Question about revolver

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XDforever

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I went shooting at TargetMasters in Dallas. Mainly to shoot my new M&P 9mm compact. It is a fine shooting weapon.

I wanted to rent a S&W 642 to see if I really wanted one. They didn't have one to rent but did have a Ruger SP101 I think that was the number. It was for 357 ammo but the guy said I could shoot .38 in it. The trigger had a real long pull to get it to fire. I do not know if it was me or the gun, but by the time I got the trigger to fire, I could have gone for a margarita and nachos. If I cocked it first, it was better. I have been thinking I wanted a 642, but if it is anything like the Ruger tonight. I want no part of it.

Joe
 
XD,

Ever fired a DA wheelgun before? Most who try it the first time don't give it much of a chance, hence why most revolver shooters you see at the range cock the hammer and fire in SA. I used to be one of those guys. Now I fire exclusively in DA. Not sure if I remember how to cock the hammer any more :eek: .

Before you consider buying something like a SP101 or S&W 642, spend some quality time renting DA revolver and firing it in DA only. Give it time. Today, I greatly prefer the smooth, firm, predictable pull of a S&W DA revolver. I dare say I even prefer it just slightly to a few tricked out 1911s that I've fired, to say nothing of the mushy, odd feeling, unpredictable nature of my XD9.

Generally, S&Ws have a nicer out-of-the-box pull than Rugers. Some Rugers I've handled were quite good, others felt junky. Same goes for Taurus.

To each his own. Some don't like DA revolvers, just like I don't care for DA/SA autos.
 
The trigger on a Ruger SP101 is nothing like the trigger on a S&W J frame. Make no mistakes though, a DA revolver trigger will never be as short as a pistol, it's just the way revolvers are made. If you spent some time firing a S&W DA revolver you would learn to like it a lot. The more you pull the trigger on a S&W revolver the smoother it gets, even the new ones.
 
DA revolver shooting takes some getting used to if you've only fired semis. What seems like an absurdly long pull is actually quite nice in practice. And of course when you get really good there's nothing faster than a wheelgun. Don't give up based on one experience.

As noted, the SP and GP Rugers tend to have pretty high poundage on the triggers. S&W will generally be lighter, as will older Rugers.
 
I used the Wolff spring kit to lighten up the DA on an SP101 for a friend. Really made a difference and was not a hard fix to do. DA just takes practice like any pistol shooting.

Navy Vet & SWIFT Boat OIC
 
You guys are right. Today was my first time to fire a revolver. I was not sure if what i was experiencing was true of all revolvers or just this one. It certainly is a different experience from shooting a semi auto.

Joe
 
Real shooting skills begin with a revolver. I believe a person's first side arm should be a revolver. Learn to shoot a revolver well and firing an auto pistol accurately is a piece of cake. Many of us, myself included, began with the pistol and had to relearn basic shooting skills on the revolver. I am now...oh so much more accurate with the pistol.
 
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