Sorry Folks but to these tired old eyes. This movement toward plastic and strike types. That today’s pistols are basically butt ugly! Grumpy 
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Colt New Frontier SA Revolver
Colt New Frontier
by Jim Wilson – Tuesday, September 18, 2012
9/18/2012
The history of the Colt New Frontier single-action revolver actually begins in the latter part of the 19th Century, some 120 years ago.
In the late 1800s there was a growing interest in target shooting with handguns, not only in the United States, but also in Great Britain and Europe.
To meet that need Colt began to offer the Single Action Armywith adjustable target sights.
The Colt Flat Top Target, as the then-new sixgun was called, featured a flat top strap instead of the traditional rounded top strap with the grooved rear sight.
Dovetailed into the top strap was an adjustable rear sight, somewhat crude by today’s standards, but adjustable nonetheless. The Colt Flat Top Target single-action was manufactured from 1890 to 1898 and, during that time, a little more than 900 revolvers were produced.
Colt dropped the production of single-action revolvers at the beginning of World War II, so it could concentrate on the production of military arms.
By about 1956, however, Colt decided that the time was right to resume manufacturing the Single Action Army with the idea that a target-sighted single-action wouldn’t be far behind.
The New Frontier was introduced in 1961, and the name “New Frontier” took advantage of the slogan made popular by President John F. Kennedy.
From the outset, the Colt New Frontier was to single-actions what the Colt Python was to double-action revolvers, the Cadillac of handguns.
The target-sighted single-action came with a smooth action, attractive finish, high-visibility adjustable sights, and smooth walnut stocks with the Colt logo in silver or gold.
Colt produced the first run of the New Frontier revolvers from 1962 until about 1974. Reintroduced in 1978, it was again dropped from the line in 1982.
During those two runs, the New Frontier was chambered for .38 Spl., .357 Mag., .44 Spl., .44-40 Win. and .45 Colt. It was available in barrel configurations of 4 3/4, 5 1/2 and 7 1/2 inches.
Gunwriters such as Elmer Keith and Skeeter Skelton championed the Colt New Frontier and made a convincing argument for the value of adjustable sights on a single-action revolver.
My own introduction to the New Frontier came with a photograph in one of Skelton’s articles.
The picture showed a 4 3/4-inch, .44 Spl. New Frontier, complete with ivory stocks, lying on a silver serving tray. Skelton, by the way, was almost single-handedly responsible for convincing the various gun companies to keep producing the venerable and dependable .44 Spl. cartridge and the guns that chambered it.
In 2011, Colt once again announced that the New Frontier would be included in its catalog.
I had the opportunity to shoot some prototypes at the 2011 SHOT Show and was duly impressed. But I have always preferred to test and write about production models of new guns so that I would be testing the same kind of gun that my readers would be buying.
With the Colt New Frontier, that chance came early in 2012, when Colt’s Mfg. shipped me a 4 3/4-inch barreled .45 Colt and a .44 Spl. with a 5 1/2-inch barrel. The .44 Spl. had a barrel marking that read, “175th Anniversary” along with the dates “1836” and “2011.”
My first positive impression of both guns was assured by the attractive color-case hardening on the frames. Without a doubt this is the best job that I have ever seen on a Colt revolver.
The colors are vivid, deep, and let you know right from the beginning that you are holding a classy handgun. The barrel, cylinder, and grip frame all have a blue finish that is also quite attractive, being so dark it almost looks black.
The next thing that I check on single-actions is the fit of the backstrap and trigger guard to the frame. On Colts the backstrap and trigger guard are two separate pieces. In the past, it has not been uncommon to find guns with “proud” steel, that is, parts that did not mate flush with each other.
One or the other edge would protrude, leaving a sharp place to gouge flesh out of the shooting hand. However, such was not the case on either one of my test guns.
The backstrap, trigger guard, and frame fit to each other about as well as anyone could expect.
On a recent visit to the Colt factory I learned that a lot of hand fitting is still being done on all of the Colt single-actions.
Although Colt uses the latest in computerized machinery, the final stages involve a good deal of hand filing so that the various parts will mate just right.
The front sight is a tall ramp type with horizontal serrations that help to cut glare just a bit. The rear sight is the well-known Elliason adjustable target sight that used to be found only on the Colt Gold Cup M1911.
The Elliason has a reputation for being an extremely sturdy sight and yet, at the same time, capable of great accuracy.
Like the latest Single Action Army revolvers, these New Frontier six guns have the full-length cylinder-pin bushing like the originals.
There was a time when someone had decided that a shorter bushing, force fit into the cylinder, would cost less in the long run.
Well, it cost less alright, but the cylinder couldn’t be removed in the field for cleaning, or adjustment, and it turned out to be just generally a bad idea.
It appears that Colt has listened to its customers and gone back to the easily removable, full-length bushing.
From the very beginning, the Colt New Frontier has sported smooth, oil-finished walnut stocks with Colt medallions installed.
The best thing you can say about the stocks is that they are plain. In fact, I’ve seen shipping pallets that had more grain and figure than the New Frontier stocks. And it’s always been that way.
I suppose you could say that the stocks are a way that Colt has of reminding us that its New Frontier revolvers really deserve custom stocks of ivory, pearl, stag or fancy woods. In truth, every New Frontier that I’ve ever owned didn’t wear those walnut stocks very long at all.
Still, as good looking at the Colt New Frontier revolver is, performance is what really matters.
This is a good place to discuss an important safety feature on all traditional single-action revolvers. And that is the fact that they should only be loaded with five cartridges, with the hammer being down on the empty chamber.
If all six chambers were loaded and the hammer all the way down, the firing pin would be resting on the primer of a live cartridge. In addition, the single-action revolver is balanced in such a way that, when dropped, it will land on its hammer eight times out of 10.
When this occurs, you can expect the gun to fire. Having grown up in the Southwest, I know of a number of people who have been injured, and in some cases killed, by ignoring this important safety issue.
One might point out that, as the hammer is cocked, the first click indicates what some people call the “safety notch” and that this should allow one to carry six cartridges.
They could not be more wrong! This so-called “safety notch” is a thin, fragile shelf on the base of the hammer. It could be sheared, or broken, very easily when the gun is dropped.
You might want to keep in mind that the design of the traditional single-action revolver has been around for a very long time.
And a whole host of gunfighters, cowboys and lawmen were tinkering with this same design long before you and I were born.
They all came to the same conclusion that it was best to carry five rounds in the single-action and let the hammer ride down on an empty chamber. It would be a really good idea if you did that, too.
The most efficient way to accomplish that is what the old timers called “five beans in the wheel.” Using this technique, you can load the single action without looking at it and you can even load it in the dark.
“Five beans in the wheel” consists of five easy steps: 1. Bring the hammer to half cock; 2. Open the loading gate and load one chamber; 3. Skip the next chamber; 4. Load four more chambers; and 5. Bring the hammer to full cock and ease it down on the empty chamber.
In order to put both the .44 Spl. and .45 Colt New Frontier revolvers through their paces, I gathered five different factory loads in each caliber and headed to the shooting range.
I tested each gun by firing five-shot groups at 25 yards, using a rest on the shooting bench. Velocities were averaged from five consecutive, five-shot strings, with the PACT chronograph set 15 feet in front of the muzzle.
Temperature on the day of my tests was 89 degrees F, and there was no noticeable wind.
All of the .44 Spl. ammunition performed well; however, the nod went to Winchester’s 200-grain Silvertip which ran at 848 fps and gave 1 1/4-inch groups. Nonetheless, my favorite .44 Spl. loads are built around 240- or 250-grain Keith semi-wadcutter bullets running 900 to 950 fps.
There is just not much, handgun-wise, that you can’t do with this kind of .44 Spl. load. In my tests, the DoubleTap 240-grain KSWC factory load chronographed at 904 fps and gave 1 1/2-inch groups.
Likewise, the 4 3/4-inch New Frontier, in .45 Colt, shot some very nice groups, too. The tightest group (1 1/4 inches) went to the Black Hillscowboy load consisting of a 250-grain round-nosed, flat-point bullet loping along at 722 fps.
The most interesting .45 Colt load, though, was the 225-grain cast wadcutter, defense load from Buffalo Bore. It also gave the highest velocity of 1,056 fps.
Both of these New Frontier single-actions performed flawlessly during my tests. I experienced no malfunctions, failures to fire or other mishaps.
The sights were easy to adjust and gave a superior sight picture that was a distinct aid in accurate shooting. The actions were smooth and properly timed, with the triggers breaking cleanly at 3 1/2 pounds.
Frankly, both guns were good to go right out of the box although, if one of them was mine, it would quickly get a set of ivory stocks. And that is about all I would do and all the gun would need.
Nowadays, we spend a lot of our time contemplating personal defense guns and issues, and for good reason. Still we should never forget that most of us spend our trigger time at the range because shooting is fun.
And the Colt New Frontier is a perfect companion for fun shooting. It’s the kind of handgun you want on your hip when you spend the whole day down on the creek, or hiking in the national forest.
The Colt New Frontier is a classic example of American firearm manufacturing at its best, and I can’t imagine a sixgun that better exemplifies our nation’s rich shooting traditions.
Manufacturer: Colt’s Mfg. Co. LLC; (800) 962-2658; www.coltsmfg.com
Action: single-action, center-fire revolver
Caliber: .44 Spl. (tested), .45 Colt (tested)
Barrel lengths: 43⁄4″ (tested), 51⁄2″ (tested), 7½”
Overall Length: 10¼” (43⁄4″ bbl.), 11″ (51⁄2″ bbl), 13″ (71⁄2″ bbl.)
Height: 5.2″
Width: 1.7″
Rifling: six-groove: 1:16″ LH twist (.45 Colt); 1:12″ LH twist (.44 Spl.)
Sights: ramp front, Elliason windage and elevation adjustable rear
Finish: blue with color- case hardened frame
Stocks: smooth walnut with Colt medallions
Suggested Retail Price: $1,455
The history of the Colt New Frontier single-action revolver actually begins in the latter part of the 19th Century, some 120 years ago.
In the late 1800s there was a growing interest in target shooting with handguns, not only in the United States, but also in Great Britain and Europe.
To meet that need Colt began to offer the Single Action Armywith adjustable target sights.
The Colt Flat Top Target, as the then-new sixgun was called, featured a flat top strap instead of the traditional rounded top strap with the grooved rear sight.
Dovetailed into the top strap was an adjustable rear sight, somewhat crude by today’s standards, but adjustable nonetheless. The Colt Flat Top Target single-action was manufactured from 1890 to 1898 and, during that time, a little more than 900 revolvers were produced.
Colt dropped the production of single-action revolvers at the beginning of World War II, so it could concentrate on the production of military arms.
By about 1956, however, Colt decided that the time was right to resume manufacturing the Single Action Army with the idea that a target-sighted single-action wouldn’t be far behind.
The New Frontier was introduced in 1961, and the name “New Frontier” took advantage of the slogan made popular by President John F. Kennedy.
From the outset, the Colt New Frontier was to single-actions what the Colt Python was to double-action revolvers, the Cadillac of handguns.
The target-sighted single-action came with a smooth action, attractive finish, high-visibility adjustable sights, and smooth walnut stocks with the Colt logo in silver or gold.
Colt produced the first run of the New Frontier revolvers from 1962 until about 1974. Reintroduced in 1978, it was again dropped from the line in 1982.
During those two runs, the New Frontier was chambered for .38 Spl., .357 Mag., .44 Spl., .44-40 Win. and .45 Colt. It was available in barrel configurations of 4 3/4, 5 1/2 and 7 1/2 inches.
Gunwriters such as Elmer Keith and Skeeter Skelton championed the Colt New Frontier and made a convincing argument for the value of adjustable sights on a single-action revolver.
My own introduction to the New Frontier came with a photograph in one of Skelton’s articles.
The picture showed a 4 3/4-inch, .44 Spl. New Frontier, complete with ivory stocks, lying on a silver serving tray. Skelton, by the way, was almost single-handedly responsible for convincing the various gun companies to keep producing the venerable and dependable .44 Spl. cartridge and the guns that chambered it.
In 2011, Colt once again announced that the New Frontier would be included in its catalog.
I had the opportunity to shoot some prototypes at the 2011 SHOT Show and was duly impressed. But I have always preferred to test and write about production models of new guns so that I would be testing the same kind of gun that my readers would be buying.
With the Colt New Frontier, that chance came early in 2012, when Colt’s Mfg. shipped me a 4 3/4-inch barreled .45 Colt and a .44 Spl. with a 5 1/2-inch barrel. The .44 Spl. had a barrel marking that read, “175th Anniversary” along with the dates “1836” and “2011.”
My first positive impression of both guns was assured by the attractive color-case hardening on the frames. Without a doubt this is the best job that I have ever seen on a Colt revolver.
The colors are vivid, deep, and let you know right from the beginning that you are holding a classy handgun. The barrel, cylinder, and grip frame all have a blue finish that is also quite attractive, being so dark it almost looks black.
The next thing that I check on single-actions is the fit of the backstrap and trigger guard to the frame. On Colts the backstrap and trigger guard are two separate pieces. In the past, it has not been uncommon to find guns with “proud” steel, that is, parts that did not mate flush with each other.
One or the other edge would protrude, leaving a sharp place to gouge flesh out of the shooting hand. However, such was not the case on either one of my test guns.
The backstrap, trigger guard, and frame fit to each other about as well as anyone could expect.
On a recent visit to the Colt factory I learned that a lot of hand fitting is still being done on all of the Colt single-actions.
Although Colt uses the latest in computerized machinery, the final stages involve a good deal of hand filing so that the various parts will mate just right.
The front sight is a tall ramp type with horizontal serrations that help to cut glare just a bit. The rear sight is the well-known Elliason adjustable target sight that used to be found only on the Colt Gold Cup M1911.
The Elliason has a reputation for being an extremely sturdy sight and yet, at the same time, capable of great accuracy.
Like the latest Single Action Army revolvers, these New Frontier six guns have the full-length cylinder-pin bushing like the originals.
There was a time when someone had decided that a shorter bushing, force fit into the cylinder, would cost less in the long run.
Well, it cost less alright, but the cylinder couldn’t be removed in the field for cleaning, or adjustment, and it turned out to be just generally a bad idea.
It appears that Colt has listened to its customers and gone back to the easily removable, full-length bushing.
From the very beginning, the Colt New Frontier has sported smooth, oil-finished walnut stocks with Colt medallions installed.
The best thing you can say about the stocks is that they are plain. In fact, I’ve seen shipping pallets that had more grain and figure than the New Frontier stocks. And it’s always been that way.
I suppose you could say that the stocks are a way that Colt has of reminding us that its New Frontier revolvers really deserve custom stocks of ivory, pearl, stag or fancy woods. In truth, every New Frontier that I’ve ever owned didn’t wear those walnut stocks very long at all.
Still, as good looking at the Colt New Frontier revolver is, performance is what really matters.
This is a good place to discuss an important safety feature on all traditional single-action revolvers. And that is the fact that they should only be loaded with five cartridges, with the hammer being down on the empty chamber.
If all six chambers were loaded and the hammer all the way down, the firing pin would be resting on the primer of a live cartridge. In addition, the single-action revolver is balanced in such a way that, when dropped, it will land on its hammer eight times out of 10.
When this occurs, you can expect the gun to fire. Having grown up in the Southwest, I know of a number of people who have been injured, and in some cases killed, by ignoring this important safety issue.
One might point out that, as the hammer is cocked, the first click indicates what some people call the “safety notch” and that this should allow one to carry six cartridges.
They could not be more wrong! This so-called “safety notch” is a thin, fragile shelf on the base of the hammer. It could be sheared, or broken, very easily when the gun is dropped.
You might want to keep in mind that the design of the traditional single-action revolver has been around for a very long time.
And a whole host of gunfighters, cowboys and lawmen were tinkering with this same design long before you and I were born.
They all came to the same conclusion that it was best to carry five rounds in the single-action and let the hammer ride down on an empty chamber. It would be a really good idea if you did that, too.
The most efficient way to accomplish that is what the old timers called “five beans in the wheel.” Using this technique, you can load the single action without looking at it and you can even load it in the dark.
“Five beans in the wheel” consists of five easy steps: 1. Bring the hammer to half cock; 2. Open the loading gate and load one chamber; 3. Skip the next chamber; 4. Load four more chambers; and 5. Bring the hammer to full cock and ease it down on the empty chamber.
In order to put both the .44 Spl. and .45 Colt New Frontier revolvers through their paces, I gathered five different factory loads in each caliber and headed to the shooting range.
I tested each gun by firing five-shot groups at 25 yards, using a rest on the shooting bench. Velocities were averaged from five consecutive, five-shot strings, with the PACT chronograph set 15 feet in front of the muzzle.
Temperature on the day of my tests was 89 degrees F, and there was no noticeable wind.
All of the .44 Spl. ammunition performed well; however, the nod went to Winchester’s 200-grain Silvertip which ran at 848 fps and gave 1 1/4-inch groups. Nonetheless, my favorite .44 Spl. loads are built around 240- or 250-grain Keith semi-wadcutter bullets running 900 to 950 fps.
There is just not much, handgun-wise, that you can’t do with this kind of .44 Spl. load. In my tests, the DoubleTap 240-grain KSWC factory load chronographed at 904 fps and gave 1 1/2-inch groups.
Likewise, the 4 3/4-inch New Frontier, in .45 Colt, shot some very nice groups, too. The tightest group (1 1/4 inches) went to the Black Hillscowboy load consisting of a 250-grain round-nosed, flat-point bullet loping along at 722 fps.
The most interesting .45 Colt load, though, was the 225-grain cast wadcutter, defense load from Buffalo Bore. It also gave the highest velocity of 1,056 fps.
Both of these New Frontier single-actions performed flawlessly during my tests. I experienced no malfunctions, failures to fire or other mishaps.
The sights were easy to adjust and gave a superior sight picture that was a distinct aid in accurate shooting. The actions were smooth and properly timed, with the triggers breaking cleanly at 3 1/2 pounds.
Frankly, both guns were good to go right out of the box although, if one of them was mine, it would quickly get a set of ivory stocks. And that is about all I would do and all the gun would need.
Nowadays, we spend a lot of our time contemplating personal defense guns and issues, and for good reason. Still we should never forget that most of us spend our trigger time at the range because shooting is fun.
And the Colt New Frontier is a perfect companion for fun shooting. It’s the kind of handgun you want on your hip when you spend the whole day down on the creek, or hiking in the national forest.
The Colt New Frontier is a classic example of American firearm manufacturing at its best, and I can’t imagine a sixgun that better exemplifies our nation’s rich shooting traditions.
Manufacturer: Colt’s Mfg. Co. LLC; (800) 962-2658; www.coltsmfg.com
Action: single-action, center-fire revolver
Caliber: .44 Spl. (tested), .45 Colt (tested)
Barrel lengths: 43⁄4″ (tested), 51⁄2″ (tested), 7½”
Overall Length: 10¼” (43⁄4″ bbl.), 11″ (51⁄2″ bbl), 13″ (71⁄2″ bbl.)
Height: 5.2″
Width: 1.7″
Rifling: six-groove: 1:16″ LH twist (.45 Colt); 1:12″ LH twist (.44 Spl.)
Sights: ramp front, Elliason windage and elevation adjustable rear
Finish: blue with color- case hardened frame
Stocks: smooth walnut with Colt medallions
Suggested Retail Price: $1,455
Posted by Chad Myers on
The AR in AR-15 is commonly misrepresented as an Assault Rifle. “AR” actually stands for “Armalite Rifle”. This graphic takes a closer look at some awesome AR-15 facts, specs, applications, and customizations.
Which .38 Special ammo will save your life? Patrick Sweeney gives you the inside edge.
What you need to know about.38 Special ammo:
- Developed in 1898.
- Primary law enforcement service cartridge from 1920s to 1990s.
- Regained popularity due to small concealable revolvers.
- Snubbies knock off around 100 fps of muzzle velocity.
- +P ammunition does not function well out of snubbies.
- Hotter loads are generally easier to shoot out of larger revolvers.
- Poly-case ammunition and copper solids offer excellent penetration.
The .38 was invented in the late 19th century, given up for dead in the latter half of the 20th, and resurrected by the time the 21st rolled around. It is now a viable choice for those who feel a compact carry gun is more important than shooting through cars.
The original load, a lead round-nose 158-grain bullet, was marginal as a stopper. It was earth-shattering in 1898, when invented, but even before WWII we knew better.
It just took a long time to develop something better and get it out where it could be tested.
One aspect of a .38 Special revolver that people might have forgotten is accuracy. Revolvers can be amazingly accurate, and a quality DA revolver delivers all of that.
You do, however have a few choices to make, choices that will determine your path in life.
Medium-sized revolvers, the six-shot wheelguns and those with 3- or 4-inch barrels, are a lot easier to shoot and deliver the ballistics you want.
Ammo Choices
Choices for .38 Special ammo breaks down in a three-axis decision making tree. Light weight bullets or heavy? Jacketed bullets or lead? Standard pressure or +P?
In lightweight bullets, you have high speed and normal. A high speed would be something like the Super Vel Super Snubbie load, which features a 90-grain bullet at over 1,200 real fps out of a snubbie, and recoil to go with it.
A lightweight .38 Special ammo choice that won’t punish you would be the Hornady Critical Defense, or Critical Defense Lite. These are 110-grain bullets and they do not get to 1,000 fps out of a 2-inch barrel. They are easy to shoot, but they will not deliver performance like the stouter loads. You get what you pay for, and you pay for what you get.
There are some loads that feature weights less than full but not all the way to light. Generally around 125 to 130 grains, they are compromise loads. They offer more mass for more penetration, but you have to either give up velocity or accept a bit more recoil.
The heavyweights top out at the normal for .38 Special weight, 158 grains. You can have jacketed hollow points, all-lead or lead hollow points.
Pressure is all. The standard pressure limits for the .38 Special are just fine for the snubbies and make for a soft life for the medium-sized revolvers. If you want more you can have it, but you will pay for it, in particular, a +P load in a five-shot snubbie becomes work, or even painful, to shoot. Unless you absolutely need that level of performance (and I can’t imagine how to require it, and not move up in gun size), then live with it.
But, if you want the benefits of extra pressure you need extra barrel length. This makes for EDC problems. A 6-inch .38 revolver might be entirely suitable for a home defense gun. But for Every Day Carry it would be bulky. You need the barrel length to get all the velocity the extra pressure promises.
Polycase ARX
This is a new approach, and we see it working in the .38 Special. It offers barrier perforation, but doesn’t have to expand to stop in the FBI distance. It is super-soft to shoot, but the extra velocity can cause it to hit low, below your usual point of aim, due to barrel lift timing differences.
Old-school
Wadcutters are an anomaly. They offer a full-diameter cutting shoulder, and yet they penetrate as well as anything else out there. A super-soft load to shoot, if you were arming someone who was really recoil sensitive, using wadcutters might be a viable approach. Just be sure they understand they must make use of the tack-driving accuracy that wadcutters offer.
FBI classic
The FBI load in .38 Special, 158-grain, lead semi-wadcutter, at +P pressures, worked then and works now. It just doesn’t perform well in barrier testing. If you do not anticipate barriers, then you will be happy.
Federal HST .38 Special
Federal took a different approach. They took the old reversed hollow-base wadcutter, put a jacket on it, tuned the jacket for consistent expansion, and then loaded it to normal .38 Special performance, not wadcutter performance. As a result, it delivers every bit of the power a .38 can muster and expands well while doing so.
Honey Badger
The performance of the Honey Badger, a solid copper, fluted bullet at less than robust recoil, seems to have been made for the .38 Special. Even if it does not work out in pistols, I suspect that the Honey Badger load for a backup or snubbie may just be the perfect load of the future.
How to pick?
What is your carry need? How compact/concealed must you be? Is this a main gun or a backup? How resistant to recoil are you? Be honest with yourself on this one, because no one else is going to take the recoil hit for you.
Then, pack the largest .38 revolver you can comfortably carry and conceal, and use the stoutest load in it that you can comfortably shoot. I know, it sounds like the most basic common-sense advice you’ve ever heard. It surprised even me.
Ammo performance chart:
| .38 Special & .38 Special +P | |||
| Brand, bullet | velocity | penetration* | expansion |
| Black Hills Honey Badger 100 gr | 982 | 14.6” | .355” |
| Black Hills Sierra +P 110 gr | 945 | 9.75” | .583” |
| Black Hills Sierra 125 gr +P | 873 | 13.6” | .529” |
| Remington golden Saber 125 +P | 767 | — | — |
| Black Hills 148 gr WC | 689 | 15.5” | .428” |
| Federal HST 130 gr | 834 | 14” | .486” |
| Hornady FTX Lite 90 gr | 1129 | 8.5” | .467” |
| Hornady FTX 110 gr | 833 | 13” | .440” |
| Hornady FTX+P 110 gr | 1031 | 12” | .501” |
| Hornady 125 gr XTP +P | 807 | 16” | .437” |
| Polycase ARX 77 gr | 1059 | 14.5” | .358” |
| Speer GDHP 135 gr | 840 | 13’ | .565” |
| Super Vel 90 gr | 1278 | 11.5” | .574” |
| Winchester Defend 130 gr +P | 939 | 11.5” | .617” |
| Winchester FBI 158 gr L-SWC+P | 799 | 13” | .521” |
| Hornady XTP 158 gr | 758 | 15” | .472” |
| Corbon FMJ 147 gr | 773 | 27” | .357” |
| CCI Blaser LRN 158 gr | 815 | 25” | .358” |
| Black Hills CNL 158 gr | 725 | — | — |
| Winchester FMJ RN 130 gr | 765 | 28” | .358” |
| Remington HBWC 148 gr | 655 | 30” | .358” |
| Oregon Trails 148 DEWC 2.7 gr Bullseye | 657 | 36” | .358” |
*Bare gelatin for expansion and penetration, unless otherwise indicated.
Editor’s Notes: This article is an excerpt from Choosing Handgun Ammo: The Facts That Matter Most for Self-Defense by Patrick Sweeney.
Was this the original Bond Walther? Turns out, that’s up for debate. (Photo: Humbert and Ellis)
What at first appeared to be the original Bond gun was headed for auction later this year at the Humbert and Ellis house, but that auction got canceled. It might just have been a scam. Or at least, an honest mistake.
The auction was for Bond’s first Walther pistol. It appeared to have all the necessary provenance, including a letter from its owner, none other than Bernard Lee. Lee played M in the classic Bond films.
According to the auctioneers, the filmmakers couldn’t get a prop gun on set in time, so he offered his own personal Walther for use. It was a real, working firearm, and as such, was later swapped out.
Lee later gave the gun to a friend, with an enclosed letter.
“Dear Jane, I know you will not accept anything in return for all your help and the kindness that you and John have shown to me throughout these trying times but my conscience will not let it go unrewarded.”
“Enclosed is a small token of my gratitude that I would like your boy to have as and when you see fit,” he continued. “This Walther pistol numbered 149894 is a small piece of 007 history.”
“As you are aware I have played the part of M in several of the James Bond films. The first of these, ‘Doctor No’ contained a scene in which Sean was scolded by myself about his choice of firearm.”
“His Beretta pistol was replaced by a Walther pistol. On the day of the take the pistol that was to be used was not going to be available, so I took into the studio and used for the scene this pistol which I have had for many years.”
“This pistol is there for the first one ever to appear in a James Bond film. Yours very sincerely, John Bernard Lee.”
See Also: Boulder Residents Given 23 Days to ‘Certify’ Assault Weapons or Face Fines, Jail
According to enthusiasts and experts alike, Bond’s first on-screen Walther was with the original PP, not the PPK. (Photo: Humbert and Ellis)
There’s just one question: did Bond first use a Walther PPK in the first film “Dr. No,” or did he use a Walther PP? The debate has people scrambling to pause footage everywhere.
The auction for the handgun, which includes a signed photograph of Sean Connery, the first James Bond, was for a PPK. However, film buffs say that the first Walther Bond picked up on screen was the PP, not the PPK.
Even with the solid provenance, the auction house quietly pulled the offering. “Given such a tide of differing opinion, the only course was to regretfully withdraw it, pending further diligence and investigation. Even the experts cannot agree.”
This may be a real Bond gun, but is it his first Walther? We may never know.
Sorry but maybe those folks up there need a giggle or two! Grumpy
Basket Of Liars & the Division of a Country
USA – -(AmmoLand.com)- This may seem to be a dark, angry diatribe, but it is not a call to arms. It is, instead, a call to wait and grow stronger. And, at the same time, it is a call to refuse to compromise with the liars.
Years ago, when most of you were just young pups, gunnies were already being demonized by folks who were afraid of our guns. They called us names because we called out their lies. But they never stopped lying about us and our firearms.
Right now our country is enduring an earthquake of lies. These lies, of commission and omission, are so great and damaging to the culture of freedom that we hold so dear, that there is little solid ground upon which to stand.
After this past midterm election, we remain genuinely amazed that so many fellow Americans could believe the lies, some of which are preposterous on their face. There are limitations to the human psyche, but it appears that upwards of half our population has gone bonkers, and our Republic is being torn apart by the Left Wing Party and the dangerously corrupt Main Street Media (MSM).
The majority of their lies are so obvious that it’s painful to see our fellow countrymen fall for them. And it’s difficult to accept that these countrymen are our family and friends. We don’t recognize them anymore. The unfortunate fact that remains, is that these critters are gullible, and ever eager to follow the smooth talking liars.
There are many people, many of whom we know, who firmly believe that President Trump colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election. There are many who think that Justice Kavanaugh is a serial gang rapist. Were they indoctrinated by an evil MSM who colluded with the left? Are our News Media willfully engaged in destroying our nation?
The MSM responds angrily when President Trump calls them out as the enemies of the republic. But, they are intentionally working to take down a duly elected American sitting President, and that does undoubtedly make them enemy number one.
Still, events have not fully unfolded and, we cannot know the future. We must wait patiently. We know that we cannot be disarmed, but we must understand that once violence is unleashed, everything changes.
The years of compromise of laws must end. Congressman Swalwell opened his mouth and admitted the truth about the intent of the left. They propose to forcibly buy back semiautomatic weapons on the way to civilian disarmament.
Molon Labe Swalwell! Come and try to take them, but get to a psychiatrist before you nuke us, and our land.
Will there be a compromise with people like Swalwell? You can bet your sweet bippy there will. After the Trump era, our timid politicians will be happy to keep their jobs by kowtowing to the politics and press of the day.
But we must know that we can never compromise with liars. We must know deep, deep in our bones, that 99% of gun laws are harmful, and usually quite useless.
We need to reflexively know that the Black Market will subvert the promise of a peaceful society, “if only we compromise.” We have been lied to get us to accept the laws that promise a peaceful outcome. These laws will put our names on lists, and the only significant result of them will be a thriving Black Market. The black market is here now, always ready to make a buck.
We must be aware of the many lies told about guns and gun owners. Many of these lies are not so obvious. Instead of an explosion of lies, gun owners have been subjected to a steady stream of smaller lies.
We can’t even begin to know them all. For example, Gary Mauser, a Canadian-American economist wrote an article entitled The Number of Violent Crimes Involving Guns Has Been Exaggerated By An Over-Inclusive Definition Of Gun Crime. If a crime is committed in or outside of the home of a firearm owner, it becomes automatically firearm-related in Canadian statistics. Any researcher who uses those statistics will likely not realize or care that he/she is producing fake conclusions.
Any lawmaker using such false information to propose yet another law will not know or care.
Our gun laws are based on dreams and the lies of the power-mad. According to them, we always need more, because the ones we have don’t work. Say it again, and say it LOUD! “The Black Market is always at the ready.”
We propose a war on GUN LAWS. We recommend a massive reduction of our tens of thousands of gun laws. Gun laws can only label the acquisition, possession, or use, of a weapon as legal or illegal. Laws cannot prevent a criminal, or an insane person, from acquiring, possessing, or using, a weapon.
With all the thousands of local, state, and federal, firearms laws in our country that attempt to keep us safe and under control, why do we still need more? Just asking for a friend! That’s because the LEFT is trying to control us. They seek that complete power.
Gun laws have been designed, from the get-go, to control and destroy our culture. We can legally comply, or we can become felons.
- How many of us have carried illegally?
- How many of us are sure we comply with all of our laws?
- How many of us knowingly don’t or can’t comply?
The left resorts to lies, to manipulate outcomes, that are beneficial to themselves only. But these lies usually result in the destruction of our Rights and the Constitution, and more often then not, they transfer more power to the socialist mob.
The current, and coming, battle is between felonious cowardly liars and We The People. They want to control the US nukes, and luckily, the hard-working Conservative folks are now waking to this harsh reality.
We are to blame. Over the last 45+ years, we let the Left into our schools and media. We accept many of their lies. Too many of us believed that ‘sensible’ gun laws existed, and would help to reduce violence.
The lies were insidious, designed to advance their narrative that we and our guns are dangerous to our families and society. Its difficult for many average persons to know that something, that sounds so reasonable, is a deliberate lie designed to sow suspicion on the very foundation of freedom.
All of us need to be skeptical and always on guard. We must not be shy to be unreasonable and question an intent. We are in the right.
Back and support President Trump, but stay alert and be prepared.
About the Authors:
Alan J Chwick has been involved with firearms much of his life and is the Retired Managing Coach of the Freeport NY Junior (Marksmanship) Club, Division of the Freeport NY Revolver & Rifle Association, Freeport, NY. He has escaped from New York State to South Carolina and is an SC FFL (Everything22andMore.com). – AJChwick@iNCNF.org | TWITTER: @iNCNF
Joanne D Eisen, DDS (Ret.) practiced dentistry on Long Island, NY. She has collaborated and written on firearm politics for the past 30+ years. She has also escaped from New York State but to Virginia. – JoanneDEisen@cs.com