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Favorite Packin’ Pistols
By Chuck Smith It
seems as though this topic has gotten a lot of attention from most of the major
gun magazines and writers. Our very own John Taffin has probably done more to
bring this subject to national attention than any other gunwriter
I can remember. It is true that Elmer Keith and Skeeter Skelton put to
pen and paper their thoughts on the subject….but it was JT who sent in the new
wave. This is not a testimonial to John Taffin and all that he has done for the
gun culture….but it could be! A
“packin’ pistol” in my opinion could be in any caliber or barrel length
you don’t mind carrying for extended periods regardless of the terrain. It is
usually considered that the 4, 4-3/4, and 4-5/8” barrel lengths to be the
“ultimate” in packin’ pistol handguns. It is certainly not limited to
revolvers only as there are many who carry and prefer the semi-auto designed
pistol. My personal preference for an all out packin’ pistol is however a
revolver….be it single or double action design. What
factors determine what is going to be your packin’ pistol? It mostly depends
on the primary use of the gun to be carried. Guns for defense may have different
requirements than say a “field” carried sixgun….but one has to be ready
for any circumstance that may arise as Newton’s Law is apt to come into play
at anytime. For general field carry I like the above mentioned barrel lengths
and I find myself even using a 3” barreled S&W N-frame in .44 Magnum quite
a bit. I will admit to carrying it more than actually really shooting it as it
is a loud,obnoxious,fire breathing little beast…but I really do like it! The
double action revolvers I carry the most are primarily S&W N-frames in .357
Magnum, .41 Magnum, .44 Special, .44 Magnum, and .45 Colt. You may be asking
yourself…”Why all these different calibers?” The answer is
simple…because I like them all and each of them serves a purpose in my
shooting battery and all of these guns with barrels of 4” fit in the same belt
holster! I will elaborate on my personal choices in holsters later. My first
honest to goodness packin’ pistol was also my first pistol period! A Ruger
5-1/2” SS manufactured in 1957 and was carried in a Lawrence #120 floral
carved belt holster….I thought life could get no better! Both the sixgun and
holster have been retired temporarily until such time my boys are ready for
them…which is actually around the corner! My
first “big bore” packin’ pistol was of course non other than a beautiful
blue 4” S&W Model 29 4-screw….I then knew that life had certainly gotten
better! I carried it everywhere and shot the heck out of it….actually wore it
out…amazing but true! So I obtained another, and another, and well you get the
idea. A S&W Mountain Gun in .45 Colt as well as a Model 24 .44 Special and
Model 28 “Highway Patrolman” .357 Magnum also see a lot of “playing”
time and they are all well built and accurate sixguns and have served me very
well so far. Smaller
guns in both size and caliber can be good packin’ pistols as well….again
your requirements will dictate what you may choose as your gun of choice. I like
S&W J-frames in .22 LR, .22 Magnum, and .38 Special. I am never without my
blue Model 34 2” .22 revolver and have gotten used to a 3” 317 “kit
gun”…the extra two rounds in the 317 are nice also. A custom tuned pinned
barrel S&W Model 36 with a 3” barrel has proven to be a revolver worth
owning. The accuracy of the little .38 is absolutely incredible and I find it
much easier to shoot than the 2” counterpart and IMHO they point better for
instinctive shooting…again this is my opinion. Single-action
packin’ pistols are also very near and dear to me….and I have some favorites
with them as well. A Ruger 3-screw .45 Colt with a 4-5/8” barrel with a XR3
gripframe installed may very well fit the bill to a T! It handles easily and
quickly and has more than ample power for most if not all of what you may
encounter. I also use a stainless Ruger SBH with a 4-5/8” barrel that has been
converted to Bisley style with gripframe hammer and trigger. It wears a set of
Lett fancy walnut grips that have been fit to the gripframe and thinned to my
liking. The .44 has also had a custom front sight made for it and a Bowen rear
installed, a Belt Mountain #5 .2515 diameter base pin added as well as an action
job. It may well be the most accurate .44 Magnum I own and Terry Murbach has
some playing cards I cut in half at close to 20 steps using some Cor-Bon 300 gr.
JSP ammo…it will shoot if I do my part! Packin’
pistols don’t always have to have “short” barrels and if you don’t mind
the extra length…..they can be most effective. JT really is annoyed by Ruger
6-1/2” barrel lengthed sixguns….he says they should be 4-5/8, 5-1/2, and
7-1/2….I can’t say I disagree with him….but I have several that have the
“ill” made 6-1/2” barrels and I suffer through with them alright for
now:-} Matter of fact one of my all time favorites is a Ruger “Buckeye”
Special Convertible with .32 Magnum and .32-20 cylinders. I am blessed to have
two of these great sixguns despite the 6-1/2” barrels they came with….just
can’t bring myself to shorten any of them yet….however my dad had one of his
cut to 4-3/4” and it is great handling sixshooter. For
a packin’ pistol I don’t go any longer than 7-1/2” and that is probably
because I personally don’t think you need any more barrel than that on a belt
carried sixgun….only with the exception of my S&W Model 48 .22 Magnum with
its 8-3/8” barrel…..the El Paso Saddlery “Threepersons” cross draw
holster I use for it makes it tolerable to carry. For the most part the shorter
barrels will be more to your liking for pure carrying qualities and even the
3” N-frames offer better portability than the 4” when carried in like
holsters. JT again does not care for the 3” N-frames and says if you can carry
a 3” you can surely carry a 4” and have a better balanced sixgun….again I
don’t necessarily disagree….but I like them both and to be downright honest
with you….to me the 3” N-frames are just
plain cool looking! Earlier
I mentioned rimfire and small calibered centerfire handguns….these are also
very good packin’ pistols and some in my favorite flavors too! Long before I
met Paco Kelly….I knew he was my kindred spirit….for we both share a strong
affinity for the .22 rimfire and its magnum big brother…as well as the .30
Carbine, .32 Magnum, and the mentioned .32-20 all used in sixguns. Being without
a good .22 pistol would surely cause me to be physically ill….I can’t
remember ever being without one….and fortunately my interest in them has
caused me to obtain several Rugers and S&W’s in both D/A, S/A, and
semi-auto design.What is better than a S&W Model 17 6” .22 revolver with
its deep blue finish and tack driving accuracy? I know….another one! Other
favorites are my two S&W Model 617’s…..stainless steel versions of the
17 with the full lug barrel. One is a first year production 6-shot with a 6”
barrel and the most favored square butt…the other is a 10-shot with 4”
barrel and round butt. Both are excellent guns and very accurate….the nod
going to the 4” for packin’. I also have a S&W Model 17-6
with a 4” heavy barrel….not the full lug….but a heavy round barrel
from the factory. It has a round butt and 6-shot cylinder….I have never seen
another like it and I found the one I have in used…but like new condition
several years ago. It was a great find for its accuracy rivals any that I own.
The front sight on this gun was a continuation of the rib and not pinned in…so
I had it milled off and a patridge post front sight installed….this revolver
is scary accurate and out to very long ranges….I’ll keep it! I
bought one of the Ruger SS .32 Magnum “mini vaquero” in blue soon after
introduction and have shot it a good bit. Mine does not shoot to the
sights…but I can hit with it. A stainless gripframe from a NM Ruger .357
Blackhawk was put on the blued .32 and round butted for a nice two-tone effect.
I also fit a set of Eagle rosewood “Gunfighter” grips to it and the slimness
of the little gun is very nice. I have talked to Jim Stroh about welding up the
top strap and installing a set of S&W J-frame adjustable sights and making a
dovetailed post front sight. I am thinking of giving it to my oldest son and he
can have a relatively powerful little packing gun with the ability to use .32
ACP, .32 S&W, and .32 Magnum…all in the same sixgun…kinda like a
centerfire rimfire without all the recoil. If he is like me….he will probably
have a .22 pistol in his pocket as
well….some say the apple don’t fall to far from the tree:-} As
for holsters for packin’ guns….they are as individual a choice as the gun
itself and I can only state what my personal choices are. Belt holsters are what
I like….PERIOD! I have tried shoulder holsters…and for my uses and
needs….I prefer a good ol’ cowhide belt rig….nu fuss no
muss….simple….just like me! I like both strongside and crossdraw depending
on need and barrel length. For a strong side I prefer a belt holster with a
neutral draw….no cant…straight up and down. The ones I use the most are made
by Milt Sparks and El Paso Saddlery….the Sparks holster is the Model #200 AW
and similar to the one Elmer Keith wore….mine have the trigger area covered…Elmers
did not…but the hammer shroud he suggested was a very good idea. The EPS
“Threepersons” that I use are both strongside and crossdraw…some have the
hammer strap and others use a leather thong. For a general working field
holster….the hammer strap is better IMHO. The Sparks holster uses friction and
a adjustment screw for retention of the gun….the gun “snaps” in securely
and is very fast to draw. I have never had my gun unintentionally fall out of my
Sparks holster….and have unintentionally done some very clumsy acrobatics
while using it….it’s a great holster and
may be the best “all around” holster ever made…again my opinion. These
holsters and a 1-3/4” heavy trouser belt are pretty much all I use….and with
the centerfires I carry another reload in a 6-round leather cartridge
slide….the ones from EPS and Von Ringler are great and I have several in
various calibers from both makers….and you can always put a few more in your
pocket just in case things get a little thin! A packin’ pistol like has been said is a individual thing and if you don’t mind packin’ it….my belief is that any I have mentioned will do. It all boils down to what you are comfortable with and one that will supply ample power for your intended task and one that on demand you can draw, point, and hit with without hesitation. Really
“big bore” packin’ pistols are also a favorite of mine….and by that I
mean in calibers of .454 Casull and up. Some will not need the power these hand
held brutes are capable of….but what does need have to do with it anyway? I
have shot many FA built revolvers chambered in .454 and they are wonderfully
built precision firearms….unfortunately for one reason or another I have never
owned one….although I have my eye on a like new very early 90’s vintage
7-1/2” Field Grade with factory black micarta grips….the price is gradually
coming down and I’m going to hold out until I can no longer stand it! The
“big” packin’ guns are the short barreled bruisers I own that were built
by John Linebaugh. I am fortunate enough to have two Ruger Bisley Vaqueros
chambered in .500 Linebaugh….one is stainless and the other blue….but both
are identical with 4-3/4” barrels and white micarta grips made by John’s
talented son Dustin. They are compact to the point that they will easily fit in
leather made for factory Rugers with similar barrel length. In my estimation
these are the epitome of big bore packin’ guns and they can be had chambered
in .475 if that is your desire. One of these days I am going to have John build
me a blue 4-3/4” adjustable sighted version to be a short barreled companion
to my well used 6” .500 Linebaugh. Packin’ guns can be had in all shapes, sizes, and calibers….and can be carried in more ways than you thought possible….matter of fact I carry a bobbed hammer Ruger 2-3/4” stainless Speed-Six .357 Magnum in my back pocket….or a S&W J-frame in my front pocket…and most times both! Packin’ guns are like race cars…they are no better than the driver behind the wheel. If you are going to pack it…practice with it…know it…handle it…live with it….and it will never let you down. John Linebaugh says that your packin’ gun is your “trusted friend”…I don’t know how profound that statement is or isn’t….but it ain’t a bad rule to live by….I know I do!
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