Summer of Love 2?

Based on what's going on in Los Angeles now, it looks like Summer of Love 2: Electric Boogaloo may be kicking off. Ten things you should do if you live in or near a city controlled by Democrats:

1. Make sure you're armed for self defense.
2. Check and replenish your fire extinguishers.
3. Check and replenish your first aid kits.
4. Keep all vehicles gassed up.
5. If you've been putting off vehicle maintenance, do it ASAP.
6. If you've been putting off medical or dental procedures, do them ASAP.
7. Have sufficient water, food, and other household supplies on hand in case you need to hunker down.
8. If you don't have a get home bag / sustainment bag in your vehicle, build one and put it there.
9. Keep cell phones charged.
10. Do an area study. See Mike Shelby's (@grayzoneintel) book, The Area Intelligence Handbook. This will help you identify potential threats and resources in your area.

.32 Snap Caps

Last week I went looking for snap caps in .32 S&W. I wanted a set I could use in anything from my antique S&W No.1-1/2 Single Action up to my guns in .32 H&R, or a .327 Federal if I ever get one.

On eBay I found the seller Lynx Arsenal which had what I need. I ordered a set of 10 and they came within a week. The "bullets" and "primers" appear to be 3D printed. They are loaded into Starline brass.

I've been using them for dry fire practice and so far they are holding up. If the "primers" ever break down I'll replace them with RTV silicone, which I've done in the past.

Snubbie Skill Assessment

Courtesy of American Fighting Revolver on Facebook, I came across this Snub Skill Assessment from The Shooting Wire.

In connection with a shot timer, this is a nice way to see how competent you are with a snubbie revolver. Methinks it would work as well with pocket autos like the Ruger LCP and Keltec P32.

The assessment uses NRA B8 centers for targets. You can download a couple variants of the B8 center from Targets4Free, here.

Many trainers are now using B8 centers in classes, because it approximates the size of where you want to place shots on an adult male in a defensive shooting encounter.

Some Chronograph Results with .32 S&W Long, .32 H&R Magnum, and .38 Special

This week I've been off and thus had time to hit the range a few times. I've taken a few revolvers and run several loads over my Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph.

The Garmin is so compact and easy to use I just leave it in my range bag.

Among the guns I've taken is a new S&W Model 432UC. This is an Airweight J-Frame in .32 H&R Magnum. My intention for this is to replace my 1990s-vintage Model 632 Airweight as a carry gun. The 632 is a collectible, but more importantly, was a gift from my late father. I wouldn't want it taken into evidence should I ever need to use it.

I ran a few loads over the Garmin from the 432UC.

Factory loads:

High Desert Cartridge Company .32 H&R Magnum 98 grain wadcutter:

811 FPS / 143 ft. lbs.

Black Hills .32 H&R Magnum 85 grain JHP:

948 FPS / 170 ft. lbs.

A couple handloads:

.32 H&R Magnum, Lee TL314 90 grain SWC

3.6 grains Accurate No.2

930 FPS / 173 ft. lbs. ME

.32 S&W Long, Lee TL314 90 grain SWC

2.2 grains Titegroup

682 FPS / 93 ft. lbs. ME

Of these, the HDCC 98 grain wadcutter is my choice in a carry load. It's very controllable in the Airweight and should give plenty of penetration, enough to poke a 5/16" diameter hole well into an attacker's vitals.

I also chronographed some .38 Special.

Colt Detective Special 2"

Hornady 148 grain HBWC over 2.7 grains of Red Dot

697 FPS / 160 ft. lbs ME

Colt Detective Special 2"

Hornady 148 grain HBWC over 2.9 grains of Accurate No.2

750 FPS / 185 ft. lbs. ME

S&W Model 66-2 2.5"

Hornady 148 grain HBWC over 2.9 grains of Accurate No.2

748 FPS / 184 ft. lbs.

NOTE: The Colt is chambered for .38 Special while the S&W 66-2 is chambered for .357 Magnum. The longer chamber with .38 cartridges leads to some velocity loss.

S&W Model 15-3 4":

Hornady 148 grain HBWC

3.0 grains HP-38

727 FPS / 174 ft. lbs. ME

S&W Model 1905, 4th Change .32-20 4"

Desperado Cowboy Bullets 96 grain RNFP over 3.5 grains Titegroup

792 FPS / 134 ft. lbs. ME

S&W Model 10-8 3"

Hornady 158 grain LSWC over 3.5 grains Titegroup

726 FPS / 185 ft. lbs. ME

This load does about 775 FPS from a 4" barrel.

I've found that 3.5 grains of Titegroup under a 158 grain bullet in .38 Special approximates factory loads and is both accurate and pleasant to shoot in K-Frame and larger guns. The same bullet with 3.5 grains of Bullseye is roughly equivalent but in 2025, Bullseye is nearly impossible to find. In contrast, Titegroup is readily available.

Black Powder .32 S&W Loads

Today I loaded up a box of .32 S&W ammo to shoot in an antique S&W No.1-1/2 Single Action revolver that was built in 1878. I cast the bullets yesterday using the mold built into the antique Ideal loading tool. Powder charge was 5 grains of Swiss 3Fg black powder (original .32 S&W BP loads held 9 grains but modern solid head cases have less capacity than the old balloon head cases).

The gun is 147 years old but was properly cared for and works just as well as it did when it left Smith & Wesson's factory.

Guns for Jews v.50 Now Available

The latest version of my free PDF book Guns for Jews v5.0 is now available!

Version 5.0 brings an increased emphasis on revolvers because of ongoing antigun legislation in states with large Jewish populations. Revolvers may be easier to get than semiautomatic pistols in those states. I’ve also added information about defensive drills, dry fire practice, a brief discussion of the use of deadly force in America, expanded the discussion of mindset, added a section about performing an area study, added a section on communications, and added an appendix about putting together a sustainment/get-home/bugout bag.

Guns for Jews v5.0.

Yom Hashoah 2025

Without arms, "Never Again" is a mere plea. It should be a warning. See my PDF: Guns for Jews.

High Standard Sentinel R-108

This week I picked up another snub, this time a High Standard Sentinel R-108 in .22LR with a 2.4" barrel. It was made sometime between 1967 and the mid-1970s. I'd been watching it for awhile on Gunbroker. It had failed to garner any bids through a couple auction cycles so I was able to win it for the minimum bid of $329. (Yeah, they used to be a lot cheaper. Like everything else, prices went through the roof during COVID and never came back down.)

This is my second Sentinel. I've written about my first one previously. A few years ago I bought a nickeled R-101 with a 3" barrel. It sold me on the basic design, which is a lightweight, aluminum-framed DA revolver that holds 9 rounds in the cylinder, which is just a hair larger in diameter than that of a S&W J-Frame.

Unlike the R-101 which has a one piece grip, the R-108 has a more conventional two piece grip. Also, it has a spring loaded ejector. The R-101's ejector was not spring loaded as a cost saving measure, but due to customer demand HS introduced that feature with the R-102.

The R-108 was definitely used but well cared for. It had a bit of crud on it but it cleaned up quickly. It even came with the original box and papers.

Overall, the HS feels a bit closer in size to a Colt D-Frame than a J-Frame. Here it is with a 1974 Colt Detective Special.

And next to my 1990s-vintage S&W Model 632 Airweight:

The SA trigger is good while the DA is heavy, but smooth. The trigger itself is grooved which is not ideal for DA shooting. I took the edge off the top of the serrations on my R-101 and plan to do the same to the R-108.

The sights on these are much better than most snubs. The front blade is wide and easy to pick up while the rear is drift adjustable, not just a groove in the topstrap.

My primary snubs for carry will remain my old S&W Model 632 Airweight and a Colt Detective Special, but the R-108 will make a fun plinker and a light recoiling gun for if/when I need that, as I have in the past due to thumb surgery. In that case it will be stoked with either CCI Stingers or Federal Punch.