I'm sure everyone has witnessed it: the hero of the latest Hollywood movie is hopelessly outnumbered, has no escape and is seemingly seconds away from death when...
Sorry folks, but the whole "gun-in-each-hand" idea just doesn't work in real life. I'm not saying that our intrepid action hero doesn't look really cool with two pistols blazing as he escapes the evil villains' lair/limousine/whatever, but he sure as hell isn't going to hit much. It looks pretty easy in the film, but controlling two handguns kicking in each hand is not easy in itself, let alone trying to hit something while controlling them. Just because Hollywood makes it look easy, doesn't mean it is.
But you already knew that, right? ;)
-Michad
Showing posts with label SW. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SW. Show all posts
Friday, April 27, 2012
Great Firearms: The Smith & Wesson Model 60 .38 Special Revolver
For this installment of Great Firearms I present the Smith & Wesson Model 60 .38 Special revolver:
The S&W Model 60 is a 5-shot J-frame revolver designed primarily for concealed carry by police officers and civilians. The Model 60 is the stainless steel version of the famed S&W Model 36 "Chief's Special" snub-nose revolver that was introduced by S&W in 1950 at the International Association of Chiefs of Police convention. The Model 36 was very favorably received by these officers and others because it combined the power of the .38 Special cartridge with a small-framed, easily carried revolver. The Model 60 was introduced in 1965 as the stainless steel version of the Model 36. The Model 60 has the distinction of being the first stainless steel production revolver, and set in motion the use of stainless steel in firearms manufacturing. The primary advantage of a stainless steel revolver over a standard blued model is that stainless steel is far more resistant to rust than a standard blued steel revolver. When thinking about the primary role of the Model 60 as a concealed carry piece, the importance of corrosion resistance is very clear. The S&W Model 60 was chambered primarily in .38 Special until 2006 when S&W produced a "magnumized" J-frame and chambered the .357 Magnum in it.
My own personal Model 60 was the first handgun I purchased when I became old enough to obtain my Concealed Carry Permit. I paid $330 for it, and it came with Pachmayer grips on it. Being a traditionalist, I promptly located a set of original S&W J-frame wood grips and replaced the Pachmayers. The wood grips fit my hand better than the rubber ones, and I just like the classic look better. My Model 60 is my favorite handgun I own, the trigger pull in both single and double action is wonderful for such a small revolver, and the accuracy at 20 yards is perfectly adequate for a concealed carry piece. With 125 grain Speer Gold Dot +P .38 Special loads, it is a perfectly adequate defensive revolver, putting the power of the .38 Special cartridge in a lightweight, easily concealed, reliable revolver. The Smith & Wesson Model 60 can truly be considered a Great Firearm, and the CCW holder would do well to consider it as a defensive firearm.
-Michad
The S&W Model 60 is a 5-shot J-frame revolver designed primarily for concealed carry by police officers and civilians. The Model 60 is the stainless steel version of the famed S&W Model 36 "Chief's Special" snub-nose revolver that was introduced by S&W in 1950 at the International Association of Chiefs of Police convention. The Model 36 was very favorably received by these officers and others because it combined the power of the .38 Special cartridge with a small-framed, easily carried revolver. The Model 60 was introduced in 1965 as the stainless steel version of the Model 36. The Model 60 has the distinction of being the first stainless steel production revolver, and set in motion the use of stainless steel in firearms manufacturing. The primary advantage of a stainless steel revolver over a standard blued model is that stainless steel is far more resistant to rust than a standard blued steel revolver. When thinking about the primary role of the Model 60 as a concealed carry piece, the importance of corrosion resistance is very clear. The S&W Model 60 was chambered primarily in .38 Special until 2006 when S&W produced a "magnumized" J-frame and chambered the .357 Magnum in it.
My own personal Model 60 was the first handgun I purchased when I became old enough to obtain my Concealed Carry Permit. I paid $330 for it, and it came with Pachmayer grips on it. Being a traditionalist, I promptly located a set of original S&W J-frame wood grips and replaced the Pachmayers. The wood grips fit my hand better than the rubber ones, and I just like the classic look better. My Model 60 is my favorite handgun I own, the trigger pull in both single and double action is wonderful for such a small revolver, and the accuracy at 20 yards is perfectly adequate for a concealed carry piece. With 125 grain Speer Gold Dot +P .38 Special loads, it is a perfectly adequate defensive revolver, putting the power of the .38 Special cartridge in a lightweight, easily concealed, reliable revolver. The Smith & Wesson Model 60 can truly be considered a Great Firearm, and the CCW holder would do well to consider it as a defensive firearm.
-Michad
Great Firearms: The Smith & Wesson Model 19 .357 Magnum
For the first installment of Great Firearms I bring you the Smith & Wesson Model 19 .357 Magnum revolver:
Before S&W began using a model number system of identifying their firearms, the Model 19 was known as the "Combat Magnum". Smith & Wesson approached famed Border Patrolman and firearms professional Bill Jordan about what features a police officer would like to see in a sidearm. Jordan's knowldege of what worked well for a police officer was invaluable to S&W, who at the time pretty much had the market cornered in police sidearms in the United States. (Colt, while a presence on the police firearms scene, really didn't have the market share that S&W did.) Jordan suggested that the ideal police sidearm should chamber the .357 Magnum cartridge, and should not be overly heavy, so that it was comfortable for the officer to wear all day. At the time, Smith & Wesson's Model 27 was the premier .357 Magnum double-action revolver, but it was built on the large N-frame and was rather bulky and heavy for a sidearm that was to be worn all day and shot very little. Jordan suggested that S&W build their new revolver on their K-frame, which was slightly smaller than the N-frame. Jordan suggested that, while the K-frame would be smaller and therefore not as strong as the N-frame, the .357 Magnum could still be chambered in it; He stated that the new revolver should be "loaded with .38 Special for practice, and .357 Magnum for business purposes." In November 1955, S&W produced the first K-frame "Combat Magnum" which would later come to be known as the Smith & Wesson Model 19.
My own Model 19 is a 19-4, produced in 1977. It is an blued steel model. (The stainless steel model of the Model 19 is called the Model 66. Side Note: Anytime a S&W model number begins with a "6" the gun is a stainless steel version.) My example shows some slight holster wear, from when it was carried by my father when he began his law enforcement career. It is one of the most accurate, smoothest shooting revolvers I have ever fired. I can easily put six shots into one ragged hole at 25 yards, and both the double and single action pull on the gun is simply amazing. The Smith and Wesson Model 19 truly is a Great Firearm, and was the ideal sidearm for the peace officer when revolvers resided in the holsters of our nation's law enforcement.
Before S&W began using a model number system of identifying their firearms, the Model 19 was known as the "Combat Magnum". Smith & Wesson approached famed Border Patrolman and firearms professional Bill Jordan about what features a police officer would like to see in a sidearm. Jordan's knowldege of what worked well for a police officer was invaluable to S&W, who at the time pretty much had the market cornered in police sidearms in the United States. (Colt, while a presence on the police firearms scene, really didn't have the market share that S&W did.) Jordan suggested that the ideal police sidearm should chamber the .357 Magnum cartridge, and should not be overly heavy, so that it was comfortable for the officer to wear all day. At the time, Smith & Wesson's Model 27 was the premier .357 Magnum double-action revolver, but it was built on the large N-frame and was rather bulky and heavy for a sidearm that was to be worn all day and shot very little. Jordan suggested that S&W build their new revolver on their K-frame, which was slightly smaller than the N-frame. Jordan suggested that, while the K-frame would be smaller and therefore not as strong as the N-frame, the .357 Magnum could still be chambered in it; He stated that the new revolver should be "loaded with .38 Special for practice, and .357 Magnum for business purposes." In November 1955, S&W produced the first K-frame "Combat Magnum" which would later come to be known as the Smith & Wesson Model 19.
My own Model 19 is a 19-4, produced in 1977. It is an blued steel model. (The stainless steel model of the Model 19 is called the Model 66. Side Note: Anytime a S&W model number begins with a "6" the gun is a stainless steel version.) My example shows some slight holster wear, from when it was carried by my father when he began his law enforcement career. It is one of the most accurate, smoothest shooting revolvers I have ever fired. I can easily put six shots into one ragged hole at 25 yards, and both the double and single action pull on the gun is simply amazing. The Smith and Wesson Model 19 truly is a Great Firearm, and was the ideal sidearm for the peace officer when revolvers resided in the holsters of our nation's law enforcement.
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