Help! S&W Model 28...developing bad habits.

[machinisttx]

The target grips were one of the main selling points for me. I have large hands and long fingers. There was another 28 at the dealer that had the service grips. It felt too front heavy, and not enough grip for my paws to grab comfortably. I have been thinking of trying some of the Hogue grips that I see on the new 686 though.

After some looking around, the 38 spl rounds that are the easiest to find, with the most in stock, and affordable enough for good practice seem to be the Winn. white box 130 grain jsp. The 158 grain spl and other rounds that were suggested are harder to find around here. When I do find them there are only a couple small boxes in stock and they are substantially more expensive. Thinking of stocking up on the white box.

I suggest getting in touch with the folks at Herrett's. You send them a tracing of your hand, and they custom make a set of stocks for your sixgun. I've got pretty big hands, and I can't say I really care for S&W target stocks. They're shaped wrong, and typically allow the gun to slip/slide/roll during recoil.

The very first thing I suggest is obtaining a better set of stocks/grips.

The second is a ton of dry fire practice.

The third is lots and lots of shooting. BUT!!! If you find yourself flinching, correct it right then or stop shooting and try again another day.

 

[Rugerlvr]

I'll tell you, I love my Hogue monogrip for my 28-2.

 

[shuvelrider]

Maybe I missed it somewhere, but was the pistol sighted in first from a solid rest? I usually use sandbags on the table when I do mine.Just use a minimal 10 yards so you can see your shot group, fire 3 rounds at a time . Make your adjustments once you see how its shooting and test it some more. Then by all means , use all the good advice given and practice alot, I have an old model HP 28 that is a joy to shoot. Was just wondering if yours was "dialed" in or not.

 

[Big B]

No it was not "dialed in". I will definately get to that soon enough. while I should try a sandbag next time I'm there, I am almost certain that I was off much more than the sights were

 

[Virginian]

If the grips feel good to you, then you don't need to do anything different grip wise. I don't like standard S&W target stocks because I think the checkering was devised by the Spanish Inquisition, but it isn't my gun so that doesn't matter a hoot. I have large hands too, and I think the S&W un-checkered target grips are great, and the N frame Combat grips are even greater, but that's me.
I have never met a rubber grip I liked.

 

[.38 Special]

Yeah, I think the subject of grips can be overdone. If the grips physically hurt you then they will interfere with your shooting, but otherwise I've never found that switching grips can cure bad groups.

As for ammo, I would took a hard look at this stuff. Still seems frightfully expensive to me, but I guess that's what ammunition goes for these days. I personally could not afford to learn how to shoot with factory ammo. I would think that in order to learn how to shoot using a centerfire, the average Joe would have to A) learn to handload, B) buy a .22, or C) hit the lotto

 

[nitesite]

That's a damned fine revolver you have there, without a doubt one of the very best .357s ever made. Nice photos, too. Good Job!

One question that hasn't been asked yet...

Are you wearing good hearing protection?

That may seem like a silly thing to ask, but handguns (especially revolvers) have a very sharp frequency compared to the weapons you've been shooting. That could cause you to flinch if you aren't protecting your hearing.

Those R357M1s (the Remington Express .357 Magnum 125-gr JHP load) is an absolute screaming hot load from the old days and the noise and blast are incredible from a 4-inch revolver! Shoot one of the R357M1s without good ear protection and you'll feel horrible!

BTW, I have a 4" Highway Patrolman myself. I changed the grips and like shooting it much better.

 

[Big B]

I bought 2 good sets of over the ear protection just for this gun(one for my wife). Winchester brand with a db rating of 26. I also use wrap around style glasses, which is a good thing because I did feel a little powder hit my face from time to time when I fired.
The magnum rounds were loud in general and the 125 +p's had a loud crack to them. It didn't bother me, but my wife who was 7 feet behind me had to wear ear plugs too (for the magnum's only). Our outdoor range is covered and it can get loud.
The more I think about it it was probably firing the 357 mag's first, and the powder in the face that started the flinching to begin with. The gun didn't actually scare me, it was more surprise and awe. I know that a couple grains of powder here and there won't get through my glasses, and with all of the good advice I'm getting, I can't wait to get back out there and fix my bad habits.
Cool grips. A little more colorful than I would go with, but they look comfortable. Are they hogue? and are they real wood?

 

[Big B]

One other thing, I know that I didn't flinch or blink at least one time with the mag rounds, because with one shot I was able to see the muzzle blast. Outside and in the daytime, it looked about six inches long, It;s hard to tell from behind the sights though. It was enough to make me smile in a humble sort of way.

 

[machinisttx]

Those R357M1s (the Remington Express .357 Magnum 125-gr JHP load) is an absolute screaming hot load from the old days and the noise and blast are incredible from a 4-inch revolver! Shoot one of the R357M1s without good ear protection and you'll feel horrible!

That's my carry load in my .357's. I've fired a few of them from my 2.25" SP101 without hearing protection. My ears rang for a little while, but they weren't that bad.

 

[nitesite]

Please pardon me for saying so, but if someone fires R357M1s from a short barrelled revolver sans hearing protection well that's just nutz. Were you outside without an overhead canopy? That can help to minimize the high frequency damage to one's hearing. But even if it makes your ears ring for only a little while it would be a great idea to upgrade to some good hearing protection.

And BTW, I have three fresh boxes of that stuff and I treasure it.

Oh, the OP asked if the grips are real wood.

Yep, they are Hogue and the pattern name is Lamo Camo.

They may be a bit colorful and non-traditional but I like them because they are comfortable and also attention getting.

 

[nitesite]

Originally posted by Big B

I also use wrap around style glasses, which is a good thing because I did feel a little powder hit my face from time to time when I fired.
The more I think about it it was probably firing the 357 mag's first, and the powder in the face that started the flinching to begin with. I know that a couple grains of powder here and there won't get through my glasses

May I ask you to provide us some more details about your experience with being hit in the face with burnt powder?

 

[Big B]

Within the first few rounds I fired, I noticed that it felt like I got hit in the cheek with a couple of grains of sand, after I fired a shot. In all honesty, I can't remember how many times this happened over the course of the day. It didn't happen very often, and I really didn't think much of it at the time.
Is this uncommon with revolvers?
For the record, the gun seems to be in great mechanical shape. It locks up tight, and in the right spot. I haven't measured the cylinder gap yet, but after about 90 rounds the action became gritty and hard to move. After I cleaned and oiled it, everything about it felt better and more smooth than when I bought it. (including the trigger pull, opening the cylinder, and ejecting the empties)