NM Flattop 44 Special at the range

[longoval]

I'm trying to get serious about accuracy.  I practice (dry fire) about every night with single action revolvers. Work on my technique at the range, etc. Now I'm looking at my equipment and reaching out for advice. 

I have a 44 special Flattop Blackhawk that I consider one of my more accurate pistols. It has never seen a gunsmith -- nice grips, poor boy trigger job, that's it.  I recently put a Belt Mountain #5 base pin in and installed a BCA Rough Country Target rear sight.

With a 2 week old baby and two other preschoolers at home I have a hard time getting out to the range but I did get out long enough to dial in my new rear sight.  It went without issue; got my groups centered on target after a few 6-shot groups. I shot at 25 yards and was getting 3" groups.  This neither better nor worse than before the base pin and rear sight upgrades. In the past I expect 6-8" 50 yard groups. I was shooting from a bench with my wrists on a bag, the gun itself unsupported. After getting it sighted in a shot a 5-shot group off hand from about 10 yards that was a decent looking group.

I reached out to our own 2Dogs a few weeks ago to introduce myself and get some help with several of my guns.  He explained to me that my first step is to get some pin gauges in my revolvers and see what they need.  He also spoke of the lube star that he often posts about.  After shooting, I couldn't find any noticeable lube on the crown.  This tells me there is room for improvement. I know Ruger 44's have a good reputation for throat dimensions but I may just be using the wrong size bullet  Mr. Garza has offered to meet with me and go through my guns with his pin gauges since we live across the bay from each other. I look forward to meeting with him. I will be able to find out if my cylinder or barrel needs attention and what size bullets I should be shooting.

I may never shoot 1" 50 yard groups but who knows? Might as well keep trying.

The New Model Flattop Blackhawk:

New BCA Rough Country sight

Zeroed at 25 yards on a 3" target

5-shot group offhand at 10 yards to end the day

[leadhound]

I think you're in good hands with Fermin, Lucky fella bein in his neighborhood. I understand you shot the same size groups but would you say they were Less Difficult, More Difficult, or Same level of difficulty in acquiring?

[cmillard]

Are you loading your own ammo or factory ammo?

[contender]

Looks like you have a good handle on many things here. And Fermin can offer a ton of excellent advice for sure. If the gun needs any gentle care,, he can assist there as well.
It's good to see you seek accuracy above all else. By chasing that elusive goal,, you will gain a lot of appreciation for guns, proper grip, good sights, trigger control, and proper shooting techniques.
Just realize that at some point,, you will reach the peak of performance in the equipment. But that a lot of the rest of it comes from the shooter.

And as I said,, you look like you have a good handle on things.

Now chase that 1" 50 yd group.

[giblett]

Man i need to get mine out and shoot it been too long. Nice grips on you pistol.

[Encore64]

I've yet to see one of those that won't shoot well.

For whatever reason, Ruger got those right.

Congrats and Great Shooting...

[seminolewind]

You are doing the right things to get the best accuracy from your revolver. You mentioned that you rest your wrists on a bag from the bench. I'd suggest studying the bench techniques used by experienced handgunners, like Fermine or Mr. Bradshaw. Resting the frame of the gun on a leather covered bag, and your wrists on another bag, can cut group size considerably, especially at longer range.

[pleadthe2nd]

Yes, I would be pleased with those groups, I need to try some 10 yard shots, usually shooting about 25, and my groups are pretty wide, I would never post a picture, it's that ugly, at least the offhand ones, if I kneel down, and rest on my knee, they do tighten up , I need to build a real rest someday.

[longoval]

Jan 30, 2022 8:54:05 GMT -5 cmillard said:

Are you loading your own ammo or factory ammo?

I do load but do not cast. I am buying pre sized, lubed 240 gr .430 SWC. And putting them on top of 7.5 gr Unique.

I am not confident in the bullets. They are Hunter brand bought from Midway.

[jgt]

If I were you I would practice shooting a handgun offhand. When you get good groups there, you will love the groups you get from other shooting positions. When I started, I shot groups offhand at 50 yards. When hunting I got some shots that were so quick I had no time to think. I only had time to raise the gun and fire. I connected with good killing shots and only can credit muscle memory to their success. If it had only happened once, one could call that luck.
Use your practice time to challenge yourself. Life is short. Even if you get good, you will only be good as long as you have good eyesight. Don't waste a minute of it.

[longoval]

Jan 30, 2022 1:21:05 GMT -5 leadhound said:

I think you're in good hands with Fermin, Lucky fella bein in his neighborhood. I understand you shot the same size groups but would you say they were Less Difficult, More Difficult, or Same level of difficulty in acquiring?

Maybe a little easier? I will need more time behind the sight to really know. It is a nice sight picture but I was dealing with a stiff 3:00 to 9:00 cold wind. I was fighting off tearing up in my dominant eye.

[longoval]

Jan 30, 2022 11:03:10 GMT -5 jgt said:

If I were you I would practice shooting a handgun offhand. When you get good groups there, you will love the groups you get from other shooting positions. When I started, I shot groups offhand at 50 yards. When hunting I got some shots that were so quick I had no time to think. I only had time to raise the gun and fire. I connected with good killing shots and only can credit muscle memory to their success. If it had only happened once, one could call that luck.
Use your practice time to challenge yourself. Life is short. Even if you get good, you will only be good as long as you have good eyesight. Don't waste a minute of it.

Good advice, thanks.

I do spend most of my range time shooting offhand typically. This trip was to get my new sight dialed in so I stuck to the bench mostly.

[jgt]

Hang in there. Sounds like you have a good handle on it.

[cmillard]

I would jump on the GT bullets website or MBW and order some Keith bullets and give them a try. Both companies make exceptional projectiles

www.gtbullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=49

www.montanabulletworks.com/product/44-mag-noe-255gr-swc-k-authentic-keith/

[bradshaw]

Jan 29, 2022 23:35:06 GMT -5 longoval said:

I'm trying to get serious about accuracy.  I practice (dry fire) about every night with single action revolvers. Work on my technique at the range, etc. Now I'm looking at my equipment and reaching out for advice. 

I have a 44 special Flattop Blackhawk that I consider one of my more accurate pistols. It has never seen a gunsmith -- nice grips, poor boy trigger job, that's it.  I recently put a Belt Mountain #5 base pin in and installed a BCA Rough Country Target rear sight.

With a 2 week old baby and two other preschoolers at home I have a hard time getting out to the range but I did get out long enough to dial in my new rear sight.  It went without issue; got my groups centered on target after a few 6-shot groups. I shot at 25 yards and was getting 3" groups.  This neither better nor worse than before the base pin and rear sight upgrades. In the past I expect 6-8" 50 yard groups. I was shooting from a bench with my wrists on a bag, the gun itself unsupported. After getting it sighted in a shot a 5-shot group off hand from about 10 yards that was a decent looking group.

I reached out to our own 2Dogs a few weeks ago to introduce myself and get some help with several of my guns.  He explained to me that my first step is to get some pin gauges in my revolvers and see what they need.  He also spoke of the lube star that he often posts about.  After shooting, I couldn't find any noticeable lube on the crown.  This tells me there is room for improvement. I know Ruger 44's have a good reputation for throat dimensions but I may just be using the wrong size bullet  Mr. Garza has offered to meet with me and go through my guns with his pin gauges since we live across the bay from each other. I look forward to meeting with him. I will be able to find out if my cylinder or barrel needs attention and what size bullets I should be shooting.

I may never shoot 1" 50 yard groups but who knows? Might as well keep trying.

The New Model Flattop Blackhawk:

New BCA Rough Country sight

Zeroed at 25 yards on a 3" target

5-shot group offhand at 10 yards to end the day

*****

Most Ruger and S&W .44’s of my acquaintance have proper diameter CHAMBER EXITS HOLES of .432 to .433-inch. Providing the barrel is uniform, without tight or loose spots, and the forcing cone is short, concentric, and smooth (and chamber-to-bore alignment isn’t looking for the moon), the revolver should be silhouette-accurate, or nearly so. I’ve seen Super Blackhawk GROOVE DIAMETERS from .428 to .432-inch. A groove diameter of .428 to .429 is ideal. A groove diameter of .430” may prove silhouette-accurate, but is less forgiving of chamber-to-bore alignment issues or forcing cone issues. On the subject of accuracy, a lousy FORCING CONE destroys accuracy of an otherwise fine barrel.

To target via WRIST REST requires perfect FOLLOW THROUGH. There is more forgiveness with:
* 2 bags----a bag under the the butt, another under the barrel.
* 1 bag----trunnion rest, joint of frame & barrel nestled into bag.

BUTT REST works only on a well-padded surface. Heavy recoil risks injury or damage to grip frame or grip.
David Bradshaw