[Dave T]

Just had to tell someone about my latest acquisition. It is a S&W 1950 Target Model 44 Special. The best thing for me is that it has a replacement barrel (from the 1970s) making it a "shooter". Since I am a "shooter" I was delighted to get it for less than the "collector" price.
The friend I got it from is a factory trained armorer and cleaned it up and reblued it so the replacement 4" barrel and the rest of the 50 year old gun have the same finish. Going to the range tomorrow to test fire, sight-in and enjoy.

[mikey357]

Dave, that sounds neater'n sliced bread! If you can, post a picture for us...and it'll be MANDATORY that you post a "Range Report" here after the first firing session!...sounds like you've got a "Keeper" there!!!....mikey357

[Braz]

Dang Dave,

Congrats! :) Pics??

[JCM298]

Good for you. Let us know how it shoots.
By the way, Mike Duffey says hello,
John

[Dave T]

JCM298,

When Mike and I went through the Academy we both carried Model 28s. Any 4" N-Frame is a form of going home for me.

Next time you see him tell Mike I said to keep his powder dry!

Dave

[Gordon]

Congrats on a wisechoice of American art , and a shrewd buy too.:)

[Stainz]

Several months ago I picked up a 6.5" 24 from 83 production that was a 99+% (NIB) safe-queen with all the papers, including the parts diagram for the 1950 Target Model and the brush, screwdriver, etc still in a sealed plastic bag. I don't have a safe, so everything I buy is a 'shooter' - and this is a great one. Real fun gun - and my only blued/hammer mounted firing pin model. All of my other revolvers are SS, except for the Al/Ti 296. I like the 24... now I need a shorter barrel 624. Enjoy your new .44.

Stainz

[Mike Irwin]

I picked up one of those last year, Stainz.

The previous owner had it set up for bullseye shooting. The trigger is absolutely WONDEROUS single action, and just short of wonderous double action.

I've not shot it much (.44 Spl. ammo is WAY too expensive!) and I haven't started reloading yet, but boy is it fun.

[Tamara]

I know it's pretty far from a traditional .44 Spl loading, but have you checked the price of CCI Blazer 200gr Gold Dots near you? IIRC, I paid less for the last 50-round box of those than I did for my last 20-round box of Silvertips or Federal LSWC-HP... :)

[Mike Irwin]

Tams,

That's what I've been shooting in it.

TURBO accurate. Bench rested 5-shot 1 hole groups are possible at 25 yards.

Price? About $18.50 a box.

Availability? Spotty as hell. None of my gunshops have had any for the last couple of months.

[Tamara]

$18.50! Yowza! :eek:

Hmmm...

Georgia Arms offers 200gr cowboy action loads for $14/50 or $270/1000.

[Hutch]

Mike, dunno if the Academy Sports chain has made it your way yet, but if they have, they have great ammo prices. The Blazer .44spl GDHP is 12.95 a box. Blazer 9mm 115g FMJ's are 3.99 a box. I've quit reloading 9mm because of this.

[Mike Irwin]

Hutch,

No, unfortunately not. And Gallyans, where I buy my 9mm, doesn't carry much in the way of .44 Spl. at all.

I quit reloading 9mm when it hit $8.99 a box.

At $3.99 a box I'd need a pallet loader.

[Dave T]

Got to the indoor range this afternoon to test the 1950 TM (re-barrel). Tried the above mentioned Blazers, a handfull of ProLoad 200g JHPs and a bunch of my handloads.

After tweeking the sights a little to center things, I fired a deliberate five shot group at 25 yards (forearms rested and single action). Five went into 2", which with my middle-aged eyes is about as good as I get. Best group with a handload was 3" for five shots. That was 6.7g of H. Universal behind a 205g cast, truncated cone. Don't know the velocity out of the 4" barrel but it recoils a little less than the Blazers.

Off-hand, double action groups at 25 yards ran about 4-6" (with handloads).

Will do some more experimenting with handloads but overall I am well pleased with this 1953-4 vintage shooter - and what a delightful caliber.

[Archie]

try a 245 grain cast bullet over 7 to 7.5 grains of Unique. Classic load, not at the top of the pressure chart, enough sand for general use.

[Dave T]

Archie,

I used to shoot that load (Lyman #429421 I cast myself) in a Flattop Ruger 44 until I realized how dirty that ring was at the front of the chambers. Now I shoot Magnums in Magnums and Specials in Specials.

I've also gotten away from Unique as it doesn't meter well for me. H. Universal Clays is very close to Unique in burning rate, meters better and burn cleaner. I'm leaning toward 200g bullets as the only good factory loads I know of have that bullet weight. I kind of like my practice ammo to shoot about the same as carry ammo. YMMV.

[Mike Irwin]

Unique really doesn't meter well for anyone.

I was using it for awhile to load .32 S&W Long, but quit when I realized that I was getting weight variations of almost 30% when I was throwing the loads, and that is just WAY too much of a variation when you're loading a cartridge that only takes 2.6 grains or so of powder in the first place.

Unique really doesn't have a place in my reloading room anymore.

[44and45]

DaveT, if you can find some 158 to 160 grain cast bullets in .44 caliber try 5.9 grains of Universal for some near one hole penetration.

I make 158 grain plated and cast lead .38 special bullets swaged into .44 caliber with my swaging dies...was really surprised to get these results in my 2nd generation 1926 S&W .44 special.

At first I tried 5.5 grains of Universal but was lobing them into tight groups like a mortor rounds with a 5 inch drop. Practically no recoil and a lot of fun to shoot.

Swaging bullets has open up a whole new reloading field for me, I'm doing it in .45 LC too.

44and45

[44and45]

Here is an attachment of the 1926 .44 special...but it now wears some great S&W magna grips that fit my hand better than the target stocks.

Jim

[Dave T]

44and45,

Don't think I'm ready to get into swaging but that sure is a nice looking 2nd Model Handejector. Bet it looks even better with more original style stocks.

[Erich]

The July/August American Handgunner has a great photo of a 4" 1950 Target .44 Special on p. 48 in John Taffin's "The Sixgunner: Skeeter's Sixguns" article. The article quotes Skeeter Skelton as saying, "This sixgun was much lighter and less bulky than its .44 Magnum counterpart, yet handled the .44 Special handloads with complete comfort . . . In all likelihood, this is the best all-purpose sixgun I've owned."

It's worth buying the mag to drool over the photo. I hadn't realized that I needed one of these until I read Taffin's article. Darn it, JT! :D

[Crimper-D]

Looked like the cylinder had never been rotated = untouched!
And at the asking price... likely to remain so:banghead: :rolleyes:

[Dave T]

Saxonpig,

It is the tapered barrel off a Model 24. I thought it came from the 70s.

Sometimes the gun gods smile on you excessively. I just (today) found a pair of original diamond pattern Magna stocks for $20. They fit perfectly and look much better than the later target stocks that came on the gun.

[Mike Irwin]

Dave,

Nope, 24 went out of production in 1967.

[Dave T]

Mike,

Dealer/S&W trained armorer I got it from said the original owner got the barrel from S&W in the '70s. My guess would be it was a left over Model 24 barrel the factory had on hand.

What ever its age or vintage, it looks fine, shoots fine, and brought the price down to where I could afford it. I am not complaining.

[JCM298]

Dave,

Check your e-mail. Your old co-workers need info.

Thanks,
John

[44and45]

I think I have the same type of barrel you made into your .44 special.

It is a factory unfinished tapered white 6.5 inch barrel complete with all S&W stamping marks and the caliber which is .44 special.

I bought this at a gunshow around 30 years ago nearly the same time I bought a used .44 S&W special cylinder in the blue. My thinking was to some day find an N-frame and build myself a .44 special...still looking for a good deal on an N-frame.

The barrel is obvisously a M&P type fixed sight for a second generation or possibly 1950ss .44 special. But I tend to think it is earlier than that as the patent dates are around 2nd model time period.

I remember when buying this barrel gunshow seller had about 10 or 12 in different barrel lengths. Wish I had bought some of the shorter rarier ones.

44and45

[Dave T]

The barrel is obvisously a M&P type fixed sight

44and45,

I'm lucky in that the replacement barrel my TM came with has a rib and ramped front sight, suitable for adjustable rear sights. It looks like the barrel on a Model 27 or Model 28, just has a bigger hole and corresponding markings.