Big Snake and an Old Friend.

[BrokenolMarine]

The range finally dried out, and I was able to get down for some shooting today. It was already heating up and it wasn't ten a.m. yet so I was grateful that the range was still shaded and we had a slight breeze blowing. It really helped, had to be twenty degrees cooler on the range. With all the rain, the weeds have gotten out of hand, the range needs some attention with the big weedeater with the chain disk on it. Miss T mowed it a couple days ago so it's looking much better than it did last week when it looked like a hayfield.

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Stopped at the range house and pulled some targets, just cardboard, and stretched the line across the berm. Informal practice so wasn't worried about fancy. I set up the targets and moved back to 15 yards.

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First up this morning would be the Big Snake, the Colt Anaconda 44 Mag. She's a Beauty.

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I started with the Cowboy Action 44 magnum loads. They are reduced power but still go Boom... The first six shots looked okay but needed a little tweeking.

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A few clicks of windage and a few of elevation to make me feel better and shot six more, then another six.

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I was satisfied the sights were good, the group had opened up a bit, but my hands were telling me it was time to move on. Arthritis doesn't like big guns. But, I do. I loaded up six rounds of full house 44 magnum and settled in. Clean target and a smooth application of pressure. Holy Smokes! That'sa Biga Boom!...

You know the difference between Cowboy Action and Full House, and I ain't talking about the TV Show. But, I shot the Six Rounds, Enough for the day... At $30 for 20 rounds, I'll save the rest for another day. But, they were accurate. If a feral hog shows up, I could hit it. (You know, or a zombie.)

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Next up was an old friend. My old Duty Gun, the Smith and Wesson Model 64. Issued when I graduated from the Academy and carried until our transition to the Glock 22, I never felt undergunned.

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The first six rounds, felt fine. My only problem, the bright sun washing out the sights. Should have brought the smoker.

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Since they felt good, I shot two more cylinders full, and decided that was enough, eighteen rounds looked good.

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I shot 24 rounds of smooth rapid fire at the steel b27 for fun, just to hear the steel ring. The day was heating up and Arthur told me my hands were done for now. I'll be back.... More calling to be shot in the near future.

[fortyshooter]

Nice couple of revolvers and some great shooting BM! Is that the old snake or 2022 version? My new Anaconda had to go back twice in the year I owned it. It shot well being very accurate but for some reason wanted to beat itself up as far as cylinder shake with mostly mid level 44 Mag loads. Had to let it go.

[BrokenolMarine]

Old version, classic Colt.
Bought from a friend to fill out my snake trio.

[BigAl52]

Some great shooting there BOM.

[BrokenolMarine]

Next time down with either I'll hope to do better. I changed the grips on the Snake to the Factory Rubber to handle that Full House Recoil. (Painful with the backstrap exposed.) I also am in the process of adding the Bright Orange Stripe to the front sight of the 64. I cheat, I have been using the bottle of Fluorescent paint I bought at Hobby Lobby a year ago when I realized I can't see the sights anymore.

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The process usually takes me a couple days. I paint on two to three coats of the orange paint, until it's solid, drying well between each coat, let the last coat dry overnight. Then two or three coats of a clear fingernail polish. So far they last really well. This technique as worked great, and the bottle is cheap compared to kits to insert plastic into slots you file in. AND you have to file the slot in the front sight blade.

If it wears off, clean it good, and redo the process. Change colors, go with white, blue, green, whatever.
Can't swear to how it would work on an EDC, but all mine have trijicons or BIGDots.
(You know, cause I can't see them.)

[Hatchdog]

Awwweeee, just gotta love revolver day on the range. That Colt is gorgeous. Nice shooting with all and us other old guys can appreciate your not loving big boomers anymore. Plus you always have that annoying range mate Arthur with you.

[North Country Gal]

Great shooting, as always, Marine.

Yeah, those cowboy loads are nice to shoot. I still have some and the 44 mags to shoot them, but we're in the middle of some changes to our shooting, so my Ruger Super Blackhawk 44 mag and my Encore pistol in 44 mag are getting pretty dusty. I'm in no hurry to sell them, though. And I do love your classic Anaconda.

Love that Model 64! There was one for sale when I bought my Model 67 (adjustable sight version). The 64 had the tapered pencil barrel. I was very tempted, but it also had a fair amount of end play and was pretty loose, so I passed. On the other hand, the 67 was like new so I brought it home. Recently posted about it. Yeah, gotta love K frame 38s.

[BrokenolMarine]

With all the rounds thru my 64, there is a LOT of end shake in the cylinder, but it locks up tight. I've considered sending it back to Smith to have it tightened up, but she's still accurate and the trigger is as smooth as oil on glass from all that shooting. I'm afraid they'll replace the guts "as a courtesy" and I'll end up with a 15 pound double action pull. I'm sticking with the "If it works..." rule.

[BrokenolMarine]

The third coat of clear polish went on this morning and the new bright orange front sight blade is almost ready. I "should" be able to see this!

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The Anaconda looks good with the factory rubber grips. NOT as good as the custom wood grips, but it shouldn't beat up the old hands like the wood ones that exposed the backstrap did. When we get old, we don't worry so much about appearances.

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