Snub nose accuracy

[Dean]

So I shoot MG's the most but have quite a few CCW carry guns.  The last few times I went to practice with the revolvers (.327 & .357)  it seems accuracy sucks.  Anything past 5yds is almost off the target.  Do I need more practice or are these 2" subbies just that inaccurate?

[Kevin Bartlett]

Years ago I saw some guy on Youtube who was popping balloons and ringing gongs at 100 yards with a .38 snubbie.  I also read somewhere that FBI stats showed that most gun fights occurred within about 7 yards or so.  I get acceptable accuracy at 10-15 yards with both my Colt .38 and .32 snubbies.  And by "acceptable accuracy" I mean I'm on the paper or ringing the steel.  Try some different loads or just get some practice.

Kevin in NC

[Uncle Zeek]

More practice.   The short sight radius on snubbies magnifies any movement on the shooters part i.e. if your aim is off even just a little bit, your accuracy is going to suffer

I have a little Taurus 85 airweight that goes with me most places.  I found that adding some bright orange to the front sight blade made aiming much easier for me, and accuracy followed suit.

[KickStand]

I used to bet friends that I could hit a silhouette target at 100 yard with a snub nose .38.
I made more money than I lost doing so. 

Edited April 27, 2024 by KickStand

[Mustbeme]

Are you firing in single action or double action?  There is so little mass on a snubby I can see how a DA shot could stray but a smooth say S&W trigger on single action, maybe just more comfort with the sight picture is all that is needed to get on target.

[gftiv]

The guns are accurate. BUT, they are hard to shoot accurately

[billwa25]

Agreeing with GFTIV here; they're not inaccurate, but they're also not what I'd carry. I still shocked myself with the grouping I've put at a few yd's with a 38 Chief's special. 9mm double stack all the way tho.

[pitfighter]

I shoot my three snub noses double-action only, I feel it is the best way to practice, and I enjoy it more.

I don't practice too much, but do enjoy shooting them, and regularly use them on the timed course (we have a homemade IPSC style course we run with buzzers), which I think is the best practice of all, rather than standing still and trying to shoot things a long way a way.

The S&W 19 in .357 is the most accurate with .38 special and best shooter for my hands, 25 yards is good, steel plates out to 50 easy.

The Colt Diamondback is not much fun for me as the trigger is too narrow and starts to become uncomfortable after 20 or so rounds (four loads), but is also accurate out to 25, and will ring steel at 50.

The Colt Cobra is ok, but has the same narrow Colt trigger, I do not much like the almost moon existent sights, so accuracy is not as good as the other two.

 

Pic of the S&W 19 and Diamondback - The 629 is a beast and will hit where I aim, but would never keep it as home protection, having fired it without ear protection I know the blast would do more damage to me than an intruder.

<a href="https://imgur.com/VBaEZ07"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/VBaEZ07b.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

Edited September 24, 2024 by pitfighter

[Gunnerboy]

Get a bore laser and put it in the empty revolver. Practice trigger pull and watch the laser move. You realize bad grip and trigger habits with shorter barrels more easily especially on follow up shots because of the enhanced flame and noise. My 2.5" 357's all stack groups at 15 yds. 25yds i start to see 4-8" 50 yds around 12" and 100 yds is did i hit center mass or not. 

[Max Walker]

I my experience 5-10 yards at most..

[Max Walker]

in*

[Oldgobbler36]

On 4/27/2024 at 11:57 AM, KickStand said:

I used to bet friends that I could hit a silhouette target at 100 yard with a snub nose .38.
I made more money than I lost doing so. 

Guess we lived same reality lol only mine wasn't 100 yards but I still lost money