Range report, eclectic mix of guns

[vanfunk]

So I gathered up an odd-ball panoply of handguns today and proceeded to the range. I was pleased to find the place deserted so I could spread out. I like elbow room. Here’s the rundown:

Nighthawk Thunder Ranch Combat Special. Out of the box, this thing was a turd; couldn’t get through a magazine without a feedramp stoppage. Sent it back, got it returned to me last week. Ammo: factory, American Eagle and New Republic 230 grain ball. Thankfully, the gun ran like Giuliani’s hair dye. Accuracy is formidable and it pretty much cut one big hole at point of aim at 25 yards. See separate thread “Prodigal son Nighthawk returns.”

Next:
Charter Arms Bulldog classic blued 3” .44 Special. Ammo: “Skeeter” handloads of 7.5 grains of Unique behind a 240 grain LSWC from RimRock. Holy Hell, the recoil. That’s a handful, for sure. BUT it shot to point of aim at 15 yards and just a little left, not too much to worry about and it might even have been me, anticipating the recoil. Those averaged 806 fps past my Garmin Xero. Notwithstanding the pain, which I think I can get used to, I love this cheap little thing! Pachmayr compac grips are a huge improvement over the anonymous wood stocks that come with it from the factory.

Next:
Colt Cobra 2” Talo edition. Ammo: handload 158 grain coated LSWC in front of 5.4 grains Silhouette. Nice. 825 fps and right to the sights. I swapped the fiber optic from my King Cobra Target .22 and put the Cobra’s gold bead on the rimfire; works better for both. Hands-down THE BEST .38 snubby I’ve ever had. Smooth action and wickedly accurate. It’s heavy at 25oz but that makes it more shootable. I even shot it at the 12” steel silhouette at 50 yards; bang, ping! Love it.

Next, surprise:
One of my faves, a 2020 production 4 3/4” Colt SAA, .45 Colt. Ammo: 200 grain RimRock RNFP over 8.6 grains of Unique. A chorus of angels. That little SAA laid 5 rounds on top of each other right in the center of a shoot-n-see silhouette at 25 yards. Notwithstanding the skimpy sights, this thing shot like a target revolver and sent bullet after bullet right in the red center of it.

 

[lee n. field]

So I gathered up an odd-ball panoply of handguns today and proceeded to the range. I was pleased to find the place deserted so I could spread out. I like elbow room. Here’s the rundown:



Next:
Charter Arms Bulldog classic blued 3” .44 Special. Ammo: “Skeeter” handloads of 7.5 grains of Unique behind a 240 grain LSWC from RimRock. Holy Hell, the recoil. That’s a handful, for sure. BUT it shot to point of aim at 15 yards and just a little left, not too much to worry about and it might even have been me, anticipating the recoil. Those averaged 806 fps past my Garmin Xero. Notwithstanding the pain, which I think I can get used to, I love this cheap little thing! Pachmayr compac grips are a huge improvement over the anonymous wood stocks that come with it from the factory.

Everything I read about the .44 Bulldog (Interwebz hearsay, YMMV) is, go easy on the loads. Hot .44s aren't good for it.

4.8 grains Bullseye behind 200 grain cast lead is what I run in mine. .45ACP equivalent.

 

[bannockburn]

vanfunk

Sounds like you had a perfect day in Handgun Paradise!

Thanks for sharing it with us!

 

[vanfunk]

Thanks guys! Pics or it didn’t happen, I know:







I guess I didn’t take pics of my Colt SAA so I’ve substituted my 6” Python. I sent it to Frank Glenn in AZ and just got it back, now with an 8lb DA and 2.5lb SA trigger.

I am waiting on a delivery from Rim Rock now. Among the items are their 200 grain BHN15 full wadcutters, sized .430. I want to work up a load for the Bulldog that pushes these around 750 fps. Should be controllable and a frickin’ flying lead brick on the receiving end.

On the .38 side, I continue to be impressed with Silhouette powder. 5.4 grains behind a 158 grain LSWC does 850 fps out of the Cobra at standard pressure, and the recoil is actually less than factory Remington 158 LRN at 775 fps (Garmin Xero chrony). I don’t know how that can be, but it is. That same load does 975 fps out of the 6” Python and is very accurate.