Most accurate 38 Special revolver barrels

[cprher]

In the opinion of this forum, who makes the most accurate 38 Special barrels? I'm looking to make a target revolver for bullseye shooting, specifically the centerfire portion of a 2700 and I'm looking for the best barrel to use. I'm looking for recommendations on bore diameter (I'll be using Federal Gold Medal Match 148 grain wadcutter), rate of twist, number of lands/grooves, etc. But I'm also looking for the best angle for the forcing cone and the best type of barrel crown. Can you guys help me out?

If I choose instead of a custom barrel to have a factory barrel rebored so that I can use a factory contour (full lug), who would you recommend do the work?
Keith
[email protected]

 

[wnycollector]

Why not look into a S&W Model 14, K-38, Colt Officer's match or target. All of those pistols have a long history of bullseye shooting success?

 

[woad_yurt]

My suggestion....

I have a bone-stock Model 14-4 with an 8 3/8" barrel. It is one ridiculously accurate revolver.

 

[earplug]

Check out PPC shooters revolvers

The old PPC guns shot great with 148 grain WC.
Clark makes guns like you want.
Only issue is the costom barrel might make your gun illegal for the NRA revolver match, I think its called the Harold Reed match?

 

[Old Fuff]

As a rule of thumb: Smith & Wesson use a 18.75 rifling twist that is to slow for 148-grain midrange loads. Other manufacturers use a faster 16 x1 twist which is better. Custom revolvers sometimes use a twist as fast as 14 x 1 twist.

I have two suggestions. (1) Watch the online auctions for a Colt's Officer Model .38 revolver. These were the prime choice back when revolvers were popular in bullseye shooting. Today you may find like-new examples going for as little as $400.

(2) Follow earplug's advise and check out Clark Custom Guns. They can build what you want on a S&W model 10 platform.

 

[JimPGov]

OK I'M A HIGH MASTER PPC SHOOTER. I HAVE PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE WITH 148GR HBWC.

1. A NON FACTORY BARREL IS ALLOWED FOR THE HARRY REEVES MATCH.

2. A FACTORY BARREL IS REQUIRED FOR NRA DISTINGUISHED REVOLVER( I HOLD
DISTINGUISHED REVOLVER BADGE # 37).

3. I WOULD NOT GET A CLARK PPC REVOLVER.

4 WHO WOULD I USE TO BUILD AN ACCURATE REVOLVER

a. JERRY KEEFER FROM VA (WHO IS ON THIS LIST FROM TIME TO TIME)
b. BOB JONES FROM JACKSON MISSISSIPPI
c. RANDY LEE FROM CALIFORNIA

BEST BET FOR THE MONEY IS A FACTORY FULL LUG S&W MODEL 14 AND USE IT FOR BOTH MATCHES. (THESE GUNS DO NOT HAVE THE BEST RIFLING FOR THE 148HBWC, THEY ARE DESIGNED FOR THE 158GR BULLET). THAT IS HOW I EARNED MY DISTINGUISHED REVOLVER BADGE. I SHOT BY DIST REVOLVER FOR THE ENTIRE CENTERFIRE MATCH AT A 2700.

BY DOING THIS I LEGGED OUT IN 5 MATCHES.

5. RATE OF TWIST FOR THE 148GR HBWC SHOULD BE 1/10,12 OR 14

6. BRAND OF BARREL ??
SCHILEN, DOUGLAS, APEX( IS YOU CAN FIND AN APEX)
THE APEX PPC BARREL HAD 10 LANDS AND GROOVES NARROW AND SHALLOW RIFILING IN THE APEX BARREL BY VERY ACCURATE

 

[MrBorland]

3. I WOULD NOT GET A CLARK PPC REVOLVER.

JimPGov -

Good stuff, thanks. My only question regards the Clark PPC revolver, and what your concerns might be - is it the "Clark" or using a PPC revolver for bullseye? I can't recall, maybe Clark's PPC revolver is DAO. Clark also offers a bullseye revolver; their Harry Reeves. Any thoughts on it?

4 WHO WOULD I USE TO BUILD AN ACCURATE REVOLVER

a. JERRY KEEFER FROM VA (WHO IS ON THIS LIST FROM TIME TO TIME)
b. BOB JONES FROM JACKSON MISSISSIPPI
c. RANDY LEE FROM CALIFORNIA

I've heard great things about Frank Glenn, too. Any opinions on or experience with him?

 

[JimPGov]

I have no personal experience with frank glenn.

I looked at the clark harry reeves revolver at camp perry when jr had it there. The timing on the revolver was not good, when i asked about the use of a match range rod his reply was that they don't test the revolvers for that. The range rod shows you how well each charge hole in the cylinder aligns up with the bore. This alignment keeps the bullet from being deformed as it enters the barrel. Accurate alignment = accurate gun. I have also tested a clark ppc revolver from the ransom rest at 50yds. It was no where near as accurate as the other ppc revolvers we tested that day.

24 shot groups is what i shoot at 50yards for accuracy. Why 24 shot groups? In ppc that's what you shoot at each 50yard target 24 shots. Most people say 10shots is the standard. And it is for bullseye. Why? Because in bullseye you shot only 10 shots per target at 50yds.

The jerry keefer and bob jones guns are both under 1.5" at 50 yards. The randy lee gun was 2" at 50 yards. Good enough. Why is 2" good enough? The x ring is 2" wide by 3" tall on an nra b27 ppc target.

 

[9mmepiphany]

excellent and informative post JimPGov.

back in the day, i started shooting PPC with my Colt Python, which did a great job with the 148gr HBWCs before moving up to a full-house PPC gun put together by Bill Davis...he was local

My experience with Randy Lee has been excellent.

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