Loading/Shooting Colt's Detective Special

[Burnston]

Good morning all,



For mostly nostalgic reasons, I recently purchased a 1968 Colt Detective Special in .38 Special. Most talk I've heard suggests that a 2.5in barrel cannot be expected to be accurate beyond 7-10 feet. I would like to reject this premise based on readings of guys like Skelton and others who seem to have made theirs work reasonably well at 15-20 yards. However, I am quickly losing hope.



I've attempted two loads, and two types of bullets at 15 yards, both with the same result. Wide, sporadic, unpredictable groups. I recognize the likelihood that my lack of success is shooter based, so I've shot from a table, and from a vice, both with very little change in results.



I wonder if any of you old hands might have suggestions regarding the "sweet spot," for these little guns. Nothing excessive, or +p/magnum-natured, but I would like to be semi-competent beyond seven feet. Am I barking up the wrong tree, or have any of you been successful in accurately shooting this sweet little pistol at a semi-reasonable distance?



Note: I will provide my loads via private message if this helps. I'd rather not post them publicly.

[boolitdesigner]

If I did what I've done with a M 36 S&W Chief with the short barrel (and I have at a greater distance), then you can do the same thing with your Colt. Measure the cylinder throats and see if your bullets are compatible... not undersize. Three grains of Bullseye is a good place to start.

[taffin]

Mar 8, 2019 9:53:22 GMT -5 Burnston said:

Good morning all,

. Most talk I've heard suggests that a 2.5in barrel cannot be expected to be accurate beyond 7-10 feet.

WHO HAVE YOU BEEN LISTENING TO THAT WOULD MAKE SUCH A FOOLISH STATEMENMT. I KNOW A WHOLE BUNCH OF GUYS,MYSELF INCLUDED , YOU WOULD NOT WANT SHOOTING AT YOU AT 100 YARDS,OR MORE WITH A 2" .38 SPECIAL. (WHERE DID YOU GET A 2.5" DETECTIVE SPECIAL??)

[bradshaw]

"For mostly nostalgic reasons, I recently purchased a 1968 Colt Detective Special in .38 Special. Most talk I've heard suggests that a 2.5in barrel cannot be expected to be accurate beyond 7-10 feet.

.... so I've shot from a table, and from a vice, both with very little change in results.

.... suggestions regarding the "sweet spot," for these little guns.”
----Burnston

*****

While not attracted to snubnose Colt belly guns, I’ve shot some which are accurate. My worst experience has been with parkerized or matt-finished aluminum frame Colts, which were neither smooth and well fitted nor accurate. Some old steel guns shot well. The bar for small frame, snubnose .38 Specials was set very high----decades ago----by Smith & Wesson with its J-frame series. I have handed J-frame Smiths with both steel and aluminum frames to experienced shooters and had them fairly CLINK my steel TIN MAN silhouettes @ 100 yards. This includes shooting double action with aluminum frame and steel frame Centennial models.

The little belly guns are very limited in tactical utility, yet an exacting degree of accuracy completely elevates a proper example.

As Professor Taffin intones, “Two & half inch barrel Dick Special?” Talk of 2-1/2 inch barrels draws me to the S&W Model 19, M-66, and Colt Python, all .357 Mag and ferociously accurate the length of a football field.

Aside from the incorrect barrel designation, I must question your firing “from a vise.” To solve this riddle requires a look at your technique, and at the revolver itself.

Handgun marksmanship
* Few instructors----certified or self-described----actually know how to teach
* It is possible to self-instruct: requires DETERMINATION, TECHNIQUE, AMMUNITION.
* An alternate handgun of know accuracy helps pinpoint shooter ability. Note: not everyone shoots a spectrum of guns well.

Revolver
* A second shooter----of demonstrable ability----may prove, or disprove, the revolver’s accuracy.
* Try a second revolver of the general type, of known accuracy.

Ammunition
* Most factory .38 Special is plenty good for test at hand.
* Bullet: a lousy bullet cannot be made to shoot straight.

David Bradshaw

[Burnston]

You gentlemen are correct in my misdesignation. Correction: 2in barrel. I apologize for the mistake.
9/10 times, my pistol problems are shooter related. For this reason I’ve had this pistol in the hands of three different shooters, all achieving similar erratic results. Although I will say, we have all been using the same ammunition.

[bradshaw]

Mar 18, 2019 1:27:39 GMT -5 Burnston said:

You gentlemen are correct in my misdesignation. Correction: 2in barrel. I apologize for the mistake.
9/10 times, my pistol problems are shooter related. For this reason I’ve had this pistol in the hands of three different shooters, all achieving similar erratic results. Although I will say, we have all been using the same ammunition.

*****

I’ve shot a couple of aluminum frame Colt .38 Special belly guns----don’t recall model----with pathetic accuracy. The guns were matt gray in finish.loose, with gritty DA stroke; a blight own the name Colt. I did not take the time to diagnose disease.
David Bradshaw

[ezekiel38]

A Colt 38Special, Detective Special from 1968 should be able to hold 5 rounds in the size of a tennis ball at 10 yards, all day long. That's shooting double action and from a Weaver or modified Weaver stance.

Colt's Detective Special was first built in 1927 and ran in production until 1993.

An old Chief of Police in the small town next to ours only carried a 2" DS Nickel late 50s manufacturer, cops from all over the region would come and try to best Chief Philpot with the only duty gun he owned. His duty gun was that DS. I watched him shoot a possible on the 25 yd PPC course more than once under time limit and in competition with that snubnose.

I've owned several of the older Colt's in DS and Cobra and sold them all due to their delicate mechanics, lack of replacement parts and trained personnel to work on them. I now own a new 2017 Colt Cobra that shoots very well and to point of aim with several loads. More work and investigation is due on your part.