I was going through my handguns a few days ago........just a general checkup to make sure everyone's happy, you know. I pulled out my commercial (1920's) version of the 1917 Smith and Wesson .45 acp and realized that I'd never fired it! It was over 20 years ago when I found it in the local gun shop and weasled a lower price because the bore looked a little shaky and the bluing was pretty well worn. Mechanically it checked out fine, so I bought it and tucked it away......then life got in the way and I forgot about it.
I've always like that model Smith and felt that it was the ideal "belt gun" when out in the boonies.
So, I grabbed a box of my .45 Auto Rim handloads (200 gr. swc over 5.9 gr. of Unique) and headed for the local range this afternoon. I loaded and aimed an Osama Bin Laden target someone left up and squeezed off the first shot. What a joy! I'd forgotten how wonderful the wallop of a big bore revolver was. The shot struck high but I used the same aiming point again and the second boolit hit very close to the first. I lowered my aim to his chin and the third shot hit him right square in the nose.
From that point on I started picking out small rocks and dirt clods on the range. Most of my shots were high (my reloads I suspect) unless I really concentrated and held low......then I could bounce them all over the place. 40 rounds later I was done. That somewhat worn looking revolver still shot well....very well indeed. I feel like I just renewed an old friendship.
Now I just need to find someone that really knows how to reblue a gun with no overpolishing, etc. and maybe we'll put the old girl back in her Sunday best!