Archive for October, 2008
Smith and Wesson 610: A 10mm Handgun that Also Handles the .40 S&W Cartridge
Posted by: | CommentsIn recent months, it seems the 10mm cartridge has been gaining a lot of followers. The problem is, there aren’t many firearms currently manufactured that shoot the 10mm. Consequently, the prices of used 10mm handguns, like the Colt Delta Elite, have been climbing.
Smith and Wesson, rather quietly, has been selling a 10mm handgun. Rather than an autopistol, S&W is selling a revolver chambered for the 10mm: the Smith and Wesson model 610. The original 610 was introduced almost two decades ago, and Smith discontinued production for a period of time. However, S&W brought the gun back and it is currently available.
The S&W 610 is a stainless steel revolver with either a 4″ (3 7/8″ actually) or 6 1/2″ barrel. The handgun holds six rounds, has nice Hogue rubber grips, and weighs in at 42.5 ounces and 49.4 ounces (unloaded) respectively. Loading is handled via full moon clips.
Two major advantages exist for chambering a revolver in 10mm. The first is a lot of 10mm owners like to hunt with that cartridge. A revolver offers increased reliability in adverse weather and environmental condition, making the 610 a good platform for 10mm hunters.
The second advantage of a 10mm revolver is the 610 also chambers .40 S&W cartridge. While the 10mm is clearly a superior hunting cartridge, the .40 S&W is much more common and cheaper to shoot. Additionally, all major manufacturers make .40 S&W personal protection ammunition with the latest bullet designs, while few make 10mm ammo with the current generation of self defense bullets. So, .40 S&W ammo may be better for self defense applications.
These two advantages mean that one revolver can be used for plinking, self defense, and hunting…without a decrease in reliability in virtually any environment…simply by choosing which ammunition to feed it.
The S&W 610 retails for $980, but I have seen them significantly cheaper at some dealers looking to move them due to a lack of interest. The funny thing is, I imagine that they are not selling as well as other Smith products due to a lack of advertising, not due to a lack of interest. If more people knew about them, they would probably be selling a little quicker with the dealers I talked to.
Ruger Announces Recall on LCP Pistols: The LCP May Discharge When Dropped
Posted by: | CommentsSome Ruger LCP .380 pistols are being recalled due to a possibility they will discharge if dropped according to a Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. announcement on October 29.
Ruger stated that they have received a few reports of the LCP pistols discharging when a round was in the chamber and when the pistol was dropped on a hard surface. As part of the recall program, Ruger will install an upgraded hammer system.
Ruger stated that there have not been any injuries reported related to this problem.
Ruger stated they will make good on all of the LCP guns that need to be upgraded, but their service department will only be able to handle a finite number of pistols at any one time. Therefore, Ruger states the recall program will be on a “first come, first served” basis. All work will be done for free and shipping there and back is paid for by Ruger.
In an effort to compensate LCP owners for their inconvience, Ruger will upgrade other unspecified components of the firearm and return the updated LCP with an additional magazine.
Earlier this year, Ruger recalled some of its SR9 pistols. From the people I have spoken to about that recall program, things went smoothly and the owners were happy with Ruger’s service.
The full information about the LCP pistol recall is available from the Ruger website.
Federal Nyclad Ammunition in .38 Special to be Reintroduced at 2009 SHOT Show
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate: Federal did re-introduce the Nyclad. More information is in this post: Federal Nyclad Ammunition in .38 Special Reintroduced at 2009 SHOT Show.
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Federal Premium Ammunition will be re-introducing the Nyclad in .38 Special at the 2009 SHOT Show according to the folks at the Pro Arms Podcast. During a show on “snub nosed” revolvers, one of the participants made the announcement.
The Nyclad line of ammunition was developed several decades ago and became popular as one of Federal’s self defense lines of cartridges. The .38 Special self defense load was a 125 grain, standard pressure round that featured a soft-lead bullet with a very deep hollow point. The bullet was coated in a jacket of polymer, similar to nylon, that allowed the bullet to reliably expand all even low velocities.
Many experts feel the 125 grain Nyclad hollow point was the best standard pressure cartridge loaded for the .38 Special. It offered excellent expansion with a relatively light recoil in even the lightest of revolver frames. My own informal testing seemed good out of a model 642 Smith and Wesson (1 7/8″ barrel), and Evan Marshall’s research tended to show good results in the street.
Until Federal confirms or denies this information, it is merely a juicy rumor at this point. I have seen a lot of people snap up the remaining old-stock of Nyclad whenever it has shown up at AmmoMan and other places. I suspect it will sell very well if re-introduced.
Two of the most popular Smith and Wesson handguns, the models 442 and 642, have been re-introduced without the infamous internal locks. These J-frame snubbies are the classic blued and stainless steel .38 Special revolvers with the internal hammers.
Perfect for pocket, ankle, and other forms of concealed carry, these revolvers have been great sellers for Smith and Wesson for many years. Like all S&W revolvers, in recent times, a consumer could only buy these with the internal lock. Unfortunately, these locks have had a few problems and consumer confidence in them is very low. Smith and Wesson have listened to their customers and brought these two classic J-frames back without internal locks.
If you have been wanting one of these sidearms, but have hesitated, wait no longer.
I am a proud owner of the model 642-1 that I bought more than 10 years ago. It is a great gun! I have carried it daily in a pocket and on an ankle. It has always performed perfectly and is very accurate. I have no doubt these new models will be outstanding revolvers.
Defend Freedom: Join the NRA!
Posted by: | CommentsThis year has seen a landmark Supreme Court case recognizing the Second Amendment for what it is: an individual right of every citizen of the United States to keep and bear arms for self defense against criminals and a tyrannical government. But the decision was reed thin. Any shift in the court can reverse this ruling.
This year has also seen the rise of a very anti-gun politician who may be the next president of the United States. Barack Obama is very close to winning the presidency. Obama is one of the most anti-gun politicians the USA has seen. His running mate, Joseph Biden, wrote the original “assault weapon” ban in the 90’s.
The National Rifle Association has defended the rights of ALL Americans and will continue to do so regardless of who wins this presidential election. Membership is extremely important. The NRA only has as much influence as they have members. If half of the gun owners in America were NRA members, our Second Amendment right would not be in danger. As it stands now, a few of us are shouldering the burden for all gun owners.
Please…if you are not a member of the National Rifle Association, join now! If you are a member, double check your membership and make sure it has not lapsed. Renew if it has. If you are already a current member, consider upgrading to a life membership.
If we do not stick together, the Obama administration will pick apart the gun community. As Benjamin Franklin famously said, “We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”
Soccer Mom and Open Carry of a Firearm
Posted by: | CommentsA Pennsylvania soccer mom recently had her permit restored after it was wrongfully revoked after she exercised her rights under Pennsylvania law and the US Constitution.
Melenie Hain carried a sidearm in plain view for personal protection when she attended her child’s soccer game on September 11, 2008. Even though Hain did absolutely nothing illegal, the local sheriff revoked her concealed carry permit because some people were offended. When revoking the permit, the sheriff cited Pennsylvania law that prohibits someone who is likely to be a threat from having a concealed weapons permit. Yet, no evidence suggests that Hain is anything other than a loving mom and wife of a law enforcement officer.
The judge who returned Hain’s concealed weapon permit suggested that by carrying a firearm in plain view, Hain was somehow impolite, saying “I have a fear … manners are being replaced by insensitivity and rudeness.”
Open carry of a firearm in Pennsylvania is legal. No permits or other government control exist to prohibit a law abiding citizens from carrying a sidearm for personal protection in an open, non-concealed manner. In fact, by revoking Hain’s permit, the sheriff made open carry the only way Hain could carry a sidearm.
No allegations ever surfaced that Hain did anything wrong. Fortunately, the judge followed the law, not his personal feelings onwhat constitutes rude behavior, and restored Hain’s permit.
If you want more information on open carry, check out the OpenCarry.org website and the Pensylvania Open Carry website.
