Gotta stop carrying a revolver

[Irn-Bru]

Yeah I plan to practice to a whole lot more.

 

[Reevolvers]

I've heard it said that..... "Revolvers are easier to shoot, but harder to shoot well". I'm not sure if its true or not. I practice with both as often as I can. When shooting a double action revolver I shoot double action always. I have those and all manner of auto loaders. I choose and carry a double action revolver daily. I say shoot what you're most comfortable with. For me thats the wheel gun. Your mileage may vary!

 

[mauiblue]

<snip>Broke out my 649 and model 15 and was no where near as accurate. I can still hit paper from 10 yards, but my groups are all over the place. I usually carry my 649 but I'm switching to my Sig P938 until I can become competent with a revolver. Any tips for a poor shooting revolver guy?

It might be the sights that I'm not used to. The three dot system on most semi's works for me, the sights on the J-Frame not so much. I won't give up and keep practicing until I get accurate, but in the meantime I have to leave them in the safe when carrying

The issues you presented in this thread I also mentioned in another thread in another forum. I mentioned that i thought the barrel is canted because my POI is about 8" from my POA and hitting low to the left. I know that shooting with the J frame sights are a challenge compared with what I am used to on a larger framed revolver sights or even semi auto pistols. Sure I would love to practice a lot but that would cause me to burn through a lot of expensive 38 spc ammo. I've been dry firing the snot out of the Model 638 and following up with live fire practice. Normal shooting distance range is 7 to 10 yards measured off with a range finder. I use bench bags and do what I need to to get consistent but I'm usually all over the place on a 8" paper plate. I'll try to practice a bit more and if I still can't get consistent with this revolver, I'll send it back to the service center.

 

[Brian41]

When my revolver shooting starts to get bad I shoot one of my model 17s and concentrate on my trigger. The lack of recoil really lets you know where you're going wrong and makes it easy to get back on target again.
Changing back to centerfire revolvers again I find an improvement plus I've been shooting cheaply provided you can find 22lr at a decent price.
I bought a Sig 1911-22 recently too to help with my 1911 shooting in 45acp.

 

[PR24]

What grips are you running? The OEM grips on J frames leave a lot to be desired. I use Pach's Compac grips on my Mod 60 .357 & the Ergo Delta grip on my 638. I posted about the Ergo's on this forum & they do work...weird, ugly, unorthodox? Yes, but work they do. My 67 has Herrets modified my me.

Whatever you do, don't cheat & go SA! Work that DA trigger on & off the range. Wolff springs help A LOT. I'm running Wolff J spring kits in both of my J's & they have sweet triggers.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I've heard it said that..... "Revolvers are easier to shoot, but harder to shoot well". I'm not sure if its true or not. I practice with both as often as I can. When shooting a double action revolver I shoot double action always. I have those and all manner of auto loaders. I choose and carry a double action revolver daily. I say shoot what you're most comfortable with. For me thats the wheel gun. Your mileage may vary!

I agree with your quote. Just from my personal experience with others, semi's are more difficult to load and manipulate (safety, no safety, work the slide, mag disconnect, slide locks back or not, is it loaded, etc.) for the novice, but the generally kinder trigger is easier to learn. It's the rest of the manual for semi's that is difficult. Revolvers, on the other hand, are simple to explain, load, and fire, but are much less forgiving due to the DA pull, and a little scary due to the SA pull . . . Just my observations over the years.

 

[Doug M.]

For most shooting purposes, semi auto pistols have far better ergonomics. The problem in the grand scheme is not really THAT, but the fact that they are so different that it is very hard to maintain proficiency with a revolver unless you shoot it a lot.

 

[JcMack]

I carry a revolver for self defense. I can't imagine defending myself against anything 30 feet away. At 10 feet I could say the threat was imminent and background was minimal, being covered by the approaching threat. (see Note 1.)


Note 1. Bears, Gorillas, and Ex wives not covered in the scenario.

 

[shooter67]

Try putting the revolvers in a rest against the same for the semi's. You'll see pretty amazing accuracy results from both at 10 yards. This will prove to you that the issue is not the gun. Both feel different in both trigger and recoil. The second shot trigger on a semi is different from the first and can be dangerous in a stress situation if you don't practice, as the revolvers are always the same. You should also think about the reliability of a revolver. Only a lot of practice can get you where you want to be. Good luck and happy shooting.

 

[pineappleshooter]

Crimson trace grips work well for training purposes. Try to keep the dot still through the entire trigger pull. Doesn't even matter if the laser is adjusted properly - just focus on the dot not moving as you squeeze the trigger.

 

[kamloops67]

Crimson trace grips work well for training purposes. Try to keep the dot still through the entire trigger pull. Doesn't even matter if the laser is adjusted properly - just focus on the dot not moving as you squeeze the trigger.

Great idea , I do this with my iron sights during dryfire practice maintain your sight picture before during and after the d/a squeeze

 

[ironhead7544]

Shoot at 7 yards first. Slow down your DA squeeze while keeping the sights aligned. If the sights move, stop the squeeze (maintain pressure) and realign. Speed will come with practice. Once your groups improve, move the target back a bit.

The J frame sights are not very good. You might want to look at getting a better set installed. My idea of a good J frame is a 3 incher with adjustable sights.

 

[SJshooter]

10 yards on a snub J-frame is not easy. It takes a lot of practice. But it's totally impractical if you ask me. You are never going to shoot someone with that gun at that range.

The J-frame has the nickname the belly gun. If you use it, you'll be shooting someone at very close quarters, often without looking down the sights. Train on a snub J-frame at 3 yards. Yes, three yards. Don't let your ego get the best of you. When you can put them all in a one-inch group at 9 feet, only then should you move the target back.

I would rather master putting all five rounds in a one-foot group at 6 feet from the hip than I would getting small groups at 10 yards. The second can be done and will make you a better shooter all around, but outside of the range is a mostly unneeded skillset.

 

[Lt JL]

Get some snap caps, and shoot everything on tv every night. concentrate on trigger and front sight. Oh, and stop trying to sodomize your revolver by jamming the ammo up its' posterior.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Longer Barrel.

 

[Model29Lover]

Good advice has been given, my two cents is: good trigger job, sight alignment, sight picture, trigger control, and good two handed grip with isosceles stance. Also, watch Jerry Miculek videos on this forum and youtube, preferably on your phone, right before you shoot, so it is fresh in your head.

 

[mauiblue]

10 yards on a snub J-frame is not easy. It takes a lot of practice. But it's totally impractical if you ask me. You are never going to shoot someone with that gun at that range.

The J-frame has the nickname the belly gun. If you use it, you'll be shooting someone at very close quarters, often without looking down the sights. Train on a snub J-frame at 3 yards. Yes, three yards. Don't let your ego get the best of you. When you can put them all in a one-inch group at 9 feet, only then should you move the target back.

I would rather master putting all five rounds in a one-foot group at 6 feet from the hip than I would getting small groups at 10 yards. The second can be done and will make you a better shooter all around, but outside of the range is a mostly unneeded skillset.

Thanks for this post, brother. I guess after all these years of owning firearms I've been only concerned about staying in the 9 or 10 ring of my targets. I do have a few handguns that I am accurate with and with the only J frame I own (Model 638) I'm trying so hard (maybe too hard) to do that at 10 yards. I do recall the J frame revolver being nicknamed a belly gun. I'm sure many experienced gun enthusiasts can shoot accurately at a distance with a J frame and more power to them.

I thought of having D&L Sports install their J frame sights on my Model 638 but I decided not to go that route. I'll work on shooting at close quarters distance as you mentioned in your post and go from there. Thanks again.