Jump to content
Military Firearm Restoration Corner

My Latest Acquisition


AzRednek

Recommended Posts

Took a little better than a week to put this deal together. Sold a Bulgarian Makarov I had less than 150 into for 300, added 40 and got this Smith and Wesson model 438. Included with the revolver are the fancy S&W factory grips and an Italian made leather holster. The holster was the deal maker. I was going to offer 300 from his 350 asking price but after seeing and handling the holster. Just no way was I going to walk but did beat him down ten bucks. Seller claimed less than a 20rd box through it and if he claimed new unfired I would have believed him. The thick leather holster will need some breaking in, its really stiff.

 

Range report is dismal at best. It was me and not the gun. Had a neck injection couple days before, was hurting like hell, ate a Percocet and lost my steady hand. Two friends did ok with it and one that has a similar S&W 38 did a good job at 10 yards shooting D/A. Despite my aches and pains I did fairly well shooting in the S/A mode. The cheapie Wolf brand steel case 38 ammo was pathetic. Bright muzzle flash, strong sulphuric odor and the fired cases had to be beat out of the cylinder. Remington 158gr lead slug was a night vs day improvement. Only shot two Hornady 125gr HP +P's. Put first one in the ten ring firing S/A at seven yards and second shot about 3-4 inches left.

 

It's a keeper and a trigger job is planned. Had a similar S&W 38 but it didn't have the exposed tip of the hammer and was double action only. I gave that one away to my daughter in law. Wrong time of the year now but this will be for summertime carry. At best maybe another week or so of mid 70 temps before I pull my jackets out of mothballs.

 

post-46-0-01148100-1512890855_thumb.jpgpost-46-0-72699700-1512890880_thumb.jpgpost-46-0-97619300-1512890894_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well done sir.

The Hippy is talking of moving back to the south west for the dryer weather a touch of the ole rumtiz i fear and even for her I simply wont go back to Cali. So I may need a list of places to shoot.

karl

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very nice Az ! Not trying to hi jack your thread but I’ve been wondering for a couple years now if you grabbed one of those S&W M&P 10’s back when Buds was running their deal on them and if you did what’s your opinion on it . Jim

 

I did get one back when they were cheap but can't give you much of a range report. I bought cheapie Ebay sights but never got it sighted in past 25 yards. 100% reliable with a variation of Remington 180 SP's, and handful of handloads loaded better than 10 years ago, US and Spanish GI ammo. Without describing all my aches and pains a neurological issue is keeping me away from any serious and painless rifle shooting temporarily, I hope.

 

Large cap mags have recently become reasonable, about 20 bucks for 18-and 20 rd metal mags. Previously I was only shooting with the factory 5rd mag. At a recent desert shoot, firing from the hip I rapid fired 18 rds of Santa Barbra ammo without a hiccup. A shooting bud put 18rds into a mountain rock about 175-200 yds. He claimed it was shooting where he aimed it without a hold-over.

 

Its a keeper!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looks good, Az.

 

Karl, don't forget to drive through NW Arkansas on your scout mission.

By all means if you consider Arizona, avoid Phoenix. The burbs aren't to bad but property prices high. If it is warm dry air, the Yuma area will fill the bill if you can deal with harsh summers. Big Marine presence there from their airbase.

 

Gen Patton did his desert warfare training in the Yuma area. During the war Patton was asked by a reporter if he feared hell. Patton said, no I've been there referring to summer in Yuma.

 

You may also consider the Albuquerque area for the weather if you can deal with New Mexico libs. Most the artists and hippies live in the Santa Fe area. Walter White highly recommends it!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Az ! That is exactly the kind of info I was looking for, I could find stuff about how folks could put a thousand dollar piece of glass on one and shoot tiny holes with expensive ammo . And no mention of reliability problems but there shouldn’t be with that kind of ammo through a rifle with that kind of price tag. Good to here it’ll eat what you feed it without hiccups. Jim

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I should've mentioned the Santa Barbra ammo pressure runs in the low 40's compared to 48-51,000 of US GI. The SB ammo was designed with a fluted HK type chamber in mind for the Spanish CETME. Im speculating the ammo uses a lower quality of brass and does not spring back very well. FTE's are not unusual but so far so good in the AR-10. Apx 20 years ago friends with legal full autos sprayed a light coat of WD-40 on the brass and it fixed the extraction problems.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...