Today was a gorgeous day (for a change) so I decided it was well past time to get out a few of the old HEs to see how they shot. I had not previously shot any of these revolvers before today.

I started out with recently purchased .22 Outdoorsman (May, 1939). The first cylinder from a totally clean gun made for a decent pattern, but not so much for a group. The next three cylinders grouped a whole lot better. I was somewhat surprised at how small the grip felt on this revolver. Was shooting Aguila Super Extra and Pistol Match. The latter grouped much tighter than the former, in this gun. POA was middle/upper forehead.

Next up was a "shipped October, 1906" .32 HE Model 1903, 1st change. This gun has a 3.25" barrel and still retains the original nickel finish. The tiny, shiny front sight and the dinky grips on this I frame make it pretty difficult to shoot with much accuracy. Of course my mature eyes wearing progressive lenses don't really help much. Aguila 98 gr. LRN and Fiocchi 100 gr. WC was the ammo of choice for this one. POA was approximately where the nose would be.

Third gun to the line was late 1947 M&P .38 Spl. with 6" barrel. Much better sights and stocks on this K frame. Fired off some Blazer 148 gr. HBWC and UMC 158 gr. LRN. POA was the upper "number 8" on the silhouette target, upper sternum. Now the groups are getting better. I really, really liked everything about this M&P.

Last gun in the rotation was my most recent purchase, a Model 1955 .45 ACP. This was the first time I had ever shot a .45 ACP round in a revolver. Also the first time I ever loaded up a few moon clips. Must say I am not particularly fond of the loading process. And no, I am not going to be buying an expensive loading tool for this gun. Although I did buy an unloading tool, but that was only a couple of bucks. Anyway, the gun was a real hoot to shoot. Big N frame with heavy 6 1/2" barrel was about like shooting .38. And my, my, my, is this gun accurate. I shot only PMC 230 gr. FMJ through it. POA was the X in center mass. I was pretty pleased with the results. The bottom six holes in the target resulted from me attempting to shoot this 12 pound handgun one handed, double action, rapid fire.

All of the shooting was done at a distance of 30', mixing up one hand and two hand shooting. It's been far too many years since shooting a lot of Bullseye competition and I am a bit out of practice. Still, overall I was happy with the way it all turned out. I had a lot of fun today, and sure hope to do so more frequently in the future.

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SWCA 3297 SWHF 583

Looks like a fun day with some nice friends. When I saw the title of your post, I was taken aback; Our informal bullseye,PPC, pins/plates squad is named the OLDIES

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John

Geez, When I saw the title I though you were talking about you and me. Headline coulda been the same if my neighbor and I had take a couple of NIB Glocks out for a spin.

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Randy
Provenance nerd

It WAS the title that tickled my curiosity, I was on the right track. Nice day out.

Well, I could have included me as one of the "Oldies" too. The thought did cross my mind. While I don't think of myself as "old", when I was much younger I sure thought someone my current age was old! Reckon our perspective changes a bit as we mature.

At any rate, I thought it would be fun to post up a thread about actually shooting the guns that we talk about all the time. I do love to look at, talk about and admire the older S&W revolvers. But I love shooting them even more. They are not only mechanical wonders, but works of art. When the two are combined, shooting them makes for pure unadulterated pleasure.

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SWCA 3297 SWHF 583

Looks like a great day at the range! Thanks for sharing.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Great day! If you're dead set against buying the moon clip tool then try out a bunch of different brands of ammo. Whatever I first used to load up my moon clips were really easy- easy enough that I questioned the need to buy the tool. When whatever brand of ammo I originally used was burned up I bought something else that was not at all finger friendly so I bought the tool.
Anyway- buy several brands and see if some are easier than others.

I complained here about moon clips and the loading and unloading of them and I too refuse to spend 50 bucks on a tool. Someone suggested EZ moonclips they are cheap and very easy to use. They make unloading the clips like how it should be.... no problem. All I use in my 325 pd now.

That looks like a heck of a lot of fun.

Your M&P and .45 groups look pretty similar. Interesting.

Great report ,glad you had a blast.

Sounds like a great day, I need to have an all-Smith-all-revolver day. Can't believe I never thought of it.

This is how you know you are getting old: I was walking out of Cracker Barrel and I held the door for two old ladies. They looked to be maybe 60 and 80, the younger one was helping the older one walk. Figure them for a mother and her daughter. As I continued walking to my car I realized that the younger one was actually kind of cute.

Isn't is great to drag these old timers out for exercise. I did that a couple times last summer, I need to do it again soon.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I solved this problem by using 45 Auto Rim. Factory ammo is available but expensive however Star Line in Sedalia, MO. has brass at a reasonable price if you reload.

Looks like Jayhawk marksmanship has improved since the Lawrence raid.

This happens every time my wife and I go to the range.

(Even when we take newer guns . . . )

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I, too, figured out your title on the first glance.

Looks like great fun. You've planted the seed in my head. Thank you.

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

A bit of a followup. Today the wife and I went over to my Mom's place for dinner (she just turned 90) and my younger sister and her husband were there. Thinking a bit ahead of time, I decided to take a few of my guns (and ammo) with me just in case they were there. Glad I did. After dinner, my BIL and I went outside and I opened up the truck door and pulled out the gun case. Asked him if he would like to shoot a bit. He's not a real gun guy, but he does enjoy shooting from time to time.

We got out some tin cans and got them set up. Started off with a .32 RP improved I frame. He was a bit taken aback by the small size and the mild report. But he did manage to hit a can or two.

Pulled out the 6" .38 M&P (same one from the OP) and he fell in love with that one. Liked the feel and balance of that one. And he shot it very well too. Said if I could find another one like that he would like to have one.

Next up was my Model 1955. When he saw it and took it in his hand, he said it was way too big. I think he was initially afraid that it was going to kick pretty hard, but I told him it was not much different than shooting the .38. That seemed to give him a bit of confidence and he shot it pretty well.

I then asked him if he had ever shot a .44 Magnum before, and he said no. So out came my (not S&W) Super Blackhawk with 3.5" barrel. I told him this one would have significantly more recoil to it, but just make sure he had a tight grip on it. First two shots went about 6 feet over the target. His 3rd shot hit the dirt about 6 feet in front of the target. Have no idea where the 4th shot went, but he handed it back to me and said that was enough! Just to show him it could be done, my first shot sent a can flying about 20 feet.

Anyway, we both had a good time and enjoyed our time together poking a few holes in some tin cans. He still wants me to find him a .38 M&P with a 6" barrel. Reckon I'll start looking.

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SWCA 3297 SWHF 583

.38 K frames, it's what's for dinner.

It seems like there is just something really right about a Model 10 / M&P for a lot of people.

Man I want 1 or 10 so badly. The Model 19 will have to suffice for now.

Good job on proliferating the shooting sports too. It's always good to get more people enthused about it. I think.