Range Report...OW, MY HAND!
This has to be one of the most painful guns to shoot I own. And I have .44 magnums and .45 Colts running Linebaugh loads. But this little .38, man it hurts.
Started off at 15 yards, 'cause that's where the target was set up previously while I was shooting my 1911s. I started on sandbags, just to see where the POI was related to the sights. I had 8.5x11 printer paper up on a cardboard backer, and a 2 inch square in the middle of the paper. Loaded up the Remington 125 grain +P SJHP, fired 5 rounds, didn't see any holes on the paper. Loaded again, shot, still no holes on the paper. This was embarrassing. Just an hour ago I was shooting 1.5" groups with my .44 and .45 Ruger Blackhawks at 25 yards.
Ok, next time range is clear I move the target in to 10 yards. This is really close for me, don't usually shoot this close. Fired 5 more rounds out of the little beast and got all 5 on the paper. No grouping though, just shotgunned all over the place. Dangit, this thing is hard to shoot.
Tried the 158 grain Blazer (standard pressure) LRN. These grouped the same, and quite honestly, also stung my hand as much as the +P Remingtons.
I swallowed my pride and moved the target in to about 20 feet. Shot another group and this time I could hold it to "minute of chest". About 3"-4". I was past the 50 round point of both standard pressure 158 grain, and +P 125 grain, and the web of my hand between the thumb and forefinger was really screaming at me, on top of a nice blister coming up on the bottom of the first joint of my trigger finger. Decided for my last hurrah I'd try the Speer Gold Dot short barrel 135 gr. +P load. Kept these in a 3 to 4 inch group too, but at this point I'd had enough. The hand was throbbing and I was flinching.
Two observations. These guns, at least for me (and maybe it's because my hands are bigger, or because I'm used to single action revolvers and 1911s), are really hard to shoot. I need a LOT of practice.
Second observation. I need some lighter, wimpy practice ammo. Trying to work on my technique while trying not to wince with each shot is going to be counterproductive.
I like the boot grip for carrying in the pocket, but maybe for extended range sessions I need something that covers the backstrap. Maybe a lighter trigger would help, too. Seems like the gun is moving all over the place while I'm pulling the trigger. My 629-4 .44 mag has a really nice double action pull, and I can easily hit at 25 yards in DA mode with that gun. Of course, it has a bigger grip and longer distance to the trigger than this gun, too.
I don't know what to think, I have mixed emotions. I went from "I'm trading this gun tomorrow" to "I wonder what I can do to improve my shooting with this gun" to "I hope I haven't permanently damaged my hand."
But hey, it was still a day at the range, which is better than most other things
I'd like to find a grip for mine that is the same length as the factory grip but that covers the backstrap. I think that would do wonders for shootability.
