Double Action Revolvers

[Mustangs Rule]

Double Action Revolvers



I have about a ten handguns. Most are S and W’s. I have Two 5 shot J frames, both 38 Special. Three K frames, one model 15 in 38 special and two model 13’s, both .357’s and one N frame 44 mag.



I also have a Charter Arms ultralight 38 special +P.



I shoot all of these double action only and not only do I shoot them accurately off the bench, I do very well with them in any and all active shooting events I have engaged in over the past four decades.



No so with semi-autos. I can shoot them well off the bench but I am terrible with them in any active field contest.



Over the decades I have tried and eventually sold quite a few autoloaders; A Colt 10mm Delta Elite. A Browning DBA .45 double action, and several 1911’s. In all cases my performance with them stunk compared to a smooth S and W double action revolver.



At one point I made a commitment to The Colt Delta 10mm. I used only it for two years, shot thousands of rounds through it and after that period tried out my old model 13 .357 for comparison.



Immediately I out shot my Colt 1911 with my model 13 revolver



Anybody else have similar experience and preference for double action revolvers ?

 

[noharleyyet]

I should practice more DA with my S&W's. I should practice more pistol, period.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

There was period in my life when for years on end I fired about 1,000 to 750 rounds of reloads most months.

I forgot to mention above that I also shot Glocks a lot too. I did not have one but two friends did and put many 1000's of rounds through thiers over a 15 year period.

Without question I shot best with a tuned double action Smith and Wesson revolver.

I verified this with my score books over and over. This was especially the true when drawing and shooting from a holster as fast as possible at a target which allowed me to keep score.

The differnce was amazing. Tight 6" group at 25' with a revolver versus and not staying on 16" by 16" target at that range even with a tuned 1911.

My shooting instructor on the other had , shot every type of handgun equally well.

 

[VikingsGuy]

I love my DA/SA sigs. But that puts me in a small club. Not a huge fan of the DA on my Ruger 100 357.

 

[noharleyyet]

Ben Lamb spec'd just the right parts for me to tune a K wheel's trigger to the sweet spot.

 

[Cheesehead]

After years of binge watching Hickok45 videos, I recently joined the big Smith club with a 29-2. It gets fondled a lot nightly. Now just to find some ammunition…St Elmer help us in our hour of need.

 

[noharleyyet]

I can miss 7 times with this'n

https://flic.kr/p/Xsf9bZ

https://flic.kr/p/2ivoZpc

 

[Mustangs Rule]

Once Upon a Time



There was a funky little gun shop in a remote mountain town owned by a totally bonkers Vietnam vet. About the only medal he was not awarded was the Congressional Medal honor, he earned most others, sometimes a few times.



He was a deep recon specialist, his body covered with scars and he was the man you wanted on your side if things went from, bad to terrible.



We hunted together and always he saw game long before I did.



I bought a lot if vert cool firearms from him over nearly 30 years.



One I bought was a 44 mag 4” 629.



When I bought it he dug around in a drawer and sold me an original pair of handmade S and W Coke bottle grips,,,for 75$



Never have a set of revolver grips felt that “right”. They had a palm swell hand carved into them, and after that rthe checkering was hand cut.



There are lots of imintations,,,even some S and W grips from the 50’s and 60’s are said to be “Coke Bottle Grips”. They are not.



Every now and then I see real deal pair for sale on the internet. The last set I saw had an asking price of $350. They quickly sold.



I have my 44 mag next to me as I write. It still wears those original hand cut Coke Bottle Grips.

Pure Handgun Heave

 

[noharleyyet]

Cool story...

 

[std7mag]

DA revolver more accurate than semi auto?

Just you &Jerry Miculek. .

 

[BAKPAKR]

In double action revolvers, I have mainly shot a variety of 44s. I shoot them much better single action than double action. There have been a few occasions when I needed a fast second (and sometimes third and fourth) shot, and I can pretty much get the hammer cocked for the next shot while the muzzle is coming down from the recoil of the prior shot.

 

[HowieNH]

Double Action Revolvers



I have about a ten handguns. Most are S and W’s. I have Two 5 shot J frames, both 38 Special. Three K frames, one model 15 in 38 special and two model 13’s, both .357’s and one N frame 44 mag.



I also have a Charter Arms ultralight 38 special +P.



I shoot all of these double action only and not only do I shoot them accurately off the bench, I do very well with them in any and all active shooting events I have engaged in over the past four decades.



No so with semi-autos. I can shoot them well off the bench but I am terrible with them in any active field contest.



Over the decades I have tried and eventually sold quite a few autoloaders; A Colt 10mm Delta Elite. A Browning DBA .45 double action, and several 1911’s. In all cases my performance with them stunk compared to a smooth S and W double action revolver.



At one point I made a commitment to The Colt Delta 10mm. I used only it for two years, shot thousands of rounds through it and after that period tried out my old model 13 .357 for comparison.



Immediately I out shot my Colt 1911 with my model 13 revolver



Anybody else have similar experience and preference for double action revolvers ?

I'm a 357 junky smith686 7 shot, ruger blackhawk, Henry levergun. the 686 is great off hand, the blackhawk is real accutate out to 50 yrds, The henry has a leupold 2.5x8 and is deadly out to 150yrds

 

[Mustangs Rule]

DA revolver more accurate than semi auto?

Just you &Jerry Miculek. .

Off the bench, the same for acuracy. In an active course, the double action always beat the single action, both semi auto and single action revolver

 

[std7mag]

As i said, i think you may be an exception, rather than the rule.

Data?

 

[shrapnel]

They are another part of the total outdoor experience...

 

[Redman]

I can miss 7 times with this'n

https://flic.kr/p/Xsf9bZ

https://flic.kr/p/2ivoZpc

It's a seven shot six shooter...

 

[howl]

Being practical and using more power and accuracy than autos regularly provide, DA revolvers are all I use. I am not more accurate without cocking the hammer. However I mostly shoot double action as that's how they're used. You have to dedicate time to develop the strength and control to use the trigger. I can't imagine being able to use the trigger DA as well as SA.

I prefer single actions, but those are not practical. I have only time to learn one system. So I chose the most practical.

I keep a 9mm auto in case it all breaks loose. That's the only scenario in which an auto is better for hunt talk type people. Well that and or if you're in law enforcement, etc.

 

[44hunter45]

Fun thread, @Mustangs Rule. I can totally geek out talking revolvers.

Some know that my HT handle comes from my handgun hunting phase. 44 Mags in a tuned Redhawk and 45 Colt Ruger loads in a tuned Blackhawk Hunter. (only 768 made in 45 Colt). I still spend some days each year in the woods with these.

To stay on the double actions only topic-

I own a 4" Security Six in .357 (My first handgun) and a 7 1/2" Redhawk 44 Mag. Both are stainless. I've smoothed, fire-lapped, and trigger jobbed them both. Both have Wolff mainsprings. Both have forcing cone jobs. The Security Six has cylinder stop shims to tighten the timing. The Security Six is never going to be a GP-100. Certainly never an Anaconda or Model 66

Rugers are a tinkerer's dream, though.

If you are thinking of going this route, start with a quality set of minus pin gages. 4-D Rentals in Kalispell will be your friend for cylinder throat reamers, forcing cone reamers, stoning jigs, etc.

I've taken many deer with the Redhawk. I think 5 or 6? Some hogs when I lived in California. Originally I used 300 Grain XTPs. After the fire-lapping, I use a Keith style hollow point, plain-base, lubed with straight deer tallow. Out of the mould, they come out about 230 grains. On top of a full charge of H110/W296 these absolutely smoke.

There are a couple other redheaded step-child DAs in the safe:

An inherited snub-nosed 5 shot Rossi 68s in .38 Special. It is a knock-off of the iconic S&W Model 36 Chiefs Special. It is just off enough from a S&W J-Frame in grip and frame that after-market grips don't fit. The S&W speedloaders do work. I had to get a second cylinder latch off eBay and machine about .020" off the top to make the speed loaders clear. After re-bluing, it looks great. I put the original in the box for safekeeping. This winter I am hoping to make a set of Rowan (Mountain Ash) checkered grips for it. With the factory grips it is painful to shoot, even with light wadcutter loads. I will never put +P though it, even with bigger grips.

The last is an Iver Johnson "Target Sealed 8" in .22 LR. Eight shots, as the name implies. My dad traded one of his pair of Winchester 1890 .22 rifles for it when he was a kid. He got taken. It sat in the back of the drawer because he said it sheared lead from day one. Since this revolver has come to me, I've burned countless hours trying to get it timed right. I've spent more than it's worth at Numrich Arms for parts. I've finally got it to shoot right. I killed one grouse with it, cleaned it, and now it's hanging on the back wall of the safe, where it belongs.

 

[FLS]

I love my wheel guns. My favorite is a 6” S&W 657 .41 magnum. Most accurate handgun I’ve ever shot. I’ve killed several deer and hogs with it. Second is a well worn Model 10. With 158 grain loads it a tackdriver.

 

[BAKPAKR]

I shot my 4” S&W M63 today. Pulled the hammer back with my thumb every time.