[Coldfingers]

Well now, what a co-inky-dink.

It seems that one of these rascles was calling my name. I hate it when they do that. Worse even is when your buddy has a FFL and just happens to know where one of the elusive critters lies.

I expect a call today saying that the package has arrived.

My hope is that it shoots as good as it feels (a local shop had one at an outrageous "collectors" price&#33<!--emo&--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''><!--endemo-->

Charlie, perhaps you could send me some data on your "heavy" loads? I got some good info from Tim Sundles for starting loads with a 300gr LBT but am looking for data pertainant to this particular handgun. My thoughts were that it would be a usefull package for an all around DA companion. I am also interested in general purpose loads with cast bullets.

Scotty

 

[Coldfingers]

m141a,

Thank you for the reply. I have no desire to beat myself or the gun up.

What has been your experience with Cast bullets in the Smith. My Ruger needed major work (chamber size) and is off to Reeder for a 5 shot cylinder with proper sized holes in it.

The info I got for the 300 grainers (cast) was to stop at 1150 fps using H110 and not feed it a steady diet of these.

My dealer uses a .44Mag Mtn Gun and runs it hot alot. He also is on almost a first name basis with the folks at Smith for getting it tightened up again. He likes the gun so much that he is willing to live with the maintainance.

I am looking foreward to seeing just what the Smith is capable of in the great old .45

With luck it should enjoy lots of travel time.

Scotty

 

[Coldfingers]

This is helping alot.

I am glad to know that the Smith handled the Ruger load without damage since I just got done putting ALL (I hope) of my heavy Ruger loadings in RED boxes labled as such.

My goal here is a DA that handles more like my .357 carry gun so that I do not get cornfused if things start to happen fast.

 

[Coldfingers]

Teufelhund...

I think I will cry if this gun does not measure up to my expectations.

My only other "Smith" is an old .22 Kit gun with a 4" barrel. That little gun is about as close to perfect as one can get.

I fail to understand why manufacturers cannot get things right, ot at least close.

Sign of the times I guess.

Thank you for the reminder about John L's site. I had  read all his stuff last spring but forgot that he mentioned the Smith there. The way he puts it, most of my Ruger loadings would work (or at least not break anything that day) if push came to shove.

All in all, I eagerly await the arrival of the Smith. It appears that Mr Postman did not have time today to run it up to Alaska. Rats.

Scotty

 

[Coldfingers]

Mike,

Thanks for the input. That is about what I am figguring out at this point.

Hopefully, once the "sight in" is done with the 300's, I can bring some 250's or so to point of aim without breaking the wrist.

I gotta admit that if it were not for the moose incident, I would be happy with the .357! I am also hoping that I have had my one and only DLP killing and will get through life in peace. That would make me quite content. I absolutely HATE shooting things that will not fall down and just seem to get more and more angry.

When the weather gets cold enough to put the bears to sleep again, I will switch back to the .357

 

[Coldfingers]

Well now,

I did a search at the smith-wesson forum and found alot of good info.

If my gun shoots as well as those other guns, I will be pleased. Them boys sure put some fancy grips on thiers! Jeesh, talk about "dressed to kill"

Linebaughs site and experience with the Smith also leads me to think I may be on a good path for a very versitile gun that will pack well and offer and offer DA capablilities.

From the sounds of things, the gun will handle loads that would cause me to flinch and is very accurate.

I also look foreward to bear season with a client coming in on June 1st for a week in the deep woods, swatting bugs and poking sticks at black bears. I am getting pretty cranked up and have only packed my gear twice now. I am reserving a spot for the Mtn Gun 8*)

I cannot figgure out all the numbers either...gibberish I say!

Time does drag on so when you are waiting for a package don't it?

Scotty

 

[Coldfingers]

"GEEEEE GOLLY" Teuf, you figgured it out 8*)

Too many darn "Pastors" on the site (and thier wimmin & chillins too)

I am glad that you are getting yous wrung out but concerned about the wear and tear yours shows.

If I had a half a brain, I would have bought a Redhawk and a new sawblade for the hacksaw ;*)

I gathered from an inference at the smithforum that "J.L." has shot his pretty loose but it still hits where he aims and functions.

Time will tell.

If I shoot the Mtn Gun like most of my others, there will be few hot rounds through it once one is developed the will do the job in a crisis. I then have a propensity to find a plinking load that hits POA and also get engrosed in silly stiff like roundball loads and subsonic bowling balls so that I can bonk bunnies and squirrels with my packin iron.

The .45 is perhaps not the best for this, but I keep on trying

I don't know how things are going to go for my client. Last week we had snow falling and the woods were brown, and leafless. This week it seems that summer is here. I watched the leaves grow to halfsize in three days and with the forecast for temps in the 80's I expect full bloom and dense foilage with lots of natrual green foods to tempt Yogi to remain away from the pickinic basket I have prepared. I believe the Marshall's scent makin machine may be the hot ticket this year if I am going to get a big enough tip to cover a box of ammo.

All in all though, a week in the woods with the campmates and guests will be a good time and a welcome break for the cabin fever that clings for way too long.

Please keep me informed as to how things develop when your 625 returns and I will do the same when the postman decideds that he best buy his own and quit playing quicksdraw with mine!

Scotty

 

[Coldfingers]

Well now,

It seems that Alyeska and the boys are having fun busting knuckles with the Ruger and some T-Rex loads.

I have had the S&W Mountain Gun for a week now and actually got some shooting in with a Chrony to work with.

I must say that I am pleased. I can get a 300gr Keith handcast bullet flying right between 1045 and 1055 with 21 grains of H110 and a CCI mag primer. The load is stiff but not a real knucklebuster.

With 9 grains of Unique and a 250 gr SWC she will shoot dimes from a benchrest.

All in all, I am pleased.

More later as I am up to my hindquarters in Cub Scouts and preperations for guiding some happless gent from Utah after black bear. (Bowz & Arrows for all)

Yeee Ha!

Scotty

 

[Coldfingers]

I knew you guys on the coast had webbed feet, but I heard that when the hands started to web, it iwas time to get some sun.

A wound lke that would have me back to shooting the .22

I tried my "hand" with a Casull and soon figgured out that I would do no good with it because of the flinch that developed.

Need more practice I guess.

I figgure that if I need that kind of whollop I will use the Marlin (One handed of course, to get the misery factor up there&#33<!--emo&--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''><!--endemo-->

Take care of yourself and I will see you when you return from the high hills.

All my best.

Scotty

 

[Coldfingers]

TAP,

I started with 8 grains of Unique. The bullets were all over the target. Once I got the velocity up, the groups settled right in. I found that my friends .44Mag was downright vicious in the recoil department when loaded up to snuff. The .45 seems to be quite tame in comparison while still delivering a heavyweight at a respectable velocity.

I still have alot of fine tuning for accuracy left to do, but I beleive that the potential is there to make a sweet shooting, easy packing, meat killing camp gun that will do nicely in a social event also. Only time will tell how she holds up to camp life.

I think I figgured out what all them different numbers are for also. They give the guys at the smithforum lots of excuses to post pictures of all the variences that come out of the S&W factory  8*)  Makes me wonder if any of the lil darlins make it to the woods! Mine is in the truck wondering where the soft pillow is. Next week it beds down in the pine boughs and rides the riverboat.

Scotty

 

[Coldfingers]

m141a,

I just returned from a week in "da woods" and guiding a nice gentlemen from Utah for black bear. He made a passable shot and managed to put the shaft through the last inch of Liver left between a short bloodtrail and a grueling grid search in the bogs.

We had a few hairy moments durring the blood trail when we stumbled accross "the old biddy and her pencil nosed cub" who had been frequenting our bait site and kicking butt on everything under six feet. We called it a draw. I did not shoot her and she did not kick our butts (but I could see her weighing the odds for a moment!)

The 300 grainers are a handfull from the Mountain Gun. I have settled in on 21.2 grains of H110 for now, based on Extreem Spread. Accuracy was acceptable at the ranges I figgured I would be forced to use them (and I am glad I was not!) With the heavy loads, the N frame is not easy on the web of the hand. I will fart around with them for a while this summer since I will probably carry the MG into moose camp. It was just a pleasure to tote in the field all day and I was not too worried about being undergunned. I was as much a part of my pants as the "Leatherguy" although it saw no where near the action! How in the world the old timers ever did without a multi-tool is beyond me.

All in all, I am pleased. It does not hit as hard as the Ruger, but it sure hits the spot!

Blessings,

Scotty

 

[Coldfingers]

Chris,

I concure!

I have an excess of Unique that needs to get burned up so that I can switch to U. Clays. Performance is good with Unique but it sure gets a gun dirty.

When I started working up a load with the 300's and H110 I started at 18 grains. Everything was pretty erratic (E.S and groups) till I hit a powder level that filled the case and things got really good when I got a bit of compression on the powder. Where I sit right now, the velocity is very consistant but the grouping is a bit large. I am going to work my way down a bit for accuracy.

I have no desire to beat up such a fine gun and believe that even the milder loads will make a hole in whatever needs a hole in it. Once the Heavyweights are fine tuned, they will be reserved for deepwoods defence

A remaining project is to come up with a small game load with roundballs and perhaps a bit of shot for filler (can't call em snakeshot since we have no snakes, but should work for grouse-n-squirrel)

All in all, I am quite pleased with the MG as it is very comfortable in my hand and points well. I fully expect it to give me years of good service in the field.

I keep reflecting on J.L's articles and have to wonder why a man known for custom handguns would pack a 625 daily and also into the mountains. The more I shoot mine, the more I begin to understand.

Scotty