My first revolver experience with accuracy

[valnar]

I don't own many handguns, but the two I have are both SIG's. A P229 in 9mm and a P220 in .45ACP. I shoot okay with them, but hit a point where I just don't get any better. One of the employees at my local gunstore/firing range tried them and they worked great for him. He was very accurate with them.

Fast forward 3 years. I just bought my first revolver, a S&W model 686 Plus - 7 shot .357Magnum. I purchased some plinking .38sp ammo and took it to the same range.

I put a target back 25', like I usually do and fired all 7 shots with about a 3 second aim in between each. Guess what? I grouped 4 of the 7 shots in about a 3" ring. I was NEVER this accurate with my P229. I was shocked.

I loaded up 7 more and fired away at a new target. Almost the same.

I couldn't believe it. With just 10 minutes of practice, I was more accurate with my new SW 686 than I ever was with a SIG semi-auto.

Call me a convert.... I'm looking for more S&W revolvers to add to my collection.

Robert

 

[Jeeper]

I am also much more accurate with my revos. My ost accurate shooting is with my 629. The funny thing is that I only shoot it about 1/20 as much as my autos.

 

[Crimper-D]

Cheer up Valnar, You'll get better!

Same thing here, I'd shot autos for years, but my first visits to the range with an old S&W Mod 10 and an even older 2nd Model MarkII hand ejector were astnonishing = dead on 10-ring groups
at 15 yards and all in the Black at 25.
I still love my .45ACP, but fun & beer bets, I load .38 Spl and .45 Colt

 

[Graystar]

Fixed barrel guns are inherently more accurate than the typical tilt-barrel auto. A 200 dollar Ruger Mark II will shoot master level scores while a 400 dollar auto won't even come close. Why do you think us bullseye shooters pay 1500+ bucks for a 1911?

 

[Standing Wolf]

Fixed barrel guns are inherently more accurate than the typical tilt-barrel auto.

Amen!

I don't understand why semi-automatic pistols don't have fixed barrels and better mechanisms to let the slide blow back. Has anyone ever tried hydraulic recoil-absorbers?

 

[Graystar]

I don't understand why semi-automatic pistols don't have fixed barrels and better mechanisms to let the slide blow back.

The genius of the design is the locking mechanism. The rounds are too powerful for a simple blowback design, like many .22s. The modern auto (1911 included) keeps the barrel and slide locked until the bullet leaves the barrel. Then the gases throw back the "uncapped" barrel/slide. This allows the charge to spit out the bullet with the most energy possible, and uses a somewhat-depleted charge for blowing back the slide. And as a bonus, the lowered barrel help with feeding!

Browning was the Einstein of the gun world!

 

[russlate]

Crimper-D, put those 45 acp rounds through a S&W 1955 Target aka M25-2.

 

[Pendragon]

Revolvers can have their own issues with accuracy - the rounds have to jump the flash gap and each cylinder has to be properly in time - the gun is essentially a different gun for each chamber since they will all vary - however slightly. (This is why some people number their chambers)

It is highly doubtful that the accuracy problems you are talking about are mechanical accuracy problems - especially since you say it happens on 3 similar guns that other people shoot just fine.

I find I shoot certain guns much better than others - I do not shoot revolvers nearly as well as I shoot a 1911 and as well as I shot my Colt, I shoot my Valtro better than any gun I have ever shot.

Party psychology, part physiology, part ergonomics - there is a lot involved in placing a bullet and at 25 feet, almost any gun should be capable of 1-2 inch groups - if the shooter is up to it.

 

[BigG]

A quality revo is often easier to shoot than an autoloader of equal quality. It probably has to do with comfort and other ergonomic issues. However, the potential accuracy of the autoloader is greater as the bullseye competitions show.

My personal thinking is that most autoloaders are about as ergonomic as a brick or a 2X4, but that's me.

 

[DontShootMe]

DA vs SA

I'm more accurate with my Autos in SA mode when compared to my Revos in DA mode.

Revos in SA mode (cocked) win hands down for accuracy.

 

[ChristopherG]

BigG says:
"However, the potential accuracy of the autoloader is greater as the bullseye competitions show."

I thought bullseye competitions specified that stage 3 must be shot with a 1911; am I wrong? If that's so, then in what way does the above statement hold?

What would suggest to me the superior potential accuracy of (centerfire) autoloaders would be if silouette shooters used em; and I'm pretty sure they don't.

cg

 

[Zundfolge]

One reason I think wheelguns tend to be more accurate (or at least people tend to shoot them more accurately) is because of the length of the barrel.

I shoot my dad's S&W 686 .357mag better then any of my autos, then again it has an 8" barrel on it (almost twice as long as my longest auto).

 

[kalibear45]

I'm a recent wheelgun convert myself. Not only are they accurate but you can shoot the big calibers in 'em too! Its fun to watch someone try out a .454 Casull revolver for the first time

 

[Graystar]

ChristopherG,

In three-gun competition it's the caliber that's important. You have to fire a .22 caliber, any centerfire caliber, and a .45 caliber. You can use any gun that fits within the size, weight, and a few other requirements set forth by the NRA. Many people use the same .45 gun for the centerfire stage as well.

In CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program) matches you must use a Service Pistol which is usually defined as a 1911 type.

 

[Penforhire]

I'm not doing so well with my 686 in DA mode. That trigger pull is STIFF. I do much better with my P99. Now switch everything to SA mode and my 686 shines (or at least I do). Not sure I like the sights on the 686. The P99's front dot seems to be more visible than the 686's orange ramp on a dark target (no night sights on anything).

Yeah, yeah, I'm still dry firing the 686 nightly...

 

[ChristopherG]

Graystar: thanks for that clarification; must've been the CMP program I heard about.

Penforhire: Keep dryfiring; and, if you find it's still just too much, install wolff springs.

cg

 

[Handy]

Standing Wolf, Graystar, others,

There are several auto pistols that fire high pressure rounds (9mm on up) and have a fixed barrel. They are unpopular, but deliver revolver like accuracy.