Accurate wheelgun for target/trail carry

[kmitch200]

The most accurate centerfire caliber is probably the .38 Special.

Just how did you come up with this "factoid"?  It doesn't stand up to even mild examination.

For a trail gun I hang a 629 on my belt or a Mod. 19 if I want lighter weight.

[unique]

Just how did you come up with this "factoid"?  It doesn't stand up to even mild examination.

For a trail gun I hang a 629 on my belt or a Mod. 19 if I want lighter weight.

Haven't heard that one in a long, long, time, but it used to be considered gospel truth.  Why, I don't remember, but 40-45 years ago, that was the "truth".  Along with the "fact" that a .45 ACP had too much recoil for most shooters to handle, and a .357 could kill anything that walked (well it could, and to some extent did, but you wouldn't find me shooting at anything "nasty" with one)

[sanjuancb]

Most accurate pistol for trail carry? Get a an Encore with a Bulberry Barrel in 6mm BR...   

[m25operator]

Kmitch200, I'll have to take you task on that one, The .38 special stands up to more than mild or harsh examination, it is inherently accurate, tuneable to exceptional accuracy. Now the original poster said centerfire cartridge, that would not be true, if you include rifles or bottle neck cases. But as a pistol round it is exceptional in the accuracy department. I guarantee you will spend a thousand or more bucks to beat a 6" model 14 S&W, with factory ammo and someone who nows how to shoot at 50 yards.

I have a 2x scoped Model 29, 5" gun that with 300 grain Hornaday xtp's, will shoot target accuracy, 2.5" at 50 yards and 4-5' at one hundred yards, took a lot of developement to get there. .38 spl Anemic? Yes, but not bad with modern loads, and the accuracy is always there with a quality pistol, I'm not a Colt revolver fan, but the Diamond back will shoot this well, the Python too.

I have shot more than 130,000 rounds of .38 special, from standard and light loads to loads that make IPSC major, with 158 grain bullets, shot in a .357 chamber of course. I shoot PPC, master rating, NRA action shooting, master rating, Hunters Pistol, large bore, AAA rating, ICORE expert rating. Shot revolvers in .38 spl in all of the them.
 
There are many accurate calibers, but I would put the 38 special above the rest for out of the box, with out of the box ammo.

Best gun for the trail? It rates, but I personally like more power, a .357 mag is very useful, especially with a pocket full of 148 grain, full 38 spl wadcutters for small game, quiet, accurate and cuttiing a full .357 hole.

[ericire12]

If you want the best of the best go with the S&W Model 329:

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=11601&langId=-1&productId=14774&tabselected=tech&isFirearm=Y&parent_category_rn=16305




or the Model 629:


Both are in 44 mag.


If you are on more of a budget, you can't go wrong with a Taurus or Ruger.

I stand by my original post.

[Sponsor]

[m25operator]

Stand  you must, but be  accurate,, more than likely not, the pistols you defend are hard to shoot, and harder to group,, trailworthy  perhaps so.

[DesertMarine]

Agree with you M25Operator, the .38 Special is probably the most accurate pistol round.  With the S&W 14 and an Aristocrat rib and sights, great combination.  With the Aristocrat rear sight set at 50 yds and a neck hold, extremely accurate.  I shot PPC but doubt that I have fired that many rounds. 

44 Mag is a great caliber for field carry but not too many people can shoot it well nor will they take the time to learn to shoot it well.  I like the .44 Mag and have carried it but prefer the Model 19 in either 4 or 6" barrel and a high rise pancake holster.

[unique]

Okay, I'm confused.  I can see that a .38 is an easier gun to shoot accurately than a heavier caliber, but I don't understand the claim that the caliber itself is more accurate.  If you took to "identical" guns one in .38 and the other in another caliber, shot them from a machine rest, the .38 would produce tighter groups?  What would account for that?

[Big Frank]

Since the subject is WHEELGUNS, not rifles and pistols, I didn't think it was neccesary to specify that I was talking about revolver cartridges. Bottle-neck cartridges in a rifle are so obviously different from wheelguns that I made the mistake of thinking we were all on the same page. And only I said centerfire because .22 Long Rifle is probably the most accurate caliber for short range target shooting. Some calibers are inherrently more accurate than others and the .38 Special has several decades of target shooting and load development under it's belt. By now a lot of people know what it's capable of, but maybe all the experts are wrong about it and the .22. I also made the mistake of assuming that we're talking about shooting factory ammo and not spending $2,000 on custom gunsmithing. My bad. .38 Specials with wadcutters are accurate right out of the box like the original poster was asking about.

[Big Frank]

Just how did you come up with this "factoid"?  It doesn't stand up to even mild examination.

For a trail gun I hang a 629 on my belt or a Mod. 19 if I want lighter weight.

I came up with that "factoid" by listening to people like m25operator who shoot matches with it. It's been winning for a century.