Other great target revolvers?

[Super Dave]

Hi,

I'm really digging my model 17 with the long barrel. It's a sweet range gun. That long barrel reaches out and touches the target at 25 yards. The sights and trigger are great. By the way, what's that trigger generally set to? I don't have a scale, I'm thinking it's around 3 pounds. Whatever it is...it's sweet.

I'd like to get another really nice target revolver. I'm open to other calibers. I just want something with a trigger as nice as the M17 and good sights too.

What do you guys suggest I look for?

Thanks,
Dave

And photos...got to have photos...

I do like the target grips on this bad boy.

There's a 6" M17 in nice shape that I could pick up for a fair price. I think it's a 17-3. Is there a big difference in trigger pull and all that good stuff if it didn't come with the target upgrades?

I do have a 686 with a trigger job from Clark and upgraded sights...but I'm not nearly as accurate with it compared to the K22. This is about the best I could do with it from 25 yards...offhand...on this 8" target.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[David LaPell]

I only have one at the moment, and while the finish is a bit worn, everything else works just fine, and that is my Smith Outdoorsman in .38 Special, but these guns were built to handle the .38-44 loads, basically the forerunner of the .357 Magnum. All of these targets were shot one handed (suffering through an injury so I do my best)

I also owned a 686 with an 8 3/8 inch barrel that was a delight to shoot, but if you want a serious target gun, PM me and I will tell you where a Model 29 .44 Magnum Silhouette gun is. It has a 10 inch barrel from the factory and an adjustable front sight along with the rear. Very reasonable too.

 

[silentflyer]

I have a long barrel K38 that's very good,and don't forget the Dan Wessons, they are VERY accurate.

 

[PMRet]

There are a lot of great S&W target revolvers, and of course you already have one in your model 17. You can't go wrong with a model 14 (or earlier K-38) in .38 special, which are plentiful and can be had for a reasonable price. I personally like the K frame .32's, but they are harder to find and more expensive. My favorites are this model 16-3 and these 16-4's, low recoil and very accurate, just a pleasure to shoot.

 

[Shooting4life]

The most accurate handgun you can buy is a freedom arms. Here is a picture of fa 252 that is previously owned. Frame was designed for 454 casual, though the 22 cylinder still only held 5 rounds. Chambers were so tight you had to seat the round with a wooden rod. With a 12 power scope I saw a group shot under 1 inch at a 100 yards with this gun.

 

[brucev]

A few years ago I found and bought a 625-2. I'd never owned a .45 ACP revolver. I'd never thought much about them. I bought it with no real idea what I'd use it for. I didn't expect more than typical results from it when I first took it to the range. To say I was shocked by the results would be a gross understatement. That 625 has turned out to be the most accurate revolver I've ever owned excluding .22 LR revolvers. With care one can keep 50 rounds inside the 10 rings of a Silhouette target at 25 yds. fired off-hand from a Weaver stance. At 50 long steps I've been able to hit scrap steel railroad plates time after time after time firing off-hand.

 

[weatherby]

I just got this one a Model 48

I was pleasantly surprised by how precise it is.
I didn't expect much from a .22 mag.
Perhaps wrongly

Target was only 10 yards but with someone more capable than I tend to be
could be a real tack driver

 

[stantheman86]

I have an 8 3/8" Model 14, with the Single Action Only hammer and trigger and a light rebound spring.

If ever a gun was made for 25 yard Bullseye matches, with .38 WC rounds, this is it.

I swapped out the wood target grips for a set of period correct no medallion Large Pachmayrs, for maximum grip and control one-handed. I figured I would set the gun up for serious target shooting, and the finish damage takes it out of "collectible" status anyway.

 

[Dale53]

Just about every Smith revolver made with adjustable sights could be called a "target revolver" with more than a little justification.

My 6" Model 686 gave me a "best" target recently - standing at 25 yards:

Either of my 625's (a 4" Model 625-8 JM Special and a 5" Model 625-6 model of 1989):

Here is my 6½" Model 624:

When you have a fine revolver like most Smiths are, the performance will be determined by the ability of the shooter.

My recommendation would be to pick a caliber that is especially useful (or desirable) to YOU. Then just pick whichever adjustable sighted Smith revolver that best supports that caliber and you should be good to go.

Keep in mind that you will NEVER shoot to YOUR potential until you reload your own ammo and better yet cast your own bullets. Unless you are independently wealthy, you will not be able to shoot as much as you need to do your best.

It just flat takes "trigger time". With most of us, that means a LOT of trigger time (but that is good, no?).

Dale53

 

[weatherby]

Dale I'm glad you don't shoot my revolvers
Then I'd know how much I let them down

 

[fyimo]

I have an 8 3/8" Model 14, with the Single Action Only hammer and trigger and a light rebound spring.

If ever a gun was made for 25 yard Bullseye matches, with .38 WC rounds, this is it.

I swapped out the wood target grips for a set of period correct no medallion Large Pachmayrs, for maximum grip and control one-handed. I figured I would set the gun up for serious target shooting, and the finish damage takes it out of "collectible" status anyway.

+1 on the Model 14 in 8 3/8 inch barrel.

 

[DCWilson]

Trigger pull: Most S&Ws come with SA trigger pulls in the 3-lb. range, and some as low as 2 1/2. I have some previously owned revolvers that came to me tuned to the 1 to 1 1/2 pound level, but that feels a little too light for comfort.

Clearly a lot of people can work wonders with a K-38, and the long tube on those seems to confer a distance benefit. But I find that in .38 Special I'd really rather shoot an N-frame, and the .38/44 Outdoorsman (either the transitional model or the Pre-23) is a fine distance hitter. All that steel out there at the end of my arm seems to act like a mass damper and suppress the effects of arm tremors. That's my theory, at any rate. I certainly shoot heavier guns better than light ones. Even my short-barrel N-frames sometimes give me accuracy better than I can achieve with a lighter-frame long-barrel gun. I'm thinking in particular of a PC 627 with a 2 5/8" barrel.

 

[44wheelman]

8 3/8" 629 DX...out of the box- 2"@50 yds.

My 6" 16-4 is really sweet. I seem to do best with longer full-lug barrels. Allthough I have a 2nd model 44spl (convertered to target) that can put all 6 touching at 15yds.

 

[Snowwolfe]

Since you didnt mention it had to be a S&W my vote is for a Freedom Arms .22
When the "dope bag" tested them many years ago they reported this revolver was the most accurate .22 handgun they ever tested, bar none. And that included single and semi auto's designed for Olympic competition.

 

[hittman77]

My 6" Security Six has served me well and is very accurate.

I don't have one of the "new" SP101's in .22LR but it may be a good option too with the new fiber optic front site and all.

 

[mg357]

The only target revolver that i have any experience with is the s&w model 60 .357 magnum with a 3 inch barrel its a nice little gun.

 

[Super Dave]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I'm at work now so I'll have to look into all these cool models later.
I do have a quick quetions on the Freedom Arms. I had considered one of those...kind of pricey...but the thing that turned me off was it looked like the grip was designed for one hand. I shoot with two hands. Does that type of cowboy grip style work with two hands?
Thanks,
Dave

 

[Dennis The B]

Here are both my 8 3/8" barreled S&W's. Both are tack drivers. If it were me, I'd go after a Model 14. They're as sweet as they come.

Note - This is a little heretical, especially here, but Colt Officer Model Match revolvers are also an excellent choice.

 

[Oregon45]

A S&W Model 25 in 45 ACP would go nicely with your Model 17. Here's my Model 25 no dash, made in 1957:

If you want a really cool old-school target revolver, try a Colt Shooting Master:

 

[Super Dave]

Wow, great stuff.

I would definately like to try a Model 14 at some point. But, the cost of ammo would take the fun out of it. I'm looking at $25 a box for some generic .38s on Oahu.

So, I best stick with the guilt free .22.

How would a Colt Officer Model Match .22 compare to my target S&W M17 in feel and trigger pull? Are they equals?

Is the Colt Officer Model Match a higher grade revolver than a standard Model 17 (without target sights, hammer, grips)?

I wouldn't mind branching out and trying something different.

Thanks,
Dave