I took my wife out to the range because she has been wanting to try some handgun shooting. We used an older S&W Model 65 with a 3" barrel (really a lady smith). We shot 24 rounds of 38 semi-wadcutters (158 grain). We were shooting well; then I put 6 rounds of 38 + P's in and shot. I was all over the target. I'm not sure why this was, but, even more confusing, was that next I went back to the 38 special semi-wadcutters and my wife was all over the target with those. Previous to shooting the +P's she was shooting better than me. I'm wondering what would cause this. Dirty gun? thanks,
Loss of accuracy at the range?
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moxie
Member
Probably the greater recoil of the +Ps.
That will throw you off when you're used to shooting the milder loads.
And when you go back to the milder loads you are still flinching, and tireder.
The 65 is a light gun. It lets you know there's recoil. And the sights are not much, so don't expect great target accuracy.
That will throw you off when you're used to shooting the milder loads.
And when you go back to the milder loads you are still flinching, and tireder.
The 65 is a light gun. It lets you know there's recoil. And the sights are not much, so don't expect great target accuracy.
Arkansas Paul
Member
Is the barrel leading any? That could explain accuracy at first and then it dropping off.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I was going to ask the same question. Any lead in the barrel?
Hoppes Love Potion
Member
It's likely the human factor rather than the gun. I have a gun whose first 6 shots for me were 5 tens and 1 nine....and the nine was not a ten only because at that point, I was giggling. I still have not been able to duplicate that result.
While heavy leading of the barrel might cause this, a much more likely factor would be flinching by the shooter anticipating the louder blast of the +P rounds.Drail said:
A heavy barreled 3" K-frame isn't really that small or hard to shoot, it just the proper technique to manage the trigger and the muzzle flip
shooting
Thanks for the comments. The confusing thing was that I was the only one who shot the +P's. My wife only shot the 38 specials, so she couldn't have experienced flinching. After I shot 6 rounds of +P's I went back to the 38 special wadcutters for her to shoot. This was when she now shot all over the target too, whereas before she was right on the money.
Thanks for the comments. The confusing thing was that I was the only one who shot the +P's. My wife only shot the 38 specials, so she couldn't have experienced flinching. After I shot 6 rounds of +P's I went back to the 38 special wadcutters for her to shoot. This was when she now shot all over the target too, whereas before she was right on the money.
If you are not flinching and are concentrating on the sights then it's just the human factor and there no explaining that. I've had weekends where I would win a match on Sat. on then on Sun. couldn't shoot well at all. Just remember to breath, concentrate on that front so hard you can see the molecules in it and gently press the trigger without moving the gun. It's easy.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Did you check the barrel for lead?
not sure if you're keeping up with my thread on here, but I'm having similar issues...
first off, really examine your gun, make sure all the parts are good and that you don't have any problems... I once had a taurus that cracked the forcing cone on the first shot.
If that's not the case, I would guess the same thing is happening to you that is happening to me, had a hard time figuring it out, so I started out like a newbie with the advice these folks have given and am already seeing improvements.
Before, I could from time to time bounce coke cans at 100 yards with a 4 5/8 inch blackhawk in .41 mag, however I was having terrible inconsistency, some times I could pull off those "amazing" shots, and other times I couldn't keep 6 inch grouping at 10 yards. I'm just now realizing my issues, there were a couple affecting me and I'm getting more consistent now. I had been firing rifles so much these past few years, that I have gotten some bad handgun habits from them...
as far as flinching, I saw some great advice... load up your revolver with some spent casings and some live ammo, let your wife shoot it without knowing which ones are which (meaning don't let her see you load it), then watch her muzzle closely as she fires the whole cylinder worth of rounds... Have her do the same thing for you. A flinch will then become quite evident.
first off, really examine your gun, make sure all the parts are good and that you don't have any problems... I once had a taurus that cracked the forcing cone on the first shot.
If that's not the case, I would guess the same thing is happening to you that is happening to me, had a hard time figuring it out, so I started out like a newbie with the advice these folks have given and am already seeing improvements.
Before, I could from time to time bounce coke cans at 100 yards with a 4 5/8 inch blackhawk in .41 mag, however I was having terrible inconsistency, some times I could pull off those "amazing" shots, and other times I couldn't keep 6 inch grouping at 10 yards. I'm just now realizing my issues, there were a couple affecting me and I'm getting more consistent now. I had been firing rifles so much these past few years, that I have gotten some bad handgun habits from them...
as far as flinching, I saw some great advice... load up your revolver with some spent casings and some live ammo, let your wife shoot it without knowing which ones are which (meaning don't let her see you load it), then watch her muzzle closely as she fires the whole cylinder worth of rounds... Have her do the same thing for you. A flinch will then become quite evident.
243winxb
Member
Dont mix lead & jacketed. If both were lead, different lubes can have an effect on accuracy. Lead lubes will condition the barrel, this takes at least 10 rounds.
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