.38/.357 magnum accuracy

[djcantr]

I went to the range today with a Dan Wesson 15-2V6 that I picked up recently. I wanted to adjust the rear sight as it was shooting fairly low and a little right. I shot both .38 special 130 grain and .357 magnum 125 grain. The .357 shot low and the .38 special shot high. I shot a couple cylinders with both .38 special and .357 magnum mixed within the cylinder and then spun it so I wouldn't know what was where in the cylinder. Still got the same results. Then I wasn't shooting supported on a table so it could have been coincidence, but all shots with .38 were high and all with .357 were low through two cylinders. Is that normal?

Also, occasionally I won't be able to pull the hammer back for single action or pull the trigger for double action because the cylinder hangs up. I'll try to rotate the cylinder back and forth the little amount it will and a little bit of lead drops out and then I'm back in business. It's a round piece about 1/4 of a circle each time. What could cause that to happen? I'll clean it in a bit and remove the barrel and see if anything jumps out at me but I'm fairly new to revolvers.

 

[g20gunny]

Faster bullets ofter shoot lower than slower ones just like at close range heavier bullets shoot higher than lighter bullets at the same velocity. What is happening is the gun is recoiling a little more before the much slower 38spl bullet leaves the bbl, and the opposite with the 357mag, it is out of the barrel before the gun has barely moved from recoil. I run into this all the time with my 44 mag, my 180 grainers shoot much lower at 25 yards than my 310 grain hard cast at much lower velocities.
This became apparent also with my heavy loads when I dont hold it as tight as a previous group and my groups move up becaise the muzzle is higher when the bullets depart than previously. This is also why your not supposed to adjust your pistol sights from a supported rest unless your going to keep shooting from a rest.
As for your metal shavings are you shooting solid lead or jacketed bullets? If lead this may be normal as long as its thin and flat against the cylinder face. If your shooting jacketed its probably the recoil easing the bullets out till you shave the nose off when it pokes past the cylinder, but this usially only happens with hot handloads that arent crimped enough.

 

[vladan]

.38 were high and all with .357 were low through two cylinders. Is that normal?

Yes, it is normal. As g20gunny pointed out the revolver recoil cause slower bullet shoot higher. This is more pronounced with longer barrels ( say shooting DW with 8-10" barrel you'll see this more apparent than when you switch to 2.5" barrel )

Also, occasionally I won't be able to pull the hammer back for single action or pull the trigger for double action because the cylinder hangs up. I'll try to rotate the cylinder back and forth the little amount it will and a little bit of lead drops out and then I'm back in business. It's a round piece about 1/4 of a circle each time. What could cause that to happen?

I'll guess your barrel is installed too tight ( not enough gap between barrel and cylinder - it should be 0.006", DW comes with a gauge to properly set the gap) and your rounds are too long or bullets creeps out of the case under recoil - is that happening with .357 rounds, not .38 right?

 

[djcantr]

Thanks for the info. I set the sights so that the amount low and high was equal between the two loads.

The bit of lead that drops out isn't a shaving off the bullet. It appears it's lead that sprays out and builds up between the cylinder and barrel until it gets to be too much and keeps the cylinder from turning. The gap is probably too much. A .006" feeler gauge is real loose but .008" won't slide in. I'm not sure whether it's happening with just .38 special or just .357 magnum as I was shooting both. I'll have to shoot one or the other next time to see.

 

[Crankgrinder]

My experience seems the opposite of most peoples. my .357 is most accurate with full house rounds and the slower bullets of the same weight seem to drop more.

 

[wdelack]

djcantr,

When checking the gap, be sure to rotate the cylinder and check at all six positions. Sometimes there is a small amount of run-out in the cylinder face.

Spitting lead: Also check the barrel nut to be sure it is snugged down. It shouldn't be real tight but you do not want it loose either.

 

[P-990]

Varying impact points is normal when switching bullet weights and velocities. It's a small price to pay for the ability to shoot powder puff target loads followed by full-tilt boogie stompers without switching anything.

I can never remember if it's my .357s that shoot higher than my .38s or vice versa. Because I know I can hang on with the .38s are the gun doesn't move as much, I want to say the Specials print lower FOR ME. Drat, sounds like a range trip is in order now!