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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 24,670 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 24,670 Likes: 1 |
Since revolvers have fallen so much out of favor, there's many who have forgotten, and a whole new generation of shooters who may never know how wonderful the mild target revolver cartridges are to shoot.
.32 S&W (long or short), .38 Special, and .44 Special probably the best of the bunch. Of the 3, the one I enjoy the most just for the pleasure of shooting is the .38 Special. The cartridge is so mild in target loadings, it's a wonderfully accurate round, and the .38 Specials made by Colt & S&W are just magnificent examples of the gunmakers art. I prefer .38 Special because the revolvers in .38 Special are more ergonomic than the large frame .44's, and they're much easier to find and cheaper than a target grade .32.
Most cite the Colt Officers Match, or S&W Target Masterpiece/Model 14 as the ultimate .38 Special, and those are absolutely wonderful revolves to shoot. But deep down in my soul I'm a 4" barrel revolver kind of guy, so my favorite .38 Special has always been the S&W Combat Masterpiece/Model 15.
The .38 Special is without a doubt the easiest cartridge (handgun, rifle, or shotgun) I've ever reloaded. I started off buying Speer swaged 148gr full wadcutter bullets, but eventually managed to pick up a Lyman 358429 Keith SWC, but the 6 cavity Lee 358-148-WC turned out to be a godsend in making large quantities of very accurate reloads. I also found the Lee 147WC to be VERY effective on jackrabbits.
If you enjoy shooting just for the joy of shooting, an older .38 Special from Colt or S&W is like Manna from Heaven. They are very accurate, have outstanding single action triggers, and generally can be had for reasonable prices.
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 13,000
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 13,000 |
I sometimes regret letting this one go: ![[Linked Image]](http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/oregon45/IMG_0770_zps4abc4b2e.jpg) ![[Linked Image]](http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/oregon45/IMG_0784_zps75648eca.jpg) Colt Shooting Master, 38spl. Made in the mid-1920s.
Last edited by Oregon45; 04/03/17.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 40,179
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 40,179 |
Son of a liberal: " What did you do in the War On Terror, Daddy?"
Liberal father: " I fought the Americans, along with all the other liberals."
MOLON LABE
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Joined: Aug 2006
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 13,000 |
It had the smoothest, most positive, action of any revolver I've ever handled. In a moment of weakness I sold it and have wanted it back ever since. Oh well, I hope it's owner has it out on the firing line and not buried in a safe. It was made to shoot in the days when 38spl revolvers owned the firing line, and it deserves better than to be treated like an investment.
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 21,974 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 21,974 Likes: 1 |
Too bad the 32 Long wasnt a very popular post war revolver cartridge. Everything the 38 has as an attribute besides the obvious popularity is even more so in a 32 Long.
For mild shooting and flatter long range trajectory, 18s, 17s and OMM 22's are even better than their respective target 38s.
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 21,974 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 21,974 Likes: 1 |
Shooting Master/NS Targets are just cool.
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,272 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,272 Likes: 2 |
The .32 is still popular in Europe. Lapua still sells lots of brass for it. Very pleasant round to shoot.
All things considered though. The .38 Special is more convenient as far as choices.
It makes for a good day shooting a Mod 14 or 15. Hell, even a Mod 10 makes me smile.
Gun Shows are almost as comical as boat ramps in the Spring.
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 13,000
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 13,000 |
Oddly enough, the 32 S&W likely is more popular in autoloaders than in revolvers these days. Here's a Benelli I used to own, chambered in 32 S&W and made for Olympic rapid fire competition: ![[Linked Image]](http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/oregon45/image_zpsn92aj2wz.jpeg)
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 32,130 Likes: 1
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 32,130 Likes: 1 |
If you put Taco Bell sauce in your ramen noodles it tastes just like poverty
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,272 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,272 Likes: 2 |
Oddly enough, the 32 S&W likely is more popular in autoloaders than in revolvers these days. Here's a Benelli I used to own, chambered in 32 S&W and made for Olympic rapid fire competition: Great gun. A good companion to the S&W Model 52.
Gun Shows are almost as comical as boat ramps in the Spring.
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,887
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,887 |
Here is my favorite 38 Sp. only problem is they recommend limiting the 38 +P in it's use. No problem as it's just a fun paper puncher for me. Colt Diamondback. ![[Linked Image]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v460/jbmich/Colts/diamondback1_zps4gc1hcpj.jpg)
"The older I get, the better I was"
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 24,670 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 24,670 Likes: 1 |
I sometimes regret letting this one go: Colt Shooting Master, 38spl. Made in the mid-1920s. Oh man, I'll bet you do. Well, most of us have those stories. Consider yourself fortunate that you had one for a while.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 24,670 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 24,670 Likes: 1 |
Too bad the 32 Long wasnt a very popular post war revolver cartridge. Everything the 38 has as an attribute besides the obvious popularity is even more so in a 32 Long.
For mild shooting and flatter long range trajectory, 18s, 17s and OMM 22's are even better than their respective target 38s. Agreed! That's precisely why I put .38 Special as number one. Target grade .32's are far less common than the ammunition, and the ammo isn't exactly easy to find.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 24,670 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 24,670 Likes: 1 |
Here is my favorite 38 Sp. only problem is they recommend limiting the 38 +P in it's use. No problem as it's just a fun paper puncher for me. Colt Diamondback. Yeah, it was intended as a target revolver, not a combat gun. But how cool would it be to have a matching set in .22LR and .38 Special??
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 12,656 Likes: 8
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 12,656 Likes: 8 |
Since revolvers have fallen so much out of favor, there's many who have forgotten, and a whole new generation of shooters who may never know how wonderful the mild target revolver cartridges are to shoot.
.32 S&W (long or short), .38 Special, and .44 Special probably the best of the bunch. Of the 3, the one I enjoy the most just for the pleasure of shooting is the .38 Special. The cartridge is so mild in target loadings, it's a wonderfully accurate round, and the .38 Specials made by Colt & S&W are just magnificent examples of the gunmakers art. I prefer .38 Special because the revolvers in .38 Special are more ergonomic than the large frame .44's, and they're much easier to find and cheaper than a target grade .32.
Most cite the Colt Officers Match, or S&W Target Masterpiece/Model 14 as the ultimate .38 Special, and those are absolutely wonderful revolves to shoot. But deep down in my soul I'm a 4" barrel revolver kind of guy, so my favorite .38 Special has always been the S&W Combat Masterpiece/Model 15.
The .38 Special is without a doubt the easiest cartridge (handgun, rifle, or shotgun) I've ever reloaded. I started off buying Speer swaged 148gr full wadcutter bullets, but eventually managed to pick up a Lyman 358429 Keith SWC, but the 6 cavity Lee 358-148-WC turned out to be a godsend in making large quantities of very accurate reloads. I also found the Lee 147WC to be VERY effective on jackrabbits.
If you enjoy shooting just for the joy of shooting, an older .38 Special from Colt or S&W is like Manna from Heaven. They are very accurate, have outstanding single action triggers, and generally can be had for reasonable prices. You ever loaded the plated DEWCs like those from Berrys? Interested in powder & charge.
“When Tyranny becomes Law, Rebellion becomes Duty”
Colossians 3:17 (New King James Version)
"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,272 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,272 Likes: 2 |
Here is my favorite 38 Sp. only problem is they recommend limiting the 38 +P in it's use. No problem as it's just a fun paper puncher for me. Colt Diamondback. Colt recommends a maximum Lifetime of 3000 rounds of +P. Same as for as the Detective Special Series Two and Three, which is a smaller frame of coarse. They did not stamp +P on the barrel like they do now. No big deal, use +P only for limited practice with your "business loads" if you plan on using it for that. I do have the .22 and .38 Diamondbacks. A pleasure to shoot. My hands fit the S&W grips better, but the quality of the Diamondback makes up for it.
Gun Shows are almost as comical as boat ramps in the Spring.
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,673
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,673 |
You ever loaded the plated DEWCs like those from Berrys? Interested in powder & charge.
I'm not Kevin, but I've loaded those. 3.1 gr of Titegroup IIRC but you might want to start at 2.7.
'Four legs good, two legs baaaad."
----------------------------------------------
"Jimmy, some of it's magic,
Some of it's tragic,
But I had a good life all the way."
(Jimmy Buffett)
SotG
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 12,656 Likes: 8
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 12,656 Likes: 8 |
You ever loaded the plated DEWCs like those from Berrys? Interested in powder & charge.
I'm not Kevin, but I've loaded those. 3.1 gr of Titegroup IIRC but you might want to start at 2.7. Thanks for the info. What I'm loading now is 5.2gr of Power Pistol. Don't load them flush with the case mouth but just short of the throat. I SWAGed that load from whatever info I could gather. Also have loaded some with BullsEye but can't check the dose right now. Just curious what other folks are doing.
“When Tyranny becomes Law, Rebellion becomes Duty”
Colossians 3:17 (New King James Version)
"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 73
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 73 |
I shoot both but the 32s are full-on target guns. Very accurate and light recoil. 3 of these 4 are 32s. All are lights out accurate. ![[Linked Image]](http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt98/saleen322/Center%20Fire%20Pistol/CenterFirePistols-1_zpsab3c3e51.jpg) ![[Linked Image]](http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt98/saleen322/Targets/Magtech32BulletTgt-1_zpsff1f1a44.jpg)
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 24,670 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 24,670 Likes: 1 |
Since revolvers have fallen so much out of favor, there's many who have forgotten, and a whole new generation of shooters who may never know how wonderful the mild target revolver cartridges are to shoot.
.32 S&W (long or short), .38 Special, and .44 Special probably the best of the bunch. Of the 3, the one I enjoy the most just for the pleasure of shooting is the .38 Special. The cartridge is so mild in target loadings, it's a wonderfully accurate round, and the .38 Specials made by Colt & S&W are just magnificent examples of the gunmakers art. I prefer .38 Special because the revolvers in .38 Special are more ergonomic than the large frame .44's, and they're much easier to find and cheaper than a target grade .32.
Most cite the Colt Officers Match, or S&W Target Masterpiece/Model 14 as the ultimate .38 Special, and those are absolutely wonderful revolves to shoot. But deep down in my soul I'm a 4" barrel revolver kind of guy, so my favorite .38 Special has always been the S&W Combat Masterpiece/Model 15.
The .38 Special is without a doubt the easiest cartridge (handgun, rifle, or shotgun) I've ever reloaded. I started off buying Speer swaged 148gr full wadcutter bullets, but eventually managed to pick up a Lyman 358429 Keith SWC, but the 6 cavity Lee 358-148-WC turned out to be a godsend in making large quantities of very accurate reloads. I also found the Lee 147WC to be VERY effective on jackrabbits.
If you enjoy shooting just for the joy of shooting, an older .38 Special from Colt or S&W is like Manna from Heaven. They are very accurate, have outstanding single action triggers, and generally can be had for reasonable prices. You ever loaded the plated DEWCs like those from Berrys? Interested in powder & charge. No sir, never have. Always cast my own.
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