Author Topic: How far have you taken your revolver too? (Read 1893 times)

nilescoyote · « **on:** January 10, 2008, 11:36:24 PM »

I found a honey of a deal while looking though the used handguns a while back. A Smith and Wesson model 15 38spl blued for 150.00.
I couldn't pass it up. Well to make a long story short this gun can shoot. Took it out to 150 and 200 yards shooting 158 grain lead semi wad cutters plinking at 2x6's about 6 inches long @ 150 and one gallon jugs@200. While I wont say I hit every time, I was very surprised to see how close I missed by when I missed.

So short of Elmer Keith's long shots is this common with S&W revolvers?

jro45 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 11, 2008, 02:18:35 AM »

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #2 on:** January 11, 2008, 05:13:21 AM »

Yes. I know you wanted to hear no, you have a 1 in a Million S&W hold on to it, but yes most can do it.
I have a number of revolvers and autos and at our club we often try for steel or clay out to 200 yards.
I have a S&W M686 silhouette that has four positions on the front blade and #4 is set for 200 yards with the 158 grain JSP by American Eagle.
To answer your question all handguns are capable of being accurate out to 200 yards if you use the sights to guess hold over. Even the little J frames with 2" tubes can hit objects out to 200 yards or miss darn close.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #3 on:** January 11, 2008, 11:21:31 AM »

I've done a lot of 200+ yard shooting with 38spl's, 357 mag. and 44 magnum S&W revolvers... They are accurate that those ranges and further, but 38's and 357's out of a revolver run out of gas long before those ranges. Personally, i wouldn't shoot a deer at those ranges even with my 44 mag. revolver...

DM

rockbilly · « **Reply #4 on:** January 11, 2008, 04:47:51 PM »

I have seen many pistols that would perform good out to 200 yard range, but the truth of the matter is, it is not the pistol, but the shooter that makes it work.

Wasn't it Elmer Keith that shot targets with 4inch barrel .357 at 1000 yards?

Keith L · « **Reply #5 on:** January 11, 2008, 04:50:21 PM »

Thats kinda what I was thinking. Maybe 25 years ago I could have, but now I know I couldn't hit a milk jug with iron sights at 100 yards with a pistol, and may not be able to with a rifle unless I have a rest.

nilescoyote · « **Reply #6 on:** January 11, 2008, 09:21:15 PM »

Quote from: rockbilly on January 11, 2008, 04:47:51 PM

I have seen many pistols that would perform good out to 200 yard range, but the truth of the matter is, it is not the pistol, but the shooter that makes it work.

Wasn't it Elmer Keith that shot targets with 4inch barrel .357 at 1000 yards?

I'm not certain on which magnum it was, 357 or 44 but the story I read in a gun magazine, Elmer Keith was shooting at a mule deer at a distance most people would not with a rifle. He did do a lot of long range work with both magnums though...

To say I'm pleased with this revolver is a under statement

Drilling Man · « **Reply #7 on:** January 12, 2008, 05:12:06 AM »

Quote from: nilescoyote on January 11, 2008, 09:21:15 PM

Quote from: rockbilly on January 11, 2008, 04:47:51 PM
I have seen many pistols that would perform good out to 200 yard range, but the truth of the matter is, it is not the pistol, but the shooter that makes it work.

Wasn't it Elmer Keith that shot targets with 4inch barrel .357 at 1000 yards?

I'm not certain on which magnum it was, 357 or 44 but the story I read in a gun magazine, Elmer Keith was shooting at a mule deer at a distance most people would not with a rifle. He did do a lot of long range work with both magnums though...

He did what any decent pistol shot could do... He walked his bullets out by seeing where they kicked up dust, untill he got on target... I've done it myself at amazing ranges over water hitting chunks of floating ice...

I don't admire him one bit for doing that, and in fact i don't think he should be looked up at for making a few shots he couldn't repeat, over a life time of shooting.

I've made shots in front of witness' that were amazing, that doesn't mean i could do it all the time, and Elmer Keith couldn't either.

One day i shot several snow shoe rabbits that were flat out running, including 2 in the head with my S&W M-19 44 spl... Then i shot a raven out of the air that flew across in front of me at about 40 yards... I did all of this with a friend standing right there watching... Every shot i made that day was a one shot kill, and i damn near became a legend that day in my friends eyes and as he ran a gunshop, the news spread fast at the gunclub... I shot something like 15 rabbits that day... I just had a good day that day, no more, no less...

Anyone who shoots a lot, has "their" good day once in a while too... and those that practice the most, have the most good days.

DM

buck460XVR · « **Reply #8 on:** January 12, 2008, 06:40:14 AM »

Quote from: Drilling Man on January 12, 2008, 05:12:06 AM

Then i shot a raven out of the air that flew across in front of me at about 40 yards...

..........I hope you were using birdshot.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #9 on:** January 12, 2008, 07:21:37 AM »

Quote from: buck460XVR on January 12, 2008, 06:40:14 AM

Quote from: Drilling Man on January 12, 2008, 05:12:06 AM

Then i shot a raven out of the air that flew across in front of me at about 40 yards...

..........I hope you were using birdshot.

Why???

What kind of "bird shot" load out of a 4" 44spl. revolver do you know of that will pattern at 40 yards??? I was using my own hard cast bullets that i always used in that gun...

DM

Wolfgang · « **Reply #10 on:** January 13, 2008, 04:47:50 AM »

If you read about that shot that Keith made on the mule deer out at around 600yrds. it was not a stunt nor was to show off his handgunning prowess, it was to try and dispatch a wounded animal that another hunter wounded with a rifle.

Wolfgang

nilescoyote · « **Reply #11 on:** January 15, 2008, 11:44:08 PM »

That's the one I remember reading about...

Hammerdown · « **Reply #12 on:** January 16, 2008, 02:52:35 PM »

Quote from: Wolfgang on January 13, 2008, 04:47:50 AM

If you read about that shot that Keith made on the mule deer out at around 600yrds. it was not a stunt nor was to show off his handgunning prowess, it was to try and dispatch a wounded animal that another hunter wounded with a rifle.

Wolfgang

Hello Wolfgang
You are exactly right, and he made that shot with a S&W Model 29 with one of his own designed lead bullets packed full of IMR-2400 magnum Powder. Before Elmer had The Powerful model 29 to work with it was he that Hot Roded The 38-44 Framed Outdoorsman revolver to .357 Magnum levels. Some guys are just Plain Lucky, if I ever Pushed one that far it would more than Likely Blow my Head off. here is an Outdoorsman revolver in .38 Special like Elmer Used to load to .357 Magnum Veloicties Before The Birth of The famous .357 magnum in 1938. Regards, Hammerdown

jro45 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 17, 2008, 01:23:37 AM »

I shot my S&W 500 to 200 yds shooting a 270 gr bullet.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #14 on:** January 17, 2008, 01:32:53 AM »

we shot revolvers to 200 meters every match at IMHSA matches and sometimes to 500 meters in special matches !
the old saying was if you can see it you can hit it ! the key is to shoot enough to know what you are looking at !
I believe Kieth made his shot ! won't discount a bit of luck either as it was at an unknown distance . I still enjoy shooting long range with a revolver , adds to the fun !

MePlat · « **Reply #15 on:** January 17, 2008, 08:12:49 AM »

Correction on HAMMERDOWN's post. If you will read the addition to Mr. Keiths book "Sixguns" you will find he shot the deer with the then new Remington factory load with a 240 gr LSWC bullet.
Mr. Keith used Hercules 2400 which is now Alliant powder.
As far as I know IMR never produced 2400.

docmagnum357 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 12, 2008, 03:58:59 PM »

No one else believes me, but it seems like you guys do. This is the very reason i dispise 9mm, 40, 45, and all other"service auto" calibers. A good 38, such as your model 15 should be capable of hitting a milk jug a few times with every cylinder at 200 yards. you should be able to hit the sillohette targets police use to train every time at 200 yards, and you should be able to keep all your shots in the "kill zone" of those police targets at 100 yards. We used to shoot an awful lot at 200 yards with 44 mags, and it can be done. i wouldn't shoot a deer at much over 125 yards, as i also dispise optical sights on a revolver, but I don't care a fig about coyotes, and have taken them at extended ranges, as well as missed them plenty, too.

Bullet weith is the key. a 250 grain Keith in 44, a 158 or 172 grain in 38/357, seem to hold up better accuracy wise than the lighter, shorter, bullets. Trans sonic loads also have a problem, but that is another matter altogether. Keep practicing, you will be amazed at how good you can get with a "real" gun.

bilmac · « **Reply #17 on:** December 12, 2008, 06:09:21 PM »

I've only started playing with long range plinking in the last few years and it is a lot of fun. I follow Kieths advice and put the target on top of the post and then drop the rear sight some distance down the post. I can't believe how hard that is after years of keeping everything leveled up. The first few rounds it was like there was a physical force holding that front sight leveled with the rear.

I believe Kieth recommended silver inlayed reference lines on the front sight. Do any of y'all have reference lines? I've been thinking of filing one or two on one of my Rugers.

nilescoyote · « **Reply #18 on:** December 12, 2008, 11:52:05 PM »

Quote from: bilmac on December 12, 2008, 06:09:21 PM

I believe Kieth recommended silver inlayed reference lines on the front sight. Do any of y'all have reference lines? I've been thinking of filing one or two on one of my Rugers.

That is what what I remember reading. What I have done is placed white model paint on the top 1/3 of the front sight, red on the next 1/3 and white for the the last third. This has worked very well for me.

bilmac · « **Reply #19 on:** December 13, 2008, 02:11:27 AM »

Some guys baby their guns, they reside in a case and every time they are touched they are wiped down etc. etc. Others are strictly utilitarian. I remember my daddy in laws shotgun. A breakaction singleshot with tape around the wrist. The extractor didn't work, so he dropped a bolt down the barrel to get the empties out. I like to think I am exactly in the middle, but there are lots of shades of gray in that middle.

I don't criticise anyone for where they are one that scale, and I can see how your sight would be very functional, but I don't think I could live with a tricolored front sight. I'm thinking I may just file the blueing off at a couple different places. I live in a very dry climate and I doubt they will rust. The only problem is that my sights are getting some holster wear so sometimes I paint them with flat black and some times I smoke them so keeping my lines shiny may be a problem

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #20 on:** December 15, 2008, 08:59:12 AM »

If you want multiple position front sights look into the sillohuette guns from S&W. As I said earlier they have a four position front post that each position can be sighted in for different ranges or different ammo. The rear sight looks like the standard adjustable rear so all you would need is to machine the barrel and have the adjustable front installed. I'm sure any gunsmith or person with a shopsmith could do this if you wanted to add it to your S&W, Ruger, Tarus, or other.
The front sight is no taller than the standard sight and I can slip my 686 in and out of a standard Galco leather thumbreak holster for revolvers.
I have the sights set up for 50, 100, 150, and 200 yards. I do not think I have touched the rear sight at all.