Stephen A. Camp
Moderator In Memoriam
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2002
- Messages
- 2,430
Hello. Some years ago, I bought this revolver as the price was right and examination in the gun shop showed it had a pretty good single-action and a usable double-action, though certainly not that of a Smith & Wesson. Unfortunately, S&W did not offer a .44 Special this size. The M431 is a fixed sight, 5-shot double-action revoler, having a 3" shrouded barrel. It is made of stainless steel with trigger, hammer, and internal parts appearing to be hardchromed steel. The pistol came with checkered, wooden grips. (I think they are Goncala Alves, but don't remember for sure.) I quickly replaced them with the black, checkered rubber ones offered by Uncle Mike's, now Butler Creek. The gun is very similar in size to an S&W K-frame.
The Revolver: The revolver is stock with the exception of the stock change mentioned above.
The revolver has small fixed sights and a wide, grooved trigger. The firing pin is frame-mounted. While I don't think that this model is still being produced, they can be found used in gun shops and at very attractive prices. The stainless steel finish is polished on the sides with the top strap and barrel top matte finished. The front sight is serrated.
Ammunition: In today's shooting, the following loads were used:
Average velocities were based on 10-shot strings, fired about 10' from the chronograph.
Triton 165 gr +P Quik Shok:
Average Velocity: 1097 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 34
Std. Deviation: 13
Corbon 180 gr JHP:
This is an older lot of Corbon and the bullet appears to be Hornady's 180 gr XTP. I do NOT know if this bullet is still being used or if they've gone with Sierra bullets as in other calibers.
Average Velocity: 1021 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 28
Std. Deviation: 13
PMC 240 gr SWC: (plated similar to Winchester's "luballoy.")
Average Velocity: 680 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 15
Std. Deviation: 5!!!!!!
PMC 240 gr JHP:
Average Velocity: 867 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 35
Std. Deviation: 13
Handload:
240 gr Rucker CSWC (moly-coated)
7.6 gr Unique
Winchester Large Pistol Primer
Starline Cases
LOA: 1.49"
Average Velocity: 878 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 109 ft/sec!!!!!!!
Std. Deviation: 41
Handload:
240 gr Rainier Plated "Funnel Point" (moly-coated)
7.7 gr Unique
Winchester Large Pistol Primer
Starline Cases
LOA: 1.50"
Average Velocity: 864 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 66
Std. Deviation: 25
Handload:
Speer 200 gr Gold Dot Hollow Point
8.5 gr Unique
Winchester Large Pistol Primer
Starline Cases
LOA: 1.48"
Average Velocity: 933 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 48
Std. Deviation: 20
Handload:
Hornady 180 gr XTP (moly-coated)
9.0 gr Unique
Winchester Large Pistol Primer
Starline Cases
LOA: 1.47"
Average Velocity: 1052 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 57
Std. Deviation: 27
Shooting: Groups fired at both 15 and 25 yards were fired seated and using a 2-hand hold with a rest, single-action. The double-action firing at 10 yards was done standing w/2-hand hold.
15 Yards: Each group consists of five shots.
Windage appears just fine and elevation's fine at this distance. The front sight is small and I did have problems seeing it clearly.
25 Yards: Two groups of 5-shots each were used. At this distance, you can see that with the heavier, slower load, a 6 O'Clock hold would be about right. The faster, lighter load had POI matching POA, at least for this revolver and my eyes.
Even with my less-than-great shooting today, it's obvious that at least this particular gun is dead-on with the faster rounds IF you like a dead-on hold.
10 Yards: 10-shots total were fired standing and using the revolver's double-action with each shot being fired as quickly as I could at least get a "flash sight picture."
The sharper-recoiling Corbon was used as it might be more similar to what would be used in a self-defense situtation.
Continued...
The Revolver: The revolver is stock with the exception of the stock change mentioned above.
The revolver has small fixed sights and a wide, grooved trigger. The firing pin is frame-mounted. While I don't think that this model is still being produced, they can be found used in gun shops and at very attractive prices. The stainless steel finish is polished on the sides with the top strap and barrel top matte finished. The front sight is serrated.
Ammunition: In today's shooting, the following loads were used:
Average velocities were based on 10-shot strings, fired about 10' from the chronograph.
Triton 165 gr +P Quik Shok:
Average Velocity: 1097 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 34
Std. Deviation: 13
Corbon 180 gr JHP:
This is an older lot of Corbon and the bullet appears to be Hornady's 180 gr XTP. I do NOT know if this bullet is still being used or if they've gone with Sierra bullets as in other calibers.
Average Velocity: 1021 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 28
Std. Deviation: 13
PMC 240 gr SWC: (plated similar to Winchester's "luballoy.")
Average Velocity: 680 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 15
Std. Deviation: 5!!!!!!
PMC 240 gr JHP:
Average Velocity: 867 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 35
Std. Deviation: 13
Handload:
240 gr Rucker CSWC (moly-coated)
7.6 gr Unique
Winchester Large Pistol Primer
Starline Cases
LOA: 1.49"
Average Velocity: 878 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 109 ft/sec!!!!!!!
Std. Deviation: 41
Handload:
240 gr Rainier Plated "Funnel Point" (moly-coated)
7.7 gr Unique
Winchester Large Pistol Primer
Starline Cases
LOA: 1.50"
Average Velocity: 864 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 66
Std. Deviation: 25
Handload:
Speer 200 gr Gold Dot Hollow Point
8.5 gr Unique
Winchester Large Pistol Primer
Starline Cases
LOA: 1.48"
Average Velocity: 933 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 48
Std. Deviation: 20
Handload:
Hornady 180 gr XTP (moly-coated)
9.0 gr Unique
Winchester Large Pistol Primer
Starline Cases
LOA: 1.47"
Average Velocity: 1052 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 57
Std. Deviation: 27
Shooting: Groups fired at both 15 and 25 yards were fired seated and using a 2-hand hold with a rest, single-action. The double-action firing at 10 yards was done standing w/2-hand hold.
15 Yards: Each group consists of five shots.
Windage appears just fine and elevation's fine at this distance. The front sight is small and I did have problems seeing it clearly.
25 Yards: Two groups of 5-shots each were used. At this distance, you can see that with the heavier, slower load, a 6 O'Clock hold would be about right. The faster, lighter load had POI matching POA, at least for this revolver and my eyes.
Even with my less-than-great shooting today, it's obvious that at least this particular gun is dead-on with the faster rounds IF you like a dead-on hold.
10 Yards: 10-shots total were fired standing and using the revolver's double-action with each shot being fired as quickly as I could at least get a "flash sight picture."
The sharper-recoiling Corbon was used as it might be more similar to what would be used in a self-defense situtation.
Continued...