G-MAN

I find it odd that the 870 receiver would crack from stress for two reasons: First, it's a forged piece. Second, the locking lug on the bolt locks into the barrel extension, not into the receiver (like on a Winchester Model 12).

My next novel should be ready to go to press by early to mid fall.

The last thing you want on a concealed carry, self-defense pistol is a light trigger. In a SD situation you aren't going to be taking aimed shots. It's going to be up close and personal. You want a smooth trigger, but you want it to require enough effort that there is no chance you let a round go unless you absolutely mean to.

Kahr PM40.

The "official" release date for my novella Gerard is July 15. But you can order it now directly at the Gerard web site and get it before then. And if you use the discount code ME92Z9CW at checkout you will get a 25% discount. Click here.

The Dragoon was a powerful pistol. With a full charge of powder it could come close to matching the ballistics of a modern 44 Magnum. The Colt Walker he mentioned held even more powder and tests have shown that at max load it did match the power of the 44 Mag: 1200 ft/sec and 500 ft/lbs.

How many shooters do you know who can take a cap and ball revolver, loaded with an undersized patched ball, and hit a target offhand at 80 yards? "> " type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350">

You can read the prologue and first chapter of Gerard by clicking here.

I'm sure a lot of people will assume I'm trying to ride on the coattails of "Twilight" or some other current pop vampire phenom, but I wrote Gerard over a decade ago and I've never seen or read a thing from the Twilight books or movies. I was a big time "Dark Shadows" fan in the 60s, so I've always been partial to campy, Gothic vampire stories. I like to think my story is a cut above this, however.

Had to create another trailer. I thought the music I was using in the first one was "free," but it turns out not to be if used in any sort of "advertisement," which this is. I'll have to find out how much the licensing fee is. Anyhow, I sort of like this one better, and the music in it is free. "> " type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350">

See next post.

I've only shot mine once, but it was a tack driver. I was impressed.

I wrote the story over ten years ago (when I was working as the editor at a small publishing company) for inclusion in a collection of short fiction that wound up not getting published. I thought I'd lost my only copy of the story, which was on a floppy. I sat down several times over the last decade to try to write it anew, but each time I just lost interest. Once you've finished a story it's very hard to recreate it from scratch and come up with something that even remotely resembles the original. Last month I was digging through a box of old floppys looking for something else and found the disc with Gerard on it. I worked through it, did some editing, and got it ready for publication.

Okay, those of you who want a quick and spooky summertime read, this novella by yours truly should be available on Amazon by the middle of July. I'm working on distribution to get it in book stores later this summer.

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No real weaknesses that I know of, but you had asked about what to buy if you couldn't buy a Python. The Trooper 357 (made up until 69) is the closest you can get to a Python because the frame, cyl, and action are the same.

That is a MK III. Do NOT buy that gun. That is not an original Trooper 357. It does not share anything (other than looks) with a Python. The MK III was Colt's first attempt at a revolver design that almost completely eliminated the need for hand-fitting in the production process. Study up on Colt revolvers before you dive in and buy something.

It comes with two barrels? Are either of them screwed into the frame? I think I paid about $500 for this one.

See if you can find a good Colt Trooper 357. This is the gun the Python was developed from. Frame, cylinder, and lockwork are the same as the Python. Action won't be as smooth as a Python because the Trooper 357 didn't get as much handcrafted TLC before it left the factory as the Python did.

Take a look at JayPee's latest article in our gun blog. Just click on the link in my signature.

I would only shoot 38s in that gun. It may be chambered for 357 but the steel used in 1894 is not up to the pounding of full-house (35,000 psi) 357 loads. The 32-20 was a blackpowder cartridge (as was the 38 Special when it was introduced).

I think he hits the 80 yard gong with his snubby S&W 38 in that vid.

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Next time you watch a movie where the bad guys or good guys take cover behind a wall in a shootout, remember this video: "> " type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350">