The Firearms Forum - Gun Community - View Single Post - What gun(s) do you carry and what's it loaded with

Pistolsmith · 02-17-2004, 05:27 PM

Well, let's see:
I carry a Gold Cup series 80 that I built up from the gripframe and slide, in a Kramer belt scabbard having FBI tilt, loaded with hot (hot) 200 grain Rainier copper plated 68's and a Spyderco Police Model in a hip pocket. On the range, during classes, I carry the Colt in an Orca duty rig on an instructor's belt.
When I go "informal" I carry my 1954 grip safety Centennial (grip safety has been pinned out since 1954) in a coat pocket, loaded qith cast 173 grain Keith bullets loaded hot. This carry results in the world's fastest draw: No draw at all. Ignore the smouldering jacket pocket and concentrate on winning the encounter. Nary a jamup with that little hammerless model in all these years....been through a number of jackets, however.
I have a neat little K frame "K-Comp" Smith that I carry in an Orca rig, loaded with 170 grain fmj loads. The average person with a .357 tends to carry too light a bullet. A 170 will penmetrate a car or a target to a suitable depth to do massive damage. I have seen too many 115's and 125's fail to penetrate to a suitable depth. I still believe what Elmer Keith said in 1929 about his version of a .38 magnum (.38/.44 on an N frame): A light bullet moving fast is nice, but a heavy bullet moving fast is nicer.
One project for this year is to make up a swaging die that will re-form the nose of a 170 gr silhouette bullet to a swc style. Then I would have the very best bullet for the .357, ahead of a full load of slow powder.
Nope, I'm not afraid to carry my own handloads; been doing it since 1954. I've seen losts of factory fodder fail to lift off, but , since I double and triple check my carry loads and use only proven components, none of them have failed yet. I used to load in nickel plated cases, so the loads would look like normal factory fodder to a casual observer.
'Twerks fer me.

02-17-2004, 05:27 PM	#7
Pistolsmith V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 185	Well, let's see: I carry a Gold Cup series 80 that I built up from the gripframe and slide, in a Kramer belt scabbard having FBI tilt, loaded with hot (hot) 200 grain Rainier copper plated 68's and a Spyderco Police Model in a hip pocket. On the range, during classes, I carry the Colt in an Orca duty rig on an instructor's belt. When I go "informal" I carry my 1954 grip safety Centennial (grip safety has been pinned out since 1954) in a coat pocket, loaded qith cast 173 grain Keith bullets loaded hot. This carry results in the world's fastest draw: No draw at all. Ignore the smouldering jacket pocket and concentrate on winning the encounter. Nary a jamup with that little hammerless model in all these years....been through a number of jackets, however. I have a neat little K frame "K-Comp" Smith that I carry in an Orca rig, loaded with 170 grain fmj loads. The average person with a .357 tends to carry too light a bullet. A 170 will penmetrate a car or a target to a suitable depth to do massive damage. I have seen too many 115's and 125's fail to penetrate to a suitable depth. I still believe what Elmer Keith said in 1929 about his version of a .38 magnum (.38/.44 on an N frame): A light bullet moving fast is nice, but a heavy bullet moving fast is nicer. One project for this year is to make up a swaging die that will re-form the nose of a 170 gr silhouette bullet to a swc style. Then I would have the very best bullet for the .357, ahead of a full load of slow powder. Nope, I'm not afraid to carry my own handloads; been doing it since 1954. I've seen losts of factory fodder fail to lift off, but , since I double and triple check my carry loads and use only proven components, none of them have failed yet. I used to load in nickel plated cases, so the loads would look like normal factory fodder to a casual observer. 'Twerks fer me.