I recently passed through Waco, Texas and had a chance to kick one more item off the bucket list: a visit to the Texas Ranger Museum there.
As a little boy in the 1950s one of my favorite TV shows was “Tales of the Texas Rangers.” I can’t remember a single plot-line now, but I do recall the strong emphasis on old-fashioned ideals of justice…and I thought it was pretty cool that each Ranger carried a pair of fancy Smith & Wessons.
Live and learn: I hadn’t known until the visit that some two dozen Texas Rangers died at the Alamo in 1836. 
I expect the many horsemen and horsewomen among the Backwoods Home readership would have spent more time than I did on the fabulous display of saddles. In my case, the only bronco I ever owned was a Ford product. As you might imagine, I spent more time among the impressive gun collection.
These brave men started out with single-shot muzzle-loaders for both their rifles and handguns, which shows how far back the organization goes. They were the first to use revolvers, the Patterson Colt of 1836. Its rapid fire capability proved to be a force multiplier, and Ranger Samuel Walker convinced Samuel Colt to make a larger and more powerful one, the legendary Walker Colt .44. In the latter 1800s, they all but standardized on the Colt Single Action Army revolver and the lever-action Winchester rifle, and when the more powerful box magazine 1895 model came out, they flocked to them so fast that they are prevalent in pictures of Rangers during that period.
The Texas Rangers may also have been the first law enforcement agency to (unofficially) adopt the Colt 1911 semiautomatic pistol as soon as it came out, and it remains hugely popular among the Rangers even today.
Even before that, they were buying semiautomatic rifles as soon as they were 
introduced, the Winchester 1907 and the Remington Model 8 which dates back to 1906. While today’s Rangers are issued .357 SIGs and 5.56mm autoloading rifles, they still follow the tradition of carrying privately-owned, department approved handguns, and the 1911 remains a trademark of the Rangers.
More than perhaps any other agency, the culture of the Rangers encouraged fancy, personalized weapons. Perhaps it was an extension of their historical emphasis on individuality as a means of encouraging superior performance.
The .357 Sig, a classic case of naming something to catch the imagination. Kind of rolls off the tonque doesn’t it?
Check the charts and you will see that it is only 100 fps faster than the .38 super+p using the same bullet. With a case smaller in dia. you can probably stuff more into the same magazine too. The .38 super got a bad rap because it has a semi. rimmed case that didn’t do well with sloppy chambers. Many gunsmiths have made special barrels that allowed the super to headspace on the case mouth which solved the rim problem. The super was introduced in the late ’20s and is a lot easier to reload.
The .357 Sig, a classic case of naming something to catch the imagination. Kind of rolls off the tonque doesn’t it?
Check the charts and you will see that it is only 100 fps faster than the .38 super+p using the same bullet. With a case smaller in dia. you can probably stuff more into the same magazine too. The .38 super got a bad rap because it has a semi. rimmed case that didn’t do well with sloppy chambers. Many gunsmiths have made special barrels that allowed the super to headspace on the case mouth which solved the rim problem. The super was introduced in the late ’20s and is a lot easier to reload.
Randy- your observations are correct about the .38 super v. 357 sig. I would submit that the naming of sig’s offering was more about political correctness than anything else.
During past decades, law enforcement agencies, especially state and local, were attempting to better arm their officers while not running afoul of liberal politicians. These politicians felt that “.45’s” and “magnums” were too brutal and were intended to, shudder, kill. Many departments banned the use of .45’s.
During this same period, departments started to transition to semi-auto handguns in response to incidents like the “Hollywood Shootout” and the FBI fiasco in Florida. Being constrained by political correctness, they were faced with the 9mm being the best, politically correct, option.
I believe Sig recognized this as an opportunity to fill a niche with an improvement over the 9×19 with a cartridge using the 9mm projectile. Calling it 357 caught the attention of officers, but using a .355 (9mm) projectile allowed Rangemasters to convince city councils that it was just a different 9mm. The 38 super, because of the word “super” in its name just didn’t meet the criteria.
I suspect if Glock had promoted the .45 GAP as the “11mm Glock Anemic Pistol” the loading would have had more success with municipal departments. Officers would know the difference, city councils and the average gun buying public, not so much.
Sometimes it’s all in the name.
Randy- your observations are correct about the .38 super v. 357 sig. I would submit that the naming of sig’s offering was more about political correctness than anything else.
During past decades, law enforcement agencies, especially state and local, were attempting to better arm their officers while not running afoul of liberal politicians. These politicians felt that “.45’s” and “magnums” were too brutal and were intended to, shudder, kill. Many departments banned the use of .45’s.
During this same period, departments started to transition to semi-auto handguns in response to incidents like the “Hollywood Shootout” and the FBI fiasco in Florida. Being constrained by political correctness, they were faced with the 9mm being the best, politically correct, option.
I believe Sig recognized this as an opportunity to fill a niche with an improvement over the 9×19 with a cartridge using the 9mm projectile. Calling it 357 caught the attention of officers, but using a .355 (9mm) projectile allowed Rangemasters to convince city councils that it was just a different 9mm. The 38 super, because of the word “super” in its name just didn’t meet the criteria.
I suspect if Glock had promoted the .45 GAP as the “11mm Glock Anemic Pistol” the loading would have had more success with municipal departments. Officers would know the difference, city councils and the average gun buying public, not so much.
Sometimes it’s all in the name.
Randy- your observations are correct about the .38 super v. 357 sig. I would submit that the naming of sig’s offering was more about political correctness than anything else.
During past decades, law enforcement agencies, especially state and local, were attempting to better arm their officers while not running afoul of liberal politicians. These politicians felt that “.45’s” and “magnums” were too brutal and were intended to, shudder, kill. Many departments banned the use of .45’s.
During this same period, departments started to transition to semi-auto handguns in response to incidents like the “Hollywood Shootout” and the FBI fiasco in Florida. Being constrained by political correctness, they were faced with the 9mm being the best, politically correct, option.
I believe Sig recognized this as an opportunity to fill a niche with an improvement over the 9×19 with a cartridge using the 9mm projectile. Calling it 357 caught the attention of officers, but using a .355 (9mm) projectile allowed Rangemasters to convince city councils that it was just a different 9mm. The 38 super, because of the word “super” in its name just didn’t meet the criteria.
I suspect if Glock had promoted the .45 GAP as the “11mm Glock Anemic Pistol” the loading would have had more success with municipal departments. Officers would know the difference, city councils and the average gun buying public, not so much.
Sometimes it’s all in the name.
Randy- your observations are correct about the .38 super v. 357 sig. I would submit that the naming of sig’s offering was more about political correctness than anything else.
During past decades, law enforcement agencies, especially state and local, were attempting to better arm their officers while not running afoul of liberal politicians. These politicians felt that “.45’s” and “magnums” were too brutal and were intended to, shudder, kill. Many departments banned the use of .45’s.
During this same period, departments started to transition to semi-auto handguns in response to incidents like the “Hollywood Shootout” and the FBI fiasco in Florida. Being constrained by political correctness, they were faced with the 9mm being the best, politically correct, option.
I believe Sig recognized this as an opportunity to fill a niche with an improvement over the 9×19 with a cartridge using the 9mm projectile. Calling it 357 caught the attention of officers, but using a .355 (9mm) projectile allowed Rangemasters to convince city councils that it was just a different 9mm. The 38 super, because of the word “super” in its name just didn’t meet the criteria.
I suspect if Glock had promoted the .45 GAP as the “11mm Glock Anemic Pistol” the loading would have had more success with municipal departments. Officers would know the difference, city councils and the average gun buying public, not so much.
Sometimes it’s all in the name.
Randy- your observations are correct about the .38 super v. 357 sig. I would submit that the naming of sig’s offering was more about political correctness than anything else.
During past decades, law enforcement agencies, especially state and local, were attempting to better arm their officers while not running afoul of liberal politicians. These politicians felt that “.45’s” and “magnums” were too brutal and were intended to, shudder, kill. Many departments banned the use of .45’s.
During this same period, departments started to transition to semi-auto handguns in response to incidents like the “Hollywood Shootout” and the FBI fiasco in Florida. Being constrained by political correctness, they were faced with the 9mm being the best, politically correct, option.
I believe Sig recognized this as an opportunity to fill a niche with an improvement over the 9×19 with a cartridge using the 9mm projectile. Calling it 357 caught the attention of officers, but using a .355 (9mm) projectile allowed Rangemasters to convince city councils that it was just a different 9mm. The 38 super, because of the word “super” in its name just didn’t meet the criteria.
I suspect if Glock had promoted the .45 GAP as the “11mm Glock Anemic Pistol” the loading would have had more success with municipal departments. Officers would know the difference, city councils and the average gun buying public, not so much.
Sometimes it’s all in the name.
Dennis – now you have my attention! I watched the Glock .357 SIG video on the link you supplied (excellent link). I didn’t see any recoil that scared me and even though I feel very confident with my Glock, the stopping power of this round has me intrigued now.
Thanks for your time and experience!
Dennis – now you have my attention! I watched the Glock .357 SIG video on the link you supplied (excellent link). I didn’t see any recoil that scared me and even though I feel very confident with my Glock, the stopping power of this round has me intrigued now.
Thanks for your time and experience!
Dennis– you are very perceptive.
I just got done reading an article about a new brand of ammo, called Liberty Civil Defense. They are producing 9×19 and ,380 bullets that are 50 gr. They show that the 9×19 at 2128 fps and the ,380 at 1437 fps. The .40 s&w with a 60 grainer at 2000 fps. The .45 acp with a 78 grainer at over 1900 fps. Bullets are copper HP, no lead. Time will tell.
I think we tend to confuse ammo that is suitable for LEO should also be good for us civilians. Cops may have to punch holes in car bodies etc. I would have a tough time explaining my actions before a jury. If a cop shoots his .357 Sig and the bullet penetrates the bad guy and also an innocent bystander he has the taxpayer to pay for the civil case. I would be left high and dry.
Dennis– you are very perceptive.
I just got done reading an article about a new brand of ammo, called Liberty Civil Defense. They are producing 9×19 and ,380 bullets that are 50 gr. They show that the 9×19 at 2128 fps and the ,380 at 1437 fps. The .40 s&w with a 60 grainer at 2000 fps. The .45 acp with a 78 grainer at over 1900 fps. Bullets are copper HP, no lead. Time will tell.
I think we tend to confuse ammo that is suitable for LEO should also be good for us civilians. Cops may have to punch holes in car bodies etc. I would have a tough time explaining my actions before a jury. If a cop shoots his .357 Sig and the bullet penetrates the bad guy and also an innocent bystander he has the taxpayer to pay for the civil case. I would be left high and dry.
Dennis– you are very perceptive.
I just got done reading an article about a new brand of ammo, called Liberty Civil Defense. They are producing 9×19 and ,380 bullets that are 50 gr. They show that the 9×19 at 2128 fps and the ,380 at 1437 fps. The .40 s&w with a 60 grainer at 2000 fps. The .45 acp with a 78 grainer at over 1900 fps. Bullets are copper HP, no lead. Time will tell.
I think we tend to confuse ammo that is suitable for LEO should also be good for us civilians. Cops may have to punch holes in car bodies etc. I would have a tough time explaining my actions before a jury. If a cop shoots his .357 Sig and the bullet penetrates the bad guy and also an innocent bystander he has the taxpayer to pay for the civil case. I would be left high and dry.
Stopped at the museum on a whim while traveling through and was glad I did. Some handsome looking firearms, and leather too. Saddles and holsters that were a work of art.
Stopped at the museum on a whim while traveling through and was glad I did. Some handsome looking firearms, and leather too. Saddles and holsters that were a work of art.
Tomorrow night I’ll be at a Halloween-themed dance, dressed as the most famous Texas Ranger of them all. I’m hoping that in this post-911 era, no one is too alarmed by the two cap pistols I’ll have on my hips, or by the mask. Hey, I live in an open-carry state! I plan to ask my girlfriend to wear a feather in her hair, but that might be too non-PC. 🙂
Tomorrow night I’ll be at a Halloween-themed dance, dressed as the most famous Texas Ranger of them all. I’m hoping that in this post-911 era, no one is too alarmed by the two cap pistols I’ll have on my hips, or by the mask. Hey, I live in an open-carry state! I plan to ask my girlfriend to wear a feather in her hair, but that might be too non-PC. 🙂
I love the place and we always have a great visit. Glad you got to get by there.
I love the place and we always have a great visit. Glad you got to get by there.
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