S&W 581

C

Classic12

New member
A S&W forum member showed his new acquisition a month ago. As luck has it, I found one the next day at an LGS despite those being very rare here in Switzerland and I proceed to buy it for abt $ 750

My distinguished service magnum, made in 1981

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The original Magna stocks are way too small for my hands, so I installed some combats I had in reserve.

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Range time, indoor 25 m

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L frame, fixed sights. Everything you need and nothing you don't
 
Very nice. What range was the target, and what ammo did you use?
25 meters, it helps to read the caption.
BTW, Happy New Year.
 
I carried such a revolver in the Border Patrol (witnessing how long that was). I still have it and likely will die with it. Along with the Model 13 that looks very much like it.

I found it would shoot Winchester Silver Tip .357 Magnum ammo very consistently and with manageable recoil.

The good old days.
 
last of the breed

An L-frame was the last revolver issued to me before the NPS went to P-series SIGs. Mine was a 686, stainless with adjustable sights. The NPS went to 110/125 gr JHP magnum ammo after some poor performance from the previously standard .38 spl 110gr +P+ load that was common issue with assorted fed agencies at the time. Also, many of the assorted K-frames that were so common across the service were in no condition, to begin a to a steady diet of mag ammo.

The L-frames handled mag ammo well, and were not as bulky as an N-frame, but they were still heavy. If memory serves, my issue L-frame was heavier than my personally owned N-frame .44 mag Mtn gun by several ounces.
 
That is a nice example. The L-Frames are very good revolvers in general. I started carrying a 586 soon after they were introduced, and have had several L-Frames in the years since. They have become my favorite .357 revolvers.
 
I bought one when they 1st came out. With 158 standard Win ammo it shot like a champ.
I traded it of and got me a 586 adj sight model more friendly to hand loads. The 586 & 686 were the last revolvers I sold to PDs. In less than 10yrs PDs were buying auto pistols. I just traded off a 586 nickel NIB. Seems I sold to cheap.
 
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