Posted: November/13/2006 at 4:11pm | IP Logged

I've thought about night sights which would be cheaper than the laser grips but they sure wouldn't be as fun.

I did ask about warranty which is for 3 years but the fellow stated that they would stand behind the grips way longer than this.  He didn't mention that they would replace them, more along the lines of send it in and they would fix it. 

Anyway it doesn't really matter right now because I can't afford another $300.00 to get the grips I would rather put the money towards putting the same sight rib onto my 7.5" SRH.

Also having to buy all of the baby stuff that my wife needs is breaking me.  Yesterday we purchased a Sears Eddie Bauer high chair and play pen.  They cost about $300.00 US for the 2 pieces.

Posted: November/13/2006 at 11:33pm | IP Logged

I guess I'd never thought about the low light or no light scenario.  That idea has merit.  That's always been a thing for me, trying to do a gun with illumination on a depression era budget.  $300?!  Ouch! 

That gives me an idea though.  I've seen some of the elastic strap headlamps with LED's for light.  I don't care for them, but my dad swears by his.  From a "tactical" standpoint it gives 2-legged vermin a great bullseye target, but for 4-legged, like 'coons raiding the chicken coop, it can't be beat.  I saw a good redneck variation at Walmart (redneck shopping headquarters).  This one had 3 LED's and it clipped to the bill of your ballcap.  It was small and lightweight, but it was powered by 4 or 6 of those lithium watch batteries the size of quarters ($3+ each to replace).

I was out checking the rabbits, deer and other critters just a little bit ago.  My Streamlight flashlights are showing major battery age so something new is in store.  I need to order some battery sticks later.  I could make some cheaper, but those terminal interfaces are a little hinky.

Posted: November/14/2006 at 10:06am | IP Logged

I have spent a lot of time trying different types of head lamps over the years because I'm in the bush so often in the dark.

My favorite and most powerful head lamp has about 60 to 100 lumens (Ican't remember for sure) and runs off a 6 C cell battery pack that I strap to my belt or put into my jacket pocket.  Yes this gives extremely good light off.

The problem for me is that the light is pointing the wrong way when I am aiming.  It only takes a second or 2 to re-adjust it's position but it is a pain to do that.

I have a Glock tactical light that I use on my Glock 20 and my Marlin 1895GS with a Wild West Guns light mount. This mount is attached to the front of the mag tube of the rifle.  Works very good other than having to dodge the lite up smoke after a shot.

Glock has now come out with the same light that has a laser as well but they cost about  $300.00 US.  

Posted: November/15/2006 at 8:52pm | IP Logged

I ordered the laser grips today. 

It should take a month or so to get them into Canada.

I figured if I don't buy them now I'll never get them.

edited to add link....

http://www.crimsontrace.com/default.asp?id=762 

Posted: November/25/2006 at 5:03pm | IP Logged

WOOO HOOO the gun is home.......

I picked it up from the gunsmith in Prince George on Thursday.....

I have only had a chance to take about 10 shots on my trip home so other than this little beast kicks I can't say much more yet.

I tried top loaded 345gr 45 Colt loads first then my 300gr XTP-Mag loads then on up to my 395gr 454 Casull loads.

I'll try and get to the gun club tomorrow and do a complete range report.

Posted: December/05/2006 at 1:35am | IP Logged

Well guys I finally got to the gun club today....

When I got back home from my trip North a record breaking for my area snow storm started the next day and then I caught the flu so today was the first chance that I had to get out and give the little beast a good workout.....

I do have to admit the 4.25" SRH has a snappier recoil than the longer 7.5" barreled SRH but it balances/feels far better than the longer barreled gun.

As of now I only have the stock grips on the shortened gun and Pachmeyr grips on the longer barreled gun because I am waiting for my Crimson Trace LG 344 laser grips to arrive for the shorter gun. I will change grips if I shot the 4.25" gun anymore before the new grips come.

I started with 45 Colt loads to sight the shortened SRH in and other than the fiirst sight in loads I chronographed every load that I shot which was all together a total of 24 45 Colts and 50 454 Casull's if my tired body counted right.

I also have to comment on the extremely slow velocities that I recorded for the 45 Colt loads in both the SRH's. It was the coldest tempature that I have ever chronographed these loads though.  I normally get between 200fps to 400fps faster in warmer weather out of my 5.5" Bisley Vaquero's and the 7.5" SRH. Maybe it was my chronograph but it seemed to be reading properly with the 454 Casull loads.

All velocities are in feet per second.

45 Colt 300gr XTP 24grs H110 Win LP primer
4.25"
1) 1018 2) 988 3) 976 4) 992 5) 948 6) 1000
7.5"
1) 1058 2) 1130 3) 1091 4) 1118 5) 1155 6) 1103

45 Colt 325gr FNGC's (Lee mold) 24grs H110 Win LP primer
4.25"
1) 1063 2) 1070 3) 1041 4) 1072 5) 1008 6) 1037
7.5"
10 1162 2) 1175 3) 1148 4) 1151 5) 1140 6) 1120

454 Casull 300gr XTP-Mag 30grs H110 Rem 7.5 primer (I only had 8 of these loads with me)
4.25"
1) 1408 2) 1444 3) 1430 4) 1445
7.5"
1) 1529 2) 1481 3) 1599 4) 1535

454 Casull 360gr Cast Performance WLNGC's 27grs Lil-Gun Rem 7.5 primer
4.25"
1) 1455 2) 1425 3) 1485 4) 1490 5) 1435 6) 1448
7.5"
1) 1553 2) 1580 3) 1593 5) 1571 5) 1587 6) 1583

454 Casull 395gr Cast Performance WFNGC's 24grs Lil-Gun Rem 7.5 primer (I only have 50 of these left so only shot 3 in each gun)
4.25"
1) 1351 2) 1320 3) 1318
7.5"
1) 1405 2) 1385 3) 1393

These next loads are load developement with my new 405gr WLNGC's .452" Beartooth bullets, Lil-Gun powder and CCI BR-4 SR Bench Rest primers. I only loaded 6 of each so only fired 3 in each gun.

454 Casull 405gr B/T WLNGC's

21grs
4.25"
1) 1184 2) 1189 3) 1194
7.5"
1) 1303 2) 1278 3) 1270

21.5grs
4.25"
1) 1242 2) 1221 3) 1215
7.5"
1) 1303 2) 1287 3) 1298

22grs
4.25"
1) chrono didn't register a velocity 2) 1245 3) 1235
7.5"
1) 1316 2) 1328 3) 1291

22.5grs
I had sticky extraction with this load and gun with these three but I don't know if it was the dirty chambers becasue I didn't clean the gun after I shot the 45 Colt loads  the longer barreled gun extracted perfectly.

4.25"

1) 1293 2) 1274 3) 1269
7.5"
1) 1355 2) 1333 3) 1303

Well that's it for the velocities that I recorded and I shot them all in about 1 1/2 hours to say that I'm a bit worn out from it would be a slight understatement.

I didn't record accuracy today due to the amount of shooting I did but all loads in both guns actually gave very good results with the 7.5" giving slightly better results.

I haven't had the time to properly evaluate the velocity differences between the 2 barrel lengths yet but a quick look tells me that there is only an average of about 100fps in the lighter loads and even less in the heavier bullets which really surprised me. I was expecting closer to at least 200fps difference.

Posted: December/06/2006 at 12:25pm | IP Logged

That's a good report.  I've always been fascinated reading different people's chrony reports and the differences in velocity vs barrel length.

By the way, y'all can keep your weather.  I think that mess has finally worked its way down here.  14 degrees is too darned cold for Tennessee.  When I migrated south, I think I made camp too soon.  Should'a kept going.  (brrrrrrrrrrr)

Posted: December/15/2006 at 12:43am | IP Logged

Here are some photo's of my shortened SRH.  I put the 1X Burris scope on for fun.  My plan is to load 405gr Beartooth WLNGC's @ 1200fps and sight the scope in with 240gr XTP-Mag's.

I haven't had a chance to chrono the 240gr bullets yet.

Posted: January/20/2007 at 2:42pm | IP Logged

I picked up the Crimson Trace LG344 laser grips 2 days ago and finally had a chance to install them.

Here are a couple of pictures..

Bob Mernickle holster, belt and speed loader pouch...

Bob Mernickle shoulder holster.

Me getting ready to stop a grizzly charge...

Posted: April/28/2008 at 6:29pm | IP Logged

Here is a link to YouTube of me shooting this revolver. 

The first 6 rounds are 45 Colt s with 300gr XTP's @ 1280fps and the second group of 6 are 454 Casull with 300gr XTP-Mag's @ 1450fps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJOIRP_dy9c 

Posted: July/08/2010 at 1:53pm | IP Logged

I currently own the SRH 454 in 7.5 and absolutely love this 5.5 conversion. How much for this conversion. I would like to have it done as soon as i can. What is the usual turn around time. Thanks