Anyone here shoot steel matches with a Wheelgun ?

[GUNKWAZY]

I'm just curious if anyone here shoots steel matches with a wheelgun ?
I've never shot anything like that before and a friend is trying to talk me into going this week.
Most of my stuff is safequeens. My shooters are mostly snubbies.
I'm thinking about shooting it with a 2.5" model 66.
Am I insane, or is this something that other people do ?
If you do shoot steel matches, are your guns set up for that or are you shooting stuff that's factory out of the box stuff ?
Thanks, Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[mikey357]

FWIW, I've shot SEVERAL Steel Matches with revo's...I've used a four-inch 686, a four-inch 686 "Plus"--Thank God for the seven-hole cylinder!!!--and a six-inch Model 617 (.22 lr) ten-shooter...I don't think I would purposely choose to shoot one of these matches with a "Snubbie", but then my eyesight ain't what it used to be, either...HTH....mikey357

 

[HSMITH]

For steel I would have a hard time thinking of anything better than a 4" M15 short of a custom gun.

Steel matches don't have a power factor, 38's are plenty of power to ring the plates. Low recoil is a plus.

Pick a gun you shoot well, that has a good double action trigger, and go have some fun. It is hard to find something much more fun than shooting steel matches.

 

[juneau803]

If you're good with that 2.5 66, heck give it a try. I'll bet you will impress yourself. Practice with your speed loader. They usually set up 5 targets so you do have an extra round if you miss one. If you have to reload, just do it methodically for the practice and shoot till you're finished.

It's good practice for real life carry. Remember, you can't miss fast enough to do you any good so just go slow at first. If you bomb, they throw out your worst score anyway's. It's fun.

 

[3 gun]

I use a S&W 586 3 or 4 times a year on steel. It's my bedside pistol so I like to stay in practice. You'll need to be on target from the first buzzer, be sure that the load you use shoots to your point of aim. If you don't you'll have your reload technique down pat when your done. Playing KY windage on steel with a revolver can make for a very, very long day. If you're shooting steel the same way we do you'll get 5 runs at each set up with the worst run dropped. Plan on at least 150rds over 5 stages.

 

[Gillster]

My regular steel gun is a 627 with a propoint on it. From time to time I'll swith to a 4"686 or a 5"625, both with iron sights. Don't have a snuby or I would have tried it by now. I've taken every handgun I own to a steel match at least once, great way to become familiar with them.

 

[HiCap1]

I tried it last summer with a stock and new Mod. 10. Although I was at the bottom part of the pack, I beat my friend who is a very experienced 1911 shooter. I suggested to him that he try a wheel lock next time.

Actually, speed loaders work as fast as a magazine change, only 6 shots with the 10.

HiCap

 

[peteinct]

Just don't miss

Kwazy, I also shoot plate matches with a S+W 66 with a 4 inch barrel. If I shoot them clean there is no problem. If I have to reload I'll beat some guys and lose to others. The way I see it if you hit you will go faster through the rack then wildly spraying bullets. However with the 22 the spray and pray guys win at least at my club.
pete

 

[GUNKWAZY]

I guess like they say, one hit is better than all the misses.
I went last week just to watch.
I didn't see any wheelguns, just a bunch of custom Race guns, standard looking 1911's and all kinds of bottom feeders.

I guess I'll give it a try.
I'll let ya know the good and bad after it's all over.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[ACP230]

I shot a steel match last summer using a BHP and a Smith M57.
The course was the same for each gun although they were scored in auto and revolver divisions.

I did a lot better with the M57. It has a six-inch barrel, a smooth trigger, and a pretty good trigger in both single and double action. The .41 Magnum reloads took the steel plates down with a lot more authority than the 9mms from the BHP.

I have a couple of short .357s, an M19 and an M66. I haven't shot a steel match with them yet, but am thinking about it. The short sight radius would be the biggest problem IMO.

 

[GrantCunningham]

Back when I had free time, I used to shoot quite a lot of Steel Challenge-style matches with revolvers, usually a Dan Wesson. Even won every so often.

Revolvers are certainly competitive, if you can hit with every shot. As Rob Leatham said in an interview, steel isn't really about speed - it's about consistency and accuracy.

Get out there and have fun - steel is, perhaps, the most addicting of the shooting games. That "clang" as bullet hits metal is almost Pavlovian!