G-MAN

All that and no pictures of the gun? Nice groups. That's some seriously good shooting.

I don't mind the recoil. After nearly 30 years, I'd just forgotten what a handful the 44 Magnum can be with full-house loads. I had to stop after 18 rounds because the top edge of the horn on the left grip was cutting into my thumb due to recoil. I've since taken my Drimmel and modified another set of Altamont grips to remove that sharp horn.

The last 44 Magnum I had was a Ruger Super Blackhawk that I sold in 1982. I picked up this S&W 629 last week and took it to the range this past Wednesday. I was shooting Winchester 240 gr SJSP. I haven't fired a 44 in 30 years and the recoil was more stout than I remember. Here are my first three targets showing my first 18 rounds fired from this new-to-me revolver. This was at 15 yards, Weaver stance.

Try a non-chlorinated brake cleaner.

Yes, Bill's website is a treasure trove of info. He's a regular over on the S&W forum and helped me evaluate this gun before I bought it.

Here it is with period correct stag grips.

I've been keeping an eye out for one of these for quite some time. This was the precursor to the 357 Magnum. It was introduced in 1930 and is a 38 Special on a 44 Special frame (what would later be called the N-Frame). It was called the 38/44 Heavy Duty and was designed to shoot a high velocity 38 Special (around 1200 fps) that was too hot to be fired in the smaller S&W Military & Police 38. The serial number indicates this gun was made in 1932 or 33. It's got the original high polish blue finish in about 95% condition. The case color on the hammer and trigger is nearly 100%. Zero endshake and flawless action. No evidence the side plate has ever been removed, and every indication that the gun has been fired very little. Some minor freckling from being stored dry for many years. The grips are not original and are the wrong type. I've already sold them to someone on the S&W forum and ordered some period correct stag grips. I'll post more pics when I get those installed.

I removed the crane and cylinder when I cleaned it and I couldn't find any evidence the revolver has been "refreshed." I think it's just one of the better guns that S&W produced during that period (early to mid 80s).

It wasn't rusted at all. That is just some dings in the metal, not pitting. It take a lot of long-term neglect to make a stainless gun rust. This gun has seen a lot of use but it wasn't neglected. It's got the tightest lockup of any S&W revolver I've ever handled.

I picked this 681 up from a member over on the S&W forum last week. Spent about an hour polishing it with Flitz then put a set of new Altamont grips on it. Turned out pretty good. This is my first L-Frame and I like it.

Not strange at all under the present administration.

I went shooting with a friend yesterday. It was a fun afternoon and included shooting his 98 Mauser and Ruger 10/22, my Ruger No. 1, my Rem 799 in 7.62x39, my S&W 360, 28, 27, my LCR, and my Colt Trooper 357. Here is how my 8-3/8" 27-2 did at 75 yds. I think I'm going to play Sasha Siemel and take it deer hunting this fall.

Here it is in the case:

I shut it down because Proboards changed their terms of use and added liability provisions that I didn't agree with.

The Model 28 only came with a satin finish. It's not a matte finish because it has a definite sheen to it, but it's not a high polish, bright blue.

I picked this up locally today. I would have preferred a 6" but I couldn't pass this one up because the price was right. Finish is flawless and looks to have been fired very little. Love that checkering on the topstrap and barrel rib.

Prior to the introduction of the K-Frame "Combat Magnum" (Model 19), if a policeman wanted to carry a 357 in the early to mid 1950s he had two choices: the huge N-Frame S&W Model 27 or 28, or the smaller and lighter Colt Trooper 357. The Trooper was built on Colt's I-Frame, as was the later Python, and is roughly the same size as the S&W L-Frame introduced in 1980. Here are my Colt Trooper 357 and S&W Model 28 side by side:

Thanks. The 4" Model 28 is my new bedside table gun, loaded with Hornady Critical Defense 38 Specials.

Here's my 4" Highway Patrolman.

I picked this up on GunBroker last week. It's a Model 28, 6", made in 1980.

I picked up this very nice Colt Trooper 357 off GunBroker. Serial number puts production in 1969. I'm on a revolver kick lately (in case you haven't noticed). I've also picked up two S&W Model 28s: One with a 4" barrel and one with a 6" barrel. I'll post pics of them later.

No, it's 38 Special. The Detective Special is a D-Frame (Colt's smallest revolver frame) and was never chambered in .357. Unlike S&W, Colt never tried to build 357 revolvers based on their 38 Special frames. Colt's first 357 revolvers in the mid 30s were built on their 45 frame (the New Service 357) and 41 frame (the Official Police 357). About 45 years later, S&W finally created a 41-size frame (the L-Frame) for the 357.

I picked up this Colt D.S. on GunBroker last week and based on the seller's photos I intended to send it off and have it hard chromed. But I'm having second thoughts now. It cleaned up good and the famous Colt royal blue finish, despite several blemishes, is still quite good. Serial number puts production in 1974 and the gun shows no evidence that it's ever been fired. It's a shame it was not stored properly and rust was allowed to take hold in places. Lock-up and timing are perfect--yes, Colts really do lock-up like a bank vault.

Amen.

Here's another: