How important is double action for training?

[Old Fuff]

BBroadside:

.38 S&W brass is more expensive then .38 Special, but occasionally you can find once-fired cases for sale at reasonable prices.

Some commercial bullet casters will size the slug to your choice of size if you buy them in larger lots, like 500 or more. Also you have the option of using swaged hollow-based wadcutters that usually expand enough to make a seal in the bore. Perhaps not the best, but they work well for government work and you're not trying to make 3" groups at 50 yards.

One advantage of the shorter round is that they are easier and maybe quicker to extract and reload. I understand that some competitors have been using .38 Short Colt cartridges in .38 Special chambers for this reason.

This said, if you're interested in a K-frame/model 10 or 64 you'd better do some thinking pretty fast. Both J&G Sales and CDNN Sports decided to clean out they're supply and put them on sale at attractive prices. Now they may be gone, or almost at the bottom of the barrel. I don't see much chance of more coming on line at such low prices unless they are in lesser condition.

 

[MrBorland]

One advantage of the shorter round is that they are easier and maybe quicker to extract and reload. I understand that some competitors have been using .38 Short Colt cartridges in .38 Special chambers for this reason.

I recall a long-ish thread on the Brian Enos Revolver forum about this. Seems a number of shooters thought it was the bees knees. But it left me wondering:

1. A bullet shot from a .38 Short Colt in a .38/.357 has a reputation for inaccuracy due to the very long jump to the throat. True or overstated?

2. Seems to me a .38 Short Colt loaded to make even minor PF would be a pretty high pressure critter. Maybe for more than the brass was designed. How sturdy is .38 Shot Colt brass? What effect would the increased pressure have on lifespan of the brass? Also, would the extra pressure cause the brass to fire form tight against the walls of the cylinder, making extraction tougher? Would kinda defeat the purpose of using them, no?

This said, if you're interested in a K-frame/model 10 or 64 you'd better do some thinking pretty fast. Both J&G Sales and CDNN Sports decided to clean out they're supply and put them on sale at attractive prices. Now they may be gone, or almost at the bottom of the barrel. I don't see much chance of more coming on line at such low prices unless they are in lesser condition.

Couple of good revolvers below. 10s and 64s are terrific revolvers, but if I were looking to get into SSR, I'd strongly consider one of those 15s.

http://www.allans-armory.com/aaresult.php?PageId=58

 

[Sam1911]

Right now I'm stumped on a handloading question I've never considered: if 38 S&W / 38-200 uses a different diameter bullet than "normal" 38s (i.e. the ones that are 0.357"), does that make the former significantly more expensive to handload? I know accuracy will drop if I use undersized bullets but if its only marginal it could be okay for practice.

Don't worry yourself! Roger at King Shooters Supply (www.BetterBullets.com) sells .38 S&W (.360") 158 gr round nose bullets for $35.85 / 500. That's about as good a deal as you're likely to find.

I assume the 38 S&W brass is more expensive too. How many times can use reuse a case before you have to give it to a punk jeweler to make into a necklace?

Starline has your brass for $75.25 / 500. They're backordered at the moment, but if you can wait, they'll get it for you.

I shoot a lot of .44 Spc., most of it Starline brass, and can say that I've got a lot that's been loaded 10 times or more.

No sweat! Shoot and enjoy!

-Sam

 

[woad_yurt]

148 gr LHBWCs (.358 diameter) shoot well from a .38 S&W barrel. I think the 2/1000" difference is filled by the bullet's expanding skirt. Anyway, it works great for me.

But, if you want to shoot a .45, you should get a .45 and reload for it. This S&W 1917 Commercial model has been on Gunbroker for a while and hasn't sold, probably because of the not-so-original sights. The price has been gradually lowered with each relisting. She still has the gun even thought it's not been relisted at this time. I know it'll be a great shooter. Even if you don't dicker and have to spend the Buy-It-Now price, what else can you get that's as good for the same money? Plus, it looks like it's got great sights for your purpose.

I have one of these and it's a sweet, sweet thing. Trigger's like glass.

​

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=141337359

 

[Sam1911]

This S&W 1917 Commercial model has been on Gunbroker for a while and hasn't sold,

That is a very cool gun! It doesn't say, but my eyes tell me that's a 5" barrel. If you want it for IDPA, you've got to stay below 4.2". It would be worth checking before you bid on something like that.

-Sam

 

[gunnie]

..."Fixed sights would be fine, but you may have to play with your loads a bit. You'll need to load a bullet that hits where your sights are pointing. Heavier bullets impact higer on the target, lighter bullets impact lower."...

my solution for the DAO 64 i got from J&G for my wife was a bomar sight rib {good luck trying to find one, discontinued}, similar to the aristocrat offerings @ link:

http://www.aristocratproducts.com/page1.html

not sure if these are allowed for the competition you are planing on. but if they are, just find a load you like that makes the power requirements, and dial it in. the extra weight of the rib, combined with the heavy bbl on the 64 makes recoil a non-issue, even with +P loads.

gunnie

 

[Sam1911]

The IDPA rule book lists the following under modifications prohibited for all divisions:

D. Sights of non-standard configuration (i.e. Ghost rings, Bo-Mar rib, etc.).

But any "conventional" post-and-notch style sights are good, so the nice S&W adjustable revolver rear sight is fine, as is a fiber-optic front sight if you want one.

-Sam