Like most of you, I cut my teeth on .22 LR firearms; my first rifle was a Winchester Model 69A. It wasn't until I got into college that I first started shooting .22 handguns. It was a whole new world, this sport of bullseye shooting. I was musing today on the progress S&W has made over the years in crafting handguns specifically suited for target shooting; most of them were state of the art at the time they were introduced. Here's some that I've acquired over the years that I found interesting.

This is a "Perfected" single shot target pistol, made in 1914. It's also known as the 3rd model single shot, the last of the topbreak revolver-framed single shots. This one has a 10-inch barrel.



If your taste ran to repeaters and revolvers, then S&W had you covered back in the WWI era. This is a 22/32 revolver built on the "Bekeart" pattern, made in 1917. It looks like it's been well-used, and sports an aftermarket rear sight.



S&W never gave up on revolvers for target shooting. The top gun in this picture is a Model 17-4 with an 8 3/8" barrel, made in 1980. The lower one was made a bit earlier, in 1977. It's a Model 17-3 with a 6" barrel.



But the king of them all and still being made is the magnificent Model 41 semiauto target pistol. This one shipped in 1972. It has the long barrel, cocking indicator, and muzzle brake that characterized the best of the breed back in the day.



All of these guns can still put them in the black today; I find them not only interesting but a lot of fun to shoot, even though my competitive shooting days are over. I thought you might like to see some S&W target history here.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

My early 70's vintage Model 41 still shoots as well today as it did back then. A totally magnificent pistol !!!

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A closed mouth gathers no foot

Evil Dog, how does the modern .22 ammo compare with the ammo you used when you first got your 41? Is it about the same, better, or worse?

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Why duck?? It's a 9mm!

Excellent photography, Paladin. Certainly worthy of the subject matter.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

WOW; What a great group of S&W's. I still shoot my 22-32 Target. Never found anything I could shoot as well.

I bought some springs and buffers on the forum several weeks ago. I put the wolff 8 lb spring and Buffer Technologies recoil buffer in my 1959 vintage Model 41 with the 7 3/8" barrel, muzzle brake, and the indicator.

I wanted to see how it would do with various ammo.

I went to the range last weekend I will tell you about the best group for each since there was a lot of operator error in some of the groups. I fired from a rest at 15 yds.

Federal bulk ammo. a little over 1"

CCI Standard Velocity 3/4"

CCI Sub-Sonic 1/2"

I tried the Sub-Sonic just to see if it would cycle with the 8 lb spring. I had no failures with it and I surprised myself with the group size.

I consider the bulk ammo minute of beer can which is acceptable for plinking.

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Corripe Cervisiam

Wonderful 22s. My 17-3 is teaching me how to shoot.

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Dennis

Glad to have a Model 46 here. It is one accurate MoFo. People loosely use the term tackdriver but Model 41/46 truly are.