Amazing grouping with a S&W snub nose

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Salibas007

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I still can't get over the tight grouping I was getting on my 1st attempt at shooting a S&W snub nose. Now I know i was using 38spl and not 357mag, and it was only at 15 yards, but I'm still quite impressed. Less than 1" with such a small barrel is an accomplishment for me. Maybe not for the more experienced shooters, but I've only been shooting handguns for less than a year now and had never shot a revolver with anything shorter than a 6" barrel before

https://imgur.com/a/5Q8fT

Now if only I could get a 12.6 clause on my license, that would be my next purchase. I guess one can always dream.

I'd like to hear about some of the veterans and their grouping with snub nose revolvers. Are they always so precise or is this a S&W thing ? Or did I just get lucky ?
 
With the S&W M60 I just sold on the EE, I fired a three shots at 15 yds off hand with a pretty warm load . I could only see one hole so I went to check and it was a three shot cloverleaf smaller than a dime.

With my S&W M19 and M60 snubs in IDPA, I frequently prints two rds less than 1/2" apart. Barrel length has little to do with accuracy.
 
Yes, barrel length has nearly nothing to do with accuracy out of a handgun. Sight radius is what accuracy is all about at moderate to longer range.
 
Excellent shooting Sharps and OP!
As Harry said, sight radius is the issue for accuracy. I would also throw in the tiny front ramp and sight channel on the J frames as well as the skinny trigger and grip they came with. All compounds the accuracy issue. So with the groupings you are getting, that's just good shooting. My best with J frames is about an inch also at 6 yds. That's double action but slow fire.
The K frame M19 has nice sights and a good trigger so even the 2.5" ones shoot quite well. I have a 3" M13 but 1.5" is still about avg for me.
 
I was always under the impression that longer barrels were always more precise as the sights were further apart and that mimicked a rifle sights and this is why my 6" Python grouped better in 357mag than my 22 M&P. But I was off as this 2.75" outperformed my M&P as well.

I guess full steel quality revolvers are just better shooters, at least they are in my hands.
 
Years ago I had a S&W model 36 that was amazingly accurate.

As noted, the short sighting radius is the only thing that can affect them.
Other than that, they can shoot.
 
Salibas007 said:
I still can't get over the tight grouping I was getting on my 1st attempt at shooting a S&W snub nose. Now I know i was using 38spl and not 357mag, and it was only at 15 yards, but I'm still quite impressed. Less than 1" with such a small barrel is an accomplishment for me. Maybe not for the more experienced shooters, but I've only been shooting handguns for less than a year now and had never shot a revolver with anything shorter than a 6" barrel before

https://imgur.com/a/5Q8fT

Now if only I could get a 12.6 clause on my license, that would be my next purchase. I guess one can always dream.

I'd like to hear about some of the veterans and their grouping with snub nose revolvers. Are they always so precise or is this a S&W thing ? Or did I just get lucky ?
Click to expand...

headshot.jpg This was a S&W model 15 with a 1 3/4" barrel at 50 yds. I had my left arm braced against the barricade and was using 148 gr wadcutters over 3.2 bullseye. I fired 6 while my buddy watched through a spotting scope. When I fished I asked him if I hit anything. He told me to come and take a look. The two misses were the 1st 2 rounds. I was aiming for the center of the head, no hold over. I had just finished sighting the gun for 0 at 25 yds. Stock gun other than a Murray Charleton trigger job. Haven't been able to duplicate this one.
 

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Back in the 80s I had a S&W 60 in 2 inch or so. There was a full size IPSC steel target on chains at our Club. We used to stand back 50 yds and ring it with our snubbies. I mentioned to my buddy about the different ring tones whether you hit it high or low. He said you're just lucky to hit it. I proceeded to yell High and shoot, Low and shoot producing the different tones. These pistols will do their job if you take the time to do your part.
 
Sharps '63 said:
How much was the Charlton trigger job and what was the turn around time?
Click to expand...

Seems to me that it was in the neighborhood of 150 and the turn around was a few weeks. The gun was registered to my buddy since I don't have a 12.6. We used it in the PPC snubnose event. Fantastic shooter. Sadly, my friend passed away suddenly a few weeks ago. Eventually, (many months hence) this sweet shooter will probably wind up on the EE if everyone in the club passes on it
 
.... which proves that all that talk about "longer sight radius" being essential for accuracy was BS. I think we tend to see a sharper sight picture on shorter barrels.
 
Nice shooting.
S&W Mod 60, best CC gun I ever owned. Had custom grips and was extremely accurate. It and the Colt Cobra were my two favorite CC wheel guns for LE work.
 
skypilot said:
Nice shooting.
S&W Mod 60, best CC gun I ever owned. Had custom grips and was extremely accurate. It and the Colt Cobra were my two favorite CC wheel guns for LE work.
Click to expand...

Skypilot,
Having trained and shot with both, what is your preference for the cylinder release of the S&W vs. the Colts?
Do you prefer to push the latch or pull the latch? Seems Colt is the only Co. ( I could be wrong) to go their own way with the pull latch. What do you find more intuitive in a stress situation?
My take would be push?
 
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