I love autos. I carry an auto. But the guns I shoot the very best are my older S&W revolvers. I took my CCW class with my M66 .357, and they gave me .38's to shoot in it. Sheesh. I scored best in the class with that combo! I soon got my Kimbers and put them on the permit so I never did carry the M66. Then I got a S&W 629 and loaded up my own .44Mag rounds, and this thing is unbelieveably accurate, mostly because of that sweeeeeet trigger. I truly feel there's nothing I can't hit with those 2 guns, and I can definitely shoot my autos also. I also have a Ruger .454 but it definitely does not have that sweet S&W trigger, even though it's not bad. I'll never quit shooting those revolvers - they're too much fun.
I love revolvers and have always been a S&W fan. But let's get back to this having to put a gun on a permit? What are you talking about? I don't recall doing that when I got a CCW.
Here you have to name the guns on the permit. They also used to limit the number to 2 guns but did away with that. You can only carry what is listed on the permit, and all I had to qualify with at the time was the M66 and a Star Firestar in .45. That Firestar is heavy like a brick so as soon as we moved here I bought my 2 Kimbers (they're illegal in CA). I had gotten a non-resident permit, so I took them down to a range, qualified with them and had them added to my permit. It's a pain. So my permit is still a Non-Resident one good for three years, and when it runs out I'll get a Resident one that's good for 5 years.
Yep, we have to qualify with every gun we want on the permit. Stupid. I guess I could score almost perfect with the .357 and my Kimber .45 but somehow not be proficient with other guns - that are my own. Retarded. I should bring 20 guns to the next class I go to, since there's no limit on how many that can be on the permit. Btk, I like the .454 alot, especially with my "light" handloads. Only 28gr of H110 powder! I use 22gr in 44Mag, but 28gr is definitely a light load. BUT, I love this S&W 629 so much I may sell the Ruger. I never shot it at 100 yards, but it should be pretty accurate out there.
I have run into enouph idiots that I could see requireing folks to qualify in order to carry and do so with what they would carry. I have seen people who had no real skill with handguns that were convinced they could hit thier target at 100 yards with a .25 with a 1-2 " barrel Saturday night special, they would be unlikely to even qualify with it but they might qualify with a more sensable gun. Ive run into more than one case where I or someone else had to show a person how to even operate thier own gun. Lets face it if you cant qualify you are a danger to yourself and others if you carry. That is one reason I havent even tried to get my CCW yet, I dont get enouph range time with my handgun and figure if I cant keep 3" or tighter groups at 20 yards in a calm situation with a bit of time to aim then I dont have business carrying where if I have to use it any miss is a potential dead bystander. I can see it being an inconvenience but at the same time I would hope anyone carrying would at least be able to hit what they are aiming at, especialy when not being fired back at.
Yes, there were people in our class that, incredibly, had never fired the guns they brought. I was truly amazed at that. One guy was showing off his alloy, super-feather-light .357 snubby, and the instructor asked him if he had shot it. He said no and the teacher just laughed - this guy had no idea of the recoil. Even with .38's he could not control the gun enough to pass the test. But what gets me is that after shooting an almost perfect score, I still have to pay a range to qualify me on my new guns then pay $25 to add them on to the permit. I can see the initial qualification but when you keep drilling the center with every gun it's a pain to have to keep going through it. Just more fees to pay.
Like I say, I can see it being a bit anoying but at the same time think of the guy in your class with the lowest passing score, now assumeing that was with say for instance a 1911 and then he goes out and gets a feather weight super snub nose, would you want to be on the same block as him if he had to use his new gun in a 'shoot to live' high stress situation?
Guys, I do understand where you are coming from. I just disagree with the having to qualify. It goes against my grain. I won't carry a gun that I haven't shot and understand. Which is why until I took the Colt Commander out and put several rounds (by several I mean at least 50) down range it just sat in the safe even though I've shot and do own other 1911A1 45's. I carried my 9mm Beretta instead because I'm very familiar with how it shoots and what to expect when I pull the trigger. I was correct in waiting - because as always when I first take a gun out the first rounds are always low. Doesn't matter what I shoot - that's just the way it is. And I've learned to live with the break in process. Plus the trigger has a very light pull something none of my other hand guns have and I needed to get used to it. I couldn't afford to keep paying to qualify - the fees would kill me. Besides - the way I go through guns? Heck that would be scary.
You still have the Ruger .454. I have a few cases, and a couple of boxes of bullets that need a good home. I'll send them to you if you still have the gun.
Valk Quick story The other night about 1am my drive way alarm goes off. The sensor is about 400 ft from the house. I was online down stairs when I heard it go off. I can't see all the way down to where the sensor is so I went on alert mode. Grabbed my S&W 610 4" over other autos. Grabbed an extra moon clip and out the side door of the house I went. Found nothing. After, I thought I could have taken more fire power auto or even an AR but I knew how proficient I am with it and would have no problems with taking it again. Now if I can remeber to take a flash light and some shoes I be set.
I don't believe anyone is ever undergunned with a revolver, unless you took it into a combat situation or something. Massad Ayoob was traing police forces when 9mm autos were new and everyone wanted huge magazine capacity. He asked them who had ever been in a fight with a revolver and had to reload. None. Force after Force, none had ever had to fire more than 6 shots. With a extra moon clip you are good to go, and I'm glad no one was there! Ghostrider, that would be cool! I love to reload for the .454 and the .44Mag.
Anybody got a picture of a moon clip? I've heard them explained to me but I still don't quite understand it.
Now that's different. Wonder if they'd work with my .357? Since I don't intend to shoot the .41 mag wouldn't matter one way or the other with it.
For .357 use a regular speedloader or speedstrip, moonclips are for cases that don't have rims on them like .45acp.
You beat me to the punch Valkman. When I had my 686, although I didn't carry it much I did have a couple of speedloaders and mimicking Jerry Miculek (rather badly) I could get it reloaded pretty quick.
