New 627 PC Performance Center accuracy question...

[hunter3705]

I have to agree, if you're going to do any meaningful accuracy testing, or even zeroing the sights, for that matter, you simply must use a rest. Scooter was also right on the money about not allowing anything to come in contact with the barrel during firing. The barrel vibrates as the bullet passes through it, and any interference will negatively effect accuracy.

The other thing I would suggest, is forget about the magnums for a while. Either buy or load some good old .38 special 148 grain wadcutters to about 750fps or so. Shoot these almost exclusively while you get familiar and comfortable with the gun. Learn the sights, learn the trigger, work on your breathing, get the sights zeroed properly. Once you are comfortable and confident with the gun, the transition to magnums will be a lot easier and more productive. In any case, it's a great gun, enjoy!

 

[scooter123]

I'm wondering what was the outcome, Potshooter seems to have dropped off the map in mid April. My hunch is that he was flinching, semi shooters think the 357 Magnum is the same as the 357 Sig, until they touch off a Real Magnum in a revolver without the aid of a slide soaking up a large part of the recoil.

I tell myself that the reason I don't shoot many Magnums is due to the cost. However, to be totally honest it's because the 357 Magnum can be a Flinch Builder par excellance. Magnums are fun on occasion to shake out the cobwebs but too many in one sitting and my shooting tanks for several weeks or more.

 

[nawilson]

IMHO, it isn't the recoil... it is the muzzle blast on a 357 magnum. 35,000 psi is a lot two feet from the shooter's face.

The additional jump on a 38 Special shouldn't degrade accuracy that much.

 

[PotShotter]

I wanted to set the record straight here as I am now very impressed with my 627 PC. My 627-PC is clearly far more accurate that I am - no question about that any more. But I did find differences between different ammunitions as was suggested here earlier.

But Smith and Wesson PC revolvers are clearly excellent and my apologies are due here to the craftsmen who made this for my earlier insinuations in this thread.

It has been longer than I had wanted but I finally got back to the range today with a selection of different .357 ammunition and some nice new soft leather shooting gloves.

I mention my new gloves only because I believe that they helped out a lot in this particular case. A .357 mag revolver (when you are used to only autos) has a different recoil that needs some adjustment and acclimatization. In fact I think that revolvers do in general.

So anyway, the last time that I shot my 627 PC it was pretty much brand new and looking back I think that this was ALSO a key accuracy issue. But one issue I did confirm (and get over) today was my "flinch" which is where these gloves really helped. (no blood on my grip this time after 200+ rounds).

I think that what I needed to do before was just shoot this thing and I mean a LOT.

First I think that my barrel just needed to get some rounds through it. Second I think that I needed to get used to revolver shooting in general.

Today I was getting exceptional groups with this pistol (although not with every type of ammo that I tried).

In fact I now know what I should use for both plinking and for serious home defense thanks to these tests. Some of the groups that I saw today were smaller than I thought that I was moving my aim around at the time. In other words almost perfect (mostly likely only me).

Thank you everyone who contributed!

Gotta love S&W revolvers - I think that I do as I just spent about 2 hours cleaning it back to showroom new.

Bob