In an unprecedented display of member service, my Club actually called me today to say my Grizzly had arrived. In about 15 minutes my transfer was complete.
I actually thought I had won the auction for one with an ambidextrous, plated thumb safety, and that was the only thing I was a bit disappointed with. After checking the auction photos again, what I got was exactly as advertised: a black thumb safety, one side only. Just what I wanted.
This gun is in incredible condition overall. A couple of tiny spots of corrosion on the top of the beaver tail, but that's about all I see--no signs of wear anywhere including holster wear. No signs of use, actually.
Anyway, around this forum and others, a number of gross misunderstandings regarding this weapon seem to have surfaced. Not having had experienced the gun until today, I certainly didn't feel qualified to clear up any ill-informed notions. However, at this point in time I'm able to address a few of the more common points of confusion, which I'll do now:
1. "It's too heavy". No, it isn't.
2. "It's too big." No, it's not.
3. "It has too much recoil." No, it doesn't.
Now that these matters have been adequately put to rest, I'd like to move on.
Whoever shipped this Grizzly threw in about 20 rds of factory Winchester ammo with it, and I had about 100 rds of my own loads in a mix of 200 gr XTPs, 200 gr cast round-nost flat points, and cast round nose. None of my lead loads fed worth a crap, all of them getting hung up in the chamber. My impression and that of another highly experienced shooter was that the barrel apparently has little or no leade. The truncated code XTPs fed flawlessly. My bullets jammed in tight enough that the extractor rode up over the rim when I held the slide and hit the frame forward--I would not extract the round from the chamber. Though I'd broken the extractor actually. Fortunately, not.
The gun was an absolute pleasure to shoot, although my light 44 Mag equivalent loads definitely felt more like hot 10mm. I'd load those up a full grain or two and use them for everyday fun at the range, though. The factory Winchesters had considerably more oomph, flash and bang, but I felt it would be no issue to fire several boxes of that in a sitting.
I was expecting the gun feel heavier and 'fatter', not just in the grip, but overall feel. I was a bit concerned it might be too light and that I'd underestimated how hard it would be to control. I think not. Granted, I didn't have full-up loads, but I think I have a good idea of where this is going. I could'n be happier unless I could afford a second one--no complaints at all and in fact I love everything about it.
At 15 yards freestyle I only managed a 4" group--maybe 3"--but I'm extremely confident with practice and loads that come up to speed, that's fixable. The Winchester factory ammo definitely printed a tighter group than my handloads, some of which were actually under the minimum recommended charge. I'll run through my cast loads and seat those all a little deeper, maybe as much as 0.020", and see if I have more success. I did field strip it and inspected the barrel, and sure enough those lands start right out of the gate--there's virtually no leade at all.
For handloaders who 1) prefer auto pistols over revolvers, 2) like to shoot big bore handgun with a little more oomph than average, 3) are okay with or love the 1911 and 4) who appreciate a first-rate machined firearm rendered in cold steel...this may be a dream come true. It sure is for me.
Anyway...thanks to everyone for twisting my arm until I gave in and bought this gun. This is not one I'll ever regret.
I actually thought I had won the auction for one with an ambidextrous, plated thumb safety, and that was the only thing I was a bit disappointed with. After checking the auction photos again, what I got was exactly as advertised: a black thumb safety, one side only. Just what I wanted.
This gun is in incredible condition overall. A couple of tiny spots of corrosion on the top of the beaver tail, but that's about all I see--no signs of wear anywhere including holster wear. No signs of use, actually.
Anyway, around this forum and others, a number of gross misunderstandings regarding this weapon seem to have surfaced. Not having had experienced the gun until today, I certainly didn't feel qualified to clear up any ill-informed notions. However, at this point in time I'm able to address a few of the more common points of confusion, which I'll do now:
1. "It's too heavy". No, it isn't.
2. "It's too big." No, it's not.
3. "It has too much recoil." No, it doesn't.
Now that these matters have been adequately put to rest, I'd like to move on.
Whoever shipped this Grizzly threw in about 20 rds of factory Winchester ammo with it, and I had about 100 rds of my own loads in a mix of 200 gr XTPs, 200 gr cast round-nost flat points, and cast round nose. None of my lead loads fed worth a crap, all of them getting hung up in the chamber. My impression and that of another highly experienced shooter was that the barrel apparently has little or no leade. The truncated code XTPs fed flawlessly. My bullets jammed in tight enough that the extractor rode up over the rim when I held the slide and hit the frame forward--I would not extract the round from the chamber. Though I'd broken the extractor actually. Fortunately, not.
The gun was an absolute pleasure to shoot, although my light 44 Mag equivalent loads definitely felt more like hot 10mm. I'd load those up a full grain or two and use them for everyday fun at the range, though. The factory Winchesters had considerably more oomph, flash and bang, but I felt it would be no issue to fire several boxes of that in a sitting.
I was expecting the gun feel heavier and 'fatter', not just in the grip, but overall feel. I was a bit concerned it might be too light and that I'd underestimated how hard it would be to control. I think not. Granted, I didn't have full-up loads, but I think I have a good idea of where this is going. I could'n be happier unless I could afford a second one--no complaints at all and in fact I love everything about it.
At 15 yards freestyle I only managed a 4" group--maybe 3"--but I'm extremely confident with practice and loads that come up to speed, that's fixable. The Winchester factory ammo definitely printed a tighter group than my handloads, some of which were actually under the minimum recommended charge. I'll run through my cast loads and seat those all a little deeper, maybe as much as 0.020", and see if I have more success. I did field strip it and inspected the barrel, and sure enough those lands start right out of the gate--there's virtually no leade at all.
For handloaders who 1) prefer auto pistols over revolvers, 2) like to shoot big bore handgun with a little more oomph than average, 3) are okay with or love the 1911 and 4) who appreciate a first-rate machined firearm rendered in cold steel...this may be a dream come true. It sure is for me.
Anyway...thanks to everyone for twisting my arm until I gave in and bought this gun.
This is not one I'll ever regret.
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