My Favorite Shooter

RKmesa · #1 03-24-2012, 03:04 AM

Not pristine by any means, BUT when I get to the range, this is the gun that I love to shoot. It has just enough wear to be broke in and all of its wear looks to have been obtained "honestly..."

Is there anyone else out there that loves shooting the long-tube guns???

CptCurl · #2 03-24-2012, 08:58 AM

Nice! Your pre-27 is beautiful and certainly to be preferred over a safe queen.

Jack Flash · #3 03-24-2012, 09:04 AM

That's what it was made for. It looks great to me.

keith44spl · #4 03-24-2012, 10:11 AM

Richard,

That's alright right thar in my book...Back in the early eighties, shot one jest like 'er at IHMSA matches.

Hard cast 173 gr Keith style slug over a big dollup of 2400 in shortened .357 brass...

Wow, Man O Man what a long range hitter.

She won her share of the money too!

Su Amigo,
Dave

DCWilson · #5 03-24-2012, 10:18 AM

Longnose revolvers constitute a special class of excellence. I have this seemingly unfired Pre-27 that I will probably leave a safe queen, but I always have half an eye out for a shooter grade 8-3/8" specimen.

Another long-tube magnum in my safe is this mid-'70s Model 57. This gun still holds the record for best accuracy achieved with a heavy cartridge in a first range experience.

Joe in SC · #6 03-24-2012, 11:19 AM

WoW ! What a great old gun. Glad to hear that it gets it's exercise! I like long tubes but at the moment I only have one, a model 29.

RKmesa · #7 03-24-2012, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCWilson

Longnose revolvers constitute a special class of excellence. I have this seemingly unfired Pre-27 that I will probably leave a safe queen, but I always have half an eye out for a shooter grade 8-3/8" specimen.

David:

I always have my eyes open for nice long tube 357's. I found the above gun languishing at my LGS. It was covered in dried crud and needed a good bath, polish and wax job. The price was under $500 out the door, and for a shooter grade 357 THAT I WOULD SHOOT THE HECK OUT OF, I could not resist.

It has provided a lot of fun for me and my boys.

In spite of my enjoyment of the shorter barrels, I almost have a complete series of safe queen P&R 8.375" N Frame 357's. I have had several 8.75" RM's for a while, but recently filled the RM hole, when I found a mint 8.375" RM (when I get the letter back, I'll shoot and post a couple of photos), to go with my 8.375" Non RM, a couple of pristine 8.375" 5-screw pre-27's, an 8.375" model 27 (no dash), a Model 27-1 in 8.375, and several Model 27-2's in 8.375".

I don't have photos of them all, but here are a couple of the safe queens:

Pre 27 with a set of KB's (I have the numbered magnas as well):

Non RM with the HB Hammer:

I'm still looking for an 8.375" Transitional 357 (I understand that there were a couple at last summer's annual SWCA meeting that I could not attend), and a 4-screw pre-27 (I'm not sure that they exist, as I have never even seen a photo of one...). If any of you happen to come across either of the last two, I would appreciate a heads up.

Thanks,

Oregon45 · #8 03-24-2012, 07:56 PM

Here's one of my favorites, a 27 no dash 8 3/8" wearing corian coke profile target grips by Don Collins.

Anymore I only load it with 148gr WC's in 357 Magnum brass. Very accurate and almost no recoil.

RKmesa · #9 03-24-2012, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keith44spl

Richard,

That's alright right thar in my book...Back in the early eighties, shot one jest like 'er at IHMSA matches.

Su Amigo,
Dave

I was thinking that maybe you might be able to help me run down a "workin' rig" for this hand rifle...?

keith44spl · #10 03-24-2012, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RKmesa

I was thinking that maybe you might be able to help me run down a "workin' rig" for this hand rifle...?

Back when I was packin them long snout'd fellers...I was parshal to a cross-draw kinda rig my ownself.

We'll put our heads together on sumthing...

Su Amigo,
Dave

Snakeshift · #11 03-24-2012, 09:00 PM

Wow, some really fantastic revolvers in this thread. I've yet to get my hands on a 8.375 Smith, on my "Must-buy" list though.

Jebus35745 · #12 03-24-2012, 09:17 PM

What kind of groups are you gettin from your pre 27? Nice looking gun and the KB grips are super. Found a 8 3/4" Reg Mag and can't wait to shoot it. Not real fond of the long tube Smiths but that could change soon. Larry

RKmesa · #13 03-24-2012, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jebus35745

What kind of groups are you gettin from your pre 27?

I shoot it almost exclusively offhand at steel (a shooting tree), but the few paper targets that I have slapped up there have grouped in the 2" to 3" range (which is about as good as I can do) with one (sometimes 2) shooter induced flyer(s). One of these days I need to have my son, who is a much better shot than I am, see what he can do on some paper...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jebus35745

Found a 8 3/4" Reg Mag and can't wait to shoot it. Not real fond of the long tube Smiths but that could change soon. Larry

I'm guessing that it will. My first long tube 357 was an 8.75" RM and after a day or two with the gun, I find that I can hardly pass up any nice 8"+ P&R 357...

Here is a photo of the gun that sparked my long-tube obsession (with KB Kearsarge stocks and a King Cockeyed Hammer):

Let me know how your shooting session goes...