I shot up some odd rounds of .38 spl ammo today. By odd I mean the ones you find in the bottom of the range bag, the ones in the speed loaders you forgot you had and partial boxes in the ammo can.
The guns were a Mod 64 and two Mod 36's. The 110 & 130 gr ammo shot low in all three. The 158gr shot point-of-aim (well, as close as I CAN shoot to point of aim) in all three revolvers.
Which brings me to question, are all fixed sight guns more accurate with heavy bullets?

__________________
SWCA #2420

I shot up some odd rounds of .38 spl ammo today. By odd I mean the ones you find in the bottom of the range bag, the ones in the speed loaders you forgot you had and partial boxes in the ammo can.
The guns were a Mod 64 and two Mod 36's. The 110 & 130 gr ammo shot low in all three. The 158gr shot point-of-aim (well, as close as I CAN shoot to point of aim) in all three revolvers.
Which brings me to question, are all fixed sight guns more accurate with heavy bullets?

__________________
SWCA #2420

Not sure what you mean by "more accurate."

I understand that fixed sight 38's (all of 'em, J and K frame) are regulated for the "standard" 38 special load; that is, the 158 gr. lead bullet at 900 fps. Lighter bullets will shoot below the point-of-aim, and heavier bullets will shoot above.

Sorry.
More accurate = shoots to point of aim.

I thought "standard" 38 spl ammo was 130 gr
LRN.

__________________
SWCA #2420

Hello GF, I can only speak for the Model 36. I have one older one in 3" Ser#738xxx. It shoots a one inch group at 7yds at point of aim with 158gr LRN handloads consistantly, if I do my part. I do not have another .38spl revolver to compare it to. I have read that most .38spl revolvers shoot very well with the 158gr loads. Factory loads don't group near as well as my handloads in this pistol, but they are accurate for the most part. Hope this helps.

The traditional load is/was 158 gr. LRN. I'm trying to back this up with a URL but I'm firing mental blanks at the moment

Update: Here ya go. Scroll down to Smith17's post: http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/for...4/m/2831059262

Most of the fixed sight 38s (agency or commercial) are fitted with front sights of the proper height for 158 grain loads.

The US Marshal's Model 10s were fitted with a front sight for the 110 grain load, if memory serves.

On special order, S&W would fit whatever front sight worked for the duty load specified in the agency specs on the contract. If not specified, standard for 158 grain loads were used, at least on K frames.

Standard commercial load is 158 grain. The military load was the odd ball feeble 130 grain full metal jacket load. I am sure they had a great reason for it, but I cannot at this moment imagine what it was!

Hi, just a little info for you..When S&W tests all of their guns they use factory Federal full metal jacketed rounds. S&W said that all their guns are accuracy tested with federal and any other brands can throw the accuracy off...

__________________
M.J.Hanna