Just Stating What Everyone Knows Already...

CajunBass

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Joined
Jun 2, 2005
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7,284
Location
North Chesterfield, Virginia
The Model 28-2 is a helluofagun. This is sort of a range report I suppose. I don't have pictures of targets to go along with it, but I took my 28-2 to the range with me yesterday along with 110 wadcutter loads (148 DEWC Berry's over Win 231) and 50 rounds of starting level 357 magnums (158 grain TC Berry's over Win 244). I figured that should hold me long enough for my back to really start hurting and be ready to go.

I started off running a double handful of the wadcutters through my 642 carry gun. It's actually fun to shoot with wadcutters. Now I'm working on being accurate with the little thing. It's a work in progress but coming along nicely.

Then I stapled up a B-27 and ran it out to the twenty yard line. That was a mistake. Between my back hurting, and the red insert front sight blending in perfectly with the red 10/X ring on these targets, I was all over the place. Ran it back in to seven yards. I shoot just for the fun of it and it's more fun to hit what I'm shooting at. That was a big difference (obviously). Suddenly I could see my sights and proceeded to cut the 10/X ring out of a couple of those B-27's. Just left a big hole in the cardboard backing. Those wadcutter loads are FUN in that big gun. Sort of a POP...a little muzzle rise and back on target. I'd load five, shoot five, call the target back, set down on my walker, kick the empties out, put them back in the box, and load five more, check the target and run it out again. When the target got too ragged to tell where I was hitting, I'd change targets. Not very tactical, but almost as much fun as shooting tin cans down on the creek bank.

By the time I got finished with the wadcutters, I was getting a little tired, but wanted to shoot some 357's again, just for grins and giggles. I switched out to smaller target with a couple of IPSC type silioutes on one paper. The magnums had a lot more boom and flash, but shot just about as well. I budgeted 25 per target and didn't do too awful I suppose. The range guys didn't tell me to leave, which is my ultimate measure of success. Actually one of them came over and asked what I was shooting and we talked revolvers a bit.

All the shooting was double action by the way. Since I started really working on DA with my Colt Python, it seems I've forgotten how to shoot SA. Even when I shoot off the bench I use DA.

Anyway, if you've stuck with it this long expecting it to get interesting, I'm sorry. Just an old man talking himself really.
 
Ooooh a model 28. I have wanted one for years, but prices on the ones I have seen are just too high.
It sounds like you had s great day at the range. :)
I love shooting wadcutters in my revolvers. Especially in my S&W 19-4 and GP100 when my wrist is bugging me. Arthritis.
I see you use W244. I really like that powder. Have you tried it with wadcutters? 2.6 grains under a 148 grain lead HBWC is very accurate from all my revolvers. Easy shooting too. I have not tried it with plated wadcutters though.
 
Ooooh a model 28. I have wanted one for years, but prices on the ones I have seen are just too high.
It sounds like you had s great day at the range. :)
I love shooting wadcutters in my revolvers. Especially in my S&W 19-4 and GP100 when my wrist is bugging me. Arthritis.
I see you use W244. I really like that powder. Have you tried it with wadcutters? 2.6 grains under a 148 grain lead HBWC is very accurate from all my revolvers. Easy shooting too. I have not tried it with plated wadcutters though.
No. I've been a Unique/Bullseye guy all my life, but haven't been able to find any lately, so the guys at the gun shop recommended W231 for my wadcutter use (so do a lot of books) and the 244 for my moderate 357/44 loads, so that's what I'm working with for now. This was the first time I've fired either of them. (I THINK I used 231 "back in the day" for 45 acp loads but I'm not sure.). Both seem to be cleaner than either Unique or Bullseye, and seem to meter better than either also. Who know. They might become my regular powders. I don't load anything "hot" or really even moderate. My 357 are at the bottom of the listing, my 44's are more like warm Specials.
 
Setting historic significant aside a 6-shot 357 Magnum N-Frame makes no sense to me at all. Then again I got no real use for 357 mag either. But if you're going to afflict yourself with a 357 Mag then.

J-frame = 5-shot
K-frame = 6-shot
L-frame = 7-shot
N-frame = 8-shot

Asbestos underwear on, flame away. :neener:
 
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Setting historic significant aside a 6-shot 357 Magnum N-Frame makes no sense to me at all. Then again I got no real use for 357 mag either. But if your going to afflict yourself with a 357 Mag then.

J-frame = 5-shot
K-frame = 6-shot
L-frame = 7-shot
N-frame = 8-shot

Asbestos underwear on, flame away. :neener:
No flame from me brother. Heck, I don't even use the six in the gun. I only load five at a time. ;)
 
Bought my 6" in 1981, had been looking for a 4", saw none. Settled for a 4" nickeled M-27 instead. :rofl:
A 6" M-28 as close to an all arounder as we will ever get, Perhaps a little big for CCW, shooting WCs is like firing a 22, for home defense that heavy frame soaks up recoil nicely, could double for hunting if you are so inclined. Mine wears Herrett's, S&W grips do not fit me.
 
Setting historic significant aside a 6-shot 357 Magnum N-Frame makes no sense to me at all. Then again I got no real use for 357 mag either. But if your going to afflict yourself with a 357 Mag then.

J-frame = 5-shot
K-frame = 6-shot
L-frame = 7-shot
N-frame = 8-shot

Asbestos underwear on, flame away. :neener:
"That's how we've always done it by God! Why change horses mid-race?" ;)

In reality, a lot of it had to do with metallurgy. Back when the .357 Magnum was developed, it blew up K-Frames. So, a six-shot N-Frame was a safe choice. Now, with improved metallurgy, seven-shot L-Frames and eight-shot N-Frames are doable. But I like my classics and I'm fine with six-shots in my guns.
 
Setting historic significant aside a 6-shot 357 Magnum N-Frame makes no sense to me at all. Then again I got no real use for 357 mag either. But if your going to afflict yourself with a 357 Mag then.

J-frame = 5-shot
K-frame = 6-shot
L-frame = 7-shot
N-frame = 8-shot

Asbestos underwear on, flame away. :neener:
But some of us have owned 6 round "N" frame revolvers for a half century or more and honestly, they are just becoming more experienced with every outing. Would it make sense for us to spend a thousand dollars or more to gain two extra rounds rather than simply using one of the many HKS speed loaders we already have to gain six more rounds?
 
But some of us have owned 6 round "N" frame revolvers for a half century or more and honestly, they are just becoming more experienced with every outing. Would it make sense for us to spend a thousand dollars or more to gain two extra rounds rather than simply using one of the many HKS speed loaders we already have to gain six more rounds?
Tell me, what was it like when color was invented? :neener: :rofl:


I'd like to find a pre-lock 686+ seven-shot or a 627 eight-shot just to have for the collection. More guns is always a good thing. But I'm comfortable with my six-shooters. As for speed loaders. I have some old Dade Screw Machine Co. speed loaders. My HKS and Safariland are all high-end modern tech compared to those.

And I'm still under 40 years old as I type this.
 
Nice range report! I also shoot 5 at a time a lot. I guess its easier to pull from the box and keep track of the empties in 50/100 round lots.

No N-frame .357’s haunt my safes, maybe someday I will pick one up to add to the larder. Glad to hear your Model 28 was a great shooter, and fun to boot.

I also have some 231 and 244. I bought it when stuff was scarce, but I haven't used up my AA stash, Unique, HP/38 or Bullseye, so its still closed up.

Stay safe.
 
No. I've been a Unique/Bullseye guy all my life, but haven't been able to find any lately, so the guys at the gun shop recommended W231 for my wadcutter use (so do a lot of books) and the 244 for my moderate 357/44 loads, so that's what I'm working with for now. This was the first time I've fired either of them. (I THINK I used 231 "back in the day" for 45 acp loads but I'm not sure.). Both seem to be cleaner than either Unique or Bullseye, and seem to meter better than either also. Who know. They might become my regular powders. I don't load anything "hot" or really even moderate. My 357 are at the bottom of the listing, my 44's are more like warm Specials.
I ended up trying W244 because I couldn’t find Unique or Universal. It definitely burns cleaner than either one of those and Bullseye as well.
There is one caveat. It is sootier than heck in .45 Colt. W244 was designed or formulated for .38 and 9mm. I don’t own a .44 so I don’t know how it will work with those.
In my .357 Magnums 6.1 grains of W244 under a 158 grain bullet is very accurate. I use X-treme plated bullets for that load. It’s not a hot load so no worries about the bullet plating coming off. Give it a try.
 
I have two of them, a 1958 Model 28 Highway Patrolman 6" and a 1972 Model 28-2 Highway Patrolman.
Model 28 and 28-2.jpg They are fun to shoot.
The 4" is one I bought so when I wore out the 1958 S-frame I would still have one. What a joke! Wear out a model 28? I don't think it can be done. I never shot the 4", it's still unfired for all I know about it.

I've been using a GP100 for my 4" work, I think I can wear it out. In 10 years it needs a new barrel already.
That 6" 28 on top I bought a darn long time ago (40 years) and it was the only handgun I owned for decades. I shot that gun for decades, H110 loads, and 2400 loads out of it, so one day I was feeling sorry for it so I sent it to my gun smith for a check up.
He said he had to put one shim in the cylinder to bring it back into spec. Not bad for 40 years of shooting. (I bought it used in 1984 for $245.00).

I also have a GP100 that I have been shooting the last 10 years, and a 686-4 that someone loved and nurtured. It had some good work done to it and shoots like it to. It will out shoot all my .357Mag revolvers, but that doesn't take away from the love I have for it. That gun and I were born in the same year, and it was my first revolver.

CajunBass, I understand.
 
I use X-treme plated bullets for that load. It’s not a hot load so no worries about the bullet plating coming off. Give it a try.
Oh yeah! I love X-treme's plated SWCs for .357mag loads with some nice BE-86. I recently bought 7 lbs of W244 so I will have to try your load of 6.1 grains with the plated SWCs to see how they work out.
Thanks Pat.
You may have saved me some work. I still have like 4 lbs of BE-86 though, so I will just be a fun venture instead of something I was forced to do, due to the times.
 
View attachment 1194296
A proper 357 Magnum N-frame, moonclip fed 8-shooter. Moonclips rule, and are the only thing that can offset that tant of the 357 Magnum chambering. Feed it 38 Short Colt loaded as hot as you dare.
We are talking about classics here. Nice rig, and I understand the 38 short Colts loaded hot and why. But your about 38years to new. :rofl: I can see why you want to show it off though.
 
Model 28s and wadcutters seem to go hand in glove!

My self customized Model 28-2,

IMG_0484.jpeg

IMG_0485.jpeg

My wadcutters, current favorite on the left, SAECO 453. The other two bullets are being tried.

IMG_8066.jpeg

So far the 453 has been an accurate bullet. It shoots clean through Ohio white tailed deer at about 850 fps.

Kevin
 
Setting historic significant aside a 6-shot 357 Magnum N-Frame makes no sense to me at all. Then again I got no real use for 357 mag either. But if you're going to afflict yourself with a 357 Mag then.

J-frame = 5-shot
K-frame = 6-shot
L-frame = 7-shot
N-frame = 8-shot

Asbestos underwear on, flame away. :neener:

No flames here. I'm grateful for your attitude. Less competition for those old N frames that come up for sale!
 
View attachment 1194296
A proper 357 Magnum N-frame, moonclip fed 8-shooter. Moonclips rule, and are the only thing that can offset that tant of the 357 Magnum chambering. Feed it 38 Short Colt loaded as hot as you dare.
Gamesman mentality. More power to you if that's the way your stick floats. The first 357 Magnum was the 6-shot Registered Magnum. My first duty weapon (in 1973) was a 4" M28-2. Six round revolvers just seem proper to old geezers like me.

Dave
 
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