The Walther P22

Every now and then, I get email asking me why I never recommend the Walther P22 pistol. Indeed, I see that my friend Peter has given it his recommendation in a recent blog article. The little Walther has many fans. They love the German pea shooter for it's size, and it's mimicry of the larger Walther P99.

For the record, I don't particularly care for the Walther P99 either. The P99 is not a bad pistol, I suppose it has it's niche with the transformer grip crowd as well as the James Bond fanatics who want the latest movie gun, but it never really stuck me as being anything special. It is a sufficiently accurate, and durable enough polymer 9mm pistol. That is all. The P22, however, is another story.

The Walther P22 is cursed with a zinc pot metal slide. The pistol had been on the market for approximately six months when the first reports of slide failures began to appear on internet forums. Many opinions on the internet should be taken with a healthy dose of skepticism, but when corroborating photography accompanies the reports, and time and again, the slides are shown exhibiting failures in the same areas, it behoves the reader to take notice and pay attention.

The 22 cartridge is not a round that is reloaded. These failures can not be blamed on poorly loaded home brew ammunition. If a 22 round could be overcharged, it is still difficult to imagine an overcharged 22 round that could do this type of damage. Even if the shooters were firing round after round of Stinger ammunition, this type of failure should not have happened with the regularity that it occurred in the Walther P22.

Even if a potential purchaser wanted to ignore the forward slide failures, blaming them on the use of hyper velocity Extreme Shok killa gorilla ammo, it is hard to deny that the subsequent cracks that appeared with frequency at the slide stop notch might be indicative of something else. That something else just might be a pot metal slide that would make a Lorcin look like a forged steel wonder gun.

Because of the regularity of these slide failures, and the potential for injury that could result from a chunk of metal leaving the frame of the gun under recoil and slamming directly into the shooter's face, I can not recommend the Walther P22 for anyone. Instead, I recommend the Ruger 22 line of pistols, or a Browning Buckmark. Either has a long track record of durability, reliability, accuracy, and a ready market for resale if the owner so chooses.

The Ruger Hole Punch

"Hey Xavier, tell about that long stainless Ruger pistol you sometimes post a picture of, OK?"

I believe the pistol you are referring to must be my Ruger MKII Government Model. Before the time of the Ruger Hunter and Ruger Competition Target, another 22 pistol from Prescott Arizona ruled the Ruger roost.

Officially known as the KMK678G, the Ruger MKII Government Model did not have the fluted barrel of the Hunter, or the slab sided barrel of the Competition Target. Nor did it come with nice wooden grips. It was a deceptively simple pistol that shot from a six 7/8 cylindrical bull barrel, and plain black plastic grips were screwed to it's sides. The take home price was usually twice that of the Ruger Standard models, hardly what could be termed a glitzy fast selling pistol.

The Ruger Government Model's grey plastic box held an extra piece of documentation, however. Inside was a 25 yard proof target, with a single hole inside a black circle. The extra cash paid for the Government Model got the buyer a pistol with a bore that was aligned with a laser and rifling with a 1-15 twist instead of Ruger's standard 1-14 twist. It was drilled for optics, and the sights were a basic Ruger micro-adjustable rear sight paired with an undercut Patridge front sight. It was a superb foundation for modification.

Over time, my KMK678G received several upgrades. The plastic grips were tossed in a spare parts bin, and a Nill grip was installed. A mix of Volquartsen and Clark Custom parts replaced the original Ruger action. The Ruger lockwork that remained was polished.

Finally, to add a bit of weight to the muzzle, I screwed on a Volquartsen compensator. The V-Comp did the trick, making the pistol stay in the X-ring with virtually no recoil. It was heavy, but if the shooter wanted to rapid fire ten shots into a bullseye, this pistol was up to the challenge. Of course, harnessing that kind of accuracy off hand was the shooter's responsibility. On bags, the pistol took care of itself.

Because it was an autoloading pistol, the Ruger Government Model could suffer flyers from time to time. Still, it was long my standard for judging the accuracy of other handguns. Indeed, when a genuine free pistol, the TOZ-35, finally came on the market at a price I could afford, it was the Ruger Government Model that I took to the range to compare it to.

The Ruger Government Model is no longer available. Originally entering production under a military contract in 1986, it has been superseded by the Ruger Competition. As a 22 pistol in my inventory, it remains a gun capable of punching a hole exactly where I want it to, as long as I am up to the challenge.

The Ruger Competition Government Model

Ugly Gun Sunday

Most people who have customized the Ruger 10/22 rifle learn sooner or later to avoid Ram-Line parts, no matter how attractive they may be. There is a simple reason. They are crap.

What many people do not know, however, is that Ram-Line once sold a 22 pistol of their own. The Ram-Line Syn Tech Exactor pistol is what a cross between a Kel-Tec and a Nambu would look like. It was a 15 round plastic lump of crap. The tubular steel barrel was sleeved in plastic, with a plastic sight and ventilated rib. A sliding switch on the left side of the plastic receiver did something, probably a safety. Construction is visibly shoddy, and the design is suspect, at best. If you see one, avoid it like you would avoid a rabid dog with head lice.

More photos of this quasimodo can be found in this auction.

New Grips For the 50th Anniversary Ruger

OK, I admit it. I'm a sucker for walnut and blue. I screwed some checkered walnut Ruger MKI grips on to the 50th Anniversary Ruger today, and I like the result. I had to carefully inlet the left grip to accept the bolt hold back mechanism, and the results were worth it.

I also swapped out the bolt with the Ruger MKII I use to train new shooters. I wanted a plain bolt in this pistol, not one with the Ruger logo engraved in the rear. I appreciate Ruger leaving off the receiver scallops in front of the bolt. I wish they had cut a square ejection port and placed an upright rear sight on the pistol too, but I guess you can't have everything.

With the exception of maybe placing a magazine with a chrome base pad in the well, I will likely not do much more to the Anniversary Ruger. It is where I want it. Classic. Simple. Elegant.

More on the 50th Anniversary Ruger 22 pistol.

The Ruger 1 of 5000

In 1982, Sturm Ruger transitioned from the Ruger Standard to the Ruger MKII in it's rimfire autoloader line of pistols. There were several differences between the pistols: a bolt hold back mechanism, and the ability to eject a chambered round with the safety engaged were significant improvements. A ten round magazine enabled the shooter to digest ammunition with full magazines, as 22 ammunition commonly sold in multiples of ten.

To say a farewell to the venerable Ruger Standard, Sturm Ruger manufactured and sold the last ones in stainless steel. A replica of the original "salt cod" wooden shipping box came with the pistol, as well as a copy of the original 1949 advertisement. Bill Ruger's signature was rollmarked on the receiver, and "1 of 5000" was stamped on the right side of the barrel.

These were the first stainless steel Ruger pistols. Many were purchased as "investments" and never shot. At present, a 1 of 5000 Ruger Standard is available on Auction Arms.

Current Price: $649.00

The Beginner Gun

One of the pistols that I make no apologies for enjoying shooting is the Ruger MKII. Regardless of the misguided statements Bill Ruger made late in life, his rimfire pistol is an American firearms masterpiece. Even though it requires know how similar to a secret handshake to reassemble, the Ruger pistol is a very basic, simple instrument that gets the job done on a budget with a longevity that will outlast most owners.

Several readers have emailed me to ask about the particular pistol that I start new shooters on. Frequently, this Ruger MKII is the first gun they fire. It was a special order gun, a stainless four inch bull barreled model. I installed a Volquartsen sear, hammer, and trigger. The sights are stock.

The Volquartsen trigger group gives the pistol an unmatchable crisp single action trigger pull. The four inch bull barrel gives it a balance like few other 22 pistols I have handled. These qualities plus the low cost of ammunition and near absent recoil make this the ideal pistol for a beginner to learn on.

Being the perfect handgun for a beginner does not mean this pistol is less than what it should be, however. A beginner's pistol should be durable, easy to maintain, easy to use, and reliable. Fighting with contrary equipment is the quickest route to turning off a new shooter. This particular Ruger MKII is extremely accurate as well as being very easy to handle. I frequently use it myself for low cost training. It's an accurate, reliable, portable 22 caliber lead launcher. A hoot to shoot.

One of the things I always wished I could change on the short barreled stainless Ruger though was the grips. The blond grips with the red Ruger medallions were pretty, but they just did not fit my hand the way I wished. One would think that as popular as the Ruger MKII is, nice grips would be more common. They can be found, but they frequently top $50 a pair. Thus, when I found a pair of checkered cocobolo grips with palm swells listed at CDNN, I quickly ordered a pair.

It took two days to receive my package from CDNN, and I was surprised to see that they gave me a break on shipping. The one thing that sometimes keeps me from ordering small parts from the Abilene, Texas gun emporium is that they typically use a flat rate for all shipping. A twenty-six dollar set of grips is not that great a deal if the shipping is fifteen bucks. At seven and a half for shipping, the deal becomes tolerable.

I have never been a proponent of thumb rests on handguns. I am of a mind that individual hands are unique, and unless a given grip is crafted for a given hand, protrusions on the grip are as likely to be cumbersome as they are beneficial. That being said, when I screwed these grips onto the Ruger MKII this afternoon, they totally transformed the pistol. The grips fit my hands perfectly. The pistol now points like a natural extension of my hand.

Even though the wood is a bit darker than I would have liked, the checkering is nicely cut. The screw holes were in perfect alignment. The real benefit came in the shootability of the pistol. The gun now comes to sights as naturally as pointing my finger. For $26.99, these grips are a fantastic investment in improving a Ruger MKII pistol. My only regret is that they do not have the Ruger medallion inset into them. As soon as I can find a trashed set of Ruger grips, that will change. Next, perhaps I'll install a Hi-Viz fiber optic front sight.......

Nugun agrees on the Ruger 22 pistol as a first gun.

The Browning Buckmark

It is no secret that my 22 pistol of choice is the Ruger MKII. A major contender for the MKII's place of prominence though, is the Browning Buckmark. The Buckmark is preferred by many people because it feels more like a "real" pistol. The frame is CNC machined 7075-T6 aluminum. The controls are where one would expect, and the Buckmark's trigger is uniformly crisp.

Like the Ruger, a wide variety of sights, grips and barrels are available for the Buckmark. Unlike the Ruger, the serial number of the Browning 22 pistol is on the lower portion of the gun, the grip frame. This is fortunate, as it allows a variety of barrels to be mail ordered without going through a FFL holder. The design of the pistol is deceptively simple. When the grips are removed, most of the action can be disassembled by hand. Detail stripping the Buckmark is a cinch.

The Browning Buckmark is a boringly reliable shooter. It is as accurate as the shooter firing it, a no excuses gun. It will digest a wide variety of ammunition without a hiccup.

Little features like the recessed crown make for a slick package on the Browning. There are only two things that I do not care for on the Buckmark. The first is the scallops on the bolt that contain the grasping serrations used to open the chamber. The scallops make the bolt more difficult to lock back than it has to be. The other is the wire ejector. The ejector works well enough, but I just wish there was a more substantial part for that role.

My buddy QJ purchased this pistol used for $219. I passed up a first generation Buckmark priced at $175 a couple of years ago. I still kick myself.

A Buckmark Review/Range Report

Browning Buckmark Manual (pdf file)

Lubing the Buckmark

After work today, QJ went by Neil's pawn shop and picked up his Browning Buckmark. I spent the afternoon fieldstripping and lubricating it for him. The pistol has next to no wear on it. I suspect that it perhaps fired 50 rounds, if that. The parkerizing is hardly rubbed on the frame.

The entire pistol was as dry as a bone. I used my standard process of Break Free on pivoting surfaces, and Tetra grease on sliding surfaces. The pistol functions much better now.

Tomorrow, it goes to the range.

Fixin' the Fishin' Gun

I spent the evening cleaning pistols and diagnosing the problem that was occurring with my Ruger MKII "fishin' gun." As is often the case, the root of the problem was a combination. The "fishin' gun" has a Volquartsen trigger with an over travel screw. The over travel screw prevents excessive trigger travel beyond what is necessary to disengage the hammer and sear.

Over time, the action of the pistol had accumulated soot, grit, and grunge. Some of this was caked on the sear. Once the coating was caked on the sear, the fine adjustment that I had on the over travel screw was not quite sufficient to always drop the hammer. Admittedly, I likely contributed to the problem with my habit of applying a smidgen of Tetra grease to the sear. 95% of all gun problems are related to the gun being dirty.

A good cleaning of the pistol cleared up the problem. I stripped the Ruger to the point shown here, and used brake cleaner and stiff nylon brushes to loosen all the grunge. Then, I reassembled the pistol and readjusted the over travel screw for a bit more play. Finally, since I now had the screw protruding from the face of the trigger slightly, I filed it down flush and repolished the trigger face.

One of the best online resources for field stripping the Ruger MKII can be found here. If you are inclined to detail strip the pistol, this page will help. Enlarge the photos to guide you.

The Ruger Charger

I know a lot of people are going all googly over Ruger's new 10/22 pistol, but I don't see the point. If you see something out there that needs a little hole in it, then why not punctuate it with a 10/22 rifle? If you want a good 22 caliber pistol, there is the Ruger MKII, or the Browning Buckmark, and neither requires a bipod. If you want a firearm on a bipod, why not chose a rifle? This attenuated rifle is neither a decent rifle, nor a decent pistol.

Or am I missing something here?

The Red Eagle Ruger

One of the .22 pistols that represents American ingenuity is the Ruger Standard. Approximately 25,500 Red Eagle Ruger Standard pistols were manufactured between October 1949 and November, 1951, before Ruger's business partner, Alexander Sturm died of hepatitis. After Sturm's death, Ruger mandated that the grip medallions be silver and black. The remaining red medallions were depleted by February 1952. The "Red Eagle" pursuit may be a sentimental affection for a long passed plinker, but the red medallion is also indicative of an innovative firearm's first year of production.

Other details of the Ruger Standard pistols include a receiver with no scallops before the bolt knob, a nine round magazine and no bolt hold back mechanism. Very early examples have a square ejection port, and a block rear sight instead of the swept back rear sight shown here.

It is still possible to find Red Eagle Ruger Standards at reasonable prices. I occasionally see one at a gun show, often tired and battered. Not infrequently the seller has heard that he has "something" and on looking the pistol up in the Blue Book, he sees higher listings. He jacks up his asking price accordingly. The red eagle Ruger pistols can still be found through private sales and estate sales. I hope to someday find one at a "take me home price". Maybe at the upcoming gun show.......

What Is Xavier Reading?

"Bill Ruger's .22 Pistol" by Don Findley is a wonderful surprise I found at a book fair. I have been unable to locate it on Amazon.com, other than a $100 leather bound version. My lesser quality copy had a $44.95 cover price. The Book Fair price was five bucks.

Don Findley's publication is a coffee table sized book filled with detailed two page spreads of the Ruger Standard, MKI, and MKII pistols. It also contains photos of Bill Ruger's hand tools from his first abandoned business. The large clear photos are accompanied by text that explains the evolution of the little plinker and the myriad variations that collectors relish and justify their latest purchases by. While not a reference book or a definitive anthology of the pistol, the book certainly lives up to it's billing as a "photographic essay of the Ruger Rimfire Pistol." If you enjoy Ruger rimfire pistols, and see the book for an affordable price, do not hesitate to purchase it.

"The Ruger .22 Automatic Pistol" by Duncan Long is available on Amazon.com for $10.88. It is a history of Strum Ruger as well, and a good, inexpensive reference to their auto loading pistols.

Duncan Long's book adequately covers the Ruger pistol through the Mark II line. The illustrations obviously can't compare with the coffee table book, but they are sufficient. Long's book also covers the care and maintenance, disassembly and reassembly, accessories, and ammunition.

Both books are certainly worth the price to the Ruger plinker aficionado. The Findley book is certainly directed more towards the collector, with enlarged macro photos. The Long book is more information packed, aimed at another niche in the esoteric world of accumulating firearms. If you accumulate the Ruger pistol, you may as well pick up both books if you have the chance.

The Ruger MKII

In 1949, small advertisements appeared in sporting magazines announcing a new pistol. "The first overall improvement in automatic pistol design since the Browning patent of 1905. For simplicity, strength, and handsomeness it has no equal." The pure audaciousness of Bill Ruger's advertisements in retrospect was absolutely on target. The Ruger Standard was a totally new concept for a .22 pistol. It had a tubular receiver with a bolt that fit inside. The receiver was secured atop a grip frame that was reminiscent of a Luger. The bullet exited a tapered barrel that further enhanced the Luger likeness. Some may have been confused over the Ruger name, thinking the pistol was a 22 caliber Luger, but the $37.50 price beat the pants off any other rimfire pistol on the market. Far from being a detriment, the Germanic styling gave the pistol a flair that was quickly assimilated into the American shooting culture. In 1950, the Ruger Target was quickly introduced with a six and 7/8 inch barrel, an adjustable rear sight, an under cut front sight blade to minimize glare, as well as an improved trigger.

The Ruger Standard and Target had no bolt hold back mechanism, and six groove, 1:14 right hand twist rifling in it's barrel. The heel released magazine contained nine rounds. The Ruger Standard stamped and welded grip frame was unique for it's time. It was the tubular receiver and the stamped and welded grip frame that kept the Ruger Standard's price below that of it's competitors. Adorning the left grip panel was a red eagle medallion, derived from traditional European eagle motifs by Ruger’s partner, Alex Sturm. When Sturm died in 1951, the background for the eagle medallion was changed to black.

Over time, the Standard became available with a variety of barrel lengths, and adjustable sights. In 1971, the dies that the Strum-Ruger corporation used to stamp the grip frames finally wore out. New dies were formed allowing the magazine follower button to be on the left, rather than on the right as was the case with the earlier models. The new style grip frame was designated the A-100. Previous magazines would not fit in the A-100 grip frame, but the newer magazines fit both styles of pistol. The change was a portent of changes on the horizon.

In 1982, Bill Ruger added a bolt hold back mechanism, actuated by the flipped magazine button on the A-100 series pistols, and the Ruger MKII was born. The Ruger MKII, in all it's variations, is considered by many to be the pinnacle of Bill Ruger's achievements. For many older shooters, the Ruger Standard was the first auto-pistol they ever fired. The MKII introduced an entire new generation to the shooting sports. To commemorate the conclusion of the Ruger Standard era, Sturm-Ruger produced 5000 stainless steel Standard pistols engraved with Bill Ruger's signature on the receiver. The new MKII Rugers came with ten round magazines, making a dollar box of 50 rounds an even five magazine box. The safety of the MKII was designed as well to allow for a visual inspection of the chamber with the sear locked in place. Stainless steel MKII pistols were introduced in 1982, and a ten inch bull barrel model was added to the line-up in 1984. In 1986, the competition grade Mark II Government Target Model was released along with proof targets confirming it's accuracy. A slab side barreled version of the Government Target Model was introduced in 1991. It was designated the Competition Model.

1993 brought the Ruger 22/45, a polymer framed version with integral grip panels that replicated the grip angle of the venerable 1911. The 22/45 not only mimicked the 1911 in it's grip angle, but the magazine release was moved to the 1911 location, behind the hooked triggerguard.

Finally, in 2004, the MKII was superseded by the Ruger MKIII. The MKIII gave shooters the magazine release where many had wanted it, beside the triggerguard. The MKIII also incorporated some less desirable features, however, including a loaded chamber indicator, a magazine disconnect safety, and an internal locking device. While many new shooters may view the new innovations as improvements, older shooters frequently see them as unnecessary and unwanted gilding on a perfect lily.

In 1989, Bill Ruger made some unfortunate statements. In a letter to Congress, he suggested the implementation of a 10 round magazine for all semi-auto handguns, and a ban on the production of full capacity magazines. Bill Ruger later claimed "no honest man needs more than 10 rounds in any gun," in an interview with Tom Brokaw. Congress followed the suggestion and incorporated it into the Assault Weapons Ban of 1994. The AWB sunsetted on September 13, 2004. Bill Ruger died on July 6, 2002. Some gun owners still hold a grudge over those statements, but I figure Bill Ruger is dead and so is the legislation his words helped pass. The pistols his company produced are still some of the most enduring in the world.

Just like in 1949, the Ruger rimfire pistols remain an excellent value. I personally prefer the MKII above all others, but I will not pass on a nice Ruger Standard if I ever see one for sale again while my pockets still jingle. I own several Ruger MKII's. Some I use to instruct new shooters, one I use for target shooting, and one I carry as a fishing pistol. I like to personalize my handguns a bit, and the MKII allows for that. I like a Volquartsen trigger and sear. I always keep an eye out for interesting grips, as well as used pistols.

When Ruger MKII pistols appear on the used gun market, they generally change hands for between $150 and $200, depending on finish condition. A used Ruger MKII is invariably a safe purchase, assuming the bore is not plugged with rust. The inherent durability and reliability of the design makes for a pawn shop treasure that frequently needs nothing done to it at all. At a time that ammunition costs are escalating with no end in sight, a 22 caliber pistol makes more sense than ever.

50 Years of Ruger Auto Pistols

Ruger MKII Dis/Re-assembly Instructions Detailed

Ruger MKII Internal Disassembly and Reassembly Instructions

Serial Numbers
Ruger Standard
1949 1
1950 2416
1951 11597
1952 32905
1953 49019
1954 68958
1955 97358
1956 115523
1957 128244
1958 148222
1959 169400
1960 179712
1961 194484
1962 217767
1963 239621
1964 250296
1965 276308
1966 406740
1967 436226
1968 463239
1969 10-00001
1970 10-38890
1971 10-75016
1972 11-26288
1973 11-72924
1974 12-22449
1975 12-81988
1976 13-48646
1977 13-99097
1978 14-69121
1979 15-36233
1980 16-06785
1981 16-82837
1982 17-70981

Ruger MKII
1982 18-00001
1983 18-50048
1984 19-31711
1985 211-13150
1986 212-08560
1987 212-91364
1988 213-90898
1989 214-85593
1990 215-61938
1991 216-68349
1992 217-48014 and 218-00001
1993 219-37950 and 218-05550
1994 219-90370 and 218-26000
1995 221-20943 and 218-45600
1996 221-36504 and 218-59250
1997 221-55005 and 218-68650
1998 221-95002 and 218-95440
1999 222-36510
2000 223-42679
2001 224-21283
2002 224-82446
2003 225-18909
2004 225-60111
2005 225-84467

The Colt Woodsman

The Colt Woodsman was Hartford's premier .22 caliber pistol. Designed by John Moses Browning, the Woodsman was produced from 1915 to 1977. Collectors divide up the 62 year Woodsman production into three different frame types, designating them as series one, two and three. The first series refers to all Woodsmen built before and during World War Two. The second series includes all versions from late 1947 until mid 1955, and third series Woodsmen extend from 1955 to the end of regular production in 1977. Within the three primary groups the Woodsman had many variations from a campground plinker to a match quality pistol.

My two Series One Woodsmen are pictured at left. The upper pistol, a 1940 gun, was a gift from a friend. Although rebarreled and refinished, it is priceless to me. The lower pistol, manufactured in 1942, was purchased at a pawn shop two years ago with it's holster for $250. Today, Colt Woodsmen seem to start around $500 when they are found in the marketplace. The price quickly goes up to a grand and above for examples with pristine finishes. The extended "elephant ear" grips often go for near that price at auction.

Woodsmen manufactured prior to 1933 were intended to use standard velocity ammunition. Those pistols produced after that time are safe to use with high velocity .22 ammo. A quick way to verify which pistol you have is to look at the mainspring housing. A Woodsman requiring standard velocity ammunition will have a checkered area on the mainspring housing. On later high velocity pistols, this area will be serrated.

Recently classified as a curio and relic firearm by the BATF, the Colt Woodsman is an elegant and accurate pistol. It is also a light pistol compared with those of today, and it's grip is shorter and at a more rakish angle than many pistols today. The design allows for an impressive trigger. The grip angle and sight radius makes for a very pointable, accurate pistol.

If you are fortunate enough to encounter a Colt Woodsman for sale at an attainable price, make certain it is complete. Parts are becoming more and more scarce. A missing front sight blade can result in months of searching. Reasonably priced grip slabs and original magazines can also be elusive. Make certain you get the original Colt magazine with the pistol. The aftermarket magazines just do not feed ammunition properly.

Because of it's relatively small grip frame, I have found the Series One Woodsman to be the ideal pistol for teaching children and adults with small hands to shoot. It fits their hands. It is accurate and reliable enough that frustration is eliminated. The novice shooter can simply concentrate on technique. The pistol does not have an empty magazine holdback mechanism. This can be a good thing. It teaches the neophyte to open the chamber and visually check to see if the pistol is loaded. With proper instruction, the Colt Woodsman helps develop a safe and proficient marksman.

Many new shooters at a gun counter are prone to look at a $500 price tag on an old Woodsman and declare "I could get a Glock for that!" That is true. The Woodsman, however, will reliably place an inexpensive hole exactly where it is aimed. A shooter can shoot all day for under ten bucks. Lead downrange coupled with analysis of why it went where it did equals developing marksmanship. The greater the quantity of lead and the more precise the analysis, the faster the development of the novice shooter. The Colt will appreciate in value over the next five years, while the used Glock will resale for roughly half of it's new counter price. More importantly, the Colt Woodsman will allow the new shooter to easily learn the fundementals of pistol craft without any hurdles to conquer. Cheap to shoot, accurate, low recoil, durable, and steadily increasing in value. It's a pistol that appeals to new shooters, is beloved by experienced shooters, and cherished by collectors. What is there not to like?

More information on the Colt Woodsman can be found on Bob Rayburn's Colt Woodsman pages.

Free Pistols

There is a sublime beauty in form following function. Perhaps this is why Glock pistols, and the M1911A1 seem to be the two handguns shooters eventually gravitate towards. Both are unadulterated in a quest to get shots on target as quickly as possible. There is another style of shooting however. Shooting for absolute accuracy. Shooting a handgun as Robin Hood shot a bow and arrow. Placing a hole exactly where one wants, and then placing rounds through the same hole.

Free pistols are used in 50m Pistol, an ISSF and Olympic event. Free pistols only have a few limitations. They must have open sights. The grip can not lock the wrist in any way. Caliber must be .22 caliber rimfire. The pistol must be loaded and fired as a single shot pistol. Anything else is permissible.

For several years I have enjoyed shooting my Ruger MKII Government Target Model. I has a Volquartsen/Clark Custom action, an anatomically formed Nill grip, and a Volquartsen compensator, added primarily for weight. With Ruger's competition barrel, the gun is accurate, darned accurate. Still, the trigger is not adjustable, and it is not a true single shot. Competition is possible only with a modified magazine.

My IZH 46M was produced by the Russkies for the 10m air pistol event. It is an extraordinarily accurate pistol. With a fully adjustable trigger and swappable sights, it is probably my most accurate pistol.

Still, the IZH 46M was an air pistol. While handy for killing mice, and for winning a few bucks in a friend's back yard, I continued to lust after Pardini K22s and especially the Hammerli 162. Let's face it, old Xavier ain't to awful bad at hitting paper plates on the run with his 1911, but I'm not a world class Olympic shooter. The precision and purity of calling and placing a shot exactly where you want to fascinates me though. The esoteric and functional beauty of a tool designed for that type of transcendental shooting captivates me as well.

Today, I placed an order for a TOZ-35M Free Pistol with the wooden case from CDNN.
$512 with the case.

22s at the Range

I packed up some .22LR handguns and a couple of bricks of ammo and headed to the range this morning. I had a hell of a good time. There is nothing quite like punching tiny holes close together, especially when done with a high quality handgun.

People often question the wisdom of buying a .22 handgun. I question the wisdom of not doing so. Some people shy away from spending too much on "just a twenty-two". Nonsense. Why skimp on a handgun that you will shoot more than any other? I tend to collect accumulate rimfire handguns, and I am not reluctant at all when it comes to dropping some cash to get a nice one.

The .22 handgun is perfect for learning and reinforcing the fundementals of marksmanship. The ammo is cheap, and the recoil is negligible. The accuracy of a fine .22 handgun is precise. Plus, they are a hell of a lot of fun.

Blogiversary Gun: A Colt Official Police

I love a good .22 revolver. A good .22 revolver has a unique combination of a finely fitted gun with old world craftsmanship, and an affordable caliber that will allow one to shoot all day long. For a long time, I did not understand why a .22 revolver cost so much, but after I purchased a K-22, I understood.

The double action revolver in .22 long rifle is a handgun that allows a shooter to develop excellent trigger mangagement skills, which are integral to superior marksmanship. I own several .22 revolvers, but when I saw this .22 caliber Colt Official Police in Neil's shop, I was not going home without it.

The Colt Official Police revolver is what the Colt Army Special became in 1927. Colt simply changed the name of it's .41 caliber framed revolver, to market it aggressively towards police departments. As I examined the old wheelie, the revolver exuded craftsmanship. The double hand lock-up had not a hint of movement. The cylinder release is finely checkered, as is the trigger and hammer. The cylinder had it's chambers recessed and numbered. That, I thought, was a nice touch.

I did not have the opportunity to shoot the gun this afternoon, but I will over the weekend.

The deciding factor on this revolver though was the grips it wears. Roper grips are unmistakable. There are few craftsmen today who can checker a set of grips like the father and son team who carved Roper grips to fit a shooter's hand.

Neil was wanting $350 for the revolver. What Neil did not realize is that the grips themselves would likely sell for more. Roper grips were hand carved from finely grained carciasian walnut. The ribbon through the checkering is a telling feature, as are the notches in the reverse side of the grips. Nothing like them has been produced since.

I pulled out my billfold and counted out Neil's money. He slid a 4473 across the counter towards me, and I began to fill it out. In retrospect, $350 may have been a bit much for a Colt Official Police revolver, according to the books. I don't think so, however. This is an old school Colt revolver, and they aren't making any more. I'm glad to have found it. Considering this auction for Roper grips, I may have bought the grips for cheap and had the revolver thrown in for free!

I will take it to the range this afternoon.
Range results

Update: I see that Impact Guns has this revolver listed for $800....... Without the Ropers!

Smith & Wesson Model 17-4

There once was a time that I did not understand. I favored high capacity 9mm handguns back then, and eschewed revolvers all together. Revolvers were guns for fat old men in khakis and Oldsmobiles. A .22 caliber revolver was doubly stupid to my way of thinking. It was an underpowered, overpriced antiquated anachronism.

Finally, one day, I crossed the line, and discovered the pleasures of the wheelgun. It was not easy. The double action revolver trigger is unforgiving. It is perhaps the most difficult trigger to learn to use. Smith & Wesson wheelguns taught me trigger control. The S&W triggers improved my shooting across the board.

Having the immediate and undeniable feedback of holes in a target is a crucial training aid. Being able to launch a bullet for a couple of pennies suddenly began to make sense. The Smith & Wesson K-22 and subsequent Model 17 are .22 caliber revolvers built to the same standards and specifications as every K framed Smith & Wesson. Thus, by shooting a K-22, for pennies you can improve your shooting not only with the double action revolver trigger, but every trigger you use.

I found a S&W Model 17-3 with a six inch barrel, and it was good. Even so, I did not hesitate to purchase this Model 17-4 when I found it at a fair price. It is a pinned and recessed Target Masterpiece with an eight and 3/8 inch barrel.

I was forced to simply admire it for a few days, until today, when I could finally take it to the range with a box of Federal bulk ammo. The trigger had not been lightened, but it was a smooth consistent pull all the way back.

I was not prepared for the accuracy I tapped from this revolver. The extra sight radius made it a precision hole puncher. I am not certain I like the big assed target grips, but they did not hinder me. For now, they will stay on the gun. I paid $400 for this revolver. It is worth every cent of that price.


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Smith & Wesson Model 34-1 .22/32 Kit Gun

When I went to the gun show, I was hoping to find an affordable S&W K-22. I found a Smith & Wesson in .22 long rifle, but it wasn't a K-22. The revolver I found was a Model 34-1, or a .22/32 "Kit Gun". A "kit gun" is a small handgun designed to be taken backpacking, camping, or hiking. In other words, it can fit in one's "kit" or knapsack.

The first .22/32 Kit guns were built on an I frame in 1935. The inexpensive ammunition and high quality craftsmanship made the little shooter an enduring combination. There were some improvements over the years, and in 1957, the .22/32 Kit Gun was assigned a model number of 34. In 1960, the J frame was adopted.

My Model 34-1 is easy to date as a 1968 revolver because it has no diamond on it's grips, and it does not have a letter prefix on it's serial number. That combination only occurred with the Model 34 in 1968. In addition, it is a round butt, pinned and recessed gun. When one considers that it can be carried in a pocket, and it digests the cheapest ammunition available, it is amazing this revolver can still be found for sale! The closest revolver offered by S&W today is the Model 317. Even so, the alloy framed modern rendition cannot hold a candle to the older gun.

Due to work constraints, I had to wait a few days to try out my new kit gun. After work today, I finally had the time. I thought about taking it to the range after work, but that just did not seem appropriate. Instead, I tossed the gun and a box of cheapo Federal ammunition into a rucksack, and I headed for a secluded spot along the river. I loaded up the revolver and walked among the willows looking for moccasins or at least a couple of dangerous tin cans to dispatch.

The snakes were avoiding the hundred degree heat, but I soon came face to face with a tomato can. It was a large Italian son of a bitch. It stared at me with an empty heart and piercing eyes. I took aim with the micrometer adjustable sights on my precision can killer, and I ventilated that empty can with a full cylinder of red hot .22 lead from a distance of 20-25 feet. The can tried to escape as I quickly fumbled six more rounds into the cylinder. I blasted away again as I approached the can, dispensing cold hard can justice on the soggy riverbank.

Because of it's size and caliber, it is inevitable that the S&W Model 34-1 will be compared to less expensive revolvers such as the H&R 923. The Model 34 Kit Gun is indeed a premium handgun for the person who wants a .22 pistol in their pocket. I paid $300 for this Model 34. A used revolver similar to this H&R 923 usually sells for $50-100. There is a huge difference in the craftsmanship, trigger pull, and ease of use that elevates the Smith & Wesson above the H&R. The H&R, however, carries nine rounds instead of six. Is the Smith six times better than the H&R? Hardly. The Smith, however, is worth $300. I have a feeling it will be traveling with me for a long time to come.

.22 Long Rifle for Self Defense

In a previous post I may have given the impression that I advocate .22 Long rifle as a defensive caliber. If that was the case, I wish to correct that impression. In a rifle or a handgun, a well aimed .22 bullet is adequate for taking squirrels and other small game. It is true that a face full of .22 ammo will cause most attackers to cease their activities. It is also true that the .22 has taken more lives than any other caliber.

I am against .22 ammo for self defense for several reasons. It's incapacitation record is low. The .22 is on record as having caused more deaths than any other caliber. The deaths all to often occur long after the gun was fired, and the statistics are skewed by the sheer volume of .22 caliber weapons in existence however. Most of these deaths are due to accidents, not attacks. The argument for "a faceful of .22" holds just as true as the argument for a faceful of .40S&W.

What is lost on many novices is the actual dynamics of self defense. With a .22 pistol, it would take seven well aimed shots to inject the same lead volume of one bullet of .45ACP. Those seven shots take time, and the cumulative effect may not be reached until minutes or even hours later. People have been shot in the face with a .22 and lived. While you are squeezing off your second and third shot, your attacker will not be just standing there waiting for more. They will be continuing the attack, or making it a lot more difficult to shoot them again.

Before a jury, seven shots to the face with a 22 caliber weapon has a much greater impact than one shot to the face with a 45. When one must defend their actions in a court of law, the number of shots often hold great significance with jury members who do not understand the dynamics of self defense. To a jury, seven shots of anything to the face is horrible overkill. One 12 gauge blast to center mass with a duck gun is restraint. Never mind the ballistics or other facts involved, it's the impression the attorneys are able to exploit and the jury develops that affects the verdict. To survive a lethal encounter intact, a person must also survive the legal entanglements afterwards.

The first shot in a gunfight is often the defining shot of a gunfight. When that shot is made in self defense, it needs to have maximum impact on the aggressor. That is why I advocate the 12 gauge shotgun for the home and the .45ACP or .40S&W for carry. None of my preferred self defense weapons force the defender to shoot the attacker in the face multiple times to increase the chances of survival. All have the capability of stopping an attacker with a center of mass shot. Of course, as shown in the George Temple incident, multiple COM hits of .45ACP may not be enough. There are many articles written by men more knowledgeable than I on the various aspects of ammo and caliber selection. I will defer to their expertise when it comes to muzzle energy and other variables such as Relative Incapacitation Index.

.22 Long Rifle ammunition is notorious for it's inconsistency in ignition, as is any rimfire cartridge. This inconsistency in ignition is as unacceptable in a defensive gun as having tires that may not stay inflated on your car. When a life is on the line, any history of ammunition failure is unacceptable.

All guns depend on one variable for stopping a determined attacker. That variable is user input, the willingness to use the weapon and the capability the shooter possesses for hitting their target. If the defender refuses to shoot, or is a poor marksman, a grenade launcher will not have any impact. The .22 handgun is better than a pointy stick if one needs a tool to defend one's life. A larger caliber is better than the .22 though. The .22 pistol is a fantastic tool to get acquainted with firearms and learn marksmanship with. The Ruger MKII and Browning Buckmark are accurate, and inexpensive to buy and shoot. That allows a person to shoot them a lot. The volume of shooting with an accurate, low recoil gun is what allows a person to develop into a superior marksman the fastest. At least that is what I have seen.