My Taurus 85 Ultralite - accuracy.

E

EJT

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I have a Taurus 85 UltraLite for concealed carry. I've been practicing at the range to improve my accuracy. I would like to know if anyone has found the accuracy to decrease as the revolver heats up?

Mine gets quite hot after 40 or so rounds. I'm about to take my concealed carry test and am concerned that my accuracy is falling off after many rounds and a hot gun. Please advise...thank you.
 
I have one and have not noticed a decrease in accuracy after several dozen rounds. I haven't shot 40 rounds in a single session (yet). Maybe your hand/body are just getting tired. No CCW course I've taken:
a) required 40 rounds, and,
b) required accuracy beyond what's needed for self defense...which is generally center of body mass hits at combat distances (some say 21 feet is the average) or somewhat farther depending on the CCW class.

Any self-defense situation requiring 40 rounds is combat, not self-defense.
 
My apologies, I'm relatively new at this and was told a round was one bullet, so based on your reply, I'm very wrong, and a round is one full cylinder or 5 bullet.

I can assure you "Combat," is not in my vocabulary! So based on your correction, when I shoot 5 to 8 rounds my Taurus gets really hot. So I'm concerned that the heat could be effecting my accuracy? I know Snubbies are not the best for target practice, but I do want to get better.

Texas concealed carry requires 5 rounds at 3 yards, 5 rounds at 9 years and 2 rounds at 15 yards. I'm concerned about the 15 yards, so I want to be as accurate as possible with the other two. If it is the heat of the gun, then I'll need to address that. Thank you!
 
1 round = 1 bullet. Your handgun holds 5 rounds in it's cylinder.
So it sounds like you will shoot a total of 12 rounds.

If your class is anything like mine was in Ohio. It will take about 1/2 hour to get those 12 shots off. 20 folks on the firing line most new to hand guns. Someone has the wrong ammo, another has trouble with the mags, etc.
So I would not worry about the heat.
 
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CC class here requires a total of 47 rounds expended in about 10 - 20 minutes, with varying numbers of rounds fired at 3, 5, 7 and 10 yards. I did not use my Taurus 851 (a close relative of the 85) for the class.....but I do use the 851 as my primary CC gun....and I shoot it often for practice. I shoot strings of 5 rounds (1 full cylinder)....loaded and fired at a rate that I will go through about 50 rounds in 20 minutes or less (with no deliberate cool-down time in between). I have never had a heat-related decrease in accuracy. That is, the gun will shoot groups just as tight at the end of the roughly 20 minute session as it will at the beginning. My 851 is an all-steel gun, so I can't speak specifically about the alloy-framed 85s.....but I can guarantee that a 12 round string for your CC class will NOT be a problem. I seriously doubt that 40 rounds in a fairly short period of time will be a problem, either.

The solution for any concerns about the shooting practicum for the CC class is to PRACTICE repeatedly at the required distances, with the gun and ammo that will be used for the class....and with the target type that will be used. If 15 yards is required for the class, then concentrate most of your practice at THAT distance. You could even do ALL of your practice at 15 yards. If you get comfortable at 15 yards, I promise that 3 and 9 yards will then be EASY.

I have been shooting handguns for about a year....and I never practice at less than 10 yards. On the CC class shooting test, I shot 100 % (47 /47 in the 10 ring). I attribute that to being very comfortable at 10 yards and a bit longer - so the majority of the 47 rounds expended, being fired at 3 or 7 yards...came very easy for me.

Finally, a word of praise to you about your planning and practicing for the class. Bravo - you are to be commended on that.

You would not believe the number of participants in MY CC class who either were not comfortable shooting the gun they used for the class....or did NOT know how to operate that particular gun (having never fired it before !).....or, in ONE case, which I still find incredible....the individual brought a 1911 pistol (45 ACP) - with 40 S&W ammo !!! He fired ONE round, then the gun jammed....and the instructor cleared it and discovered the problem. That, after just before (during the classroom session), the instructors covering IN DETAIL why it is SO important to KNOW one's firearm and be comfortable with it - before even considering using that weapon for SD !
 
Thank you all for your timely responses. I did think originally 1 round = 1 bullet, but didn't understand fdreano response, that no CCW ever required 40 rounds! I was stating that at the 40 round mark my 85 was really hot, perhaps I was tired.

Actually DGrant was correct; the Texas CCW is based on 50 rounds, 20 rounds at 3 and 9 yards, and 10 at 15 yards. Now that I'm clear what a round is, ha!

wpsdlrg, thank your for the complement and all your good advice, and I appreciate knowing that you have never had a problem with accuracy from the heat of your gun. I take firearms very serious, and believe it is my responsibility to be proficient in handling and shooting before I can consider carrying. Your stories of those who didn't is shocking. I will keep practicing! I'm very impressed with your accuracy at a greater distance. Thank you all, I've learned a lot!
 
You are darn right 2'' revolvers heat-up. Oh yea. Especially out on the range on a Texas afternoon. And..and...when the gun heats-up, trigger pull increases too, cylinder latch hick-ups when opening & closeing; and yes, accuracy decreases. Big time.

Your tarus deserves a gold star if it makes it thru Texas's CCW program.
 
I said no CCW course that I have taken required 40 rounds (two courses in Virginia a couple of decades ago).

Sometimes a better grip will help with these small framed snubbies (depending on what your CCW class teaches/allows). I use this advice from the "master" with these small guns. Note the small frame pistol grip used about 2-1/2 minutes through the 7th video down on "Grip"...it increases accuracy, reduces recoil and hand fatigue as well:

http://www.myoutdoortv.com/search/node/Jerry Miculek

If I had any gun that wouldn't make it through the CCW courses I've taken/observed it would be headed to the scrap heap. Yes the weapon will get hot after continued firing, no it shouldn't affect operation or reduce accuracy appreciably. Of course with some ammunition after sustained firing there will enough crud collected to require cleaning -- like under the 'star wheel' in the cylinder. This should be only after many, MANY rounds however.
 
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For those who have not fired more than 40 rounds thru a .38 Special snub nose in one session might want to listen to those whom have.

Shootings snubs is difficult enough. Why ignore real range experience?
 
Thank you warningshot, I'm relieved to know that my observations had some merit! I've use only "Winchester" full metal jacket, .38 special ammo to insure that I'm not using dirty ammo, and clean my Taurus completely after every time at the range. I have a Crimson Trace laser grip, although it isn't much good in full sun, but the grip is very comfortable.

I'll keep practicing and we'll see how things go. I greatly appreciate your response and the availability of this forum. Again, thank you!
 
The Ultra lite I had experiences with as it warmed up the trigger became worse then finally it locked up until it cooled.
 
The Concealed Carry Test

I passed, and I passed with flying colors! On the written test I missed one question. I knew the answer but was confused with the wording, ya know, Texas government speak.

But on the range I shot better than I ever have. You need 175 points to pass shooting 50 rounds and I shot 209! I was surprised and thrilled! I even hit well on the target at the 15 yard mark. Although my Taurus 85 got really hot after 40 rounds, it was able to cool down enough while the target was being moved to do well at the 15 yards distance!! I also learned with my gun the further the target the lower I need to aim to hit well!

Thanks for all the good advice! I'll continue to practice at the 9 and 15 yard distances. It's great for my confidence, and I want to become proficient even though it's known these Snubbies aren't so accurate for target shooting, I want to get good enough to prove them wrong:)
 
It isn't any fun unless the revolver heats-up
Click to expand...

Nothing like a warm revolver!

Except when it prevents it from functioning... I'd run some more rounds through your 85 as fast as possible to see how much the heat affects the operation of the revolver. It took the one I tried 3 cylinders of rapidfire/speedloaders to bind up. Might wanna see if yours has any limitations you should know about prior to carrying it. Doubtful it'll happen but its nice to know.
 
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