908 accuracy ???

[Pastprime]

What size groups should I expect from a 908 at 15 yards? A friend gave me his to try out and I'll go to the range tomorrow. I have some 115 gr. and 124 gr. ammunition, but I've read a couple posts where 147 gr. was found to be the most accurate in this model.

I realize "accuracy" is a relative term given the many variable, but I'd like to know whether I should expect groups around 1" or 12" or something in between. I'll be shooting sitting at a bench resting my hands on my shooting box.

 

[lhump1961]

15yds is a fair distance for most shooters with any pistol but as always it's when it comes to guns and accuracy it's mostly on the shooter. Speaking for myself I don't remember the last time I shot a pistol from rest but I would probably be happy with a 6-8" group from that distance even with rest...I'm sure the gun is capable of better. Others may be able to get more out of a 908 at that range but I'd be realistic especially if it's not a gun you're familiar with. I could do better with my 6" 586 rested from 15yds.

 

[spistols]

Forgot the distance, but out of all the S&W I used to own, the 908 was one of the most accurate.

 

[Pastprime]

Thanks for the information.

I shot this morning and had groups from 2.5" to 4" so I'm OK with that. A better shooter could do better I'm sure, but I'm a mediocre pistol shot at best.

The best groups were with 124 gr. reloads and factory 115 gr. bullets. My 115 gr. reloads were the larger groups. I'll try some 147's if I can find any at the local shops.

My friend said he'd give the pistol to me and didn't want it back so I guess I have something else to tinker with. Probably get a new recoil spring and guide rod, and will look at some rear sight options. I'd like to be able to remove the rear sight without destroying it, but several posts here indicate the plastic is prone to cracking and I doubt I can remove and reinstall it without some damage. I'd like to clean and inspect the two parts and springs covered by the rear sight, but not if a replacement sight is in the hundreds of dollars.

I've put about 150 rounds though it and nary a hiccup. This just might end up being my truck/occassional carry pistol.....

 

[kenny brooks]

Midway got recoil spring and rod and mag

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[petepeterson]

Does your friend need anymore friends???

 

[Pastprime]

Does your friend need anymore friends???

I'm all he can afford right now....

I've done some minor gun related things for him and never charged him anything so I guess this is a payback.

I'll be doing more reading here and probably have a few more questions. I saw a picture somewhere of a 908 with Hogue grips, metal rear sight, and a hammer with a spur that looked pretty nice. Not certain about what the brand of sight were, or what model the hammer came from but it gives me a few ideas.

 

[kenny brooks]

Wood grips Amazon

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[kenny brooks]

How bout a pic,

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[Pastprime]

Looks very nice... I will have to get some magazine with the extensions.

What I have now is what came out of the box I guess. Should be fun to add a few goodies and learn more about these pistols.

 

[Poohgyrr]

Mine seems to do best in my hands with Winchester 147gr JHP... The last time I "tested" it, mags would empty into one hole at 25', two handed and standing, when I did my part. I have old eyeballs these days, and not every pistol does that well for me, so.....

Mine is more accurate than I am.

 

[TercGen]

Congrats on the gift of a 908, I wish I had friends like that.

I've owned a few 908's and they've all had good defensive accuracy. My 3914 seems a bit more accurate and one 908 had a wider spread than the others, but that could just be the variations of the individual guns as well.

For sights, the best option are the Trijicon SA27's, IMO. Installing the wide, flat-based front sight on your own can be a real PITA though. If you do go that route, I personally had success by carefully filing a bit of material off of the sides (not the bottom) of the sight base before installing with a plastic dowel & hammer. Wouldn't be a bad idea to have the professionals at Trijicon install these for you, though.

I shoot 124's mainly but also 147's, and my 908's love them all.

 

[Hill_Country]

The sight dovetail on the 908 is different from any other 3d gen so the Trijicon's seems to be the only option on sights.

My experience installing them is different in that I always remove material from the bottom of the sight. That material is harder than heck and difficult to work with a file. Easy to screw up the beveled sides. I've used a belt sander, but go really slow as it is easy to take off to much. I work on the sight until it goes about half way in to the slide dovetail then finish with a pusher and a bit of grease. They go in right to left and come out the other way.

BTW, the Birchfield Casey solutions will perfectly match the finish on the frame and slide.

 

[Pastprime]

Mine seems to do best in my hands with Winchester 147gr JHP... The last time I "tested" it, mags would empty into one hole at 25', two handed and standing, when I did my part. I have old eyeballs these days, and not every pistol does that well for me, so.....

Mine is more accurate than I am.

I have read that the 147 gr. bullets may shoot well in these. I'm going shopping for some tomorrow. I seldom see the 147's in loaded ammunition around here so I may have to buy the bullets and load a few.

I envy your ability. I'll never do one hole an any distance, but if I can keep everything in a 4 inch black at 15 yards standing it is pretty satisfying to this old man.

 

[Pastprime]

TercGen and Hill_Country, thank you for the sight information. I'll definitely use your input if I get the Trijicon's. I was fortunate that some years ago I worked in a department that did metal stamping a injection molding so I got to know some good tool and die makers. When one of them moved back to his homeland in Europe, he gave me a good supply of files and stones which have made gun tinkering a lot easier. But, I know my limits and if I can't do it I won't mess it up. That's what the pro's are for.

 

[TercGen]

The sight dovetail on the 908 is different from any other 3d gen so the Trijicon's seems to be the only option on sights.

My experience installing them is different in that I always remove material from the bottom of the sight. That material is harder than heck and difficult to work with a file. Easy to screw up the beveled sides. I've used a belt sander, but go really slow as it is easy to take off to much. I work on the sight until it goes about half way in to the slide dovetail then finish with a pusher and a bit of grease. They go in right to left and come out the other way.

Normally, if I remove any material from a sight during installation, it is from the bottom as well. My experiences with installing these 908/910 front sights has led me to make an exception with them, however.

I broke both the sight & the sight pusher on my 1st attempt, no material taken off the sight and just pushed in. It got stuck, and I mean STUCK, about 3/4 of the way in, and I broke the sight post off trying to get it back out. OK, that was a $140 lesson in DIY sight installation.

2nd attempt, I kept taking material from the bottom, but couldn't get the sight more than 1/4 of the way in by hand/tapping in. I use a diamond steel for this type of work (Chef's Choice). So much material was removed that a large gap formed between the sight and dovetail floor, and still no joy. It wasn't until I took a few careful swipes with a diamond steel on the side bevels that I was able to get the sight in, and it's stayed put since.

On the 3rd 908 sight, I didn't remove anything from the bottom, and just carefully swiped the side bevels until I could get it in about 1/3 by hand. Then I put it in the freezer for 15mins (IIRC that was from Hill Country's advice) before tapping it into place with a mallet and piece of scrap wood. That one's been a success as well.

I believe I also used red loctite on the last 2 sights mentioned. I also do not use any type of metal rod/punch to install these sights, as the sides are thin and will deform. Using a plastic punch is the best, but wood works good too. These punches will get cut up or split as you tap them in, with the wood just be sure it doesn't split so much you knock off the sight post or get splinters trapped underneath. I also like to file a little 'flat' on the sides for the punch/sight pusher to make better contact with.

 

[nocents]

I'm all he can afford right now....

I've done some minor gun related things for him and never charged him anything so I guess this is a payback.

I'll be doing more reading here and probably have a few more questions. I saw a picture somewhere of a 908 with Hogue grips, metal rear sight, and a hammer with a spur that looked pretty nice. Not certain about what the brand of sight were, or what model the hammer came from but it gives me a few ideas.

............I can keep your good fortune going with some Hogue rubber grip panels in a personal karma if you are interested.

 

[Hill_Country]

On the 3rd 908 sight, I didn't remove anything from the bottom, and just carefully swiped the side bevels until I could get it in about 1/3 by hand. Then I put it in the freezer for 15mins (IIRC that was from Hill Country's advice) before tapping it into place with a mallet and piece of scrap wood. That one's been a success as well.

I believe I also used red loctite on the last 2 sights mentioned. I also do not use any type of metal rod/punch to install these sights, as the sides are thin and will deform. Using a plastic punch is the best, but wood works good too. These punches will get cut up or split as you tap them in, with the wood just be sure it doesn't split so much you knock off the sight post or get splinters trapped underneath. I also like to file a little 'flat' on the sides for the punch/sight pusher to make better contact with.

The freezer wasn't my idea, but I'm sure going to adopt it.

The Loctite is a good idea, too. It is such a fine line between fitting and falling out that sometimes a little insurance is needed. I use the blue instead of the red so I do have the option of removing the sight with heat, though.

I wish I had thought of filing the sides square. That will be on my must do list from now on as there is really no way to keep the sight pusher or drift from sliding up. Wonder what genius thought the sloped sides was a good idea in the first place. Will the BC super blue blacken the sights?

 

[TercGen]

The freezer wasn't my idea, but I'm sure going to adopt it.

The Loctite is a good idea, too. It is such a fine line between fitting and falling out that sometimes a little insurance is needed. I use the blue instead of the red so I do have the option of removing the sight with heat, though.

I wish I had thought of filing the sides square. That will be on my must do list from now on as there is really no way to keep the sight pusher or drift from sliding up. Wonder what genius thought the sloped sides was a good idea in the first place. Will the BC super blue blacken the sights?

Sorry Hill Country, I thought that was you with the freezer advice. Turned out to be a member by the name of TexasG when I looked it up (so at least I got the right State... ).

I think the sights are made from carbon steel, so I would imagine that the BC stuff would work. I put some BC black touch-up paint on mine and it was not great - like a permanent marker. I plan on using some Caswell Black Oxide solution on my next attempt (for the exposed flats).