Which to use for local competition?

[brucev]

Last Saturday I fired the first pistol match I've shot since the summer of 2004. I used a six inch 686 firing a 450/480. Needless to say, others did better. I also found out that my six inch barrel was one inch over length, so it looks like I'm going to have to use something else.

I have a four inch 66-2, a four inch 28-2, a four inch 15-3 and a five inch 625-2. All firing is DA. I'm thinking the 28 and 625 are the most likely choices. Judging from what the winners in last Saturday's match were shooting, very mild reloads are going to be the way to go. I can reload both .38 Special and .45 ACP, to that is not a problem, just simply a matter of getting the press up and running.

I shoot both revolvers well. Both have very nice SA and DA trigger pulls. I very much prefer the square butt grips on the 28-2. I have some Pachmayr Presentation grips on the 625 that allow me to deal w/ the round butt. I can get moon clips and a demooning tool. I have plenty of brass for both guns.

What in your opinion would be the best choice to use? The winner of the match (478/480/40X) was shooting a four inch 686 w/ very light (2.3 gr.) 148 wadcutters. I don't know that I'll ever equal his level of skill, but I'd like to give it a go and see how things work out. I have a 10L Bianchi for the 28-2. It is easy to draw from that holster. I have a 1950's era Lawrence for the 625-2. It is not so easy to draw from that holster. Will appreciate suggestions, thoughts, etc. Sincerely. brucev.

 

[Mattoneps]

What type of competition was it?

 

[brucev]

What type of competition was it?

We fired at plain black B-27 targets. Beginning at a berm w/ one foot touching the wood frame, we started at 4yd. drawing and firing six rounds in eight seconds This was done with one hand. This was the only stage fired with one hand. From there on out all firing was done using both hands From there we moved back to 10yds., 15yds. drawing and firing twelve rounds in thirty seconds. We then moved to 25yds. firing six rounds standing behind a barrier with first our right hand, then after a reload we fired six rounds with our left hand. We then reloaded and fired six rounds kneeling, again from behind the barrier. We were allowed to start with our hands down and the holster unsnapped. I had expected to have to begin w/ hands behind the head and the holster snapped which at least for me would have been harder.

Fellows firing pistols had no problem w/ the time limits as reloading a magazine simply is not a problem. Many of them did however fired much to quickly finishing with many seconds remaining on the clock. I shot more deliberately trying to maintain a rhythm so that I could concentrate on getting good hits. My shooting at 25yds. was not as good, especially with my left hand.

 

[OFT II]

Sounds like fun, Bruce. Of the revolvers you mentioned, I think I would favor the Model 28.

 

[brucev]

I am leaning heavily toward the 28. I can load light wadcutters which will help me with recoil and managing the left-hand stage of the shooting. Until I arrived at the match, I was not aware that we would be shooting DA. I'd done all my practicing firing SA. Almost certainly in the next match I will do a bit better for the simple reason that I will have some idea of how to handle the revolver with my left-hand. I know that cost me one miss... a seven and three eights. I've just got to get an extra speedloader for the 28 and then get busy loading some light target loads. It would be a real hoot to go to the next match and post a nice score with a revolver that is many present will consider out of date. I prefer to think of it as a blast from the past!

 

[handgunner356]

I would say it would be a toss-up between the 28 and the 625. You get the light recoil and great accuracy with the .38s', the heavier weight of the 28 should make it feel like a .22. On the 625 you get a extra inch of sight radius and the larger scoring hole. Times are very forgiving but the moon clips are very fast for reloading, gives you more time to set up your shot. You just need to try them out and see what workss for you.

 

[Damn Yankee]

I vote for the Model 28. Good luck to you and show them that a new "Gunfighter" has come to town.

 

[brucev]

Decisions! Decisions! Decisions! I got some dies for the .45ACP. I've had dies for the .38/.357 for thirty years. Got SP primers and some 158 gr. LSWC's. After I get all the bills out of the way from the surgery, etc., I'll can buy some .45 lead bullets. I have some powder that will work. So... I think I'm going to try both revolvers w/ whatever load works best and see how things go. Either way I'm going to have to get with it on the DA shooting. And I'm going to have to get to where I can make hits shooting with my left-hand. At least for now that will probably be the hardest thing for me to do.

The next match? Not sure. From what everyone said, a lot of times the matches are on Sunday which for sure puts me out of the running since as a pastor I lead worship services on Sunday mornings. I hope there will be some more matches on Saturday as i really enjoyed this match as well as the time spent with fellow shooters.

I think I'm going to be spending a good bit of time at night after supper practicing DA on these revolvers. The 28 has a very nice DA pull... almost no stacking before the break, very smooth. It has S&W target stocks which in my hands work well. I like that thing! It just feels right! The 625 has a superb DA trigger pull every bit as fine as the 28. In fact, the 625 may have a better trigger pull. It's close. The 625 has Pachmayr Presentation grips. I've had them since 1980, used them on many N-frames. Screwed on tight they stay in place on the 625 inspite of not being made for a roundbutt grip.

What would be really fun is if I could get them to allow me to fire in two different relays. That way I could shoot one relay w/ the 28 and then shoot another relay with the 625. It sure would make my decision making process a bit easier!

 

[Engineer1911]

I have shot a similar match

I would suggest the M28 with light target loads for minimum recoil. I'm guessing the left hand target and the 25 yard target had the lowest scores.

Practice left handed shooting (with loaded ammo) with special emphasis on a consistent grip and steady trigger pull -- no jerking allowed. You may have to aim right or left of the X to get hits in the 10-ring. The reload rounds can ruin a good night. My practice was with 6 empty cases in the gun, "fire" 6 rounds at the target, eject, reload with 6 cases resized with bullets no powder & fired primers, and "fire" 6 rounds again.

To do the speed loader reload quickly, the gun must be vertically pointed at the ground and the speed loader vertical so the bullets drop into the cylinder without binding.

My best score was 412/420 with ~30 Xs. I was shooting a 4" M581 with a Bomar rib that was very muzzle heavy with minimum recoil. I sure wish I hadn't sold that revolver to a neighbor !

Good luck!

 

[tomcatt51]

I'd shoot the 5" 625. It's heavier, more muzzle heavy and has a longer sight radius. All good things for your type shooting.

Try loading some of Berrys' 185 gr hollow base RN bullets. Low recoil and being RN they'll help your "on the clock" reloads. Seat them deep so your taper crimp actually "rolls" over the very beginning of the ogive. This will minimize the trapped case volume, letting your light loads burn better, and cleaner.

I hope your 625-2 was "fixed". They had a real issue with undersize chambers, to the point S&W had to fess up and was was replacing cylinders under warranty.

Use a Lee sizing die or a Lee "U" (undersize) sizing die to help your reloads. They size the area of the brass near the extractor groove better than most.

 

[Murdock]

Due to inattention I failed to put my 1911 in my range bag for a local action pistol match (steel falling plates from the leather). I did have my 1917 Smith and a holster in my range bag however, and did very well in the match. Low recoil and big holes with the SWC bullets I favor. Remember, you don't just need to shoot well, but intimidate your competitors in the process.

I Like the M28 a lot, but personally would go with the M625 if I had one.

 

[kshock]

The course of fire you described appears to be a PPC Duty gun match. If shooting a sanctioned duty gun match you might check to see, but I believe the rule states it the ammo has to be full power duty type loads. If not sanctioned anything goes if the match director doesn't care. We shoot these matches at my local club, mostly for fun so light target loads are frequently used. Try the different guns and see which one you shoot the best with, but the main goal is to be safe and have lots of fun!

 

[imashooter2]

.45s break rings that .38s won't.

 

[TAROMAN]

.45s break rings that .38s won't.

Exactly!
Any match that the rules allow, I will take a 625 first.
More than one match win (or loss, and a LOT more wins) came down to a single point that would have been lost with a lesser caliber.