula has a home in my range bag too, but one-handed is tough. I'll look some more for that other design anyway, if just for my own reference.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #14  
Old 03-20-2017, 05:04 PM
mcoe74's Avatar
mcoe74 mcoe74 is offline
US Veteran
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 1,726
Likes: 530
Liked 299 Times in 243 Posts
Default

Welcome to the forum.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #15  
Old 03-20-2017, 05:12 PM
Gunloon Gunloon is offline
Member
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Nashville TN
Posts: 5
Likes: 24
Liked 5 Times in 4 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by bigwheelzip View Post
Yeah, that Uplula has a home in my range bag too, but one-handed is tough. I'll look some more for that other design anyway, if just for my own reference.
Interesting, and I'll be interested to see what you turned up, thanks!

You gotta understand how huge an impact the UPLULA tool's had on my life. After watching my left hand's function diminish for several years, I was at a mighty low point...I could only load one to three rounds unassisted into a magazine with just my right hand. I really, really thought I was done forever with semiautos. Yet the finding of the UPLULA tool and my own cussed stubbornness driving me prevailed...that's the kind of gun nut I am, and I say that with pride.

If you want to see the incredible skills people with disabilities can develop, have a look at Tod Browning's 1932 film 'Freaks.' Apart from seeing the coping skills some learned that are impressive in their own right, there's a scene where Prince Randian, The Living Torso, a man with no arms or legs, after rolling a cigarette with loose tobacco and paper, seals it, then proceeds to use just his mouth to strike a match, light up and puff away. That's completely real, and still inspires me whenever I feel down about my own limitations!

See the lighting segment for yourself (it's all I could find, but the movie does show him at work with a drawstring tobacco pouch): Freaks (1932) - Prince Randian Lights a Cigarette - YouTube
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #16  
Old 03-20-2017, 05:12 PM
Bill In Texas Bill In Texas is offline
Member
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Home is Texas.
Posts: 2,769
Likes: 3,402
Liked 1,402 Times in 843 Posts
Default

Welcome to the Neighborhood!
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #17  
Old 03-20-2017, 08:02 PM
D Brown's Avatar
D Brown D Brown is offline
SWCA Member
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 3,158
Likes: 21,164
Liked 7,109 Times in 1,990 Posts
Default

Welcome from Central Florida!

Don't discount the newer 617s. They're still a lot of bang for the buck!
__________________
Dave Brown
SWCA #3279
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 03-20-2017, 08:29 PM
bigwheelzip's Avatar
bigwheelzip bigwheelzip is offline
Absent Comrade
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 12,990
Likes: 17,229
Liked 41,503 Times in 9,146 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gunloon View Post
Interesting, and I'll be interested to see what you turned up, thanks!
Prince's film is an inspiration alright.

I dug up the video I posted to that thread, but am getting nowhere with finding the thread. This concept was the basis for the other ideas that the members contributed though. I hope it's some help.

Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 03-20-2017, 08:37 PM
snuffy51's Avatar
snuffy51 snuffy51 is offline
Member
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 2,784
Likes: 4,304
Liked 3,277 Times in 1,264 Posts
Default

Welcome from Tennessee, too.
__________________
Just a shooter
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 03-20-2017, 08:37 PM
C Islander C Islander is offline
Member
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 10,129
Likes: 1,758
Liked 1,348 Times in 986 Posts
Default

Welcome from Ohio!!
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 03-20-2017, 08:56 PM
Targets Guy's Avatar
Targets Guy Targets Guy is offline
US Veteran
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Southwest Iowa
Posts: 10,867
Likes: 2,688
Liked 18,968 Times in 5,588 Posts
Default

Yep. That's the video. It's fairly simple to build and it works great. I remember the thread as well but have looked in vane also.

Welcome to the forum.
__________________
Mike
S&WCA #3065
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #22  
Old 03-20-2017, 09:28 PM
rwt1405's Avatar
rwt1405 rwt1405 is offline
SWCA Member
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 3,305
Likes: 14,958
Liked 2,549 Times in 1,145 Posts
Default

Welcome from Delaware!
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 03-21-2017, 02:23 AM
MCorps0311's Avatar
MCorps0311 MCorps0311 is offline
US Veteran
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Derby City,Ky.
Posts: 4,675
Likes: 5,277
Liked 3,503 Times in 1,680 Posts
Default

Welcome aboard!
__________________
Life is short,live it fully.
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 03-21-2017, 08:28 AM
Gunloon Gunloon is offline
Member
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Nashville TN
Posts: 5
Likes: 24
Liked 5 Times in 4 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by bigwheelzip View Post
Prince's film is an inspiration alright.

I dug up the video I posted to that thread, but am getting nowhere with finding the thread. This concept was the basis for the other ideas that the members contributed though. I hope it's some help.
Thanks for posting this, it's intriguing seeing someone with a similar (though not identical) situation to my own. This fellow's struggle to load just a couple of rounds is exactly like mine... I could practically feel him straining to do it.

His hand strength does seem weaker than my own, so I will not condemn him for choosing a tip-up barrel Beretta in a minor caliber to avoid having to rack a slide...though honestly my sense is that he gave up a bit easily. Like I said, I too was discouraged for some time by this issue, and pooh-poohed advice to immobilize the frame and rack the slide with my good hand.

BUT, with some experimentation (and stubbornness) I did find it can be done, and more importantly, fairly easily. My biggest worry at this point is having to re-position my whole body to avoid having the muzzle sweep an undesirable arc. It's mainly at the range where I'd have to be extra cautious; at all times I'm conscious of the fundamental firearm safety rules, but at home I'm not going to take them to absurd degrees once I've verified the gun really is empty.

I suspect at the range I'll just enlist a helper to rack a slide or load me a few 5-shot strings just for simplicity's sake and to avoid wasting time or even the possibility of concerning others about my safety discipline.

The video did get me thinking about something...right now I just lean the magazine against a book or bag to keep it from falling over while I prepare to load a round with the UPLULA by grasping the cartridge between my middle and forefinger so I can finagle it into position once I've depressed the follower with the tool. I'm thinking a square of steel plate with a piece of wood mounted on it to locate the floorplate and base of the magazine would be a dandy solution, at least an inch or better in height so the mag won't fall over or skitter around.

Thanks again for giving me something useful to go with...right now it's doable, but an improvement like I detailed would get rid of what few shortcomings remain in my method.

LOL, it's also a reminder of why revolvers are so much simpler to deal with!
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #25  
Old 03-21-2017, 08:51 AM
Gunloon Gunloon is offline
Member
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Nashville TN
Posts: 5
Likes: 24
Liked 5 Times in 4 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by D Brown View Post
Welcome from Central Florida!

Don't discount the newer 617s. They're still a lot of bang for the buck!
Oh, for sure! Hickok45 recently did a very favorable review of the 617, and was quite pleased with it. I like the fellow and his opinion carries weight with me.

I don't care if the internal lock's 110% reliable; I just don't like the presence of that lock's keyhole...it's kind of an in-your-face reminder of the omnipresent Nanny State meddling where it's neither needed nor wanted. Of course, not wanting to be pushed around by bureaucrats marks me as one 'afflicted' with 'Oppositional Defiance Disorder' according to DSM V, but so be it.

I'm used to working with a mindset that my 'impulse power' budget is forever...it's not, and I'll certainly have more discretionary dough in just a matter of months!. Once my mortgage is done, there's no reason why I only have to have just one gun!

I'm seeing a lot of really nice looking Model 17s from the late 70s-early 80s on Gunbroker and GunsAmerica, one of these might be just the ticket for satisfying the nostalgia factor.

Thanks!

Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 04-05-2017, 09:23 PM
pawncop pawncop is offline
Member
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: TEXAS
Posts: 18,248
Likes: 7,989
Liked 5,675 Times in 2,190 Posts
Default

Welcome from Texas Glenn. Great forum for all things S&W, have fun, learn lots, share what you know.
__________________
I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 04-16-2017, 11:44 AM
Muss Muggins's Avatar
Muss Muggins Muss Muggins is offline
Member
A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville! A big hello from Nashville!  
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: bootheel of Missouri
Posts: 16,855
Likes: 6,981
Liked 28,085 Times in 8,897 Posts
Default

Welcome from the bootheel of Missouri . . .
__________________
Wisdom comes thru fear . . .
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Greetings from Nashville, TN MrsStealth New Members Introduction 17 06-12-2012 06:33 PM
New Guy in Nashville blackvandriver New Members Introduction 8 11-14-2011 07:18 PM
Hello from Nashville Billco New Members Introduction 8 04-28-2011 06:46 PM
Hello from Nashville TN PH-2 New Members Introduction 11 04-27-2011 08:30 PM
Nashville Here... LAZY EYED SNIPER New Members Introduction 12 09-14-2010 09:08 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:11 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)