So if you wanted to live in a van....

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Smaug said:
Geez, that's a tougher situation than it first appears to be. I'm embarassed to admit how long I thought about it. I guess I'd probably get a 44 Mag Redhawk with the 5.5" barrel. Since I'd only have the one gun, I'd have it gunsmithed to smooth up the trigger works and have the barrel lapped. Maybe have a small fiber optic front sight installed.

I have the 7.5" Redhawk in 44 Mag now, and I just LOVE that gun, but it's a bit too long for a One Gun scenario. Losing 2" of barrel will hurt the sight radius and velocity, but I could have a nice little 2.5x scope or red dot, right?

Why the Redhawk? If I'm doing The Van Life, I'd want to go places where there are grizzlies, hence 44 Mag. I could also hunt with it, if the itch came up. I'm a handloader, and I can vouch for a compact reloading outfit by Lee in the form of their Hand Press, scoops for powder charging and their hand primer for priming. Since I just have the one gun and one caliber, there wouldn't have to be TOO much support gear. A couple boxes of bullets, a couple powders, one type of brass. For reloads, I would do what I do now and make just two types of loads:

  1. Full power Magnums with 240 gr. JHP. These would be for big game hunting and defense on the trail. (2-legged and 4-legged, as we say)
  2. Powderpuff loads. They're about like 44 Spl +P, but with light bullets in magnum cases. Maybe 180 gr. hollow points and 6 gr. of Win 231?. These would be for target shooting, small game and carry ammo where there are no bears.
It's a bit big & heavy for concealed carry, but it could be done. It's a bit short for hunting, but it could be done. I think I'd rather do this than have something underpowered for defense or hunting.

I expect that since this would be my only gun, I would get to be an absolute crack shot with it. Any squirrel or rabbit in 25 yards would have to watch himself, and any big game out to 50 would too.

***************
<sigh>

Realistically, I don't think I could do with just one gun. An extra gun doesn't take much extra room and I'd rather go without something else than only have one gun. (ex. maybe two cooking pots instead of 3) A nice slim Marlin 60 or 39A Mounty in a corner somewhere with peep sights or compact scope would be OK, surely? 22LR ammo doesn't take much room, nor does it "need" reloading gear. It would be a perfect defense gun for the wife, for when I'm away. (as we know, 22LR has a LOT more zip from a rifle) I could even stock some subsonic ammo for quiet-like things.

Another two gun scenario would be:
  1. Marlin 1894 lever action in 44 Mag. This is for hunting and trail carry. Could reach out to 125 yards or so with this, I'd imagine.
  2. Sig P365 or similar for concealed carry.
↑ In this scenario, I could give up the minimal reloading outfit for the extra gun. A P365 and 2-3 mags takes up very little space.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Smaug, for the thoughtful ideas on the Redhawk!

You got me thinking about the Ruger single and double actions, and 44 special in particular. I like the simplicity and ease for handloading for the bigger bore single and double actions, and having a heavier handgun to handle recoil would be nice. That kind of setup would still work for concealed carry with the investment in a good carry rig.

I haven't owned a 44 magnum, but I have shot them, and really liked the 44 special in the heavier guns. Kind of like shooting 45 LC in a Ruger single action Blackhawk.
 
Seymour380 said:
Thanks, Smaug, for the thoughtful ideas on the Redhawk!

You got me thinking about the Ruger single and double actions, and 44 special in particular. I like the simplicity and ease for handloading for the bigger bore single and double actions, and having a heavier handgun to handle recoil would be nice. That kind of setup would still work for concealed carry with the investment in a good carry rig.

I haven't owned a 44 magnum, but I have shot them, and really liked the 44 special in the heavier guns. Kind of like shooting 45 LC in a Ruger single action Blackhawk.
Click to expand...

The cool thing about the Redhawk (as opposed to Super Redhawk and every other full size 44 Magnum revolver) is that the grip is designed with a BIT of the single action shape to it. See that curve that fits in just in the palm of the hand? Bill Ruger did that on purpose.

1.jpg ​

If you let your hand ride down just a bit, (it's natural to do so) it will swivel up in recoil like a single action revolver. If you don't like that, just angle your hand forward a bit more and choke up on it. Or replace the grips with Pachmayr. (I have a set of Pachmayr presentation grips for it, but I prefer the smooth factory ones) No other double action 44 is designed like this.

The Super Redhawk was designed originally as a pure hunting gun and is totally different inside. Instead of a full grip frame, it has a grip stub, which can be fitted with rubber grips that absorb a lot of recoil. (but which don't allow that swiveling) The frame is extended much further forward, as it was also chambered in "super magnum" cartridges. It has scope mounts on the top of the frame, instead of on the top of the barrel, as the 7.5" Redhawk has.

If you're ever in the neighborhood and want to try it out, drop me a line.
 
I'm certain I can find room for more than one handgun. I would be taking;

My LC9s pro which is my every day pocket carry
9mm 1911 because I love it
4.2" SP101 357 mag
Browning buckmark
AR15 with 7.62x39 upper
12ga pump shotgun
 
Smaug said:
The cool thing about the Redhawk (as opposed to Super Redhawk and every other full size 44 Magnum revolver) is that the grip is designed with a BIT of the single action shape to it. See that curve that fits in just in the palm of the hand? Bill Ruger did that on purpose.


If you let your hand ride down just a bit, (it's natural to do so) it will swivel up in recoil like a single action revolver. If you don't like that, just angle your hand forward a bit more and choke up on it. Or replace the grips with Pachmayr. (I have a set of Pachmayr presentation grips for it, but I prefer the smooth factory ones) No other double action 44 is designed like this.

The Super Redhawk was designed originally as a pure hunting gun and is totally different inside. Instead of a full grip frame, it has a grip stub, which can be fitted with rubber grips that absorb a lot of recoil. (but which don't allow that swiveling) The frame is extended much further forward, as it was also chambered in "super magnum" cartridges. It has scope mounts on the top of the frame, instead of on the top of the barrel, as the 7.5" Redhawk has.

If you're ever in the neighborhood and want to try it out, drop me a line.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the offer, and for the info. on the differences in grips for the Rugers Smaug, much appreciated!
 
someguy2800 said:
I'm certain I can find room for more than one handgun. I would be taking;

My LC9s pro which is my every day pocket carry
9mm 1911 because I love it
4.2" SP101 357 mag
Browning buckmark
AR15 with 7.62x39 upper
12ga pump shotgun
Click to expand...

I like the 9mm 1911 idea Someguy. I think I would need a small bus instead of the van for the rest of the arsenal, though.
 
There was a van lifer involved in the Newhall Incident. Daniel James Schwartz. He had a WWII-era Enfield Revolver. He got into a gunfight and exchanged fire with Bobby Davis who was armed with officer Walt Frago's revolver.
 
A van is too small to live in for me and I presently am a homeowner. I sometimes think of a total restoration of my 22 ft. Airstream Safari and becoming a trailer bum. My '95 Bronco pulls her nice. She was made in '68.

I would take one .38spl and one 9mm. I would have to decide between my MR25 Sig
P226 in 9mm or S&W M&P 9mm Commander sized. Both are exclnt shooters. My .38 spl is a lightly used S&W 15-3 w 2.5 in. Barrel Snubby (Kframe). Ammo availability not an issue for me.
 
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