What a better target pistol

[eastbank]

1950 masterpiece in original box.

 

[eastbank]

i got this md 10 from a friends estate after he passed, he had it made into a fine target revolver(i don,t know who built it), in a older ransom rest it shot one hole groups at 25 yards with target wadcutter ammo. at camp its been sudden death on chipmonks out past 25 yards.

 

[James K2020]

Don't stop with just one:

1905 4th Change


Model 10-7


Colt Officer Model Match


Colt Officer Model Target


and keep going....

 

[Sarge7402]

you do know that S&W made a 4" target 38 called the Combat Masterpiece (sometimes listed as the Model 15). Air Force AP's carried them for years

 

[Walkalong]

Don't stop with just one:

1905 Target .38, very fun gun to shoot.

 

[Paul7]

I'd go for the extra length and the K-38. By "shot alot"....that's almost a non factor for older Smiths. Before his death, my father and I were shooting and I asked how many rounds he had through his Model 19-3 which he used extensively in competition for decades. He said at LEAST 250k. Still looks and fires like new, but it's always been well cared for. Also, depending on powder, some of the Colts are a little more prone to locking up due to their tighter internal tolerances. I know that was an issue with some of the Pythons running "Bullseye" powder...

Wow, I take it most of the 250K were .38s?

 

[Jim Watson]

Like new? A friend's PPC gun with bull barrel, probably Douglas, had about two inches of rifling eroded away by "only" 150,000 wadcutters. It was still shooting pretty well, though.

 

[CryptKeeper5]

Wow, I take it most of the 250K were .38s?

Definitely. In fact I asked how many magnum rounds he put through it and he said he didn't remember putting a single one through. It was his comp gun and that was all he used it for! Pretty much the same load as well. 2.9gr Bullseye and a 158gr SWC was his go to. I still have a few thousand rounds of it from his "stockpile"!lol!

 

[CryptKeeper5]

Like new? A friend's PPC gun with bull barrel, probably Douglas, had about two inches of rifling eroded away by "only" 150,000 wadcutters. It was still shooting pretty well, though.

Here's both ends of the tube. Still a very accurate pistol after all those rounds!

 

[Old_Grouch]

Hm. Vintage Colt vs vintage S&W.
My choice would be vanilla. No, wait, maybe the chocolate. OTH....................
My point here is that you likely won't be disappointed by either provided you pick the one that appeals to you the most. How it feels, how it points, how it looks, any emotional attachment you may have to one model (or brand) are all considerations.
At 7 yards, unless a gun is defective, the mechanical accuracy of the gun is irrelevant. You'll never see a difference. As you say you want to graduate to 25 yards I assume you are not a Bullseye type competition shooter. So it's unlikely that you would notice any minuscule difference in accuracy there may be between the two.

 

[Paul7]

Definitely. In fact I asked how many magnum rounds he put through it and he said he didn't remember putting a single one through. It was his comp gun and that was all he used it for! Pretty much the same load as well. 2.9gr Bullseye and a 158gr SWC was his go to. I still have a few thousand rounds of it from his "stockpile"!lol!

Interesting. When shooting .38s, how do you compare the 19 accuracy with a 14, if you'd shot one?

 

[CryptKeeper5]

Interesting. When shooting .38s, how do you compare the 19 accuracy with a 14, if you'd shot one?

I have 4 Mod 19's. One has never been shot but the other 3 are all on the same level of accuracy in SA. In double action, my fathers trigger is just so smooth it takes the prize though. I did own a 6" mod 14 a few years ago. I say that in general the 14 was more accurate using the identical loads. Probably more due to the sights and slightly longer barrel. I never shot a match with it, however if I were to actually do so, I would have taken the Mod 14. Seemed to be more well "balanced" in my hands as well. I had both the wood stocks and a set of Pachmayer grips as well. The grips make a big difference....

 

[Paul7]

I have 4 Mod 19's. One has never been shot but the other 3 are all on the same level of accuracy in SA. In double action, my fathers trigger is just so smooth it takes the prize though. I did own a 6" mod 14 a few years ago. I say that in general the 14 was more accurate using the identical loads. Probably more due to the sights and slightly longer barrel. I never shot a match with it, however if I were to actually do so, I would have taken the Mod 14. Seemed to be more well "balanced" in my hands as well. I had both the wood stocks and a set of Pachmayer grips as well. The grips make a big difference....

I'm sure your dad's gun is well broken in. I've heard a theory the 14 is a bit more accurate because the bullet doesn't have to 'jump' the extra .357 chamber gap and is seated closer to the barrel. The 19 recessed chambers are cool though.

 

[Thomasss]

The Good Lord must have been listening to me. The following week, at a gun show, I found a S&W 586 nickel 6 inch, .357 Mag, near mint condition...and it was love at first sight. I just shot it yesterday with both .357 and .38s
and I never felt so as ease punching paper.