460V - Removal of Single-Action Feature
- Thread starter DrDoctor
- Start date
Ziggy2525,
EXCELLENT suggestions – I like 'em!!! That's pretty much my plan of attack on this. I do quite abit of dry-firing with my gun, but I couldn't locate any .45 snap-caps. My gun shop of choice found me a work-around – another customer generously gave them 15 .45 cases for them to give to me. I use them in lieu of snap-caps. Your 3rd recommendation's spot-on – I wear tri-focals, and I do find that the sights on the 460V leave something to be desired. Given that – what's your recommendation for easier-to-aquire sights??? I made the grips from Kansas Black Walnut to fit my hand, and they really do fit well, if I do say so myself. Further, I've dry-fired with damp hands, but not often. Your 5th recommendation's also spot-on – dry-firing my gun single-action is a breeze, but dry-firing it double-action isn't. the gun shop I frequent had a Smith & Wesson show with S&W staffers there to evaluate any customer's guns. I had them evaluate the trigger pulls on mine – they tho't the SA pull was OK, but the DA pull may be at the high end of their specs. Hence, my concern about it. And, your 6th recommendation – also spot-on. Thx.
Walkingwolf – Well put!!! Thx.
Biggfoot44 – Good points!!! Thx.
EXCELLENT suggestions – I like 'em!!! That's pretty much my plan of attack on this. I do quite abit of dry-firing with my gun, but I couldn't locate any .45 snap-caps. My gun shop of choice found me a work-around – another customer generously gave them 15 .45 cases for them to give to me. I use them in lieu of snap-caps. Your 3rd recommendation's spot-on – I wear tri-focals, and I do find that the sights on the 460V leave something to be desired. Given that – what's your recommendation for easier-to-aquire sights??? I made the grips from Kansas Black Walnut to fit my hand, and they really do fit well, if I do say so myself. Further, I've dry-fired with damp hands, but not often. Your 5th recommendation's also spot-on – dry-firing my gun single-action is a breeze, but dry-firing it double-action isn't. the gun shop I frequent had a Smith & Wesson show with S&W staffers there to evaluate any customer's guns. I had them evaluate the trigger pulls on mine – they tho't the SA pull was OK, but the DA pull may be at the high end of their specs. Hence, my concern about it. And, your 6th recommendation – also spot-on. Thx.
Walkingwolf – Well put!!! Thx.
Biggfoot44 – Good points!!! Thx.
Ziggy2525
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Doc,
I'm a couple years younger than you. I'm a bit nearsighted and use progressive bifocals. I prefer tritium night sights with a bright orange ring on the front sight. I've tried a couple other types of sights and that works best for me.
One thing to keep in mind when you're reading here. Opinions are like fingerprints. Pretty much everybody has them and nobody's really matches anybody else's. Take everything with a grain of salt until you verify it works for you.
I have one more set of suggestions.
1 - If you don't have a couple flashlights to use with your home defense revolver, buy two Fenix PD35 flashlights and a couple extra rechargeable batteries (no financial interest on my part). Keep one by your revolver or whatever your home defense gun ends up being. The second is a spare. Use it to practice with and maybe keep it in the kitchen or another part of the house. Keep the batteries charged. Test them every so often to make sure they work.
2 - If you look online, there are are three or four common flashlight grips to use when shooting. I've been transitioning mine from the Ayoob Grip to a high cheek hold. With your revolver UNLOADED (triple check) try the different grips in your home (with woke up in the night illumination) to see which flashlight grip lets you illuminate an intruder and your sights so they are both visible with your glasses off. It will also let you adjust the intensity of your flashlight so you aren't blinding yourself when you turn your flashlight on.
3 - Now go to the range, draw a 5" circle on a target and put the target out at 7 yards. Use an old, throwaway DVD for the 5" template. Start from low ready. Using the flashlight grip that you figured out at home, with vision glasses off and safety glasses on, can you reliably hit that 5" circle on that target with 5 shots using a 1 second or better shot cadence. You'll be shooting with the flashlight in your weak hand and your revolver strong hand only. If you can't, you need to figure out something different. More practice. Different trigger. Different flashlight technique. Different sights. Different pistol.
I'm a couple years younger than you. I'm a bit nearsighted and use progressive bifocals. I prefer tritium night sights with a bright orange ring on the front sight. I've tried a couple other types of sights and that works best for me.
One thing to keep in mind when you're reading here. Opinions are like fingerprints. Pretty much everybody has them and nobody's really matches anybody else's. Take everything with a grain of salt until you verify it works for you.
I have one more set of suggestions.
1 - If you don't have a couple flashlights to use with your home defense revolver, buy two Fenix PD35 flashlights and a couple extra rechargeable batteries (no financial interest on my part). Keep one by your revolver or whatever your home defense gun ends up being. The second is a spare. Use it to practice with and maybe keep it in the kitchen or another part of the house. Keep the batteries charged. Test them every so often to make sure they work.
2 - If you look online, there are are three or four common flashlight grips to use when shooting. I've been transitioning mine from the Ayoob Grip to a high cheek hold. With your revolver UNLOADED (triple check) try the different grips in your home (with woke up in the night illumination) to see which flashlight grip lets you illuminate an intruder and your sights so they are both visible with your glasses off. It will also let you adjust the intensity of your flashlight so you aren't blinding yourself when you turn your flashlight on.
3 - Now go to the range, draw a 5" circle on a target and put the target out at 7 yards. Use an old, throwaway DVD for the 5" template. Start from low ready. Using the flashlight grip that you figured out at home, with vision glasses off and safety glasses on, can you reliably hit that 5" circle on that target with 5 shots using a 1 second or better shot cadence. You'll be shooting with the flashlight in your weak hand and your revolver strong hand only. If you can't, you need to figure out something different. More practice. Different trigger. Different flashlight technique. Different sights. Different pistol.
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Ziggy2525 – I'm currently looking into alternatives to the "red-ramped" front sight, and I have a few pre-conceived notions, but I'm trying to be open minded as I progress in this process. I love your analogy about the fingerprints – so true, my friend!!! And, I try to allow any negative remarks to just roll of my back like water on a duck. So far – so good. And, if anyone should get out of hand, there's always the "ignored user's list" . . .
I'm going to look into those Fenix PD35 lights. We've got some small easy-to-hold flashlights, one of which has a strobe setting, and when looking at that – well, let's just say I prefer to be holding it rather than looking at the business of it. Currently, there's 1 by our bed, 1 in the kitchen, and 1 in the foyer. We do need to work on holding it with our respective gun, but we haven't quite gotten to that point – yet.
We do intend to go the range near us run by the "retired agent from an agency we don't talk about" when the weather finally breaks. It's just been too cold to even give it any consideration.
Your recommendation about exercises without my glasses is also excellent, and something that, frankly, I never considered. I tried to wear the blended lenses, (I wear tri-focals) but that didn't work well for me at all. A friend of mine was an ophthalmologist, and he coaxed me into trying them, saying if they didn't work for me, he'd get me set of regular lined lenses and not charge me for the blended ones. OK, given that condition, I gave in. When the glasses arrived, I went in to have them fitted. Upon leaving his office, I had difficulty hitting the button for the elevator (yep, true . . .). Once we got outside, the curb looked to be 1 inch high (easily traversed . . .), or 1 FOOT high (a significant drop . . .), so, we turned right around, went back to my friend, and gave him back the blended lens glasses, and he was true to his word – he got me a pair of lined lens glasses, and I didn't have to pay for the blended lens ones.
We're also going to do the practice routines you've outlined. Like they say – "practice makes perfect, and there's no substitute for practice". As always, we truly do appreciate you recommendations. As we progress, I'll keep you apprised. Warmest regards to you – Thx.
I'm going to look into those Fenix PD35 lights. We've got some small easy-to-hold flashlights, one of which has a strobe setting, and when looking at that – well, let's just say I prefer to be holding it rather than looking at the business of it. Currently, there's 1 by our bed, 1 in the kitchen, and 1 in the foyer. We do need to work on holding it with our respective gun, but we haven't quite gotten to that point – yet.
We do intend to go the range near us run by the "retired agent from an agency we don't talk about" when the weather finally breaks. It's just been too cold to even give it any consideration.
Your recommendation about exercises without my glasses is also excellent, and something that, frankly, I never considered. I tried to wear the blended lenses, (I wear tri-focals) but that didn't work well for me at all. A friend of mine was an ophthalmologist, and he coaxed me into trying them, saying if they didn't work for me, he'd get me set of regular lined lenses and not charge me for the blended ones. OK, given that condition, I gave in. When the glasses arrived, I went in to have them fitted. Upon leaving his office, I had difficulty hitting the button for the elevator (yep, true . . .). Once we got outside, the curb looked to be 1 inch high (easily traversed . . .), or 1 FOOT high (a significant drop . . .), so, we turned right around, went back to my friend, and gave him back the blended lens glasses, and he was true to his word – he got me a pair of lined lens glasses, and I didn't have to pay for the blended lens ones.
We're also going to do the practice routines you've outlined. Like they say – "practice makes perfect, and there's no substitute for practice". As always, we truly do appreciate you recommendations. As we progress, I'll keep you apprised. Warmest regards to you – Thx.
Ziggy2525
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Since you're using this as a home defense gun, that's your worst case scenario, right? Someone kicks in your door in the middle of the night. It's dark in the house. You grab your pistol and flashlight, but either don't have time to put on your glasses or just from fear don't think about it.
You need to illuminate the intruder with the flashlight in your weak hand and shoot your pistol strong had only - without your glasses. Depending on your vision, normal sights might not work for you in that scenario. You may need something like a red dot optic. If that's the case, it may limit your choices in pistols and revolvers. That's why I think it's good to test it out unloaded, at home to see if what you have will work.
Ziggy2525 – You're 100% correct!!!
1) The primary purpose for this gun is home protections, secondary purpose self-defense. With the doors being vault-like, I'm not too concerned with any of them being the prime entry point – it's the windows. But, the point is – the uninvited intruder(s) has/have intruded uninvited.
2) It's late; it's dark; we're startled out of a sound sleep; we're surprised/off guard; we grab our guns; we need illumination, so we grab the flashlight (I'd prefer to not turn the room lights on, and in so doing announce to the uninvited intruder(s) our location); but our glasses may not be grabbed, even tho' they're close – the time factor, not to mention the stress of the situation.
3) Since it's dark – our eyes are already adjusted to the darkness (chalk one up for us . . .). But, is the illumination of the flashlight sufficient for sight acquisition given the conditions present in #2 above??? Then there's the issue of practicing with a 2-handed grasp, but having to hold the flashlight, and the gun, simultaneously. All of the training up to that oint suddenly becomes semi-applicable (at best . . .) in the conditions present at that given moment.
Conclusion – My wife and I have discussed this at length since we read your most recent comments of last night. Obviously we've got some more homework to do, and need to expand our sphere of training. Simply saying "Thank You" doesn't even begin to express our combined gratitude to you for your cogent comments, and for bringing to light the need for us to incorporate other skills into our training program, with the additional focus on strong-hand, and not just concentrating on 2-handed, shooting. Thx.
1) The primary purpose for this gun is home protections, secondary purpose self-defense. With the doors being vault-like, I'm not too concerned with any of them being the prime entry point – it's the windows. But, the point is – the uninvited intruder(s) has/have intruded uninvited.
2) It's late; it's dark; we're startled out of a sound sleep; we're surprised/off guard; we grab our guns; we need illumination, so we grab the flashlight (I'd prefer to not turn the room lights on, and in so doing announce to the uninvited intruder(s) our location); but our glasses may not be grabbed, even tho' they're close – the time factor, not to mention the stress of the situation.
3) Since it's dark – our eyes are already adjusted to the darkness (chalk one up for us . . .). But, is the illumination of the flashlight sufficient for sight acquisition given the conditions present in #2 above??? Then there's the issue of practicing with a 2-handed grasp, but having to hold the flashlight, and the gun, simultaneously. All of the training up to that oint suddenly becomes semi-applicable (at best . . .) in the conditions present at that given moment.
Conclusion – My wife and I have discussed this at length since we read your most recent comments of last night. Obviously we've got some more homework to do, and need to expand our sphere of training. Simply saying "Thank You" doesn't even begin to express our combined gratitude to you for your cogent comments, and for bringing to light the need for us to incorporate other skills into our training program, with the additional focus on strong-hand, and not just concentrating on 2-handed, shooting. Thx.
Why do you think this?
I wouldn't ever rule that out. All it takes is for a ruse to actually work to get your door open, or for someone patient waiting directly outside. In addition, every scenario you envision has you dealing with a stranger. What happens when you get attacked by someone you think you know?
