Register
Log In
Home
November 16, 2010
Offline
I'm looking at a little S&W 2" 38 for SD carry. I'm told these are only aimable up to 15' or so. This seems a little short, I remember shooting a little walther 380 that was very accurate out to 20yds or so.
So, what is the effective aiming distanse for 2" snubbies with fixed sights?
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
Offline
This is a very personal question, based on what you perceive your needs to be. I'd never have an SD gun that I didn't feel VERY comfortable with at 25 feet (about 8 yards). "Very comfortable" for me is a 6" grouping at that range for every round in the mag/cylinder, rapid fire with a center of body mass POA. It also needs to have 200 rounds (minimum) with perfect function. My LCP meets that standard, and I think that's pretty comparable for a 2" snubbie as well.
The House Gun will put 15 rounds into 2" at up to 50 feet just as fast as I can make it happen, and it's a carry gun as well, under the right circumstances.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
July 7, 2011
Offline
There really is no range limitation except for the inherent accuracy of the gun and the ballistics of the cartridge. I have several 2- 2.5 inch revolvers that will shoot 4" groups at 25 yards fired single action.
The main key to shooting at longer than normal range with a short barrel revolver is you must concentrate on sight alignment. Very small sight misalignment results in more bullet dispersion because of the short sight radius. That is why those of us that shoot silhouette like revolvers with long barrels because the longer sight radius helps reduce the bullet dispersion but the if the sights could be held in perfect alignment two equally accurate revolvers would shoot very similar groups size if the barrel is 10" or 2".
I think the real question is; if your expected use for a short barrel revolver is for self defense, you should do most of your practice at short range since that is where defense situations tend to happen but I think it is advisiable to shoot it at longer range on occasion since knowing its (and your) capabilities is always a good thing in my opinion.
November 16, 2010
Offline
6" at 12yds by a good pistol shot would be all I would expect.
February 11, 2010
Offline
HPMike800 said:
6" at 12yds by a good pistol shot would be all I would expect.
That shouldn't be a problem
-Blacktop
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
March 27, 2009
Offline
Good Info!!! I like the 2.5" on the 14,D11,HS, 14-2 and feel I hit what I aim at 25 to 30 feet. I try to shoot from different stances and positions that may be encountered in a defensive situation!
May 17, 2010
Offline
Ranger 61 said:
There really is no range limitation except for the inherent accuracy of the gun and the ballistics of the cartridge. I have several 2- 2.5 inch revolvers that will shoot 4" groups at 25 yards fired single action.
The main key to shooting at longer than normal range with a short barrel revolver is you must concentrate on sight alignment. Very small sight misalignment results in more bullet dispersion because of the short sight radius. That is why those of us that shoot silhouette like revolvers with long barrels because the longer sight radius helps reduce the bullet dispersion but the if the sights could be held in perfect alignment two equally accurate revolvers would shoot very similar groups size if the barrel is 10" or 2".
I think the real question is; if your expected use for a short barrel revolver is for self defense, you should do most of your practice at short range since that is where defense situations tend to happen but I think it is advisiable to shoot it at longer range on occasion since knowing its (and your) capabilities is always a good thing in my opinion.
I really like this answer.. and agree 100%. Longer barrels aid the shooter in being more accurate... not the gun, conversly, shorter barrels do not make the gun less accurrate.. only more difficult for the shooter (at range).
Soap Box, Ballot Box, Ammo Box
in that order.
4 Monson Model 15's
1 Palmer FB 15
1 Rossi 357 Model 92 (lever)
1 CZ 75B
February 11, 2010
Offline
Remember back in the day the show American Shooter was on and during
the show Byron Ferguson and Bob Munden would do trick shots ?
I still remember Munden's 200 yrd snubby shot.
November 23, 2008
Offline
Good morning
It will depend alot on how much time you are willing to put into practice.
I have a 2" for my 15-2 and it is not impossible to practice enough to be able to hit a round 6" steel plate at 50 yards near everytime. But this is me shooting from a very solid rest (I use creedmore silly wet). When I screw the 2" on I really am not intending to need to shoot past 15 yards with purpose & actually I would view 15 feet as being the extreme distance I plan on ever having to smoke some powder. I carry a 2" 38 Special down here with me regular and practice at 10 feet. That is the realistic encounter distance I see happening (here in a big city) and will probably be less than that if things get ugly.
Mike In Peru
DWF Supporters
Dans Club
Moderators
November 17, 2008
Offline
Just my two cents worth. Practice at twice the distance you ever "fear" of having to defend yourself. A closer shot will be no problem. But the key is practice practice practice. Pray you never have to.
LB
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
July 7, 2011
Offline
Additionally most snubs have sights that are designed to be low snag and imposible to bump out of alignment not for good sight picture. My favs for shooting at distance are my S&W model 19 and my Dan Wesson W12 with the 2.5" shroud. They both have adjustable sights that give a good sight picture.
October 15, 2011
Offline
HPMike800 said:
I'm looking at a little S&W 2" 38 for SD carry. I'm told these are only aimable up to 15' or so. This seems a little short, I remember shooting a little walther 380 that was very accurate out to 20yds or so.
So, what is the effective aiming distanse for 2" snubbies with fixed sights?
The effective range of a 2 inch snubby depends on how much you want to shoot it. I can remember seeing a demonstration in the early 1980s by a police champion shooter by the name of Blankenship who would break clay pigeons 100 yards away on the berm with a 2 inch Colt Python with .357 magnum ammo. To tell the truth I never got that good but could print a respectable group at 25 yards.
Take care and keep your powder dry!
1 Guest(s)
