.38 special problems

[josef II]

I was at the gun range the other day target shooting with my snub nosed .38 special to 25 ft. target using Blazer 158 GR RN
ammo and I could'nt hit paper at all !!!! I did good with my Glock 22 but not once with my .38, the range master thought it was very odd and he suggested I need to have the sights adjusted; is there anything else I can do or take it to the gunsmith for adjusting.

 

[FrankD45]

There is an added degree of difficulty in firing a snub accurately due to the shortened sight radius. Before going to a 'smith I would hang a large target at short range (21 feet) and fire a couple of cylinders from a rest. I think you will be surprised at how accurate they can be, provided you do your job.

I hope that helps,

Frank

PS: Welcome to the forum.

 

[JohnnieB]

Not sure if 3' would make much difference, (25 feet vs 21 feet). Or did the OP mean 25yards?
Try your snubbie up close and personal and move back from there.

Not much info to go on. Could be the gun, the ammo or you.

Did your snubbie shoot okay at 25' perviously? If so, what has changed?
If it is your first snubbie, be aware it takes a lot of practice to be profecient with the short sight radius.

Other than sight radius, the only real difference between a snubbie and a 4" (or longer) barrel is muzzel velocity.

Welcome to the Forum,
John

 

[feralmerril]

The other posters gave good advice. However I am a little curious.
What make and model are we talking about?
Was it the 1st time you shot it?
Why didnt the instructor try it out?
Evidently it has adjustable sights. Might they be loose?
Those bullets are going somewhere. As others said, get a huge piece of paper, aim at a mark and see where they are hitting. Also see what kind of group it gives. Keep us informed.

 

[Will Carry]

Place the target 3 feet from the muzzle and fire 5 rounds, then move it to 5 feet, then 10 feet and so on. If the sites are off you will be able to see where the shots hit.

 

[scooter123]

I would also suggest using a different ammo. I've tried the Blaser LRN and it is without exception the nastiest ammo I've ever used. Fifty rounds required 3 hours of work getting the leading out of the barrel and cleaning the cylinder and the rest of the gun took another 1 1/2 hours.

 

[tom turner]

Welcome to the forum, and what make and model snubbie were you shooting? I once had a snubbie that was so terrible that it would "keyhole" the bullets into the paper targets at ten yards. I wasn't a S&W though.

Let us know the details and we can surely help!

Again, welcome to the forum. There are a lot of fine, FINE people here and the site doesn't tolerate trolls ruining things. You'll find it a very helpful place indeed.

Tom

 

[Rule3]

Do not feel bad. Snubs are not the easiest guns to shoot past 10 feet or so.

All good advice so far. It has adjustable sights??

 

[ldausmc1369]

Snubbie Accuracy

Wait a minute! I saw Kojak jump from a second story window, land on the roof of a car and shoot a guy a full NYC block away center of mass with a 2" Dick Special! You mean that ain't so?????

 

[russp1]

My wife and I are new to the gun game and have recently purchased new S&W 442 and 642s with 1-7/8" barrels. After hearing how hard they are to shoot accurately, we were pleasantly surprised to both keep within a 10" circle at both 3 yards and 7 yards (9' and 21') our first time at the range. For our Texas CHLs, we'll need to add 15 yards (45') to this.

 

[walnutred]

My wife and I are new to the gun game and have recently purchased new S&W 442 and 642s with 1-7/8" barrels. After hearing how hard they are to shoot accurately, we were pleasantly surprised to both keep within a 10" circle at both 3 yards and 7 yards (9' and 21') our first time at the range. For our Texas CHLs, we'll need to add 15 yards (45') to this.

I think it's doable. In my opinion successful shooting is broken down into three roughly equal parts. 1/3rd mechanical. 1/3rd proper practice and 1/3rd mental. The models you listed certainly should have the capability of shooting the group you need at the range you state. You believe that with practice you can shoot well enough to qualify, so your 2/3rds there.

I'm not trying to be flippant. When in my mind a firearms has the potential to shoot well sub consciously I seem to take those few extra small steps that make the firearm shoot well. If in my mind the firearm is not capable of good grouping it will not shoot well for me. Loads can be the same way.

 

[russp1]

Our instructor broke it down to equal parts stance, grip, sight picture, trigger pull and breathing; this was in the class room before we went to the lanes to shoot. After shooting, he told us now that we had an understanding of those five things it was only 20% of shooting well, the other 80% is mental concentration.

 

[84CJ]

If you normally shoot it better then change ammo. If this was the first time shooting this revolver and you dont really know how it shoots change ammo and try it again.

 

[badbob38]

get a longer barrel, hardest darn guns to shoot, those little snubbies, There made for sticken in the ribs, pump 2 or 3 and run like hell.

 

[pinoy007]

try shooting at short range without using your sights... more fun...

 

[cowboy117]

try shooting at short range without using your sights... more fun...

Point Shooting - Colonel Rex Applegate - Sykes - Fairbairn - bobtuley.com Real World Gunfights Happen At Close Range

 

[Marshall 357]

Just have to get a feel for the gun and shoot it more,I have a 2.5'' 66 and love it!

 

[H Richard]

One thing I didn't see mentioned were the grips. J Frame round butt revolvers have small grips, and are difficult to hold onto and get a consistent grip. Using grips that will fill your hand will aid your control in shooting. Although they are ugly, the Pachmayer rubber grips will fit your hand better and aid control. There are also many aftermarket grips and grip makers. If possible borrow a similar gun with larger grips and try it.

 

[jimmyj]

Accuracy with my S&W Model 638 improved greatly by adding a pair
Pachmayr Grips.

 

[Rule3]

The best way to improve accuracy of a S&W snub is have a trigger job done on it. Even if it is just changing the hammer spring by 1/2 lb and the rebound spring by a few pounds.
(Wolf springs, spring pack) Any good Smith can do it and it's not expensive if you do not want to do it yourself.

You will not have light strikes and by having a smoother lighter trigger you will not "pull" off target as much.

That's one advantage the Ruger LCR has over the S&W. The trigger is much smoother out of the box.