I have decided to move this blog in another direction. I will be writing about outdoors subjects(hunting, fishing), but I will also continue commenting on Massachusetts Second Amendment issues.
Hello readers,
I’ve been neglecting to post on here for a bit, plan on starting up again. Coming soon: a review on the Tristar Viper G2. The Ruger Sp101 is the quintessential medium sized carry revolver. The SP101 shines among its ultralight peers. At 26 oz, it has the weight to soak up recoil from murderously heavy recoiling Three-Fifty-Seven Magnum rounds and the concealability to disappear beneath a T-shirt. The revolver will accept a multitude of different grips to suit any shooters hand, from wood to rubber. Furthermore, I opine the stock grips that come with the revolver leave a lot to be desired. This example currently sports squishy Pachmayr Diamond Pro stocks that absorb hard recoil, aid in controllability during rapid fire and fill the hand. I also have a pair of Badger Boot grips for this pistol, they do not extend past the butt, and would be a good option when concealability is a priority. A wheel gun of this size fits an interesting niche, too big for pocket carry and just right for IWB carry, but also comfy to shoot. This revolver sports a 2.25 inch barrel, at this time it is also available in a 3 and 4 inch barrel. Moreover, its size makes it a potential recreational piece, and a neat pack gun for the woods. One could load up with hot 357 magnum rounds for critter defense and milder rounds for target practice. A 5 shot revolver, such as the SP101 will take care of most any grave social situation that any armed citizen is likely to encounter. Some will argue that 5 is not enough, I will agree that it is certainly a disadvantage compared to a modern magazine fed auto. However, it more than makes up for this in concealability, reliability and ease of use. The SP101 is more likely to be there when needed compared to the big Government 1911, and more controllable than a lightweight J frame revolver. The 2.25 inch version is equipped with fixed sights, calibrated for 357 magnum ammunition of the heavier variety. The sights are snag free and low profile, this sp101 wears a gemini customs fiber optic front sight. Moreover, night sights are also available for those so inclined. I opted to leave the hammer intact, leaving the option to cock the gun single action, in the very unlikely event needed. If so concerned, covering the hammer with the thumb during the draw will remedy any snags that will unlikely occur, or bobbing the hammer will certainly solve the issue. I will warn a potential buyer that a trigger job is in order with most Ruger arms. The trigger is not horrible, nor good, a trigger job would certainly smooth it out and make this snubby more accurate. Ruger has excellent customer service in my experience, but will revert a modified pistol to stock configuration when sent in for repair or service. I advise one to check and test for function at the range, before modifying the pistol. Evan W The Smith and Wesson snub nose J frame has become the Ubiquitous carry revolver for generations. In an age of polymer wonder pistols, the J frame is still carried by police officers as a backup gun and by citizens as a primary carry gun. This writer will primarily discuss Smith and Wesson “Airweight” snub revolvers. Super lightweight versions made of rare metals do exist, and can be had for close to one-thousand dollars. These super lightweight versions are most unpleasant to shoot, cost a fortune, and offer little in advantage to the reliable aluminium version. Moreover, the plain jane snub j-frame can be had around four-hundred dollars new and less for used. Furthermore, the airweight snub is primarily a carry or backup gun, it proves to be unpleasant to shoot with hot loads and is manageable at best with target loads. Stainless steel versions, while being more belt guns than pocket guns, significantly reduce recoil because of the increase in weight. The Airweight snub nose J frame has ramp and notch sighting system, one would assume that fixed sights were a handicap to accuracy, not exactly. Fixed sights have a few distinct advantages, one being that the notch and ramp are very snag free, the other being that the sights are calibrated for most commercially available ammo. The J-frame has a close to two inch barrel, this has held true to be both blessing and curse. The same short sight radius that makes it an exceptional pocket gun, makes the pistol less forgiving to the beginner or unpracticed marksman. Practice with the snub is essential if one wants it to be potent choice for carry, a few boxes of ammo shot through it every few weeks will help keep skills sharp. The snub is meant for up close and personal situations, within spitting distance. The revolver will fire when in a coat pocket, it will also fire when pressed in an assailant's body, a major advantage over an automatic. Furthermore, the J-frame is rounds limited, at five rounds of thirty-eight special, and while this being a small disadvantage to some, the small revolver is more likely to be there when one needs it. The 38 Special cartridge is similar to the 9mm in ballistics, and when loaded to +P pressure, it will pack a wallop from the short barrel. Standard pressure 38 would also be a good compromise because modern hollow points are designed to expand at lower pressures. One cannot ignore the glaring difference between most double action revolvers and the Airweight snub: lack of a hammer spur. The hammer spur has been lopped off and is held internally by the frame. This is to make the pistol as snag free as possible, as not to grab at the lining of the pocket when being drawn to meet an assailant. The short grips on the snub lend themselves to clandestine carry. This writer's 442 wears a set of rubbery Hogue Monogrips, these can be had for short money and aid in recoil control and gripping via a slight palm swell and grippy texture. Some will opine that these rubber grips are a disadvantage because they will "grab" at clothing, this writer has not experienced this, and will dare to say that the recoil reduction by the rubber grips out weighs this possible issue. A few companies do make grips that extend past the frame, but this makes the point of the snub moot. Clearly, the Airweight snub is a fine choice for concealed carry, although one must accept a few limitations. The pistol is meant to be shot infrequently and carried frequently, but dedicated practice with the snub is a must to be proficient with it. A short meaningful range session is more useful than a session when the shooter becomes fatigued and flinching sets in. The Airweight has accompanied this writer on many trips walking down dark city streets, the pistol has given a sense of security and comfort when when prying eyes were felt peering from dark alleyways. The polymer automatic may be the new modern trend, but the snubby has overshadowed that trend for many years and will continue to do so. I have a few reviews coming in the following days: The Ruger SP101 with 2+ inch barrel and Smith and Wesson 442 J-frame. These will be my first online reviews, so please keep that in mind. I opine that a review should be fair and balanced, and as objective as possible. I have made sure to include plenty of pictures, to feed hungry eyes.
Thanks Evan On a hot and humid New England day, Massachusetts citizens awoke to a assault on personal liberty and due process. The Massachusetts (MA) Attorney generals (AGO, AG) office had just retroactively made thousands of MA legal gun owners, essentially felons in waiting via a Guidance letter published in the local liberal news rag, the "Boston Globe". The AG had reinterpreted the decades old MA Assault Weapons Ban, that mirrored the federal ban in the early nineteen-ninetys, word for word. This made a horrifying precedent that with a swoop of the quill, a government bureaucrat, could retroactively make citizens criminals for legally purchasing a firearm, that were legal under law. This is not only an abuse of power but a violation of due process. It is not clear what is going to happen for MA citizens, a lawsuit has been filed by the Nation Shooting Sports Foundation and several are pending because of the MA AGO demanding gun owner info from manufactures. It appears that this will be decided in the courts, if not the next legislative session.
I made this blog to be a place for free thinkers and those that support personal liberties to enjoy like minded individuals. I will be featuring ramblings, gun and gear reviews and other assorted fun stuff in the near future from an author that was born in a not so free state in Northeast.
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