Gentlemen, interesting thread here. I am a believer in ball myself, but I only base that on what I have read and heard. Telackey - I read something interesting regarding the auto/revolver dependability deal: Jeff Cooper wrote of a canoe trip he took through a particularly bad part of Mexico. He took a savage lever gun, a shotgun and his trusty 1911. Among others he convinced his family doctor to accompany him on the trip also for some adventure, but also so there was a medical man with them out in the boonies. Anyway, the doctor brought along a wheelgun. The doctor was thinking (as I would have too) that being in the river on and off and camping the revolver would be a much more dependable piece. Every night Mr. Cooper would clean both the guns. The 1911 he would just give a standard cleaning to to get out the gunk, but the revolver had to be taken completely apart as often it was so packed with grit that the cylinder wouldn't even turn when the trigger was pulled. Now, I, personally don't have any firsthand knowledge about this, as I have never had a similar experience, but it was interesting to me as I had thought the wheelgun was the be-all, end-all of dependability. I think if I was faced with a similar journey I would pick a glock 20 or a 1911 and not a revolver. Of course this is just walter mitty stuff, as I have no plans to be chest deep in water and mud with my gun; but - you never know where you're going to find yourself in just a few minutes. Anyway, I invite your comments on this if you find it interesting.
**Edited to add this second comment-
David, I agree with you that ball is very effective. When I have this conversation with myself I usually come to the conclusion that I can't have my cake and eat it too. Meaning I will probably never be able to know that the round I fire will tear through car doors and windows if necessary, but yet always stop just on the farside of the attackers torso. Because of course that is what I want. I want a nuclear weapon that only disables the one person who is trying to kill me and then stops without hurting anyone else. Often, for me, the best is not the most effective; but rather the best suited to the situation. I choose ball ammo for carry right now, but with different dynamics of bystanders and potential place of confrontation, I would choose a HP, not so much to inflict greater damage, but as a means of slowing that projectile after it strikes. Of course, if I always know what is behind what I'm shooting at this becomes less problematic, but I still think it bears consideration. I invite your comments. Jake
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A bad attitude or unsettled mind will destroy focus, guaranteeing failure regardless of training and preparation.
- Mark F. Twight, "Extreme Alpinism"
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Jake Salyards on 2001-06-17 11:16 ]</font>