Hell in a Handbasket

The ammunition shown are Winchester Silvertips, specifically their 125 grain +P load. The +P means that they are loaded with some extra propellant to increase the speed and striking power of the bullets. Just remember "Plus P means extra powder!", which is how it was first explained to me.

As you can see by the picture above, I like to carry two speedloaders in a belt pouch. This allows me to have six rounds in the gun, and a dozen ready at hand in case I need them.

My goodness, those are really shiny!

Despite the name, there really isn't any silver in Silvertips. Instead it is some sort of aluminum alloy. Even so, I hope the next werewolf I come across is fooled. There still wouldn't be any chance of stopping the mystical beast, but maybe I would be eaten last.

I distinctly remember a lesson a former police officer that befriended me back in the 1980's tried to pass on. He had retired three decades before I met him, one of those tough old guys that seem to lurk around gun shops until they die peacefully in their sleep. Once he gave me some advice.

It seems that he had been teased by his fellow officers because he would insist on carrying his duty revolver while off the clock, disdaining snub nosed guns. I asked him why one day, and he surprised me by reaching out and clutching my arm. "NEVER carry a short stroke gun!" he said, tears welling up in his eyes.

He turned away after that to regain his composure, and refused to say anything else about the subject. I always wondered what had happened to that old gunfighter to effect him so profoundly.

The ejector rod is that metal stick that rides under the barrel. A full stroke ejector has a stick that is long enough to push the cartridges all the way out of the cylinder, a short stroke isn't lengthy enough. It is possible, though very unlikely, that a fired cartridge could expand enough so it won't fall free unless it is completely removed. There is a small chance that a spent cartridge will hang up until you pick it out with your fingers, slowing your reload time.

Unfortunately, anyone carrying a .38 snub nosed means that they are going to have to make do with a short stroke.

The pictures below illustrate what I mean. The first shows what happens when I push the ejector rod all the way.

I know what you are thinking. What exactly are you looking for? Looks good enough, right?

To show you just how long .38 cartridges are, I balanced another one on the cylinder. It was a pain to get it just right, and the best I could do wasn't perfect.

As you can see, there is a whole lot of brass that is still nestled inside those chambers.

This doesn't bother me all that much. A spent cartridge could hang up during a reload, but it hasn't happened to me yet. I suppose I will just have to be careful with my marksmanship if the worst happens so a combat reload isn't necessary.

The previous owner of my revolver fitted the gun with rubber grips made by Pachmayr. This is fine so far as I'm concerned. I happen to like rubber grips.

I carry the gun Inside-the-Waist-Band (IWB) in a nylon holster. It always takes me about a week to get comfortable when I change how I carry, and it wasn't any different this time around.

I purchased this gun at a swap meet. A wizened, fallen in old gentleman wearing coveralls was selling ancient farm tools, and had this gun in a case in front of his booth. He wanted $325 USD for it, a steal considering the condition.

After he had pocketed the cash, I asked him is there were any papers that went with the gun. He looked at me like I was the most mentally deficient example of a dunderhead that he had the displeasure of meeting in many a year.

"Son," he said, his voice dripping with weary scorn. "..that gun is at least fifty years old!"

Hmmm. So, no papers then? I suppose not!

Take another look at all the pictures above. Note the almost flawless finish of the gun, and consider that it is also flawless in function despite the advanced age. This points up the fact that even perfect, draconian gun bans won't work. It would take centuries before the firearms we have now are used up.

Modern high capacity autoloaders are very popular carry choices today, but anyone who chooses one of these old workhorses isn't making a bad decision. They still can do the job, just like they have for more than 100 years.