Hello:

Simple question: Which current S&W wheelguns, in 38spl/357mag, are accurate enough for Precision Matches?

I'm hoping that I can locate a Model 67 to test fire, but I'm a long way from making a choice.

So, if you shoot a revolver in Bullseye let me know what it is and how it works.

K Morris

Hard to beat this.

A K 38 materpiece/ model 14 without a full underlug.

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K-38 for centerfire, K-22 for rimfire and 1955/45 for the .45 match or just shoot the 1955/45 for CF and the .45 match - your call.

K-38 Masterpiece with the 8 3/8" barrel

Even though the K38 Masterpiece is not a "current " model I have to agree with the others they're hard to beat for bullseye . It would be worth your effort to try and find a nice shooter grade and most likely would cost you less then anything currently offered by S&W.

Is that barrel lenght allowed in bullseye?

I shoot ISSF center fire pistol with mine. The sight radius cannot be longer than 220mm(8.6 inches).

Outdoor Bullseye matches are 50yds slow fire and 25yds timed and rapid fire.

Using revolvers is not highly recommended unless it's all you have.

A 22lr target semi auto and an accurized blue Colt 1911 Government Model are the 2 guns mostly seen on the firing line

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

Only referring to the OP question, where he specifically asked for a revolver.
My main match gun (I am an old dude) is in fact a .32/.22 Hammerli 280 for centerfire pistol and standard pistol.

But I still can make newbies gawk at the performance of my model 14 when I decide to take it to the regionals.

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Yes, I shoot the 8 3/8 revolvers (.22 and .38) in NRA Pistol (loosely called bullseye). They were first made specifically for that competition. Distance between iron sights must be 10" or less, and barrel length including cylinder is limited to 10".


The hot ticket now is semi-auto pistols for NRA competition, not revolvers. Many just have a .22 and a .45. Pistols have shorter limits since 2015.

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Science plus Art

The barrel length cannot exceed 10 inches on any pistol used in conventional pistol (bullseye) matches. I went back to the rule book to confirm this. Thus, the 10-5/8 adjustable front sight 29s designed for steel out to 200 yards would not be legal in a centerfire bullseye match, but an 8-3/8 inch version would. Never seen any one do that, but it would be legal in the centerfire portion of a 2700.

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

Thank you.

We posted at about the same time. The present pistol for centerfire/Standard pistol is an Hammerlli 280 semi auto .22/.32. It's already old for present standards, but I have been using it for more than 20 years now.

I shoot
SW 22 Victory
SW 14-1 38 Special
Remington R1 Enhanced

Sorry about the Remington but it is the best 45 I have ever shot! I have shot them all by the way

I have recently seen a Ruger MK4 .22 semi auto. They did a good job on that one. The grip fits my hand better than the previous ones, plus it has several desirable upgrades over the 1,2,and 3. I think it would be a good low cost starter gun for Bullseye.

I think that there is now a revolver match during the composite pistol matches at Camp. Perry. It would be instructive to know what shooters are using in that match. I think that a 586 or a model 14 would work.

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OP
I know one master shooter who competes with a 686, 6" barrel , only shoots 38sp with it . Has no problems with bullet jump. He likes the extra weight .
The traditional choice is a Model 14 , 6".
I have a 4" K38 thats near the equal of my Model 14.
Have fun !

I had the Victory and the Mark4 side by side. Th only thing that was noticeable was the difference in trigger pull. The Victory is perfect and the Mark 4 was not at all. I am not brand loyal so I was surprised how bad the Ruger’s trigger felt

Never saw any accuracy loss shooting .38 WC from a .357 revolver. What I don't lile in the 686 is that I really don't need that extra weight of the
Barrel underlug.

I wanted a 686 competitor but it is 1150 -1250 on gunbroker! I just could not swing it!

You can find 686's with 6" barrels on the sites for around 700 bucks that will do the Job for a local league.
I found my 14 for less than that and it was clean and a K38 for less than the 14 and it was cleaner.
They are out there, watch the sites for a while and you will find one you can afford that will do the Bullseye thing.
Good luck and have fun !

My six inch Model 19-3 is a real tack driver out to 15 yards.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Odds are that it will be a tack driver at 25 yards also.

Shot the .22 Cuyahoga County Pistol League for years in NE Ohio. There was a Cleveland police officer that shot a model 17 only. He did OK with it, shot mid to high 270’s with it. I believe he still shoots the league but getting older is putting him back to the lower 270’s. We also shoot a double action league for 8 weeks, centerfire only and he is in the top 5 out of 35 or so shooters. He uses a model 14 for the DAO only, Larry

It has been a number of years since I shot any bullseye, mainly because that section of my Club, which used to have 12-15 shooters each Sunday, has gone into decline.

My guns were my Browning Buckmark with 6” barrel for rimfore and my 686AFS for centrefire. The AFS allowed me to set sight position 1 for a 6 o’clock hold at 25 meters and position 2 for dead on at the same distance for other matches.

But ideally I would have loved an older K frame adjustable sight revolver in .38 Special just for the “wow” factor.

A friend of mine has a 4” model 15 he shoots out to 50 yards with. Rey accurate too.

Do you want to compete in Distinguished Revolver, or are you looking to hang in regular Precision Pistol?

I mention that because if you just want to shoot BE without getting into DR, you're free to use a red dot. Which I absolutely would.

Whereas DR requires not just iron sights but factory sights, a 4" or 6" barrel, and 158-grain semiwadcutter ammunition.

My personal choice for either would be the same--a 6" Model 14. You could have it drilled and tapped for a red dot if it isn't already. But if you didn't make me shoot a revolver, I wouldn't.

M14, K38 and Wadcutters, it was made for bullseye shooting.

I've been shooting a 14 and K38 with 148 WC .
Some good targets.
Recently found that the guns also like 125gr RNFP or FP.
A very soft round , pleasant to shoot and quieter than 148 or 158.
So versatile if you roll your own.

I own a Colt Python(don't PM me,it is not for sale)but for Bullseye shooting,the Model 14 wins hands down.No need for photo finish.

Before you spend 1250 on a 686 I would look for a mod52 but if you
Are going to compete with a revolver the 14 would be my choice
Around my area 750 will buy a nice one,6inch is more common
And will shoot as well as the 8.375 for most people

I shot my first precision pistol match last Sunday. A full 2700, .22, CF, and .45. Shot a revolver in all three because I wanted to. A 17-2, 14-3, and 25-2. The 14-3 I picked up on GB for $325 plus another $40 in shipping and transfer. If you live in a free state you should be able to find a nice shooter for under $500.

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When I shoot in a 3 gun 2700 match (now called Precision Pistol), I use a K22 (Model 17), a K38 (Model 14) and a Springfield Armory Trophy Match. All 3 weigh in at 38 ounces. The revolvers have 6” barrels along with target triggers, hammers, and stocks). having K38s with both target and service triggers and hammers, I find that the revolver with the target trigger and hammer has an edge. The trick to mastering a revolver in a bullseye match is to shoot it single action in all 3 stages.

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my 15-4, built in 1970, equiped with red dot, is capable of a one hole group at 25 yards.
using a dot, a 4'' barrel is fine.

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susie