Grip & Handling Observation w/ .38 & .357

[D.M.C.]

I recently made an observation while practicing switching back and forth between .38 special and then .357 with my revolver. It seems counter-intuitive, but I found that I was steadier and more accurate with the .357 ammo (158 grain range reloads) than I was with the .38 special loads (125 grain range reloads). Checking my results I had noticed that while I was getting dead-on with the .357 I was dropping low and to the right while shooting with the .38 rounds. I repeated this for about five targets worth, shooting about 24 rounds of each. I was wondering if this was something commonplace that others have experienced too, or if I was overcompensating for the .357 with the .38 loads. Checking against a common mistakes chart, if I was shooting low and to the right, it would indicate too much thumb and/or tightening the grip too much, if I read it right. Anyone have thoughts as to why I might be having more difficulty with the .38 as opposed to what I thought would be the harder to control .357?

 

[ialefty2]

If you are using same revolver different wt. bullets will shoot to different
point on target. Usually heaver bullets will impact higher on target.

 

[Waywatcher]

What were the group sizes and split times?

Does it have adjustable sights?

6 shots with equivalent accuracy is much faster with .38s for me, nearly doubly fast. Might not hit same POI but my sights are adjustable.

 

[jad0110]

If your revolver has fixed sights and is a S&W, it was regulated to shoot 158 grain bullets to POA.

I too shoot .357 as accurately as .38, most of the time. Sometimes I anticipate recoil though (we all have those days). Problem is I can't shoot .357 as quickly.

 

[wanderinwalker]

Was the group size better with the .357s or just better centered? It's not at all abnormal for different loads to shoot to different POIs.

There are some cases where some ammo just really doesn't gin with a particular firearm, no matter if it should. Case: I was shooting my 4" .357 at 50 yards a few weeks back and was all over the target with my .38 reloads. But when I switched to some jacketed .357 I had loaded, my group shrank to about 6" (and looked like a GROUP!). In that case, I would say YES, I was more accurate with the Magnums. But I have a couple of jacketed Magnum loads I know that revolver will shoot really well.

 

[D.M.C.]

Group sizes were about the same. Just the POI was different. I have a S&W with adjustable sights. I rarely have had to do much with the sights, but I think I understand now that the ammo makes a big difference in where I am hitting.