Maybe it's time I got back to the basics . . .

[Cayoot]

Originally posted by bluedsteel:

As I move on in life,I find that piling up more and more "things" doesn't add to anything but actually detracts from life.

raym,

Well said, simply.

erich;
bluedsteel

Amen!

I have bought a couple more guns this year, and to tell you the truth, I am regretting it. When it comes time to shoot, I almost always reach for my .45 Colt Mnt Gun (Cuz I enjoy it so much). When it comes to carry, I almost always reach for my SP-101 or 3 3/4 inch 686+.

Most everything else sits in the safe. I'm thinking of giving them to my sons...I like the idea of having alot less possessions.

My life is too cluttered

 

[prisoner6]

Erich,

I understand where you are coming from and went through a similar reduction myself. I found I had a lot of "nice" guns I didn't shoot as much, so I whittled down and ended up with mostly .38s because that was my favorite. I finally broke down and added back a .357 since I missed having one, but all of my carry guns are .38 Specials.

 

[No30]

Erich,

I think you’ll do just fine with heavy .38 Specials. I often carry a heavier gun, but that’s just because I choose to. I believe that the heavy .38 loads will take care of just about any problem you’re likely to encounter. It’s similar to my CCW philosophy. I often carry a Glock-17. It’s light, reliable, and accurate, but I really doubt that I’ll need 17 rounds of +P Gold Dot. Sometimes I carry a custom Para Ordinance P-14, but again, just because I want to. If I had even the slightest inkling that 5 rounds of .38 Special wouldn’t solve my problem, I would avoid the situation or carry a rifle and/or shotgun. High capacity autos, powerful revolvers, and extra rounds are all great things, but for most of us who are not in law enforcement or professional hunters, life is just not that dangerous. I like it that way.

Todd

 

[ldp4570]

ERICH, I think you'll do just fine. I've been going through a renewed love affair with all my .38's again, and have started packing the same. Only change from your collection in all mine are stainless-steel except my 2nd Gen. Colt D.S.

 

[snowman.45]

Erich:
I think your experiment will work out just fine. The older I get, the more nostalgic I get for the good old revolver days of my early career. I now find myself with more revolvers than bottom-feeders (although I still love my 1911's and Glocks). In the Summer, I often carry my 340Sc with a couple of speed strips or speed loaders with GDHP 135gr. SB .357 rounds.

When I hike in the Sierras, I usually carry something a little larger; either a 66-2 3" or 686 3" with 158 gr. JSP rounds. I'm really interested in our recipe for your .38 rounds. I'd like to give them a try. Please post it.
Thanks.

By the way, while I was born in New Mexico (father was USAF stationed at Sandia), I haven't been there in many years. Sure looks beautiful. I hope the politics there are not approaching this mess with have in the PRK.

 

[Erich]

Thanks to all you gents for posting. I agree about the lightning being a bigger threat than the black bears - it's why I always tell people on "black bear" threads to be sure to wear rubber-soled shoes before even thinking about a bear load.

Hi Dave,
NM politics are lefty, but nothing like what you have. They still have some common-sense floating around.

I don't post load data because I'm always worried about what someone inexperienced might do with it. FWIW, there's a thread up in reloading (I linked it below) that discusses my source for this load - it appears that quite a few people are concerned that it's dangerous.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/570103904/m/5671017852

 

[Snapping Twig]

I haven't been struck by lightning, but I've "interacted" with bears and cougars on several occasions.

I didn't go looking for them, they found me, California is lousy with them.

I carry a 3" 629 stuffed with cast 265g GCSWC and I do this exclusively. No other gun gives me the comfort this piece does and it disappears weight-wise when I carry it in the field.

You are wise to be threat specific for your area and simplicity is sublime. I enjoy your posts.

 

[BillCa]

With the help of my more-experienced friends (including my friends here) I've started loading those rounds (a 160-grain LSWC at 1230 fps from a 4" K-frame with a SD of under 3 fps!). And I've developed my own defensive rounds that ought to work just dandy (a DEWC at 895 fps from a 1 7/8" tube) from the easily concealed .38 revolvers.

I hope you realize that the 160-gr load you mention is, in reality, a .357 Magnum load. Especially if you're chrono shows it popping out of a 4" snout instead of a 6".

I'm much more fond of wheelguns than self-shuckers and find that I tend to take my 649 along more often than other guns simply because it's so easy to carry, steel frame and all.

I picked up an old S-series Model 58 that was suffering a bad case of rust freckles. Since it cleaned up nicely but will never be a "collectors" piece, it has become my favorite outdoors & driving gun.

Unfortunately for us California dwellers, walking the local hills and trails with a firearm is verbotten without either a hunting license or that endangered species, a CCW permit.

 

[Erich]

I hope you realize that the 160-gr load you mention is, in reality, a .357 Magnum load. Especially if you're chrono shows it popping out of a 4" snout instead of a 6".

You know, Buffalo Bore does 1162 fps with a 158-grain bullet from a 4" tube . . . and it was a .38 listing in the Speer manual that I was using. If you want to see what others are saying about the load, follow the link on my first post on this page.

 

[myakkaman]

Erich, I can't see how you could go wrong with a round butt fixed sight 3-4 in K frame shooting a 160-173 grain LSWC for ccw. That load will punch through modern car bodies like they were made of Charmin. I like the 4 inch with the round butt fixed 13, hell a 10 would work too. I load 12.7 2400 behind my 173 Keith in my model 13, it shoots a little high at 25 yards, but not much and it is VERY accurate. I load these in .38 special cases. (OVER MAX LOAD FOR .38 SPECIAL) I use a heavy crimp but I like that load a lot.

 

[gizamo]

Erich,

Didn't look at your link, but am curious as to which Spear manual you are using for this? I load them pretty hot with Bullseye and magnum primers. But I do not approach your loads. Then again I am using a 165 RB antique Ideal mold that is one of those "Magic Molds" of yore.

Giz

 

[Erich]

Myakkaman, I'd love to know what velocities you're getting.

Giz, the infamous # 8 "Fire and Brimstone" manual. BE actually scares me - I know people who've blown guns with this fast-burner. I use it only for the lowest power target loads.

 

[gizamo]

Yep, I was wondering if it was #8

There has been much debate about that one over the years. I only load with Bullseye these days, because of the sheer volumn of rounds I shoot each year.

I'm very thrifty (reads: cheap)

One powder for everything I shoot. Less confusing, no possibility of a mistaken I.D. The Dillon is set up with the RCBS powder measure die.....

That said, I am less afraid of BE then the quoted #8 Manual

I used it when I was developing some loads ~ what were they thinking.

Guess it is time to look at your link, and see what others have had to say....

Giz

 

[myakkaman]

Erich, as of yet I do not own a chrony, my own personal guess would be in around 1090-1115 at sea level, and it is a load that you can control, I use Tyler T and PC stocks with this combo, the .38 special cases easily eject from the 13's cylinder. A double tap is not hard to accomplish. I like the 4 inch round butt better than the three. I like the extra inch of barrel, it is no harder to conceal, it might even add stability in a Tucker Texas Heratage type holster as well, and I like the balance of the 4 inch tube. My 13 is a square butt, I might get a 4 inch 65 and round the butt with the brownells jig. That Keith 173 plain base is a nice bullet. I get mine sized .358 and just slight presure pushes it through the cylinder throats, and as you know, that sucker will penetrate.

 

[Erich]

Yep! Thanks!

 

[gizamo]

Actually just read through Erich's link that he initially posted over in the Reloading forum. As someone who not only reloads, but casts....

I found this to be a very informative discussion. With all the renewed interest in the 38/44's it is also timely.

I reload all my 38 Specials towards the high end of anyones listed data. Then again, I shoot all of them in 38/44's or .357 Magnum rated guns. They are hot loads and not meant for your early Chiefs 36

That said: look at the 5 pages of comments here

and form your own opinions...

Giz

 

[mic214]

Erich,

Now that I have my M-65 done, I find that I carry it more and more.... I added a different set of grips to it (Factory round butt target grips). The leather rig is a DeSantis thumb break speed scabbard and a 2x2x2 ammo pouch:

 

[Erich]

What a great set-up, Mick.

Giz, I didn't know that you cast . . . I'm loving cast bullets right now.

 

[Poohgyrr]

This thread does have interesting information in it, and links too. My empty head still has lots of room for good stuff like this.

At first glance, .38 vs bear doesn't sound very appealing.

But further reflection (load, placement, boolit) goes a long way towards making it more comfortable.

However, hope no one minds if I personally still prefer a short Levergun for bears..

 

[Groo]

Groo here
Going back to the old days I seee.
I guess from the speeded your loading to
that your bullet is cast hard and has a flat nose.
I doubt that you will have much trouble that
this combination can't handle.
I would suggest something however.
I have used autos for duty carry for some time and after converting back to a revolver, I
found myself with an empty gun in qualifications.
You should shoot differently with a revolver
than an auto. You have more horsepower and
penetration than with most autos and
a well placed shot is most high on the list
of things to do when you need the gun-
not how fast you can get the rounds off-
and we need never hear the dreaded "CLICK".
This happened to me at the range and I
would not have it happen to a fellow round gun
shooter.