Took my mdl 18 to the range

[JLM]

My wife had a class last evening so I took the opportunity to dig my model 18 out of the safe and go to the range.
It’s been several years since I’ve shot it. It was the first gun I bought new after I turned 21 back in 1984. I was down on it for a long time as I didn’t feel like it was very accurate.
However it appears to have been the nut behind the grip that was the issue. I’ve gotten better since I’ve been focused on revolver shooting for quite a while now. I’m glad I didn’t let it go when I was unhappy with it.

 

[Targets Guy]

Nice looking gun and nice shooting.

Lose the pachs.

 

[brucev]

The model 18 is just about the ideal .22 LR handgun Accuracy is not a problem associated with these revolvers. I have owned six over the last forty years. All have been very pleasingly accurate. The more you shoot your model 18, the more you will come to appreciate not only its accuracy but its size and handling qualities. Sincerely bruce.

 

[Wrangler Rich]

My 18 has been my squirrel gun for years.

 

[Dale53]

I have had a .22 magnum revolver a time or two in the past. However, being a "cheap", er-r-r, frugal kind of guy. I always resented the fact the ammo was expensive and I couldn't reload it...

However, I had a shooting buddy who's favorite sport was hunting groundhogs with revolvers. He was GOOD at it, too. One year he shot 39 groundhogs as I remember. Early on, he used a Smith .357 (a Model 27 or 28). Back in those days, there were very limited hollow point bullets available for the .357. He took Speer half jackets and increased the size of the hollow point before he got good expansion. He made a jig for his drill press and centered the hollow point when drilling.

Ground hogs take a lot of killing, as most know who have hunted them, and a good expanding bullet is a big help.

At any rate, I was at a gun show with him when he bought a new Smith Model 18 with the view of trying them on ground hogs. His revolver shot really well, and, surprise! the terminal effect was similar to the altered .357 ammo. That became his favorite ground hog gun. Pick up a box of ammo at Walmart and he was "good to go"...

The .22 Mag shoots flat, and with the proper bullets does well on even tough game like the ground hog.

My favorite handgun targets were edible small game and my .32's and .38's were my preference. The ranges were shorter than ground hogs and they don't require the tissue damage that a good groundhog gun requires.

However, it is not deniable that the .22 mag revolver makes a good varmint revolver...

FWIW
Dale53

 

[Babysitr]

I've found the same thing with my M18, way accurate! The OP has TH,TT on his. That is sweet ..mine is std. on both, with S&W targets

 

[Lobster Picnic]

I would like to find a Model 18 someday. I do love the 6" Masterpiece revolvers and even have a Model 14 with 8-3/8" barrel, but my best group ever was with the 4" K-38.