J-Bar
Member
On Saturday I bought a long-sought-after S&W 38/44 Heavy Duty at a gunshow, and posted photos:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/i-scratched-an-old-itch-today-38-44-heavy-duty.896086/
Its first trip to the range proves that it likes 158 grain bullets to 125 grain bullets (not surprising, it was designed for those). I only had one 158 grain .38 Special load on hand, a home cast Lee RNFP, Alox Lube, 3.1 grains of HP-38. The best target is below, 10 yards, standing, two handed, single action. Not terrible, not wonderful; I knew when I pulled those two low right so at least I could call the shots. Most of the dispersion is me, but I will play with various powder charges and see if I can tighten the groups up a bit.
Thanks to everyone for your enabling on the previous thread!
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/i-scratched-an-old-itch-today-38-44-heavy-duty.896086/
Its first trip to the range proves that it likes 158 grain bullets to 125 grain bullets (not surprising, it was designed for those). I only had one 158 grain .38 Special load on hand, a home cast Lee RNFP, Alox Lube, 3.1 grains of HP-38. The best target is below, 10 yards, standing, two handed, single action. Not terrible, not wonderful; I knew when I pulled those two low right so at least I could call the shots. Most of the dispersion is me, but I will play with various powder charges and see if I can tighten the groups up a bit.
Thanks to everyone for your enabling on the previous thread!
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