Archive for Revolvers
Ruger GP100 and Blackhawk now in .327 Federal Magnum
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Ruger is offering two new revolvers chambered for the .327 Federal Magnum: the New Model Blackhawk and the GP100.
The Blackhawk is a single-action revolver with a 5 1/2″ barrel. It will hold eight rounds of the powerful .327 Magnum cartridges. The GP100 is a standard double action revolver that will hold seven of the .327 Federal Magnum rounds. Barrel length is 4.2″.
Shooting a Federal 100 grain soft-point bullet in the American Eagle line of ammunition, Ruger states the Blackhawk achieves 1655 fps, while the GP100 manages 1525 fps.
I’ve had a number of readers write that this cartridge made more sense as a hunting round, than that of a defensive round. With these revolvers, the .327 can now be taken to the field to harvest game.
S&W 442/642 ‘Pro Series’ Revolvers
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Let’s face it: other than Smith & Wesson, no one likes the internal locks that have plagued the S&W line of revolvers for years now. I know of many people, myself included, who have passed on buying a new S&W revolver because of the infernal things. Well, things may be changing.
Last year, Smith & Wesson claimed to have found a batch of old, pre-lock frames for the the 642. So, the company ran a rather limited production of them. I guess they sold pretty well, as S&W is now offering the 442 and 642 revolvers without internal locks.
More S&W J-Frames Get Longer Barrels
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In addition to the S&W 642, Smith & Wesson announced several of their J-frame revolvers were getting longer barrels.
The 637 and 638 will both be available with a 2 1/2″ barrel (up from the 1 7/8″ barrel) and full length extractors. Additionally, buyers have the option of buying one of the handguns with Crimson Trace Lasergrips factory installed.
MSRP is $640 for the standard models or $924 for the models with the CT Lasergrips.
New S&W 642!
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Smith & Wesson is updating one of their best selling handguns: the model 642. The 642 is an aluminum framed .38 Special revolver that is carried by thousands of cops and armed citizens as a pocket or ankle gun. In fact, it may be the most popular back-up gun in the United States.
The new S&W 642 features a 2 1/2″ barrel and a full-length, shrouded extractor. The current 642’s have a 1 7/8″ barrel and a diminutive extractor.
The new 642 has a pinned, black blade front sight, the standard fixed rear notch and the seemingly “hammerless” fully enclosed hammer. Unloaded weight is only up to 16 ounces, and the overall length is 7″.
S&W “Molon Labe” Revolvers
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Firearms distributor Lipsey’s is offering a series of limited edition ‘Molon Labe’ revolvers. There were five different models offered, but they are currently down to only four models at this time: the 442, 438, 637 and 638. The 642 sold out.
Each of the revolvers has “molon labe” inscribed on the right side of the firearm. The revolvers are listed at $615-639.
A special note: the 442 does not have the internal lock. For many people, that will be the biggest draw.
Some Thoughts on Choosing a Defensive Handgun
Posted by: | CommentsWhen it comes to choosing the right defensive handgun, there are many “right” answers and a few wrong ones. The best defensive handgun for you will likely be different than my choices. But the criteria in picking a handgun for self defense is fairly universal.
Let’s take a look at some of the things you should consider when buying a handgun for personal protection.
Caliber selection is important, but not that important…
When picking the right handgun, many people obsess about what caliber to choose. Generally speaking, handguns are poor choices for stopping a violent attacker. Handguns launch a fairly small projectile at relatively low velocities, and bullet wounds to areas other than the central nervous system (CNS) generally take time to work.
Hornady Critical Defense 12 Gauge Ammunition
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Hornady added a 00-buck 12 gauge round to its line of popular Critical Defense ammunition.
This 12 gauge round is a 2 3/4″ shell with eight .33 caliber pellets. Hornaday is using the Versatite wad for “ultra-tight” patterns from standard production shotguns.
Hornady promises proper functioning in both pump and semi-auto shotguns.
Charter Arms Crimson Patriot
Posted by: | CommentsCharter Arms is offering a new revolver package: the Crimson Patriot.
The Crimson Patriot is a .327 Federal Magnum revolver from the Charter Arms Patriot line. It has a 2.2″ barrel and ships from the factory with the Crimson Trace LG-325 Lasergrips.
The Crimson Patriot shares many of the features of the standard Patriot revolver. The Crimson Patriot is a six-shot, exposed hammer revolver made of stainless steel that weighs 21 ounces unloaded. It has fixed sights, using a ramp front and notch rear. The big difference is the addition of the rubber overmold Lasergrips.
The suggested retail on the Charter Arms Crimson Patriot is $650.00. Considering the standard Patriot retails for $469.00 and the Crimson Trace LG-325 Lasergrips retail at $299.00, the Crimson Patriot retail price represents a significant savings as compared to adding the grips yourself ($768 vs. $650). Obviously, street prices vary.
