Hey All,
Gorgeous winter day here in Vermont, so I took my newly acquired 19 and 640 revolvers to the outdoor range.
38 degrees and brilliant sunshine, with a light breeze.
I had also picked up a 66 snub but left that behind, as I didn't wish to water down the experience with too many firearms.
One thing I discovered right away is that my revolver "game" is sorely out of practice!
I've been spoiled by too many nice 1911 triggers!
I've been dryfiring with snap caps for the past weeks, trying to get my grip and trigger manipulation some repetitions, but live fire is LIVE fire and the elements of flash and bang and 357 magnum through light guns.. you get it, right?
Also gave the Glock 30 Gen4 a slight workout, but will save that for a thread in semiauto subforum.
S&W 19 snub: I fired a mixture of .357 magnum, .38+P and .38 special.
Speer Gold Dot 135gr short barrel/ 357 magnum
Buffalo Bore Heavy 38 Special +P 158gr LSWCHP (lead semi wadcutter hollow point)
Buffalo Bore Heavy 38 +P 125 gr LV JHP
PMC Bronze 38 Special 158gr FMJ
640 Pro: I fired ZERO 357 magnum (the 19 snub was punishing my hand enough, ha!)
Buffalo Bore Heavy 38 Special +P 158gr LSWCHP (lead semi wadcutter hollow point)
Buffalo Bore Heavy 38 +P 125 gr LV JHP
PMC Bronze 38 Special 158gr FMJ
Started out with the model 19 from roughly 9 yards, firing 357 mag and all double action trigger pull.
Youch, the magnum rounds were stinging, as I had the Eagle wood boot grips installed and they were punishing me right in the web of my hand, due to the sharp recoil of the 357 mag.
I toned it down and followed that up with some Buffalo Bore Heavy 38 +P and the 158gr LSWC was MONSTROUS, and definitely rivaled the Speer 357 magnum for sharp recoil.
The Buffalo Bore 125gr 38+P was the sweet spot, with very manageable follow up shots and relatively tame recoil.
The 640 Pro surprised me in how accurate and quick and was able to get good shots on target.
I have owned this model previously, but can't recall working much with it. I mostly fired the Heavy 125gr 38+P JHP through the 640, and with the VZ Tactical boot grips installed, I was really able to work the 640 with fast and accurate hits on target.
I did NOT attempt any reloads at speed, as I am out of practice and was looking to keep it simple today and get back to trigger press basics with a double action revolver.
I was shooting low with the 19 and made a very slight rear sight adjustment, but will hold off on serious sight adjustment until the next range session and deciding on which defensive load I want to stick with.
The 19 has very smooth and relatively light double action trigger.. I fired single action only about 3 shots, just to give my trigger finger a break, but I generally don't mess around with single action on my defensive revolvers.
I was shooting the 640 ever-so-slightly high on target, but really felt comfortable with the way the 640 locks into my hand and is really able to get cranking, even with that heavy trigger pull.
The 640 has a VERY smooth if somewhat heavy trigger pull. VERY predictable in where it is going to break during the cycle. I nearly liked shooting the 640 better than the 19, truth be told!
Oh, and brand new leather arrived today, for both the 640 and the 19: Garrett Industries for the 640 and a TT Gunleather IWB for the 19
I am grateful to live in such a beautiful place, the freedom to enjoy shooting sports and defensive carry, and the ability to own some solid handguns.
Gorgeous winter day here in Vermont, so I took my newly acquired 19 and 640 revolvers to the outdoor range.
38 degrees and brilliant sunshine, with a light breeze.
I had also picked up a 66 snub but left that behind, as I didn't wish to water down the experience with too many firearms.
One thing I discovered right away is that my revolver "game" is sorely out of practice!
I've been spoiled by too many nice 1911 triggers!
I've been dryfiring with snap caps for the past weeks, trying to get my grip and trigger manipulation some repetitions, but live fire is LIVE fire and the elements of flash and bang and 357 magnum through light guns.. you get it, right?
Also gave the Glock 30 Gen4 a slight workout, but will save that for a thread in semiauto subforum.
S&W 19 snub: I fired a mixture of .357 magnum, .38+P and .38 special.
Speer Gold Dot 135gr short barrel/ 357 magnum
Buffalo Bore Heavy 38 Special +P 158gr LSWCHP (lead semi wadcutter hollow point)
Buffalo Bore Heavy 38 +P 125 gr LV JHP
PMC Bronze 38 Special 158gr FMJ
640 Pro: I fired ZERO 357 magnum (the 19 snub was punishing my hand enough, ha!)
Buffalo Bore Heavy 38 Special +P 158gr LSWCHP (lead semi wadcutter hollow point)
Buffalo Bore Heavy 38 +P 125 gr LV JHP
PMC Bronze 38 Special 158gr FMJ
Started out with the model 19 from roughly 9 yards, firing 357 mag and all double action trigger pull.
Youch, the magnum rounds were stinging, as I had the Eagle wood boot grips installed and they were punishing me right in the web of my hand, due to the sharp recoil of the 357 mag.
I toned it down and followed that up with some Buffalo Bore Heavy 38 +P and the 158gr LSWC was MONSTROUS, and definitely rivaled the Speer 357 magnum for sharp recoil.
The Buffalo Bore 125gr 38+P was the sweet spot, with very manageable follow up shots and relatively tame recoil.
The 640 Pro surprised me in how accurate and quick and was able to get good shots on target.
I have owned this model previously, but can't recall working much with it. I mostly fired the Heavy 125gr 38+P JHP through the 640, and with the VZ Tactical boot grips installed, I was really able to work the 640 with fast and accurate hits on target.
I did NOT attempt any reloads at speed, as I am out of practice and was looking to keep it simple today and get back to trigger press basics with a double action revolver.
I was shooting low with the 19 and made a very slight rear sight adjustment, but will hold off on serious sight adjustment until the next range session and deciding on which defensive load I want to stick with.
The 19 has very smooth and relatively light double action trigger.. I fired single action only about 3 shots, just to give my trigger finger a break, but I generally don't mess around with single action on my defensive revolvers.
I was shooting the 640 ever-so-slightly high on target, but really felt comfortable with the way the 640 locks into my hand and is really able to get cranking, even with that heavy trigger pull.
The 640 has a VERY smooth if somewhat heavy trigger pull. VERY predictable in where it is going to break during the cycle. I nearly liked shooting the 640 better than the 19, truth be told!
Oh, and brand new leather arrived today, for both the 640 and the 19: Garrett Industries for the 640 and a TT Gunleather IWB for the 19
I am grateful to live in such a beautiful place, the freedom to enjoy shooting sports and defensive carry, and the ability to own some solid handguns.
