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The SW 317-3 I have is an Air Lite, 8 shot revolver with a 3" brl and target sights with a green light gathering Hi Viz front sight on it. It is a great revolver to start out new shooters with. I have put 1,000s of rounds through the one I have had for years. I purchased it used from a pawn shop so they are rugged IMO. I have no idea how many rounds were fired in the revolver before I acquired it. I cleaned and inspected the brl, and frame, for cracks, and found it to be in great shape. I always start new shooters on the 317 then go to my 22 Lr Sig Mosquito pistol. Most like the Sig but when we move up to 380, and above in caliber, their hand strength sometimes limits how big of a caliber they can rack the slide on. I mostly have taught ladies to shoot, and I have had one lady who has stuck with a 22 revolver. I will say that a few years ago a close by neighbor had 2 night time (2AM) prowlers, on her front porch, and they were trying to gain entry to her house, but she had a good locked storm door that they could not get opened. She told she was inside, with no kind of weapon, and could listen t their conversation. She said one told the other, "I know that old lady is in there and she just got her medicine and check." Told the Deputy they shook the storm door several times and even walked to the back door and tried. She was 80 Y O, and could you just imagine the fear she must have been going through. She had called 911 and it was 20 minutes before a deputy arrived. She was lucky she had good doors and they didn't pursue the forced entry any further. I would think that even a 22 LR pistol would have been a good friend to this lady in that situation, if she could use it. She lived in a large subdivision with 90 houses close by and around her. Shame on her neighbors for not helping her, sooner, to let her know they would come to her if she needed them. We don't talk to our neighbors any more and that is sad. ReeferMac, I say, without a doubt, allow your misses to use the 22, if that is all she can handle. If a situation like this one I told you about above, arises, you can have a good 38 spl revolver that operates like the 22 revolver she has, or 9 MM pistol that is like the 22 pistol she chooses. She could go to the larger caliber, in an emergency, and be familiar with knowledge of how it fires, in times of emergency. Of course if she is out in the public, then she will need to rely on the 22 she has with her, if she conceal carries. I am happy to say my wife does carry. She carries a Ruger LCR in 38 Spl and her house gun is a SW Lady Smith mdl 65, in 38 Spl or 357 mag. She carries the same ammo in both, Cor Bon DPX in 38Spl. Guys, if you have close by widow neighbors, who are living alone, make friends with them and give them your contact information in case they ever need it in an emergency. By the time I heard about this incident, from her next door neighbor, she had left the house, never to return.

Let it go! Big mistake, open carry.... You are lucky manchuck.

If a 22 is all she can carry, let her go for it.

Have you guys noticed how the TN news media is rounding up everyone, in gov, to get on camera and be against this bill. They are wringing their hands and crying the sky will be falling if this bill becomes law in TN. Big city Police Chiefs, mayors, counsel people, and on and on, are coming out against this legislation. These guys don't look at facts when saying these things. About 99.5% of people will not be, and never will be a danger to the authorities. The, probably less than 1 % of the population (criminals), that will be dangerous, already are dangerous. That fact will have no bearing whether this bill passes or not, although more people concealed carrying and the longer sentencing, for gun crimes, will "hopefully" have a marginal deterrent effect, if they (Gov) keep them in the pen. However judging from the recent past, the Gov is paroling murderers now, because they say it cost too much money to keep them incrassated. Many politicians don't like the populist to have guns, because they know the armed populist can't be dominated, and that fact scars them. Sure there are a fringe element of society, that is dangerous, but we have that now even though this bill is not law now. Sad but we liven in a society where our political leaders has allowed a minute amount of the populist, is allowed to dictate policy for the masses. This is a "possibly" result of dumbing down, don't think on you own segment of society, and telling people the Gov is gong to take care of your every need. As a result the masses no longer have the stomach for taking responsibility for their own safety and security. They have believed the lie. Just ask many of the victims of our society. Guys, as many here know that one's personal safety is each individual's responsibility. It can get dirty, and many don't have the desire to go there. Just look at the talking heads on TV, and comments about the recent church shooting in Texas. That film is the most convincing film that has ever been shown, which confirms the argument that the only thing that can stop a mad, intent on evil man, with a gun, is a good guy with a gun. Hard fact, but so! I pray I never will be forced to go there, but if I do, pray I, or some good guy around me, will be up to the challenge.

I have a Henry Big Boy with octagon and Brass, in 38/357 and it is my families favorite rifle/gun in my safe. The one I have is for plinking only. It fires both the 38 spl and 357 mag well. Some have problems with the 38, but the one I have has never failed with either caliber. Every time my kids come in they want to shoot the lever gun. My youngest daughter can shoot the fire out of it. I will give it to her when I am through with it. I am with the buy both crowd, on your question C C. Then you will have the best of both worlds.

Gun cleaning finished!!! Good until I shoot some of them again, which I hope is soon, if the weather clears a bit. Tired of the rain.

Got all, but 3 of my handguns cleaned yesterday. Will finish them up this morning, L/w, and get started on the long guns. I haven't fired as many of the long guns as we did our handguns. It shouldn't take that long with the long ones. Mostly just a light lube, and run an oily patch through the barrels and then finish with a good wipe down to protect them from rust. Will be glad to get them laid by for summer.

I am getting ready to do my yearly gun cleaning. It will be a thorough cleaning for the ones I fired and the other safe queens, they will get a oil soaked patch in the barrel and a good wiped down. I am fortunate, that I put in a vapor barrier, under the floor of the house, and a heat rod in my safe a few years ago. Afterwards, I have had no rust problems at all. Seems to have eliminated any moisture in my gun safe. Last year my 15 Y O grandson and I cleaned all 45 of my guns. With his help it only took us part of 2 days. He will be getting his drivers license next week, and I guess I have lost my cleaning partner as his dad has already purchased a truck for him. Several of his friends are already driving so he is not around much. Children grow. I do remember 16 and my first car. That was a good while ago and my first car was a 58 Ford Starliner, with 3 on the column, and an in line 6 cylinder engine. I purchased from my sister for 300.00 in 1964. I was free at last, free at last, I thought! OH, for the good old days! Now I have 3, The Golden Nugget(a Chevy Trail Blazer SUV), a Honda Accord("Pearlie" for the misses), and "Whittie Jr"( 2500 HD Chevy Single wheel Durimax Disel (for pulling a 35' "Wildcat" 5th wheel RV). As you can see our grandkids have named all our rides. Not bragging at all, because I have to keep all them up and pay insurance on them. Well I sure got off the subject of gun cleaning. I guess old men ramble, sometimes. I have given several of my guns to family so I don't have as many to clean. Plan is to give most of them, to my grandkids before I pass. Thinking I need to get started, but will have breakfast first. Got to stick around today because one of my daughters purchased, for me, a new I phone 11 and UPS is supposed/will deliver and make me sign for it today. Guess I will need to learn another phone now. Really looking forward to that. Any ways it will be a good day for gun cleaning. Will clean, and lube the dirty ones first. You guys have a good day.

I carried one in Vietnam, but never liked the caliber. They are not death ray rifles like many think. I will say I don't have personal experience. Talked to several Army and Marines who said the were underpowered with Nato ammo. I don't own one today. Have a 308. Now that is more like a rifle, IMHO. YMMV, and that is OK. Each has to work out his own salvation.

I was in the Air Force in the 820th Red Horse Battalion. We were trained by the Navy Cee Bees at Point Mugu, and Port Hueneme located around Oxnard California, Santa Barbara in 1966. Before we left for Nam we went through survival training At Eglin AFB, on field 2. While there, we were given extended training on hand to hand combat plus training on the M 16. I had one the whole time I was in Nam. Most of the other military branches had real problems with their m-16, early in the beginning, because they had bad ammo, as testing showed. Ours were flawless and ran fine if you kept them clean. We used different ammo than the Army or Marines did. That is how they discovered it was an ammo problem. Our M-16's ran flawlessly. I carried a m-16, in Vietnam, and qualified expert with my rifle. I can't remember what one had to fire to qualify expert, but it was hard. I think one had to fire 97 out of 100 on a man's chest sized target at 75 yards with peep sites. Once I learned the peep site, I was off to the races. The rifle I qualified with, I took with me to Vietnam. I then gave it to my replacement after my tour was over. Luckily, we never were in combat, but during the Tet offensive, in 1968, we were back-up to the Marines on the south end perimeter, of the base, at Danang AB. The enemy overran the opposite end (North end next to the Ho Che Min Trail) of the base, and only sent a diversionary force to our end of the base. I could of and would of used the m-16 if forced too. I shot a lot of deer rifles at 100 yards before joining the military so I had no problems with the m-16. That siege lasted for 3 weeks from dusk till dawn. I was dug in, in a fox hole" just 50 yards behind the Marine bunkers along the south perimeter of the air base. We did a lot of off base construction as I was a Construction Equipment Operator. People always think you fly something when you are in the Air Force. When asked, I told them I flew a "Bull Dozer." That always brought on conversation. You guys are right most "zoomies" never touched a m-16, however some did. And "believe it or not" I could shoot.

I have 3 Taurus mdl 617's which is a snub nose 2" brl 38Spl/357Mag 7 shot revolver. These are my EDC revolvers. I have carried one of these revolver for about 7 years now. Some of the 617's had heating problems(cylinder would seize up after prolonged firing) and the cylinder would quit turning until they cooled a bit. Luckily, my 3 have never experienced that problem. Taurus made the revolvers a little too tight and cured the problem with a thin shim, but corrected the problem in later run revolvers. The 617 is a K frame size revolver. I pocket carry these guns. They are nice revolvers that needed no repairs out of the box. One of my 3 is a feather weight which only fires 38Spl ammo. I was pleasantly surprised when I purchased the first one, and when I went back to revolver carry, I decided to purchase the other two. My problems came with old age, diabetic neuropathy, plus arthritis in my hands appeared. I limp wrist sometimes without knowing it and most pistols are unforgiving, when one does that, and fail to cycle properly. I have found a couple pistols that will do the job for me, but the revolvers were my first liked guns in the early 50's. I can and do carry a S W M P 9C 2.0, with the 4" brl when I need too. They work for me. When one bets his safety on a handgun, it, for sure, needs to function reliably for her or him. I like my 7 shot snubbies.

Our daughter called and told us they were taking us out to dinner. Came and picked us up and we left and my son in law said he wanted to stop and get a car part. We pulled into a big building and SURPRISE, 70 of our friends were there to party us down. All 4 of our daughters, two from 10 hrs away, were there with their families and all of us were there except for one grandson who burned his foot badly and could not make the trip. Those traveling are here at our home tonight and we had a totally great day. I never had a clue. My girls really made the day special for us. I know it took a lot of work, money and time. The day could not have been any better. So glad to have all our girls under our roof tonight. I will get up early, in the morning, and make them a breakfast to die for. Country Ham, bacon, sausage, biscuits, gravy, and eggs. Nothing is too good for our girls and their family. I have kissed our baby granddaughter many many times, and I miss her so. She lives in Charleston SC and we only get to see her(7 Y O) and her brother (11 y o) 3 or 4 times during the year. I showed Parker the Savage 308 I am going to give him. I also gave him a new Rem 1911R1 which I will take at the same time. He told his dad they were going to need to get a gun safe for their house. I know he will appreciate the guns, and I don't know any old man that truly enjoys giving his guns to grandkids that they know will cherish them as he has in his life time. I am a blessed man for sure! Thanks for all the replies and well wishes.

My wife told me, many years ago, " I will never allow myself to think of being with someone else, like I am with you." That one statement helped keep me from doing something stupid. We are celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary today. Daughter called last evening and told us to be ready to go, somewhere, at 3 this afternoon, and they would be here to pick us up. Don't know how this sweet lady put up with me for this long, because at times I didn't deserve it. However, I like it, I love it, and I want some more of it! Edited to add advice to younger men; Treat her well because you are going to be old someday, then you will really NEED her to be nice to you. The Bible tells man that happiness, in the home, is the man's responsibility. And yes guys, that means you need to take out the trash. Do your part.

My berm consist of 7 single axel dump truck loads of red clay dirt and is 20' wide at the bottom. Wish I had 3 more loads so I could make it a little wider. I also need to cut 3 large trees to make my range perfect, IMO. Plan to have some good days out there L/w. Go for it ReeferMac. You won't regret it and you wont miss the money next year.

One will always have splatter from shooting steel. Any very hard surface will produce the same result. Usually the steel targets that are NOT mounted solid will give way, somewhat, when hit. A pistol tree, swings from one side to the other and not firmly affixed, if I am understanding you correctly. That swinging will dissipate SOME of the danger, and redirect some of the splatter, but not eliminate it 100%. Any time one shoots steel precaution needs to be taken, (IE distance, eye protection, angled bottom back, or swinging plates). I always wear eye protection and stay a reasonable distance away(no closer than 10 yards with pistols and 50 yards for big rifle. If I am by myself, I may fudge, a little, on that distance with pistols(move in to 20') but not too close with rifles. On my range I have a unique situation with rifle fire. I have a small berm (30 yards away from the targets) in front of my range that can eliminate a small amount of danger, but I still do not trust getting very close. My plates will be angled backwards, on the bottom, and on chains which should deflect most of the splatter downward in front of the targets. Anyways, that is my plan. Will use longer mounting screws, on the very tops of the gongs, using the weight of the gong to shifting the bottom of the gongs rearward, while hanging on the chains. When doing this one must use grade 8 bolts(very hard) or over time they will bend. One also needs to use high grade steel heavy chains. Cost a little more to do this, but I can get hard bolts from Tractor Supply and achieve this. When shooting steel, you must take proper precautions because it can be dangerous. Edited to add; ReeferMac, everyone wants to shoot steel because you get that instant ping when you hit them. When visitors come most don't understand the danger from splatter and you must educate them to be safe. I have some steel now and everyone wants to see the swing so the get too close, but I cautiously watch them so we can shoot safely.

I have some experience with shooting steel. Yes, I know it can be dangerous so I want to set my gongs up where they will be as safe as possible. Thanks for the links, I have watched some of them. I like Hickock video on shooting steel. Hickock has a great place for steel targets because he shoots across a ravine which changes the angle of the ricochet up close, and his rifle targets are on the far side of the ravine. He stands above the close targets on his range. I can do that also, but my range is not on that steep of a grade and I will be standing on a large rock to raise the shooter up an additional 2 feet, thereby changing the angle also. My gongs will be hung on chains swinging with a slight downward angle also which will create a greater angle to deflect splatter and bullets down into the ground instead of back toward the shooter. Guys any time you shoot there is a danger of accident so I want to eliminate as much risk as possible. Again thanks for the posts and advice.

Thanks peejman. They will be swinging on chains and not be hard fixed. I experienced a bullet coming back and hitting my shin, drawing blood, while firing into a piece of seasoned hard oak board, once. Seems impossible, but it sure happened so I know what you are saying.

Just ordered me some gongs for my back yard range. I got an e-mail from Shoot Steel and they had a 30% off sale on all targets, that ends today. I ordered 3, 1/2 inch thick steel gongs. The 1/2 inch is good for up to a 338 Laupua rifle caliber and good for all handguns. The 30% off more than paid for the shipping from Missouri. I have purchased some cheap ones that were for 22 long rifle or 38 Spl and they will not hold up. The 1/2" plates are heat treated and will stand up to anything I have. I wanted the 6" and 8" so I could practice head type shots at distance, and the 16" so I could make myself feel better after missing the other two. Looking forward to spring and dry weather. I have already used the range several times this winter on warmer and dryer days. So far no one has complained about the noise. I hope that last, but I am thoughtful and don't shoot but during the mid day or early afternoon. We have 3 acres and my closest neighbor is about 300 feet away with dense woods between us. Trying to be considerate and good neighbors with this shooting.

I had a 9 MM carbine and traded it for a Ruger 40 caliber carbine which I still have. If I could only have one rifle it would not be a 9MM or the 40. I will say, for sure, I considered a 22 rifle, but I would probably take my 308, and let my wife carry the 22. If the only one rifle is for survival, and not war, it would be the 22. One can take a lot of animals both 4 legged or 2 legged with a good 22 rifle. Also carry 1000 rounds easy. My Marlin mdl 60 holds 17 and one can run a lot of led through that rifle in a short period of time. I will say the 40 is fun to plink with, and it is harder shooting than the 9 MM, but I just would not take it. I favor the 40 over the 9MM.

I say carry your gun on you also.

MacGyver, it was totally painless and seems to be working. I walked 2 miles on my treadmill today, and no pain in that leg. I have to wear a strong compression stocking, for 7 days/24 hrs per day, and that is the extent of follow up. It took longer for the prep than the procedure took. You have to shave you leg prior to your visit, then they treat this like surgery. Everything has to be sterile in the room as they do the treatment.

I have a big varicose vein in my left leg and a small one in my right. They runs the length of my legs. I want you to know these are a very large protruding rope vein. When I get on my treadmill and start walking, about 10 min into my walk, the legs starts aching where the veins are. Went to the vein center in Nashville and the Dr injected a medication substance in it (left leg) and the vein suppose to disappear. I asked him how it worked, and he said the liquid shrinks the vein to the point it dries up. Took about 5 minutes and only felt the stick of a needle with the numbing meds. Never felt anything after. I had my veins stripped 12 years ago, in both legs, and this was nothing like that. If you have vein problems I highly recommend this procedure. I will post again in 2 weeks when I do a return visit so he can check it out. Medicare and my supplemental insurance pay for it totally. My daughter is a ultrasound tech, and she scolded me for allowing this vein to get this large. She says she sees people every day with large veins with blood clots in them because they are prone to getting clots. She knows I am diabetic and says a blood clot could cause me to loose my leg. Going to have my right leg done after I go back. I will let you know how it turns out.

Thanks for the replies guys. This is not the same grandson that wanted the 6.5 Creedmoor, but my youngest grandson who lives in S Carolina. I have decided to give him the 308 because of what Dave posted. It will be easier, and cheaper, to find ammo for it. This grandson has no idea he is getting this rifle. He is 11 now and I will take his dad to a FFL in Charleston and transfer the rifle to dad with the stipulation Parker gets it when he is old enough. I also have previously given him a Rem 1911A1 45 and I will also take it to him on this trip. I gave him my scoped Marlin Mdl 336 30 30 a couple years ago and he hunts with it now. Has not killed anything yet, but enjoys the hunts with his friend and dad. As soon as it warms a little I will get the 308 out and sight in the scope before we take it to him in Mt Pleasant SC on our next trip. Will also sight in the 7MM 08 and make sure they are both in good condition, then make the trip. I have another grandson, the one who wanted the Creedmoor, that I will give the 08 too when I am through with it. I will say my collection is thinning as I have decided to give the rifles and pistols to family before I pass. I gave this grandson's dad a new Sig mdl 250, 45 caliber pistol last week. Thanks again for the advice.

I have a new 7MM08, and a new 308 rifle, with a Weaver 2 to 9x40 scope, I purchased back in November. I want to give one of them to my 12 year old grandson, this fall, vie his dad. Which caliber would be the best deer hunting rifle for my deer hunting grandson? I know I will get differing opinions so just tell me why you made your choice between the two calibers. I know the 308, but not so with the 7MM 08. From the research I have done, the 08 is somewhat comparable to the 6.5 Creedmoor or 260 Remington. I would appreciate your opinions.

Razor Dobbs, TV hunter, used a Dan Wesson 1911 style 10 MM pistol and killed all kinds of N American and African animals he shot at, mostly with one round.