PPC revolvers

[shoebox1.1]

Let’s talk PPC guns. I was in my local gun shop recently and they had a really cool 4 inch model 10-6/8? Bull barrel, bo mar rib, action job, bobbed hammer etc with and fantastic trigger for 995.00 on consignment. I played with it and thought “no one’s gonna buy that anytime soon, I’ll come back in couple weeks”. I don’t “need” another new gun, I just got the mint 624 and I haven’t even taken out yet. So I found myself off today from work and rode motorcycle over there in intentions to see it again and make an offer of 900 OTD and it was gone. Of course it was gone. Yall knew that several sentences ago! We’ve all been there. Especially at a gun show!! “I’ll walk these other rows and come back in 10 mins——> she gone. So I call the man today that owns what’s left of the whicita rib company. Super nice guy. He said these type guns go from 600-1200 bucks. I see mostly 6 inchers out there. Do you have one and if so let’s hear about it. The safe is all booked up minus one room in the back (wink). I think I want my next one to be a dedicated range toy. Here’s the one that got away.

 

[JeffG]

Looks like a sweetheart. Most of them are 6". I had one in the late 70s that was a K38 conversion. Someone that knew what they were doing put it together and worked the action. In the midst of the magnum craze, it slipped away, but I could produce a very nice showing on the PPC course with it.

 

[Jim Watson]

There is or was a PPC division with maximum 4” barrel but free on sights and action.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I have one as I really enjoy 38 in a revolver. If marked by the gunsmith who did the work (not the parts maker) it helps the value on them. Mine has a lot of corrosion on one side, I assume from being in a case neglected, but that allowed me to get it at a very good price and I don't mind shooting it a lot given that bit if neglect. Done by a well known smith and marked as such (who's name escapes me now).

Not sure many/anyone shoots PPC these days but I enjoy them for what they are.

 

[Jim Watson]

A friend is a long time PPC shooter and has gone to matches only to find not enough people showed up for the MD to bother running a shoot. Three entries have to be discouraging.

We may be converting him to IDPA which he would previously only shoot in the off season so as to not upset his cadence.

 

[shoebox1.1]

I’d love to have one seeing as I’m reloading wadcutters now. Kinda need a wadcutter gun to make em more special lol

 

[shoebox1.1]

I want to shoot some local matches but I’m not sure where they are or what sanctioning body is here. I did IDPA with a bottom feeder but it’s got to be revolver from here on out

 

[burrhead]

Unless it's marked by Clark, Glenn, Davis or another known PPC smith I can't think of now, thats a $600-$700 gun at best. There are a fare amount of "no name" PPC guns for sale out there. PPC is, unfortunately, almost dead.

 

[Jim Watson]

NRA is now HQ for PPC, I can’t find anything current about the Police Marksman Association that I shot under in the 1970s and 1980s.

PPC is a cop only event. I got in with my honorary deputy card, wink, wink, nod, nod, because few sworn officers or deputies around here cared to shoot competitively.

I found mention of a Civilian 1500 as part of the Bianchi Cup program.

Lauderdale County Pistol Team, ca 1978, the Sheriff on the left, me on the right.
Yes, those are Pythons.

 

[Reinz]

I bought this for a range gun. Heavy guns are easier on my arthritis and nerve damage. And boy is this one heavy!

53.2 ounces.

I bought it this way. It can take 38’s loaded regularly or 9 mm moon clip.

Most, or all work done by TK Custom.

 

[shoebox1.1]

She’s a big girl

 

[Reinz]

She’s a big girl

Yeah , a whole new experience for me.

I like it!

 

[CajunBass]

There used to be a fair to middling gunsmith in my hometown who made a few of these that were pretty well thought of. His name was Fred Schmidt, of Mechanicsville, Va.. Fred passed away some time ago, but I've always thought in the back of my head I'd like to have one of his gun just to have it. Never met the man myself, but I used to see his flyers around the local gunshops.

I doubt now, I'd ever actually pay for one, no idea what one would go for, but they were supposed to be the cat's meow back in the day.

 

[AzShooter1]

I would have passed on it and waited for a 6 inch. I've shot many Model 10s built that way, they are great guns.

If you really want to keep shooting revolver try to find an ICORE club in your area. Nothing but revolvers and lots of fun.

ICORE.COM for more information.

 

[Jim Watson]

Fred Schmidt, of Mechanicsville, Va.

His specialty was the short cylinder revolver, with the cylinder just long enough for a .38 wadcutter. No jump to the barrel. My friend. who has stayed with PPC even as it declined in popularity, has one. His other was built by Travis Strahan.

 

[CajunBass]

That's the one I remember, but he turned out "regular" PPC guns too, as well as custom 1911's for the IPSC crowd. I sort of had aspirations to be an IPSC champ myself in those days. All I needed was money and talent, mostly talent, and I'd have been good to go.

 

[Jim Watson]

I am sure he did, the short cylinder conversion would have to have been a good bit more expensive for small gains.

As a GM here said when somebody wished he had equal talent: "Talent is good. Ten years and a million rounds helps."

 

[UncleEd]

The upper side plate screw and the exposed hammer
pin stud left side indicate a bit of extra work/touches.
Also note the logo on left side indicating at least a
1981 production gun according to the Standard Catalog.

 

[gconang]

I'll be on the lookout for one.

 

[EMC45]

I'd be willing to bet that's a "pre-model 10" 4 screw gun. Looks like someone screwed a modern heavy barrel onto it as well. Wonder how many "miles" are on it?

 

[Jim Watson]

Five screw. If it has a top side plate screw, it has a cylinder stop screw.
I agree it is a heavy barrel in an older frame, you can see the mismatch between barrel rib and top strap under the Bomar "Cover Up" rib. The Cover Up Rib was contoured to add on to factory barrels.
The extractor rod blue is worn, but not worn off like some heavily used revolvers I have seen, so maybe it is just "broken in."

 

[EMC45]

Five screw. If it has a top side plate screw, it has a cylinder stop screw.
I agree it is a heavy barrel in an older frame, you can see the mismatch between barrel rib and top strap under the Bomar "Cover Up" rib. The Cover Up Rib was contoured to add on to factory barrels.
The extractor rod blue is worn, but not worn off like some heavily used revolvers I have seen, so maybe it is just "broken in."

Gotcha. Good catch. I had the screw count swapped and I now see a small protrusion on the front of the frame in the first pic.

 

[Jim Watson]

Some of the current "classics" have top sideplate screws and no cylinder stop screw, but earlier dashes, the top sideplate screw was omitted first from 5 to 4 screw, then the cylinder stop screw was left off to go from 4 to 3 screw. I am amused by the popularity of -2 three screw guns, they were beneath contempt in the 1970s, but now they are the last bastion of "pinned and recessed."

 

[UncleEd]

Accept the fact that the gun was probably reblued
following any custom work on it.

 

[eastbank]

the most accurett revolver i have ever owned.