I was happy to break away from work and take Saturday morning off for my traditional range day. Something I also try to do on other week days, like Wednesdays.
This week I wanted to compare two rimfire revolvers that are very much alike, a S&W model 18 and a Sauer & Sohn Medallion, a revolver manufactured in Eckernförde, Germany, that is based on the proven S&W revolver and was in small number imported by Hawes and after S&S merged with SIG, was manufactured in Italy in a less refined version.
S&S had made a few changes to the S&W K-frame design, like a coil spring as the main spring and modified trigger return, that by its design has reduced friction.The mainspring therefore has lager bearing surfaces and eliminates that theoretical advantage.
S&S:
S&W:
At first glance, the guns look very much alike, balance, feel and handling are very similiar. So let's get into details.
The S&W M18 is known to be a solid performer and this P&R 18-3 is proving it. It is a well made gun from 1971 and can be described a smooth.
Pulling the hammer back; smooth.
Double action trigger pull; smooth.
Swinging the cylinder out; smooth.
Most importantly, trigger characteristics in single action are smooth but chambering rounds and ejection is typically cumbersome.
The S&S, clearly the underdog, as the lesser known gun, is very well finished and sports handsomely checkered walnut grips. It is also a smooth gun, from opening the cylinder to pulling the trigger. It has a great trigger in single and double action but looses out to a slightly harsher hammer cocking. While the S&W cylinder is recessed, the S&S is not. Chamberiing rounds and ejecting them from the S&S is easier but the S&W K frame rimfire ejection problems are nothing new, nor anything that their fans cannot live with.
Both revolvers have Baughman-style quick draw sights and, despite their fully click adjustable rear sights, are more high end plinkers with their service grips than thoroughbred target pistols. Both have service hammers and triggers, with the S&W trigger geometry being a little more ergonomical and the slightly wider trigger blade giving a more pleasant experience.
Well and good but how do they compare when it counts, at the firing line and bringing results? I shot them single and double action and the results were a tie. The S&S had one DA round of Winchester Wildcat not going off at the first strike. In single action the results were also too close to make any difference.
Both led to an overall very pleasant shooting experience this morning. Just that I have even less ammo left now
.
This week I wanted to compare two rimfire revolvers that are very much alike, a S&W model 18 and a Sauer & Sohn Medallion, a revolver manufactured in Eckernförde, Germany, that is based on the proven S&W revolver and was in small number imported by Hawes and after S&S merged with SIG, was manufactured in Italy in a less refined version.
S&S had made a few changes to the S&W K-frame design, like a coil spring as the main spring and modified trigger return, that by its design has reduced friction.The mainspring therefore has lager bearing surfaces and eliminates that theoretical advantage.
S&S:
S&W:
At first glance, the guns look very much alike, balance, feel and handling are very similiar. So let's get into details.
The S&W M18 is known to be a solid performer and this P&R 18-3 is proving it. It is a well made gun from 1971 and can be described a smooth.
Pulling the hammer back; smooth.
Double action trigger pull; smooth.
Swinging the cylinder out; smooth.
Most importantly, trigger characteristics in single action are smooth but chambering rounds and ejection is typically cumbersome.
The S&S, clearly the underdog, as the lesser known gun, is very well finished and sports handsomely checkered walnut grips. It is also a smooth gun, from opening the cylinder to pulling the trigger. It has a great trigger in single and double action but looses out to a slightly harsher hammer cocking. While the S&W cylinder is recessed, the S&S is not. Chamberiing rounds and ejecting them from the S&S is easier but the S&W K frame rimfire ejection problems are nothing new, nor anything that their fans cannot live with.
Both revolvers have Baughman-style quick draw sights and, despite their fully click adjustable rear sights, are more high end plinkers with their service grips than thoroughbred target pistols. Both have service hammers and triggers, with the S&W trigger geometry being a little more ergonomical and the slightly wider trigger blade giving a more pleasant experience.
Well and good but how do they compare when it counts, at the firing line and bringing results? I shot them single and double action and the results were a tie. The S&S had one DA round of Winchester Wildcat not going off at the first strike. In single action the results were also too close to make any difference.
Both led to an overall very pleasant shooting experience this morning. Just that I have even less ammo left now
.
