Normally flashy/shiny does not appeal to me. But this model was hiding under the table at the gunshow, and was brought to light when I asked if anything else was for sale. We got acquainted. A 19-3, born in 1977, obviously loved and well cared for with her original nickel complexion still a flawless mirror. She has that fetching pinned barrel, recessed chambers, and original Magna grips. After some conversation I took her home.
Our first date at the range was OK but not spectacular. She didn’t like the .38 Special wadcutter/Bullseye choices I brought to the party. Some of them actually keyholed.
Okay…
While driving back home, I figured maybe a softer, heavier bullet at a bit higher velocity might be more to her liking, obturating in that petite barrel more completely. So, the rest of the afternoon was spent casting pure lead bullets and lubing them with Alox. Then I prepared a batch of those pure lead 158 grain RNFPs over 4 grains of Universal in Starline .357 brass and Winchester primers for our next date. No point in coming on too strong with full blown magnum loads. After all, she has that flat spot on her forcing cone which might make her vulnerable to the rough stuff. The loading manual recipe says those 158/Universals will clock about 890 FPS, but of course they won’t get that fast from her 2 1/2” barrel. The 148 grain wadcutters over 2.7 grains of Bullseye supposedly gives 713 FPS in the same reference, so the pressure and velocity of the Universal loads will be roughly a 25% increase. Should be enough to see some difference, if there is going to be one.
She liked the change in her diet! We took spins on the 10 yard dance floor and did slow double-action sets. Round holes, no keyholes. We could have danced all day at the range on our second date, but the batch of test ammo ran out quickly. This group was her best by a little bit, discounting the shakey old man flier. All the Universal groups were tighter than the Bullseye “target” loads. Can’t blame me for wanting to show her at her best, even before I cleaned her. Very gratifying that I guessed her preference on the first try.
I hope I get invited to a barbecue so I can show her off.