38-44 TARGET NM3 "RANGE REPORT"

[BMur]

I'm finally going to get out and do some shooting this Friday with the boys. One of the guns I'm bringing is my Antique NM3 "Long Frame" 38-44 Target gun. Been dying to shoot this with original target loads.

The only piece I couldn't match is the original case length. So, it's as close as I can get. I'm using an original bullet design/Ideal mold seen in photo 1 of the early target .360/146 grain round nose target bullet, original load of 23 grains of FFFG (American Black Powder), and Winchester primers. NO case crimp applied. See photo 2. These are "match loaded" cases. By that I mean the bullets were weighed and match within 1/10 of a grain, powder weighed, matched cases and primers. The cases are fire formed to .360 so no bottle neck throat is seen on the final product. The .360 bullets fit perfectly snug without a crimp.

I'm also going to try some .360 wadcutters at the 20 yard target with reduced FFFG loads. If by some miracle I shoot well, I'll try the round nose rounds full loads at the 50 yard mark and record results. Likely laughable but we'll see. I'm also going to use a "RED DOT" bullseye center just because my aged eyes need all the help they can get.

I also seated the bullet to reside within 1/32nd of an inch from the face of the cylinder. That should produce some excellent results at the range. I'll take photos of the target, range, etc and post results. Don't expect much from my aged eyes. I'll do the best that I can, but the good days are gone.

Murph

 

[Jim Watson]

I trimmed .357 Maximum to cylinder length when I had a .38-44.
I may have some left, would you like to have them if I can find them?

I have thus far found only 12 pieces, most went with the gun, of course.
Nominal 1.460" but cut in a file trim die so +/- 0.005"

 

[BMur]

357 Maximun

Hey Jim,
That’s very kind of you. I’ll pm you later when I get a chance.
Thank You!

Murph

 

[BMur]

Range Report

Just got back from a full day of shooting in the desert. I had forgotten how hot it gets out in the valley. Wow.

I was only able to shoot the medium black powder load wadcutters. 12 rounds at 20 yards before the AK's showed up and started shooting at my target. I called a "Cease Fire", ran out and rescued my "target" before they pulverized it.

The rest of the day had nothing to do with "Target Shooting". Only banana clips and destruction of some perfectly good ice chests but it was a "blast". I wasn't able to shoot my full load round nose target loads, unfortunately.

Now that the weather is better and COVID is mellowing out range time limits, I'll be going shooting more often. So, I'll get to the Full Load target rounds at a later date. I also plan on increasing the powder load on the wad cutters 3 grains to tighten the grouping. It's a great gun for it's age. I'm truly amazed.

One thing is for certain. This 38-44 Target gun is one of the most accurate guns that I've ever shot. This was the first time with target type loads, and it performed very well except for my "flyers" it definitely patterned very tight. In my opinion it would be very easy to get this gun to shoot 2" at 20 yards and dial in the pattern even tighter with the factory target sights.


Murph