Shooting my Single Actions

[RoninPA]

Don't act surprised, don't have a heart attack, I DO own some Ruger single actions.

Well, I finally got to shoot the single actions that I won this spring and bought at the July OGCA show. Went to Tyrone's place this weekend for the 9th annual Ruger East Coast Gathering. Weather cooperated and we all got some shooting in.

Shot the Bearcat (Lipseys Exclusive, Model 0916) and the sights out of the box were dead on at 15-20 yards. What a great little gun. Don't know if I want to let the wife shoot it, I might lose it and have to buy (or win) another

Shot the 1969 vintage Super Blackhawk (now with the correct period grips on it) that I bought at OGCA this year. Man does it shoot great and it would really move those steel plates that Ty hung for us to shoot at. I was shooting magnums and it shot like a dream. It's not going anywhere.

Oh, I did also shoot the 6" SS GP100 I bought this year and did a little work on it. Polished the internals, new lighter springs, jeweled the trigger and hammer and put Match Champion grips on it. I really like the grips and might just get a couple more sets for my other "shooter" GP's.

I really like to shoot my single actions but I'm still a Ruger DA guy at heart. In fact my Tulsa display id going to be GP-100's.

I also let a few of the folks down there shoot several of my suppressed guns (SR-22 , SR1911 and SIG SBR).

[flattop44]

Sounds like you had a great time. While I am a Single Action man I enjoy DAs too. Heck I carry a DA.
Bill

[67stingray]

Ron, sounds like a perfect day. I have a passion for all of them, but I will have to say that I enjoy shooting those old Single Actions the most. You've got me wanting to get out and waste some ammo. How about a pic of your custom GP100?
Bennett

[Watertender]

Ron I hope you were not shooting at Jackie's horseradish mustard jar. I have a feeling she would not be happy! Looking forward to seeing you soon and I will have more of that mustard when I get there. Glad you had a good time at Tyrone's

[RoninPA]

Bennett, It's really nothing special, I replaced the springs, polished the internals and the top of the main spring strut and while everything was apart I jeweled the hammer and trigger. I now have a nice smooth 10# DA pull and a 3# SA pull. Finished by putting the Match Champion grips on it (they fit my hands very well). It came with a fiber optic green front sight and a ghost ring rear sight but I didn't really like it so I replaced the rear sight with a standard white outline blade

Here's the Bearcat I was shooting. It needs absolutely nothing done to it, it shoots great.

Carl, I wouldn't think of doing anything to Jackies mustard. Just shot at steel plates.

[O M CRAZY]

Ron that sounds like a lot of fun. You can't beat the single action for a fun time.

O M CRAZY
aka Vince

[contender]

Don't let Ron fool ya,, he had a big smile on his face after shooting a few of his SA's. He REALLY enjoyed that 44!

This is exactly why I host the "Gathering" at my place. To have fun, shoot some guns in a very relaxed atmosphere,, and enjoy good fellowship.

[RoninPA]

I dare say who doesn't like or have fun shooting a big bore full power single action revolver (if they are physically able to). Just something about the shot going off and the gun rotating up like it's supposed to, hearing the bang of the target and seeing it swinging wildly then cocking the gun while bringing it back down while aligning the sights. Even a dedicated double action guy like me enjoys this .

I worked with a TSGT in the USAF back in 1984 who bought an older S&W Model 29 (6 1/2" bbl - and yes they did make one in that length at one time). Came to me several days later and said he was going to sell it. Asked why since he had been after one for a long time, and he told me that he just couldn't shoot it fast in double action (he was shooting factory magnums). I kinda stared at him for a minute and said, "Ed, no one is going to shoot fast DA shots with a .44 Magnum, the only people who can are TV actors and they're shooting blanks and aren't shooting magnums".

He said, well I'm going to sell it anyway. I bought it, shot a lot of light/moderate/heavy .44 mag handloads and really enjoyed it (but even then didn't really shoot it fast in DA much). I then scoped it after about 3 years as a hunting handgun and had it for another 3 years (took one nice deer in PA with it). Had a guy really lust after it and finally sold it to him and got a Contender in 7-30 Waters (really like that cartridge).

To wrap it up, I do shoot big bore DA revolvers DA at times but I know I'm not going to empty the cylinder in a few seconds, actually not that fun to do that.

[JAYDAWG]

"To wrap it up, I do shoot big bore DA revolvers DA at times but I know I'm not going to empty the cylinder in a few seconds, actually not that fun to do that."

YEP....I knew it.....a single action guy !!!

So.......got some Speed-Sixes to sell?!?!?!?
OR maybe trade for some high dollar Blackhawks....................I have!

Cheers,
JAY

[RoninPA]

Jay,
Believe it or not I have 10 singles actions (9 Rugers and 1 Colt) but 5 of those are not shooters. I do like shooting single actions but my heart (and collections) are double action revolvers (at this time ).

The first handgun I bought was in 1974, I just turned 21, was in the USAF (A1C - E-3) and was making about $300 per month. I bought a Security Six, 6" blue, .357 for the whopping price of $97.50. I held on to that gun until 1989 when I got into PPC shooting and sold it (and some other extraneous stuff) to generate funds to get and modify a 6" GP-100 (PPC Barrel, Adjustable full length sight rib, lower power springs, action smoothing and to get my FFL and a Dillon Square B reloader (was shooting about 1500-1700 rounds per week).

I have no explanation to why I gravitated towards DA's but the Rugers have always been an excellent value for the money.

Oh, sorry, no Speed Sixes for sale at this time but in the future I'll probably have a couple GP-100's since I bought a couple more from the Poulin auction this weekend.