Gone Shooting - 22 day

The weather was nice so I went shooting again earlier today. This time I only took .22s. There was the Ruger Government model from last time. I wanted to put a few more rounds through it and I also needed to adjust the sights. I took another .22 too, my Budischowsky TP-70. Ammunition used today was Federal "AutoMatch" and cheap Winchester both with 40gr bullets. As usual targets were 5-inch Shoot-N-C brand.

The Ruger was first up. All firing was from 50ft using an improvised rest (the roof of my car and a rolled up towel). No surprises in the accuracy department as it performed just like it did on the last outing. It was shooting high but didn't take long to make it right. But mostly what I was interested in this time was reliability. Because of the weather I only got to fire 100 rounds through it last session and I wanted to continue the test. Today the Ruger effortlessly ate up everything offered it, another 200 rounds without malfunction. So far so good.

Next up was my Budischowsky TP-70. All shooting was done at 15ft using my strong hand only. The Budischowsky was a high end pocket pistol from the 1970s. It had many features not common to guns that size. Features like real sights, a separate extractor, slide stop and a decocker. They only made them a few years with the large majority in .25 Auto. The .22 version was only produced one year and they're a little tough to come by.

This pistol is basically a range toy. I only keep it for two reasons, because it's so cute and so cheap to feed. I would never rely on it for personal protection. First is the caliber, while this was a very innovative "mouse gun" 30+ years ago time has passed it by. Now you can get pocket guns almost identical in size and actually lighter in .32 or .380. The "micro" 9mm pistols aren't far behind. But even if I wanted to rely on a .22LR for self defense I still wouldn't use this gun, it's just too persnickety.

The magazines are one problem. It will hold seven rounds but you'll quickly find that to be the easiest way to get this pistol to malfunction. You better count them out when loading. Six rounds, no more, ever. Another issue is the double action trigger pull. IT IS AWFUL! Even at 5 yards you can see I was pulling shots to the right. Firing in single action you can actually make reasonable sized groups but it's not safe to carry it that way. But the Budischowsky's biggest problem is being a very finicky eater. I have never found ammunition that it would feed reliably 100% of the time. Until today. I put 150 rounds down range with the Federal brand without a hiccup. Next time I have it out I'll try the Federal again. If it repeats today's performance I guess I've finally found the ammo it likes. Yes this little pistol has plenty of problems, but it's so cute!

Had some fun today and didn't even have to go through a lot of expensive ammo to do it. As a bonus I might have finally found just the right formula for my problem child.

Gratuitous gun photo time!

NAA PUG (standard sights)

Maybe, possibly

The internet is ablaze right now with talk of Beretta's entry into the who can make the smallest pocket 9mm race, the Nano. It looks like a practical design but until the specs and reviews are out I'm holding judgment. I've been thinking about getting a light pocket 9 for a while now to supplement (or maybe completely replace) my lightweight J-Frame. 6 or 7 rounds of 9mm +P are better than 5 rounds of .38+P. Of those currently on the market I gave the Walther PPS the most serious look. It had what I wanted above all from a pocket gun, to be light and very slim, although it had other features I didn't like. From the photos I've seen the Nano is comparable in weight and might even be smaller than the Walther. But I am not in any hurry. I've still got plenty of time before I have to spend any money, time to read the reviews and see what early owners say. My pocket guns rarely get used except in the hottest summer months of July and August. So I've still got at least until spring of next year before I make a decision. The new Beretta also seems fairly priced at $475.00 and says "MADE IN USA" on the side, which doesn't hurt either. A lot of posters are commenting on how ugly they think the Nano is, certainly no uglier than any Glock ever made. And speaking of Glock it's a good thing they don't seem particularly interested in making a pocket 9mm with a single column magazine. Undoubtedly they would end this interesting contest overnight.

Gone Shooting - Back to basics

Decided to go shooting this morning as the weather was nearly perfect for it, sunny and 64 degrees by the time I got there. Today I took my two main carry guns. It's been months since I shot either and was getting rusty. All shooting was done using a Weaver stance at seven or ten yards (21 and 30 feet). Targets were Shoot-N-C 5-Inch stick ons over a standard USPSA/IPSC target. Since this was concealed carry practice I tried to keep the shooting speed up.

First up was my Smith & Wesson model 342PD. This is the gun that I grab when heading out for a short trip like to the gas station. Just slip it in my Kramer pocket holster and I'm out the door and on my way. I also use it most of July and August when the hot and humid weather makes carrying a larger gun much more uncomfortable. Today I was shooting Remington 130 grain jacketed target ammunition. It's the same weight as my normal carry load, so same point of impact and recoil but at a third of the price of hollowpoints. Shooting was done with the S&W at 21 and 30 feet. At 21 I was easily able to keep all my shots on the 5-Inch targets usually producing 2 ½ inch groups. At 30 feet my groups started to open up some with about 70% of my hits still in the "A" zone of a USPSA/IPSC target and about 30% landing in the "C" area.

Next up was my main carry gun, my Colt Government Model .45 that was made in 1953. All shooting today was with 230gr ball at 10 yards. Except when it's super hot I carry this pistol (usually IWB) most of the year, anytime I know I'll be out a while. I've been carrying this gun since 2003 and it has served me well. Look at the photo; it was my best group of the day, that's seven rounds through two holes at 30 feet. This gun makes me look like a superstar. That's why I love it, that's why I've been carrying it so long. Longer than any other gun I have ever carried. The Colt is basically stock. Someone did trigger work on it and polished the feed ramp, but it is essentially like every other one being churned out by the factory 60 years ago. The only "issue" this pistol has is feeding hollowpoints bullets. Since this gun was produced before hollowpoints were actually invented it's hard to blame the gun. Even with the gunsmith work it will only fire bullets with a more rounded profile. Brands like Winchester Silvertip and Remington Golden Saber are fine. Although I typically like a heavier bullet in .45 ACP for the last couple of years I've been using Cor-bon Pow'R Ball because this gun swallows it up like Pac-Man at an all you can eat power pellet bar. Unfortunately all is not glitter-covered unicorns dancing on rainbows over a field of cotton candy. This pistol still has the original sights, and while they were fine when I bought it now middle age has hit me right in my peepers and those old sights seem to be getting smaller every time I shoot it. So I'm thinking that I might replace this gun with another, my Yost Commander a possible candidate. Or I might send this one off for a rebuild, better sights and correcting the hollowpoint problem are two much needed improvements. I'm going to have to make a decision sometime soon as those sights will probably disappear completely before I know it. I'm torn between retiring this veteran as is or rebuilding it into something new and keeping it a "working" gun. I guess the decision will have to be made this year, but for now I'll just appreciate moments like this morning when this old soldier could still do no wrong...

Pocket gun update

It's been about six weeks since I started carrying my Smith & Wesson 342PD. I have used the gun everyday and I have been quite happy with it so far. It has been a hot, humid summer and this small and lightweight revolver has really been appreciated. I have many holsters that will fit this but I have been only using it as a pocket gun to date. My Kramer and DeSantis pocket holsters are what I have been using and I have been satisfied with both, although I do use the Kramer more often. While I like the DeSantis it is a little large for how I carry, which is usually in the front pocket of my jeans. The DeSantis is a great holster though, it will certainly never come out when you draw the gun, but I just like the Kramer more. The only modification that I am considering for the gun is a new set of grips. The factory rubber grips have a very tacky feeling and do tend to catch on clothes. I think a set of wood "boot" grips would make this great revolver even better and they will probably be added before long.

Gun trading days...

Me and my Dad did some gun trading today and when it was finally over he ended up with a well worn 1947 Smith & Wesson M&P and a safe queen Model 36 (square butt) and I ended up with a Budischowsky TP-70 (.22lr) and cash. Since we both reside in the same state no paperwork or waiting periods (we don't have a waiting period anyway) are required. I love this state!

The Budischowsky is a cute little mouse gun and a good shooter when it wants to. I originally bought it last year (see photo) and traded it off (for I don't know what) last summer. The main problem with this tiny gun is the ammo selection. It's very finicky about what it will consume. I know from owning it last time that it's best with Winchester or Federal but absolutely hates Remington Thunderbolt. When I shoot it again I will probably take a box of every type I own and see what it likes.

Gone shooting - Revolver Day!

Was off from work this Monday, so what do you do when you find yourself with a little free time and no real plans? You go shooting of course! Today I decided to make it revolver day and took my "new" S&W model 342PD along with my Colt Python. Since I will probably be carrying the Smith & Wesson a lot during the summer months I wanted to get in some more practice time with it. I also brought the Python as I have only shot it once since buying it and I am still trying to get used to the trigger. Over the years I've only owned a few double action Colt revolvers, I'm mostly a S&W man. Needless to say both brands of revolvers operate differently and have their own "feel". More practice is definitely needed.
First up was the 342PD. Today I brought another box (20 rds) of self-defense +P hollowpoints and a 50 round box of standard pressure ammunition both of the same bullet weight (130 gr). I kept the ranges short, 21 and 30 feet (7 and 10 yards), to keep more in line with the typical use of this small pocket gun. My groups were tighter today than last time (even with the occasional flyer) and I am definitely starting to get better with this gun. All firing today was from a Weaver stance and I used both practiced slow, aimed fire and fast "defense" shooting. I am happy to say that every single shot was in the "A". I really like the red ramp front sight as it seems I am able to get back on target just a little bit faster (compared to a plain ramp sight). Since the 342PD is a light weight gun I also thought it would be much harder to practice with. So far I've had no problem hurting my hand or with fatigue. I believe that I could shoot standard pressure loads all day in the revolver and could probably fire +P loads in moderate amounts too without any of those issues.Next on the line - Colt Python! Today I was shooting at distances of 30 and 45 feet (10 and 15 yards) and like the 342PD fired in double action and using a Weaver stance. I only used .357 ammunition in the Python, that being Blazer, Remington and S&B brand ammo all of 158 grain weight. The first time I shot this Colt it was shooting a little to the left. This time I remembered to bring a small screwdriver with me but then went too far right, by the end of the day though I believe I had it correct. I had run out of ammo by then so I can't be 100% sure until next time. Like the S&W I am slowly getting used to the Colt's trigger. Groups were about 1-2 inches smaller than last time, averaging at 5 inches. Again, like the Smith, I was able to keep all of the shots today in the "A" zone of a standard USPSA/IPSC target although at 45 feet they were spread about as far as they could go and still be in the A.

Another great day shooting with two great revolvers!

Random Gun Ramblings

Well, here we are thru the first week of June and I haven't posted a thing. Sometimes it's like that, I might post every day for a while and then all a sudden have nothing I want to post about for days or weeks...

I did have a few minor things to blog about so I thought to put them here all in one.

First, I spent a few hours last week trying to rearrange my gun safe. I have a smaller Browning model and after some effort on my part I finally came to the conclusion that I need to either A) buy a bigger safe, or B) sell some guns. I have absolutely no room for any more long guns that is definite. I have a rifle that I don't have the room for now, an Lee-Enfield Mk III that has been left out in the cold. With some effort I probably could squeeze a few more handguns in there but that would be it. Besides guns my safe also has other valuables (coins, cameras, knives etc.) and I have also put my semi-auto magazines in there too. I have the mags stacked in cheap plastic fishing lure boxes and I might have to take them back out, although I would prefer to keep them in there if I could, some of those mags are quite valuable. Something is going to have to give or this safe is going to pop...

I also read on several forums and blogs last week that wallyworld® was no longer limiting the amount of ammunition you could buy at one time. The limit used to be six boxes per customer. I went down to my local store a couple of days ago and yes the rumor is true. All that I can say to that is Hallelujah! Does this mean that the ammo shortage has officially ended? To be honest this rule never affected me very much as I usually bought 2-3 boxes of ammo at a time. I can only think of two occasions since this went into effect that I wanted to buy more than I could. But it is nice that it is no more… And yes I did buy some ammo (9X19) while I was there.

Have been carrying my S&W M342PD for a week now and I must say that I am very happy with this little lightweight revolver, should've got one sooner. This is a great little gun for the humid summer months. So far I have been carrying it in my Kramer pocket holster, the same one that I have owned since 1997 and have used with my Bodyguard all these years. This little J frame, holster and five rounds of hollowpoints don't feel any heavier than my wallet, maybe even lighter. Also, to try something new I purchased a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster but I haven't had time to really evaluate it yet...

And finally, I went to the surplus store and bought some more ammo cans in the .50 cal size in an attempt to organize all of my ammunition. I now have a total of 13 cans, most of which are filled to the top with various calibers. I'm not done yet though, I will need at least 2-4 more before this project is over...

Gone shooting - S&W 342PD

Went shooting this morning, the only gun that I took was my "new" S&W model 342PD. I want to start carrying this right away so I decided to run some rounds thru it and see how it did.

First of all performance was flawless. I fired exactly 80 rounds in the gun (50 standard - 30 +P) without a malfunction; it was also a real pleasure to shoot. I've never owned a lightweight J frame and assumed the recoil would be much worse than my steel frame models. It was worse but nothing that I really found bothersome. Maybe next time if I do a lot more shooting with +P ammo.

I started off at 10 yards (30ft) using standard pressure 130 grain ammunition. I just wanted to take it slow and get a feel for the gun. This 342PD has a great trigger right from the factory. I also really like the red ramp front sight. The front sight definitely helped me get the little powerhouse on target and to keep getting back on target for follow up shots. Firing at a moderate pace I was able to keep most (about 85%) on my shots in the "A" with more than a few touching, but I did have several shots drift into the edge of the "C" zone.

Next I closed in to the more appropriate "belly gun" range of 7 yards (21ft). This time I wanted more "real life" practice and used my hollowpoint +P ammo. I also tried to fire as fast as I could get back on target. I brought one of the 20 round boxes of Federal ammunition that I got yesterday and half a box that I had of Speer Gold Dot +P ammo. I did about the same with both types of ammunition; the picture below is of the Federal but is representative of both. That's 10 rounds rapid fire (looks like 8) with a spread of 5 inches. All hits were in the "A".

Had a great morning shooting with this impressive little J frame and can't wait to get it out again!

New gun in the line up

Just picked this up a few days ago after having it on layaway for a couple of months now. I had hoped to make it my Buy A Gun Day gun last month but it just wasn't to be. A light weight pocket gun was one of the few entries left on my "Need" gun list so this is another I can scratch off. My two main choices being one of the currently popular .32/.380 pistols or an Airweight S&W. Finally I decided to go with the Smith & Wesson, I already had ammo, accessories and holsters for it so that made my life (and the decision) a little bit easier. There was plenty of choices among J frames too, the models 442, 38 and 638 being towards the top of the list. But the gun that I really wanted was a Smith 340PD. I have wanted one of those since they came out but could never get past "The Lock". I could never bring myself to buy a self-defense gun with that device and finally I had to admit that S&W wasn't going to be changing their minds anytime soon because people like me didn't like it. So eventually I began doing a little research on the matter (Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 3rd Ed - Supica/Nahas) and discovered that the company did make a similar model in .38 Special, the 342PD. The gun was nearly identical to the 340PD and actually weighed less, 10.8 compared to 12oz. But the best part was that the first year production (2000) 342PD guns had no lock, and for a while now that's the gun I have been looking for! If I couldn't find the 342PD I think that I probably would have ended up with the 442, I've always wanted to try a Centennial model and the 442 is a popular one for good reason. All that's left now is to get it to the range and see how she shoots. Just to make sure it's a trustworthy carry gun. Once that is done my other pocket carry gun, a M649 will probably be put into semi-retirement. I've carried it for many years now and it has earned a rest.

Buy a gun day

Today is Buy A Gun Day so go out there and get one! I can't myself, wish I could but I am short moolah. I do have one on layaway but don't have the funds to get it out today. I guess I'll just have to wait and suffer for a few more weeks.I am quite sure you will be reading all about my "new" gun next month but until then I will give you a few clues. It's a .38. They were only made for four years. And of course it is made by Smith & Wesson (regular readers could have easily guessed that part). Here is a portion of a photo I found on the net. This isn't my gun but it is identical. I am counting the days till I get mine!

wilsonblogclassic® Originally posted Saturday, July 18, 2009

Much Loved GunsYou just have to love a well worn gun. A gun that has been used a lot, but not abused, and has seen countless days serving its owner in the day to day drudgery that is the life of a normal working gun. I Bought this little gem off of the web a few years ago. I had put in a bid on the gun at $1 over the minimum and forgot about it, never thinking I would win. Nearly a week later I'm surprised to get an email informing me that I was indeed the winner, no one else had even bid on it! I am sure because of the condition many potential buyers turned their noses up at this one, just too much wear. This fine old revolver wasn't "collectable" enough for them but it was fine for me, I'll take every serviceable old Smith & Wesson .38 I can get for $100!

This is an early production Chiefs Special made in 1953. It is all original and all matching numbers including the grips. The Chiefs Special went into production in 1950 so the model had only been out about 2 ½ years when this one came out of the factory in Springfield MA. This revolver is an early "5-Screw" gun and has the first type trigger guard but has the later ramp type front sight. Very early Chiefs Specials had a round "half moon" type front sight but weren't produced very long before they went to sights like on this example. Later on S&W would change to model numbers and this gun would become the world famous Model 36.

This gun had obviously been used a lot and that was probably the reason that I had absolutely no one bidding against me for it. The gun has considerable holster wear, especially on the cylinder, but the worst wear is on the grip of the gun. The finish is completely gone on the grip frame and both grips are well worn, the right side grip is nearly worn smooth. This gun had clearly spent many years, if not decades, being carried. It showed all the signs of a gun that had spent a lot of time on someone's belt.

This gun also came with a "gun story" absolutely free! Many old guns have stories that come with them, true or not typically they're worth what you pay for them. The story that came with this gun was that it had originally belonged to a NYPD Officer. The gun was used by him in over 30 years of service on the police department and when he retired he took the revolver that had long served him to retirement with him in Florida. Later his widow would sell the gun to a FL gun dealer and that's how it ended up on a national gun auction site and finally in my safe. I have nothing to prove (or disprove) the story, other than the gun was obviously carried quite a bit and has a lot of wear associated with those seen carried by the police, so the story is at least plausible. It's fun to speculate about where a gun might have been or who might have used it, but the only thing that can be said for certain is that this fine old Smith & Wesson served someone faithfully for a very long time.

wilsonblogclassic® Originally posted Thursday, July 16, 2009

Pocket GunsPocket guns - they might be praised or cursed, daily carried or a "safe queen", but what self-respecting "gun nut" doesn't have at least one in their collection? I own several myself, most of the Smith & Wesson "J" Frame variety. For several years they were all that I used when I carried in public. A steel frame S&W M649 being my main carry gun from 1997 to 2003. That little .38 Bodyguard traveled nearly everywhere with me and it still sees occasional use right up to today. Despite having better carry guns I still know how useful a good pocket gun can be.

Pocket guns have a lot going for them, ease of concealment being one big factor. Their small size and (generally) light weight also make carrying them all day long a minor chore. But ultimately it is the convenience of the pocket gun that has to be its greatest asset. When your little gun isn't much of a burden on you it is much more likely to be taken when you leave the house. And that's the best thing the pocket gun has going for it, since it's much more likely to go with you, it is much more likely to be there when you need it. How many better self-defense handguns get left at home because they're too much a burden?

But you do trade off the convenience of the pocket gun for other important considerations. Generally, they are much harder to shoot well and to make consistent hits with, more practice is definitely needed. The lighter weight guns can actually be painful to shoot (causing you to practice much less with them) and many pocket guns are in less effective "mouse gun" calibers. But whatever else good or bad that might be said about little pocket guns the most important thing you can say is that they are much more likely to be there when you really need them, and that's probably the most important thing that you could ever say...

wilsonblogclassic® Originally posted Thursday, September 20, 2007

Got Lock? If you have any interest in S&W revolvers you know that for the last several years all of their new ones have been shipped from the factory with an internal safety lock. When "the lock" first came out I was kind of indifferent to it, I didn't like the looks of it and I didn't think that I needed one but I considered them more an annoyance than anything else. But it wasn't too long before stories began circulating about Smiths that had experienced some type of failure with the lock, jamming at the wrong moment and usually requiring some time and effort to make the gun usable again. Now the company's lock had become more than just an annoyance but a potentially serious problem that on a self-defense weapon might actually get a person killed.

During this time I had also been considering the purchase a Model 340PD .357 Magnum but could never make up my mind. I really liked the little lightweight powerhouse and considered it a potential replacement for my steel frame Model 649 (.38 Special), which I carry in the hottest part of the summer months. I had been wanting to go to a more potent caliber for my "hot weather gun" and the ultra light J-Frame magnum seemed to be the perfect prescription. As I said I kept considering buying a 340PD off and on but could never commit to it, the main reason being the lock horror stories which had continued growing in number over the years. Another issue that bothered me just as much as the lock reliability (maybe even more so) was Smith & Wesson's response to this problem, which was to ignore it completely. I could be wrong but I don't believe that the company has ever made an official statement about these lock failures. Yes, when the gun malfunctions you can send it back to the factory and they will fix it right away, but as far as I know they have never even acknowledged that there is any problem with their product despite numerous reports of lock "issues" including one from a nationally known gun writer.

Since S&W refuses to fix (or even to acknowledge) a serious and potentially life threatening defect in their product that leaves a person wanting to purchase one of their revolvers (for self-defense) with two options, neither good. First you can just ignore the problem, I mean from what I have read this lock failure doesn't happen in a large percentage of the guns that Smith & Wesson makes, so the odds are actually in your favor. Maybe you can just hope and pray that it never happens to you. Your second option would be to "fix" the lock. Many have chosen the latter and have found solutions ranging from using loctite® to permanently leave the lock turned off to removing the thing from the gun completely.

After a lot of back and forth on the subject I finally chose neither, I decided to save my money and keep using that old 649 until I found something more suitable to replace it, something I wouldn't be afraid to bet my life on. I can not and will not spend my hard earned money on a firearm that I could never completely trust. And to me that is the heart of this matter because this company is now producing products that I have no faith in. I have been buying S&W firearms since 1993 and over the years I have found that their outstanding reputation was well earned. I have never personally had a problem with one of their products and I don't intend to start now. I cannot in good conscience ever buy a "post lock" gun that might ever have a chance to be used for self-defense, how can I when this very serious issue has still not been dealt with by the factory. I really hope that the company does something about the concerns that many of their customers have regarding this issue but I suspect that they won't. Smith & Wesson's sales and profits are up and I doubt that the concerns of a small number of potential gun buyers will affect their "bottom line" enough to truly bother them. This company has put those that would really like to purchase a new Smith & Wesson to protect themselves in an awkward position, to disable the lock or learn to live (or not live) with the problem. As a customer I shouldn't be put in the position to have to fix this problem on my own or ignore it and hope that my gun never lets me down. I have very legitimate concerns and they should also be the company's concerns. This is a problem that this company definitely needs to address, every day that they avoid this issue just brings more discredit to the great name of Smith & Wesson and destroys, if just a little bit at a time, the reputation that this renowned gun maker has taken over 150 years to attain.

After owning, shooting and entrusting my life to many well made and reliable S&W products over the years I find it hard to believe, almost impossible to believe, that I am actually writing these words: I will never purchase another new Smith & Wesson revolver again. Why? The short answer is because I could never really trust it.

Smith & Wesson Classics - The Bodyguard

Introduced in 1955 Smith & Wesson's Bodyguard was originally produced as an alloy frame, 5-shot .38 Special pocket gun, another variation on the company's very popular Chiefs Special model which itself came out in 1950. The main difference between the Bodyguard and other "J" frame models was the addition of a shrouded hammer on the revolver which allowed it to be more easily carried (and fired) in a pocket. Unlike the earlier Centennial model that had a fully enclosed hammer and only fired double action the hammer of the Bodyguard was only covered on the sides leaving the thumb pad exposed. You could still cock the hammer of the Bodyguard to fire single action if you desired. The first Bodyguard was the Airweight model, which was renamed the Model 38 in 1957. In 1959 an all steel version called the Model 49 was introduced, in 1985 the stainless steel Model 649 came out and in 1989 a limited production stainless/alloy Model 638 first hit the dealer's shelves. Over the years the various Bodyguard revolvers have become a classic, a much loved pocket gun carried and used by countless thousands of people that can appreciate it as a valuable self-defense tool.

I have used Smith & Wesson Bodyguards for many years now and for several of those years they were my main carry gun. In my opinion they are the perfect pocket pistol. You will hear the occasional internet/gun shop horror story about Bodyguards jamming at the worst possible time leaving their owner defenseless, a bit of pocket lint or maybe a penny or dime turning the Bodyguard into a worthless paperweight. Having carried one without any problems for well over a decade now I can honestly say my Bodyguard has never let me down and I don't expect it ever will. But you must use the gun with a little common sense. Like for instance cleaning it on a regular occasion and if carrying the Bodyguard as a pocket gun making sure to carry it by itself in that pocket. Even so I must say that when my 649 was my main carry gun I would often take it to the range and just pull it out of my pocket holster and start shooting, lent and all. Not once did it fail.

Over the years I have owned several Model 49s and my 649 that I purchased new in 1996. My 649 was one of the last made in .38 Special before S&W went to a slightly larger version in .357 Magnum. Currently though I have only two in my gun safe, the 649 which still sees a lot of use and an all original 1967 Model 49 that I must admit I have hardly used at all. Being that it's over 40 years old and still in excellent condition I am a little reluctant to carry it, although it has gone on a rare "field trip" out of the safe a few times to substitute for my 649.

Additional information from Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (3rd Edition) by Supica and Nahas.