Secrets and Keys to Snub accuracy?

[hogdoc357]

Just thought I would start a new topic.

Share with us any tips, techniques, secrets, or keys for being accurate with your Snub Nose Revolver.
Also, share with us how you have improved your accuracy.
And, with fixed sights, how do you adjust your impact points?

Byron

 

[LET-CA]

I shoot my snubs at 7 yards or less, and get good enough results with the sights, but great results with Crimson Trace!

 

[MichiganScott]

I tried various loads until I found one that hits point of aim.

The snubby is plenty accurate. The key for the shooter being up to that accuracy is practice.

 

[smokey04]

Study the basics of handgun shooting and...PRACTICE,PRACTICE,PRACTICE! At snubgun ranges no sight mods. should be needed. If you like to shoot long ranges with snubbies[ as I sometimes do] I would go to an adjustible sight model.Nick

 

[fonejack54]

Apex trigger kit improves my accuracy immensely.

 

[Abbynormal]

Focus, concentration and know how to get to Carnegie Hall.







Answer: Practice, practice, practice

 

[kcub]

The problem with snubs is the short sight radius wherein the front and rear sights blur together. If you hold your snub closer to your master eye it is easier to "center" the front sight in the middle of the rear sight.

It becomes more like a peep sight or a handgun with a longer barrel.

 

[625smith]

Take your time and practice, practice. Here is my model 36 shot @ 10 yards. The key is sight alignment.

 

[Hapworth]

Study the basics of handgun shooting and...PRACTICE,PRACTICE,PRACTICE! At snubgun ranges no sight mods. should be needed.

Agreed, and to add:

- I find that the snubbie is manageable beyond the usual three to seven yards by slightly dropping my point of aim every five yards or so, to maintain center mass hits; naturally, ammo choice plays a role here, but snubbies also jump a tad more thn the avereage wheelie, and the very slight lowering counters this.

- Wrapping my weak hand thumb behind the bottom joint of my strong hand thumb (as Miculek advises for snubbie shooting) really helps control.

- After practice, perhaps most significant to improving my snubbie shooting was a thorough detailing of the lockwork and contact points throughout the gun; really smoothed and lightened pull (no springs were changed) and I immediately saw improved groups.

- Finally: practicing point shooting as well as target-style shooting improves both...

 

[pilgrim6a]

I shoot at least twice a week.
At the end of each session, I fire my carry gun. A 642-2.
I fire 5 rds a 10 yds. 5 rds at 7 yds and 5 rds at 5yds. one handed.
I can do well with the snubby because I shoot it more than all my other handguns. I only shoot 15 rds because if I fire 20 rds of 158 +Ps my hand will start to hurt.

Dry firing helps a lot too.
That target was fired at 8 yds on a good day.

 

[Ralph G. Briscoe]

When I hear that question my first response is "lower your expectations." While snubbies are capable of impressive accuracy, they are designed for close range and large targets. If you can hit a large watermelon regularly at 15 yards you're good to go for defensive purposes. Don't expect to be able to nail beer cans every time at 50 feet like you can with your K22. It can be done with a lot of practice, but that could be expensive with a .38. I have a 2" kit gun that's great for that purpose. The lessons you learn with a .22 snub will transfer to the bigger calibers--trigger control, sight picture, etc. A trigger job to smooth and lighted the DA pull to 11 or 12 pounds will help too.

 

[photoman]

Share with us any tips, techniques, secrets, or keys for being accurate with your Snub Nose Revolver.

1. Practice with low power rounds. If you reload, that will help.

2. A smooth action is a must! Worth every penny to have someone tune your gun. If you can't budget that right now, dry fire it 1000 times, clean/lube and you're good to go.

3. Practice at close range and gradually move the distance out until you reach your desired distance.

4. Make sure the grips on the gun "fit" you well. I shoot my Airweights much better with a three finger grip.

5. Have fun and enjoy the challenge of shooting these guns!

 

[photoman]

- Wrapping my weak hand thumb behind the bottom joint of my strong hand thumb (as Miculek advises for snubbie shooting) really helps control.

Technically speaking, I think Miculek recommends that technique only for Centennial type guns with a fully concealed hammer.

 

[DDDWho]

If revolver barrel length was measured the same autos a .38 2" snubby would have barrel length of 3 1/2". The measurement of autos includes the firing chamber. (whatever that scrap of info is worth)

I put the first 5 (new out of the box) inside the 7 ring at 10 yards standing, 2 handed, SA with my Taurus 85 UL. I lined the sights up and pulled the trigger.

 

[Coldshooter]

I do not think it is very hard to shoot a snub accurately. In "the French Connection" Popeye Doyle ran a half mile and shot a man off a boat a good 100 yards away. Just streched out one arm laid the other across and bang. Maybe the camera angle helped.

 

[vytoland]

practice and pay attention to what you are doing. in the beginning, start with a proper two handed grip and go slow with the target at 7 yards.
check your target results after each 5/6 shots, remembering where you were aiming and compare that with the results.

if you need improvements, some corrections maybe a. too much finger on the trigger.. b. jerking the trigger in anticipation of recoil.. c. improper sight alignment

aim to improve every time you are at the range. accuracy and speed are not going to happen quickly. it will take months, perhaps years and several 1000 rounds to become proficient with a snub, especially shooting with a single hand grip, weak or strong hand, DAO.

 

[geoff40]

Don't expect your groups to touch. That is not the intent of a J frame Chief. Expect exactly what you see in the targets shown, which is plenty good enough for SD.
To get the basic feel of your sights and gun, I'd start out firing single action shots. Once you zero in single action, then you'll have the knowledge of what your sight picture needs to look like firing double action. I'd work at 30 feet, but thats my own preference.
Go slow at first. With such a short barrel, holding steady aim at your 10 ring while firing double action will take a little more practice, a little more attention to details of what your firing hand is doing while you cycle the action.
Once you have the basics down, then it is time to start the drills. Firing with your weak hand, double action. That takes some practice! Firing while moving laterally, or crouched, your body in motion. Or set up 2 targets, 10 feet apart, and put 2 shots within the black of each one, in as little time as you can.
Setting up a large coffee can on a string, or even an empty gallon jug, and set it swinging. On a windy day, you won't have to get it swinging, the wind will do it. I'd work closer for this one, 20 feet or under.

 

[walkin' trails]

Some good points made about the J-frame's accuracy, but I'm not sure that it was always intended to be a short range gun. Police qualification courses back in those days went 25-50 yards back, though I don't know how many law enforcement agencies required their officers to qualify with their snubbies, especially at that range. My own employer requires those carrying J-frames to shoot as far back as 25 yards (ten rounds). Remember that the .38 special, even the J-frames were designed around the 158 grain lead bullet first. Start with a round in that configuration and see where they hit at 7-15 yards. Be aware that lighter bullets, especially the 95-110 +Ps and +P+, in my experience tend to shoot lousy groups compared to the heavier bullets. One of the biggest problems shooters have with those little guns is proper sight picture and alignment. Many of the Js have difficult-to-see sights. A stainless steel sight on a stainless steel gun is really bad. I have a 36 with a knife blade front ramp that, with proper sight picture, is very accurate. Try doing something with orange sports tape or bright enamel paint to make the front sight more visible. Grips on a J-frame are a mixed bag and I've never found a set that are perfect. For me, a Spegal or Eagle style boot grip that extends down a bit farther would be perfect. The bigger Pachmeyers and Uncle Mikes and wooden versions work better for accuracy, but don't lend well to concealment. For me, the Hogue Bantams are promissing, but still don't extend down far enough. The boot grips are great for concealment, but bad for shooting with decent defensive ammunition. After making your front sight visible and selecting a set of grips you can live with, the next best thing to do would be a lot of dryfire on a daily basis. When you dryfire, focus on your front sight. When you can cycle the trigger without disturbing the front sight picture, you are better able to hit targets close and far with greater accuracy. Also, if you decide to practice point-shooting, the trigger control you learned while watching the the front sight will carry over and better allow you to hit where your muzzle is pointing. Dryfire for trigger control. Safely dryfire. Dryfire.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Snub accuracy? Just spray and pray.

 

[smithman 10]

I do not think it is very hard to shoot a snub accurately. In "the French Connection" Popeye Doyle ran a half mile and shot a man off a boat a good 100 yards away. Just streched out one arm laid the other across and bang. Maybe the camera angle helped.

Old Gene Hackman must have really put in a lot of practice for that shot!