S&W Model 10-5 PPC - info needed
- Thread starter MuayThaiJJ
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My last PPC revolver was built by Bill Davis of Sacramento. That would have been 1990.
I really like that barrel profile. Never seen one like that before.
Using my magnifier, I read the inscription on the right front of the rib as "NOEL". Can't be positive as at magnification the image starts to degrade. These are fun guns. This one seems to be in almost too good a condition, and the wide target trigger might indicate a newer builder. Maybe built for their own use, and not shot in competition much if at all. The recoil shield does not indicate heavy use.
Have fun with it. Try and find a PPC match in your area and get involved.
Have fun with it. Try and find a PPC match in your area and get involved.
stoneke
Member
Model 10-5 PPC - Info needed
38 wadcutter was distinctly the bullet to use. Whether hollow base or solid, depended on several factors - what was most accurate, availability, etc. Reloads of Bullseye or 231were popular. Top shooters in big matches likely shot factory ammo. Prior to 1981, when Smith introduced the 586, Colt Pythons were popular in the Police Distinguished matches. A Python with a competent action job was a strong competitor in these matches, where factory 158 gr RN was required and issued to competitors. I used a Smith 586 to complete my Distinguished Badge. In my opinion, the action of the 586 couldn't be beat for the cash outlay. Still have my AAA series serial numbered L frame. Too many memories with it to ever part company.
38 wadcutter was distinctly the bullet to use. Whether hollow base or solid, depended on several factors - what was most accurate, availability, etc. Reloads of Bullseye or 231were popular. Top shooters in big matches likely shot factory ammo. Prior to 1981, when Smith introduced the 586, Colt Pythons were popular in the Police Distinguished matches. A Python with a competent action job was a strong competitor in these matches, where factory 158 gr RN was required and issued to competitors. I used a Smith 586 to complete my Distinguished Badge. In my opinion, the action of the 586 couldn't be beat for the cash outlay. Still have my AAA series serial numbered L frame. Too many memories with it to ever part company.
I most definitely never shot PPC. I was welcome to watch them shoot on the indoor basement range of our Sportsman's Club. I was 16-17 years old and it was required that you were LE to take part.
Most of the guys that shot at our club were using custom K-frame S&W and a few custom N-frames. Most of them were using Safariland speedloaders (Comp III, is that correct?) stoked with the swaged 148gr HBWC.
It's been my observation over the last 15 years watching the market for old used guns that there were not a lot of L-frames done up by gunsmiths for competition compared to the K-frame. Power Custom definitely used the L-frame in later years but compared to the K-frame I think the L-frame was a tiny percentage. I would definitely believe that anyone who wanted to run a factory gun with no custom work would have been drawn to the L-frame simply for the new barrel profile.
Some folks in the early days rigged full underlug Python barrels to S&W K or N frame guns ("Smolt" or "Smython") and some mated the Python barrel to the Ruger Six series ("Rython" or "Cougar".) I happen to one one of these... mine is a stainless 6-inch Python barrel installed on a 1980 Ruger Service Six and interestingly enough... there is no lockup on the front end of the cylinder. No ball/detente and no lockup on the tip of the ejector rod either, locks only at the rear of the cylinder.
You might think hmmmm, who would skip such an important detail? Well... none other than Bill Davis, and they clearly marked the frame. The revolver shoots beautifully. It's been heavily used, someone competed with it for years, I was thrilled to find it.
Most of the guys that shot at our club were using custom K-frame S&W and a few custom N-frames. Most of them were using Safariland speedloaders (Comp III, is that correct?) stoked with the swaged 148gr HBWC.
It's been my observation over the last 15 years watching the market for old used guns that there were not a lot of L-frames done up by gunsmiths for competition compared to the K-frame. Power Custom definitely used the L-frame in later years but compared to the K-frame I think the L-frame was a tiny percentage. I would definitely believe that anyone who wanted to run a factory gun with no custom work would have been drawn to the L-frame simply for the new barrel profile.
Some folks in the early days rigged full underlug Python barrels to S&W K or N frame guns ("Smolt" or "Smython") and some mated the Python barrel to the Ruger Six series ("Rython" or "Cougar".) I happen to one one of these... mine is a stainless 6-inch Python barrel installed on a 1980 Ruger Service Six and interestingly enough... there is no lockup on the front end of the cylinder. No ball/detente and no lockup on the tip of the ejector rod either, locks only at the rear of the cylinder.
You might think hmmmm, who would skip such an important detail? Well... none other than Bill Davis, and they clearly marked the frame. The revolver shoots beautifully. It's been heavily used, someone competed with it for years, I was thrilled to find it.
CALREB: I posted a 'Like' to your photograph of your four PPC revolvers because the option I want to choose, 'I'm jealous', is not available. Nice toys.
NICK B: As stated, wadcutters for the open matches, .38 ball for the distinguished. I did see a number of Colts customized for the open matches. Since they had the usual customizing, I could not tell if the starting point was a Python, or one of the other models. As time passed I also started seeing more Ruger six series (like I had) on the line. But the overwhelmingly predominant revolver was the K frame Smith. I was not paying close enough attention to know if the L frame was supplanting the K frame once it was on the ground. One has to look fairly closely to determine which frame size, and I was just not that curious.
If I look back in my old issues of 'American Handgunner', where they had an annual article listing gunsmiths, just about all of them would work on/build Smiths, Colts and Rugers. You paid your money and you took your choice.
I used a Python for the Distinguished matches, which CA had just started around '83 or '84. My first leg, I shot high enough to get the maximum points, six. Twenty four got the medal, which meant at this pace I would have it in four matches. Unfortunately work responsibilities escalated so quickly I had to drop out of competition, so that great beginning could not take me anywhere.
I had had my L frame customized so that I could shoot the open matches with it, then return it to stock configuration for the distinguished matches. The idea was to use one revolver for both categories of matches.
In lieu of a bull barrel I had Wichita Arms install one of their stainless steel barrel shrouds with integral comp. The shroud was anchored to the barrel via a hex head screw threaded into the front of the barrel underlug. So, barrel shroud on for open matches, off for distinguished. But when I removed the hex head screw, the shroud would not budge. I quickly figured out why.
My L frame is a 586. I had had it electroless nickel plated to achieve the corrosion resistance and reduced finish wear of stainless. But, that process had added just enough additional material to the barrel that the very precisely manufactured shroud fitted too tightly to come off. Thus concluded that brilliant idea.
This project too was concurrent with my work responsibilities increasing, so my L frame never saw the heat of competition. Too bad because it is a very nice revolver.
NICK B: As stated, wadcutters for the open matches, .38 ball for the distinguished. I did see a number of Colts customized for the open matches. Since they had the usual customizing, I could not tell if the starting point was a Python, or one of the other models. As time passed I also started seeing more Ruger six series (like I had) on the line. But the overwhelmingly predominant revolver was the K frame Smith. I was not paying close enough attention to know if the L frame was supplanting the K frame once it was on the ground. One has to look fairly closely to determine which frame size, and I was just not that curious.
If I look back in my old issues of 'American Handgunner', where they had an annual article listing gunsmiths, just about all of them would work on/build Smiths, Colts and Rugers. You paid your money and you took your choice.
I used a Python for the Distinguished matches, which CA had just started around '83 or '84. My first leg, I shot high enough to get the maximum points, six. Twenty four got the medal, which meant at this pace I would have it in four matches. Unfortunately work responsibilities escalated so quickly I had to drop out of competition, so that great beginning could not take me anywhere.
I had had my L frame customized so that I could shoot the open matches with it, then return it to stock configuration for the distinguished matches. The idea was to use one revolver for both categories of matches.
In lieu of a bull barrel I had Wichita Arms install one of their stainless steel barrel shrouds with integral comp. The shroud was anchored to the barrel via a hex head screw threaded into the front of the barrel underlug. So, barrel shroud on for open matches, off for distinguished. But when I removed the hex head screw, the shroud would not budge. I quickly figured out why.
My L frame is a 586. I had had it electroless nickel plated to achieve the corrosion resistance and reduced finish wear of stainless. But, that process had added just enough additional material to the barrel that the very precisely manufactured shroud fitted too tightly to come off. Thus concluded that brilliant idea.
This project too was concurrent with my work responsibilities increasing, so my L frame never saw the heat of competition. Too bad because it is a very nice revolver.
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