Does anyone else have a gun or two that you could just call “pure self-indulgence”? My definition thereof is a gun that doesn’t necessarily serve a purpose — self-defense, hunting, etc. — but that is just plain fun to have and to shoot, when you’re sick and tired of doing your drills and you just want to bang away for the fun of it. (And I’m specifically excluding .22 guns because plinking is just plinking.)
The other day I was rooting around in Ye Olde Gunne Clossette when I came across an aluminum handgun case, and for the life of me I couldn’t remember what I’d put in it. So here it is:
Okay, that’s a little cluttered with the ammo. Here it is sans the clutter:
The top gun is my much-loved Ruger Super Blackhawk 7″ barrel, in .30 Carbine, and the lower is the late Layabout Sailor’s S&W Model 15 6″ barrel in .38 Special.
I don’t know why I’ve held onto the Blackhawk for as long as I have. It’s single action, chambered for an expensive and occasionally hard-to-find cartridge, and that lo-o-o-ong barrel makes it unwieldy. But: OMG when you touch off that trigger and are rewarded with a massive thunderclap and a 16″ jet of flame out the muzzle… like I said, there’s no reason to keep it, it’s pure self-indulgence.
And apart from sentimental reasons, there’s no reason to keep that battered old S&W revolver either. It’s .38 Spec-only, I have gawd knows how many .357/.38 revolvers already, and I surely don’t need another one that’s just taking up space in the locker. But: the trigger is silky-smooth, made such by an uncountable number of rounds fired through it; the gun is, to say the least, about 5x more accurate than I can ever shoot it; and loaded with those 158gr. wadcutters as pictured, I can just shoot that thing all day — and I have, both with its previous owner (who was so generous in sharing), and by myself, when I just want to shoot something good and hard and for a long time. In fact, it’s my “I don’t feel like plinking away with a .22, I want to shoot something bigger” gun. I think that every range session I’ve had with this gun has involved at least fifty rounds, and a few others a lot more.
So the two quite different guns each fill a very specific need, but both are undoubtedly an indulgence on my part.
And now, if you’ll excuse me, I am so going off to the range. Just talking about them has got me more excited than Christmas.
My equivalent would be —
1. My S&W Model 67.
2. My Navy Arms Colt 1861 Navy cartridge conversion, also in 38 special.
This should solve that shooting more than just plinking itch.,,
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/potd-rheinmetalls-squad-support-weapon-ssw40-44827048
Just the thing for dealing with the pesky burros of NV.
My Smith & Wesson model 29-2 with a 4″ barrel. I need a good fancy holster for it. That is so fun to shoot wither .44 Special or .44 magnum ammunition out of it. I guess it could be my bear gun since bears around here are getting uppity. I haven’t seen one in almost seven years though.
Wow! Just wow. You’re not going to believe this, Kim based on the two you showcased here.
I thought my gun buying days were behind me (I’m one year behind you in age) and I need more guns like I need a hole in the head. But WITHIN THE LAST 3 MONTHS, I got two very similar guns to yours, for not practical reason.
Simply because I carried it during exercises in my Air Force days, I got a used S&W Model 15, albeit with 4” barrel. General Curtis LeMay contracted for the Model 15 in 1956, the year I was born, interestingly. I found an old military belt holster on fleabay for it. I cleaned up the innards and like yours, it is a superbly smooth trigger. I just love it. Dont’ need it, but bought it at age 69 just because—memories.
The other one I got recently was even more useless, not unlike yours. I got a 3-screw original (should only load 5 rounds, no hammer block or transfer bar) Ruger Blackhawk in 357 magnum with 6” barrel. Totally useless, but as you say, the noise and fireball when you fire it are wonderful and delightful. The trigger is amazing, which is why I wanted the old “unsafe” model.
What are the odds I got these two within the last 90 days, and then you post this? I’m visiting Chicongo right now, but as soon as I get home, I’m going to have to take those two to the range.
M1 Garand does this for me. I just want to shoot it, over and over. And when we want a fireball, or something that gets a “WOW!” from a shooter: a model 38 Mosin. A carbine in 7.62x54R. About an 18 inch fireball out of the barrel, and a kick to match.
And in a “pistol” (sorta)? .300 blackout, suppressed. It’s so quiet, and accurate. And fun. And expensive to shoot. But fun.
You stipulated something other than .22 May I ask for an exemption? I give you the S&W Model 53 – .22 Remington Jet. Parent case is .357 Mag necked down to .222. Recoil is almost non-existent with a 40 gr. projectile and the giggle factor is YUGE. Touch one off on a cloudy day or at dusk and you get a 4′ diameter fireball. If one must have a justification, it’s pure hell on varmints.
I think your S&W revolver is a Model 14, the latter-day “Target Masterpiece”. The 6-inch barrel and Patridge front sight give it away. I’ll bet it has a wide hammer and a wide trigger, too. The Model 15 had a 4-inch barrel, IINM.
You’re probably right. Ask me again why I hate S&W’s model numbering “system”.
> Does anyone else have a gun or two that you could just call “pure self-indulgence”?
Absolutely.
I have a Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan, 2.5″ barrel, chambered for .454 Casull.
I do not live in grizzly bear country.
I do not live in moose country.
A .44 Magnum handgun would be badly overpowered for animal defense in my state.
The .454 makes the .44 look tame, although it can be loaded all the way down to and below .45 Colt cowboy loads. Those trick shooter .45 Colt wax bullets? Yeah, it’ll handle that too.
But in full power mode, it’s a snub nose handgun that will put a Hornady XTP THROUGH level 3A body armor. I’ve tried it, on old surplused off armor.
And yes, it hurts every time I pull the trigger on a full power round, both pain to the hand and to the pocketbook. Factory .454 runs nearly $3 a round, and reloading supplies ain’t as cheap as they once were either.
But there’s just something quintessentially fun about it for me. Yes, it’s impractical as hell, expensive to shoot, and makes chiropractors’ eyes light up with dollar signs.
But it’s FUN.
My Big Green Monster.
A .308 AR-10 built on an Aero M5 receiver and handguard set cerakoated OD Green. Basically a modern interpretation of a Cold War-era battle rifle. I have absolutely no use for it and can barely afford to shoot it (ye gods has .308 gotten expensive!) but I freaking love it!
I have two. A Ruger Blackhawk in 45 ACP that I take to the range just because single actions are cool. I got it cheap because the 45 LC cylinder was missing. The other is a S&W 625JM, also in 45 ACP, I got because it was there and I couldn’t find a model 1917.
I have 3 10mms that qualify – a Colt Delta Elite, a Rock Island 1911, and an EAA Witness. Not really a practical use for any of them, but that 10mm BANG is sure fun.
Too many to count. Some are too expensive to shoot (rare ammo) some are completely impractical.
& then there’s my Tokarev’s which I looooove to shoot, but the indoor ranges tsk tsk at the steel cored ammo.
But I love them all, just like I love my kids. Except the PA-63, unpleasant to shoot, unremarkable pedigree, it’d be the only one I’d consider for a buyback program.
In all seriousness all but about 3 of my guns are indulgences.