Reeder Custom Guns - A gun for Shootist Holiday....

Interesting to ponder. If you could only take one gun you may or may not own to a "shoot" where you would be around many other enthusiasts for a fun weekend of range time. Now in reality everyone takes a bunch, to show and tell, enjoy and share.

Figuring you were to leisurely shoot maybe 500-750 rounds at varied targets of fun opportunity. Distances may range from bowling pins relatively close to rocks or gongs at 500+ yds. Crazy fun.

Is there a good choice or several possibilities for the jaunt afar? What might you think a good choice?

Personally I speculate. Maybe a good .357 might be a wise selection since it shoots as flat as about anything, is less fatiguing, than a half-ounce slug. I have a good slicked up Reeder-Ruger Wichita Classic in .38/.357/.356 GNR/9mm that is ideal. A case of 9mm Luger for the extra cylinder would be cheap and fun fodder. Also the M27 S&W 8-3/8" sure sounds nice, and has performance that makes ME look good! This is not hunting, just pleasure shooting.

356/357

It yet, should be finished soon. I did as for a 357 cylinder with it. Maybe I should as for a 9mm one too? How accurate is yours in 9mm?

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It would have to be my lightweight prototype 45 Backpacker Gary built years ago. 270 grain cast SWC at about 925-950. Fixed sights on it, but shooting one load a lot of times over the years gets you pretty good at deciding where to hold at different ranges.

My 5 shot 45 colt Blackhawk. Very versatile 335gr. at 1440fps or 250gr. at 800fps.

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the 9mm cylinder is so accurate in any Blackhawk, much less my modified custom. It is rattling a .355" bullet down a .357" bore (through .358" throats, if that matters). Plus the bullet must make about an inch jump from the case to engage the rifling! Should be an exercise in frustration but it is not. It's extremely accurate. Also the recoil and blast is much less, seemingly, compared to a .38/.357 firing the same weight bullet at the same velocity. At least it seems to me. Velocity in my 6.5" is identical to my 5" Beretta or FN HP.

With 9mm FMJ running $9 a box of 50 the cylinder pays for itself, in economy, very shortly. Lots cheaper than .22 WMR and the brass will be worth something, goes in your pocket rather than scattered all over.

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with friends than I did shooting. Plus the festivities at night were enjoyable too. The last time I donated one or two guns (can't remember right now), a handgun and a lever gun I think. I spent a lot of time with Kelly Brost and his missus, and Kelye Schlepp and several others that I hate to admit I can't remember their names right now. But that was probably 20 years ago. Just getting to spend time with old and new friends made it worth while. The shooting is secondary. To be honest I don't remember doing any shooting at all, although I am quite sure I did, but as I said that was secondary to spending time with friends.

Very much like our HHC, where the time spent with friends at night is the most important part of the weekend.

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TWO--I CHOSE AN 8-3/8" S&W .357 AND A 7-1/2" COLT NF .44 SPECIAL

several years ago. At least, as close as I could get, Texas Longhorn Arms parts and all. A couple things didn't turn out exactly "right" in my mind, but it is a very fine sixshooter. .44 Special based on a Old Model .357 Blackhawk. One of the most accurate handguns I own.

If I'm limited to one, it would be that one. Seems more than fitting and it is a whole lot of fun.

Any N frame S&W or SA Ruger would work though. . .

Hmm Shootists Holiday

King Colt in .44 Special 5 1/2”

I’d guess you’d be rubbing elbows with some of the best men and women in this earth and most of which are probably subject matter experts on many things involving burning gunpowder in general. You’d have to balance out the shooting with some socializing but the Whittington Center is an experience in itself.

I’d take a 5” M27 in .357 if you’d allow me two Scotty!

I wonder if the .44 Special is the insiders favorite but followed with a more mainstream easy shooting .357?

I do like the .357 and in everyday shooting it is very good. Conserves lead (casting every third bullet is free compared to big bores), half the powder, shoots flat. Enough power to take medium hogs and Whitetails easily with good placement. Bigger animals for sure have been taken but a bit of a stunt by the skilled.

An argument for splitting the difference and running .41 Magnum certainly can be made. Ditto going a bit lighter and .327 Federal. Of course Woody and Alcorn's .45 Colts can be loaded so and is very versatile.

A tribute to Skeeter but I do like the .357 and .38’s are so nice to start a new shooter with in an N frame size gun.

That checkered top strap is just all class to me.

The 44 Spl is... Special

but we are very like minded. Skeeter did a great piece on the .357 as his bug-out gun. A 5" of course. I have a 8-3/8" from about 1980 in the safe. Even I can make some passable shots with it. Ditto a 8-3/8" M17 as a companion to it, same vintage.

original question by JT. The attendee may not know the shooting situation. It could be targets at distance, or up close and defensively oriented. ( my words )

My first choice would be for the horsepower. Ruger SBH Bisley 6.5" 454 Casull. ( Lipsey's ) Top loads for the 454 would handle this requirement well. Additional loads of more moderate persuasion could be used for general work. 45 Colt loads could be substituted in a power ranges from light 454, to quite sedate versions with Trail Boss powder.

Second choice is the hard one. If it were a double action revolver, Chances are likely that it would be S&W 25 in 45 ACP or a Ruger SP 101 in 357.
As a single action revolver would be Ruger Flattop Bisley in 44 Spl, or 32-20

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