First of all, I know Canada has waaaaaay different gun laws, but down here in the Land of the Legally Entitled to Protect Yourself, we can have handguns available wherever we are, whether home, boat, or car.
Secondly, if you are anti-gun, please just stop here and go on to some other post, anti-gun rants are not welcome here, eh? I understand and accept if you are anti-gun, but not here, not now, OK? Hey, I have a vegetarian daughter and I do not argue with her ....
Back to our topic, i.e. what to get for my 56. Here's my current thinking:
I have a verrrrrrrrrrry nice S&W 586 .357 Magnum (with a professional action job done - I can shoot the Ace of Spades out at 25 yards with 6 shots) at home, a Colt stainless steel Government Model .45 in my truck, and the wife has a sweeeeeeet S&W stainless steel Chief's Special .38 (stoked with +P Glasers) in her car. All of them with a pair of extra speed loaders/magazines.
Someday in the not too distant future, my 56 will be on the road. And I need to pick a car gun for it. It has to be somewhat "period correct" so it cannot be a plastic 9mm (which does not have enough stoppng power anyway IMHO), and it has to be substantial caliber.
Also, I have decided that the esthetics need to match the car, i.e. silver and black:
I did consider a .45 Long Colt since that venerable caliber meets the criterion for 'substantial', and is available in 'proper' colors:
Above is the Ruger 'Vaquero' - nice looking ... I had a Ruger 'Blackhawk' in .45 Long Colt that shot extremely well, especially with hot hand loads that were like .44 Magnums - however I don't think a single-action revolver is a good choice for self-defense ...
In the running is the S&W recent revolver in .357 Magnum, I do like the 627 Plus stainless steel with 8 (yes, eight!) rounds in the cylinder:
But I think something like the original Colt Model 1911 in .45 is the answer, and considering the black/silver motif, I think there are just 2 choices:
1. Kimber Custom CDF:
2. Colt Special Combat Goverment Model:
(note that the silver/black is reversed [frame/slide] on the two above, that is a major part of my dilemma, and why I am asking your opinion - and yes I know the Kimber has wood grips, ignore that, grips are easily/cheaply changed)
So now it is time to vote! (prices are about the same, not cheap but nothing good ever is, eh?)
Thanks!
Dave
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1956 Pontiac Pathfinder 2dr sedan, 496 - dyno'd 545 hp, stick shift, 4.11 posi - Hot Rod
You're right Dave, our laws are a little different. This is what I carry in my car. Hopefully a bad guy doesn't call my bluff, as I never carry ammo. (Instead they are usually burried in the back yard to avoid temptation.)
"So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think... The good outnumber you, and we always will." Patton Oswalt
You got to like the 45's for stopping power. The marines and special forces went back to the 45 instead of the 9 mil . And the black and silver goes with your interior.
1. I do not know why the triggers look like that, other than (a) they are longer than original Model 1911 .45ACP triggers (another "why?"), and maybe they wanted to keep the weight down, perhaps to keep trigger pull low (? I am not a firearms expert), (b) like the old time gassers, drill holes wherever you can to keep weight down (i.e. carry weight in the case of guns) maybe, or possibly (c) just because it looks different and after all, it is a custom gun. All just guesses on my part.
2. Potato gun, har! Good one, eh!
3. Oooooh, talk about top of the line, a Python!
Unfortunately methinks 'tis out of my price range
4. Yeah that switch to the 9's was a big mistake, North America caved to the weenie Europeans on that one, but finally common sense won out. There was all kinds of real world evidence that a small bullet (9mm = .354 caliber) just does not have the stopping power needed.
Dave
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1956 Pontiac Pathfinder 2dr sedan, 496 - dyno'd 545 hp, stick shift, 4.11 posi - Hot Rod
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
not going to get into the different laws, but sure wish I had one 2 nights ago, garden shed broken into & stole my gas jug, full of "high test" also broke into neighbour's shed & hit him up for 25 ltrs of gas + jugs. This is when gas is $1/ltr [4:50 a gal] whats going to happen if it gets higher. thats when the gun comes into play????
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Some times I wake up GRUMPY, but today I let her sleep in !!!!!!!!BLACKSTOCK Ont.
Listen, I was in Palm Beach last Thanksgiving, we run out of something stupid so I say no problem I just run over the the mainland West Palm and get it...BAD IDEA, it was 9:30 at night and I was so friggin scared I wish I was packing something that night.
-- Edited by 73SC on Sunday 29th of August 2010 07:03:06 PM
Who wouldn't want the Python! but why break the bank... unless you intend to rob some to pay for that hand canon!? I nice King Cobra will do the trick... looks and fires plenty mean! I like the weight of a KC even though the Pythons craftsmanship is second to none!
I do like the Colt Special Combat Goverment Model you have picked out with the black slide...
go with the larger cal. revolver, simple to use, no external safety, no additional steps required to function ,no stopages , leave for 50 yrs and pull it out, and it will work fine, 6-8 rounds is enough for personal protection to get yourself out of a tight spot,
automatics have greater capacity but require more practice and better tecniques and unless u spend alot of time using it, one stopage will take u out of the game, 6-8 garunteed shots means alot if things have gone that bad u need to use it in the first place.
-- Edited by ga on Sunday 29th of August 2010 10:56:51 PM
I'm amazed that there are so many "CANUKS" that know alot "aboot" hand guns & we being a anti gun country. Myself, I wouldn't know a 22 from a 9 or 357 whatever you guys are quoting it's just numbers to me, although the pictures of them look like they cost alot???? Some of you must live in the "JANE & FINCH area of Toronto to be so "up" on these topics [ he says tongue in cheek]
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Some times I wake up GRUMPY, but today I let her sleep in !!!!!!!!BLACKSTOCK Ont.
If every one was armed, crime would drop. who would rob a bank if everyone in the joint had a cannon to point at em? Kind of reminds me of the old 50$ bill.
- That Peacemaker is a beauty! Ivory grips really set off that gun. Classic lines. The nickel looks to be in great shape too.
- Ray, next time you visit Florida stop by and I'll loan you one of my guns, eh?
- Agree revolvers tend to be more reliable, however a well-made semi-auto can be very reliable too. My Colt .45 has functioned flawlessly for many years (although it makes a difference what magazine you use, I have found that only real Colt magazines have the necessary reliability).
- I would only buy one of the "big name" manufacturer guns - Colt, S&W, Ruger. I had an AMT Hardballer which was pretty trick and shot well but would jam about every 5th mag, never could get it right after several trips to the gunsmith. And a couple of Taurus wheelguns that just did not shoot as accurately as the Smiths. Low prices are tempting but not worth betting your life on, in my opinion.
- We have a new giant (looks like hundreds of guns on display) gunstore in town
(they have about 5 more counters like this, some 'islands' so no long guns behind them) and tomorrow I am going to go there to check out the Kimber, Colt & Smith! Maybe even drool over a Python! And so as to not bias myself, I haven't looked at the voting results yet ...
Dave
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1956 Pontiac Pathfinder 2dr sedan, 496 - dyno'd 545 hp, stick shift, 4.11 posi - Hot Rod
Dave A good 12 gauge full of rock salt is a good defender. I would go to a gun range and shot the ones you want to buy. Get a feel for them. Which one fits in your hand and shoots the best is the winner. My fav is the 9mm Beretta
Listen, I was in Palm Beach last Thanksgiving, we run out of something stupid so I say no problem I just run over the the mainland West Palm and get it...BAD IDEA, it was 9:30 at night and I was so friggin scared I wish I was packing something that night.
-- Edited by 73SC on Sunday 29th of August 2010 07:03:06 PM
Although I may not have left the hotel with anything, I likely would have been packing something in the back of my pants before I arrived back in my room ...
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"So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think... The good outnumber you, and we always will." Patton Oswalt
1956 Pontiac Pathfinder 2dr sedan, 496 - dyno'd 545 hp, stick shift, 4.11 posi - Hot Rod
