Some Competition for the Long Range S&W Revolvers

[jaymoore]

IHMSA Big Bore Revolver Class has been dominated for quite a while by Freedom Arms products, but I've never been much of a fan of the traditional single action "plowshare" grip style, especially for two handed shooting. But 200m freestyle shooting is usually done with just one hand on the tiller. Probably not as big a deal, yet other shooters have relayed that the transition for DA to SA revolvers can take a while!

At any rate, I had no expectations of obtaining a Freedom Arms, certainly not new at about $2500!

However, a known .41 mag was made available recently and after a bit of wrangling it came home with me.

And it isn't just an "off the shelf" standard silhouette Model 83, it has two cylinders, factory fitted. One for cast and the other for jacketed loads. Also, a non-standard max allowed IHMSA length barrel of 10 3/4". (Standard is 10" even.) Plus optional micarta grips.

Should be great for BB revolver, but how will it do for standing classes? Not much data out there.

For those of you wondering what an all out effort in revolvering looks like, here is the top dog from US manufacturing:

BoMar rear sight.

Five shot test targets supplied after factory fit the new cylinder. No info on distance, so call would have to be made to see how FA does it. Guessing at least 25 yards, or why bother?


It's going to take some doing to convince me to replace the old 10 5/8" 29s in standing categories! Like the S&W 29's grip shape, the trigger pull, and that adjustable front sight rather better than the FA offering. The FA's sight picture is better with less "air" on either side of the front blade, though. (Very similar to the sight picture seen with the 29-5 AFS 6" barrel!)

Hope to do reports in the upcoming 2017 season, the Lord willing and the Creek don't rise.

 

[75Vette]

Wow, when you said you were getting a 41 mag I assumed it was another Smith and wondered why with the assortment of 44s you own. It all makes sense now. Looks like you found a nice one. It'll be interesting to see how it will be adjusting to the new firearm. Looking forward to seeing that one in person in Feb!!

 

[jaymoore]

Wow, when you said you were getting a 41 mag I assumed it was another Smith and wondered why with the assortment of 44s you own. It all makes sense now. Looks like you found a nice one. It'll be interesting to see how it will be adjusting to the new firearm. Looking forward to seeing that one in person in Feb!!

Completely different .41 Mag! This one popped up unexpectedly this week. Quite the scramble to procure funds before someone else snatched it up.

And I only got onto .44s because there weren't the variety of choices with the .41. Had it not been for that first 6" AFS 29-5 things would be very different now. Still gravitate towards S&Ws in .45 Colt and .41 more than the .44, even though the current .44m offerings from S&W are MUCH easier to make shoot well.

And you may have to head toward Lincolnton in March(?) to see it in action anytime soon. Not much experimenting in Field Pistol until at least AAA in FPAS is reached. Possibly International class in FP as well. Hoping new glasses will do the trick, along with good spotting. 100% sure that the 29-3 can do a couple of thirties as it is. Just have to bring hits on each bank together all in one match. Just cleaning all the Chickens would mean I can run slightly sub par the rest of the time!

 

[silentflyer]

Don't forget the big bore Dan Wesson long toms, they can deliver the goods, along with the TC Contenders.

 

[Bob L]

Makes me want to get back into IHMSA shooting again. Last shot it around 25 years ago and enjoyed it. Sold off my S&W 10" 44 like the one you show but still have the 10.5" Super Blackhawk and my XP-100 in 7mm IHMSA.

 

[jaymoore]

Makes me want to get back into IHMSA shooting again. Last shot it around 25 years ago and enjoyed it. Sold off my S&W 10" 44 like the one you show but still have the 10.5" Super Blackhawk and my XP-100 in 7mm IHMSA.

Both should still do well. Just a matter of finding a match! Our BB match is about a 2 1/2 hour drive each way, but you can stay busy shooting and spotting all day. XP100s are probably still the most common Unlimited Pistols. And the long barrel Rugers can still put in a good showing from what I've seen from reported BB Revolver scores.

Most ranges have long since adopted a reduced topple impulse needed to take down Rams, mostly to reduce wear and tear on the firearms. Can't hurt with wear and tear on the shooter either!

 

[jaymoore]

Don't forget the big bore Dan Wesson long toms, they can deliver the goods, along with the TC Contenders.

Stupidly enough was looking at the new CZ/Dan Wesson .357s last week. But just bought a used frame instead, as I already had an 8" barrel about. Then the FA pops up! Aieee!

TCs indeed do well but can't compete in BB revolver class. They are the nemesis of revolvers in Field Pistol, though. Doesn't stop a number of us from going head to head on a regular basis!

 

[jaymoore]

Measured the throats of the two FA cylinders. Surprisingly, both ran about 0.4106" using expanding ball gages and the 1/2 tenths electronic mic.

What wasn't surprising was the lack of taper and the lack of the usual tiny S&W constriction at the front of the cylinder in each throat.

Funnily enough, even with the same throat diameters, one cylinder would fully chamber (with a bit of pushing) 240g lead Keith type loads I had on hand whilst the other wouldn't. Looking closer, one has more of a beveled transition from chamber to throat than the other. So the one was marked "C" and the other is now marked "J" with felt tip pen. Couldn't begin to keep track of "old" and "new"!

Heartening to note that fired cases from the 657s can be pushed into the FA's chambers. Which indicates the S&W chambers aren't "sloppy"! (The ugly old M58 is a different story.)

 

[sw282]

My first big bore revolver was a 41 Magnum Model 57.. The rather short 6'' barrel seemed inadequate to the task of toppling 55 lb Rams @ 200m.
Quickly replaced by an 8'' Model 29 in 44 that seemed to knock those pesky goats a bit better. After 30 Plus years lapse a rather rare 657 fell out the sky and l am back with a 41 Magnum again.. Sad truth is FA guns are King of the hill in IHMSA Revolver Big Bore...Knowing jaymoore as l do this FA 41 will be used to its maximum in persuit of that elusive 'Perfact40' score....