shooting on a shoestring
11-07-2009, 10:00 PM
Stopped in at a pawn shop over in Hutto this morning. Amongst the dozen 12 gauge pump shotguns, half dozen .22s were a couple of .38 revolvers. I looked at the Taurus, not bad. I looked at the Model 67, fell in love.
Initial inspection, no holster wear, cylinder stop detents were sharp, no signs of severe double action shooting, bore dirty, chambers dirty means it works, gap was reasonably small, lock up tight, timing good, trigger pull crisp as expected on a pre-lock Smith, four inch barrel, adjustable sights, serated trigger (I like 'em), target stocks, sold.
Cleaning and disassembly at home revealed the shiniest bore I've seen on a stainless revolver, 0.006" gap, throats 0.3577 to 0.3579, popped the side plate off, clean inside, left it cleaner and properly oiled.
By the time chores were done, only had a couple of hours before sunset. Grabbed my new love, a couple of boxes of shells, jumped on my motorbike and rode for the range.
First up, 5 grains Herco pushing Lee 140 SWC. Shot a couple of sub 2 inch groups unsupported at 25 yards and a couple of 3 inchers. Ventilated a gallon milk jug at 50. Next up group buy 175 gr KSWC pushed by 4.0 grains Bullseye. Shot left by 4 inches, groups in the 5 to 6 inch range at 25 yards. Hit jug a couple of times, mostly missed. Last up, Lee TL158 and 3.5 grains Bullseye. More groups 1 & 3/4" to 2 & 1/2" unsupported at 25 yds. Milk jug at fifty seldom missed. Then it was too dark to shoot.
Cleaned up bore with one patch of Ed's Red, one dry, absolutely clean, no Pb at all. Chambers the same.
Rode home happy. That's how I expected my 4 & 5/8" Blackhawk to shoot, and I've only seen a handful of sub 2" groups from it rested every which way I can. I just plain shoot better with K-frame Smiths than I do with Blackhawks. I can hardly wait to feed the Model 67 a variety of boolits and see what else works.
Right now I'm tickled pink. I think alot more of the older Smiths than the young ones. Glad to get my hands on a slick one dressed up to my liking.
It was a good day.
Initial inspection, no holster wear, cylinder stop detents were sharp, no signs of severe double action shooting, bore dirty, chambers dirty means it works, gap was reasonably small, lock up tight, timing good, trigger pull crisp as expected on a pre-lock Smith, four inch barrel, adjustable sights, serated trigger (I like 'em), target stocks, sold.
Cleaning and disassembly at home revealed the shiniest bore I've seen on a stainless revolver, 0.006" gap, throats 0.3577 to 0.3579, popped the side plate off, clean inside, left it cleaner and properly oiled.
By the time chores were done, only had a couple of hours before sunset. Grabbed my new love, a couple of boxes of shells, jumped on my motorbike and rode for the range.
First up, 5 grains Herco pushing Lee 140 SWC. Shot a couple of sub 2 inch groups unsupported at 25 yards and a couple of 3 inchers. Ventilated a gallon milk jug at 50. Next up group buy 175 gr KSWC pushed by 4.0 grains Bullseye. Shot left by 4 inches, groups in the 5 to 6 inch range at 25 yards. Hit jug a couple of times, mostly missed. Last up, Lee TL158 and 3.5 grains Bullseye. More groups 1 & 3/4" to 2 & 1/2" unsupported at 25 yds. Milk jug at fifty seldom missed. Then it was too dark to shoot.
Cleaned up bore with one patch of Ed's Red, one dry, absolutely clean, no Pb at all. Chambers the same.
Rode home happy. That's how I expected my 4 & 5/8" Blackhawk to shoot, and I've only seen a handful of sub 2" groups from it rested every which way I can. I just plain shoot better with K-frame Smiths than I do with Blackhawks. I can hardly wait to feed the Model 67 a variety of boolits and see what else works.
Right now I'm tickled pink. I think alot more of the older Smiths than the young ones. Glad to get my hands on a slick one dressed up to my liking.
It was a good day.