ABPOS
Member
OK, I'll try to keep this brief. I just like making a record of my thoughts so I know I get long sometimes. And I always like to hear thoughts from people as long as they aren't negative. I mean I realize I can shoot better. That's a given. But I'm working on it.
So.. First thing, I painted my front sight red and it definitely was easier to see. I was shooting indoors so.... I don't think it hurt my shooting and I'm pretty sure it just helped. But I'm glad I painted it. (Daughter helped, I did the base coat of white, she did the red with her fingernail polish). I will say that on a glossy finish the light at the range caused a very small glint about a mm down from the top and not very wide at all. It wasn't annoying and it may have just helped me see the front sight. But it was definitely there at times and my eye was drawn to it at times. Which may be a good or bad thing, not sure.
Secondly, I still have no clue what grips to use. It's like they all have stuff that I don't like. Haven't tried them all yet but here's what I figured out. Factory boot grips and Bantam boot grips. I just don't get the control I want. My rubber band trick about wrapping rubber bands around them helps with control and if I was pocket carrying a gun I would do that. Without the rubber bands they are harder to control. I did not find the Hogue Bantams any better and actually I think I liked them LESS than the factory grips. The factory grips are a bit beefier in places and fills the hand more. The hogue grips have the benefit of being speed loader user friendly right off the bat but filing down the factory ones works too.
I tried a set of Uncle Mikes Combats and Pachmyr Professionals. I shot BEST with the Pachmyrs. But I did not shoot all that bad with the UM's. Except when I sped up I had a tenancy to shoot right with them. One time it was drastically so that they give me pause. The pachs are probably the best choice but the least carry friendly. For a belt gun though I don't think the size is a problem. Obviously not a pocket gun.
Now, both of those although better than boot grips do have their downsides. The UM's aren't as tacky as many other grips and slip just a bit more than I like. More control than any of the boot grips I've tried but not as good as the hogue tamers I've used on my 442. Now the Pachmyrs stay put. However, they have the benefit of chewing up my hand because of that. A blister formed on my thumb where it almost meets the web. And you can feel it just digging in there. LOL. And then because it places the hand further back on the frame the takedown lever beats up my thumb. I had blood squirting onto my frame. LOL. That being said, Hogue Tamers on my 442 did the same thing with the takedown lever. But I've never had an issue with a blister forming further down on the thumb. In defense of the Pachmyrs, I shot the only +p's of the range session with them on. Golden Sabers and they were definitely hotter and caused more of a flash too.
I still feel like I haven't hit that "aaah that's just right" with the grips. I'm not sure what else to try. Some old factory wood with a T grip. Or even without. I think they'd slip under recoil. The Monogrips that I couldn't fit on... The smaller pachmyrs..... The factory combats that look like the UM combats. But they are probably tackier... I can also maybe try to smooth out that part where the pachmyrs are rubbing me thumb raw. And also do the ole dehorn the thumbpiece with a file.
One of the upsides of the day is I found out that the 637 likes the 125 grain Hornady HP's and seems to shoot the 130 grain Federal FMJ's decent. And the PMC 132 grain FMJ decent too. Both of which I like the idea better for range because it has less felt recoil and also hits closer to point of aim than 158 grain LRN. PLUS, I don't like cleaning lead out.
ON THE OTHER HAND, the 158 grain Hornady Custom printed a pretty tight group at 7 yards besides a flyer and I can still choose them if I want.
Lastly, like my last session I ended up shooting my 6" model 19 at 7 yards and man is that thing smooth after shooting an Airweight J frame. LOL. And accurate. It hasn't seemed to like 158 LRN in the past so I just keep sticking with the lighter stuff through it. Only .38 Special.
All shooting was double action, all at 7 yards except for the 1 target I shot at 25 yards with the 637. Which I kept 13 of 15 shots on the silhouette. 14 on paper and I guess I missed one somehow. Booooo.
Shooting fast with a reload in there with the UM's on.
So.. First thing, I painted my front sight red and it definitely was easier to see. I was shooting indoors so.... I don't think it hurt my shooting and I'm pretty sure it just helped. But I'm glad I painted it. (Daughter helped, I did the base coat of white, she did the red with her fingernail polish). I will say that on a glossy finish the light at the range caused a very small glint about a mm down from the top and not very wide at all. It wasn't annoying and it may have just helped me see the front sight. But it was definitely there at times and my eye was drawn to it at times. Which may be a good or bad thing, not sure.
Secondly, I still have no clue what grips to use. It's like they all have stuff that I don't like. Haven't tried them all yet but here's what I figured out. Factory boot grips and Bantam boot grips. I just don't get the control I want. My rubber band trick about wrapping rubber bands around them helps with control and if I was pocket carrying a gun I would do that. Without the rubber bands they are harder to control. I did not find the Hogue Bantams any better and actually I think I liked them LESS than the factory grips. The factory grips are a bit beefier in places and fills the hand more. The hogue grips have the benefit of being speed loader user friendly right off the bat but filing down the factory ones works too.
I tried a set of Uncle Mikes Combats and Pachmyr Professionals. I shot BEST with the Pachmyrs. But I did not shoot all that bad with the UM's. Except when I sped up I had a tenancy to shoot right with them. One time it was drastically so that they give me pause. The pachs are probably the best choice but the least carry friendly. For a belt gun though I don't think the size is a problem. Obviously not a pocket gun.
Now, both of those although better than boot grips do have their downsides. The UM's aren't as tacky as many other grips and slip just a bit more than I like. More control than any of the boot grips I've tried but not as good as the hogue tamers I've used on my 442. Now the Pachmyrs stay put. However, they have the benefit of chewing up my hand because of that. A blister formed on my thumb where it almost meets the web. And you can feel it just digging in there. LOL. And then because it places the hand further back on the frame the takedown lever beats up my thumb. I had blood squirting onto my frame. LOL. That being said, Hogue Tamers on my 442 did the same thing with the takedown lever. But I've never had an issue with a blister forming further down on the thumb. In defense of the Pachmyrs, I shot the only +p's of the range session with them on. Golden Sabers and they were definitely hotter and caused more of a flash too.
I still feel like I haven't hit that "aaah that's just right" with the grips. I'm not sure what else to try. Some old factory wood with a T grip. Or even without. I think they'd slip under recoil. The Monogrips that I couldn't fit on... The smaller pachmyrs..... The factory combats that look like the UM combats. But they are probably tackier... I can also maybe try to smooth out that part where the pachmyrs are rubbing me thumb raw. And also do the ole dehorn the thumbpiece with a file.
One of the upsides of the day is I found out that the 637 likes the 125 grain Hornady HP's and seems to shoot the 130 grain Federal FMJ's decent. And the PMC 132 grain FMJ decent too. Both of which I like the idea better for range because it has less felt recoil and also hits closer to point of aim than 158 grain LRN. PLUS, I don't like cleaning lead out.
ON THE OTHER HAND, the 158 grain Hornady Custom printed a pretty tight group at 7 yards besides a flyer and I can still choose them if I want.
Lastly, like my last session I ended up shooting my 6" model 19 at 7 yards and man is that thing smooth after shooting an Airweight J frame. LOL. And accurate. It hasn't seemed to like 158 LRN in the past so I just keep sticking with the lighter stuff through it. Only .38 Special.
All shooting was double action, all at 7 yards except for the 1 target I shot at 25 yards with the 637. Which I kept 13 of 15 shots on the silhouette. 14 on paper and I guess I missed one somehow. Booooo.
Shooting fast with a reload in there with the UM's on.
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