.357 Mag is a nasty round.

[scotched]

I hit up Burrow Canyon a couple days ago with a few friends of mine. I haven't been shooting since I was a minor in the BSA.

I brought a S&W .38spl S&W .357mag and an old .22; my buddies all have semi-auto's and shotguns etc ...

I can still hit a clay with a SG (50ft) no problem - I was pretty on point with the .22 at 50 ft. The .38 was easier to handle (small grips) however:

I couldn't hit a bowling pin at 10 ft. with the .357

I literally felt like I was shooting blanks. The reloads I got a the range we're a little easier to use, but the Remington 125gr ammo (which cost double the price of .38 @ walmart) felt like it had a harder kick.

I love the *boom* of the .357 - which was suprisingly louder than a Glock .40, but I would also like to be able to hit my targets lol...

Any tips on using this gun?

[pyromensch]

what is the model/make of the 357 that you used?

[Ed_Hazard]

Practice will help, also are your grips too smooth? Could be that as you anticipate the big BOOM your flinching w/out knowing it. But on top of it all practice more. Start of with 38+P and work up to full house 357 magnums. And oh yeah did I mention more trigger time?

[dirtydrew]

Trigger time with the .38 rounds... your flinching in anticipation

[KaTooM]

Leave one chamber empty then try it. Make sure you don't know which one is empty. I bet your a twitcher.

[pyro3k2]

Nothing shy of trigger time with the .357 is going to improve how you shot with it. If you subsitiute it with .38 your just going to get better managing the recoil of a .38

-OR-

shoot a Mosin Nagant and you will never have fear of recoil again

[faterikcartman]

I would suggest getting some snap caps.
I would also suggest getting a GOOD set of ear muffs AND foam plugs.
My guess is you are anticipating the recoil and the boom and you are jerking the gun.
Try to spend about 1/2 hour a day just dry firing with the snap caps.
Try NOT to anticipate the round going off.
You do NOT have to keep the gun firm and not moving when you fire. The bullet will be out of the barrel by the time the recoil throws it up.
Just try to squeeze off your shots without anticipating them. If you're surprised when it goes off that is probably a good thing.
The double ear protection will also calm your nerves.
I think you'll find most of the .357's bite is in your mind and the exercises above will help you get control of your mind.
Good luck.

[redcliff]

I would suggest getting some snap caps.
I would also suggest getting a GOOD set of ear muffs AND foam plugs.
My guess is you are anticipating the recoil and the boom and you are jerking the gun.
Try to spend about 1/2 hour a day just dry firing with the snap caps.
Try NOT to anticipate the round going off.
You do NOT have to keep the gun firm and not moving when you fire. The bullet will be out of the barrel by the time the recoil throws it up.
Just try to squeeze off your shots without anticipating them. If you're surprised when it goes off that is probably a good thing.
The double ear protection will also calm your nerves.
I think you'll find most of the .357's bite is in your mind and the exercises above will help you get control of your mind.
Good luck.

Very good advice here... handgun shooting is definitely a mental game. Focus on the front sight and work on the trigger squeeze.... I like to slowly exhale while I'm doing it, seems to clear my mind and remove any thoughts about recoil/muzzle blast. I also use earplus and muffs when I shoot.

[scotched]

pyro - I don't know the exact model # but I believe it has a 4" or 5" barrel, double action, fatty over-sized wood grips. Probably born around ~1960 (grandpa's).

Yea, I definitely twitch. When I don't count my shots, I usually catch myself tensing up on the *dead* shot. I thought the *weight* of the revolver would help with the recoil, but it actually makes it harder to steady the hand in anticipation *of* recoil, if that makes any sense.

Any word on grips here? When I have to choke-up on the fat grips, it causes me to angle up maybe 5-10 degrees. To counter this, I lock my wrists downward (like bumping a volleyball). It also doesn't feel to great when I lock my elbows. I couldn't really find a comfortable form that worked well. I'm hoping some smaller rubberize grips would solve this....

Edit: I appreciate all the tips! .38+P is safe to use in a .357mag right?

[Rotting]

Edit: I appreciate all the tips! .38+P is safe to use in a .357mag right?

Absolutely.

The snap cap idea (1 out of the 6 rounds being a dummy) is an EXCELLENT training aid. You want zero flinch or "forward push" (trying to counteract the recoil) on that snap cap round.

To get rid of your flinch quicker, I would just use 357 magnum rounds (not 38 spec) with the snap cap in your practice. There will be in the back of your mind thoughts of "But these are the MAGNUM rounds!" when you step up from 38 specials, so nip it in the bud and work that flinch out with the magnums!

[duc748bip]

It look like you have a missing cylinder latch?

[erratikmind]

Scotched,

One of my first gun purchases was a new S&W model 686 - 6" some 30 plus years ago. To this day, this is my favorite handgun. It has served me quite well through the past decades. As the old saying goes, " Practice, practice, practice".

Are you pulling on single or double action? Master you sight picture hold and POI via single action shots first until you are comfortable and satisfied with your abilities/progress. Then start addressing the double action pull shots. Before you know it, you will be able to double tap with accurate double action pull follow up shots. It's always fun and a challenge when you are honing your wheel gun skills . . . Enjoy.

[JTROKS]

concentrate on the sights and follow through by keeping the sights on target until the recoil takes effect. Do not fight the recoil just let it happen. I'm thinking you are flinching the gun off target.

[wrightb]

Ive got the same flinch, mostly with my 357 as well! I can shoot the 38s just fine but its weird how those magnums mess with your mind

[scotched]

Yea, the cylinder latch/screw flew off on the field - after about 5mins of searching we found the needle in the brass-stack. Gotta buy a screw.

I'm shooting SA, but I like shooting DA when I want to get the shots off quick.

It's good to hear that people still shoot revolvers here lol.

How do I find my model number ?