Happy Happy Happy! Completed my K Frame Masterpiece Trio.

[rct269]

The three different sight heights are because of the three different calibers. The
larger the bullet, the more recoil you get, and therefore you have to push the front of
the barrel down further, to accommodate that recoil. That is primarily why the
38 has the highest front sight. With the barrels all the same length, this is what is
necessary.

Mike Priwer

So what you're saying is the force which moves the mass of the bullet down the barrel in some (pretty small) amount of time also moves the mass of the gun (in recoil) in even less time------thereby causing an effect on the path of the bullet. That's an interesting concept----all the more so when you consider the average weight of one of these guns is somewhere around 14,000 grains---and the average weight of the bullet is some less. I guess I'll have to ponder that some----for awhile.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Jim R]

Mitch

I lost your address from when I got those 2 revolvers from you. PM me with it and I will send you some brass. I don't have a lot but as the wife shoots up those 32 shells she has I will send you the brass.

Jim R

 

[perrazi]

great looking trio. are you starting on the combat versions of these now?

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

So what you're saying is the force which moves the mass of the bullet down the barrel in some (pretty small) amount of time also moves the mass of the gun (in recoil) in even less time------thereby causing an effect on the path of the bullet. That's an interesting concept----all the more so when you consider the average weight of one of these guns is somewhere around 14,000 grains---and the average weight of the bullet is some less. I guess I'll have to ponder that some----for awhile.

Ralph Tremaine

Mike is absolutely right about that. The moment a gun is fired it starts to move in recoil just as quickly as the bullet starts down the bore. The heavier and slower the bullet is, the longer it is in the bore for the recoil forces to work on. That is not a new theory, and in fact, not theory at all. It is a simple fact of physics.

It is why in a (handgun especially), when you fire faster, lighter bullets than what the main/general/most common bullet weight used for a particular caliber, and what the sights are generally set to work best with, you have to crank the rear sight up to bring POI up, and why it is just the opposite when firing heavier than normal/standard bullets from the same gun (or more lightly loaded ammo using bullets of the common weight used in that cartridge), that you have to crank it down, usually as much as possible, and even then it is sometimes not enough depending on the front and rear sight blade heights. The model 25-5's are famous for having too short a front sight blade on them.

 

[PMRet]

Congratulations on a great looking group. Sounds like you've never fired a K-32, so you're in for a real treat. To me, hands down the sweetest shooting target revolver on the planet!

 

[OldDominion]

Well done Mitch! I always heard that twins are fun, but triplets are even better....My search for the elusive K32 has been fruitless so far. I know one is out there for me, just have to be patient. Your photog skills are also first rate. I really should build a light box so I wouldn't have to depend on the weather being nice to shoot photos. Lee

 

[captaint]

Nice job, Mitch. Beauties, all. Now I have to wonder if you ever got that other grail gun you talked about ?? Still haven't shot my 1950 .38 Masterpiece.. I actually bought a newer one to shoot !! You know how it is..... Mike

 

[Jaymo]

I haven't even seen a K-32 in the wild.
Nice trio.

 

[rct269]

Mike is absolutely right about that. The moment a gun is fired it starts to move in recoil just as quickly as the bullet starts down the bore. The heavier and slower the bullet is, the longer it is in the bore for the recoil forces to work on. That is not a new theory, and in fact, not theory at all. It is a simple fact of physics.

It is why in a (handgun especially), when you fire faster, lighter bullets than what the main/general/most common bullet weight used for a particular caliber, and what the sights are generally set to work best with, you have to crank the rear sight up to bring POI up, and why it is just the opposite when firing heavier than normal/standard bullets from the same gun (or more lightly loaded ammo using bullets of the common weight used in that cartridge), that you have to crank it down, usually as much as possible, and even then it is sometimes not enough depending on the front and rear sight blade heights. The model 25-5's are famous for having too short a front sight blade on them.

So the trajectory of the faster, lighter bullets has nothing to do with it then----and apparently the trajectory of the 22/32/38's also have nothing to do with the sight height----right? And the gun starts to move at the same time the bullet does? Boy, have I got it all wrong!!

Speaking of a simple fact of physics, where does the acceleration of the two different masses (bullet/gun) by the same force come into play?

Thanks for your help!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

So the trajectory of the faster, lighter bullets has nothing to do with it then----and apparently the trajectory of the 22/32/38's also have nothing to do with the sight height----right? And the gun starts to move at the same time the bullet does? Boy, have I got it all wrong!!

Speaking of a simple fact of physics, where does the acceleration of the two different masses (bullet/gun) by the same force come into play?

Thanks for your help!

Ralph Tremaine

Ralph,
I'm no physics expert, but there was an extremely detailed thread on TFL a couple years back about this subject.

There is no "trajectory" in reality (at least in the sense in which you seem to be considering it) for any round made. They all start to drop the moment they leave the muzzle. Any trajectory is based totally off of the sight settings. As long as your sights get POI on target, a bullet that has less dwell time in the bore will hit lower on the target than will one that is in the bore longer.

You can test that easily with an gun, but especially one with plenty of recoil.

Example:
I can load 425 grain cast bullets to 800 fps in my 475 Linebaugh, and then again at 1400 FPS. With the lighter load I have to crank the rear sight all the way down, and I'm still too high because the sights are designed to work with the round running at its normal speed. If I crank up the velocity to where it was designed, the rear sight is in the mid/to upper area of its range to get the hits to POA. It is the same with any bullet weight loaded up or down, and in any caliber I load for.

Sorry about the thread hijack Mitch. I won't go any further with this in this thread.

 

[bullmack]

Hey Mitch,

Very nice - perseverance does pay. You are two Holy Grails ahead of me - I still need the K-32 and the K-22/40!

 

[Rigmover]

Mitch Congrats on your trio.

Very nice Family of Masterpieces.

I too have a trio

Pre-K32 First Model from 1937
Pre-K22 from 1951
14-2 from 1965

Gotta love them K Frames everyone needs at least one of each in there collection.

Enjoy!!

Rick

 

[RKmesa]

Mitch:

Congrats on completing the trio! Very nice. I, on the other hand have several K-38's, a bunch of K-22's, One K-32 box, but sadly - NO K-32 to fill the box. If anyone wants to help me out with a nice K-32 I'd be more than happy to make it worth your while...

Once again - very nice!

 

[chud333]

Congrats my friend. Throw in your 2nd model K22-40
and you have the Superfecta !!!

Chuck

 

[blackdeuce]

Congratulations, Mitch!

 

[Green Frog]

Rich,

I am looking for some 32 S&W long brass to load for the K32, everyone says that they are a dream to shoot. So I want to experience shooting this one. The other 2 probably won't see much range time.

First, congrats on hitting the trifecta! You realize that it's kinda weird to get the K-32 as any but the final lucky acuisition, don't you? As for shooting the 32 S&W, it seems that ammo and brass for it go through cycles of flood or drought. I just swapped for a couple of hundred rounds of once-fired brass, bringing my total up to about 750 or so... enough that I'm no longer scrambling to find it. Gun shows and surprisingly, flea markets (around here) sometimes prove fruitful.

Have you picked up a set of loading dies and a bullet mould yet? I think Lyman has discontinued their version (I made up a set one die at a time) but the RCBS set did quite well for me and a Lee set I used to have worked well also.

As for bullets, I really like semi-wadcutters of about 95-100 grains for general use and 95 grain wadcutters for pure target (either swaged HBWC or cast solids.) Bullseye™ has been my "go to" powder.

I hope you will enjoy both ownership and shooting your "Big 3."

Regards,
Froggie

 

[Watchdog]

Those three words on the side of the K38 say it all: MADE IN U.S.A.

 

[Hammerdown]

Hello Mitch
Congratulation's on completing the S&W Masterpiece trio ! I did as well a few year's ago and believe it or not the hardest one to find for me was a Decent K-38. I got my Transitional K-22 One line address K-22 about Ten year's ago, but mine is a lot higher in Serial Number than Your's they are Tough to find in Transitional form with the larger Extractor end's on them, and Proof that S&W did Not waste useable parts. I Guess Machining cost was moderate back then as the Transitional K-22 had to have it's barrel Milled out to allow the mushroom shaped extractor end to lock up the action. The Masterpiece series is the finest Target revolver creation to come out of S&W for sure. here is my Trio for your viewing pleasure.

On the subject of Sight Height being to do with Caliber or a Gun's recoil, I Humbly disagree. I have heard that the sight height was derived by the barrel length not caliber or Recoil. Proof of that would be in my modified S&W Model 16-4 of which I had Modified to fire the Much Hotter Federal .327 Magnum cartridge. The gun left the factory chambered in the Anemic .32 H&R Cartridge but now is modified to fire the Hotter Federal .327 magnum. I did not change out the sight blade front or rear and I have Plenty of room for adjustment. The average velocity of the H&R .32 Magnum is around 1000 FPS. The average velocity of the Federal .327 Magnum is around 1500 FPS. I do Notice if I fire Lighter Bullet's in my hand load's that their Point of Impact is lower than that of the heavier weight bullet's, but it can be corrected by adjustment. Recoil between the two rounds is very different as the Federal .327 Magnum is a Lot more in felt Recoil than that of the .32 H&R Magnum...

 

[MAX HEADSPEED]

Only if you don't have a MOD 66 in your free hand and at least one foot on the floor.
Hey, I'm just say'n.

That's certainly a sweet trio, though.
I'm getting a bit light-headed just looking at them.

 

[mesaman]

AWESOME Mitch! Usually the K32 is the pride of everyone's K-Target trio but in your case that K190 is hard to beat

Have a postwar K22 NIB purchased in the early 1970's. That is the reigning royalty of all my S&W handguns. Great pictures and it saves me having to go dig mine out to look at it.