Gun quality

[Just Jim]

Yesterday I took a few handguns to the range to start my year off right. I took a Colt 10mm and a Sig 226 in 9mm and a Smith 42 in 38spec and a colt Woodsman Target in 22 along with a gun a dead friend left me called a Hawes western Marshal in 44 mag all of which I have never shot.

Now to check most of my new purchases I set paper targets up at 25 yards and shoot from a bench rest to be sure my guns are good to the point of aim before I start plinking. I shot the 44 first and I am telling you I am truely amazed how accurate this gun was. I loaded 44 specials with 7.5 grains of unique and all six rounds made one ragged hole.

Now this Hawes isn't a prom queen and has seen some wear but of all the guns I shot yesterday it outshot them all. My Colt 10 shot 4 inch groups my Sig shot 4 inch groups my colt 22 shot inch and a half (with 20 year old 22 shells LOL) and my 38 snubby shot 5 inches.

Which brings this question to mind, why is it that this cheap western gun has such good fit that it shoots so much better than the exspensive ones? Even with notch rear and blade front fixed site the gun shoots dead on to point of aim. Seems to me the gun companies don't build guns that shoot as straight as cheap guns used to. Has anyone else noticed this in rifles or pistols?

I have some other good guns that shoot one hole from a rest and they are spendy yet the Hawes will sit right with them from now on.

jj

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I'm 99% certain the Hawes was made by J.P. Sauer und Sohn (and son), the second half of SIG-Sauer.

 

[Onmilo]

And now you know why there are so many fans of the .44 caliber handguns.
One of the most inherently accurate cartridges ever designed and it doesn't matter if you are talking .44 Russian, .44 Special, or .44 Magnum, they are all exceptional.

 

[jondar]

Elmer Keith agrees with you wholeheartedly.

 

[boneboy96]

I have 2 .44 specials and both are knock down dead accurate.

 

[rmmoore]

How old is the Hawes? To quote an old cliche, "they don't make 'em like they used to". And that goes for most all companies, cheap or expensive. I have a 1967 model S&W Model 37 (36-?, I'm travelling) whose trigger is as smooth as hot butter. I have this same model in a late model Airweight frame; while it is VERY smooth, it doesn't compare to "old" one. Perhaps many years and hundreds (thousands-?) of rounds have smoothed the rough edges, but I doubt it. I'm very fond of most of the new stuff, but just like cars, I believe they lack a certain amount of character the "yesteryear" models had in abundance. As I've aged, my preference for synthetic, plastic, wonder stuff has given way to wood and smooth, soft cowhide. Old school will always be just that, old school. And if it ain't broke, well, you get the picture . Just my .02 and perspectives.

 

[Jim March]

That Hawes is the ancestor of what became the EAA Bounty Hunter.

Does your gun have a transfer bar safety?

 

[Just Jim]

I have no idea how old the Hawes is but it doesn't have a transfer bar. It does have a frame mounted firing pin. The finnish is well worn and the grip is brass. The gun is tight as new though. The cylinder is counter sunk for the cartridges. It clicks back just like a colt.

It seems sad how good these guns are yet are no longer made. It's kinda like Remingtons 788, those cheap models outshot the 700 yet the 788 gets discontinued. I wonder if it didn't embarass Remington that their low end 788s shot better than the high dollar stuff?

Going to a gunshow today with Hawes in mind.

jj

 

[buttrap]

That is not a cheep gun, the dollor vs Mark deal back then was pretty good was all. They used to make shotguns and double rifles that where as good as any made back then that cost more than a fancy house now.