Shooting distance with revolvers isnt voodoo or rocket surgery, despite many saying its impossible, or anyone saying its possible cant be telling the truth. No, its generally not as precise as most rifle shooting or specialty scoped pistol shooting, but is much easier to do once its been done a while. Its also hugely fun, and forces one to really concentrate on all the basics. Most that Ive gotten started on the habit shoot pretty wild at first, but on dry ground where you can see the hits, they double down on their basics and start doing better right away. Most can hit an 18" plate at 300 yards withing a few cylindersful with a little coaching. One thing most do wrong at first is trying to "hold over" using the sights even across the tops as for close distance, then holding over some amount, often using some spot on the landscape above the intended target. That comes apart when shooting other places and distances. Holding the front sight and target always in the same relationship, and lowering the rear in relation to the front seems to be more repeatable for iron sight use, and doesnt obscure the target as "holding over" does. Time and experience start making educated guesses on how to hold the sights more productive over time. First round hits at various unknown distances eventually becomes common.
Keith made up some front sights with small gold bars inlaid horizontally across the face as reference points to hold even with the top of the rear sight. The red ramps on S&W front sights can also be used this way (a percentage of the red ramp for various distances, or the entire red portion, etc), as can the dots on many modern sights. As an example, the hold for my g-19 was holding the top edge of the rear sight about 2/3 down the front dot, and the tip of the front sight splitting the 300 yard plate. I could hand the gun to somebody and tell them the hold and they could get first round hits, or be very close. Scoped should be more precise, but you may need some extra elevation built into the bases or rings. Im curious how this works out with your guns and scopes, I may want to do similar if it works out and isnt difficult getting zeroed or getting "elevation added" bases worked out.
One of the guys here built a special revolver for longer distance shooting with a Ruger 357 DA, I dont recall the model. he had it rebarreled and scoped and was getting pretty impressive groups at 300 yds and longer distances.
Simply "use whats the most practical/efficient/smart/whatever" isnt always the most fun and interesting way to go about things. Long distance revolvers or auto pistols with irons or glass is something that appeals to me more than contenders or other specialty pistols, though the XP has some appeal to me.
