Saturday, April 11, 2009

More on The GNSITE S.A. Self-Defense Class

I thought I'd answer the questions form the last post with a new post...

All of us in this special class have done GUNSITE classes with 1911 .45s, so we're all cocked-and-locked advocates. Since I was using an unconverted (that is, no transfer bar) Flat-Top, I would normally carry it with 5 in the chamber and an empty under the hammer (a la Cowboy Action Shooting) or use the old cowboy trick of carrying 6 with the hammer carefully lowered BETWEEN the chambers. On the Rugers with transfer bars, everyone carried 6.

BTW, the Ruger Montado, designed for mounted cowboy action shooting, is a SUPERB S.A. carry gun (in fact, my partner Marshal Halloway bought the Montado he shot in the class). Right now it's available only in .45 Colt, but we're lobbying Ruger for .357 and .44 Special versions (we may do a poll on DRTV on that). We also had a couple of Vaqueros that Dave Biggers from XS Sites had set up with a Big Dot Tritium and express rear...they were 'way cool! Three of the guns, including 2 .44 Specials, had been "dinked" by Hamilton Bowen...they were, as one might expect, beyond excellent. My old friend Gary Paul Johnson had a Vaquero he'd had rebuilt on a custom titanium frame...light and scary!

We had holsteres from Ted Blocker, Tombstone, Blade-Tech, Andy's Leather, Mitch Rosen and Bob Mernikle. The Rosen was a traditional pancake; the mernicle a superbly designed concealed carry holster, as was the Ted Blocker I used part of the time. I'll probably use the Blocker or the Andy's Leather holster when I open carry when hiking.

Haz, the S.A. self-defense class was filmed for SHOOTING GALLERY because of the huge positive response we got from the lever action show last season.

Depending on the response from SG and the magazines, GUNSITE would really like to make the class a standard offering. We had breakfast with GUNSITE majordomo Ed Head yesterday and talked about an "advanced" S.A. self-defense class that would include night shooting (tricky on the reloads), more shooting/reloading on the move, and using two guns.

11 comments:

Hazcat said...

VERY COOL, MB!

I really look forward to the show. I am also going to check out those holsters.

THANKS!

Anonymous said...

More importantly MB,

What were your thoughts on Terminator: SCC finale last night? How can they not make another season?

Opinions?

Michael Bane said...

If they don't make another season, I'm going to be PISSED!

I thought the finale was pretty good...really bummed when Dereck got killedte show before...

Anonymous said...

Davidson's currently offers the Ruger Montado in .357, and they have a bunch in stock.
http://www.galleryofguns.com/Genie/default.aspx?item=5126

TL in OR

Anonymous said...

Who cares.....That sounds as exciting as watching the grass grow.....

Flash Powder Hal said...

A montado in .44 spl would be VERY nice!

Looking forward to it. Keep us in-the-loop Michael ~;-)

Anonymous said...

Since the Montado is a Davidson's exclusive wouldn't you have to lobby Davidson's for a 44 Special?

Anonymous said...

I'd really like to take such a class myself...and I'd love a .357 Montado. I think I, personally, would pass on a .44 version at this time...especially since I just spent much of the past week on a (mostly) fruitless search for affordable .44 Special ammo for my new Lipsey's/Ruger .44 Flattop.

The cheapest I've found (when there was any in stock): MagTech 240-grain CAS loads and Blazer 200-grain Gold Dot HPs...at $33/50-round box. Ouch.

(Ironically, the word verification for my comment is "unlik." And, yes, I really "unlik(e)" having a fine new gun I almost can't afford to shoot.)

--Wes S.

CJS3 said...

I think Ruger has always missed the boat no making a 44Spl. single action. Before the "new" Vaquero they could always point to the 44Mag. and say just shoot Spl's. Now with the current Vaquero, a 44Spl would "hit the spot". If one were available I'd be so there dude.

Anonymous said...

As to reloading the SA in a self defense situation I can't help but paraphrase Walt Rauch from the snub SG episode, "The fight will begin and end with the six rounds in your New Vaquero".

Unknown said...

www1016
issey miyake
kate spade outlet
moncler outlet
ed hardy uk
louboutin shoes
pandora outlet
air max 90
michael kors outlet
adidas clothing
pandora jewelry