Tips for Increasing the Accuracy of a Snub!?

[EV1L]

Are there any tips for increasing the accuracy of a snub?

I own a ported 637, and I'm having trouble getting constant shots to my point of aim. They tend to be to the upper left of my aim, not by much but still not what I would like. After shooting 80 rounds of carry ammo +P, even with the port practicing is no longer pleasant.

Any help appreciated.

 

[Revolver King]

That front sight looks like it is dove tailed. it might need to be moved over to the a bit. Try letting someone else shoot it and see if they have the same problem.

 

[USAF385]

Well the only tip I have is... more practice.

I can recall the first five shots from my 642.... I hit the paper three times.....

I remember looking at the gun and wondering if it was a mistake. After even the first 50 rounds though I could see an improvement. I made it a point to go through a box of 50 every weekend for a while and eventually I improved to the point where I was very comfortable with the gun. For me, it's hard to give advice on technique because I find most people eventually find their own that works for them with snubbies.

I'd suggest using standard pressure for target. 95% of what I shoot from my 642 is standard pressure .38s. I throw in +P now and then so I don't forget the feel of it.

 

[magnum12pm]

I have a suggestion, you did not say if you are shooting from a sandbag or pistol rest. If not, do that first then you will know who is not shooting to point of aim ( you or Gun ). I would not adjust a sight any other way, but from a stable rest of some kind. I have suggested this method a million times on the forum, however many people insist two handed sight adjustments are O.K....Not!

 

[Black_Sheep]

A lot of guys like the "boot grip" but I find it too small for my hands. When I swapped the Uncle Mike's from a Model 60 onto my 642, the size of my groups tightened up considerably. The grips are a bit longer and cover the backstrap so they add some bulk to the gun but it's a concession I'm willing to live with...

 

[Loco Weed]

According to the US Army Marksmanship Training Guide "Right Hand Correction Chart" (maybe someone can post a picture of it) shots going into the upper left of a target are the result of "Pushing (anticipating recoil) or no follow through." Are you leaning into your shots in anticipation of the recoil? That could be your problem. Still, the earlier advice about shooting it off a sand bag or having someone else try the revolver are the ways to go first, I think.

 

[EV1L]

I don't think there is something wrong with the sight, looks centered to me. I practice with +p because my aim less accurate with them.

I was shooting from 10 meters at a full size torso target, my aim was center, but shots were in the upper heart area, unintentionally. Also, I noticed that shooting with one hand, was better than two hands. I think its me and not the gun, it might be my grip... I don't know.

Magnum, what do you mean by two handed sight adjustments?

Sheep, my grip is a sawed Uncle Mike's grip, for better concealment.

Weed, that might be it! How could that be fixed?

 

[Sportsterguy]

I have a suggestion, you did not say if you are shooting from a sandbag or pistol rest. If not, do that first then you will know who is not shooting to point of aim ( you or Gun ). I would not adjust a sight any other way, but from a stable rest of some kind. I have suggested this method a million times on the forum, however many people insist two handed sight adjustments are O.K....Not!

+ 1. Wish I had a Ransom Rest but a set of sandbags on a bench are mandatory for properly sighting in ANY gun. Experiment with different loads also. If you don't mind altering the revolver the Wondersight will enable you to make it an adjustable sighted handgun. I'm going to have one installed on my ancient semi nickeled 36. Between it, the original grips and a Tyler "T" I'm taking it back a couple of decades.

Here's their link. They work like a champ (shot a friends) and will transform that fixed sighted revolver with it's minimal sights into a pretty darn accurate revolver. You'll also be able to change up ammo and adjust the sights making it a much more versatile weapon.

Hollow Point Bullet Mold Service - Wondersight

 

[magnum12pm]

I don't think there is something wrong with the sight, looks centered to me. I practice with +p because my aim less accurate with them.

I was shooting from 10 meters at a full size torso target, my aim was center, but shots were in the upper heart area, unintentionally. Also, I noticed that shooting with one hand, was better than two hands. I think its me and not the gun, it might be my grip... I don't know.

Magnum, what do you mean by two handed sight adjustments?

Sheep, my grip is a sawed Uncle Mike's grip, for better concealment.

Weed, that might be it! How could that be fixed?

I mean attempting to adjust the sights on a weapon by simply standing and shooting with two hand grip then adjusting the sight, then shoot again. It just does not make any sense. I don't think anyone adjusts a rifle scope at 100 yards or more by hand holding the rifle, it should not be done with a handgun either, not if you want a point of aim gun anyway.

 

[2hawk]

Hope that helps.

The other thing- dryfire practice. Lots of it, no live ammo in the same room. You might also look into a spring kit, sometimes the J's seem to have some real stiff triggers. And, lastly, you could get a CT grip. Combined with dryfire, it can be a really useful training tool. Not to mention the tactical benefits. Good Luck, and don't give up- you have an inherently accurate gun, you just need to learn the technique to get the most out of it.

 

[hoppes-no9]

Are there any tips for increasing the accuracy of a snub?

Put on a 6" barrel.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Just my two cents worth, fire double action only, this helps with any anticipation of the shot such as flinch and push off. Put in range sessions of no more than fifty rounds each, start at five yards and work your way back as your skill level increase's. The snubby is a hard to master little beast! They are a very accurate firearm but are hard to shoot well due to the short sight radius and light weight. Keep at it, it will come!

 

[Filbird]

I will pass on what I've read by Ayoob and what I have been taught by an instructor I've been taking lessons from over the past few weeks:

1) Focus on your grip - try to grip the gun in such a way that when you pick it up and point it, your trigger finger is pointing alongside the frame (this helps orient the gun quickly, so when you put your trigger finger on the trigger, the gun is already basically on target).

2) SLOW your trigger pull. This is something I am still working on. You should not really know when the gun is going to go off.

3) FOCUS on the front sight, and the front sight ONLY. Let the target go a bit fuzzy.

4) Dry fire like a maniac. Practice with the empty gun every chance you get (picking it up, putting it down, aiming it, focusing on the front sight, working on the trigger pull).

These tactics have helped shrink my group size markedly. When I was first practicing with my snubby (I have a 442), I was shooting off to the right side and had large almost random groups. They do NOT do that anymore, which is gratifying!

 

[whitecoyote]

A lot of good advice here.

Focus on the front sight.
Move your target in closer (5'-7'). Shoot a box or two, then gradually move the target out a little at a time.

 

[sunday bill]

Practice, and try aiming at a smaller, distinct aiming point, especially while sighting in (aim small, miss small, y'know). If you determine the handgun sight is the culprit and its point of impact is actually high and left, treat it as two problems. Elevation deals with the "high", windage deals with the "left".

Remember, front sights adjust the opposite of rear sights.

Dovetailed front sights are on there for a reason. The fact the front sight looks to be centered is considered cosmetically desirable by some folks but may turn out to be the reason your point of impact is left of your point of aim.

Drifting that front sight (a very small amount at a time) to the left will cure the windage problem. Other options include opening the rear sight a little to the right, which moves the muzzle to the right when properly aimed, etc.

A taller front sight is ofen the easiest fix for the elevation problem. I've found the point of impact being just slightly higher than point of aim, aint necessarily a bad thing in a defensive handgun. Your call.

As others have suggested, sight in a scoped rifle or long-barrelled hunting handgun from a steady rest, but if it's a short gun like yours that is intended to be used off-hand, I most often sight'em in the same way I may have to use'em.

Adding an adjustable rear sight seems to defeat the purpose of a concealable handgun to me. Your existing sights are very serviceable and are my choice on this type of gun.

Oh yeah. Practice, and realize that all folks aren't built with the same level of ability to ignore recoil. It's also your call as to whether you may be "over-gunned" with your choice of carry loads.

One well aimed, effective hit with a lesser round is way better than several misses from a booming magnum.

Did I mention PRACTICE?

Just one hillbilly's opinion.

Rich

 

[pinkymingeo]

I do better with my thirty-something ounce 2" Mdl 15 at 25yds than I do with my 12oz 340 at 25 feet. It's really tough to keep that front sight on the target when shooting DA with a very lightweight gun. I console myself that inside 7yds an assailant is going to regret trying for a piece of me. Beyond 7yds I'll be running, not shooting, so accuracy doesn't matter.

 

[m657]

Great advise listed above.

Practice certainly helps.

Given all those tips, I found with a snubby M31 I was able to go from an occasional hit on 6" falling steel plate rack at 25 yards, to hitting them EVERY time, by THREE specifics:

1) practice;

2) spring/smooth/lube the action;

3) PRACTICE!!!

 

[rdykmans]

I have a 66-6 and 586 L comp both PC 3" ported guns. I practice with downloaded .357 (still more kick then +P though) I've found the grips make a huge difference. I'm currently using ahrends combats and these 2 are as accurate as my 6" Python with those on. It did take a fair number of rounds to get to that point as well.

 

[Beachcomber]

Try this... you might be surprised!

The way I learned how my 2" S&W 640 shot was to get some six inch pie plates from the supermarket and mark a black cross through the entire length and width of the pie plate with a standard width black magic marker. (This created an image like you'd see when looking through a rifle scope.)

I then set the pie plate/target up a seven yards and sighted on the intersecting point of the cross. I'll tell you... you might be "real surprised" at how accurate that little j-frame truly is. This will also allow you to see how your point of impact shifts when you shoot with one or two hands. When you start shooting good groups... increase your speed between shots.

As you get more proficient at seven yards... move your pie plate/target out to fifteen yards and start all over.

 

[afriqueart]

Bad gun.

Send it promptly to my FFL!

PM me and I'll send instructions!