03.25.06
Finally, a firearms related post.
Yep, that category has sat there for a while - and I’ve done nothing about it. 
Why? Well, I guess it’s because when it comes to firearms I’m “an enthusiastic ignoramus”. My knowledge about such things is finite - to say the least. That doesn’t keep me from having preferances, opinions and ideas however.
Today’s subject will be “The Ultimate Carry Pistol”. “Pistol” in this case is a referance to a “handgun” and is used in the old way - before folks started using it to refer only to the auto unloaders that predominate in today’s society.
Living where I do we don’t have many choices when it comes to firearms. To say the least. We’re limited to what the Army Store stocks and what the Omnicient General in charge of such things will allow us to buy. But that doesn’t keep one from dreaming.
I’ve carried a K-frame sized Llama revolving pistol for a few years now. It’s my “pillow gun”, “carry gun” and “fun gun” all wrapped up into one. However, it has its draw backs. It’s of a size that can not always be concealed well - which can lead to interesting social interaction should one not excercise extreme caution. Fortunately, most folks around here aren’t used to spotting “heat” - so the occasional bulge or “print” isn’t a huge problem.
Still, I’d like something a bit smaller. The S&W Model 60 comes to mind. It’s a fairly compact little five shooter - but they’re as scarce here as the proverbial hen’s teeth outside of Disney productions. Since we’re talking “ultimate” I’m going to take some liberties. Of course, what I consider “ultimate” today is open to future interpretation and change. I reserve the right to change my mind - many times.
Since this is a flight of fancy I’m going to consider the Model 60 as originally chambered in .38 spl - but rechambered to the 380 Achilles. I’d like to have one with a 3″ barrel and “fixed” sights. The change I’d make there would be to mount a low ramp on the barrel with a windage adjustable front sight. One would have to have a “site clamp” or what ever they call the tool for pushing dovetailed sites from side to side, or else use a hammer and brass stud to tap it over to make adjustments.
Other changes I’d make would include a nice pair of smooth wood grips. Or stocks. Or grippy stocks. Or grabberhandlegrippystockthingies as some may term them. A slight palm swell on the right side and slight “finger grooves” preportioned according to MY fingers would be a nice touch, allowing for greater control of the weapon and more possitive indexing of the same in MY hand. The idea isn’t to have a “generic” feel to the gun but rather to have one made around MY hand.
Now, as to chambering, the .38 spl is a notoriously poor performer when combined with the traditional RNL format of projectile. What to do about chambering then? Well, a couple of ideas come to mind. One would be the creation of the 380 Achilles. This would be modelled after the 480 Achilles and allow for the use of a heeled bullet with a wide meplat on the front. I’d like to play with a 380 Achilles long, however. This would give me more powder capacity and the ability to drive that slug at higher velocity. Would this work? I don’t know, but it’d be fun to play with. The reason for this chambering is to get the most out of the platform without creating a thin chamber wall or having to create a new cylinder from scratch.
Even with the shorter Achilles length cartridge case, the 380 Achilles should allow for decent velocity of a much improved projectile profile - giving a decent amount of THUMP on the receiving end. This may not be “the ultimate” but it will do for today’s weird dreaming….