Not feeling like chasing brass, but feeling that it was too long since I shot it, I brought my Smith & Wesson Model 28-2 .357 Magnum revolver. As always, I also had my Three-Screw Old Model Ruger Single Six in .22 LR.
Because my dad's gun club doesn't allow .357 Magnum on their indoor range, I shot .38 Specials in the big Smith. They were Winchester-Western 148 grain wadcutter target loads, which are very mild in a K-Frame, much less an N-Frame. The Model 28 of course ran like a top and shot these loads very accurately. I have a 35 shot group fired pretty quickly double action from 7 yards which can be covered by the bottom of a soda can.
I bought the Model 28 back in the mid-nineties. I traded an Astra 75 9mm towards it, plus maybe a little cash. It has a four inch barrel and Herret's Shooting Star stocks which came of my dad's six inch Model 28 (He didn't like them, I did. Go me.)
Click the thumbnail for a larger picture.
N-Frame .357s are the bee's knees IMO. I really want to get a Model 27 with a 5" barrel but they aren't exactly growing on trees.
I ran only about 24 rounds through the Ruger, single action, one-handed. My group was about two inches. The gun might shoot a bit better with target ammo but I keep a box of Federal high speed bulk pack .22 LR in my range bag along with the gun. (I still need to snap a good picture of the Ruger.)
Dad brought along his S&W Military & Police 9 autoloader. I put 10 rounds through it. It's a nice pistol but I'm happy that I got my Springfield XD-9 instead when I decided I wanted a plastic 9mm. The XD fits my hand better. Dad also brought along his five inch S&W Model 625, an N-Frame in .45 ACP. I have an older 625 and it's probably the most accurate handgun I own. I've used it to reliably hit old rotten green peppers and apples from about 20 yards when shooting double action. Here's a picture of my Model 625:
(The knife is a Camillus Becker BK-7. The clips are RIMZ synthetic moon clips.)
Posts
1 comment:
I used to get a lot of enjoyment from heading to the range with my handguns... I even managed to convince the local authorities to give me an annual "permit to carry" the weapons to the range instead of the weekly trip I used to have to make to the police station to fill out paperwork. That was back in the 1980's before the regulations in Canada were overhauled. It's sad to say but I can't bear to face the paperwork required here these days to head to the range - so the guns sit locked in their safe now (and have been for a few years). However, my favourite (note the Canadian spelling!) to shoot was always my S&W Model 29 - a "Dirty Harry Special" complete with the 8 3/8" barrel. It was a little big and awkward, but it was certainly a pleasure to shoot. My 6" S&W Model 14 K-Frame was always a close second...
Maybe some day I'll get to pull the trigger again. But I might have to come visit you to do it, Dave ... Too much paperwork here in BC!
Post a Comment