My first pistol was a S&W in 38 S&W converted to 38 Special. It was a piece of crap and I got rid of it.

Next came a Ruger in 44 Mag. I learned to shoot it GREAT. Jackrabbits at 75 yds were DOA. Then I evolved into Ruger SBH, 44 Mag. Same result. Life was good.

Next I got a Smith Model 15 4" in 38 Special. Loved it. Shot great. Life was good.

Graduated to Colt Trooper in .357. Wonderful gun. I considered myself God's gift to pistols.

Then I started adding .45 autos to my inventory. Whenever I went hunting by myself, I was the best shot there. Rabbits died by the zillions. I knew that I could rule the world with just a pistol.

Then I decided to go back to my roots and get another Ruger. Got a Ruger SA in .357. Gun felt like the hand of God when I picked it up. Went to the range. Couldn't hit shit. Changed loads. Couldn't hit shit. No matter what, I couldn't hit shit.

One day I tried to hit shit LITERALLY. I placed grade A cow chip at 15 yds and sat down with the Ruger 357. Fired 6 rounds from braced sitting position at 15 yards. Couldn't hit shit...LITERALLY.

Got rid of gun. Never told anyone about this until now, 25 years later. Still feel shame.

Went back to Smiths and automatic pistols. All was good again.

But now the devil is working on me...telling me to get another Ruger SA in .357 or maybe .45 Colt.


Very afraid!

Seriously, I am totally psyched out about the idea of going back to another Ruger. I have convinced myself that there is "something" about a single action pistol, Ruger especially, that is just OUT OF RHYTHM with a double action revolver. (Even if I am shooting the DA in SA mode.)

Is there such a thing? Can a person get used to one style of gun or action and "lose it" for a different style?

Have I just shot Smiths for so long that I'll never shoot a SA Ruger decently again?

Help. I don't want to spend $600 on a new Ruger pistol and find out I STILL can't hit shit with one.

Any thoughts? Any similar experiences? Do I need psychiatric help for this problem?

I feel doomed.

It all boils down to; sight alignment and trigger squeeze!
Give up on the Rugers and take a look at the Freedom Arm's psitols. You will NEVER look back.

FN in MT

Don't buy a new one, you won't be out $600

I do know exactly what you mean though. I picked up a ruger old model 4 5/8" 357. A fair bit of holster wear, but looked like it had barely been fired. They were asking $200, but when quired as to how low they'd go, took $160. A loved holding the gun, and click click click cocking it. Trouble is at the range with 148 gr wc, 150 gr rn, 158 swc, 180 tc and 200 wfn, and several different powders, 25 yd groups were in the 3-5" range. There may have been one or two times it would do around 2", with the 200 gr bullets, but asside from that it just patterened.

So, I sold it to a buddy for $150, who sold it to another buddy for $150. Despite the lack of accuracy, I still missed the gun, and since the guy who had it never shot it, and liked Contender frames, I traded a contender frame for the blackhawk and $50.

I have once again tried a variety of loads, and it still don't shoot any better. I'm debating sending it to a Jack Huntington to have him set back the barrel, and bush the cylinder to get rid of the end shake, and maybe do a Taylor throat. I just can't see putting $200-300 into a $150 gun. I'll probably get a Belt mtn oversize pin, and lap out the barrel at the throat. Hopefully that will help things.

Yeah, I know where you are coming from, and I'm sure you'll succumb

Frank - The FA guns are out of my price range, I think. Aren't they MUCH steeper?

Paul - You devil. Are you trying to make me hang myself.

My discouragement warning light is flashing!

I shoot better freehand with the Smith/Dan/Wesson revolvers than any of the Ruger single or double action pistols the only reason I can figure out is the distance the trigger has to be moved to fire. I find that all of the Ruger revolvers I have shot in either single or double action have had a lot of trigger travel before they fire. The more travel of the trigger the longer I have to hold it on target and the longer it takes me to fire without flinching. Don't get me wrong I think the Rugers are one of the strongest built revolvers (for the price), and if I ever get my hands on a Ruger that will fire in single action as well as Smith/Dan/Wesson I will add it to my collection. I have the same problem with double action semi auto pistols like my Sig 226. My Kimber 45acp being single action does not have a lot of trigger travel and I can shoot it as well as my Smith/Dan/Wesson. Another observation I have made is that I work with a computer all day and while I have a lot of dexterity (considering I sawed off the end of 3 fingers on my left hand) I do not have the grip strength like when I used to working construction therefore I do better with a lighter trigger pull. When I was younger I did not know about trigger pull weight or travel so it did not notice it at the time. But now when I try to shoot a firearm with a heavy trigger I have a hard time hitting the target.



This is some of my observations dealing with handguns and accuracy.

I have a friend who can shoot good with a DA revolver, shoot good with an auto pistol... and can't shoot for beans with a SA revolver. Dunno why.

Will you guys STOP confirming my worst fears and tell me something like, "Throw salt over your left shoulder and you'll be cured!"

I feel like my wife and all her family and friends are in the room shouting: You don't need another gun! You don't need another gun!

Someone tell me how to delete this thread, quick!

Pecos, loved your post. Never fear, the last Ruger SA I bought shoots a ragged hole at 25 yards. It is a 41 mag Blackhawk. Of course, it could be the cartridge and not the gun........hmmm.

Larry, I've got a .41 that shoots the same way, only it's a Smith. And 38s and 357s are famous for accuracy.

Why can't I do it with a Ruger Blackhawk?

I know the gods will punish me if I get this pistol.

Well Pecos in my opinion it's sights.I had to get a Red Dot to hit the broad side of a barn with my .454.My wifes 45 Auto....She's better than me.My .22 High Standard is like put a match in your mouth and I'll light it....Her .357 Smith and Wesson Cop Gun suits us both with the edge going my way for a change on handguns.

Different strokes for different folks..I guess...
My open sighted Guide Gun to me is as accurate as my scoped guns but at a shorter distance of course.

Just my old eyed opinion...Jayco.

Pecos



I had a SBH 44 Mag that I used to plink at clay pigeons on the bermat 100 yards and feel like I was likely to hit it. Due to a slight learning curve problem on a new progressive press without "auto advance" the SBH separated into at least 3 pieces ( barrel/frame, topstrap, and top half of the cylinder). A fellow club member found the topstrap one day as he went out to check his targets (IT is PROMINENTLY displayed above my loading bench).



I sent it to the factory asking if they would repair it. Ruger said they would not fix it but would replace it for a very reasonable price. The stated delivery time was some time off in the future. I told them I really needed a pistol for deer season which was in a short period of time. The replacement gun was in my hands in a few days. The new gun will NOT hit a clay pigeon at 25 yards. Well maybe as a random accident, but not as aimed. I have a Redhawk and Super Redhawk and both of them are tack drivers.



A LONG story to say some of their firearms won't shoot.



Several folks have asked why I don't sell the SBH . . . I would feel less than ok about selling it to someone!



LouisB

Paul, your Ruger 357 is no good. Send it to me and I will dispose of it for you. No need for you to throw good money after bad when you could be saving up for another Freedom Arms instead.

My ruger SBH 44 is my most accurate pistol. My 45 bisley is pretty close. My S&W 44 might be more accurate than the 45, but I need to do more testing.

You can buy Ruger Bisleys down here for $375 all day long so no need to spend $600 on a Ruger. Standard Blackhawks run around $340.

I have 2 Kimbers
1 sig sauer
3 S&W ( pinned k38 masterpiece, pinned and rescessed model 19 combat masterpiece, and performance center 44.)
a redhawk and almost a dozen 22's and other various handguns.

I will take a Ruger SA anyday over any DA.


Ruger single actions are my favorite. I have more Ruger single actions than any other type of gun (roughly a dozen). They all need trigger work. Some of them need sight work. They are simple to work on and they are all accurate.

If you do not have a Ruger SA get one.

David

Well, thanks, I guess, for something positive. I guess the bottom line is it's like any other gun. You pay your money and take your chances.

Lord knows I don't need another pistol. I've got a flock of fine shooting Smiths. Rugers are sort of like a foxy looking woman. How can she look so good and be such a bitch?

I think I'll take a couple of aspirin and see if this gun fever will break before I do something rash. Maybe there is a gunshow coming up soon and I can scarf up one CHEAP.

At a gun show?

Thanks for all your experiences, guys. You're a good bunch!