I'm Back

[JCFindley]

OK, the title is a little misleading as this is the first time I have been in the forum. I am back in the world of S&W wheelguns though after a ten year or so break.

I had one variety of 686 or another for 20 years after I turned 21. I have had a few others along the way as well as one Ruger revolver. I have had a bunch of semi-autos as well over the years but the 686 has always been my go to pistol and has been and is my favorite pistol.

After being held hostage in NYC for a few years with no guns at all my first step in re-arming when I moved back to the South was a Smith M&P 45 mostly because my wife thought the 686 was a little too much for her. She shot my cousins not long ago with full up magnum loads and loved it so I went out and bought one.

I am not a fan of the locks not so much because I worry about them failing as much as I think it looks ugly. (I am an art photographer among other things so aesthetics matter to me.)With that in mind I went out and found a prelock 686.

I just wanted to say high and introduce myself. I through some pics on of my new love.

 

[Mulebuk Sam]

OK, the title is a little misleading as this is the first time I have been in the forum. I am back in the world of S&W wheelguns though after a ten year or so break.

Welcome home JC !
I'm back myself and never leaving again. Dumped my G39 my last semi and I've gone full tilt boggie.

 

[S&W Oldtimer]

Welcome to the forum from Va.

 

[bigwheelzip]

I am not a fan of the Clinton locks not so much because I worry about them failing as much as I do not like Clinton and think it looks ugly.

Might want to browse the forum rules, because you broke two of them (no derogatory discussion of politics or gun locks) in one sentence, in your first post.

 

[JCFindley]

Oops

Sorry about that. I should have known better on politics but wouldn't have thought the lock all that big a hot button.

I'll take a little deeper look at the rules.

Thanks for the welcome.

 

[bigwheelzip]

I'll take a little deeper look at the rules.

Let me help,

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/354030-bashing-crying-whining.html

BTW, nice wheel gun and welcome to the forum.

PS, FWIW, the IL has nothing to do with government, but is a product of the company (Saf-T-Hammer) that bought S&W. The external lock is the mandated one for retail sales, the IL is a business decision.

Tomkins to Sell Smith & Wesson
To Saf-T-Hammer for $15 Million - WSJ

 

[JCFindley]

Thanks Big

I really wasn't meaning to bash or whine and I will stay away from politics.

Can anyone tell me how to upload an avatar? I feel nekkid.

 

[old bear]

I'm Back

I didn't realize you were gone But welcome back anyway. Nice 686 and really nice photos.
If you are going to keep the rubber grips on your 686, remember to remove them and check the frame for any signs of rusting. Rubber grips can and will trap moisture.

 

[Ashlander]

Really nice photos!! Thanks.

 

[JCFindley]

I didn't realize you were gone But welcome back anyway. Nice 686 and really nice photos.
If you are going to keep the rubber grips on your 686, remember to remove them and check the frame for any signs of rusting. Rubber grips can and will trap moisture.

Thanks, I have always cleaned under the grips on a regular basis. This one is probably going to get some nice wood grips in the near future but even those get cleaned in my house.

Thanks yall for the nice words on the pics. The 686 is my latest model and a lot more cooperative than alligators and other wildlife.

 

[GerSan69]

Welcome, JC! I've actually seen your work elsewhere.... awesome photos!
Now you'll have to pick up a few more subjects - I mean, guns.

 

[RobertJ.]

Greetings from the Oregon Coast!

 

[bigwheelzip]

Can anyone tell me how to upload an avatar? I feel nekkid.

Open the User CP link on the top banner, then select Edit Avatar.

 

[M29since14]

Nice pictures of your new 686. Welcome home.

 

[JCFindley]

Welcome, JC! I've actually seen your work elsewhere.... awesome photos!
Now you'll have to pick up a few more subjects - I mean, guns.

I have two more budgeted in the short term then it is back to spending on camera equipment.

But, I do like a statement my wife made which I agree with 100%.

When she found out how much she liked the 686 she asked if we could trade in the 45. I said no as what I would get wouldn't be worth the trade in and she stated, "Well, you can never have too many guns."

 

[JCFindley]

Thank you all for the warm welcomes. It is nice to find such an active forum about a subject that is one of my favorites.

 

[loeman]

Yes, welcome to the forum from New Mexico. The knowledge you will gain here will amaze you!

Congrats on your 686. I have two along with a Md 681. They are all really superb shooters and as you said (and show), a pleasure to look at.

Yes, the IL is a very controversial topic here, to say the least. Discussion of the subject invariably turned to politics and general bashing of nearly everybody and everything. Therefore the moderators installed new rules to keep this forum civil, fun and above all else...educational. And I'm glad they did!

 

[Old cop]

Welcome from NVA, beautiful .357.

 

[JCFindley]

Yes, welcome to the forum from New Mexico. The knowledge you will gain here will amaze you!

Congrats on your 686. I have two along with a Md 681. They are all really superb shooters and as you said (and show), a pleasure to look at.

Yes, the IL is a very controversial topic here, to say the least. Discussion of the subject invariably turned to politics and general bashing of nearly everybody and everything. Therefore the moderators installed new rules to keep this forum civil, fun and above all else...educational. And I'm glad they did!

Yeah, I mod on another forum and really should have known better on the political stuff.

In reality I prefer not to have a safety of any kind on any of my guns. I trained a lot on 686s back in the day and of course there was no safety.

The HKs we carried when I was a Federal Flight Deck Officer had no safety either and I trained on that for five years. That is one of the reasons I went with the M&P for my auto. It is available without a safety and can be configured to operate exactly how I handled the HK. I drop the mag with my right social finger instead of my thumb. On the HK I would have had to come off grip to use a thumb drop. 15,000 rounds of training would take a lot of training to undo. I might have gone with an HK but the price on the M&P was more in my budget and I wanted a 45.

Anyway, I know you can just turn the IL off and not worry about it but I prefer other methods to keep from having an AD or have the gun getting in unwanted hands. The guns I do have with a safety have a tendency not to make any noise at the range the first time I squeeze the trigger as I invariably forget to turn it off. I won't get a Marlin lever gun made after they added the safeties either.

Long winded answer but there are myriad reasons I do not like safeties which also makes me shy of the IL. None of the reasons I do not like safeties couldn't be overcome with proper training but 30 years of training without them is a lot to overcome.

 

[19leben]

You're photography skills are awesome. I love the visual texture your photos offer.
Wish I could do the same.
Congrats on the 686 and welcome from Oklahoma.

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