.22 Indy Smith & Wesson

Pyroxene · Post by **Pyroxene** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 5:56 pm

When my dad and I were talking guns one weekend, he showed me his .22lr Smith & Wesson revolver.

I immediately fell in love with the gun because it looked so close to the Indy gun it was amazing. It's almost the same size as the 1917's. The trigger looks to be about the same. The ramped sights look so cool on the gun.

Well, he wouldn't part with it so I was in search of my own. I found one online. When it came in, I couldn't wait to get it out on the range.

My girlfriend, Whipchick, and I went out this past weekend and she absolutely adores this .22. She loves it because there is little to no recoil. It's very easy to reload. She must have shot 75-80 rounds in it. It works really nice with the target grips (not shown) installed on the gun. Very comfortable to hold.

When I was growing up and in my early teens, the only gun my dad would let me shoot on my own was a .22. I wish I would have known/owned this gun. It's definately a keeper.

Pyro.

RonC · Post by **RonC** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 5:59 pm

Pyro, I believe what you have is a S&W Model 18 Combat Masterpiece....beautiful revolver! You definitely have a "keeper" there!

Pyroxene · Post by **Pyroxene** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 6:05 pm

Yes. I forgot to include that. It's a Model 18-3.

Thanks.

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 6:06 pm

They're tough to find too, my friend. Hang on to that little beauty. They're just going up in value all the time. Regards. Michaelson

Trebor · Post by **Trebor** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 4:03 am

A friend of mine is selling one of these for his dad. I've got first dibs on it but he still hasn't got back to me on a price yet. What are these going for right now?

Rob

zohar · Post by **zohar** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 12:14 pm

I've had one exactly like it in the past. If I recall correctly, I paid $350 for it. They're quite rare, so they can be pricey.

Pyroxene · Post by **Pyroxene** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 12:16 pm

Yup. I paid $315 +S/H + FFL transfer

whipwarrior · Post by **whipwarrior** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 1:09 pm

Not to change the subject, here, but I was just wondering if the Webley has a pronounced recoil? Also, Michaelson, have you had the chance to look at my tape, and if so, could you tell me what kind of condition my gun is in? Mostly, is it safe to fire?

-Dale

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 1:20 pm

Hi Dale. Still having problems finding an 8mm (Hi-8 or otherwise) alive so I can play this into a VHS, but have a new lead on a possible machine here at the institute. As to whether or not yours is safe to fine...only a competent gunsmith with weapon in hand can tell you that. I can look at the tape, but without holding the revolver and doing various physical and visual checks would I be able to say one way or the other. As to recoil, no, A Webley, simply due to it's mass, does not have a back recoil at all, especially out of a 6 inch barrel. None that I've fired ever did. Regards. Michaelson

whipwarrior · Post by **whipwarrior** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 2:17 pm

NO recoil? Wow, I find that kind of surprising, simply given the weight and size of the gun. I believe Gale referred to Indy's weapon as a 'cannon' in Indiana Jones and the White Witch. So, if I take my gun to a local gun shop, will they charge me for a full inspection / analysis?

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 2:23 pm

Well, I forget myself....you will get SOME muzzle fip, but I'm used to talking about recoil as something received from a full load 44 mag. out of a 4 inch barrel. Now THAT'S recoil!

Most all gunsmiths will do a safety check of your revolver for free. Regards. Michaelson

RonC · Post by **RonC** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 4:13 pm

I totally agree with what Michaelson is saying! You will have more "felt recoil" out of a S&W hand Ejector in .45 than you will from a Webley Mk. VI. Please feel free to chime in here, Michaelson, but my experience has shown me that a Webley Mk. VI has about the same "felt recoil" as a S&W Model 10 with semi-hot loads.

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 4:18 pm

Excellent, Ron. I agree with your comparison. Regards. Michaelson

RonC · Post by **RonC** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 4:46 pm

Michaelson, your description of the recoil from a Model 29 with a 4" barrel STILL brings back painful memories for the webbing between my thumb and forefinger!!!!

Pyroxene · Post by **Pyroxene** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 12:35 am

RonC wrote:...painful memories for the webbing between my thumb and forefinger!!!!

I can only shoot about 75 rounds with my Smith before I say to myself, "Ok. This is not fun anymore," for that very reason.

The .45 has a pretty good kick. Shooting it in single action mode seems to be more "intense" as you don't feel you know when the gun is going to go off.

RonC · Post by **RonC** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 9:18 am

Pyr, as Michaelson can attest, the felt recoil from a Model 29 shooting magnum loads is about twice what the .45 is!!!

Not fun to do for more than a short time.

Post by **Michaelson** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 1:25 pm

...even with Hogue grips and a P.A.S.T. glove!!!

BUT, the neat thing about a 4 inch tube is that even if you totally miss your intended target, the flame of the muzzle blast will probably burn them to death!

Regards. Michaelson

zohar · Post by **zohar** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 3:01 pm

RonC wrote:Pyr, as Michaelson can attest, the felt recoil from a Model 29 shooting magnum loads is about twice what the .45 is!!! Not fun to do for more than a short time.

Which I why I don't like the model 29/629. If I have to shoot something like a 44 mag, or a 45LC with uberhot loads (like 12 grains of Winchester 296), I want it in a single action Ruger Vaquero where the gun can rock back in my palm, rather than putting the recoil directly into it.

RonC · Post by **RonC** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 3:10 pm

Zohar, being a single action fan myself, you have found the key to handling heavy recoil, my friend! Try the hot loads in a Ruger Bisley, and you'll find they handle even better.

zohar · Post by **zohar** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 3:14 pm

I've never shot a Bisley gripped SA. Handled them a few times, but never shot them.

I rarely shoot hot loads anyway. I usually use 8.5 grains of Unique for plinking. I'll only load up some hot loads if I'm feeling particularly frisky.

RonC · Post by **RonC** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 3:30 pm

Zohar, that Ruger Bisley grip is none other than Elmer Keith's old #5 grip...as he named it. It was designed to handle heavy-recoiling loads. Your plinking load sounds quite good.

Post by **Michaelson** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 3:41 pm

Oh, I guess I'm just strange. I really do like the 29, even with it's hard recoil. It's been a while since I've had one in my arsonel, and I really should do something about that, but once the recoil is understood, it's no worse than any other I've fired. The MOST damaging I've fired was a Ruger Redhawk 7 incher with Pachmayer grips. The barrel twist is so long that the torque of the 240 bullet leaving actually caused the skin by my thumbnail to split after a couple of rounds! My Smith's never did that, and I've fired 29s with 4 in up to 8 3/4 inch length barrels!

Regards. Michaelson

zohar · Post by **zohar** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 3:43 pm

I thought the Bisley was older than that. I know my Dad had a Colt Bisley .45 that had been converted from blackpowder to smokeless by the Colt factory, and still had the blackpowder ejector rod. He got it from a 90 year old man back in the 1960's. The gentleman had taken it up San Juan Hill with Roosevelt's Rough Riders, had pictures of him and Teddy Roosevelt together on the hill with the guns, and still had his uniform, holster, and saber.
My Dad ended up giving that Colt Bisley to the man's son when he grew up and finally got some sense.

RonC · Post by **RonC** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 4:11 pm

Zohar, the original Colt Bisley dates from about 1896. It was Colt's answer to building a target pistol. The "bisley" grip on the Ruger is very much a modern rendition of that grip. It more closely resembles what Elmer Keith came up with in the 1920's and 30's. He used the backstrap from a Colt Bisley and the triggerguard from a standard Colt Single Action Army to come up with his famous "#5 Grip." That's the one the Ruger emulates. That old Colt your Dad had would have been a very nice revolver!

zohar · Post by **zohar** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 4:27 pm

Interesting, so the Ruger Bisley really isn't a Bisley. Learning something new every day

Trebor · Post by **Trebor** » Mon Dec 15, 2003 8:38 am

Trebor wrote:A friend of mine is selling one of these for his dad. I've got first dibs on it but he still hasn't got back to me on a price yet. What are these going for right now?

Rob

I picked up my buddy's 18-3 yesterday. It looks just like the one in the first picture, with perfect bluing and darn near brand new with only a slight cylinder drag line. I couldn't wait, so I stopped off at the range on the way home and put 50 rounds through it. It has a nice smooth trigger pull, is very accurate, and the sights seem very well regulated. I would have shot more, but it was below freezing out and my fingers were going numb. I'd spent most of the day before teaching a CCW class at the range so I was pretty beat from that as well.

I got the gun for $300 even and I think I pretty much stole it at that price.

My buddy also has a 29-3 with a 3" tube for sale. It's unfired, like new in a wooden presentation box. I'm not into the big magnums, but I'm tempted. Any idea what a fair price would be for that? He wasn't sure what to price it at and I'm not up on the current values of that model.

Rob