Going Retro this year

reflex264

Handloader
Jun 13, 2007
290
189
I like old stuff. Can't help it. I collect old guns and shoot a lot of them. This year I am making a concerted effort to kill something with some of them. In particular my 1931 38-44 Heavy duty that was customized after WWII by Micro Sight. Someone added the smooth S&W target grips probably late 60's early 70's. The gun is an incredible shooter. I am shooting cast hollow points in it. It is encroaching into .357 stating loads which is normal for these guns. In my pre-war S&Ws I only run cast bullets. The other gun is a 2nd model hand ejector .44 Special. It has a Micro Sight which is pretty cool. This is a 1927 gun that is as tight as a new one. I am running 429421 Keith bullets out of it a bit over 1000 fps. Yes it can go hotter but not needed. I am going to try some WFN bullets in it as well. Now the fun part. I am going to use vintage hunting clothes. I have been collecting hunting clothes made in USA for a while. I am even carrying vintage Western knives. I will have a scoped handgun with me as well just in case for some of the locations. There will be some more stuff. Playing it by ear for now. Here are the two old S&W guns. I might throw another one or two in the mix. I have these ready to go though. I even have a cartridge holder for the 38-44 made by Alfred Goerg. Its all about keeping it interesting and fun. No better way to fill a freezer.

38-44 goerg cartrdge carrier.jpg3844 and 2nd model he.jpg
 
Roy,
Sounds like a cool season for you this year.
Best wishes this fall. Be safe and have fun.

JD338
 
That is awesome! I wish you well, with the best of luck this season!
I’ll be going retro this year as well, clothes and all!
I plan on hunting with my Winchester model 94 (not antique as are your firearms) on some of my day hunts, and wearing completely old school wool clothing, and the tried and true lacrosse burley’s.
I’ve actually been transitioning to the old school wool hunting clothing as I’ve been the most comfortable in the past couple of years that I’ve been wearing them. IMG_1651.jpeg
 
I like it! Love my Stormy Kromers, I've got a couple of them including the grey like yours.
One of these days I'm going to find me a 32 Winchester Special.

JD338
Jim, about five years ago I went to our local gun show just for something to do. I like to get there first thing to see if any private sales offer anything that I can't live without. Well I come upon a table with 7 rifles on it. The fellow is selling off the ranch owner's gun collection. Low and behold sitting on the table was an old Winchester 94. I pick it up to find out it's in .32 special. It's in good shape and I ask the price. $550.00. Needless to say I snatched that baby right up. It gets 2 1/2 inch groups with handloads and peep sights at 100 yards. No bad for 80 year old eyes. Every once in a great while you stumble on a gem!!! By the way the Serial number indicates built in 1956.
 
Jim, about five years ago I went to our local gun show just for something to do. I like to get there first thing to see if any private sales offer anything that I can't live without. Well I come upon a table with 7 rifles on it. The fellow is selling off the ranch owner's gun collection. Low and behold sitting on the table was an old Winchester 94. I pick it up to find out it's in .32 special. It's in good shape and I ask the price. $550.00. Needless to say I snatched that baby right up. It gets 2 1/2 inch groups with handloads and peep sights at 100 yards. No bad for 80 year old eyes. Every once in a great while you stumble on a gem!!! By the way the Serial number indicates built in 1956.
Nice! You did indeed find a gem.

JD338
 
That is awesome! I wish you well, with the best of luck this season!
I’ll be going retro this year as well, clothes and all!
I plan on hunting with my Winchester model 94 (not antique as are your firearms) on some of my day hunts, and wearing completely old school wool clothing, and the tried and true lacrosse burley’s.
I’ve actually been transitioning to the old school wool hunting clothing as I’ve been the most comfortable in the past couple of years that I’ve been wearing them. View attachment 24008
I have been hunting down and buying vintage clothes. I love this stuff.
 
As of right now I have the vintage clothes, Western knives, the old S&W guns, WWII Hendsoldt binos that were taken off of a deceased German that are in great shape. Th only thing I am going modern on is the boots. I haven't found suitable footwear thanks to my 13W tender feet. I even found an antique orange hat and vest that were both made in USA to go over the buffalo plaid.
 
One of the most accurate handguns I own is an S&W 38/44 Outdoorsman. It's a replacement for one I stupidly sold many years ago that I used to kill a Black Bear that decided chomping on a young lady was his dinner for the day. I don't remember the load but it was a stiff charge of H2400 and the Lyman 358156GC bullet. Two shots, one dead bear. I don't run really stiff loads in my current 38/44 as I have a .357 Mag. for that purpose. An S&W M28.
Paul B.
 
One of the most accurate handguns I own is an S&W 38/44 Outdoorsman. It's a replacement for one I stupidly sold many years ago that I used to kill a Black Bear that decided chomping on a young lady was his dinner for the day. I don't remember the load but it was a stiff charge of H2400 and the Lyman 358156GC bullet. Two shots, one dead bear. I don't run really stiff loads in my current 38/44 as I have a .357 Mag. for that purpose. An S&W M28.
Paul B.
I keep thinking I need an pre-war outdoorsman but this one have the adjustable micro-sights kind of fills that roll at least for the moment. Nothing classier than an outdoorsman.
 
My first one had that very nice deep bluing job that S&W used on their handguns. That's what my first one had. The one I have now has been refinished in something that looks like parkerizing or something similar. No matter as it's not for sale and even the likes of Bill Gates and friends could ever afford to buy mine.
Paul B.
 
Went walking yesterday, and decided it was a nice day for some pictures.
Beautiful day strolling around some cut-overs.
Last pic is a really nice scrape on an entry trail to one of the cut-overs.
I do have a sling for my 94 but it was rattling too much so I put it in the back game pocket of my wool Jac-shirt.

IMG_6712.jpegIMG_6713.jpeg
IMG_6714.jpegIMG_6715.jpeg
 
I always thought the winchester 32 special a great cartridge/ rifle combination, as was the 25/35. I don’t think there is a firearm in existence that carries as well as a Winchester 92 or 94.
I recently catalogued the Majors guns; He had a 38/44. There were also photos from at least 40 different countries he deployed to over his career as well as the 4 deployments to Afganistan. Apparently he thought those in charge of supply for the Rangers had overlooked the utility of the S&W 29 in 44 mag and the M14.
I have four of the Stormy Cromers, but I only have one old filson wool coat, it’s pretty well shot.
I just finished my first cup of coffee, it’s 0530. These discussions are better served I would think of an evening; a fire, bourbon and branch and old friends.
 
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