tips on controlling Chief Spl.

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kmicic

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I took a new to me Chief Special Airweight (aka m. 37) to the range yesterday. At 10 yards I could not stay on the paper (8.3x11) with all 5 shots, both SA and DA. I have read that this is a very demanding gun, but with this sort of performance, I'd be weary to carry it for self defense.

I used UM's boot grip, 158gn CCI and 130gn Winchester .38 spl. ammo. One lesson learned was not to lean the palm of my hand on the back of the frame (open sore). Does anyone have any other tips? And how the heck do people get any accuracy and followup with .357s out of their Airlight snubs?

As far as my skill level, I attended intro and advanced Chapman classes, and compete in IDPA at sharpshooter level. So is this the gun that'll help me hone in my basics, or should I forget trying to be accurate with it altogether?
 
Shooting accurately is a function of Grip, Sight Picture, Trigger Control, & Breathing.

I would ditch the boot grips for practice; get a set of Uncle Mikes® combat grips or better yet, Pachmayrs®. You will notice an immediate improvement.

Understand that fixed sight 38 Special & 357 Magnum Revolvers are regulated to shoot 158gr STANDARD PRESSURE loads at the factory. Get as many boxes of 158gr cartridges as you can and practice with them. START @ 5YDS & WORK YOUR WAY BACK.
 
badge851 said it best

get a set of Pachmayrs I have a 36 and a charter arms bulldog in 44 and they both have pach's, and there hard to beat
 
My avice would be to get as much 148 GR target wadcutter as you can. POI won't be that different at 5 and 7 yards. When you've "learned" the weapon, transition to standards pressure 158 grainers, and when you're good with it, carry 158 GR LSWCHP +P in it.
 
The Pachmayr Compac grips with the closed backstrap will help. Those airweight revolvers can squirt around in the hand. The top portion of the backstrap wear a blister on the inside edge of the thumb. The Compacs cover it up.

It will also increase the distance between the front of the trigger and the back of the grip, which helps fellows with big hands. It does make the revolver more difficult to conceal. The grips are tacky and stick to one's clothes.

The suggestion about the 148-grain wadcutters is good advice.
 
I shoot a 357 taurus snub. The most difficult part of shooting it was finding the kind of ammo it seemed to like best. I seemed to do better with the lighter slugs. 110 in 357,(very harsh and loud) 125gn-130gn in 38spl.
The wwb 130gn fmj in 38spl was very easy on the hand, as was the federal american eagle 130gn fmj 38spl. These I found to be good target rounds. For personal defense, I keep it loaded with 125gn PMC starfire 38+p. If you dont feel comfy with PMC, I have had good feedback from others using speers new 135gn gold dot short barrel ammo. It's specifically designed for the 38snub. I've read the same guy designed the starfire round as well.
As far as accuracy goes, I agree with the grip change. I went from a boot to a combat grip, and had improved results with control and comfort.
Also, I recommend you start closer to the target at first to see if you're shooting low, high, etc. Like 15-20ft away. It is a demanding gun, and IMO only of real use "up close and personal", which is what I feel it's designed for. It's not a target pistol, that's for sure.
Check the boards, but I think I read in one of them that Mikes grips were better than pachmeyers on the snub. You should be able to search it.
 
Thanks for your comments guys. Does any of you know whether Pachmayr's Decelerator has open or closed backstrap? All of a sudden the extra soft rubber sounds very appealing. Otherthan that - gripper or compac? I don't have the budget to try out all the grips out there, but can probably do a couple more.

I'm also thinking of cutting a coil or two off of the trigger spring to get a lighter trigger pull.

As for ammo, the gun is not rated for +P so I'm weary to chance Speer's Gold Dot in it. As I understand, the next best thing is 148 gn LWC standard load.
 
The Chief Special only weighs about 12 to 15 ounces.
Get yourself a set of Pachmayer grips, for control.
If the trigger "sucks", have a gunsmith work on it.
 
I'm sure you probably already know this, but avoid +P rounds at all costs! The airweight just can't handle them. While working for the NPS in the 70's, my chief ranger was qualifying beside me with an airweight. He liked +P's. Every time he shot, I felt a stinging on the side of my face. I rubbed my face with my hand and it came away bloody!! Range officer called an immediate cease fire. Seems the +P rounds loosened up the gun so much that it was shaving lead with each shot. Not fun!! :( (Thank God for shooting glasses).
 
+1 on the standard pressure loads in the older Airweight models.

Most of the .38 snubs seem to like the 158gr standard load the best. I've had some good luck with 125gr standard loads too (but they're getting harder to find).

If the 158gr is hard to shoot well for you, look for the standard pressure Hydra-Shock Personal Defense 129gr loads. Those were decently accurate out of my M649.
 
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