Revolver Shooters HELP NEEDED

[Kittitas George]

I'm waiting delivery on a S&W 686 357 Mag w/5" barrel and HIVIZ sights. Does anyone know a "revolver smith" here in Washington? I'd like the trigger double action tuned up. I would also like to find some real 'Keith' bullets, I do find some similar SWC cast lead. Badman Bullets are similar and so are Rim Rock, the pictures on Rim Rock are very blurry though. I'd like to stay around 158-160gr. My S&W 27-2 has the 'shorter cylinder' so length from nose to crimping grove is critical. I've used the SWC at this weight before over a medium load of 2400. Recoil was tolerable and shot well for me, I'm not Wyatt Earp or Jerry 'the speed shooter'. Info about revolver shooters websites would help. Strictly a plinker, not competitive at 83, just shooting for MY ENJOYMENT!!
Thank you, George

 

[Charliemac]

Take look at Matt’s bullets https://www.mattsbullets.com/38-Special357-Magnum_c_9.html

 

[TIMO]

George,
Check out Magnus Bullets, they make a great bullet and I have shot a lot of them mainly in 45 & 9mm though.

Magnus Bullets – Magnusbullets

There was a bullet maker in Kansas years ago that also made excellent bullets, I will dig out the box and post the name for you.

Hope this might help.
Tim

 

[PhilC]

Most you 38-158/159 you see are "Keith type" and have a bevel base where a true Keith would be flat base like Matt's 159gr.

You don't need 12bhn for plinking, 9 -10 will be plenty hard. FWIW, I'm pushing powder coated 155 - 160gr 10bhn bullets at chrono'd 2050fps in my 7BR rifle without leading.

 

[Rwfish]

Been using Bayou Bullets coated bullets in my competition guns for years. Never any issues, great quality and folks are good to deal with.. My 929 9mm I run their .358” 160gr RN (No Groove) and get great accuracy and no issues with bullet walking out of case..

 

[6.5 forever]

Check out Jerry Miculeks video and spring kit. Easy to do and excellent results.

 

[K22]

I've been shooting revolvers for over 60 years, predominantly S&W's.

While I haven't purchased an S&W revolver in over 30 years, unless they have changed, they really shouldn't need any tuning. They are or at least use to be, very good out of the box from the factory. However, Midway use to sell Wolfe Spring Kits with an aftermarket main spring and a several rebound springs of varying tension. These aftermarket parts primarily reduce trigger pull. I would not advise them for either defense, hunting or plinking.

One "tuning" you must avoid is messing with the sears; the hammer and triggers are case hardened and stoning the sears is a no-no. I've owned over 30 S&W revolvers over the past 60 years and none of them ever needed any sear tuning.

Go on gunblue490 web site. He is a factory trained S&W armorer and has several You Tube videos on S&W revolvers. He has excellent information on care, maintenance and adjustments.

If you are just a pinker, you may want to try Oregon Trail Laser Cast Bullets. They are very accurate in my experience when loaded to about 900 f/s. They make 158 to 125 grain bullets. With these bullets I found modest (book value) charges of 231 work best. In my experience, 2400 is an excellent choice for full power loads, especially with 140 to 158 grain jacketed bullets.

My favorite bullet / load is the Hornady 125 XTP with 231.

 

[Kittitas George]

I've been shooting revolvers for over 60 years, predominantly S&W's.

While I haven't purchased an S&W revolver in over 30 years, unless they have changed, they really shouldn't need any tuning. They are or at least use to be, very good out of the box from the factory. However, Midway use to sell Wolfe Spring Kits with an aftermarket main spring and a several rebound springs of varying tension. These aftermarket parts primarily reduce trigger pull. I would not advise them for either defense, hunting or plinking.

One "tuning" you must avoid is messing with the sears; the hammer and triggers are case hardened and stoning the sears is a no-no. I've owned over 30 S&W revolvers over the past 60 years and none of them ever needed any sear tuning.

Go on gunblue490 web site. He is a factory trained S&W armorer and has several You Tube videos on S&W revolvers. He has excellent information on care, maintenance and adjustments.

If you are just a pinker, you may want to try Oregon Trail Laser Cast Bullets. They are very accurate in my experience when loaded to about 900 f/s. They make 158 to 125 grain bullets. With these bullets I found modest (book value) charges of 231 work best. In my experience, 2400 is an excellent choice for full power loads, especially with 140 to 158 grain jacketed bullets.

My favorite bullet / load is the Hornady 125 XTP with 231.

Thank you for the great information. I watched a YouTube video by GunBlue 490 on buying a used S&W. Exactly what I needed to know. Very informative, interesting and accurate information. He is well experienced and trained, the very thing I was looking for. Now I know how to 'check out' the S&W I ordered. I'll watch the video again and take a few notes, to be sure. I have watched his cooking videos, he has a great recipe for clam chowder and baked beans, check it out. Like me he likes to shoot, cook and I'll bet he likes to eat also.
Thank you, that is what this sight is about, George

 

[TIMO]

George,
Check out Magnus Bullets, they make a great bullet and I have shot a lot of them mainly in 45 & 9mm though.

Magnus Bullets – Magnusbullets

There was a bullet maker in Kansas years ago that also made excellent bullets, I will dig out the box and post the name for you.

Hope this might help.
Tim

The other brand I have shot a lot of were Mid-Kansas Cast Bullets. Not sure if they are still producing bullets.
Tim

 

[JEFFPPC]

686 and 2400....winning combination.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

In S & W's, I ONLY Use, 125 grain, Sierra or, Hornady XTP Bullets and Push them,. + P Fast with, Win 231 Powder.
The Accuracy IS,.. unbelievable !
I'm Letting my grandson, "Plink" Up,.. All my,.. 158's !
K-22,. HAS got THIS, Figured Out,.. Also !!! ( See bottom Line, on Post #7,.. Gospel,,. TRUTH ! ).
Buy the 125 gr. XTP's,.. On Sale at,.. 20% Off, when avail !

 

[Fuj]

A 162gr (actual weight) gas checked, Keith style SWC on top of 2400
in my S&W model 66's is what i have run, and from way back in the 70's
shooting IPSC. #2 lead alloy with 50/50 Alox and bee's wax lube.

 

[Oso]

Bayou Bullets 160gr RN Coated Bullets are very nice in SW686. I believe Bayou Bullets is owned by Jerry Miculek’s brother…. They know revolver bullets. I have been shooting their bullets for 15 years. Their coating is bullet proof.

You might reach out to Clark Custom Guns for a revolver tune-up. This is Kay Clark-Miculek’s family business established in 1950’s.

Get the revolver pedigree you can enjoy and brag to your buddies!!!

 

[Hipshoot]

You can take a couple coils off the rebound spring, lightly stone the rebound slide and take a couple of swipes with a file to the screw that puts tension on the main spring while it is screwed into the grip frame. Go slow or you will get light hits and FTF.

 

[K22]

Thank you for the great information. I watched a YouTube video by GunBlue 490 on buying a used S&W. Exactly what I needed to know. Very informative, interesting and accurate information. He is well experienced and trained, the very thing I was looking for. Now I know how to 'check out' the S&W I ordered. I'll watch the video again and take a few notes, to be sure. I have watched his cooking videos, he has a great recipe for clam chowder and baked beans, check it out. Like me he likes to shoot, cook and I'll bet he likes to eat also.
Thank you, that is what this sight is about, George

Glad you found him insightful.

He has many other common sense videos regarding scopes, firearms, shooting, hunting, reloading, etc. He was a Police Captain and is a Vietnam Vet. He was also a firearms instructor. I found his no-nonsense approach to the sport appealing.

 

[BHP9]

Bayou Bullets 160gr RN Coated Bullets are very nice in SW686. I believe Bayou Bullets is owned by Jerry Miculek’s brother…. They know revolver bullets. I have been shooting their bullets for 15 years. Their coating is bullet proof.

You might reach out to Clark Custom Guns for a revolver tune-up. This is Kay Clark-Miculek’s family business established in 1950’s.

Get the revolver pedigree you can enjoy and brag to your buddies!!!

Donnie Miculek sold the business about 10 years ago.
IIRC it was to an employee, and nothing about the process was changed.

 

[lawman29]

Smith & Wesson Competition N-L-K Frame Revolver Spring Kit

This revolver spring kit is compatible with S&W K-, L-, N-, and X-Frame revolvers. Upgrade your Smith and Wesson competition revolver with this kit.

tkcustom.com

 

[shortgrass]

Spring kits have become the poor mans trigger job. Heck, no one wants to pay for skilled labor! The S&W Revolvers were covered extensively in GS school. Required, was to install and OS hand and time it, install and OS cylinder stop, and install a new DA sear, all needed hand fitting. The only spring that we could change was to an original S&W single action rebound slide spring. Without having to install and fit OS parts, trigger pull could be greatly reduced, both SA and DA, by some judicious bur removal and a bit of stoning in the right places, which greatly reduced any friction by movement of the internals. I took a couple of 'extra' S&W classes that were taught by Ron Power. In reality, the instructor at the school had the subject well covered, and those 'extra' classes just introduced me to installing custom barrels from a blank , mounting custom site rails and making/installing underlugs. But in general, just 'slickin' one up really isn't much of a chore. It is worth mentioning that any 'tune-up' should include making sure the yoke is straight and in line with the barrel. "Slapping" the cylinder shut, like ya might see on TV or in the movies is a sure way to bend it out of alinement. I've owned and used S&W revolvers for over 40yrs and worked on 'um for over 30yrs now.

 

[jamesdmock]

In S & W's, I ONLY Use, 125 grain, Sierra or, Hornady XTP Bullets and Push them,. + P Fast with, Win 231 Powder.
The Accuracy IS,.. unbelievable !
I'm Letting my grandson, "Plink" Up,.. All my,.. 158's !
K-22,. HAS got THIS, Figured Out,.. Also !!! ( See bottom Line, on Post #7,.. Gospel,,. TRUTH ! ).
Buy the 125 gr. XTP's,.. On Sale at,.. 20% Off, when avail !

I, too, like to use the 125 gr, bullets in my Model 19 S&W. With the slow twist of the S&W revolvers, one must be careful with the longer bullets.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

I, too, like to use the 125 gr, bullets in my Model 19 S&W. With the slow twist of the S&W revolvers, one must be careful with the longer bullets.

Yup,. My grandson IS gonna Be,.. "Plinking Up",.. ALL my,.. Heavies learning to Shoot my Model 14, Revolver !
Buying and Loading, Only 125 grainers from Here on, Out, as Like you Said They FIT, the Slow Twist,.. much Better !
The 125's ARE,.. Crazy Accurate !