.357 day at the range.

[brutus51]

Now that the indoor ranges have opened up in my area I took my .357's out to shoot.
Been cooped up with this shelter in place thing so I had plenty of ammo loaded up.
100 rounds of 158gr, SWC's on top of 5.1gr. of Universal Clays.
50 rounds of 125gr Extreme plated flat point's on top of 7.3gr. of AA#5 and
50 rounds of 125gr. Hornady XTP's over 13,1 gr. of 2400.
Brought 3 revolvers,
Dan Wesson 715 with the 6" barrel attached.
45 year old Colt 6" Python.
Newly acquired Colt Cobra target that I only got to shoot once before the pandemic started.
Nothing stellar to report, as expected most accurate was the Python because of years familiarity.
Followed by the DW 715 and coming in third place was the the Cobra.
I only shoot wadcutters out of the Python, retired it from full house magnums years ago.

I have to say that of the 3 guns the Python is the most comfortable to shoot. Fashioned the grips from a pair of Ropers I purchased from Eagle grips years ago. Sanded them by hand until they fit my hand perfectly, that and the glass breaking single action worn in to a 2lb trigger pull says it all .

The Dan Wesson is built like a tank and has the best double action pull of any revolver I've ever owned. I think if I had it as long as the Python it would be just as smooth and accurate. Only complaint is I can't find any after market Roper style grips for it. I did experience some sticky extraction with the 2400 load.

The new Cobra was the least accurate but in my case this is attributable to the shorter sight radius and ill fitting grips for my hands. Action is very smooth and I'm sure my shooting will improve as I get used to the gun.
Really like the gun but it needs some after market grip work like I did on the Python.

All in all it was a really fun day at the range but I'm really getting the urge for a new 6" Python.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

No pics....(crying on my keyboard).

Glad you got to spin your wheelguns!

Aside from a few abortive rounds through my new-and-soon-to-be-gone Mauser HSc, I havent touched an auto in my last two range trips-

 

[Obturation]

I need a 357 day at the range & soon.i stopped loading them when I counted 1400, I'm always behind on loading but the 'rona thing gave me time to catch up on all cartridges I load and now I've got nothing to do at the bench. Gotta free up some brass!

 

[brutus51]

Sorry they have strict rules about picture taking and I didn't save the targets.

 

[Walkalong]

The new Cobra

I sure would like to try one of those out.

 

[JERRY]

I get in a .357 sorta mood now and then... MagNa-Ported 640 and 681.

 

[brutus51]

I sure would like to try one of those out.

.
Soon as I saw it I had to have it as I always wanted a Colt 4" .357. Of course I got a 4" in the Dan Wesson but on a larger frame.
For some reason the Cobra frame feels smaller than that of my Python sort of like a Smith 19.
Now a new 6" Python is calling my name and maybe a 3" Cobra.

 

[Riomouse911]

I heard my local range is open, I am dying to get over there. Hopefully next Friday, this next one I'm busy because the dang pool filter croaked and I need to install the new one. It cost me $800 bucks... that's money that WON'T be going to a gun store .

Stay safe!

 

[Olon]

I heard my local range is open, I am dying to get over there. Hopefully next Friday, this next one I'm busy because the dang pool filter croaked and I need to install the new one. It cost me $800 bucks... that's money that WON'T be going to a gun store .

Stay safe!

Pools are like boats: it's nice to have a friend that has one. But not a close enough friend that he'll ask for your help fixing it

 

[Riomouse911]

Pools are like boats: it's nice to have a friend that has one. But not a close enough friend that he'll ask for your help fixing it

AMEN!

 

[geo57]

Hello Brutus51. If you are using .357 mag cases and if you were getting sticky extraction from the 125 gr. XTP and 13.1 grs of 2400 load it was not from using too much powder. Something else must be causing that. Your load is several grains under max. I use a bulk 158 gr JHP on top of 13.5 grs. of 2400 which is still just a 90 % to max.357 mag load. Fired cases extract very easily with no hint of stickiness.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Sorry they have strict rules about picture taking and I didn't save the targets.

Good! Every range should. My local indoor range has bulletproof glass walls between shooting lanes and one of them has a bullet impact spiderweb where some young lady turned around to have her picture taken.

 

[brutus51]

Hello Brutus51. If you are using .357 mag cases and if you were getting sticky extraction from the 125 gr. XTP and 13.1 grs of 2400 load it was not from using too much powder. Something else must be causing that. Your load is several grains under max. I use a bulk 158 gr JHP on top of 13.5 grs. of 2400 which is still just a 90 % to max.357 mag load. Fired cases extract very easily with no hint of stickiness.

Thanks for the reply and yes I am well aware of the strength of my load. 13.5gr. of 2400 under a Speer 146gr. half jacketed semi-wadcutter has been my favorite .357 target load for over 40 years. They quit making the bullets some years ago but I still have some left.
I have shot a 158gr. XTP out of the Dan with 15,5gr, of W296 with no problems. I made the 2400 load because it was the first time out with the new Cobra and I wanted to see how she would do.
Made all the loads with a Lee factory crimp die, crimped separately using .357 magnum Starline brass and CCI std. primers.
Shot a lot of lead SWC's prior to the 2400 load so some leading may be the culprit in the Dan Wesson although the Cobra seemed to function fine. Won't know the truth of the matter until I can get some outdoor range time with my Chronograph.

Good! Every range should. My local indoor range has bulletproof glass walls between shooting lanes and one of them has a bullet impact spiderweb where some young lady turned around to have her picture taken.

Doesn't surprise me, see a lot of stupid stuff at the indoor range. Don't wish to racial profile but it seems around here the eastern
Europeans are the biggest culprits. I have had several occasions where I had to verbally admonish individuals to keep their gun pointed down range. I think the ex-commies get so excited about their new found American freedom they sometimes forget what they are dealing with and need reminding.
Another observation about these folks is that they all have the 18 shot punybellums,
They haven't learned that real Americans can't comprehend missing 17 times.

 

[DR505]

I think the ex-commies get so excited about their new found American freedom they sometimes forget what they are dealing with and need reminding.

I understand the sentiment, but if my wife read your statement she would try and skin you. She escaped communism in eastern Europe and was granted asylum here in the US. Call her an ex-commie and you are in for it!

 

[brutus51]

Sorry, didn't mean to offend, only used the phrase to denote folks who had to live under that form of government.

 

[J-Bar]

I'm jealous. Indoor ranges here are still closed.

Withdrawal is a b***h.

 

[Riomouse911]

I understand the sentiment, but if my wife read your statement she would try and skin you. She escaped communism in eastern Europe and was granted asylum here in the US. Call her an ex-commie and you are in for it!

My former in laws as well... they grew up under Nazi then Soviet rule as children. As a 17 year old he was killing Russians leading a militia group in the Hungarian uprising in 1956.

They fled after one of their band was caught/tortured and gave up his fellows before being shot in the street and his body hung as a warning.

They went Underground on foot and riding on top of rail cars for weeks, through Eastern Europe to Italy where they lived for a year, then a boat to Lebanon for sixteen months, then a boat to Australia.

They had four kids (my Ex wife included) waiting for over a decade before they were granted asylum in the US in the early 1970’s.

Needless to say, despite the years of toil and worry they were as patriotic as you could be after being given a chance to succeed here.

And yes, they embraced the 1st and 2nd A knowing firsthand exactly how an unarmed populace is a cowering slave to whatever government or ideology is in power.

Stay free, and stay safe.

 

[kidneyboy]

I'm jealous. Indoor ranges here are still closed.

Withdrawal is a b***h.

I was in Springfield a couple of weeks ago and was shooting at open indoor ranges twice.

 

[AustinTX]

Aside from a few abortive rounds through my new-and-soon-to-be-gone Mauser HSc, I havent touched an auto in my last two range trips-

Haha, yep. Those guns are only good for looking at, as far as I’m concerned. It’s one of the most beautiful pistols ever made, but it offers a completely unrewarding shooting experience. In my opinion, of course.

 

[J-Bar]

Thanks for the info. The one I normally visit is staying closed, but I found the one you probably used. I wasn’t aware they had reopened. Good news!