I decided to take out my pre-war targets that I have the boxes for to do some blasting today. Specifically I wanted to see what my new to me 1940 Pre-War Outdoorsman would do at 15 yards.
Here is the gun in question. A very nice pre-war 38/44 Outdoorsman with the matching box. The gun is all original, very tight and in great shape. The DA trigger measures an average of 8 lbs 2 onzs and the SA trigger is 2 lbs 6 onzs on all cylinders. Obviously the trigger break is a dream and the gun is very tight.
I had my work cut out for me. Here is a nice 20 yard group shot back in spring of 1940 with 6 shots from 6 cylinders. One has to wonder if the guy shooting these targets for S&W had any idea that the gun would still be in use 66 years later. I somewhat doubt it.
50 shots, 15 yards, offhand, double action.
My loads were Lasercast 158 grn SWC with 4.5 grns of Universal Clays which is the book max in several cases. Also I was using starline brass, cci500 primers and a redding profile crimp die. I did not chrono these out of this gun, but other OD's it gives 925 FPS range.
The gun shot well, but I have to say I was off. I have not fired a gun for 3 months due to an overseas assignment so my shooting was a bit out. The gun was capable though. I could call nearly every shot. Now on to the Registered Magnum
This is a 1939 Registered Magnum. It has seen a lot of action, and has been refinished by the factory in the summer of 1944. One has to wonder what strings got pulled to refinish the gun during the heat of WWII but I guess if you could afford a Registered, well then you could afford to pull a few strings. The trigger for the registered is 3 lbs 3 onz for the SA and 10 lbs 9 onz for the DA. Most of this excessive weight is due to the bent ejector rod, but I just hate to let the gun out of my sight to get it repaired. I have just elected to "live with it" until I can buy another Registered.
50 shots, 15 yards, offhand double action.
The loads were Lasercast 158 grn SWC with 14.5 grns of 2400, cci550 primer, starline brass, redding profile crimper. These do about 1225 out of this gun and all in all are pretty mild little popper rounds. They give no indications of leading or other issues.
Again, I see my shooting is a bit off. I can see the impact of no trigger time for several months. The Registered Magnum still shoots well. I noticed I was forcing the trigger a bit. I seem to be pulling with the side of the finger a bit more then normal.
So what is it like to shoot a Pre-War N frame Target revolver like this? Well the honest answer is it is pretty disappointing. Almost frustrating really. No the revolvers are great, but what is frustrating is what passes for quality today and the lack of really great revolvers to buy and shoot now. I do own a "few" numbered S&W's and have shot and handled a bunch of them but frankly when I pick up my nice Pre-War's with the long actions and the smooth cocking stroke the newer numbered guns just seem so rough and sloppy. Modern guns (meaning numbered S&W's) lack the smooth clean tight feel of the Pre-War N frames.
When I was shooting the Outdoorsman in double action mode, once you overcome the bit of inertia to get the cylinder to roll, you just had to maintain your finger on the trigger and the gun literally would fire on its own. It just would float in your hands and you could predict the break perfectly. If you cocked either in single action mode, the old long action just seems to go on forever. Shooting the Registered always brings a smile to ones face because the the unique feel of quality and fitting. The gun locks up perfectly and is exceptionally smooth in DA. The Humpback hammer is perfect for SA shooting but I was playing double action mode today so I did not try it out much. I shot some SA work out of both guns just to test my eyes and did about the same as the double action. There is still a lag mentally in my shooting reactions.
I found the sights to be quite usable for the small size. Both guns were regulated well for the ammo and it was easy to call every round. Only a few times did I just flub the shot and miss the call. Mostly due to lack or recent practice. The mind said fire, the finger said "Huh?" so to speak. You could feel the trigger break for the call pefectly on every round. You bring the weight back in double action and the cylinder lopes along till you feel it would good right about "bang!" (now). To bad S&W went to the short action. The old long action is a lot of fun and sure is easy to shoot.
I did enjoy watching the other shooters at the range today. There was a guy with a nice 4" python who was cocking it so quickly in SA mode that I actually cringed. It was fun to watch him "jerk flinch" every round with 38 specials. He kept telling his partner they were hot rounds yet they looked like Winchester White Box fodder to me. Maybe they were reloads, but he tossed the brass so I doubt it. Then there were the shooters next to me banging away with some 40's and 9mm's glocks and beretta's. At 15 yards they were in massive shotgun mode putting patterns all over the backer boards. I know my shooting was off today, but at times I am astounded at how bad some folks shooting can be.
The thing that struck me the most today was the sense of loss of quality in manufacturing today. Its hard to really explain to folks, but when I pick up my Pre-War's and then load and fire them, they have a solidness and precision that only hand fitting can match. I look at modern guns and regardless of H&K, Sig, S&W or the like they just lack. Even my Baer's and SIG 210's lack the precision hand fit feel of the pre-wars. I guess I am lucky enough to be able to enjoy the difference and afford to collect them. Thanks Ben for being a great mentor showing me the way!
Finally here are the pre-numbered clan. From the top, clockwise
38/44 OD
38/44 HD target
38/44 OD (unfired)
pre-27 8 3/8"
357 Registered Magnum
38/44 HD transitional
Pre-25
Pre-28
38/44 OD Pre-war
Pre-27 6.5"
38/44 HD
38/44 HD Pre-war
38/44 HD Pre-war (my oldest N frame. This one is from the first weeks production in April 1930).
