New Jovian Thunderbolt got me thinking about this with his post HERE on his Smiths… Now I haven’t been to the range with all of these at once, but I’d expect similar results to what NJT got…
Now most of his blogging is gun related, and I enjoy it so here is my counterpoint 🙂
Now all of mine are the ‘proper’ color… Blue… 🙂
But seriously I do want to address a point for those who carry, especially those who carry BUGs and revolvers in general. Do you practice with it? Do you practice reloads? Do you know which way the cylinder turns???
Do you know the trigger in DA? Is it really heavy (12lb)? Does it stack? How far does it have to travel to reset???
Why am I asking? And why are these pics all of Colts? Because A. I grew up shooting them. B. We hear instructors talk about “muscle memory” and how that will be the default when the SHTF…
Let me give you the rest of the story- We did a BUG shoot at an IDPA meet. No problem, right? Well, I had a S&W 637 (and yes, I’d shot it and ‘practiced’ with it). The scenario was empty weapon on the table and either speed loader or speed strip and two spare rounds lying next to the gun. The COF was load up, shoot 1st target X2, RELOAD two rounds, then 2 and 2 in the next two targets and finish with a head shot to target 1.
Simple, right???
um… not so much…
First, I ‘forgot’ what I was shooting when the buzzer went off, and I promptly proceeded to try to pull back on the cylinder release (Colts release that way). After a couple of tries, I did the DOH! thing and PUSHED and got the cylinder open. Popped a speed loader in away I went…
Two rounds in target one (7:30- not used to S&W trigger stack), pull pull, PUSH dammit… two expended rounds are on top, pop them out, insert two new rounds, 2X on target 2; bang, click, click on target 3… I’m done…
Since I “knew” Colt’s rotate clockwise, I ‘knew’ the empties would be on top; except that I was shooting a S&W, which rotates counter-clockwise, so I had pulled out two unfired rounds, left the two fired cases in the pistol (on the bottom) and proceeded to screw up the entire stage. To say I was embarrassed is an understatement- I felt totally stupid, but the more I thought about it, the more it hit home that “muscle memory” really does work, whether we want it to or not…
And this is one of the reasons I’d always stayed with Colts in the pistol side of the house in every case EXCEPT that S&W 637 (which is now for sale)…
Colts, in my opinion, shoot better (probably because I’m used to a Colt trigger); and are smoother to operate (again due to thousands of rounds). I ‘know’ where everything is, and pistol to pistol I don’t really notice a change. Now I have friends that are S&W fanatics, and Ruger fanatics, and that’s great for them…
Bottom line- My (for what that is worth), recommendation is if you shoot pistols, get and stay with ONE manufacturer, and LEARN that mfg/pistol’s habits (push/pull; clockwise/counter) and go to the range and shoot them. That will help you develop that “muscle memory” that just might save your life…
And yeah, I’ve missed a bunch of deals on S&W pistols, and it’s easy to find holster for Smiths and Rugers, and… and… But I STILL like my Colts 🙂
Your point about muscle memory brings to mind an old adage – Beware the man with only one gun’
That’s the only drawback to my Black Hawk- I couldn’t speed load if I tried. 😀
Therefore, I make the first shot count.
Packetman- Yep, cause he KNOWS how to use it…
Snigs- Point 🙂 And it’s ALL about shot placement- I’ve seen your targets 😀
I’ll agree and expound with an anecdotal story from my own life. I’m an NRA and FBI trained firearms instructor. I’m also a former soldier who spent 4 years in an infantry division (7th ID and later 7th ID(Light). As such my first love was 1911 style pistols.
Forward to my 24 years as a police officer when I went from S&W 66 and 686 to SA/DA pistols (HK and later Sig). After a few years of shooting nothing but SA/DA in training, every time I tried to shoot my Springfield and Colt SAO’s the first attempt out of the holster was followed by cursing because I had gotten out of the habit of sweeping off the safety and simply couldn’t get it back.
I acknowledged that this was probably going to get me killed off duty and sold all my single action only pistols (except my SAA’s which I will never carry off duty and don’t have a safety anyway).
I’m carrying Sigs and Glocks now. I’ve considered buying another 1911since I retired but the basic problem is still there. 24 years of muscle memory.
I do love colts, and wheel guns.Nice collection.
Sweet collection.I am drooling over them.
Six- as far as semi-autos, I’ve shot 1911s for so long, even when I carry and shoot my Glock or Kahr, I find my thumb automatically ‘sweeps’ the safety 🙂
DiMw- Thanks!
Fuzzy- Um… do you need a bib??? 🙂 OBTW, they are ALL shooters, no safe queens!
That’s why I stick with the pistol I learned as a kid, a 1911. I learned on my Dad’s GI 1911, but my Kimber is exactly the same.
I just pray I never have to use my training….
Very nice collection – made all the better by being shooters and not safe queens – and an excellent lesson imparted as well.
drjim- Agreed!
Scott- Thanks! If I can save one person from doing the same thing, it’s worth it!
I feel the same thing you do about standardization and uniformity of pistol actions.
That said, I’m a S&W guy. I know how they shoot, how they open, how the cylinder turns…I’m comfortable with my S&W revolvers, and should the SHTF, they’ll be at the top of the packing list.
Me- Thanks- At least YOU can find holsters… sigh…
@Old NFO,
Here is a link to a Colt