Recommend for the Smoothies Modern Double Action! (Not Korth - too expensive)

[Mark_Mark]

Alright, I’m really getting into Double Action Revolvers shooting. What the smoothest modern 357/38 and .22 out there? Looking for a strong action that can handle thousands & thousands of target rounds. But mostly looking for a smooth trigger pull

I prefer to stick with Smith, Colt, or Ruger. But always open to alternative brands!

thanks

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I've never even held one of these and they aren't priced very far below the Korth, but the Manurhin MR73 action was designed (or perhaps reengineered, since it's based on S&W's) to achieve this specific goal.

 

[bangswitch]

I don't think you can get much better than a '60s or '70s era S&W, without some serious gunsmithing. The DA pull gets smoother with use, and the SA pull is a breath of air. I have 10 S&W revolvers from that era in several calibers and they are all glass-smooth.

 

[MrBorland]

I lust for a Manurhin and/or a Korth, but needing one, paying for one, and finding one are issues. You might stumble on a factory gem, but generally, S&W and Ruger actions can be greatly improved by some someone who knows what they're doing, I'd opt for one of those. In S&W, my preference is for a 4" 686. In Ruger, I'd go for the 4" GP100. As far as strength, if you're shooting target rounds, any service-sized S&W or Ruger revolver ought to be able to handle many tens of thousands of rounds. Mine have.

 

[Y-T71]

I'm, unashamedly a S&W guy although, I have shot many other DA's over the years.

Speaking only of my personal revolvers:

66 no dash: best trigger; DA/SA of all but it was a sheriffs gun and I'm certain had work done.

66-1: bought from a retired cop who used it for exactly 1 qualification, boxed back up and never fired again. Had a very nice DA pull and excellent SA while dry firing.

617 no dash bought NIB: easily the worst DA/SA of any S&W I've ever fired. Sold it for 5x what I paid with no regrets.

629-2: rivals the sheriffs 66 with no work done; except 10,000+rds fired. Phenomenal SA.

629-3: decent DA/SA but has had no work and >300 rds ever fired.

New 610-3: only one I own with MIM parts. DA is as good as any of the others (better than some) but the SA leaves a little to be desired. It's still unfired so that may change.

I don't know if this is what you wanted to know but there's my little opinion

 

[mcb]

Pick a S&W of the configuration you desire and find a good S&W gunsmith to do an action job on it (or learn to do it yourself). Short of a Korth the best double action trigger I have used is my S&W 625 that was worked over by a great gun smith (by a previous owner) and then has had many 10,000 rds through it to additionally burnish and polish the mating surfaces. All three of those revolver brands the OP mentions can have great triggers if properly work on but in my experience the S&W will edge out the Colt and Ruger under similar skilled hands doing the double action trigger job. The geometry and particulars of the S&W trigger mechanism lends itself to being a bit smoother than the other two.

 

[Lefty38-55]

S&W trained here, but NOTHING beats a Python I once had, that one was unreal! It never fit me well, so I sold it ... for 5-times what I had paid for it.

On any revolver, when as a gunsmith and to this day, apply Brownell's 'Action Magic II' moly powder/solvent elixer and burnish it into the parts. All my before/after results are lost away on an old PC where the hard drive died, but without any other changes, it can drop the SA pull 1-2 pounds and DA 4-8, without any OTHER tuning changes!

It is an UNREAL product, but must be used judiciously, as if you tuned by polishing and then applied it, you could drop below a safe limit (like the Garand 4-pound min pull) or competition limit (like the min 2-pound for indoor 22 bullseye competition). My twin bro shot 2nd in his State for years using a lowly Ruger Mk II I tuned, even designed and made slip-over compensators (with the O-Rings seal to the muzzle) of the like that are now sold by Volquartsen and others.

Then ... get a 22LR, focus on the front sight, front sight, and lastly the front sight ... and shoot the snot out of it!

 

[Mark_Mark]

I have not tried my old Smith yet. They are really nice and not sure if they can handle what I’m about to run though them.!

I was thinking about a Modern Smith Pro Series or a Colt Python 3” or 4” . I don’t know anything about Ruger Revolvers

 

[mcb]

Also remember smooth and consistent is far more important than light. Jerry Miculek, multi-world record revolver shooter, is rumored to run a 15+ lbs trigger but he does his own trigger jobs and they are butter smooth. If you make a double action too light you can have ignition reliably issues and if you shoot really fast double action if the trigger gets too light you can actually out run the trigger reset and that will cause you to pull the trigger before it has completely reset bind up the fire control.

 

[Speedo66]

It’s amazing how a set of Wolff springs in an older K frame S&W can change the feel.

OP, since you have such a gun, try a before and after with those springs. It may be all you need.

 

[Mark_Mark]

It’s amazing how a set of Wolff springs in an older K frame S&W can change the feel.

OP, since you have such a gun, try a before and after with those springs. It may be all you need.

my only old K frame so far is a near unfired M&P .38 with Maroon box and paper work.

I do have a 3” 19-3 coming in today or tomorrow. It already has a rubber grip. Ready to give it a world. I’m just not sure if I want to punish these old gun. They are works of art.

was thinking something like this? Modern and has a warranty! lol

 

[MrBorland]

I have not tried my old Smith yet. They are really nice and not sure if they can handle what I’m about to run though them.!

You're going to run target rounds, no? If they're target rounds, any decent revolver ought to handle tens of thousands of these rounds without a hiccup. I had about 70-80k rounds in my primary match 686 before relegating it to backup status, but it still works great.

I was thinking about a Modern Smith Pro Series or a Colt Python 3” or 4”

Something to be aware of with the Pro & PC guns: They used to receive extra tuning, but as far as I can tell, those days are gone. The only thing you get now are configurations not available in their standard lineup. The interchangeable front sight is very nice (much better than the red ramp on the standard 686 and others), but it's trigger would likely still benefit from a bona fide action job.

Speaking of a bona fide action job...if it needs one, it needs one. There are manifold benefits to dry fire, but it's no substitute for a real action job. Nor is sticking abrasives in the lock work & dry firing.

or a Colt Python 3” or 4”

I don't know about the new Python triggers, but the originals had quite a bit of stack in the DA trigger. For proponents of "smooth, straight-to-the-back" pull, it's deal breaker. The other deal breaker was the Swiss-like lockwork, and finding anyone to work on it if it needs it. Again, I don't know if the new Pythons are similarly complex. S&Ws are pretty simple, and I can disassemble/re-assemble one with my eyes closed.

Also remember smooth and consistent is far more important than light.

+1. My 65 is one of those rare gems which has a trigger I don't think can be improved upon, so I left it stock. Even with a stock trigger pull weight, it's a joy to shoot.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Pro serials don’t come hand turned? that’s a bummer!

I better go to the shop and pull a few triggers

 

[Jim Watson]

I have a Python, I have an MR73, I have shot Ruger, Dan Wesson, and New Python revolvers.
The New Python is pretty good but...

I think a Smith & Wesson is still the best bet but unless you get an Excellent condition older gun, it might take gunsmith intervention for the best double action. My elderly Combat Masterpiece is smooth enough to need no help, but others did.

M. Ayoob reports a tough trigger pull on the new brass handled Henry revolver.

 

[MrBorland]

was thinking something like this? Modern and has a warranty! lo

The more I look at it, the more odd this revolver seems to me. They really push some kind of image that this is some kind of operator's or gamer's gun, but it ain't. Seems to me they're just marketing it to folks who think it is or who think it just looks cool.

JMO, but if you want the best quality for the best price, just get a standard S&W K/L frame, and pay to have it tuned.

 

[MrBorland]

I do have a 3” 19-3 coming in today or tomorrow

This just caught my eye. If it's a bona fide factory 3" model 19 (i.e., not 2.5" or cut to 3"), it's exceedingly rare, AFAIK. Do you have any background info on it?

Any fixed-sight 3" .357mag K-frame (e.g., M65) isn't all that common. An adjustable-sight 3" stainless M66 is rare and priced accordingly. An adjustable-sight 3" blued M19 is even rarer. I've never seen one in person, and have only seen a photo of one - supposedly ordered and worn by an FBI officer.

 

[Mark_Mark]

This just caught my eye. If it's a bona fide factory 3" model 19 (i.e., not 2.5" or cut to 3"), it's exceedingly rare, AFAIK. Do you have any background info on it?

Any fixed-sight 3" .357mag K-frame (e.g., M65) isn't all that common. An adjustable-sight 3" stainless M66 is rare and priced accordingly. An adjustable-sight 3" blued M19 is even rarer. I've never seen one in person, and have only seen a photo of one - supposedly ordered and worn by an FBI officer.

Yep! my waiting period should clear today or tomorrow. I didn’t know it was a rare gun size. But gun is definitely something I don’t want to learn DA on. I don’t know the background, was on consignment at my Local Honey Hole

maybe I should just get a basic .357 Smith and learn on that! 10-15 or a 686

 

[Plano11]

Stay away from S&W model 17. I have two one for me and one for my wife, they are NOT accurate. My wife's one is inconsistent, it randomly has fliers, I even sent it back, they tested 5 shot and had tight group, they sent it back to me. Mine was not accurate in general. I compare to my Colt Trouper and S&W model 19, there is no comparison. Later on I switched to Ruger Mark II and Colt Gold Cup, they are all a lot more accurate than those two.

One is an accident and bad luck, two out of two is really bad. You can see the two model 17 in the picture, the top one is the Trouper 8", the model 17 are 6" barrel.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Stay away from S&W model 17. I have two one for me and one for my wife, they are NOT accurate. My wife's one is inconsistent, it randomly has fliers, I even sent it back, they tested 5 shot and had tight group, they sent it back to me. Mine was not accurate in general. I compare to my Colt Trouper and S&W model 19, there is no comparison. Later on I switched to Ruger Mark II and Colt Gold Cup, they are all a lot more accurate than those two.

One is an accident and bad luck, two out of two is really bad. You can see the two model 17 in the picture, the top one is the Trouper 8", the model 17 are 6" barrel.
View attachment 1158092

this is a first. I heard nothing but good stuff about the 17. They had a 17-2 for $750 at my local honey hole and it sold in days.

 

[MrBorland]

Yep! my waiting period should clear today or tomorrow. I didn’t know it was a rare gun size. But gun is definitely something I don’t want to learn DA on. I don’t know the background, was on consignment at my Local Honey Hole

Looks like a 2.5" to me.

 

[Tallball]

I have one old Taurus and several old Smiths with absurdly smooth triggers. I don't know if they were worked on or not by previous owners.

I traded three pistols and $100 for a Ruger Match Champion recently. It's a modern revolver. Not sure what they cost new. Probably over a thousand. It really does have an outstanding trigger.

 

[ThomasT]

Looks like a 2.5" to me.

Thats what I thought too. I have a 1980s model 28-2 that belonged to my dad. He bought it new and it has the smoothest trigger I have ever felt on an untuned gun. Its still unfired and some day I will shoot it. I wish my dad hadn't thrown the box away for it.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Looks like a 2.5" to me.

4 real! dang, I could swear the label say 3”, even there online inventory say 3”. Will double check when I pick it up

 

[MrBorland]

Nice gun anyway. But if your goal to to learn to shoot DA cloverleafs, I’d skip it and look for a K/L frame with a 4”-6” barrel (4” if it’s got a full under lug) with good adjustable sights. If the action feels ok, go shoot. Otherwise, have the action worked on. Then shoot. A bunch.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Nice gun anyway. But if your goal to to learn to shoot DA cloverleafs, I’d skip it and look for a K/L frame with a 4”-6” barrel (4” if it’s got a full under lug) with good adjustable sights. If the action feels ok, go shoot. Otherwise, have the action worked on. Then shoot. A bunch.

After reading my own post… it’s a 2.5”, my mistake. I be already bought it as a cool carry gun.

I’m thinking L frame with a smooth trigger, and I guess I cam be the only judge of that. But yes, my goal is DA Clover Leaf