Just posting up my new Wallpaper. Just for fun. The Revolver is a classic Peacemaker Replica by Cimmaron… of which I forget the name, but it’s “The Hand of God” from 3:10 to Yuma. The Shotgun is a braced Mossberg Shockwave. One of Many, but this is the only one wearing a brace. The sword is a Cutlass from Cold Steel.
This is one of the very best firearms purchases I’ve ever made in my entire life. As far as revolvers go, the Match Champion is the pinnacle of the wheelgun genre. Designed to be a competitor to S&W’s SSR revolver… it is… but it’s more than that.
The sights, the chamfered cylinder, the trigger work… This is beyond something for mere gun games. Ruger just made the most serious production fighting revolver they have ever put out. The only thing that could make this better as a combat weapon, would be to subdue the stainless. And really for most purposes and situations, that’s not an issue. 
In making this gun, Ruger certainly put a shot over S&W’s bow… or actually… a full Broadsides. This is beyond Smith’s SSR. I’d even say it’s going head to head against Smith’s R8/TRR8. Advantage to the Smith with 8 rounds in the cylinder… But the Smith can’t handle the loads that the GP100 can load. In the long run, the MC will still be shooting full throttle loads while the Smith is laid up, crippled, and begging for a merciful end.
And the Ruger is hands down a better looking gun. It’s lines are gorgeous. That Grip is just sexy. It feels good in a way S&W will never understand. Power and Glory. The MC has it. The MC is made of it. If you have been thinking about getting a Revolver. This is the one to get.
I’ve a rather short list of handguns that are of interest to me, at the moment. Perhaps the fascination will pass on these, but the Want Factor has been quite high all year so far.
1. The Walther PPQ M2 5″.
The P99 I reviewed for Concealed Carry Magazine really impressed me, overall. But a couple things that irritated me to one degree or another on the P99 was removed or fixed in the PPQ. Namely the mag release and the decocker button on the top of the slide. The PPQ retains everything good about the P99, just cleaned up. Like a Subaru WRX without the Spoiler and Hood Nostril. Talking to some other guys about the PPQ, such as Jon Hodoway from Nighthawk Custom Training… it’s quietly becoming a favorite in the class of Polyframed Striker Fired pistols.
2. The SIG M11-A1.
This is basically a reintroduction of the very excellent SIG P228… Which is what SIG is now calling the 229… but the 229 has rails. Don’t try to figure it out – it’s SIG and they just do things like that. But it takes nothing away from the M11A1… Which is an excellent pistol and one that’s been on my mind more and more lately. Slightly shorter than the full sized 226, the M11A1 comes home to that “Just Right” size for me. For EDC work both Open or Concealed, this gun can get it done. And has been getting it done under the 228 tag for a long time. I had a 228 that I used as a backup gun for some time and it was quiet excellent. I did have some problems with the trigger return spring, but that was an easy fix and it never troubled me again. I miss that gun. This is it’s resurrection.
3. The Ruger Super Blackhawk, 4 5/8″, .44 Magnum.
Nothing quite says “You’re Doomed” like thumbcocking back the hammer on an accurate and powerful single action revolver. I’m more fond of the western style revolvers than I am the more “modern” double action types. There’s something about the classic heritage of the breed that is both fascinating and just… I don’t know how to say it… “The way it should be”. Especially when dealing with full potency magnum loads. The only thing I’d do to this gun would be to get a Gold Bead front sight put in. That’s it. The reason I picked this over the Vaquero… the sights… the magnum frame… and a grip that fits my hand better. The Vaquero felt too small to me. Nice, but too small. That and with the Blackhawks I can really place my shots. For me, that’s a requirement with a gun with only a few rounds in it. The shorter barrel looks properly handsome as well. If I was in a rural area again where Open Carry didn’t even cause folks to look twice – That’s what I’d be packing most of the time I think. (Along with a Truck Gun in the same caliber… Such as a Rossi 92 20″)
Let me say this again… I was interested in getting a Chiappa Rhino revolver with the 4″ barrel.
But not anymore. They really turned me off. Its not that I care a wit about the RFID scare or if it’s a concern or not… that’s not the point. The tone they took on the issue is insulting to anyone that has a concern. It’s much like those that questioned the President’s birth certificate and just calling them “Birthers”. Slinging an insult instead of addressing a legitimate concern. I’ll have to pass on a new Chiappa. This is too bad… because it’s a rather neat gun. But I can live without it.
Maybe a used one… eventually. But I wouldn’t give them any of my money now.
The Art of War is a book that I’ve read many times through. The book is simple and straight forward, much like Sun Tzu’s tactics. One of the things he teaches, is to hit first, and to hit so hard that the enemy is unable to hit back.
Recent message asked what guns I was thinking about getting in the future.
That’s a good question. Because there are so many awesome guns out there, and new ones coming down the pipe.
North American Arms has really slammed a home run with the Ranger.
It’s finally an NAA Mini that you can pop open and empty the brass with one hand, and then use the other hand to quickly feed the new rounds in. We are talking about a 4 second reload.
If NAA made some sort of mini speed-loader – that would be wicked cool. Kind of pointless, but still, very cool.
I would like to see a version of the Ranger with a longer barrel, but as it sits, this is the world’s coolest .22 Mag.
I need a revolver. A full framed 686 with a 4 inch barrel, in .357 Magnum. The one main reason that I need one, is that I don’t have one. J-Frame Snubs are great, but the full size, no compromise feel, comfort, and accuracy of a 686 is on a whole other level. Especially when shooting magnum loads. Now, I like .357… I’m one of the few who actually really do like it and dont prefer to fire .38’s out of it. .44 is great, but the cost per shell is significant higher… and if I was going to go there, I would personally rather step up into the .460 Magnum. Yes, I know it’s a much bigger and heavier frame, but its precisely that frame that makes the .460 shootable. But now I come around to consideration of what I would do with a .460 as its now too heavy for any comfortable daily carry type work… which is where that .357 686 comes into play as a great packing gun. Our good friend Mike Kupari is a big time advocate of the wheel gun, and of the .44 magnum. I think I can put the blame on him for this itch in my brain. The other great thing about getting a .357 Mag Revolver is that it would go very well with my .357 magnum M92 Lever Action that I plan on getting… probably next.
Ken from North American Arms sent me their new little “RANGER” .22 Mag revolver.
The Ranger is very unique for NAA… it’s a top break with an auto ejector, just like a little Schofield. It’s also unique in that its the only top break being made in the US right now. (The others are from Italy) So far my impression is very favorable. Unfortunately its been too cold to hit the range! Hopefully I can get some shots in before the Big Game.
