after 32 years I have new gun fever again

[perldog007]

Until about age 40 ish, from that nickel plated 29 that took paychecks from both jobs to take home in '82 I could get new gun fever and it didn't always make sense. A beat up old .32 with a pitted bore stored in the wrong sized holster.....

An 8 3/8 N frame nobody else wanted because it wasn't a magnum and it was too long nosed to carry on yer ankle or stuffed up .... beat up Ballister Molina that had languished on a shelf over a year at paperweight price point ...well you get the idea.

Haven't gotten excited about a new gun in quite a while. For years they were mostly tools of work. Range time was enjoyable but felt mandatory. Seldom got to hunt with handguns but it was great when I did.

I'm from Blue Ridge and Kentucky stock. The boys would ask me if I was that good a shot to hunt deer without a rifle. I would say "No Sir, I'm just to ******* sorry to carry a rifle all damn day".

So last night I actually had trouble sleeping. Not even my first BP gun which itself was a bit of a hassle where I bought it....

Edited to add : For years I've been thinking about the collection of civil war era repro's I would own. Before I was even interested in shooting them. I've also noticed that various models discontinue, go on sale now and then. Every pattern I desire is going on sale right now.... it's a conspiracy. I've been window shopping since before the internet and thought that a full sized Colt Navy, Army, Third Model, Walker, NMA, NMN would make a great collection to display and putter about with. All are available somewhere at lower prices than I've seen in few years. I could be sleeping outdoors by spring if Mrs. can't be infected with this bug too, also, as well.

I got a remington clone first because it seemed the most versatile. Wasn't even going to get another BP until maybe late late this year after I had a chance to get well acquainted with my NMA .44.

Those those base soul less profit seekers over at Dixie Gun Works put a real nice price on a Pietta .51 Navy case hardened frame, brass backstrap and trigger guard. Not my first choice for a Colt Navy pattern, I really wanted a nice all steel 61.

But I couldn't refuse the price and my NMA is a Pietta with case hardened frame and brass triggerguard. Everybody who sees it loves it. If Sarah Brady still lived near me she would love it. It's that pretty. I've had three people who don't like guns at all tell me it's beautiful and one asked if I could unload it so they could hold it, a lady.

Boys and girls, that's a pretty gun by definition.

Then it got even worse, after Dixie shipped it to me for less than Cabela's would sell it to me off the shelf... the shipping was crazy fast and cheap. I payed for this gun Tuesday, today is Friday and UPS indicates they are dropping off a box to me.

After my experience at Cabela's Delaware.. ( take my word for it, k? ) the people at Dixie were a real contrast. Answered the phone, Answered questions whey they spoke. Little stuff.

So I guess on aggregate I feel like I'm 21 again walking out of J.E. Rice's Hardware in Manassas Virginia with Clint Eastwoods gun in a pretty new S&W box. It's good to be a kid again. hopefully adding a pic to this thread soon, if UPS doesn't come by early it's after five p.m. mostly.

When I paid for the item and saw the low shipping cost I was really expecting a two week wait and was okay with that. Hmmmm..... but now... :/
.

 

[ALJS]

Gun collecting and shooting is a sickness that we love and want no cure for. I know exactly how you feel. I have more than I need but have a hard time parting with any of them.
BP shooting has become my favorite with my Ruger Old Army. As far as collecting, the 2nd generation Colts that come with all the accessories are my favorite. Here's two.

 

[ALJS]

Here's 2 more.

 

[BullRunBear]

Had to smile at the reference to J. E. Rice. The wife and I are in there every few weeks. It's the best hardware store in northern Virginia, carrying a lot of useful items the big box stores can't be bothered with. Sadly, they don't sell firearms or reloading components any more. I still have some rifle powder from there bought about 20 years ago.

Jeff

 

[J-Bar]

It's after 5 o'clock here...

Here's to many years of indulging yourself with accumulating these fascinating, personal objects. May we always be able to do so.

Cheers!

 

[Crawdad1]

I've had that fever for nearly 40 years now and I'm still sick with it. They're just beautiful firearms and nearly everyone recognizes that even people who are indifferent to firearms in general.

 

[perldog007]

My wife and other woman ( best friend's widow, fell on hard times nobody wants to hear the truth so I'm a pimp ... ) can't stop laughing at me. Other woman has known me since I was knocking heads with MS13 in Hybla Valley below D.C., wife has put up with me for a record 11 years.

Neither one has seem me so excited over a gun. They don't get it, but think that my new 'two gun rig' has some beauty to it.

 

[Crawdad1]

You're not alone Perldog you're in a big group of enthusiast.

 

[perldog007]

You're not alone Perldog you're in a big group of enthusiast.

Good to know, everybody who doesn't understand including range rats thinks I've completely lost it. Maybe, if so I don't want to find "it". ...

 

[perldog007]

 

[perldog007]

Gun and holster cost less from Dixie than gun alone at Cabela's. Nothing agin' the big C but Dixie was really good to me on this transaction, I'll be back.

 

[Crawdad1]

perldog007, your pics aren't showing up.

 

[Crawdad1]

Dixie Gun Works will give you a lot more support also if you ever need it. Try finding a spare part at the big 'C'. Nothing against them but I like taking care of the people that take care of me. I usually buy from Taylor's & Company, Track of the Wolf or Dixie Gun Works all these people that live and breath black powder.

 

[BSA1]

Largely due to Obama I have taken to a serious interest in B.P.. I'm looking to add a little .31 as soon as I find one at a low enough price. I have always wanted a '51 Navy but never seem to get one and, of course, I can't ignore the Army.

 

[perldog007]

The whole FFL thing never really came up on my radar. I am a pretty staunch 2a type, in a perfect world and all that but I live in this one and my employment around age 20 pretty much guaranteed that I really don't have any privacy until I leave this rock.


I actually started out wanting a Casull, got the Super Redhawk, got hurt, sold almost everything. Ten years later I can walk a mile or two and paddle all day. By then had learned that the .45 LC was actually ideal for most of what I did, somehow read about the New Model Army clones.

Then read a little history and started looking at Ballistice. I'm not really that enthusiastic about the work of assembling loads, cleaning, etc. I am very excited about round ball and conical ballistics in the .44 NMA. Published data from multiple sources indicates that this kind of performance is what I want.

Now with the Navy, it's known to be accurate and one of my favorite things to carry around the woods is an accurate .22. The potential of the 80 gr ball in the 1851 intrigues me and the 7.5 inch Uberti New Model Navy is downright exciting in that regard.

So I'm interested in my 'unmatched set' for the versatility of 're-usable bullets'. A somewhat left leaning friend opined that at least my gun was more sustainable because the chamber constituted 'green' bullets. Hmmmmm.... she's a wild one.

The NMA because I think being able to shoot that 140 gr rb at a mild speed or that dependable slow moving conical is to me an improvement over my Smith 25. I was going with a Ruger Blackhawk because it can handle heavier loads but the Colt doesn't need to be magnumized. It knocks stuff down just fine if you do your job.

The Navy because if they are as accurate as I'm reading I'll be able to figure out the sights. Service revolvers and pistols are almost never to point of aim on qual day... you have to make adjustments in your sight picture. My 1938 colt will print low and to the right until you figure out what you are looking at.

Still that snubnose .32 is accurate enough to 75 feet at least to make a handy little kit gun. The navy is bigger, but much more versatile.

I have always wantled a couple of these for the looks alone, when I found out the potential of these systems I wanted to own them for that. I must have had as many FFL background checks as the next range rat, one more won't make much difference.

I would have done paperwork on these if I could have gotten a set of modern guns without. This is what I wanted.

 

[whughett]

Then there is that head swelling comment one can get at the local public range, "Your pretty good with that old cowboy gun" or glance behind you and see a couple guys watching, or have a stranger walk down from the opposite end of the range with the comment "wondering who was making all the smoke". But what I like the most is watching the modern day cowboy with his 40 S&W Glock plaster a target with about a days worth of wages into a 40" group while ones own target has about 12 shots neatly groped into a 4" inch circle.

Yep them old cowboy guns do shoot nice.

Just saying..............

 

[perldog007]

perldog007, your pics aren't showing up.

Better?

I am hoping this will work out as a kit gun so I can 'retire' my 1938 Colt New Pocket. Has a rack number on it that predates me so it's earned a day off whilst the rest of us are slogging about the lowlands and such. Here it is with my favorite cheap knife/hatchet/machete implement. 20 bucks from amazon and 12 bucks for the local wizard to make an edge ( shipped with no edge ) that shaves... easy to keep that way if you don't bust it up too bad..

 

[Crawdad1]

I can see that one. That revolver does shine!!! You did good perldog real good!!

 

[Hellgate]

I've owned 37 or 38 C&Bs over the years (lost count) but I keep anywhere from 12-16 at any given time. I shoot them in cowboy action matches (did that today in fact) and for plinking & finishing deer. My favorite is the 44 Navy ASM (no longer made) but the Remingtons are more versatile as to what bullets and loads they will take. Today I was shooting .454 ball + lube wad+ over ball grease. The nice recoil of 30 grains allows for a quick cocking of the gun as it tips back. Lots of smoke.

You develop a close relationship to the pistols when you clean them and read about their historical use. Enjoy. It's a great addiction. Better that collecting shoes or purses like the women do.

 

[perldog007]

Well, I'm in lust. Now remember boys and girls, this idiot took a mint condition S&W 125th Anniversary edition Model 25-5 from the case at Potomac Arms in Alexandria straight out to Gilberts and lit it up. Never shot a perfect qual score with anything else. I don't believe in collector guns that don't get fired in my house. I go to the NRA museum to get those kind of kicks.

The last two guns I kept after getting hurt real bad and early retiring were my 25 and a 1938 Manufacture Colt New Pocket 2" 'I' frame. The Colt worked from 1939 and was apparently picked up by a guy who retired in the 70's... It has a nice patina on the backstrap, pitting in the bore, a little holster wear, it's beautiful to me.. the last day it worked was in 2000. It is incredibly accurate at qual ranges, a great little kit gun.

So is my 25 now that it has a little honest wear from paying the rent... it has put venison on the table as well.


BUT!!! I haven't even taken this one apart yet. Or my NMA. I have the lighter fluid and a screwdriver, everything I need to shoot but a powder measure and I can make one easy enough....

I have just been rubbing this one down with a treated cloth and an old skivvie rag. I ran six caps to blow the nipples out and I have never felt such a nice trigger. I had a S.A. 1911 that an old timer in Roanoke went over for me, that was the closest to this one I ever felt. Not even my boy's python felt this crisp.....

The NMA ( also Pietta case hardened frame... ) is good, had drag lines on the cylinder apparently from the shyteheads at Cabela's playing with it ( display model ) but is timed nice and the action feels fine, but this 1851 clone is superb... I will get it dirty, I swear. Just not ready to do that yet... and it's the most affordable new gun I ever bought besides on of those little Colt Ace .22 short single shot thingies for 50 bucks long ago and far away.