@ The Range 38 SW Regulation Police

[4K2022]

My son called me and asked me to go, immediately of course!!
He had the intention of renting a BOTTOM FEEDER!!!! for a test run.
Took a shower and grabbed 3 pre Wars I’ve been hoping to shoot.
This little BIG bore was on the top of my list.

We shot factory ammo 38 SW in the Reg and also in a 5” BSR. Factory 32 SW Longs were shot from a 3 1/4” I Frame.
I was very impressed with the facility.
After a few rounds @ 10’ to verify the safety we sent our targets out to 35’

 

[daddio202]

Nice gun! They are fun to shoot but I find them difficult to shoot well at distance. The small frame not as easy to hold as a K frame. Mine is a little older #7103.

 

[4K2022]

Nice gun! They are fun to shoot but I find them difficult to shoot well at distance. The small frame not as easy to hold as a K frame. Mine is a little older #7103.

Everything You said was the consensus of the outing.
Bottom Feeders!!! That’s were my son’s head is. I’ve been encouraging revolvers but admittedly, they are foreign to him.

You have a prize indeed!
We started with the 32 i Frame,, we were putting them all on a 8” hi viz 100 yard sight in target. I think I embarrassed him dragging these old targets along BUT I wanted to be ABLE to See the little 32 holes.
I didn’t try to suggest a method of locating the sight picture (good luck) with these. All I mentioned was a 6 0’clock hold and try to hit the black,, at 15’. Across the room distance.

 

[4K2022]

I brought 3 guns and 3 targets.
The recoil was mentioned when we got to the Reg 38 ! Even though it is equipped with 1917 Stocks and should be “a little easier “ to HANG ON to. Only 5 rounds!! it was fun to watch the 6th double action pulls.

The fancy touch screen had pre set distances ,, 35’ was where we burned our ammo and broke out the BSR. I mentioned the improved Sights, so all the shooting was at 35 feet.

 

[4K2022]

The K Frame is covered with markings. Came here with a hole in her butt, I bought a repo and it’s held in with a piece of chopstick!
Stocks are what they are,, right side shows more wear. The barrel and cylinder?? they look like the hammer and trigger,, awesome to me. I would like to think mechanically all 3 of these “shooters “ would/are ? Very good? Condition?

I was exceptionally pleased with the BSR.
This gun is constant reminder to me that my FOCUS is pre war.
She sports a grooved trigger.

So after the smoke cleared and my embarrassing hi viz targets were full of 38 inch holes we recycled them and broke out the Bottom Feeders!

To My surprise the rental was a? not sure? S&W ‘something 2.0 in 380 auto? I didn’t shoot it much but I did empty a couple magazines,, 7,8 rounds?? Very Nice if that’s what you’re into.

Around this time my son was off to get a clean target. I dropped the mag and ATTEMPTED to reload it! I really struggled to the point my fingers hurt trying to load it and only managed to get 2 or 3 in. No problem hitting 8” black at 35 feet.

I want to bring up the eyesight of old men.
I wear eyeglasses, actually a New pair I’m still getting used to. I also grabbed a pair of cheap safety glasses from home and rented muffs. I couldn’t hear and my vision was very challenged.

While targets were being changed and magazines were being loaded the Range Official pulled me aside and asked me if I wanted to shoot HIS pistol
TOTALLY OUT OF THE BLUE
He has a clean target and a Model 52-2 ,,, Master

I confess I couldn’t read the touchpad to send the target down range,, I just said 35 feet.

He suggested I drop the hammer on an empty,, I did and was immediately afraid to breathe on it.
“Holds 5 rounds,” he said
When we pulled in the target he said, “looks like you figured it out on that 3rd shot.”

 

[4K2022]

Closeup of the 32 SW Long I Frame 3 1/4 inch
I don’t know a date for this one.

The last of the 3

 

[Green Frog]

I used to be up on I frame serial numbers, but at best I would guess late pre War for the 32 hand ejector. Remember the 38 Regulation police got their own SN range. You really need to refer to a reliable source like .standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson.
That 52-2 you got to try out is regarded by many to be the finest semi auto pistol Smith ever made. Serious Bullseye shooters either love them or hate them, based on their own shooting style. The guns themselves work great!
All in all it sounds like you had a great day at the range.
Froggie

 

[larryofcc]

Closeup of the 32 SW Long I Frame 3 1/4 inch
I don’t know a date for this one.

The last of the 3

I have 32 Long # 505426, shipped 7-1929. Big Larry

 

[4K2022]

That 52-2 you got to try out is regarded by many to be the finest semi auto pistol Smith ever made. Serious Bullseye shooters either love them or hate them, based on their own shooting style. The guns themselves work great!
All in all it sounds like you had a great day at the range.
Froggie

Unintended Consequences,
I fired 5 rounds,, without any doubt the best Automatic Pistol I’ve ever fired. Being a revolver guy when I pulled the trigger on a live round I quickly remembered ,,,, HEY THIS THING RELOADS ITSELF !!!
I could visualize the mechanics going on to shove those rimmed cartridges in the barrel,, honestly it felt like the gun went “weightless” in my hand (during recoil)!! So much so,, I was expecting parts to fall on the floor!

The serial number on the 32 I frame falls into the production between 1911 and 1942 according to the book. I just wanted to narrow it down a bit. I have a 4 1/4 inch with a nearby serial Number of 451xxx She has the patent dates on the hammer and trigger. I use 1926,, as the Date for marking hammers and triggers. BUT, I don’t know when they disappeared?

 

[4K2022]

The Sights

I was excited to shoot the Regulation Police definitely the oldest of the bunch. The 32 HAS the square cut notched frame and “matching front blade. SAME design as the BSR. in this photo the Reg is in the center. At the distance of 35 feet I was able to group 5 rds,, in the corners of the target. AFTER I spent, a L-O-N-G time getting a sight picture between each shot. The BLADE on the Reg is Very thin,, and so is the U rear. The “trick for me was to hold it there until my arthritis fingers started pulling the trigger to make everything happen. I like this one, it shoots where it’s pointed!

 

[4K2022]

I have 32 Long # 505426, shipped 7-1929. Big Larry

Oh Boy!
A 6 inch Nickel with markings on the hammer ?
Please do NOT post a picture!
I have a tendency to run up and down the street howling during the full moon.
Blue guns do it too!

 

[4K2022]

Couple more of the RP. The nickel is a challenge for me to photograph