Perfect Packin' Pistol

AJ

AJ

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Have been rereading a few articles by the late John Taffin about "Perfect Packin' Pistols". I had picked up a Ruger New Vaquaro with a Birdshead grip in .45 Colt. Thought I would like it as it was. I was wrong, as it rolled to much in my hand. Enough that I had to readjust my grip on the gun after each shot. Talked about it with a member of the Ruger Forum. He gifted me a reguler plow handle shaped grip frame. I put it on and got a set of wood grips from another friend (he likes Pachmayr's and replaces all his grips with them, has a dresser drawer full of wooden gris of all makes and models). Don't know just how much I will carry it as I don't hunt anymore and no tromping through the woods either. When I carry it is either a 36 or 30-1 (made into a 32 H&R Mag). Thoughts on the piece? The before and after photos. With the plastic grips that still slide in my hand. Then with the wood grips that worked infinetly better for me.
Vaquero Birdshead.jpg
Vaquero Plowhandle.jpg
Vaquero Wood Grips.jpg
 
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If it suits you, it suits you.

But to call yours the “perfect packin’ pistol” doesn’t matter to the vast majority as that can mean any number of things depending on the usage required.

For me, the “perfect packin’ pistol” certainly isn’t a 19th century inspired single-action revolver. It is a CZ-75BD chambered in 9mm x 19 and carried in a Simply Rugged Cuda pancake and loaded with Federal BPLE 115 grain +P+ JHPs.

IMG_4941.jpeg

If more power is needed, out comes my GP100 or G20SF, but since the most dangerous game in my neck of the woods is meth heads and pit bulls, maybe the occasional rabid animal, this load suits me JUST fine.
 
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Glenn,

What I am referring to is articles by the Late John Taffin. He has written numerous articles on "Perfect Packing Pistols". He generally refers to these as single actions of various makers. He generally writes about revolvers eith DA or SA. There may have been some autos, but I do not remember them. In the latest Jeff Hoover has written an article named "The Ideal Perfect Packin' Pistol - A Sixgun Tribute Honoring John Taffin". The gun is a Ruger flat top Bisley in .45 Colt and .45 ACP.

You are correct in the saying that the SAA is an old design. But for some it is the most desired.

Your autos are good for you. For me, since I have been playing with a M1911 design for a bit over 50 years, I will stick with a .45 ACP and if I feel the need for more power will got to a Ruger SR1911 in 10 MM that is ported.

We do have some animals that will eat you if given the chance and I stay out of those areas. However, have had a six foot gator in the pond across the street about 50 yards away. Folks that lived a touch closer call a trapper to move it. Also have pythons, panthers and bobcats. Both of the latter have been in the yard at various points in time.

Enjoy your guns.
SR1911.jpg
 
AJ said:
Glenn,

What I am referring to is articles by the Late John Taffin. He has written numerous articles on "Perfect Packing Pistols". He generally refers to these as single actions of various makers. He generally writes about revolvers eith DA or SA. There may have been some autos, but I do not remember them. In the latest Jeff Hoover has written an article named "The Ideal Perfect Packin' Pistol - A Sixgun Tribute Honoring John Taffin". The gun is a Ruger flat top Bisley in .45 Colt and .45 ACP.

You are correct in the saying that the SAA is an old design. But for some it is the most desired.

Your autos are good for you. For me, since I have been playing with a M1911 design for a bit over 50 years, I will stick with a .45 ACP and if I feel the need for more power will got to a Ruger SR1911 in 10 MM that is ported.

We do have some animals that will eat you if given the chance and I stay out of those areas. However, have had a six foot gator in the pond across the street about 50 yards away. Folks that lived a touch closer call a trapper to move it. Also have pythons, panthers and bobcats. Both of the latter have been in the yard at various points in time.

Enjoy your guns.
View attachment 760950
Click to expand...

Very nice. I respect that and I respect you, sir.
 
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Taffin and I, both being old-school, have similar tastes when it comes to the perfect "packin' pistol." I've packed this Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt for over 30 years. It's almost always on my hip when I take the pack string into the back country. Granted, it's not a Bisley, but it fits my hand and shoots where I point it. For over twenty years, I packed into heavily populated black bear country and never felt under gunned. Now, we'll run into an occasional black bear, but more likely to see mountain lion or moose, both of which can be unpredictable.
ewj2k53.jpg
 
Everyone must choose their own "perfect packing pistol" for damn sure. We all have our own ideas about caliber, capacity, operation and size. I like a lot of the 3rd gen S&W pistols and still sometimes carry them.

But I have settled on a Shield 45 for the past few years. It's my favorite caliber and it carries quite well. It has a safety and the capacity is good. I wish it was hammer fired instead of striker. But the trigger is good and the accuracy is outstanding.

My second choice is a revolver. A S&W 65 in a 3" configuration.

I have to admit however, the DW Guardian in 38 super is right up there in the middle of the mix as a favorite carry & caliber configuration.
 
When I was young and lived on a ranch I agreed with Taffin. A Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt or a Super Blackhawk in .44 Mag was a great option to carry a mix of cast semi wad cutters or jacketed hollow points for larger things, and shot shell loads for crawly things. Those "4" calibers carried enough shot to be useful.

However, now I'm more inclined to carry a 3" Model 686 or Model 66 with .357 Mag loads, and a 2 1/2" or 3" Model 66 is my preferred backpacking hand gun. The DA design is just a lot easier when it comes to indexing the right round with a mix of solid and shot loads.

A larger N frame or Redhawk just isn't for me as they have never fit my hand well. Which is also saying when I want something with more punch, I'll carry a 4 5/8" or 7 1/2" Blackhawk with "Ruger Only" loaded .45 Colt.

As for the Bisley grip. Not just no thanks, but "absolutely not". Never could stand it and never saw the appeal in a centerfire revolver. The standard plow shape grip is a solid design as its stable to hold and shoot, yet lets the revolver roll upward to dissipate recoil with a heavy load.

8a6bf896-4cff-4991-ba93-c41f2ee4e09a.jpg

414cef53-b9e3-4c03-9f52-87b08dd32919.jpg

9ab949ec-8391-4cd0-81e3-4b23d936b9f8.jpg
 
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dben002 said:
"We do have some animals that will eat you if given the chance." "Also have pythons, panthers and bobcats."

Could be it's just me but I make it a rule to stay the heck out of such area's.:eek:
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Gators tend to go wherever there is water (ponds, canals, river, etc). Pythons live where there is wild game for the most part, however when the game is gone what is next? Pets? They are all over the rural areas here.
 
Taffins PPP was always a single action with a rare exception. The gun had to be short, 4-5 inches and in a 44 or 45 caliber. Weight and length was an issue, flat top Rugers usually the platform so 44 mag was usually out. Most were 44 special or 45 Colt. The 44 specials loaded hot, the 45 Colt at traditional pressures. The rule was that a 45 Colt with a 255 grain Keith bullet at about 900 fps would penetrate a mule deer from north to south and any bear except the browns and grizzly just fine. That being, 99% of any critter or risk found on the trail, fishing trip, or walk about was covered.

The PPP was not a design for dealing with the Bloods or Crips in large cities, it was an idea about packing a gun for visits to the boonies, where threats are real, zombies are not.

Your birdshead in 45 is a perfect PPP under the Taffin Criteria. You just have to find the grip that works for you. Nice gun. Congrats on your choice.
 
I think the removal of the Birds Head grip improved it 100%. It's all about fitting your hand. I have carried and feel comfortable with a Blackhawk 45 4 5/8", A 4.2" 69, Kahr CM 40 and a 4" 610. I have found too large to carry a Glock Model 40, 6" 10mm and still feel my Kimber Target 45 is too nice to carry as is a 24-3 4".
 
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I generally like Bird’s He’d grips but admit I haven’t tried them on a very hard kicking pistola (yet).
 
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Yes I had a couple of Bisleys and thought they were cool but wasnt quite comfortable when shooting. Traded around for plow handle models, One 357mag BH was traded back and forth several times , I could hit long neck beer bottles with it at 80 yds, just taking the neck off, I know glass etc. First time I thought luck, then second time, wow. My 44s shoot more comfortable with the plow handles.gun bisley2.jpggun bisley3a.jpggun bisley4.jpg
 
Just for reference, this is one of the new Lipsey’s/Ruger New Model Blackhawk “Perfect Packing Pistols”.

IMG_3487.jpeg
I wasn’t at all sure about the grips before it arrived but like them very much. The swell in the middle keeps my hand placement more consistent.

I bought this gun mostly to honor Mr. Taffin. It is fun to shoot. For walking around in the woods, a 3” Model 66 is fine for me. That or one of the 1911s either .45 ACP or 9x23 Winchester.
 
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