We've all got our comfort foods. Might be mom's homemade macaroni & cheese, or Aunt Betty's shepherd's pie, but it's food that you know you're gonna like (even if it's not the greatest for you). As gunnies, there are certain things, certain brands and manufacturers that you keep coming back to because they just feel right. They're the gunnie equivalent of comfort food - while there might be something better out there, you're just plain not gonna look for it.
What prompted this was me tossing the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 into the pistol safe the other night. It was sitting in its DeSantis holster, stoked with Federal Hydra-Shoks, and placed on top of a J-frame wearing Hogue monogrip rubber grips. I looked at the pile of DeSantis pocket holsters, and then the small pool of loose Hydra-Shok ammo (380 ACP, 9mm, and 45 ACP - it was a range trip and I wasn't in the mood to spend money).
And it hit me: These are my "comfort foods". I like Hogue monogrips. I like DeSantis pocket holsters. I like Federal Hydra-Shok jacketed hollowpoint ammunition for my defensive arms, Winchester White Box for practice or plinkin'. Wilson Combat magazines for my 1911s. Colt for my 1911s. Smith & Wesson for my revolvers. MidwayUSA and Brownells for my online gunnie supplies. NRA B-34 targets. Shoot'n'Sees.
What are your "gunnie comfort foods"?
That is all.
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Well... do specific guns count? As in, what guns to I take to the range for fun? 'Cause those'd have to be my Mark II and my Model 19. (Ruger & S&W - two great manufacturers). Although my new Colt Officer's Model is coming up on that list fast - it's just FUN.
And for carrying, my comfort food is a 2.5" bbl Model 19 stoked with full-power .357 loads. Now, THAT'S comforting.
I guess, for manufacturers, it'd have to be S&W and Ruger - I have more of those two manufacturers' guns than any other. S&W for revolvers, of course, and Ruger for pistols (Mark I, II, SR9c, Bearcat) and .22 rifles - I have three 10/22s.
Ammo? Federal bulk pack .22 - I had someone on the line at the Appleseed Shoot who ignored my advice and bought Remington Golden Garbage to put in my 10/22s with about the same results I told him he'd get - lots of malfs. Remington .22 is just not worth buying. Remington centerfire is fine, though. That and Winchester white box & CCI Blazer are what I use for practice ammo.
For sling swivels, you just can't beat Uncle Mike's - I've tried a few other brands and they just don't stand up the hard use they get at Appleseed Shoots.
For gun shops, it's IDC Firearms in Clinton and Callaghan's in Marlborough - two very different stores personality-wise but both great in their own way.
I have more outright dislikes and things I'm not interested in than likes which are; Ruger SA and DA wheel guns, S&W in general and M&P semi-autos in particular, various AR platforms and Mossberg shotguns. I like Federal and Hornady ammo for carry and whatever's cheap for practice, Birchwood-Casey Shoot'n'See targets, Hoppe's #9, Pelican cases, Tri-Flow liquid Teflon lube and I have a soft spot bordering on weakness for coach guns and .308 single shot rifles.
I also like Shepherd's Pie, Mac'n'Cheese and especially Hunter's Stew!
Bulgarian 7.62x54r, American Eagle .45 ACP and .38 Special, Shoot-n-See Targets, Kroger Red Cream Soda as a reactive target (try it. shake it up, put it down, and shoot it. Looks like someone blew up a raccoon or you get a 6 foot stream of red foam).
Glocks, all of 'em. Highnoon Holsters, Gold Dot carry ammo. Gas impingement AR systems. Remington 870's, bolt action .308s, 00 Buck.
For me it's .38 Special reloads made with 158 grain LSWC bullets and Unique powder.
The gun to shoot them? Snubnose S&W M15. A lot of fun to shoot.
My most comfortable deer rifle is a Ruger 77RL in .250 Savage. Light, handy, very accurate and an excellent deer killer.
B-34 targets? Bah! I know your range barely allows human shilouetes, but you need to get some of these http://www.thompsontarget.com/pages/defensetargets3.html .
stay safe.
I have noticed a similar trend in my safe and holster box:
- Beretta. Their guns just fit my hands and my tastes.
- S&W. Same as Beretta.
- Crossbreed tuck-able holsters. My experiment in Comptac is less stable and comfy.
- Leather pancakes with thumb-breaks. Most specifically, Don Hume's cozy Double Nine.
- Bright front sights, plain rears.
- 22 LR. I really shouldn't have to explain this one.
- DA/SA. I like the system and shoot it well. My GLOCK even feels similar when I ride the reset after the first shot.
- Single-shots. Simple, intimate, sturdy, and just fun.
- Ammo? My hand-loads; I know what I am getting and it is tailored to my own preferences on the cheap.
- Tin cans. The reactive target to which all others will forever be compared.
- Two-stage triggers. I love them.
- Wood. My longarms have wood. When I finally get into the hit small things far away game, I will go synthetic, but I will still prefer wood.
- Mec-Gar magazines. They have ever failed me.
- Oh, and DeSantis is my go-to source for pocket holsters, as well.
Mosin Nagants, and 1911s. The more I have the happier I am.
Also .45 ACP with 230 grain bullets.
Why would you want lighter bullets in .45?
S+W Wheelies, Hoppes#9, and FN-FAL's. Now if I could only afford them, but since I hit my Debt Limit Ceiling years ago....
My comforts are carry-handle and iron sights on an AR.
The tick of the rear sight against my shooting glasses with my FAL.
The way the 1911 just fits my hand like... um... an inappropriate metaphor.
Word verification: bunite. Why do I have an image of exploding bunnies at Boomershoot?
Anything with Bacon, oh, wait, you mean guns....
My S&W Model 10-5 and my Mosins
- Ruger Marks. Dad had a Mark I, my first two guns were Mark IIs.
- 7.62x54R. Reach out and smack the hell out of something, cheap.
- Eastern Bloc iron. Diss the Communists all you want. Steel has no politics.
And while they're not guns, I always come back to radios that aren't pulled off the table by the weight of the power cord. Real radios effing glow in the dark!
S&W K-frame revolvers, preferably with a 4" barrel.
9mm Glocks.
Rimfire rifles.
CCI .22 ammo.
AR-style rifles/carbines.
Lots of "extra" original-equipment/factory detachable magazines (I attribute this to living through the AWB and the associated hi-cap magazine shortage).
Comforting, indeed.
1911s.
Large frame S&Ws.
Pre-war Colts.
.45 Single Actions.
And a touch of Hoppes #9 behind each ear.
In .22LR ammo, CCI or Aguila. I decided a couple of years ago that I was tired of primers failing to ignite and inconsistent charges. For an acceptable price differential, I now use only CCI and Aguila, and have yet to have a primer fail or inconsistency between rounds.
I nearly always have my Walther P22 (5") around if I'm out and about, and especially if I'm going to the range or out in the sticks or whatever. It's got a couple mags worth of Aguila SuperMaximum ready in the event it is ever needed. It also make for a fun range gun for new shooters, especially for those with smaller hands.
Birchwood-Casey "Dirty Bird" targets are a standby of mine. They're the affordable alternative to the Shoot-n-C you mention, and I kinda like them better anyway. And for more disposable targets, nothing beats paper plates.
For carry ammo, Speer Gold Dot and Hornady XTP are my constants, depending on the caliber.
For plinking ammo, WWB used to be where it was at for plinking, until I got a squib that forced me to disassemble my carry gun and take it home to dislodge the bullet. Since that time, I've started reloading, so my preference is the load I've developed that I like best.
Speaking of reloading, my mainstays there are Berry's, Montana Gold, Speer and Hornady bullets, IMR/Hodgdon for powders (though Vihtavuori and Ramshot are edging their way in for niche areas), CCI for primers. For .223 brass, Lake City and Federal are my favorites.
For .223 commercial ammo, PMC Bronze and Winchester Q3131A1 5.56.
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