Bought NIB 638 last Thursday, got it to the range Sunday and shot 75 rounds and could not hit paper to save my soul. Gun feels good in hand but having a hard time sighting in with groove in the back and sight blade up front. Wish it had a red blade up front. Any thoughts on sighting technique or advise on better shooting accuracy would be apprecaiated. Thanks!

You can paint it red or some other color of you choice...personally, I don't use my sights much with the j-frame...it's a belly gun and that's how I practice with it....point and shoot...at realistic distances of course....10-15 feet....on a good day, 21...any further than that is why God made sneakers......)

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

What type of target, and at what distances are you shooting ? The 638 is a designed for CCW self defense. If you shoot someone @ 50 ft or 25 yds, you are going to JAIL. That being said, try the weapon @ 3 to 5 yds @ a torso target and see where you are shooting. DON'T rush ! DON'T jerk the trigger--just a loooong smoooth continuous pull. Remember your basics. Try to put shots in the kill zone. Speed will come later. Concentrate on your front sight. TRY a dab of easily removable fingernail polish in red or orange on the front blade. See if it helps. When you get proficient, shoot @ a smaller target or lengthen the distance. Most of all, ENJOY SHOOTING YOUR NEW S&W .........

Thanks sipowicz and one eye joe, you guys and others are why I enjoy this forum so much. Can't wait to get back to range for more practice. Thanks again, kingcobra07

kingcobra07;
I have learned that the Crimson Trace (laser) grips are a tremendous help with my 642. You won't believe how easy it is to hit when using them.

Just a thought...

Dale53

I'd add that the biggest advantage of Crimson Trace Grips (I love the LG405's) is dry fire w\ snap caps & keep the dot from wigglin'...It'll break in the trigger, strengthen your trigger finger, & not cost $20 per 50!

+2.... Also, here's a couple of decent 'pod casts':

ProArms Blog Archive 018 Crimson Trace Laser Grips and Laser Sights Review

ProArms Blog Archive 013 The ?Snubby? Revolver

Although sights are small on most J frames, I believe they are more difficult to acquire on the 38 and 638 than other J frames. I have noticed this on several occasions when shooting M60 and M38 at the same range session. There is something about the bodyguard style (like the OP has) that makes sighting more difficult, IMO.

Do you have young or old eyes?
I'm late 50's - wear glasses to drive - but I can see a j frames sights against paper, the problem is focusing on
3 things at once.

If you can hit a paperplate every time at 30 feet with your
snubby that's adequate.

.

Believe it or not I was shooting my 638 the other day and tried my target at 23 yards put 4 in the torso and one in the leg .Just proves that even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while.(Very good gun once you get the feel for it)

Another vote for Crimson Trace grips. I bought my 637, the visible hammer "silver" version of your revolver, with them eight years ago. I now have them on all my handguns that Crimson Trace makes them for. I would not buy a handgun that CT did not provide a grip for. And I practice with my 637 at five - ten yards -- self defense is what it is for, so that is what I practice.

Cordially, Jack

Having just put a pair of CT grips on my 638, I can tell you that (after a getting aquanted period) they will tighten your groups and make aiming a snap. That said, I think you should be able to use your sights in case of a laser malfunction/instance where you might not want a laser to point to where you are. Consequently, i practice with teh grips turned on and off equally.

I usually use just a touch of white testors model paint rolled on the ramp with a toothpic. Use white first then whatever color your eyes like best. ( The white brightens the topcoat). Works good, stays on but yet can be removed if you ever decide. I use red/orange paint on many of my monotoned revolvers and it helps allot.

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Dave

The Crimson Trace Laser Grips are the way to go.

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Age. Fac ut Gaudeaum

sipowicz & one-eyed-joe are right on the button. The 638 & most J-Frame weapons are for "close up self defense". The average shootings for civilians occurs within 20 feet. I've helped compile some of those figures in the past & have seen anywhere from 5 feet away on up to 20 in the cases i researched. Of course LEOs encounter greater distances & we carried 4 inch weapons most of the time. Thats only 7 yards away. Just don't extend the weapon out from your body any great distance as it can easily be grabbed & taken away from you. Then you might get plugged. Keep it up close to you & learn to shoot that way. Much past that especially if the bad guy critter is running away the courts will consider the "immediate danger" to you is over & you can get charged yourself. Florida passed a new law few years ago where you don't have to "retreat to the last corner" to justify a shooting & you no longer have to drag the bad guy inside if he's coming through your window at night. Perfect head shot candidate. Use your best judgment, know your local & state laws, & practice up close with your fine 638.

I was at the range feeding different factory loads into my Taurus PT-145, because I don't know what it likes to eat yet -- and give me the best prints. I brought my 638 snubby with me just to get a little more practice with it. I had just finished with my 45ACP and had a 2nd target on the 25 yd line and though what the heck. Ten rounds with eight on the target: 1 in the 10 ring; 2 in the 9; 3 in the 8; and 2 in the 7. I know this is not a target gun, but it helps my confidence knowing my carry gun can produce this kind of group past it's intended use. For me the sights are different than my other guns. The 638 has rounded sights - so I make a continuous arc between the front and rear sights. Mine hits spot on, when I do my part. Maybe I just got a good one! I want a laser sight, but do not want to trade in my hip-grip and Tyler-T to get one. They just make it carry too good for me to swap.

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My dad started me shootin' his m37 airweight chief, 2" when I was 6 years old. He said "if you can learn to shoot with this, you can shoot anything." He was right.

I took my girlfriend out shootin' for the first time on Saturday, with my m38 flatlatch.


She fired 30 rounds at a 4" target, 25 feet away, and missed it 3 times, not by much.
I had her shoot my pre-15

& 28 no dash


She didn't like either of those, & did not shoot the 28 no dash well at all. Now I'm lookin' for another m38 Bodyguard


Ned