Grayfox
07-14-2002, 11:13 PM
Ah, the advantages of being a government employee. You see June is the last month of the fiscal year and no self respecting government organization would dare end the year with money left over in its budget. So, the result is all the overtime you can survive. :eek:
In my case, I put in some 30+ hours of OT last month. Wanna guess what I've been up to with this extra cash? Why working on my S&W collection of course! :D
So here I am with money to burn. Local gunshops are a total washout. Seems most of them aren't much for used guns. Around here, the majority of used stuff goes to the gun shows we have about every other month. Plenty of gunshows is about the only advantage to living near Memphis. :rolleyes: So the gunshow comes around and wouldn't ya know it, not a darn thing there that interests me.
Ok, time to surf the net. For those who don't know me, I collect shooters. I've never been the type to own a gun I won't shoot. So what I look for are the older more collectable guns with just enough honest wear on them that I have no problem taking them to the range. I believe guns should be shot and enjoyed, not hidden away or locked up.
On the other hand, buying guns off the internet is a ****shoot at best. Even the best pictures can hide some flaws and you can't check the mechanics of a gun on line. So, you lays down yer money and takes yer chances. :rolleyes:
Anyhow, here's the results of my latest adventure. BTW: had all of these out at the range today so range reports are included.
S&W Model 19-4: Price $242.00. made 1977/78, P&R, about 85% finish, grips are rough, but that's easy enough to change. Gun is good and tight. Timimg is perfect. Shows signs that its never been shot much at all. Finish wear is mostly small light scratches and not the usual holster wear pattern. Best guess, I'd say its spent most of its life rattling around somebodies glove compartment or under the front seat of the car. Maybe a utility drawer in the house. Wherever it was, it was subject to sliding around and not staying put.
Range report: a bit disappointed with this one. Groups are ok, but tend to be low and left. Took maximum sight adjustment to bring it to center. Could probably adjust with ammo, however this was the standard load I use in my other .357s, which they all like. I really don't want to go to the trouble of working up a load for just one gun. The jury is still out on this one. I'll work with it some more, but its nice to know that I can always sell it for what I paid. Like I said, when buying on-line you take your chances.
S&W Model 36: Price $300.00. This is an original Model 36 dash nuthin', early flat latch model made about 1960. 95% finish and if its ever been shot at all, I can't tell it. These older J-frames were noted for lousy triggers, but this one was plumb awful! :mad:
A full disassembly revealed the problem. The insides were dry as a bone and there was green gunk growing in there! :eek: No rust though. Parts also showed that the gun had never even been shot enough to break it in. A good scrubbing and a tune up brought the trigger up to the standards for J-frames of thet time period. Still not great, but a whole lot better.
Range report: Now I remember why I've never kept a J-frame .38 for long. 50 rounds of mid-range loads resulted in a blister on my trigger finger! :eek: But then, these small guns have always caused me problems. They're really too small for me to shoot comfortably. My problem, not the guns. To its credit, I was able to keep all my shots in the black at 25 feet. That's better than I normally do with the little J-frame .38s.
While not the best choice for me, this gun is old enough, nice enough and collectable enough to earn a place in my safe. Its a keeper even if I don't shot it very often :D
Now this next part takes a bit of explaination. For some years now right at the top of my want list has been the S&W Model 18. That's the K-frame .22RF, 4" barrel with adjustable sights. They were discontinued in 1985 when they were dropped in favor of simply adding a 4" barrel option to the Model 17 line. These things are damned hard to come by. Seems the folks that own them aren't real big on parting with them. I have seen them pop up on the various gun auction sights from time to time, however almost all of these has been in 98% condition or better (NIB is common) and the reserve prices are always $400 or more! :eek: Too rich for my blood.
So, I was surfing on Gunbroker and lo and behold! A Model 18-3 at a reasonable price! 1977 vintage that's seen some real use. Obviously somebody's everyday holster gun as the finish is only about 75%. Owner makes the mistake of saying the bore is about 80%. Nobody is bidding. I exchange a couple of e-mails with the seller and they assure me that the gun is tight and the bore really isn't that bad. It seems they are just in the habit of lowballing stated condition in order to avoid any problems if the buyer isn't satisfied. I decided to take a chance and its mine for $185.
Just to show you the weird twists my luck takes, two days after buying this gun what should pop up for sale? Another Model 18-3! This one was made in 1975 and is in near mint condition. Not even a turn line on the cylinder. Opening bid required is $225, no reserve with a "buy it now" option for $270. This is way too cheap, so what's the catch? Well, it seems that the previous owner had ruined any collector value on this gun by having a red front sight insert put in and the trigger polished smooth. But It would still make a dandy shooter. I think about it for a while and realize that if the bidding gets started this gun will easily sell for at least $350. What the hell, I clicked the "buy it now" option. The gun was listed for all of 1 hour and 45 minutes before I jumped on it. I'm surprised it lasted that long.
Range report: Model 18 #1 (the rough looking one): It may not be much to look at, but it shoots like a champ! This gun has worn in beautifully. Trigger is smooth and crisp. 1 1/2" groups at 25 yards are the norm and in SA mode I was regularly breaking up dirt clods on the berm 55 yards away. I'm pleasently surprised!
Model 18 #2: It would seem that whoever polished the trigger face smooth also did a really nice action job on this gun. DA pull is butter smooth. From a standing two handed hold and firing DA only, I had no problems keeping all shots inside the eight ring at 15 yards.
Ok, that's it! I'M KEEPING THEM BOTH!
Here's the plan. #1 will be used as a general purpose, knock around gun filling the need whenever I wanna plink or otherwise feel the need for a .22 revolver.
Now, since #2 has a red ramp front sight, smooth trigger and a slick DA pull, all I have to do is add a set of Butler Creek combat grips and it becomes a .22 cal. companion piece for my primary defense revolver which is a 4" Model 586. Thus allowing for cheap, easy practice of my DA shooting skills. (big thumbs up here)
So there you have it. The adventures (or perhaps misadventures ;) ) of a S&W revolver addict. The money is all gone now. I promised Turtle I wouldn't buy any more new toys for a while and I've really bought too many guns this year anyway. I need to lay off for a while and concentrate on more important matters.
Ya know, I really could use a new safe....................... ;)
In my case, I put in some 30+ hours of OT last month. Wanna guess what I've been up to with this extra cash? Why working on my S&W collection of course! :D
So here I am with money to burn. Local gunshops are a total washout. Seems most of them aren't much for used guns. Around here, the majority of used stuff goes to the gun shows we have about every other month. Plenty of gunshows is about the only advantage to living near Memphis. :rolleyes: So the gunshow comes around and wouldn't ya know it, not a darn thing there that interests me.
Ok, time to surf the net. For those who don't know me, I collect shooters. I've never been the type to own a gun I won't shoot. So what I look for are the older more collectable guns with just enough honest wear on them that I have no problem taking them to the range. I believe guns should be shot and enjoyed, not hidden away or locked up.
On the other hand, buying guns off the internet is a ****shoot at best. Even the best pictures can hide some flaws and you can't check the mechanics of a gun on line. So, you lays down yer money and takes yer chances. :rolleyes:
Anyhow, here's the results of my latest adventure. BTW: had all of these out at the range today so range reports are included.
S&W Model 19-4: Price $242.00. made 1977/78, P&R, about 85% finish, grips are rough, but that's easy enough to change. Gun is good and tight. Timimg is perfect. Shows signs that its never been shot much at all. Finish wear is mostly small light scratches and not the usual holster wear pattern. Best guess, I'd say its spent most of its life rattling around somebodies glove compartment or under the front seat of the car. Maybe a utility drawer in the house. Wherever it was, it was subject to sliding around and not staying put.
Range report: a bit disappointed with this one. Groups are ok, but tend to be low and left. Took maximum sight adjustment to bring it to center. Could probably adjust with ammo, however this was the standard load I use in my other .357s, which they all like. I really don't want to go to the trouble of working up a load for just one gun. The jury is still out on this one. I'll work with it some more, but its nice to know that I can always sell it for what I paid. Like I said, when buying on-line you take your chances.
S&W Model 36: Price $300.00. This is an original Model 36 dash nuthin', early flat latch model made about 1960. 95% finish and if its ever been shot at all, I can't tell it. These older J-frames were noted for lousy triggers, but this one was plumb awful! :mad:
A full disassembly revealed the problem. The insides were dry as a bone and there was green gunk growing in there! :eek: No rust though. Parts also showed that the gun had never even been shot enough to break it in. A good scrubbing and a tune up brought the trigger up to the standards for J-frames of thet time period. Still not great, but a whole lot better.
Range report: Now I remember why I've never kept a J-frame .38 for long. 50 rounds of mid-range loads resulted in a blister on my trigger finger! :eek: But then, these small guns have always caused me problems. They're really too small for me to shoot comfortably. My problem, not the guns. To its credit, I was able to keep all my shots in the black at 25 feet. That's better than I normally do with the little J-frame .38s.
While not the best choice for me, this gun is old enough, nice enough and collectable enough to earn a place in my safe. Its a keeper even if I don't shot it very often :D
Now this next part takes a bit of explaination. For some years now right at the top of my want list has been the S&W Model 18. That's the K-frame .22RF, 4" barrel with adjustable sights. They were discontinued in 1985 when they were dropped in favor of simply adding a 4" barrel option to the Model 17 line. These things are damned hard to come by. Seems the folks that own them aren't real big on parting with them. I have seen them pop up on the various gun auction sights from time to time, however almost all of these has been in 98% condition or better (NIB is common) and the reserve prices are always $400 or more! :eek: Too rich for my blood.
So, I was surfing on Gunbroker and lo and behold! A Model 18-3 at a reasonable price! 1977 vintage that's seen some real use. Obviously somebody's everyday holster gun as the finish is only about 75%. Owner makes the mistake of saying the bore is about 80%. Nobody is bidding. I exchange a couple of e-mails with the seller and they assure me that the gun is tight and the bore really isn't that bad. It seems they are just in the habit of lowballing stated condition in order to avoid any problems if the buyer isn't satisfied. I decided to take a chance and its mine for $185.
Just to show you the weird twists my luck takes, two days after buying this gun what should pop up for sale? Another Model 18-3! This one was made in 1975 and is in near mint condition. Not even a turn line on the cylinder. Opening bid required is $225, no reserve with a "buy it now" option for $270. This is way too cheap, so what's the catch? Well, it seems that the previous owner had ruined any collector value on this gun by having a red front sight insert put in and the trigger polished smooth. But It would still make a dandy shooter. I think about it for a while and realize that if the bidding gets started this gun will easily sell for at least $350. What the hell, I clicked the "buy it now" option. The gun was listed for all of 1 hour and 45 minutes before I jumped on it. I'm surprised it lasted that long.
Range report: Model 18 #1 (the rough looking one): It may not be much to look at, but it shoots like a champ! This gun has worn in beautifully. Trigger is smooth and crisp. 1 1/2" groups at 25 yards are the norm and in SA mode I was regularly breaking up dirt clods on the berm 55 yards away. I'm pleasently surprised!
Model 18 #2: It would seem that whoever polished the trigger face smooth also did a really nice action job on this gun. DA pull is butter smooth. From a standing two handed hold and firing DA only, I had no problems keeping all shots inside the eight ring at 15 yards.
Ok, that's it! I'M KEEPING THEM BOTH!
Here's the plan. #1 will be used as a general purpose, knock around gun filling the need whenever I wanna plink or otherwise feel the need for a .22 revolver.
Now, since #2 has a red ramp front sight, smooth trigger and a slick DA pull, all I have to do is add a set of Butler Creek combat grips and it becomes a .22 cal. companion piece for my primary defense revolver which is a 4" Model 586. Thus allowing for cheap, easy practice of my DA shooting skills. (big thumbs up here)
So there you have it. The adventures (or perhaps misadventures ;) ) of a S&W revolver addict. The money is all gone now. I promised Turtle I wouldn't buy any more new toys for a while and I've really bought too many guns this year anyway. I need to lay off for a while and concentrate on more important matters.
Ya know, I really could use a new safe....................... ;)