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The hold is the samefor auto or revolver.Clint uses the “Push-Pull” of both handswhen possible tohelp stabilize andcontrol the gun.REALITYCHECKClint SmithBackAndForthIgrewup with revolvers and eventhough everyone tells me they arearchaic I still like shooting them, andI never feel under-armed if I carry one.I like revolvers, and I especially like thebig ones. A reader asked if I had troublegoing from one type of action to theother so I thought I might give you anidea of what I carry, and why, and if Ihave any issues transitioning from autoto revolver — and back again.Clint feels transitioningfrom wheelguns toautos and back againis simply a matterof practice —simply do it.TMThe Pistol Hands-down, upfront I carry the 1911 full-sized gun. I haveand carry, but not all at once (or not all atonce most of the time) a Les Baer, JasonBurton, Dave Williams/Springfield, LukeVolkmann and a Wilson Combat. WhenI teach I use the Springfield because ofthe rail and its usefulness in the low-lightTerminator tactical runs. The Luke Volkmann1911 is on my nightstand with its X300light. The Jason Burton gun is as special asit’s very well done; and the Baer guns are asoft spot for me as the Baer shop has madegoing on 5,000 Thunder Ranch 1911s.HolSTErs I use a Milt Sparks55BN model of a Bruce Nelson IWB designS&W 325ThunderRanch.45ACPMdl. 327.38/.357MagnumFive Shot 327ankle rigFor holsters, thekey is qualityand consistency.FIRST-PERSONTHOUGHTS ONSURVIVING INTHE REAL WORLDand I have done so most of the last 30 years. I’ve used this style of holster more than any other type in mywhole shooting career. I have both rail and non-rail versions that are carried strong side, and are supportedby at least three to six magazines depending on, well, I don’t know what reasons. John Ralston of FiveShot Leather makes my newest custom holsters, with the exception of a few real special Mitch Rosen rigs.The Revolver Nowadays I carry a S&W 325 and/or Model 327 revolver. the 325 is a4" barreled gun made up from the Performance Center with no hammer spur and the trigger only worksin DA mode. the adjustable sight is replaced by a fixed rear, and the gold dot front sight is J-B Weldedinto the slot to keep the thing from falling out in active use. the 325 is a six-shot .45 ACP gun made up asthe thunder Ranch Special, and is carried in full moon clips mode with spare ammo the same.The 327 is the 8-shot revolver chambered in .38/.357 calibers which I use in two formats: a 5"barrel and a smaller 2" version I use as an ankle or pocket gun. the smaller gun has a bobbed hammerspur and the sights are the fixed kind. I carry the .38/.357 8-shot speed loaders because they arebetter than the cheesy moon things for the 8-shot guns. In the revolver mode I carry three to six speedloaders, more often favoring six simply because applying the system under duress I think I might dumpsome live ammunition by accident. We’re not always marvelous under stress.The Transition I don’t have a problem transitioning since I shoot both kinds ofguns almost everyday. I see no problem for the shooter other than staying current. Knowing one has adifferent kind of trigger, you simply need to train to your gun at hand.Carrying is no issue for me. Both types are basically carried in Summer Special holsters and theonly other option is an ankle holster for the revolver, and it’s most often a back-up gun. If a backupgun is carried I think it should be shot every time you go to the range. I try to shoot a cylinder or twothrough the back-up gun each time I go, mostly so I remember it’s in place.Loading/Spare Ammunition I always carry spare ammo on bothsides of the body in pouches or in both front pockets — just in case. The semiauto reloads with theleft hand and a revolver could be loaded with either, but I generally hold the opened cylinder revolverin the left hand and load with the right hand, but much of this is over-engineered. You actually shouldpractice loading with both hands.Transition Why? I transition from one type to another because I can. I can’tsay the concept is good for everyone, then again not everyone trains, and most people don’t train asmuch as they declare they do. Most people simply go to the range and shoot. Shooting is like qualificationsfor cops. Qualifications are not training, they are quals to punch an administrative ticket. training isanother category to develop, nurture and acquire skills. Understanding the difference between shootingand training might be more important than whether I carry a semiauto or a revolver. Bothtypes of guns are viable tools in the hands of trained people. And therein lies the rub, eh?For more info: www.americanhandgunner.com/productindex.htmlSpark’sSummerSpecialFiveShotLeatherIWBRosen IWB rig*28 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • MARCH/APRIL 2010