Friday, August 22, 2014

Back to the Big Iron

I've spent most of the summer bopping around the Secret Hidden Ranch with my SR-22 for plinking. I like plinking. However, as we're creeping toward autumn the neighbors are all riled up by a big mountain lion that's moved into the neighborhood. One of the neighbors has already run him off with a couple of warning shots, but Front Range lions haven't been hunted in decades and they have absolutely no fear of people or occupied dwellings. Plus, it's grumpy black bear season as they start fattening up for the Big Winter Sleep.

Accordingly, I've sucked it up and gone back to the Big Iron for hiking. For quick bathroom jaunts out with Newt,  I'm carrying the Taurus Public Defender with Federal 4-pellet #000 buckshot, which has impressed me with it's penetration and grouping, backed up with .45 Colt Silver-Tips. Not a bear load by any means, but should be a medicine gun for lions/coyotes up close.

For longer hikes, right now I'm carrying my old Ruger Alaskan in .454 with Winchester Platinum Tip 280-grainers, which are slightly less bone-rattling than the Corbon 335-grain tyrannosaurus killers. After I get a few more round though it, I'll probably go to this little guy...


...the TALO Kodiak, a.44 Magnum Redhawk with a round butt and a 2.75 inch barrel. Here's my pal Jeff Quinn's report. Yeah, it recoils, but not like the .454!
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7 comments:

  1. KevinC12:19 PM

    Hmmn, that Alaskan is a carry gun for you, and it's got a barrel under 3.75 inches...

    ... so why not shoot it in the IDPA BUG Nationals in November? Nothing says "Down zero!" like a half-inch hole in the target. :D

    Besides, think of the scoffing you can drop on the Miculeks and Seeklanders of the world as they compete with their puny 9mm's and .38's, and if nothing else, if you suck, you can always blame the fact that you're shooting the match in Major (and then some) Power Factor...

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  2. Michael Bane12:35 PM

    That would be fun, wouldn't it? Light up those 335-grain Corbons on an indoor range!!!!

    mb

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  3. KMitch2002:37 PM

    After that flash, the second shot would be...interesting. :)

    Remember the guy who released the exotic animals then offed himself in Ohio?
    A cop had a 1 shot stop on a black bear with a 165gr .40 cal.
    Fotay baby!! It's got electrolytes!

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  4. Unknown3:04 PM

    I like my S&W 500 with a 2 1/2" barrel. Federal has a round loaded with the Barnes 275 grain. I wouldn't call it mild but it is tolerable.

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  5. Dan7:46 PM

    Any after-market stocks that fill the area behind the trigger guard? Does the RB configuration mean full custom stocks?

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  6. Seabat9:26 AM

    I remember Spokhandguns made those back in the 1970's.

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  7. Will11:18 PM

    Michael,

    am I correct in thinking the RB was accomplished by removing the front and rear points of the original grip frame? I'm looking at my .41 Redhawk, and following the internal shape of it would appear to produce that large bevel at the front and rear. Then you would trim the oem type stocks to match.

    Looks good, but exposed backstraps can be painful. Also, that trigger guard beats up one's finger(s), if the gap behind it is not filled. Well, it does to me, anyway!

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