Perfect Packin' Pistol

Funny that I just read this in "American Handgunner". They have an article by Roy Huntington named "Perfect Packin" Pairs". Sort of salute to John Taffin. He discusses matching a rifle and handgun in the same caliber. I had done the same years ago with a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44 Mag. with a Marlin Model 1894 in .44 Mag. In the mid 70's these were what I carried when hunting. Now I have a couple of .22LR rifles and handguns that would fit the bill. That being said in the spirit of the articles, I happen to have something a tad larger. I have a Pedersoli Colt Lightening .45 Colt, this is a pump rifle. To go with it I also have the above Ruger and a S&W Model 25-9. Works for me.
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jurnes said:
Beautiful holster Kevin (gun also)
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Thank you!

That is a modern copy of the Sunday Scabbard popular with the Texas Rangers of the early 20th century. Also known as a Brill holster although Brill never made one but was a large merchantile dealer.

Arguably one of the first holsters designed for concealed carry. It was necessary because as the Rangers became more city oriented and less country, the genteel folks did not like seeing the gunbelts and hardware associated with keeping them safe so openly displayed! Ranger Captain John Hughes designed a scabbard to be worn on the then new trouser belt. It was to be lighter than the normal Mexican loop and the belt channel was narrower to fit the smaller trouser belt.

Kevin
 
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Big fan of the "Perfect packing pistol", and have more than a few that would qualify. Most of my woods strolling is in black bear and moose territory, so I like a light weight but big bore handgun on my hip when out kayaking or running my camera. My current favorite is a S&W 69 with the 2.75 inch barrel. 240 HC flat points at about 1000 fps. Another is a Ruger SB with a 4.75 inch barrel and a Dragoon style grip frame fitted for my big hands. Same load as the 69. AJ - As you have found, how a grip fits your hand can make a big difference in shootability, especially with heavy kickers.

Larry

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Fishinfool said:
Big fan of the "Perfect packing pistol", and have more than a few that would qualify. Most of my woods strolling is in black bear and moose territory, so I like a light weight but big bore handgun on my hip when out kayaking or running my camera. My current favorite is a S&W 69 with the 2.75 inch barrel. 240 HC flat points at about 1000 fps. Another is a Ruger SB with a 4.75 inch barrel and a Dragoon style grip frame fitted for my big hands. Same load as the 69. AJ - As you have found, how a grip fits your hand can make a big difference in shootability, especially with heavy kickers.

Larry

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I always tell folks if you like the gun, but not the grips we can fix that.
AJ
 
Glad you've got your gun working the way you'd like. :) The birdshead gripframe suits me mighty fine on this .45 ACP New Vaquero; I've had folks suggest it might be a PPP, although I'm more of a semiauto guy and generally less interested in fat bullets. :)
 
AJ said:
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.
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I am interested in learning more about your converting your 30-1 from .32 S&W Long to .32 H&R. I bought a 30-1 a couple years ago and it was my first .22. Love it so much I bought I Single Six in .32 H&R mag. Love that so much I bought a SP-101 in .327 Federal Mag. Love that gun too. I have been casing 100 grain SWC bullets for the 30-1 and using very conservative charges of WW231, at like 775 fps. Great plinking load and carry it sometimes for smaller critters like coyotes or maybe a mountain lion (not my first choice though). Being older J-frame I'm not sure how much I'd want to push it but obviously you have enough confidence to bore the chambers out to accept the H&R round. I actually have a spare cylinder for the blue gun in nickel that I bought on eBay because it was mint and cheap so I have a "pinto" gun by swapping out cylinders and yokes. How hot do you go wit the H&R loads in your 30-1?
 
BB57 said:
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.
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I had a small Horse Ranch after growing up on a large Horse Ranch. .44s and .45s of course and I liked SA revolvers Rugers and then Colts) for the Western nostalgia. But S&W DA revolvers were more practical.

When I rode Posse, I preferred a S&W Model 27 four inch.
 
LJBrennan007 said:
I am interested in learning more about your converting your 30-1 from .32 S&W Long to .32 H&R. I bought a 30-1 a couple years ago and it was my first .22. Love it so much I bought I Single Six in .32 H&R mag. Love that so much I bought a SP-101 in .327 Federal Mag. Love that gun too. I have been casing 100 grain SWC bullets for the 30-1 and using very conservative charges of WW231, at like 775 fps. Great plinking load and carry it sometimes for smaller critters like coyotes or maybe a mountain lion (not my first choice though). Being older J-frame I'm not sure how much I'd want to push it but obviously you have enough confidence to bore the chambers out to accept the H&R round. I actually have a spare cylinder for the blue gun in nickel that I bought on eBay because it was mint and cheap so I have a "pinto" gun by swapping out cylinders and yokes. How hot do you go wit the H&R loads in your 30-1?
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There are lots of threads on the conversion of the 30-1 from 32 S&W to 32 H&R Mag. It is an easy conversion. My "Social Load" is 10.1 grains of Lil Gun. For just practicing on the range I use 3.0 grains of Bullseye. Both loading are for a 100 grain cast WC. I never shoot more than 7 yards as I consider that 30-1 1 7/8 " a "Bellly Gun".
 
Based on what I have now and where I usually go, it would be my 66-1 or 19-5 four inch. If I was going places where the diners were larger than oversized kitties, I’d at least opt for one of the new three inch editions of the 19 or 66 that might handle 180s a bit more surely without breaking something.

John Taffin was in the envious position of having a lot of favorite PPPs and being able to tell others about them. He was another treasure list.
 
In town… a Ruger LC9s

Over the River and Thru the Woods…. Ruger Redhawk.
 
AJ,for me it's a 3 in model 36 with herrett shooting ace grips. I like them so much I've got 2 of them.
 
This works for me. The alloy grip frame helps it be only 38 ounces empty & 6 shots of 45 Colt should handle anything I need to take care of.
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Fishinfool said:
Big fan of the "Perfect packing pistol", and have more than a few that would qualify. Most of my woods strolling is in black bear and moose territory, so I like a light weight but big bore handgun on my hip when out kayaking or running my camera. My current favorite is a S&W 69 with the 2.75 inch barrel. 240 HC flat points at about 1000 fps. Another is a Ruger SB with a 4.75 inch barrel and a Dragoon style grip frame fitted for my big hands. Same load as the 69. AJ - As you have found, how a grip fits your hand can make a big difference in shootability, especially with heavy kickers.

Larry

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Larry, you sure know how to take some great pictures! Those guns sure look good! WoW!
 
I have two that I regard as PPP. One is a Ruger Flattop .45 Colt for when I venture to an area with black bear. The rest of the time it's a S&W 60-10 that I shoot almost as well as my model 15 (which the 60-10 replaced as a woods bumming gun).
 
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.
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How come more people don’t just shoot alligators on sight? It must be illegal or something. Not like they are an endangered species or anything.
 
Phenix said:
How come more people don’t just shoot alligators on sight? It must be illegal or something. Not like they are an endangered species or anything.
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There is a season for hunting them. Nuisance gators have to be harvested by licensed trappers. Just shoot one an FWC will have your tookus in a crack in a heartbeat!
 
Lots of choices out there. Since I only carry concealed (78 = no longer a woodsman) I rarely PACK - except when visiting ATLANTA, or unknown territory. I'm mostly concerned about defending against rogue humans. I chose something Steel, Compact & narrow, 100% reliable even with hollow points, THAT I LIKE. It is usually my Russian 9x18mm MAKAROV, unless really hot weather, then it's my smaller Polish P-64 9x18mm. I have improved them, & I'm very satisfied with them, after years of experience with a pair of them, one is a .380 (spare). Lots of videos about them in case anyone is curious about them.
BTW, I do own other handguns - in case you wondered. Above are my concealed favorites.
 

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The idea of carrying the same-caliber rifle as handgun was an idea that appealed to guys in the 19th century and early 20th when ammo in rural areas might be less available in certain calibers…. and I bought into the concept myself to have a Marlin ‘94 in .44mag and a Redhawk also.
But in hindsight, it’s not very versatile an idea. Carrying only One caliber limits one’s range of options. It’s either too big for small game…to small for large game…and no option when either is encountered.
I decided that carrying a small caliber pistol alongside a large caliber rifle gave better, more “universality” to deal with whatever came up more effectively.
 
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