Steelshooter3

Thanks for the info. I will check him out. It looks from your initial pictures that he has the grips well relieved for speedloader use. Have run into a problem with some grips because they weren't and had subsequent hang-ups.

It looks like the Weigand base. Spring loaded for easy removal and replacement of front blade. I believe Smith also had a version of this on selected models. Is there anyway you can check with the previous owner?

Doc, Absolutely love the grips. Tell me about them. I have not heard of Jim Badger. What type of wood, what is his turn around time, and if you don't mind me asking the price? Does he have a website? Do the grips extend below the bottom of the frame? I have used a lot of Craig Spiegel grips on my snubbies and his are flush with the bottom. Thanks!

Merlin, One never needs a reason to buy another revolver - one just does! Yes, you can chamfer the cylinder on the Mdl. 19. The 19 would be good choice in retro class and if it is a 4" barrel you could use in SSR in IDPA. I am very fond of K frames and it is hard to go wrong with a Mdl.14 with a 6" barrel. For ICORE it really depends on which division you want to shoot as Bubber stated. It really is dominated by the 8shot revolvers in either .38 Super or .38/.357. in limited/open. For retro most K & L frames will fit the bill. I like to shot snubbies and used a 3" Mdl. 13 until I ran across a 3" 625. Also, as Bubber stated the balance is really a deciding factor. That is why I like 3" revolvers. I love the balance. Try several types and find the one that fits you best. Good shooting.

CCI primers are pretty hard. If the primers are showing light hits, the first thing would be to check to see if your mainspring screw has loosened up. Possible bad batch of primers?

Paul Bunyan Rifle Club is in Puyallup, WA. It holds a steel match every month on the 3rd Sunday. They hold their USPSA match on the 2nd Sunday. Sign up from 9-10am with match starting at 10am. Capital City Rifle & Pistol Club near Tumwater, WA has some nice ranges for practice. Probably about 20 miles from Centralia. They use to hold a steel match but I don't know if it still being run on a regular basis. Marty & Gila Hayes run an excellent defensive shooting school near Centralia. Excellent range facilities and can't beat the price compared to other similar schools. They sometimes have tactical competitions there open to the public (or used to). It is called Firearms Academy of Seattle. Hope this helps!

Washington Arms Collectors (WAC) usually holds 2 guns shows a month. One in Monroe and one in Puyallup. I believe the one in Puyallup is the bigger of the two. I have been to Puyallup show many times but never to the Monroe show. It is held at the fair grounds and they have it set up in the main exhibition hall. Dates are posted on their website www.washingtonarmscollectors.org . In addition to the USPSA & IDPA matches, there are two steel matches held monthly. One at Paul Bunyan Rifle Club in Puyallup and the other at Kitsap Rifle & Revolver Club near Bremerton. I normally shoot at Paul Bunyan's match (3rd Sunday) & I'm sure we can find something for you to use if you want to burn some powder. If you like Asian food for a good price try Green Village in Chinatown for some Oriental fast food. Hot, tasty and reasonably priced. Malay Satay is also pretty good.

I will be visiting my sister in Charlotte from Oct.17 thru Oct.21. I was wondering if there is any matches (USPSA, ICORE, steel, etc.) close by that weekend. Not really to shoot, just check out the ranges and stage set-ups. Also, any recommendations on some good local restaurants that you consider a "must" visit while in Charlotte. My sister is into healthy food so I'm sure I will need something to make my arteries scream after a couple of days. I like all sorts of food and will usually try most things at least once. Thanks!

I am starting to see some peening on the cylinder notches of my stainless revolvers. I haven't had any problems with skipping, yet. I was wondering has anyone hard chromed (or similar process) their stainless cylinder to reduce/prevent wear? If so, how well has it worked? If it has worked any recommendations/contacts/prices for this type of work? Thanks for your assistance.

Jerry, The Edingtons will be there to represent WA. When last I spoke with Scott S., he was planning to be there and I shot with James Austin at the local Steel Match this past Sunday. He plans to be there. He has been shooting very well this summer so I expect he will be one of the tougher competitors in limited. Scot has also been shooting very well. Roger hasn't been getting alot of hammer time this summer but has been known to rise to the occasion. Of course, Underlug will be there with his new bionic knee. I am hoping to go but it will be last minute if I can get away. I would, however, just be there to keep Open17 company in the comic relief department. Stages look fun. Should be a good match. Hope they have a good turnout.

Thanks to all for the info and suggestions. I will order a replacement arbor. I wasn't aware he made one for the Hearthco clips.

Recently acquired an older 8-shot 627 in .38/.357. It came with moonclips of various thickness and manufacture. Some were very loose, others extremely tight. Some friends gave me the mooncliptool (advertised in the Dillon catalog) as a present. I had also purchased some moonclips from Hearthco. Unfortunately, due to the width of the Hearthco clips, I was unable to use the mooncliptool with them so it was back to needlenose pliers. -Hearthco moonclips work flawlessly. -Mooncliptool is a well made tool that was great to use with the other moonclips. The other moonclips,, that I have, worked with various results and will probably be discarded or given away. The Hearthco moonclips I purchased were for use with .38 special Federal brass. It is possible that the tool will work with other Hearthco moonclips. Just my experience - thought someone might benefit from it.

Boats - Couple of other thoughts concerning possible holster selection. Kramer Leather is very popular in this area. They have a hi-ride belt scabbard holster that is very popular. I don't own one but have a friend who uses it with a mdl. 65 and he is very happy with it. Check out www.smith-wessonforum.com and go to the CCW subforum. Lots of info on carry holsters. Might give you some other options. Sights are an individual thing. My eyesight has gotten progressively worse these last 5 years and wasn't too good to start with. Fiber optics on my competition revolvers allows me to pick-up the front sight much quicker. Now, instead of being really, really slow, I am just slow. Love them for competition but personally would never use for carry. For my fixed sighted revolvers, I like to paint the front sight so I have contrast to pick it up quickly. Especially with stainless, the ramp front sight just seems to blend into the barrel. I like black on black on some of the autos I shot. Bottom line - use what works best for you. Checked out the gunsmith's website you listed. Very reasonable prices. You'll find that alot of the members on this forum do their own work. If you decide to try your hand at it there are many who will talk you thru it. I am not mechanically inclined but am lucky to have a good friend who is. He also likes good Irish whiskey. It's amazing the things you can have done if you offer the right incentives . Enjoy!

The PMK will hug closer than the HSR. I have a holster by G.M. Davis that is almost the same as the HSR and it sticks out more than the PMK. The PMK does sit a little lower on the belt than some other holsters but I was really impressed on how tight to the body it molded. It took about 6 months to get mine. You will probably want to chamfer the cylinder, have the internals polished up to smooth the action, possibly bob the hammer, and I like to paint the front ramp sight orange so it is easier to pick-up or put in a fiber optic on my competition revolvers.

Boats - Take a look at the PMK by Milt Sparks for a possible concealment holster. Not cheap and it takes some time to get but excellent quality. I use one with a 2" K-frame that I am so happy with I've ordered another for my 3" K-frame. I use a Blade-Tech with the 3" 625. Depending on which belt attachment you would use that is another possibility. I just use mine for competition. I had a set of Craig Speigel boot grips for my 625 and if I would get another set I would get the extended set. I use the boot grips on my K-frames with no problems but needed more length to properly control the N-frame. Presently using the one the Hogues rubber grips (not the Mono boot grip).