New Children

Hi Mike, isn't the P229 available in 9mm, 40 and 357 Sig? Which one did you get 9mm? Nice looking Colt, I will have to try push feed on mine, I've been using drop feed with good success. Chris S

Chris;
Glad to be back. I got the p229 in 9mm. Not my favorite cartridge in the world, but readily available. Also, some impressive commercial loads available. I got hooked on the Legion series and bought the p226 first. They are really smooth, and the trigger reset is unmatched in DA/SA semi-auto weapons.
On the subject of the Colt Model P, I did some measuring today of cylinder chamber mouths and barrel. Here is some info:

Chamber 1      .455
                 2      .456
                3       .457
               4        .457
               5        .455
              6         .456

Barrel bore: 0.443
Meaning, if grooves are .004, the total bore size would be: 0.451.

Now, I measured these with an expanding ball gauge, so I could have a thousandth or two slop. However, I know certain guys, (Venturino comes to mind) love pin gauges. Trouble is, they assume a cylindrical chamber mouth in a case such as this. Ha. I found that there is a tiny lip at the mouth of each chamber, as if the reamer was not run completely through. I also found a tiny bit of waver in each mouth. Maybe only a thousandth, but, just the same, not perfectly cylindrical. Had pin gauges been used on the chamber mouths, they would have shown a smaller mouth. Maybe pin gauges need not be considered the Word of God.
Anyway, go down to your favorite Sig Sauer dealer and check some out. I snapped up a pretty fair cross section of them last Fall. I like the p227. In desert tan it is an impressive hunk of iron. Even more intimidating than a 1911. The p238 and p938 are always on my person. They are small enough to fit almost anywhere and some excellent ammo is available for them.
I haven't fired any of the latest three yet. Probably this weekend when my son and grandson come from nearly civilized Tupelo to visit. Meanwhile, off to the front porch with some Dewar's and ice and a bit of grape focaccia to nibble while I watch the sunset. Learned about that in Teahouse of the August Moon.

Ciao

You're right about the pin gauges, as an old retired machinist/tinker smith and all around fiddler of gadgets I learned same as you that all holes are not concentric, too many variables like dull reamers and sloppy measurements by them boys that sit and watch the machine without paying attention to what it's doing. Like your gun mine all measure .455-.456 and I use cast .454 bullets and they shoot pretty decent. I don't cast or anything any more and don't shoot enough to bother so I'm happy enough. Have fun with that Colt, it should be fine. Chris S

Nice Colt.

This is my first Colt SAA, LAH. I have had a couple of Colts before, but never a SAA.  I bought a Service Model Ace new in 1986, a 1911 made in 1918, and a New Service .45 LC. They were all sterling guns except for the 1911. I think the trigger pull must have been 20 pounds. I got rid of it and bought a Springfield Armory and a Sharps 1874 with the proceeds. The only time I almost bought a SAA was when I was in college in the 1960's. It was used, probably a 1st gen. I was not impressed with the lockup, so I passed. This one, however, is tight as a tick. I usually put a Belt Mountain base pin in my single actions. This one doesn'i need one. I hope to get to shoot it and its siblings this week.

Of course, I don't mean 'duds' as an indication of malfunction. I mean it as in Easter Clothes. Found some S&W Custom Shop sambar stag grips complete with S&W escutcheons. Went right on with no foolishness. At first, I thought they might be pretty hard on the hands, but then I noticed that they are thick and have flat backs. Gives more surface area to absorb recoil. That's just a theory since I still have not fired any of the previously referenced beauties. I managed to pick up a nice case of pneumonia the day after I got them. I'm still not on top of everything, so I've just been dry firing and cleaning.

Now, don't that just make your teeth chatter?

'Nuf said.
I also installed the giraffe bone grips on the push feed Colt SAA. I will put it up for viewing this coming week.

Set up some new gongs in the pasture this afternoon while having a new septic tank installed. I thought, this is a good time to try out the two revolvers: Fonda is in town at meetings, the big dogs are in their clubhouse in the pole barn, and I think i have the energy to try a few rounds.
I have been fighting with pneumonia all of March, and I broke my shoulder in January. No more bull riding. 
I tried the Colt first. A 7 1/2" barrel is a bit of a trial until I get some strength back, but I did do 2/10 at 25 yards with my TRUE Keith bullets, 454424 250 gr. tumble lubed. No leading, and the recoil was manageable. The Smith with 21 gr. AA9 and 240 gr. tumble lubed 429421's was a firm handful with the stag grips. I am going to replace the factory grips for a comparison.
Will let you know soon. I also have an order in for one of the Talo Long Branch's. I looked at other nickel Colts with 4 3/4" barrel, and they're all pricey. I will just be a bad bastard and shoot the Hell out of mine.

Mike

It's just too bad he didn't have a great one-liner like, "Go ahead. Make my day."

Cast coin silver. I checked before I ordered it.

Giraffe bone. It feels really nice in the hand.

I checked cylinder mouths and bore diameter. I use good old Lyman 454424's tumble lubed and sized .454 over 8.5 gr. Unique. No leading, and it shoots very sweetly. If I ever get past all the ailments and disabilities I've picked up since New Year's, I will be able to test precision.
I found the holster maker on Ebay, he goes under dads_leather. It took about two months, but I couldn't have done anything with it anyway. It arrived two days ago, and when I unpacked it, the room filled with odor of benzene that always lingered in the old saddle and boot maker's shops. The Colt drops right in without shoving and slides out so slick I'm thinking I'll have to get a new black hat and learn how to do that spin as I draw. I guess that's why Richard Boone always demanded push feed holsters. They're just slicker.

Nice model P there, fella, and those other selections ain't bad, either.
I'm really glad you can't forget about my thread on CRF. I never thought anything I wrote would be that memorable, but you proved me wrong.
Heal up and Heel up!
Good shootin'

But, you know, I am disappointed in my Mausers. The good ones, my 1871 hunting rifle in 9.5x47R and my Argentine are not CRF. Peter Paul must have at the schatzy haus too late on the nights he designed them.
The main reason I bought the model P was to have a Colt in the Paladin rig. Venturing and Taffin must be mellowing in their old age. They both seem to agree with me that the USFA's are superior the Colts.
In other news; I have been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, so I am out of the casting business. I have been looking around for somebody who cast 454424's at about Rockwell C 13 to 15, but not finding much. If you know of a place that can supply such, let me know. I'll get some we can share. To all you sharks reading this, I mean MAK.

Hi Mike, sorry about the ailment, I myself have COPD (chronic bronchitis  and emphysema) and have suffered through it since 2003. I was only given 5 years max but by the luck of the ancestors stamina that I seem to have inherited I have passed my expiration date by at least 8 years now and intend to try for more. I won't say life is easy but I still can plink and shoot out back and do sometimes get out to enjoy the country with the aid of my 02 machines and tanks. Hang in there you'll do fine. Chris S

Chris;
I want to thank you for your kind message. Thanks for the encouragement.

Mike

Mike, feel free to PM me anytime you want to chat off the forum. Chris S

Well, guys, I am sorry to learn of your conditions. I suppose the thing about life is that it always has to be something to provide a challenge no one thought they needed.
I'm also darn sorry to hear that your casting days are over, Mike. I wish I could cast my own, but my present life on a very constricted budget with even more constricted space makes it impossible. I have tried to find someone to cast-but without any luck. 
I will continue to keep eyes and ears open.
BTW, those 80 or so examples you sent my way shot extremely well. Just like Mr. Keith said, they drove straight and cut a well defined hole. I had wanted to try a little Longshot with them, but never got the chance.
Anyhoo, both of you be sure to stick around as long as you are able.