38 spl J frame, check up...

[Nevada Ed]

Since the weather was nice I went out to double check some fps
in my loads and to see if they were at poa and half way decient in accuracy.

I tested a 110 Gold dot that was a std +P and
a 148 and 158 lead bullet that was a stanard 38 special loading.

The 110 gr Gold Dot turned out to be a full load at 1005 fps (my mistake) Unique , not Green Dot.......

and the 148 BBwc did 714 with Bullseye and the 158 with Red Dot did 720 fps.

With my neck surgery, my shooting hand shakes, so it is hard to get good groups
like I was able to in the past, witch is a real bummer.

However the recoil on the +P+ (?) was pretty heavy and the group was not that good either.......

The 148 BBwc was a little lighter in recoil but it did not do so well, with a 4" group off a sand bag, for this old guy.

The 158 Lswc (fn) was very comfortable in recoil and was the only load that shot at....... POA.

I stated in another post, that all my test over the years has shown
to me that the old lead 158 gr bullet and the newer 130 HST and the older 135 Gold Dot out of the J frame snub nose..............
are hard to beat for a SD load...........
if they hit at a POA.

PS;
Iwould have shown a trarget but.......
I had a circle on top and two below in a triange for the 3 loads, but...
the first load, the 110 Gold Dot +p............
put a bullet into each circle, that embarased me, to where I did
not post the rest of the testings.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Glad you could get out and shoot. My expierance says 135 Gold Dots and anything lead 158 for 2" guns (J, K, or Dic Special)

My light bullets all do fine in 4" or longer barrels!

Ivan

 

[stansdds]

S&W sighted their fixed sight 38 Special revolvers for full power 158 grain LSWC ammo and they do shoot that very, very well. More velocity does not always mean better accuracy and accuracy loads often occur at velocities well below the safe maximum. I also agree on Speer's Gold Dot 135 grain 38 Special +P Short Barrel ammo as being good for defensive use. Even though my 640-1 handles 357 Magnum ammo just fine, I find that the 38 Special +P is a lot easier to control.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I think all my chrony work is done on my 38 special loads.

Now I can relax and just take targets out to the shooting areas, which lets me shoot any where.
I will probably take it out on the paper plates, since just a little tape or a tac pin is needed to attach it to a cardboard box, with a brick inside, for wind.

Enjoy the holidays.

 

[ruger 22]

Paper plates sounds like a great and economical idea. Thanks!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Ed, I didn't shoot for almost 2 years because I was very (VERY) sick my hands also shake now. Instead of worrying about small groups I now practice for SD. Practice squeezing off 2 or 3 shots on an 8" paper plate. Set it up chest level of a normal size person and when you can hit all your shots on the plate you are shooting center mass, good SD shooting.

We do what we can, don't worry about not doing what you used to do. Also, practice with a lot of .22lr rounds. It's easy on the body and a lot of fun. It will help you improve your shooting too.

I'm a big fan of the Speer 135gr GDHP SB ammo and my replicas of the same.

 

[austintexas]

40 years ago I bought a pack of targets with a 4 inch bull to shoot at 25 yards. My wife owns her own bookkeeping business and I just sneak into her office and make 20 or 30 copies of the targets on her copy machine. Pretty cheap for me.
SWCA 892

 

[len917]

there are some websites with printable targets and print what you like

 

[tops]

Ed Instead of worrying about small groups I now practice for SD. Practice squeezing off 2 or 3 shots on an 8" paper plate. Set it up chest level of a normal size person and when you can hit all your shots on the plate you are shooting center mass, good SD shooting.

We do what we can, don't worry about not doing what you used to do. Also, practice with a lot of .22lr rounds. It's easy on the body and a lot of fun. It will help you improve your shooting too.

.

I'm now 80 and that is what I've been doing for the last several years. Trying to shoot like I could when I was young is just an effort in futility. Larry

 

[gwpercle]

Keep On Keeping On ... getting older isn't for the wimpy so do the best you can ... targets not necessary .

My J-Frames like a 160 grain. cast Wadcutter , they shoot right to the sights ... close enough to 158 gr. weight they are regulated for ...
I like wadcutters . This bullet is NOE's version of the discontinued Lyman 358432 bullet mould ... it's extremely accurate !
Gary

 

[Nevada Ed]

Ed, I didn't shoot for almost 2 years because I was very (VERY) sick my hands also shake now. Instead of worrying about small groups I now practice for SD. Practice squeezing off 2 or 3 shots on an 8" paper plate. Set it up chest level of a normal size person and when you can hit all your shots on the plate you are shooting center mass, good SD shooting.

We do what we can, don't worry about not doing what you used to do. Also, practice with a lot of .22lr rounds. It's easy on the body and a lot of fun. It will help you improve your shooting too.

I'm a big fan of the Speer 135gr GDHP SB ammo and my replicas of the same.

Thanks for the ideas and tips.
All my .22's are rifles, now..........

one reason that I load a LOT of starter loads, so I can shoot more, with my rvolvers & pistols.

Even though hand shakes are a bummer..........
I have to laugh at myself, some times, at where the bullets end up.

"No officer, I really did not mean to shoot him "Down there".............