Pistol and Revolver Accuracy

Pistol and revolver accuracy ? All right then.

Speaking of Double Action revolver accuracy only, may I, with all due respect, throw a monkey wrench in the works ?

This thread has now 59 posts and some CGN members have shot pretty good groups, obviously. Yeah. Anyone shooting "Double Action only" - at any range ? With cartridges anywhere above the "optical speed" of the tremendously powerful PPC loads ? "Optical speed" is the speed at which the shooter can S-E-E his bullets going to the target - and hopefully reaching it.

"Double Action only" - at all times and all the time ? Anyone ?

Double action revolver with factory shelf ammo, in anything that resembles a quick fire cadence will open my groups by 2x's...conservatively. So, @7 yards I would expect 6-8" groups and call it good.
 
Anyone ever shoot 50 AE, one handed, with only two fingers, while in a headstand, all the while balancing a tea cup on their left foot? At all times and all the time? Anyone?

And you call yourselves men? Pshhhhhh. lol.

Heavier revolver triggers can teach shooters a lot about the movement they impart on the gun while pulling. Here's the gun I practice trigger pulls with everyday, PEW, PEW:

20240301-130506.jpg
 
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Only shot 50AE once and it was out of a Desert Eagle, our instructor said he brings it out for people to shoot to show how impractical it would be for wilderness carry applications. All of us were like, now I want one hahaha!
 
Anyone ever shoot 50 AE, one handed, with only two fingers, while in a headstand, all the while balancing a tea cup on their left foot? At all times and all the time? Anyone?

And you call yourselves men? Pshhhhhh. lol.

Heavier revolver triggers can teach shooters a lot about the movement they impart on the gun while pulling. Here's the gun I practice trigger pulls with everyday, PEW, PEW:

20240301-130506.jpg

Smith & Wesson revolvers. My favorite breed, by a long shot, so to speak (L-frame, K-frame and N-frame, in that order). Nice "Double Action" triggers, after a few thousands dry firing cycles - always with snap caps, of course.

A Smith & Wesson Double Action revolver in caliber .44 Magnum/.44 Special with appropriate loads (240 gr. bullets at 900- 1,000 f/s) will be enough for just about anything that needs to be shot - in "Double Action" mode.
 
Pistol and revolver accuracy ? All right then.

Speaking of Double Action revolver accuracy only, may I, with all due respect, throw a monkey wrench in the works ?

This thread has now 59 posts and some CGN members have shot pretty good groups, obviously. Yeah. Anyone shooting "Double Action only" - at any range ? With cartridges anywhere above the "optical speed" of the tremendously powerful PPC loads ? "Optical speed" is the speed at which the shooter can S-E-E his bullets going to the target - and hopefully reaching it.

"Double Action only" - at all times and all the time ? Anyone ?

I don't own any double action only handguns, double action is a good way to develop strength and a straight pull but all the time seems a bit strange?

Are you asking if people shoot their best groups to brag about online by shooting only double action? Or is your point a longer and heavier pull usually reduces accuracy for most mortals.... :)
 
I have S&W 34, 12, 19 and Chief Special with short barrels and shoot them DA unless I'm checking the sights on the 34 or 19.

They're made for defense so I shoot them DA.
 
Nice to have options.... I prefer single action revolvers in general, but I don't mind having the option of both single and double action that the more fancy modern double action revolvers provide.....

Have you bobbed the hammers as well Geo so they don't snag coming out of your pocket.... :)

All fun aside, shooting double action accurately is a good skill to develop.
 
Nice to have options.... I prefer single action revolvers in general, but I don't mind having the option of both single and double action that the more fancy modern double action revolvers provide.....

Have you bobbed the hammers as well Geo so they don't snag coming out of your pocket.... :)

All fun aside, shooting double action accurately is a good skill to develop.

I have a SW 3914 Ladysmith for that........
 
In general, I've always found revolvers more inherently accurate than semi-autos. The reason being that revolvers have a fixed relationship between the barrel and sights. A semi-auto by design relies on a barrel that moves within the slide when it cycles (excepting some designs like 22lr pistols with fixed barrels). By necessity, the semi-auto is designed with clearances and tolerances to allow the slide to cycle and lockup reliably. It needs a perfect lockup each time to match the inherent accuracy of a revolver. Any buildup or wear on the locking surfaces will affect the accuracy of the semi-auto handgun

I compete in IPSC, PPC, and recently added ICORE. Each discipline has it’s own requirements for accuracy. IPSC balances power, speed and accuracy. In this case accuracy is only relative as the scoring zones A/C/D are quite big. At the other end of the spectrum is PPC where the 10 ring is very small, and matches may be decided on the even smaller X-ring count. ICORE falls somewhere in between. I often find myself being too accurate in IPSC (wasting time resulting in a lower hit-factor score), and shooting too fast in PPC (rushing my shots resulting in 8’s & 9’s)

I shoot my CZ Shadow in Duty Pistol, a specialized PPC revolver in the WA1500, and a S&W PPC-9 in the WA1500 Semi-Auto. Duty Pistol matches are only out to 25 yards. The WA1500 matches are out to 50 yards. My Shadow is an accurate handgun, but not as accurate as any of my revolvers. My PPC--9 with a 6” barrel and Briley bushing is my most accurate semi-auto, but still not as accurate as my specialized PPC revolver.

I set up my ransom rest in our indoor range for some load development and testing for this season's duty pistol and WA1500 revolver matches. It's only 17m, but I do this to shortlist the loads I will test at 50m
IMG_6837.jpg

Here are some results. Best group is approx .75"
IMG_6853.jpg

Did similar testing with my Shadow, interesting to find it grouped 115gr ammo the best vs my 124 and 147gr reloads
IMG_7686.jpg

Best group was just over 1"
IMG_7681.jpg

Had my first match with a newly barreled PPC revolver with red dot (damned eyes got old on me :() Shot a new personal best of 1463 :)
IMG_8026.jpg

The 5B match with 50 yard equivalent target.
IMG_8033.jpg
 

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Are you asking if people shoot their best groups to brag about online by shooting only double action?

No. I am asking people to shoot their Double Action revolvers in "Double Action only", with appropriate loadings, at any range they want. And then, if they wish, they could report back - if they still wish.

"Double Action only" for revolvers means that the trigger finger is always on the trigger in the same position, at all times, and that the grip on the revolver is not broken for thumb cocking each shot, using the support hand (bad) or the firing hand (worse). Two hands shooting - of course. Standing. No bench.

Grab the revolver. Pull the trigger. Bang. Simple.
 
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No. I am asking people to shoot their Double Action revolvers in "Double Action only", with appropriate loadings, at any range they want. And then, if they wish, they could report back - if they still wish.

"Double Action only" for revolvers means that the trigger finger is always on the trigger in the same position, at all times, and that the grip on the revolver is not broken for thumb cocking each shot, using the support hand (bad) or the firing hand (worse). Two hands shooting - of course. Standing. No bench.

Grab the revolver. Pull the trigger. Bang. Simple.

Thanks Snowy Owl, I understood the double action shooting part, and I think I understood and understand why you want people to do that and report back..... :)

I think the 2 main reasons many people at the range in Canada #### the hammer is because it's easier to shoot accurately for most people and people like seeing small groups or connecting with smaller reactive targets at longer distances.

And most people are not carrying small pocket revolvers for personal defence anymore.... the people with wilderness carry permits and the people that like the challenge and want to take their skills to higher levels are the exception and not the rule.
 
No. I am asking people to shoot their Double Action revolvers in "Double Action only", with appropriate loadings, at any range they want. And then, if they wish, they could report back - if they still wish.

"Double Action only" for revolvers means that the trigger finger is always on the trigger in the same position, at all times, and that the grip on the revolver is not broken for thumb cocking each shot, using the support hand (bad) or the firing hand (worse). Two hands shooting - of course. Standing. No bench.

Grab the revolver. Pull the trigger. Bang. Simple.

Garandrite has a whole thread on him shooting a bunch of DA revolvers. Last SA/DA revolver I had was over 11lbs, and it wasn't comfy to shoot it DA as the pull was brutal. You can have heavy triggers yet still be smooth, but this wasn't one of those. Then just some have small hands, that its awkward to change your grip to reach the trigger when it is in DA mode.
 
Pistol and revolver accuracy ? All right then.

Speaking of Double Action revolver accuracy only, may I, with all due respect, throw a monkey wrench in the works ?

This thread has now 59 posts and some CGN members have shot pretty good groups, obviously. Yeah. Anyone shooting "Double Action only" - at any range ? With cartridges anywhere above the "optical speed" of the tremendously powerful PPC loads ? "Optical speed" is the speed at which the shooter can S-E-E his bullets going to the target - and hopefully reaching it.

"Double Action only" - at all times and all the time ? Anyone ?

I have (and do) to keep in practice. Groups are usually bigger. Ammo is "social level". - dan
 
In general, I've always found revolvers more inherently accurate than semi-autos. The reason being that revolvers have a fixed relationship between the barrel and sights. A semi-auto by design relies on a barrel that moves within the slide when it cycles (excepting some designs like 22lr pistols with fixed barrels). By necessity, the semi-auto is designed with clearances and tolerances to allow the slide to cycle and lockup reliably. It needs a perfect lockup each time to match the inherent accuracy of a revolver. Any buildup or wear on the locking surfaces will affect the accuracy of the semi-auto handgun

I compete in IPSC, PPC, and recently added ICORE. Each discipline has it’s own requirements for accuracy. IPSC balances power, speed and accuracy. In this case accuracy is only relative as the scoring zones A/C/D are quite big. At the other end of the spectrum is PPC where the 10 ring is very small, and matches may be decided on the even smaller X-ring count. ICORE falls somewhere in between. I often find myself being too accurate in IPSC (wasting time resulting in a lower hit-factor score), and shooting too fast in PPC (rushing my shots resulting in 8’s & 9’s)

I shoot my CZ Shadow in Duty Pistol, a specialized PPC revolver in the WA1500, and a S&W PPC-9 in the WA1500 Semi-Auto. Duty Pistol matches are only out to 25 yards. The WA1500 matches are out to 50 yards. My Shadow is an accurate handgun, but not as accurate as any of my revolvers. My PPC--9 with a 6” barrel and Briley bushing is my most accurate semi-auto, but still not as accurate as my specialized PPC revolver.

I set up my ransom rest in our indoor range for some load development and testing for this season's duty pistol and WA1500 revolver matches. It's only 17m, but I do this to shortlist the loads I will test at 50m
View attachment 751457

Here are some results. Best group is approx .75"
View attachment 751456

Did similar testing with my Shadow, interesting to find it grouped 115gr ammo the best vs my 124 and 147gr reloads
View attachment 751458

Best group was just over 1"
View attachment 751459

Had my first match with a newly barreled PPC revolver with red dot (damned eyes got old on me :() Shot a new personal best of 1463 :)
View attachment 751460

The 5B match with 50 yard equivalent target.
View attachment 751461

Very interesting Vanman. You could always save some time vicing and sighting in with the Ransom Rest, by simply bringing the dozens of CGN'ers who claim to shoot tighter groups than that, at 100m, with factory loads, rapid firing in free stance. :evil::stirthepot2:

Jokes aside, an interesting write up, and I love that slab-side Smith. Thanks.
 
Of the revolvers I shoot the most, one is DA-only and two are SA-only and I can pick up either and shoot it the way it's meant to be shot (off-centre target holes excepted). I have another that can be shot either way, so I'm very much aware of that and practice both ways with that one to contrast the skills.

No, I'm not even beginning to claim to shoot any miracle groups on my targets!
 
Anyone ever shoot 50 AE, one handed, with only two fingers, while in a headstand, all the while balancing a tea cup on their left foot? At all times and all the time? Anyone?

And you call yourselves men? Pshhhhhh. lol.

Heavier revolver triggers can teach shooters a lot about the movement they impart on the gun while pulling. Here's the gun I practice trigger pulls with everyday, PEW, PEW:

20240301-130506.jpg

I would not want to try it these days, but I watched a one off hand shooter with his 5 shot 45/70 revolver.
another fellow had the DA out as well, I just did my wimpy load 38 and a little 357m. DA
 
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