Wednesday, January 21, 2009

happiness is...

An airweight snubnose double-action only .38 caliber revolver was the first gun I ever touched, the first trigger I ever pulled. I practiced with that Smith & Wesson model 642 until I went from not hitting the target at all to being somewhat proficient with it. I shot it, struggling to get better, until my hand was numb from recoil. The epiphany eventually came and I even used it to qualify for my CCW.

But since getting my Bersa Thunder .380 and discovering .45 ACP 1911s, I haven't been shooting the snubby. I set it aside because I felt that it was kind of boring compared to the wonders of semi-auto pistols.

Sometimes, though, when I'm having a not so good day, it helps to put a bit of lead downrange. Recoil always does wonders for my mood and I know the S&W 642 offers that in spades. So I holstered my little revolver, grabbed a box of .38 special, and ended up rediscovering my love of wheelguns...

I made 14 of my 15 shots onto a paper plate - at 25 feet - one handed.

Not a bad day after all.

13 comments:

Borepatch said...

I have the same fascination with wheelguns as with mechanical watches. It's actually a very poor analogy, as the function of a good mechanical watch is not at ALL obvious, and a revolver is simplicity itself.

Still, the idea that a design that's so old can still be so useful has a beauty that appeals to the last vestige of engineer in me.

And nothing beats turning propellant into noise. ;-)

Mike W. said...

That's definitely minute of bad guy.

Good shootin'!

BobG said...

Good shooting. I am a big fan of wheelguns, even though I learned shooting autos as a small child. I first learned from a Ruger Mark I when I was about five, and was introduced to the .45 ACP 1911 when I was ten. Most of my handguns are revolvers.

Old NFO said...

Well done Breda! Always remember your roots, and never fail to practice with ALL the toys in the box.

Crucis said...

I carry a S&W M442. Thinking back on my last range day with it, I think you beat me quite a bit.

Snubbies are hard to shoot well!

Kudos!

Cemetery's Gun Blob said...

Congrats on you Duelist Shooting style.

Buckshot said...

Wow, that is a story!

Many of our students like a 642 in the classroom and give up shooting it after just a shot or two on the range! Just too light, even for standard velocity .38 Spec., let alone .38 Spec. +P!

I can't seem to pry myself off of my M640 .357 Mag. to carry anything else on a regular basis, might be different if/when I get hold of a good .45 Lightweight Commander clone.

Buckshot

GORDON said...

Breda...
You only took to the range one of the best, most dependable pieces of concealed carry ever designed--the 642 Smith. It's what we tell our students to get if they want a recommendation for a self-defense gun. Of course, there's the 442, too. There's always one or two in the classes, and everyone loves to shoot them.

To paraphrase Tom Cruise in "Risky Business" describing his Dad's Porsche: "Smith & Wesson--there is no other." Love 'em.

Great, No, fantastic one-handed shooting with that snubbie!

Gordon

midnight rider said...

I own several 1911's (love 'em!) as well as CZ's and a Baby Eagle in .45 acp.

So of course on my belt right now, Ruger SP101 in .357. Desk? S&W Model 19-3 .357. Secreted in the truck? Dan Wesson .357. Bedside drawer? S&W Model 36-1 .38 special (hey, wait a minute, how'd that get there).

Having spent equal time with both I just seem to shoot better with a wheelgun.

Anonymous said...

As Clint Smith says in his Defensive Revolver video, "...wheel guns are real guns..." and "I've never felt under-armed with one".

We have no carry here in NJ, a silly 'May Issue' state. My beloved Ruger SPs only get carried at the range, my GPs only in the mountains and woods.

*sigh*

Excellent shooting, says I, the former Marine!

midnight rider said...

Oh yeah, almost forgot. Summer on person carry (either under a t-shirt or front pants pocket) is that very same wonderous little marvel the S&W 642 Airweight. Loaded with Cor-Bon +P. Thugs wear less outerwear in the summer. 'Tho it is harder to hide the speedloader.

The Walther PP (very old -- strike that -- mature) & PPK/S (not so much) tend to stay locked away.

Anonymous said...

http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/38516/2325275230100745609S600x600Q85.jpg

That's the guts of my 640-3, that's not simple!

B Smith said...

"Recoil always does wonders for my mood..."

Quote of the year, right there. I'm gonna put that on a shirt (accredited to you, and with your blog addy), mkay?