There's a LOT of good commentary and chitchat in this thread, isn't there?
hand conditioning: While it still is not extensively laid out the first posts in this thread, the whole notion of developing "replica reloads" and then adjusting the load charges to provide for lighter recoil is my attempt to address the physical conditioning and the related training issues of "muscle memory," etc., etc., to make one a proficient shooter.
When I started last summer, my hand was woefully out of shape. I could shoot softball DEWC loads more than once--but at the end of qualifying for my carry permit (which I did with those in the 340; the 640 was at the 'smiths), I didn't even want to shoot for a day or two.
As I started shaking out the 38+P 135-gr. replica reloads, my hand kept getting banged up (knuckle on the trigger finger, thumb web; bruising on the thumb heel), and it took about two months to get calloused enough to avoid raw skin. As that occurred, my hand started getting stronger. I mixed shooting the 640 (CT-305 grips) about 80 percent of the time with shooting the M&P340 (CT-405 / boot grips) about 20% of the time.
The tingling in my hand continued to decrease. By September I was able to shoot the Buffalo Bore 20A loads with no trouble in the 640, followed up with the five shots in the 340, and I could have reloaded. So, we can now segue to
Grip selection: While this is highly personal, I also think that the use of boot grips (maximum concealability) on a revolver designed almost exclusively for concealed carry (lightweight DAO j-frames) is the most suitable application. I've followed DAdam's use of the Monogrip on his j-frames, and I don't really agree with it because of the extent to which it limits concealability. Further, from what I can tell with my various experiments in grips on these different j-frames (M&P340, 640, M60/3" and 442), the larger grips will inhibit hand conditioning. In short--
the tingling will disappear, Brent, when your hand is conditioned fully, and it will get conditioned faster if you shoot with a boot / combat grip.
I think that approach--setting up the most appropriate carry gun, then using the practice-replica reloads routine in the context of "successive approximations" is better than shifting the grip later and having to relearn different "muscle memory" for the grip. Doing the latter takes a LOT of shooting, I think--at least for those of us who are not pros.
Even with the minimal shooting I've done this winter (maybe 600 rounds a month), I've maintained the callouses and the strength. In fact, the 225 rounds or so I shot last Saturday--in about a hour and a half, with three different guns--didn't even leave my hand sore, at all. Hoptob is right; it's a bit like bicycle riding--as far as the muscle memory goes, at least.
Meanwhile, of all the grips I've put on the M60, the Monogrip looks the best, I think and it works very well with my hand size. Since the M60 is strictly a fun / range gun and I acquired it to get chrono data from a 3" barrel, I'll set that one up for comfort.
Hollow Points: You know, I hadn't really thought about those Remingtons--and I think I even have some on hand (in lighter weights). Meanwhile, I am about to place an order with Mike at Mastercastbullets.com for his 158LSWCs--which are, of course, cheaper than the cheap ones at my LGS, unfortunately, and probably are better. However, the lower BHN of the local bullets might come closer to the characteristics of the Speer--what do you guys think about that?--e.g., shooting a softer-cast LSWC.
I have figured out, however, that the Speers take about one- or two-tenths grain
less powder for the same subjective recoil. Whatever that info is worth yet, I don't know.
Jargon definitions:
Quad Five: This term is my adaptation of a drill Old Fuff here recommends for carry guns:
Basic Proficiency is measured by shooting five shots in five seconds at five yards and in a five-inch group.
It's a wonderful drill--do it on a simple piece of paper, or a paper plate, whatever. Use "successive approximations" to make it fit with your conditioning. The five yards is easy enough to sort out, as is the five shots--that's a j-frame cylinderfull. Instead of a bullseye-type shot, try flash sight pictures and speed up the trigger time until the group is outside of five inches--then back up slightly. And / or, don't speed up the string time until the group size stays five inches or smaller. Don't be perfectionistic--settle for 80 percent, and stay at it.
Integrate it with lighter-weight practice rounds. You can push or pull on this model; just don't set too-high goals to begin with.
Once you can reliably do that--and your hand doesn't tingle too much--then try doing two in a row. (Ignore the reload skills; practice that separately.)
firewall: From automotive jargon--the firewall being the partition between the engine / front compartment and the passenger compartment. It refers to pressing the accelerator fully forward, to maximize power, and keeping it there--hence, in shooting, to build a MAXimum power load
for a given caliber. SAAMI-spec loads are not "to the firewall"; there are margins there before the liklihood of catastrophic failure.
enough. The snow continues to fall, and I am going to sit by the fireplace and read a book. (That's a joke; I don't have a fireplace.)
Jim H.
Maybe it's the hour that I'm writing this post. The Compac Pros make my hand feel somewhat unassisted, almost out there alone. However, I really like the improvement in concealability when comparing them to the Monogrips.
