aimtrue
02-23-2011, 11:42 AM
Yesterday I went to the range for the first time with my newly obtained S&W 19-3 revolver. It was modified by the original owner shortly after manufactured in 1974 by replacing the factory barrel with a Colt Python 6" barrel. This configuration resulted in a visually beautiful well-balanced accurate shooter.
I brought five different types of ammunition to determine which type and brand of ammunition works best in the gun:
Armscor .38 special 158gr FMJ
Remington .38 special 130gr MC
Remington .38 special +P 125gr JHP
Winchester .38 special +P 125gr HP
Remington .357 magnum 125g JSP
For my first time shooting, I loaded one round of each ammo leaving one cylinder empty. All bullets hit the 25 yard target within the nine ring.
The weight of the revolver buffered the recoil of the .357 round to the extent that I felt no sharp or jarring pounding. .38 special and +P rounds produced hardly any sensations at all in my hands.
After these five rounds, I shot 190 mixed rounds of .38 caliber ammunition and only 5 more rounds of .357 magnums. I stopped shooting after a grand total of 200 rounds. I will buy the Remington .38 special 130gr MC ammunition in the future for my recreational shooting with this revolver. I see no point in using .357 or +p loads for this purpose. When this revolver is used for personal protection, I will load it with Remington .38 special +P 125gr JHP ammunition.
My accuracy at 25 yards with the 19-3 is far superior to my accuracy with 1911 pistols or shorter length revolvers. I attribute the long sight radius of the 19-3 to be the reason for this. However, I favor the size and weight of a smaller 1911 commander or my present S&W 60-15 revolver for shooting shorter defensive distances.
I found during yesterday's session that by my changing stances from Isosceles to Weaver every so often, I was better able to weather fatigue. In recent years as I have grown older it has become harder for me to retain focus on each and every shot. I want my time at the range to be productive, to put bullets in small patterns near or in the bullseye not to waste ammo by just shooting downrange.
When I was younger, it was much easier to spend a number of hours at the range. Not so today. It is now more physically and mentally difficult to spend three or four hours at the range.
My assessment of my first time out with this revolver is that it is a fine weapon. It is well balanced and accurate. It is a joy to shoot. I am happy to have this fine revolver and deeply appreciative the generosity of its original owner relinquishing it to me as he did.
I brought five different types of ammunition to determine which type and brand of ammunition works best in the gun:
Armscor .38 special 158gr FMJ
Remington .38 special 130gr MC
Remington .38 special +P 125gr JHP
Winchester .38 special +P 125gr HP
Remington .357 magnum 125g JSP
For my first time shooting, I loaded one round of each ammo leaving one cylinder empty. All bullets hit the 25 yard target within the nine ring.
The weight of the revolver buffered the recoil of the .357 round to the extent that I felt no sharp or jarring pounding. .38 special and +P rounds produced hardly any sensations at all in my hands.
After these five rounds, I shot 190 mixed rounds of .38 caliber ammunition and only 5 more rounds of .357 magnums. I stopped shooting after a grand total of 200 rounds. I will buy the Remington .38 special 130gr MC ammunition in the future for my recreational shooting with this revolver. I see no point in using .357 or +p loads for this purpose. When this revolver is used for personal protection, I will load it with Remington .38 special +P 125gr JHP ammunition.
My accuracy at 25 yards with the 19-3 is far superior to my accuracy with 1911 pistols or shorter length revolvers. I attribute the long sight radius of the 19-3 to be the reason for this. However, I favor the size and weight of a smaller 1911 commander or my present S&W 60-15 revolver for shooting shorter defensive distances.
I found during yesterday's session that by my changing stances from Isosceles to Weaver every so often, I was better able to weather fatigue. In recent years as I have grown older it has become harder for me to retain focus on each and every shot. I want my time at the range to be productive, to put bullets in small patterns near or in the bullseye not to waste ammo by just shooting downrange.
When I was younger, it was much easier to spend a number of hours at the range. Not so today. It is now more physically and mentally difficult to spend three or four hours at the range.
My assessment of my first time out with this revolver is that it is a fine weapon. It is well balanced and accurate. It is a joy to shoot. I am happy to have this fine revolver and deeply appreciative the generosity of its original owner relinquishing it to me as he did.