Custom target S&W Model 10?

[Damon555]

I was considering creating a custom revolver out of an old S&W Model 10-5. The gun itself has been refinished in a matte finish and is in pretty good shape. I did some searching and found absolutely nothing on this topic. I've always wanted a fast shooting, heavy barreled revolver and finally have a pistol that would make a good donor gun.

Can it be done? Target sights or a rail for a red dot or holosight mounted on a gun with factory fixed sights. I think one of those options plus a sweet double action trigger would make for a great fun gun. Opinions?

Here is the old girl.....

 

[bill larry]

There are folks whom would trade a testicle for that gun as is... something to keep in mind.

 

[9mmepiphany]

you mean like this?

 

[Damon555]

you mean like this?

Yes, Like that. My pistol has already been altered. It was refinished by someone (not S&W) with a matte finish. I figured I couldn't do any more damage to the value by having some fun with it.

What work needed to be done to get the revolver to that point?

 

[zt77]

you could sell that revolver and buy a trade in m10 and then some.
something else to keep in mind.

what about that hammer and trigger? those don't look case hardened on my screen.

 

[Oro]

I've always wanted a fast shooting, heavy barreled revolver and finally have a pistol that would make a good donor gun.

To paraphrase SaxonPig, it's just a whole lot cheaper to sell the gun you have and buy the gun you want rather than to try and modify the gun you have into the gun you want...

Based on what you said, sell that gun and buy a model 686 - heavy barrel and lug, adjustable sights. A -4 or later model will be pre-drilled for scope rings under the sight base if you really want to scope it. Net cost - maybe $50.

To try to build a PPC gun like pictured, maybe $500 all done after shipping it back and forth to a competent 'smith. if you want a PPC gun, get a used one off GunBroker for maybe $400 already built.

 

[9mmepiphany]

it isn't a picture of mine, i just pulled it off the internet.

i had them leave the barrel on mine round

i think i can still see the case harded colors on the hammer in trigger...my trigger is polished bright and rounded...you can see the bright rub spots on the hammer

this (and mine) was built by Bill Davis in Sacramento CA. Bill was a CHP offficer who was also a Grand Master PPC shooter.

this one looks just like my Stage III...the last price i saw was $800, including the donor gun
1. the action is tuned and balanced
1a. mine has a trigger stop drilled into the trigger
2. the barrel is a Douglas or Apex blank turned down to just over an inch
2a. the one pictured has had the sides slabbed
3. the underlug adds weight and contains the front locking lug for the crane
4. the top rib adds more weight and gives a flat sighting plane with wings shielding the front sight
5. my front sight could be preset for zero at 7, 25 and 50 yards and was changed by a sliding button...the one in the picture looks like an Aristocrat sight with the adjustments on the rear sight
6. the rear of the chambers are beveled to feed the wadcutters
7. the cylinder release is relieved to clear the body of speedloaders
8. the grips in the picture were provided by Bill...i'm not sure who made them

there was also a Stage IV, where the underlug was extended to the bottom of the crane

 

[MrBorland]

Can it be done?

Sure it can be done. As others mentioned, your likely looking at a PPC build. I've always wanted one myself, though PPC ismore about accurate than fast shooting. As Oro pointed out, if it's fast DA shooting you're interested in, it'd be cheaper to get a used 686 or 586 and get an action job on it. I'd also suggest a 625 .45acp revolver.

As far as the M10 conversion, here are some links:

http://www.glenncustom.com/pricing_ppc.html
http://www.clarkcustomguns.com/revcon.htm

Here's a used one for sale. As you can see, neither option comes cheap.
http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/admin/product_details.php?itemID=6577

 

[woad_yurt]

I just googled PPC to find out what it was. I think I may have something new to pursue in my life. That sounds like a lot of fun.

Anyway, please don't alter the little snubbie. Sell it and get what you want with the proceeds. Hey! Sell it to me!

From what I've read about the sport, wouldn't a Model 14 do? I have an 8 3/8" 14-4 that hits easy at 50 yards. It's also barrel-heavy. It's a slick, fast shooter. If you put in the practice time and keep things consistent, hitting water bottles at 100 yards becomes a frequent, regular thing. It's a really accurate, fast, barrel-heavy revolver. 6" and 8 3/8" 14s can be found fairly easily online.

I reload so I have a good source of consistent ammo. Consistency is the ticket. The same type/weight bullet from two different makers will shoot differently.

Anyway, for those who are familiar, are 14s common in PPC?

 

[Damon555]

you could sell that revolver and buy a trade in m10 and then some.
something else to keep in mind.

what about that hammer and trigger? those don't look case hardened on my screen.

I'm pretty sure the hammer and trigger have been changed out too. Unless stainless ones were an option?

 

[9mmepiphany]

Here's a used one for sale. As you can see, neither option comes cheap.
http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/ad...hp?itemID=6577

that's almost exactly what mine looks like, i just have some extra work on the cylinder release and different grips

Anyway, for those who are familiar, are 14s common in PPC?

we used to see M-19s and M-14s on the line, but they were pretty much blown away by the Pythons. neither were really in the same ballpark as the bull barreled guns.

I'm pretty sure the hammer and trigger have been changed out too. Unless stainless ones were an option?

are they stainless, or just polished?

 

[Damon555]

are they stainless, or just polished?

I can't really tell....it does seem pretty shiny. Maybe they are just polished up a bit. They look pretty nice.

 

[krs]

Most Smith PPC revolvers were built on M10 K frames. The barrels are still available, and the sights used were often made by Aristocrat who was famous for their high winged front sight.
http://www.aristocratproducts.com/
It's an easy cut to make a pocket for the ejector rod after the coning and barrel is clocked/torqued in, and the pistol could be finely balanced by careful removal of metal from the massive barrel stock usually used. Flatside or round - buyer preference.
Other than that it is a competent DA trigger job, blueprint and true the barrel mount and threads, add a lockup ball or two at the fore of the cylinder, set up the clearances and timing and go forth..lots of playing around with loads, seating, crimping, and cone shapes but......................is anyone shooting PPC anymore?

Bill Davis was well known west side - Jim Clark probably built 80% of guns used east side.

 

[zt77]

I can't really tell....it does seem pretty shiny. Maybe they are just polished up a bit. They look pretty nice.

they do look really nice. I never heard of stainless triggers/hammers on s&w's before, but I could very well be wrong.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I never heard of stainless triggers/hammers on s&w's before

i first saw one on a M-66, but they weren't around for very long

they were replaced with regular hammers and triggers which had been "flash chromed" for colour

 

[MrBorland]

is anyone shooting PPC anymore?

It certainly doesn't seem nearly as popular as USPSA or IDPA, but I, for one, would jump at the chance to give it a try. Sadly, I haven't found any local, or even regional matches to attend. Still, I've been tempted to get a PPC revolver anyway, 'cuz I'm a sucker for an accurate revolver.

 

[Black Knight]

This is only my opinion and the decision is yours but, I would keep the Model 10 or sell and find a Model 14 or 15 for the project gun. The 10 you showed is a fine carry gun. The person who had it refinished probably carried it alot and decided to give it a less reflective finish for night conditions. The Models 14 and 15 have adjustable sights so there should be less machining needed. The 14 usually has a 6 inch barrel and is considered a good target gun. At one time I believe it was issued or at least approved for duty use by LAPD who changed to the 15 in the late 1960's or early 1970's.

 

[SaxonPig]

I can't believe I'm being quoted.

Gosh, I'm a legend in my own mind.

Seriously, those "PPC" revolvers turn up on Gunbroker quite frequently and can be purchased for less than what your 2" M10 is worth. If you don't want the snubby, then sell it to someone who does and shop for an existing race gun.

 

[9mmepiphany]

The Models 14 and 15 have adjustable sights so there should be less machining needed.

no difference in machining. PPC guns cover the whole top strap with the sighting rib...the sights are mounted on the rib

 

[Damon555]

Seriously, those "PPC" revolvers turn up on Gunbroker quite frequently and can be purchased for less than what your 2" M10 is worth.

So what is the 2" Model 10 worth? The ones I've seen for sale have all been in the $350-$450 price range. It seems to me that a PPC would cost a bit more.

 

[Oro]

I can't believe I'm being quoted.

Gosh, I'm a legend in my own mind.

Don't be so modest - I quote some of your excellent list of FAQs frequently (at least the ones I recall - seriously, you should get them put in a sticky so we can just link to them).

So what is the 2" Model 10 worth? The ones I've seen for sale have all been in the $350-$450 price range. It seems to me that a PPC would cost a bit more.

If you put that on Gunbroker or some internet gunboard classifieds, it should fetch $350 easily even with the coated refinish, maybe a little more to a motivated buyer. PPC guns on the same don't fetch near the cost to build them. Like many highly customized items, the resale is pennies on the dollar since the demand is so small. You can likely sell/trade it even for one.

 

[Damon555]

If you put that on Gunbroker or some internet gunboard classifieds, it should fetch $350 easily even with the coated refinish, maybe a little more to a motivated buyer. PPC guns on the same don't fetch near the cost to build them. Like many highly customized items, the resale is pennies on the dollar since the demand is so small. You can likely sell/trade it even for one.

The gun is very nice looking. The refinishing was done professionally, I'm sure of that. I've never seen another one like it.....I guess it would be sacrilegious to dismantle such a piece! I think I've been talked into just buying an existing revolver.....

 

[StrawHat]

When I was shooting PPC we did not see many M19s or Pythons on the line. There were a few M14s but most of the fellows were using some sort of custom, semi custom or issued revolver. My semi custom was a Davis gun I bought from a fellow competitor. It is a fine revolver for target work, action job, slab sided barrel, adjustable front and rear sights, etc. Then I got a 6" S&W 686 to use in the Distinguished Matches and shot it a lot. Shot it enough so that my scores in Distinguished were the similar to my scores in Open. (The X count was better in Open). So I retired my Davis Gun and started using the 686 full time.

I haven't seen a PPC league in quite a while so you may be able to get a PPC revolver for a bargain. I know the 686 is available in 4 and 6". If I were starting out again, I would get a 686 first and see how I did with that revolver before going to a custom gun.

From what I've read about the sport, wouldn't a Model 14 do? I have an 8 3/8" 14-4 that hits easy at 50 yards. It's also barrel-heavy. It's a slick, fast shooter. If you put in the practice time and keep things consistent, hitting water bottles at 100 yards becomes a frequent, regular thing. It's a really accurate, fast, barrel-heavy revolver. 6" and 8 3/8" 14s can be found fairly easily online.

I don't have my rule book handy but I believe the limit on barrel length is 6". But I also think that they were using self loaders toward the end, so maybe all the rules have changed.

 

[firetalker]

S&W Model10-5 Bill Davis custom model

I just picked up a Bill Davis custom model S&W 10-5 sel. No, 2D89818 to day for $400.00 it is just like the one pictured excepts it has Pacmyer grips and not sur about the one pictured but this one has elavation ajustements on front and rear sights, I dont know much about this handgun but just looking at it told me it was a deal for the price, just wanted to know if some one could tell me the value and year it was made, it is in pretty great shape with 99% of the blueing

 

[Red Cent]

Lousy picture.

M10, Aristocrat, Douglas bbl. Mine.