My second wheelgun. For those who said, "you're hooked, you'll get another" after I grabbed my 442 a bit ago... Well, OK. I've been dreaming of wheelguns lately 
I have seen a few of these Thunder Ranch models lately, and they have always caught my eye. I am a 1911/45ACP guy mostly (although I did add the 442, and also recently a 9mm), so a revolver chambered in 45ACP is a natural fit for me. I always have a large stock of rounds.
I am a blue fan at heart, blue pistols and revolvers have always made me melt. I just can't get into stainless or nickel, even though I've owned some in the white before. I had a VERY hard time making up my mind as to whether I wanted this 22 Thunder Ranch model, or one of the many super sweet Lew Horton 25 snubbies that have turned up as of late... But this particular 22 was so sweet I just couldn't pass it up. I love the figuring on the grips, and it's a pretty piece, but what really got me are 2 things: 1) for some reason the 22 "points" and balances far better than the 25 for me (oddly enough, the 25 snubby feels barrel heavy in my hands?), and the trigger on this particular gun is SO SWEET.
I was blown away when I first dry fired it a few weeks ago, and this particular wheelgun has never left my head. Mind you, I've handled at least 4 or 5 other 22/Thunder Ranch models as of late... but none came even CLOSE to this trigger. It's so smooth in DA it's just unbelieveable. SA is really good, too, as are many smiths. But the DA blew me away. It's light years ahead of the 25's I've handled, and strangely enough, light years ahead of the other 22's, too. It's almost as if S&W worked this one over special...
I was a bit crushed to find a fairly long scratch on the cylinder, but I got a few bucks off, and I didn't want to let this particular one go. I don't buy safe guns, only shooters, so wear will inevitably happen anyway.
I didn't have a lot of time at the range this evening, and I had gone with the intent of getting used to my other new carry piece (autoloader, sorry fellas), but I did get to toss some rounds downrange with this beast. It feels SO good to shoot; after the first shot, it settles in my hand quite nicely, and recoil is distributed differently than a 1911 or newer combat 45. It seems to come straight back, with very little muzzle flip. I shot better in DA than SA, oddly enough... And I don't think I did too terribly for my first time out, I'm sure this one will do its part if I am up to it
A few photos:
OK, so the moon clip thing is real new to me. Does anyone have a preferred de-mooner? I can't get these spent cases out LOL. I had no problem loading them... But, well, I'm sure you know what I mean. TIA!
I have seen a few of these Thunder Ranch models lately, and they have always caught my eye. I am a 1911/45ACP guy mostly (although I did add the 442, and also recently a 9mm), so a revolver chambered in 45ACP is a natural fit for me. I always have a large stock of rounds.
I am a blue fan at heart, blue pistols and revolvers have always made me melt. I just can't get into stainless or nickel, even though I've owned some in the white before. I had a VERY hard time making up my mind as to whether I wanted this 22 Thunder Ranch model, or one of the many super sweet Lew Horton 25 snubbies that have turned up as of late... But this particular 22 was so sweet I just couldn't pass it up. I love the figuring on the grips, and it's a pretty piece, but what really got me are 2 things: 1) for some reason the 22 "points" and balances far better than the 25 for me (oddly enough, the 25 snubby feels barrel heavy in my hands?), and the trigger on this particular gun is SO SWEET.
I was blown away when I first dry fired it a few weeks ago, and this particular wheelgun has never left my head. Mind you, I've handled at least 4 or 5 other 22/Thunder Ranch models as of late... but none came even CLOSE to this trigger. It's so smooth in DA it's just unbelieveable. SA is really good, too, as are many smiths. But the DA blew me away. It's light years ahead of the 25's I've handled, and strangely enough, light years ahead of the other 22's, too. It's almost as if S&W worked this one over special...
I was a bit crushed to find a fairly long scratch on the cylinder, but I got a few bucks off, and I didn't want to let this particular one go. I don't buy safe guns, only shooters, so wear will inevitably happen anyway.
I didn't have a lot of time at the range this evening, and I had gone with the intent of getting used to my other new carry piece (autoloader, sorry fellas), but I did get to toss some rounds downrange with this beast. It feels SO good to shoot; after the first shot, it settles in my hand quite nicely, and recoil is distributed differently than a 1911 or newer combat 45. It seems to come straight back, with very little muzzle flip. I shot better in DA than SA, oddly enough... And I don't think I did too terribly for my first time out, I'm sure this one will do its part if I am up to it
A few photos:
OK, so the moon clip thing is real new to me. Does anyone have a preferred de-mooner? I can't get these spent cases out LOL. I had no problem loading them... But, well, I'm sure you know what I mean. TIA!
