K frames and Bullseye… too much fun!

[Riomouse911]

I grabbed a trio of Smith & Wesson .38 Special K-frames, a big batch of 148 gr DEWC over 3.0 gr Bullseye and a stack of B-16 targets and ran to the indoor range for a bit of trigger time.

Shooting at various distances between 5-15 yards, I quickly remembered that nothing is more fun than pulling the trigger on any of the three and having the bullets land pretty much where you want them to.

A few representative targets; not a great set of match winners at the furthest distance I was shooting today (15 yards), but all but one of these landed in the black so I’m ok with them .



4” Model 15-3.



6” Model 14-3.



8 3/8” Model 14-3. These factory grips have me shooting pretty low. I need to raise the rear a click or two to hit center with a 6 o’clock hold.

Anyone else a dyed-in-the-wool K-frame addict like I am?

Stay safe.

 

[.38 Special]

That's a hard combination to beat!

I once had a full-house PPC gun built on a Model 10, which was one of the very best guns I've ever fired. Bullseye and wadcutters in a K frame ... It just doesn't get any better.

 

[sparkyv]

Nice shooting, nice Smiths!

 

[Tallball]

Hey, I have one of those, too.

Yeah, I love my K-frames!

Smith And Wesson Model 14-4

• Tallball
• Jul 30, 2018

 

[mavracer]

Yeah I like accuracy and enjoy easy recoiling guns and it don't get much better than a 6" M14 with 148 wadcutters unless it's my 6" M17 or the 41 they sandwich.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Oh yeah, I have a bazillion K frames. Not gonna show them all.

By the way, when you mentioned Bullseye I thought at first you were talking about Bullseye competition shooting, not the powder. I have never tried Bullseye competition shooting, it looks boring to me. Never used Bullseye powder either, I like Unique. But yes, I do love K frame Smiths.

 

[ontarget]

Oh yeah, I have a bazillion K frames. Not gonna show them all.

By the way, when you mentioned Bullseye I thought at first you were talking about Bullseye competition shooting, not the powder. I have never tried Bullseye competition shooting, it looks boring to me. Never used Bullseye powder either, I like Unique. But yes, I do love K frame Smiths.

I have tried both Bullseye and Unique. Both work well. Unique seems better in my 45 Colt loads though, so I stick with it across the board.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Nice shoot'n. Isn't bullseye wonderful? I love it.

 

[SwampWolf]

I have never tried Bullseye competition shooting, it looks boring to me.

I've competed in Bullseye matches since the early sixties. It's definitely not a "spectator" event but a very fun and very demanding shooting discipline. And I believe it's the best venue for learning the basics of shooting; not just handgun shooting. Give it a try sometime. You don't have to be Mikey to like it.

 

[Pat Riot]

Nice K frames @Riomouse911
Nice shooting too.

My model 10 and model 19 like 2.8 grains of Bullseye under a 148 grain wadcutter. I also found a nice Wadcutter load using 2.6 grains of W244. Light, accurate and clean shooting.

 

[Larry in wyoming]

I like the "dot" powders under a 148 dewc. I'm currently using green dot. It was available during the last shortage when nothing else was. Currently in a Dan Wesson.

 

[PzGren]

I am using Bullseye long enough to remember when Hercules was the manufacturer's name. I think Miculek's pet load had used 2.8gr with a 158gr bullet. My pet load was 3.8 to 4.0 gr with a 158 LRN to cater to a serious falling plate addiction I had. I had switched from my 4" S&W 19-4 to a 6" 686-4 and it improved times.

 

[johnjohn]

I too like K frames and Bullseye powder.

 

[high country]

I never get tired of k-frame threads, definitely my favorite way to launch .38 wadcutters. Bullseye is my powder of choice for that too, although unique works well too.

Here is my well worn example with looks only a mother could love, but with a trigger job, reamed throats and an 11 degree forcing cone it is reliable as a rock and shoots more accurately than I am capable of shooting it for sure.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Twenty years ago, our Club had a Bullseye league that was hard fought and highly competitive. Initially, most of us shot K guns with good sights. Eventually this somewhat transitioned to 52s and tuned 1911; then came the pricey staple guns.
Yeah, it's fun, and it teaches great fundamentals; unhappily the good sometimes suffers at the expense of the perfect...no need to break that trigger 'till everything is exactly right.
Listen to SwampWolf; it's sport for participants, not spectators. It's like watching golf, or paint dry.
Two-seven of Bullseye was my standard. Driftwood, love Unique's burn rate, but always had trouble metering it, either in a Lyman cylinder or Dillon slide.
In any case, have a good stock of Bullseye, so it is used for about anything.
Full charge wadcutters are another thing that is entertaining in a K gun; DEWC loaded to the old 158 RNL level. Won't quote a charge weight; I'm away from home station.
Moon
ETA But I do remember 2.7
M

 

[Slamfire]

It is hard to beat Bullseye pistol and lead bullets in a 38 Special

 

[Charlie Martinez]

I don't know if the S&W Model 19 is a K frame model but my wife is deadly with 38 Special WC and her 4" Model 19. I normally shoot the same loads with a 4"-Colt Python and that Model 19 is its equal.

 

[high country]

Full charge wadcutters are another thing that is entertaining in a K gun; DEWC loaded to the old 158 RNL level.

Guessing you are referring to the DEWC over 3.5 gr Bullseye. That is my go to .38 load. It is max load I think, so best to work up to it, but it has nice power and accuracy.

I don't know if the S&W Model 19 is a K frame model but my wife is deadly with 38 Special WC and her 4" Model 19. I normally shoot the same loads with a 4"-Colt Python and that Model 19 is its equal.

Yup, that is a K frame, just chambered for .357.

 

[wcwhitey]

You cannot buy a more accurate load in a box for 4 times as much. Well done!

 

[AzShooter1]

I had a Frank Glenn built Model 10 with 6 inch bull barrel and Aimpoint Red Dot Sight when I shot Bullseye. It was also my Bianchi gun. I used 2.7 grains of Bullseye and it shot the black out. Wish I had pictures.

Today many of the top shooters have go to Micro Red Dot sights. They are easier to hold and are paralex free.

For iron sights you are doing extremely well. I think if you adddd a red dot your scores would improve a bunch.

Good Luck and Good Shooting.

 

[J-Bar]

Shooting my K frames ( and N frames and J frames) with wadcutters over Bullseye is my favorite form of meditation these days. I have been shooting for 60+ years and I still have to focus and concentrate on proper trigger technique. It isn’t easy being a shaky old man. Those who can truthfully say they never jerk the trigger have my admiration and respect. Competing with myself is hard enough. An hour on the range, shooting about 50 rounds total, is enjoyable but exhausting. But I share your enthusiasm for the pastime!!

(Putting a red dot on one of my revolvers might tighten my groups but still seems sacrilegious. I hope it will not become necessary, but I have learned to never say “never “.)

 

[cfullgraf]

I don't know if the S&W Model 19 is a K frame model but my wife is deadly with 38 Special WC and her 4" Model 19. I normally shoot the same loads with a 4"-Colt Python and that Model 19 is its equal.

Yes, the Model 19 is s K-frame.

 

[cfullgraf]

View attachment 1062271

8 3/8” Model 14-3. These factory grips have me shooting pretty low. I need to raise the rear a click or two to hit center with a 6 o’clock hold.


Stay safe.

For a long time I could not fathom the worth of an S&W revolver with an 8-3/8” barrel.

One day, I stumbled into an 8-3/8” Model 25-5 that rounded out my collection of 4” and 6” Model 25-5 revolvers. The long barrel revolver shot very well.

So, I’ve been keeping my eye out for 8-3/8” revolvers and have a Model 29, Model 27, Model 57, Model 686, Model 17, and Model 14 besides the already mentioned a Model 25-5.

It is impressive how small the groups get with the long barrel revolvers and I enjoy shooting 38 Special in a gun chambered for 38 Special.

 

[Bristol Mt.Man]

 

[Bristol Mt.Man]

I have a couple K-frames and a few others. Can't decide on a favorite, but I really like my Ks with mild wadcutters.