The Down Range Forum

Member Section => Handguns => Topic started by: SJPrice on May 25, 2010, 07:09:34 PM

Title: New S&W Today
Post by: SJPrice on May 25, 2010, 07:09:34 PM: Picked up a new 329 NG today and had a set of CT laser grips installed as well. I am looking forward to getting it sighted in tomorrow. I will run a box or two of 44 mags through it, but I am pretty sure I will carry it with CorBon DPX 44 specials. I am guessing at 29 ounces it will be tough to get follow up shots with full mag loads. What say ye? I really like these Night Guard Smiths. Now if they would just offer a Night Guard in 45 Colt, I would be a real happy camper. I would like to hear any thoughts on sighting in the laser grips. There seems to be two schools of thought on this. One school, and Crimson Trace suggests you set it to exactly match the point of impact at a given range, like say 20 yards. A second school says to determine the exact measurements of down and right between the tip of the laser and the center of the bore. Then set the laser to be offset by that same amount at say 20 yards. The idea is that the laser will be off target by that same small amount a long way out, instead of the point of impact meeting and crossing over out past 20 yards. Anyone have any comments one way or the other?
Title: Re: New S&W Today
Post by: twyacht on May 25, 2010, 07:17:58 PM: Welcome to DRTV SJPrice, and congratulations.

quote:
Anyone have any comments one way or the other?

OK,

New gun purchases require pics!!!!!

::)

As far as CT grips, self defense "zeroing" or POI/POA should be at less than 20 yds. Hunting or target is plausible at 20, but your purpose or intention for the hand cannon will determine the range.

and of course,.....practice, and make sure it holds POI/POA. Some have moved after firing, but always double check.

Good shooting and a fine pistol.
Title: Re: New S&W Today
Post by: garand4life on May 25, 2010, 09:27:16 PM: When I got CT grips for my carry gun I sighted them at right around 15 feet. I figured the average engagement range would be slightly shorter than that. However my biggest annoyance was that even without firing the gun the laser sighting would shift if the gun was bumped by any substantial amount. Big let down. That was just my experience. I would like to try them again sometime when I have the money. But in terms of sighting in I would recommend sighting at a realistic self defense distance and I like the dot to sit right on top of my front sight at the set distance. Personal preference.
Title: Re: New S&W Today
Post by: CJS3 on May 25, 2010, 09:50:05 PM: ???

Welcome to the asylum ;D
Title: Re: New S&W Today
Post by: Walter45Auto on May 26, 2010, 12:58:50 PM: I sight mine in at a given distance. Approx 15 or 20 yds. Then aim at different ranges to see how much off it is at various distances. And you should post pics of that beast. 8)
Title: Re: New S&W Today
Post by: SJPrice on May 26, 2010, 05:47:29 PM: Quote from: Walter45Auto on May 26, 2010, 12:58:50 PM
And you should post pics of that beast. 8)

Beast is right. I was able to get off a few rounds just before dusk last evening. I started with some Winchester 240 grain loads that I had from the past. The recoil was unpleasant, but manageable. The muzzle blast and FLASH was beyond description. I would estimate that anything within 8 feet of the muzzle would have been barbecue. I then switched to some 225 grain Cor-Bon DPX defensive loads and was pleasantly surprised. The recoil was still stout, but the "beast" was very controllable. I am looking forward to an extended range session this weekend. I think this will be a great packin pistol and will sometimes replace my FA 97 45 Colt when riding the back country. It may even see some service for CCW in a Ted Blocker IWB rig. I am still thinking it will be loaded with Cor-Bon 44 Special DPX loads for CCW when I am only worried about 2 legged predators.

Michael, I think this one will be a match for me to your 329 PD. I do like these Night Guards. I am just a little concerned about the sharp snap of the recoil and the accidental engagement of the S&W trigger lock. What do you think?
Title: Re: New S&W Today
Post by: tombogan03884 on May 26, 2010, 06:49:02 PM: I believe the lock can be removed easily, it CAN potentially engage on it's own under heavy recoil.
Title: Re: New S&W Today
Post by: Timothy on May 26, 2010, 07:07:20 PM: Quote from: tombogan03884 on May 26, 2010, 06:49:02 PM
I believe the lock can be removed easily, it CAN potentially engage on it's own under heavy recoil.
Title: Re: New S&W Today
Post by: SJPrice on May 26, 2010, 08:45:29 PM: Thank you all for the comments and video. Looks like a project for tomorrow. The recoil on this 29 ounce 44 mag is pretty sharp and snappy as you might guess. :o
Title: Re: New S&W Today
Post by: tekoken on May 26, 2010, 08:48:17 PM: I would never remove the lock if I was in your shoes! Buy a gun without the lock if that's what you're looking for & save yourself the possible headache. If you do have an accidental discharge the lawyers(& anti-gun crowd) will be all over the removal of a lock that the factory installed. How many cases have you heard where the lock unintentionally engages? I've never heard of it happening....I personally wouldn't buy a gun with a built in lock for carry though.
Title: Re: New S&W Today
Post by: tombogan03884 on May 26, 2010, 08:52:45 PM: Quote from: tekoken on May 26, 2010, 08:48:17 PM
I would never remove the lock if I was in your shoes! Buy a gun without the lock if that's what you're looking for & save yourself the possible headache. If you do have an accidental discharge the lawyers(& anti-gun crowd) will be all over the removal of a lock that the factory installed. How many cases have you heard where the lock unintentionally engages? I've never heard of it happening....I personally wouldn't buy a gun with a built in lock for carry though.
Micheal Bane details his own occurrence in his blog and on the podcast. (I have no clue on date, check around the middle of '09
It happened on a friend of mine's J frame but that was because the grip had split on the inside and a piece of wood jammed the lock.
Title: Re: New S&W Today
Post by: Timothy on May 26, 2010, 08:54:39 PM: The moderator of this forum, Michael Bane has had the lockup problem with Smith's revolver locks. He's had them all removed.

It's on his blog...it's why I shyed away from the S&W revolvers. My index finger is my safety, and the grey matter between my ears. Besides, there is no legal requirement for it in 49 states including MA.
Title: Re: New S&W Today
Post by: tekoken on May 26, 2010, 09:01:37 PM: I saw Micheal's article but couldn't find any others....I also saw Micheal posted this after.
Quote from: Michael Bane on October 30, 2007, 11:14:48 AM
I have to tell you that at the last minute, I opted NOT to send the gun back to S&W. Packed it up; put it in the car to take to the shipper and changed my mind.

My reasoning is frankly self-centered, but it goes like this: My 329 did have an action job from Jim Stroh at Alpha Precision, who does the action work on most of my working S&W revolvers. Jim by design DID NOT touch any of the lock mechanism during the course of the action job. However, there was a better than even chance that S&W would point to the action job as the culprit in the jam. I did not want to drag a friend of mine into a potential confrontation with a major gun company. Secondly, Jim asked me for the gun back for him to check over.

I decided that because I bought the 329 used on the retail market and commissioned and paid for the work on the gun myself, Jim should have first crack at it.

If this had been a stock gun provided to me by S&W for test and evaluation, I would have acted differently.

BTW, S&W does not sponsor my shows or my Internet projects.

Michael B
Title: Re: New S&W Today
Post by: tombogan03884 on May 26, 2010, 09:06:20 PM: There is another one later where he talks about recoil causing it to engage.
(had to edit my first post, The Guy in Alaska had the 454 bullets back out of the casing and jam the action. )
Title: Re: New S&W Today
Post by: tekoken on May 26, 2010, 09:13:57 PM: I'm not saying it can't happen but the only article I found where it did happen was M.B.. And I'll say it again I would never ever ever buy a gun with a built in lock but if someone gave me one as a goof I sure as hell wouldn't put my bank account on the line by removing it! There's plenty of lock less guns out there for sale.