Sergei Mosin
Member
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2011
- Messages
- 1,918
Today I took my three Ruger revolvers to the range, two of them for the first time.
I started out with my new (to me) .357 LCR. I had previously put 75 rounds through a range rental .38 LCR, so I was somewhat familiar with the gun's operation. The first box was plain old 130-grain .38 Special ball. I was immediately glad I had bought the heavier .357, as recoil was noticeably softer with these rounds than with the .38 gun. Fifty rounds - no problem.
I am a little short on defensive ammo in .38 and .357 at the moment and could only spare a few rounds for testing purposes, the rest being reserved for carry in this gun and my GP100. So I fired three Golden Sabers, two .38 Special +P and one .357 Magnum. Recoil still wasn't bad with either - the .357 had a lot more flash and noise, but that was all. That was encouraging.
Next up was some heavier .357 ammo, Fiocchi 142-grain FMJ-TC. This scared someone two lanes over with the noise and flash - but it was actually fun to shoot in this gun. Painful after a few cylinders, stout enough to draw a little blood, ridiculously loud, blinding white fireball - but also very accurate in this little gun.
So I have changed my tune when it comes to the use of the .357 ammo in the LCR. I won't be carrying full house loads, but I will carry a medium magnum load such as the Golden Saber when I can find them, preferably something flash-suppressed. Cementing this was the easier extraction of .357 cases - .38 cases tended to hang up, but .357 cases popped right out.
***
Next was a more familiar gun - my GP100. It eats .38 Special ball like popcorn and it likes those Fiocchi 142-grain .357s too. It had been a while since I practiced with it, so it got a little exercise. Rather anti-climactic after the LCR - pretty heavy too!
***
I always like to end a range session with a .22, and I was really looking forward to breaking in my new SP101-22. I've had it for a month but my range time lately had been spent preparing my wife for her concealed carry class, so I hadn't shot it yet.
Unfortunately it was a big disappointment. On the third cylinder it spat a little lead, and when I loaded up the fourth cylinder it wouldn't close. Even after I dropped the rounds it still wouldn't close completely, and I only got it back open with great difficulty.
Took it home, cleaned it and oiled it, and it appears to be functioning fine, although I haven't test-fired it yet. I have no idea what caused the problem. Can anyone help?
***
Overall, it was a good day at the range. Happy with the LCR, still enjoying my GP100, and disappointed in my SP101 - but hopeful that it's just a little hiccup. Guns are fun.
I started out with my new (to me) .357 LCR. I had previously put 75 rounds through a range rental .38 LCR, so I was somewhat familiar with the gun's operation. The first box was plain old 130-grain .38 Special ball. I was immediately glad I had bought the heavier .357, as recoil was noticeably softer with these rounds than with the .38 gun. Fifty rounds - no problem.
I am a little short on defensive ammo in .38 and .357 at the moment and could only spare a few rounds for testing purposes, the rest being reserved for carry in this gun and my GP100. So I fired three Golden Sabers, two .38 Special +P and one .357 Magnum. Recoil still wasn't bad with either - the .357 had a lot more flash and noise, but that was all. That was encouraging.
Next up was some heavier .357 ammo, Fiocchi 142-grain FMJ-TC. This scared someone two lanes over with the noise and flash - but it was actually fun to shoot in this gun. Painful after a few cylinders, stout enough to draw a little blood, ridiculously loud, blinding white fireball - but also very accurate in this little gun.
So I have changed my tune when it comes to the use of the .357 ammo in the LCR. I won't be carrying full house loads, but I will carry a medium magnum load such as the Golden Saber when I can find them, preferably something flash-suppressed. Cementing this was the easier extraction of .357 cases - .38 cases tended to hang up, but .357 cases popped right out.
***
Next was a more familiar gun - my GP100. It eats .38 Special ball like popcorn and it likes those Fiocchi 142-grain .357s too. It had been a while since I practiced with it, so it got a little exercise. Rather anti-climactic after the LCR - pretty heavy too!
***
I always like to end a range session with a .22, and I was really looking forward to breaking in my new SP101-22. I've had it for a month but my range time lately had been spent preparing my wife for her concealed carry class, so I hadn't shot it yet.
Unfortunately it was a big disappointment. On the third cylinder it spat a little lead, and when I loaded up the fourth cylinder it wouldn't close. Even after I dropped the rounds it still wouldn't close completely, and I only got it back open with great difficulty.
Took it home, cleaned it and oiled it, and it appears to be functioning fine, although I haven't test-fired it yet. I have no idea what caused the problem. Can anyone help?
***
Overall, it was a good day at the range. Happy with the LCR, still enjoying my GP100, and disappointed in my SP101 - but hopeful that it's just a little hiccup. Guns are fun.