tipoc
Member
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2006
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From time to time someone will ask about the accuracy of the .38 snubby. Odd that I don't see it asked as often how accurate a .357 snubby is, but I'll leave that alone for now. So I decided to take a few snubby's out and shoot them with the .38 I had on hand and post the results and a few opinions.
Now for the opinion of someone with more experience than I and a better shot to boot you can go here http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/OtherHandguns.htm
I'm about an average shot so take all this for what it is worth.
The 4 guns I took out are a Colt Cobra from 1954, a S&W M&P from 1948 with a 3 1/4" barrel (this gun originally had a 4" barrel but was extensively reworked) and a 2" M&P also from about 48. In a nod to guns with less vintage I also brought an M13-3 from about 1983. All guns are well used.
The ammo I had on hand was;
Winchester .38+P 110 gr. JHP
Speer .38 Spl. +P 158 gr. TMJ (flat nose no hollowpoint)
Winchester 148gr. Super Match WC
Remington 158 Gr. LRN
A handload 158 Gr. LSWCHP at about 850 fps from a 4" barrel
This is what I had on hand. I've fired a good deal of ammo through these guns and some of it does very well. Some of the better stuff available I did not have on hand.
At an outdoor range I fired for accuracy by taking a rest across a range box at 15 and 25 yards. Keep in mind these are all fixed sight guns. All shots were fired single action. The inside of the bulls measures 3". Point of aim was the center of the bottom bar, a 6 o'clock hold.
First up was the 13-3 at 15 yards.The top left group is the Speer, right the Win. 110 gr., and some Winchester .357 158 gr. JSP I had around.
Note that the gun is sighted in for a 158 gr. load at over 1000 fps. The .357 shot to point of aim while the slower 158 gr. +P.38 shot low and the 110 gr. lower still. Thogh faster it is also lighter.
Next up was the old alloy framed shrouded Cobra. Top left the Rem. 158gr. LRN, a round known for it's less than stellar performance as a self defense round. To the right the 158 Gr. handload. on the bottom the 148 gr. Winchester match wadcutter ammo.
The Cobra is an alloy framed gun and I've noted that it's lighter weight tends to promote muzzle flip evan with a lighter .38. This leads, in my hands at least, to a wider shot dispersal.
I enjoy the look and heft of the cut down M&P let's see how she shoots.
Left and right the Rem LRN. Center and lower left the 158gr. handload, lower right the 148 gr. Win match.
Next the 2" M&P.
Top and lower left the Rem LRN. Right was the handload.
The groups are fairly representative of how the guns shot and how I shoot. In other thands they could make do with a few less flyers (though I called 'em) and perhaps with tighter groups.
I'll take a short break and continue.
tipoc
Now for the opinion of someone with more experience than I and a better shot to boot you can go here http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/OtherHandguns.htm
I'm about an average shot so take all this for what it is worth.
The 4 guns I took out are a Colt Cobra from 1954, a S&W M&P from 1948 with a 3 1/4" barrel (this gun originally had a 4" barrel but was extensively reworked) and a 2" M&P also from about 48. In a nod to guns with less vintage I also brought an M13-3 from about 1983. All guns are well used.
The ammo I had on hand was;
Winchester .38+P 110 gr. JHP
Speer .38 Spl. +P 158 gr. TMJ (flat nose no hollowpoint)
Winchester 148gr. Super Match WC
Remington 158 Gr. LRN
A handload 158 Gr. LSWCHP at about 850 fps from a 4" barrel
This is what I had on hand. I've fired a good deal of ammo through these guns and some of it does very well. Some of the better stuff available I did not have on hand.
At an outdoor range I fired for accuracy by taking a rest across a range box at 15 and 25 yards. Keep in mind these are all fixed sight guns. All shots were fired single action. The inside of the bulls measures 3". Point of aim was the center of the bottom bar, a 6 o'clock hold.
First up was the 13-3 at 15 yards.The top left group is the Speer, right the Win. 110 gr., and some Winchester .357 158 gr. JSP I had around.
Note that the gun is sighted in for a 158 gr. load at over 1000 fps. The .357 shot to point of aim while the slower 158 gr. +P.38 shot low and the 110 gr. lower still. Thogh faster it is also lighter.
Next up was the old alloy framed shrouded Cobra. Top left the Rem. 158gr. LRN, a round known for it's less than stellar performance as a self defense round. To the right the 158 Gr. handload. on the bottom the 148 gr. Winchester match wadcutter ammo.
The Cobra is an alloy framed gun and I've noted that it's lighter weight tends to promote muzzle flip evan with a lighter .38. This leads, in my hands at least, to a wider shot dispersal.
I enjoy the look and heft of the cut down M&P let's see how she shoots.
Left and right the Rem LRN. Center and lower left the 158gr. handload, lower right the 148 gr. Win match.
Next the 2" M&P.
Top and lower left the Rem LRN. Right was the handload.
The groups are fairly representative of how the guns shot and how I shoot. In other thands they could make do with a few less flyers (though I called 'em) and perhaps with tighter groups.
I'll take a short break and continue.
tipoc