Gun Porn -Wednesday Wheelgun Edition

My Boss asked me to clean his gun for him today. See, my boss is one of those police types that is not a gunnie. He's not Anti Gun, by any means. He's just more of a Fudd than a true Gunnie.

Apparently he hasn't cleaned his gun in a few years, and figures it was time. Seeing as we are only required to shoot 60 rounds a year to qualify,  he probably has less than 250 rounds through it since it's last cleaning. I sometimes go more than that in a single range session, so it wasn't in any danger of being overly dirty from shooting.

It was, however, seriously neglected. It was dry as a popcorn fart, and I honestly have no idea how a piece of grass got wrapped around the cylinder stop spring. However, everything took down fine, it all got cleaned and lubed, and it got put back together.

But the thing I really wanted to share was the gun. It's a service issued S&W model 66 snub.

2 inches of pure fighting meanness brought to life in stainless. What a badass wheel gun, huh?

This gun is the  definition of a service revolver that has been carried a lot and shot little. No endshake, almost no flame cutting of the topstrap, and - the achellies heel of these sweet carrying 66's- no cracks in the shaved-down forcing cone.

When this gun was originally shipped from S&W in the late 80s or early 90s, because the state of Louisiana ordered a butt ton of them, Smith roll-marked them LAPP, for our department.

These 66's are no longer issued. Only agents that were originally issued them and declined to switch to a Glock are still allowed to carry them. As the handful of oldsters that still pack the issued Wheelgun around retire, they are given the option to buy their gun. If they decline, the old 66's get surpluses and sold to a gun store in South central LA who has a contract to move them.

But the state, as it does, depreciated things, and tfhe word around the water cooler is that these old workhorses get offered to sale to the retirees who carried them through their full career for the princely sum of $18.00, USD.

I already told my boss that when he hangs up his gun belt, if he buys the 66, I'll give him $250 for it, no questions asked.

Quick Bleg

I've been saving pennies and Leatherworking profits for months, saving up for a new concealed carry piece. I've been strongly considering a G26, because Glocks are solid preformerrs and it would take the same mags as my duty gun. I can pick up a LEO model with 3 mags and night sights for right at $500 out the door.


But, I stopped by a local pawnbroker the other day, and saw a lonely S&W 640 in the case. That's the hammerless, stainless steel model.

I did a Jim March checkout on it, and it's solid. No endshake, no cracks in frame or forcing come areas, crown is in good shape, bore has no pitting, all cylinder bores look as good, as far as I could tell. It has a pinned front sight, so I could put an aftermarket big dot or fiber optic option in it. It also has a set of Crimson Trace grips. And is chambered in .357, and doesn't have the stupid lawyer lock...

It was marked at 599, but the counter guy said if I walked in with 5 bills, he thought the manager would let it go. It came out the back 6 days ago.

The biggest problem is, I have a soft spot for j-frame. I love em. So, should I embrace this, and enjoy the 640, accepting it's limitations as a J-frame, and just admit that I have a soft spot for them?

Or should I stick with the G26, which is objectively a better choice for a lot of things?

SP-101

The wifley unit's parents are in town this weekend. Her dad asked me if I would make  him a holster for his new (to him) Ruger SP-101. He found it for a song in one of his local pawn shops.

It's an interesting comparison to my Smith model 36. The SP-101 won't fit in a J-frame holster. It's juuuuuusssssttt too big.

This particular SP-101 is chambered for .357, but other than the cylinder being slightly longer, the barrel is slightly longer too. The j-frame has a true 3-inch barrel, where the Ruger has a 3.1ish inch barrel.

The frame is beefier on the Ruger, too, but that's in keeping with Rugers in general. Find a Smith revolver, and it's Ruger counterpart will be a bit heavier and thicker. The SP-101 is just following that tradition, so it seems.

The trigger is nicer on the Smith, and the lock work is smoother going through a cycle of operation.

So my impressions?

Sturdiness- SP-101 gets the nod. This gun feels like it can take some serious abuse.

Finish and quality- The Model 36, hands down. Smith builds a more refined revolver, it seems.

Caliber- The versatility of being able to shoot .38 OR .357 is awesome. SP-101 all the way.

Customer service- Ruger, hands down has better customer service. I've dealt with both companies, and Ruger is a PLEASURE to work with. Smith got the job done, but we're not communicative and drug their feet.

Feel- the Smith sits better in my hand, and points more naturally. This can be remedied with aftermarket grip selection, however.

Overall, I'd keep my 36 over the SP-101, but barely. And largely that has to do with the lockwork. It's cleaner and better finished. You can feel it when you fire the gun.

But choosing the SP-101 would not put you at a disadvantage, by any means. It's a nice gun, and feels solid and substantial in the hand. AND you can shoot full-house magnum loads in it!

Oh, and I did make him that holster he asked for.