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  • TheOriginalMexicanBob

    Ultimate Member
    Jul 2, 2017
    32,179
    Sun City West, AZ
    Ruger makes tank tough revolvers with more than sufficient accuracy for most purposes. S&W and Colt are much more able to be tuned for gilt-edged accuracy if their inherent accuracy isn't enough. That being said...most people confuse a light trigger with a smooth trigger. Some judicious stoning can make a heavier trigger seem lighter while maintaining ignition reliability.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,734
    Socialist State of Maryland
    Punching paper or shooting steel. I'd prefer a mild pet load tuned for accuracy and not energy.

    As long as you aren't shooting Bullseye matches, a 6 inch S&W 586 or 686 will serve you well. They are more available and affordable than some of the other S&W six inch models. 158 gn SWC's shoot well in 38 special cases and will give you 1inch groups at 25 yards without any problem. If you shoot .357 out of them, the 6 inch barrel and a set of Hogue grips makes for a friendlier range session.
     

    Magnumite

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 17, 2007
    6,564
    Harford County, Maryland
    Punching paper or shooting steel. I'd prefer a mild pet load tuned for accuracy and not energy.

    Something to think about. Many times the mildest load is not the most accurate, at least in my experience. I find the midrange tends to be more along the line of what you are looking for. The 38 Special 2.7 grains of Bullseye under a 148 grain wadcutter was always touted as the bee’s knees for target use. I found it inconsistent both on target and over the chrono. It doesn’t obturate the bullet base. This was out of target grade competitive Ruger and Smith & Wesson (custom ppc gun) revolvers. I bumped up the charge to 3.0-3.1 grains and the load worked well.

    Very similar experience in 45 ACP and 44 Magnum.

    YMMV
     

    TheOriginalMexicanBob

    Ultimate Member
    Jul 2, 2017
    32,179
    Sun City West, AZ
    Something to think about. Many times the mildest load is not the most accurate, at least in my experience. I find the midrange tends to be more along the line of what you are looking for. The 38 Special 2.7 grains of Bullseye under a 148 grain wadcutter was always touted as the bee’s knees for target use. I found it inconsistent both on target and over the chrono. It doesn’t obturate the bullet base. This was out of target grade competitive Ruger and Smith & Wesson (custom ppc gun) revolvers. I bumped up the charge to 3.0-3.1 grains and the load worked well.

    Very similar experience in 45 ACP and 44 Magnum.

    YMMV

    Gotta agree but sometimes it goes the other way as well. The hyper-velocity .22 LR loads are often described as not the most accurate compared to standard velocity loadings. In my S&W Model 41 I was amazed how accurate CCI Mini-Mags and Remington Viper and Yellow Jackets are out of it...truly accurate and tight groups. That may be more a reflection of the pistol as much as the ammunition though.
     

    ezracer

    Certified Gun Nut
    Jul 27, 2012
    4,761
    Behind enemy lines...
    I have the GP 100 4" SS but they also make a 6". Both are accurate and built like a tank!!
     

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    TheOriginalMexicanBob

    Ultimate Member
    Jul 2, 2017
    32,179
    Sun City West, AZ
    Another option would be to look for a Colt Officers Model Match. You can find super nice examples for under $1k and significantly less if it has finish wear but still mechanically sound. The .38s go for less than the rimfire examples. The Officers Model Match revolvers were possibly the pinnacle of .38 target revolvers during that time period.
     

    Magnumite

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 17, 2007
    6,564
    Harford County, Maryland
    That is the characteristic of the 22 LR guns. I always swore my MK II shot High Velocity (not hyper velocities) ammo better than the standard velocity loadings. That is until Federal came out with the Premium standard velocity Target way back. This might have been the predecessor to the present 711b load.

    My reference was centerfire reloading. It is a lifetime of learning.
     

    Sage954

    Active Member
    Oct 8, 2019
    301
    I’ve never shot or seen one in person, but I’ve been wanting a Manurhin MR73 for a while now. Price point has been keeping me away.
     

    python

    Active Member
    Apr 15, 2010
    600
    There are so many good choices, at many different price points. With practice, you can master almost any high quality gun. Two of my most accurate guns are these Colt Officers Model Specials, 4th issue. They were made in 1949-50. Heavy barrels, but well balanced with good sights and a very smooth trigger. A friend of mine who is a better shooter me, shoots lights out with these at 25 yards. They're not common, but can be found. They were only made from 1949-52, and the only gun that used the Coltmaster rear sight. The 38 special (bottom) is generally lower priced than the 22lr. IMO, a great out of the box target gun, needing little or no modification, with the Coltwood plastic stocks, being the only exception. The target stocks shown on the 22 (top) work well for me.
     

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    fidelity

    piled higher and deeper
    MDS Supporter
    Aug 15, 2012
    22,400
    Frederick County
    I’ve never shot or seen one in person, but I’ve been wanting a Manurhin MR73 for a while now. Price point has been keeping me away.
    They have an interesting trigger. I picked up a used one (from Classic Firearms a few years back iirc) and haven't invested the time to shoot it well as I have a used S&W Model 64 that is dead nuts accurate. I do like the Manurhin as they're also built extremely strong. Use it to test reloads. :)


    f4a29b87d1ce29b75d606161deb53a71.jpg
     

    Rockzilla

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 6, 2010
    4,516
    55.751244 / 37.618423
    Older Python
    Older 3 Screw Blackhawks or even the newer ones
    Ruger Security Six
    Smith 19, K-38, 586, 686, 27
    Older Dan Wessons get the pistol pac if you can with
    all the "goodies"
    or some PPC Smith's

    -Rock
     

    Mack C-85

    R.I.P.
    Jan 22, 2014
    6,522
    Littlestown, PA
    Neither are cheap nowadays, but damn accurate they are.....
    S&W Model 17 .22 caliber....
    b51ab0d29bc53c7fcb65aa96fbb49597.jpg


    S&W Model 19 .357 caliber...
    4bf725f22d43466448ba89671c9d2261.jpg


    Both are 6"barrels, with adjustable target sights, target grips, and target triggers.

    ETA - pretty much identical besides the size of the holes. The sights are black on the 17 and red front/white outlined rear on the 19.
    Sent from my LG-G710 using Tapatalk
     

    jimbobborg

    Oddball caliber fan
    Aug 2, 2010
    17,112
    Northern Virginia
    I wouldn't go double-action if I was shooting one-handed. Any of my single-action revolvers just feel better shooting duelist style versus any of my DA revolvers.
     

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 27, 2012
    15,282
    HoCo
    I was in At a gun shop yesterday after work and handled a new 686 with molded grip and it fit in my hand perfectly I also liked the clear definition of the target sights it had. Would be nice to find a used one with some trigger work

    Going to keep looking around so I can check out some more suggested here
    Thx all


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     

    Mike OTDP

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 12, 2008
    3,319
    Back to the OP...

    The classic answer is a S&W Model 14 in .38 Special, Model 17 in .22 LR. 6-inch barrel, 3-Ts (target trigger, target hammer, target grips). Smith Model 19s are good. Model 25s are good. The 586 and 686 shoot well, if you can handle the weight. Pythons are good.
     

    Mack C-85

    R.I.P.
    Jan 22, 2014
    6,522
    Littlestown, PA
    Back to the OP...



    The classic answer is a S&W Model 14 in .38 Special, Model 17 in .22 LR. 6-inch barrel, 3-Ts (target trigger, target hammer, target grips). Smith Model 19s are good. Model 25s are good. The 586 and 686 shoot well, if you can handle the weight. Pythons are good.
    FYI - The 17 & 19 pictured above in Post 34 are both 3-T models......forgot about the target hammer!!!

    Sent from my LG-G710 using Tapatalk
     

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 27, 2012
    15,282
    HoCo
    I saw a S&W 19-4 at York
    Prices almost at $1k
    It was not C&R but close if it were it would have followed me home. I would have paid more to make one part of my C&R collection

    Will keep looking


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     

    Docster

    Ultimate Member
    Jul 19, 2010
    9,768
    ****Smith & Wesson Model 586 or 686 in your preferred or needed barrel length. Colt Python, old or new. Ruger GP100.

    Those would be my choices. I own all of them, all are very nice.

    Another vote for the Ruger GP 100
     

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