How accurate can you be with a .22 snub 34 or 63?

[Wee Hooker]

Back in my collecting (vs accumulating )days, I had allot of S&W snubbies including several model 34s and 63s. Even with practice and good ammo I struggled to get better than minute of beer can accuracy past 50'. IMHO, a revolver of this size is best used well inside of 25 yards ( and even closer if it's aimed at a living thing.) for most shooters. If you need to regularly shoot farther or tighter , then a 4" to 6" K frame would be a better choice.
That said, I do like my new model 63 . I think it's 3" barrel, fiber optic sight and 8 shot cylinder make for a more user friendly "snubbie" . ( At least in my back yard applications). It's fun to shoot and still "right sized" for pocket carry in the field. I just wouldn't want to have to feed myself with it

 

[adwjc]

I had read this about sticky ejection in the older kit guns.
A model 18 is the other rimfire I've been thinking about.
…
But for whatever reason I'm drawn to the little snubs. It's not practical, I just think they're neat. And if I could make them work for me on the range, that's good enough for me to get one.
...

Nothing wrong with getting it just because you want it!

 

[TomkinsSP]

...But for whatever reason I'm drawn to the little snubs. It's not practical, I just think they're neat...

Well, in terms of practicality a J frame in .38 S&W special (or .327 Maggie or .22 Maggie or LR) while it lacks the stopping power of a Browning M-2, it's just a heck of a lot easier to EDC, what with the Browning weighing 75 pounds having a 36 to 45 inch barrel and the ammo weighing four ounces per round. Less recoil as well.

 

[tops]

"Practical" is relevant and "range gun" is a gun that I shoot at the range.
I have revolvers from 2 in. M34s to 6 1/2 M29s and autos from Baby Browning .25 to Colt .45.
My "range gun" is whatever I think I will enjoy shooting for the day and I don't expect to shoot as small a group with some of the guns but it is still fun.
I don't expect the small guns to have the power of the big guns but they are more "practical" some days. Larry

 

[Ed333]

...snip....The guns are very capable, well beyond the close-up distances many limit them to. Most of us just don't practice with them enough to realize their potential.

What he said. I used to shoot snubs regularly at falling plate matches, just because I could. I had a m.34. snub, wandered over to the rifle range one day, some young fellows were having trouble dropping pigs at 100 yards with their lever action rifles, I took out my nickel plated 34, drew a bead, then raised my arm an appropriate distance, and dropped a pig. Didn't say a word. Holstered the snub and walked away. Did my best to keep a straight face. You have to know when to hold em and when to fold em.

 

[TomkinsSP]

Yes, never count your winnings while you're sitting at the table.

 

[ShivasIrons]

I am a big fan of Snub revolvers.

The number one thing limiting accuracy is the space between your ears. If you tell yourself you cannot hit anything, you won't!

I regularly shoot my old smith Snubs with there tiny sights at the 50 yard gong at my range. The gong is approximately 18" in diameter. On a bad day I will go 0 to 3 out of 5 on the gong. A good day is 4 to 5. Really satisfying when you go 5 for 5!

 

[SammyBlueSpruce]

5 shot derringer

I know mechanically these revolvers are plenty accurate, but people talk about the size, sight radius, and weight making them difficult to shoot.
Is it possible that with practice and larger grips to get good enough with them to enjoy them as a range gun?
I've always wanted one of these little 2 inch 22s, but if realistically I could never enjoy target shooting beyond a couple of paces, it may not be worth picking one up...

Think of them as a very reliable 5 shot derringer that is great for close up protection. Shoot heavy bullets for Penetration. Larger rubber grips aren't pretty but they sure make it more fun.

 

[Jerry in SC]

The 63's have never been very accurate for me, and I've had multiples in .22 LR and .22 magnum. The 1/10" front sight is better for smaller targets to me than the 1/8". I never noticed the difference until I recently got a NIB 2" 34 nickel Kit Gun with the square butt. I don't use a regular two hand grip, but hold my wrist with the weak hand and rest my arm on something sturdy.

I carried a 2" round butt 34 Kit Gun in nickel in the 70's when I was fishing. I was living in Southwest Georgia at the time, rattlers and cottonmouths were abundant.

 

[Lobster Picnic]

I have the 3" Model 63 and don't shoot it that well. The trigger is pretty heavy and I have trouble with the FO front sight. I stick with the 17-3 for any serious shooting.

 

[LarryMNH]

Been shooting S&W's since the 70's. They all had adjustable sights, 4" or 6" barrels and I could hit everything I shot at out to 50 yards or beyond when I did my part.

I picked up a 34-1 2" from the 70's, I think, and shoot it regularly at the outdoor range at my club. With the short sight radius I find my groups broader than with the longer barreled guns. But not that much.

BTW all .22lr ammo I have tried in it, and I tried a lot of brands, would get stuck after 3 or so cylinders of firing. I had to brush out the cylinder to keep using it.
Problem was totally solved when I started using these Federal rounds
Federal Champion Target 22 Long Rifle Ammo HV 40 Gr LRN 500 Rds
I can finally clean my 34-1 when I get home

I picked up a M60 2" with fixed sights. I am all over the target with it. I just can't seem to find a good sight picture to hit what I am shooting at. My M60 3" barrel with adjustable sights just seems to hit everything with little effort. Rapid or slow fire. Fixed sights, and I know it is me and my sight picture, are very difficult to hit with.

With all that said. I very much enjoy my M34-1 when shooting slow fire, rapid fire, or even the .22 cal. plate rack. Lots of fun for very short money.

 

[Wee Hooker]

I have the 3" Model 63 and don't shoot it that well. The trigger is pretty heavy and I have trouble with the FO front sight. I stick with the 17-3 for any serious shooting.

Can't help with the front sight ( love mine) but will say the addition of a 14# rebound spring really smooths out the action on these little guns. $6 and 15 minutes well spent.

 

[RKmesa]

... At the shot the crow flopped over dead......I' don't know who was surprised more......me or him.

I can definitively say it was "you" --- "him" was dead.


I have not got around to shooting my little 2" Kit Gun, but I can hardly get a hold of the little guy, so my guess is Ralph is Right - the grips you use would make all the difference. Regardless of how they shoot, they are beautiful little guns...

 

[Drm50]

I never wanted to buy a new 34-2". I always wanted to pick one up used.
I got one a couple years ago, after 50yrs. I will say they are accurate. I couldn't shoot it well enough to make it practical in the woods. Off bags it
shot as well as 4" 34 but I couldn't shoot it. You can set up a target to hit
with about any handgun that is accurate. Once you get the hold over you
should hit it more times than not. This kind of thing is done at a given range and is not practical shooting. With my 6" S&Ws from m17 to N mags
I can hit a 12" gong off hand more times than I miss. A 34-2" is a nice gun
but the results I'm reading in posts are better than I could do with m17 when I was in my 20s and shooting everyday. I could cut a cigarette at 12
yds, shoot strings in half at same distance. Shooting everyday in a rural
area you always pull off unbelievable shots, but they aren't the norm. I shot a squirrel once with a junk 22 Derringer at 50'. It was not a lucky shot. Mr Squirrel was unlucky to just happen to be in the path of the bullet.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I could make anybody "hunt a hole" out to 125 yards or so with any of my 2" J-frames. Centerfire or rimfire.

 

[David Westerhout]

Accuracy with 'snubbies'

I have read the large number of comments about accuracy with snubbies. You need to differentiate between those which have adequate sights, preferably adjustable, and those which, like my 37 only have a groove in the receiver and a nickel coloured front sight. I've competed in the Olympics , but I can't cope with those sights! It also took me 6 months to work up a load which shot anywhere near point of aim.
Further, can anyone give me advice on whether it is possible to buy an optic front sight for a 686. We have no real gunsmiths in our country.

 

[Protocall_Design]

It would help to know what country that is, first.

 

[LarryMNH]

I did put rubber grips on my 34-1. I could never get a decent grip on it with the stock wood grips. My M60 came with the rubber grips and I get perfect grip on these beautiful small J Frames. I know many like the stock grip. To me and my short fingered chubby hands. The rubber grips make all the difference in the world.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

With any 2" J frame I own I can make you "hunt a hole" at 100-125 yds. Ain't hard. Just takes practice.

 

[LEO918]

Here's a 34-1 I picked up a couple of weeks age and haven't fired yet...