My old duty revolver on duty again.

[Adam Helmer]

In 1982 I attended S&W's Armorers School and built 5 Model 65 3-inch stainless .357 revolvers over the two-week course. All passed test fire and I was permitted to buy one at cost, which was about $152.00 at that time. Our agency allowed us to carry Personally Owned Weapons (POWs) if we qualified with then. I was the Firearms Coordinator (Instructor) at the time and naturally carried the M65 for many years on duty. I retired in 1996 and the M65 became a vault resident until last week.

I got out the old M65 and it still shot to the fixed sights with its accuracy load of 7.0/Unique and a 158 grain SWC hard cast bullet at 25 yards. I forgot how concealable it was in the old duty holster. I carry the M65 CCW when I am not carrying the old M1911 that was my backup gun on duty.

I think revolvers still have their place for CCW. I like revolvers because there are no safties, decocking levers and whatnot to flip off before the gun goes into use. Also, revolvers can be employed with either hand quickly. I start all my handgun students on revolvers because anyone who shot a cap gun or water pistol can employ a DA revolver.

Adam

[GoodOlBoy]

I love snubbies for CCW. I know that some like my 38 don't have alot of power, but they can still do the job.

If it wasn't for its horrible rep I would seriously buy me a Charter Arms pug 357. Unfortunitly it (unlike other charters) has a truely truely bad rep.

Congrats on carrying an old friend again.

GoodOlBoy

[Adam Helmer]

GOB,

Yes, it is good to have the old M65 on my hip again. I suppose it is now an "Old" S&W since it does not have the lock-out gizmo currently on Smiths.

We had our "Free" fishing day (no license required) a while back and an old Korean War veteran asked me to go fish a mountain stream with him. I got out my old fly rod and a box of homemade snake loads for the Smith M686. That is rattler territory where we went and a revolver is the best snake gun going. I caught trout and we saw no rattlers, but we were ready. Revolvers will always have their place, in my opinion.

Adam

[GoodOlBoy]

Yep you would be amazed at what you can do to a snake with a snubnose charter 38 and snake shot. Now if the price of the snake shot would come back down. Sheesh its through the roof.

GoodOlBoy

[Adam Helmer]

GOB,

My snake loads are in a .38 Special or .357 Magnum case, 4.0 grains of Unique, a .38 caliber gas check, some #7.5 or 8 shot and another gas check with a roll crimp that makes it look like a brass shotgun shell. The snakes like it.

Adam

[GoodOlBoy]

yep an here I been buyin CCI are $12 a pop lately

GoodOlBoy

[skeet]

I was at the Big R farm supply...they also sell guns & reloading stuff. They had a bunch of CCI 45 auto and 45 Colt snake loads on the shelf. Price was 7.49 a box. Picked up 10 of each. Got to the counter the gal said they were 14.99..each. Showed her the price and that is what I paid..7.49..Went back a few days later..all the prices said 14.99. Another way to load shot loads in the 38 and 44 is to use a gas check and one of those veterinary gel capsules. Load really good. Just got to find the right sizes. Think a M of them cost me 8 bucks.. When ya go to the feed store take one of the digital mics with ya. Then you can get what you need. Cheaper than Gas checks. Instead of a gas check on the bottom cut some card board(primer cartons) wads with the right size punch. Makes it even cheaper. I just used my gas checks till they were gone and switched. :confused: Darn I'm cheap!!:p