Cowboy Buck's Review on Dam Road Gun Shop

COWBOY BUCK DAM ROAD GUN SHOP REVIEW

DAM ROAD GUN SHOP REVIEW

The best gun shop in Wisconsin is tucked away out in the country not far from the small town of Delavan, Wi. Delavan is the picture of small town America, a picturesque little town with awesome family owned restaurants and other business'. The kind of places where you can get to know the owners and staff, eat a meal that you actually get full on, see families and groups of friends visiting. It reminds me of a northern Wisconsin town or what my home town used to be. 

Just a few miles out of town is Dam Road Gun Shop. The first time I went there I thought it was to small too have much, but then I stepped inside and was shocked by all the shooting, hunting, reloading equipment and more that I saw. Most of all, I saw a lot of guns and I don't mean the usual overstock of the moments "In Gun" that bring out everyone that wants to be with the in crowd. What I mean is that I saw a very wide variety of guns, from antiques and really good used guns to the most expensive Sig Sauers and everything in between.

Please don't let the small building fool you, there are over 5,000 guns on the property. If you don't see what you want, ask, because chances are they have it and Mike Palenski (the owner) will know just where it is. Also, ammo like crazy, even during the ammo shortage. If your a newbie and wouldn't know a musket from an AK, just ask, Mike and and his son Tom or other staff members like Dale and Steve, they will be happy to explain and answer any question. They DON'T talk down to you like your an idiot (we've all been in to many gun shops like that), but Dam Road isn't that way. They have spent many an hour explaining scopes, black powder guns and numerous other things with me.

 Remington 700 CDL Classic Deluxe 30-06 Rifle 

A Beautiful Leather and Deer Hair Rifle Strap

for my Remington 700 CDL Classic Deluxe 30-06

both bought at Dam Road Gun Shop

They even carry a very wide array of SASS, Cowboy Action Shooting and Re-enactment Guns and ammo. Mike is into SASS shooting. There is a very impressive selection of hunting rifles, scopes, ammo and gear. I just got a beautiful Remington 700 CDL Classic Deluxe 30-06 Lefty with Leupold scope and a beautiful leather sling for this up-coming deer season as well as ammo.

This is a collage of my deer hunting set up, 

everything in the photo, except the Buck Knife, 

came from Dam Road Gun Shop

It is all very cool for a gun shop to have such a wide selection of firearms, but as we all know that doesn't do much good if the prices are too high for you to buy them. That is not the case at Dam Road though. Mike's prices are not only below the MSRP, but well below any gun shop I've ever been in. I've bought many guns from them and not one time did I ever feel I paid too much. As a matter of fact, I always feel that I have gotten a great price. I've never dickered over a price, 1- because they are fair prices and 2- because I know that if there is anything wrong with the gun, Mike will make it right. 

One incident with Dam Road that I will never forget was the time I had decided to buy a Smith and Wesson 500 Magnum, so I started reading everything I could find about the gun as I usually do before buying any gun. As I was studying, I had decided on the 4 inch barrel version and saw on the Smith & Wesson website that a Special Limited Big Rock Edition with a grizzly bear head on the frame and bear paws on the cylinder. When I saw that revolver, I knew I had to have it, so I started checking around the web only to find out that the big wheel gun was out of stock everywhere. I called S&W and they didn't know when or if Big Rock would be ordering anymore to be made or not. Frustrated, I started calling a ton of big time gun shops, but no luck. Keep in mind that I had never asked Dam Road about any limited edition firearms up to this point. After deciding that the bear edition wasn't to be had, I called Tom, Mike's son, and asked if they had any 4 inch barrel 500 Mags in stock and he said they did, so I headed on up. When I get there Tom opens the bright green case and lo and behold there sits my new Smith & Wesson 500 Magnum Big Rock Grizzly Edition. I smiled so big that Tom asked me what was up. So I told him the story and he started laughing. Needless to say, I was happier than a coon in a campground.

The 500 Mag on the counter Dam Road

Smith & Wesson 500 Magnum

Big Rock Grizzly Edition

Another example is when I decided I wanted to buy a 1911, I researched and decided that I wanted a Remington 1911 R1. I called Mike and he said he had a Commemorative Edition brand new. I was really surprised that he had one. 

In 2011 Remington started making 1911 pistols again, they made them during World War 1, along with Singer Sewing Machine Company, Remington Rand Typewriter Company among others. The 1911 was a Colt pistol, but due to the amount needed during WW1 and WW2, Colt couldn't meet the demands by themselves. Therefore Colt sub-contracted 1911 pistol production to other companies to help Colt supply the United States Military with the side arm. During the two World Wars roughly 1,968,533 1911 Pistols were produced by Colt, Remington and other United States Companies. A staggering amount. No wonder Colt didn't have the facilities to produce them all.

Remington hadn't made a 1911 model pistol since WW1, but in 2011 on the 100th birthday of John Browning's greatest invention, Remington announced that they were going to start making them in several different models, two of which would be Commemorative Editions. There is the edition like mine with special engraving, Commemorative 1911 - 2011 engraving, match grade barrel, special grips, Special 1911 utility tool, Certificate of Authenticity and more. All contained in a Special Limited Edition Package. The other was basically the same, but with real gold inlays.

Both of these Commemorative Editions were believed to be completely sold out years ago. However this summer, 2014, Mike still had a new, unused, unopened one. So I jumped at the opportunity and asked Mike if he would hold it for me, which he did, and I told him I would be right up to buy it. I was and still am, one very happy man. The Remington 1911 R1 is the best, most accurate pistol I have ever shot or owned.

REMINGTON 1911 R1 CENTENNIAL .45 ACP

The best and most accurate pistol I have ever shot.

They also offer gunsmith services and Mike does a great job. I had him work on a 1959-1960 J.C. Higgens Model 101-540 12 gauge, side by side, double barrel shotgun sold by Sears, Roebuck and Company at their stores. (Just like the one my Grampa owned, I've even nicknamed that cherished gun Grampa) Mike did an awesome job for a very inexpensive price. Scope mounting, bore sighting are also available.

My Grampa shotgon is my 1959-1960 J.C. Higgens Sears, Robuck and Co. Model 101-5401 12 gauge, 

Double Barrel, Side by Side Shotgun

( These were a Stevens Model 311 made by Stevens Firearm Co. for Sears )

In closing Dam Road Gun Shop is one of those American places where you can go to shot the bull with the guys, swap stories or information. All the while shopping, confident that your getting good prices on quality firearms, ammo and equipment. Along with advice or guidance that you can count on.

I am changing my rating system to 1 to 7 shells, 7 being the being the best.

I am giving Dam Road Gun Shop a 7 Shell Rating

         

CowboyBucks SIG Sauer P238 Review

CowboyBucks SIG Sauer P238 Review

I used too have a SIG Sauer P239 Rainbow or Titanium Rainbow in 40 S&W, I sold it and soon regretted it. I am a man, I'm not a sissy boy or a girl, but I love the Rainbow Titanium slide and parts on a Sig. I tried buying another one, but sadly found out that Sig is no longer making the P239 and may stop making the Rainbow and the Diamond Plate, along with some other finishes. I even saw a post on the Internet that had a Sig big wig apologizing for ever making them, which I think is ridiculous. They want to devote more attention to 9mm pistols. All the world needs is more black 9mm pistols, I'm being sarcastic. Many 9mm pistols are very good pistols, please don't get me wrong, but there are already thousands of different models out there, we don't need more. Heaven forbid that a company makes something different. People bought the Rainbow guns like crazy, they have always been hard to find, because people were buying them about as fast as shops or sites got them in. I love SIG's, I think they are among the best pistols made, but apologizing for offering something different is ridiculous. Especially when people are buying them. I'm done ranting now, sorry, but I needed to get that off my chest.

Meanwhile, back to the review. LOL. The P238 is a perfectly down sized 1911 chambered in .380 or what some people call a 9mm short. A perfect concealed carry or even a pocket gun. A person gets the best of three worlds, the proven performance of a 1911, a perfect conceal carry size and the quality of SIG Sauer. SIG also did some great improvements, such Siglite night sites, all metal construction, a great smooth trigger and a thumb safety.

The Siglite night sites are no slouch either. Most glow in the dark things have to be charged by light and then the glowing fades away, but the Siglite night sites don't need charged at all, the just glow always. I have had this P238 (and the P239 that I used own) sit in my gun safe for weeks and when I open the safe they are still glowing as bright as before. Another couple of pluses on the sites are that they are 3 dot line up, so they give a fast target acquisition, and the back dots are set wide for a great site picture.

Between myself, my Fiance, my Daughters and future son in law, we have put a lot of rounds through this pistol and not had even one jam or misfire. There is very little recoil thanks to the tight tolerances and all metal construction. My youngest Daughter was a first time shooter and loved it so much that she now wants one. They all did good with target shooting. They love the rainbow finish, which I do too. The Rosewood grips are checkered for a non slip grip, look very nice and are a good thickness for both men and women. The grips for most men with the standard metal 6 round in the box magazine, won't fit the pinkie finger. I bought the extended magazine, which holds 7 rounds (shown in the pictures), and then it will fit my pinkie finger. The extra clip was $40 dollars, but I would have wanted an extra magazine anyways. The Beavertail on the body protects from the slide from hitting your hand.

                                                                          In the case.

Included in the case are the SIG Sauer P238, a 6 round magazine, a SIG Sauer holster, a gun lock, a lubricant sample and all literature.

I give the SIG Sauer P238 a 5 out of 5 stars

Cost-5- SIG Sauer pistols are not cheap, but then they are also made to highly exacting quality                     engineering, machining, and assembly standards. Retail on this gun is about $700 dollars, with an actual                        store price of $625. That is not cheap for a .380 or any concealed carry pistol, however, the old                      saying, "You get what you pay for", does apply here. The reason people conceal carry is because we may need to defend ourselves and our family some day. If that day ever comes, and I pray to                  God that it doesn't, I don't want to be hoping that my firearm will work properly. I want to know                  it will and with a SIG I have that confidence.

Ammo-5- They is a huge variety of .380 ammo out there and even the best stuff is inexpensive. A .380 is a shorter 9mm cartridge and some of the better ammo, especially defense ammo is awesome. some meet or exceed the FBI standards of penetrating 4 layers of denim and 12 inches of ballistic gel. For example, some of the best tests have all, except one, contained Hornady XTP bullets, even though the cartridges were made by some other companies, but all, except one had XTP bullets in the cartridge. I don't have a ballistcs gelatin testing sight, however I study a lot before I rely on a brand or cartridge/bullet. Through my studies I have found the best to be Hornady Customs,  Fiocchi Extrema, Precision One XTP and a little less effective, but still a very great performer, even though it is an old design (Oldy, but a goody) Federal Premium Hydra- Shock JHP. 

Shootability-5- The P238 shoots great, has easy sight acquisition and the sights were right on straight out of the box. A very sharp, smooth, easy trigger with a nice travel length. The slide grips and cocks easy. The recoil is really not much at all, even for my Fiancé or Daughters, all of which are tiny women and beginning shooters really liked it. My youngest daughter wants a P238 Rainbow of her own. They could put 50 rounds through this pistol and still be having fun. The Stainless Steel slide with Titanium coating and aluminum frame help with recoil and give it a solid feel.

Weight and Size-5- Weighing in at 15.2 ounces empty and barely over a pound when fully loaded. It is comfortable to carry all day long any where on your person or in a purse. At 5.5 inches long, 3.9 inches high and 1.1 inch wide, this is a very easy to conceal pistol.

Additional Optional Accessories-5- There are a lot of accessories for the P238, many concealed carry options, such as in the pocket, in the waist band, ankle, in the purse, a holster that looks like a wallet, garter belt and even a bra holster. For open carry there is the holster that SIG includes in the box, leather, fabric, it's all out there.

All in all, the SIG Sauer P238 is a great pistol.

SMITH & WESSON 550 MAGNUM REVIEW

COWBOYBUCKS REVIEW OF THE 

SMITH & WESSON 500 MAGNUM

I first saw the Smith & Wesson 550 Magnum Hand Cannon a my favorite gun shop about several months ago, but didn't pay it much attention. Then I saw a Youtube video by fateofdestinee (She is one of my favorite Youtube gun video bloggers) and was pretty impressed. So the next time I went into the gun shop I asked to see one, it was the 8 3/8 barrel version and it left me wanting one. However, when I'm going to drop that kind of cash for a gun, I want to do some research first.

Needless to say, as the gun guy (you can insert addict, nerd or just plain gun lover) that I am, I went home and got right on the computer to start my research. Recurring terms like, " Most powerful production handgun in the world", " Hand Cannon ", " Can drop anything you'll ever hunt that walks the earth", and "Smith & Wesson had to invent the all new X Frame just to handle the power" as well as muzzle velocities that would make the space shuttle envy the 500, it got my attention even more. If your a gun guy or girl, you know what I mean.

When I went to Smith & Wesson's website to look at the different models, it didn't take me long to find the one I wanted. Although all the models are beauties, I wanted the Big Rock Exclusive model, with the laser engraved bear head and paw prints. The search was on. After a long search on the Internet, calling Smith & Wesson, calling Big Rock Sports Distribution and contacting a lot of Wisconsin gun shops all with no luck. The general answer being that the model I wanted has been on back order for a long time. I decided that I would just buy the common S&W 500 Mag with a 4 inch barrel, so I called the first gun shop I was at to see if they had a 4 inch, they did. I went there to look at it and when the guy opened the box, there was the Big Rock Edition I had been looking for. 

I wasted no time filling out my paper work and buying the gun, 2 days later it was home and the next day (Fathers Day) we went shooting. I used Hornady 300 grain Customs for the test shots. range ammo pretty much doesn't exist for the 500 Mag yet. Therefore the ammo is a bit costly at Fifty some bucks for 20 rounds, but proves to be well worth it.

I must admit that I was a bit nervous about my first shot, however the 50 caliber S&W Magnum is designed so well that it does not give the sharp kick that I expected. It really is more of a push back into your palms, the arms and and back or stance. A proper stance and grip is a must with this gun, it not for the beginner or the faint of heart, however I have shot guns with way more sharp, painful kick. There really is nothing painful about the kick. The noise even with earplugs is very loud, the muzzle flash only last less than a second, but is very noticeable.

We were videoing the shots and I freeze framed the muzzle flash in the picture below. It is quite the flame thrower.

                                                                 A picture just for fun.

The entrance hole in my shooting backstop was roughly the size of the bullet, however the exit hole was huge. The muzzle flip is surprisingly minimal, thanks to the Muzzle brake, special grip and Smith & Wesson's excellent X Frame design. Sight realignment is pretty easy once I got over my nervousness of shooting it, which only took a few shots. I then tried shooting one handed, and although a handful, is manageable but not recommended unless in an emergency. Such as a charging bear, rhino, elephant or dinosaur. lol.

My first actual range or target time was the second time shooting the 500 Magnum. It went very well I thought for shooting such a new gun and will get better with time. Shown is the target I used, the buzzard being the bulls eye, then I photo-shopped a regular target over it with each line representing 1 inch from the bulls eye. My closest being about 3/4 of an inch and farthest being roughly 3 1/2 of an inch.

The 500 Magnum drew a lot of attention at the range, with one guy saying he could feel the air move 6 to 7 lanes away. Two guys came right up and asked what I was shooting, with many more onlookers and people wanting to take a look at the revolver.

Out of a 5 star rating system with 5 being the best, I give the Smith & Wesson 500 Magnum 4 inch is 4 3/4   stars.

Cost - 5 stars - The gun cost is very reasonable, the is a lot of engineering, extensive machining, specialized
                         Hogue grip and interchangeable muzzle brake cylinders.

Ammo - 4 stars- There is a pretty fair amount of high brand defense and hunting ammo out there, someone                              needs to make some less expensive range ammo.

Shoot-ability - 5 stars - Surprisingly comfortable shooting and sight re-acquisition is very reasonable for a 50                                      caliber handgun. it isn't really fair to compare this gun to a .380 or .45.

Weight and Size - 5 stars - While it is not ankle gun by any means, for hunting or concealed - open carry the                                           weight and size is very nice when you consider this is a 50 caliber handgun.

Additional optional accessories - 5 - The amount of holsters, sights, red dot, scopes and even shoulder slings                                                         (for the bigger models and models with rails) is huge and varies in price                                                         from inexpensive to very expensive. Which is true with most popular                                                             models of firearms.