86 year old secret....44HE!

[peppercorn]

To many here this is probably no secret but to me, the uninitiated, new to HEs, it has been a 'true' discovery of the highest order.

I acquired this 'shooter' from a friend here on the forum with the hopes that it would at least hit the paper at a reasonable distance.
Given its age, the fact the sights are 'fixed' and its overall condition I was dubious about its range potential. But then my range S&Ws are of the new variety and certainly must perform far and beyond any 86 year old relic, right? Wrong!

I am a true convert, as they say. I couldn't have been more impressed with how this old HE performed. Honestly, I couldn't have done any better with any of my 'modern marvels'.
I'm just glad I finally discovered the secret of the old HE being a shooters dream.




.

 

[murphydog]

Nice shooting! And without the holographic sight, tactical fore grip and laser designator .

 

[beagleye]

Get some sand paper and some cold blue and put that thing back in order ; )

 

[29aholic]

Get some sand paper and some cold blue and put that thing back in order ; )

You didn't just go there did you?

 

[peppercorn]

Nice shooting! And without the holographic sight, tactical fore grip and laser designator .

Made me laugh! You know what I'm taliking about.

Get some sand paper and some cold blue and put that thing back in order ; )

Hahahaha, like 29' says below...'eek'!

You didn't just go there did you?

No way, nor will I.

The way I see it, over the past 86 years, this old girl has earned every battle wound and still does her current keeper proud, so, far be it from me to erase all that hard won 'character'.

 

[tdavidk76]

very nice! if you ever feel the need to get rid of those old beat up grips i'll take em off your hands.

 

[shawn mccarver]

To many here this is probably no secret but to me, the uninitiated, new to HEs, it has been a 'true' discovery of the highest order.

I acquired this 'shooter' from a friend here on the forum with the hopes that it would at least hit the paper at a reasonable distance.
Given its age, the fact the sights are 'fixed' and its overall condition I was dubious about its range potential. But then my range S&Ws are of the new variety and certainly must perform far and beyond any 86 year old relic, right? Wrong!

I am a true convert, as they say. I couldn't have been more impressed with how this old HE performed. Honestly, I couldn't have done any better with any of my 'modern marvels'.
I'm just glad I finally discovered the secret of the old HE being a shooters dream.

Although long since gone, I once had a S&W Brazilian contract 1937. It looked VERY rough, even after I got the cosmoline off.

I showed it to a friend, and he said given the fact that it had been stored in a Brazilian sea port warehouse for 50 plus years, it probably looked far better than a Brazilian sailor stored under similar circumstances for that long.

It was a very fine shooter, however, it went away in a sale, or a trade, or something, many years ago.

I suppose we all have a few regrets.

 

[MJS5678]

That is some great shooting. I could never shoot that well with the service stocks. Glad that it was able to exceed your expectations but I think most S&W 44s will.

 

[LittleCooner]

Long live the 44 S & W special! Thanks for sharing. Some things in live can not be improved upon. Could this fall into that category?

 

[rburg]

I kind of feel sorry for the OP. He's got his bowels in an uproar over a 2nd model. Wait till he discovers Triple Locks and 3rd Models, then 4th/M1950s. His meager bank account will soon be scrapping rock bottom.

People always ask why I like ratty old guns so much. Simple, they're works of art and shoot really good.

 

[snubbyfan]

To many here this is probably no secret but to me, the uninitiated, new to HEs, it has been a 'true' discovery of the highest order.

I acquired this 'shooter' from a friend here on the forum with the hopes that it would at least hit the paper at a reasonable distance.
Given its age, the fact the sights are 'fixed' and its overall condition I was dubious about its range potential. But then my range S&Ws are of the new variety and certainly must perform far and beyond any 86 year old relic, right? Wrong!

I am a true convert, as they say. I couldn't have been more impressed with how this old HE performed. Honestly, I couldn't have done any better with any of my 'modern marvels'.
I'm just glad I finally discovered the secret of the old HE being a shooters dream.

Works for me.

 

[Muley Gil]

My best shooting revolver is my 102 year old .44 Special Triple Lock.

 

[tops]

Congratulations! It is good to see another person understanding why some of us like old guns. Larry

 

[jhde69]

I have .38 M & P Model of 1905 mnf in 1919. Once I found the right load with 158gr swc it's the best 38 I own and I mean the best. This is on the 10 yard range when things warm up I will move to the 25 yard line.

 

[peppercorn]

That is some great shooting. I could never shoot that well with the service stocks. Glad that it was able to exceed your expectations but I think most S&W 44s will.

I do have one complaint.
Everytime I fire off a round my middle finger knuckle gets hit by the trigger guard, leaving that knuckle sore for a week or so after shooting.
I have XL hands and I wonder if magna stocks would help this matter?

I kind of feel sorry for the OP. He's got his bowels in an uproar over a 2nd model. Wait till he discovers Triple Locks and 3rd Models, then 4th/M1950s. His meager bank account will soon be scrapping rock bottom.

People always ask why I like ratty old guns so much. Simple, they're works of art and shoot really good.

I am always swayed by a gun that shoots this well and this one is pushing me toward that slippery slope of, 'I wonder how all those others shoot?'

 

[Joe in SC]

Now you know what many have discovered about the 44 special. Everyone except Mike Venturino that is. It is one of, if not the most accurate centerfire revolver rounds.

Congrats on your find. I would go after that gun in a skinny minute and wouldn't mind the visuals one whit.

And I think I know why Venturino can't shoot his old double action revolver worth a hoot. In a recent magazine article, American Handgunner or maybe Guns, there is a photo of the muzzle of several of his double action revolvers. The crowns are in terrible shape. Go figure...