SP 101 "Range" Report

[swilliams]

Okay, I thought I was kidding about shots being spread out over 4". OMG. The first 5 rounds were terrible!! The only thing allowing me to even show you guys is that it's the first time I shot the 101, and it gets better. (But it gets worse, first.) So these first five were the PMC Bronze, .38 Special FMJ, at 25 feet. The very small holes at top and bottom are where I attached the paper to the stop. (Swallow pride. Post pic.)



The next five were a real problem, not only in bad marksmanship. I'm going to need help here. These were the Aguila .38 Special hollow points. (All these ammo choices were made because that's what the FFL had when I went to pick up the gun.) I noticed the long trigger pull on the first five - it is a double-action after all - but the trigger was travelling so far back that I had a hard time pulling it back far enough to get the shot off. At first I thought maybe it was because they're hollow points, but that didn't seem to make sense because the rim of the cartridge stops the round from moving too far forward, right? Anyway, one of the shots went who-knows-where, and the last one didn't fire at all. I had the trigger as far back as I could get it, and the gun didn't fire, so I released the trigger to adjust my grip and try again. As I started to squeeze the trigger again, the cylinder rotated, and I was back to the first round. This is my first revolver, so I'm a bit clueless, but is that normal? Oh yeah, I moved up three feet to 7 yards.



Next up was the PPU .357. These are hollow points, too. Again I noticed the really long pull, but all of the rounds fired. Yeah, the .357 packs a wallop, but that was actually good for me. It made me realize I hadn't been supporting my shooting hand well enough. Remedied that fast enough, lol.



I shot another 5 rounds of the PMC, now that I had a better feel for the gun. Here are the results. Still not as good as I'm used to.

[usmcveteran]

Thanks for sharing and being brave enough to post all the targets lol!

As I am sure you started doing.... It's important with those long DA firearms to learn where the trigger breaks, That way you can squeeze all the slack out of it quickly and slowly add the last little bit needed to fire.

Very respectable groups there at the end, so what do you think of the revolver so far?

[swilliams]

Not entirely happy. This is the same revolver I shot and loved at the range a couple years back. I don't remember the break being a problem then, and I'm concerned about the one time the gun didn't even fire. Let me see if I can dry fire and get a picture of how far back the trigger is. I swear it's practically hitting the back of the trigger guard. Hopefully this is something Gemini can adjust. I don't mind a heavy pull, but not loving the length of travel.

[swilliams]

Okay, this is pretty good. The trigger moves backward maybe another 1/32 to 1/16 inch before the break.

[WARFAB]

Have you tried firing it single action? Probably not realistic for most personal defense situations, but when trying to shoot a double action revolver for accuracy, cocking the hammer first is the way to go.

[thughes]

Okay, I thought I was kidding about shots being spread out over 4". OMG. The first 5 rounds were terrible!! The only thing allowing me to even show you guys is that it's the first time I shot the 101, and it gets better. (But it gets worse, first.)

Target was neutralized in every instance. 'nuff said.

[big flash]

Yeah that photo is good, definitely see your point!

no reason to be embarrassed by those targets though, especially first time out with it.

[RandallOfLegend]

Okay, this is pretty good. The trigger moves backward maybe another 1/32 to 1/16 inch before the break.

Every revolver I have shot has a trigger like that. Quite different from semi-autos. A high hard grip will allow you to shoot fast and accurate, but absorbing a lot of the recoil. If you bend your elbows a bit you can let magnums raise up the muzzle, reducing felt recoil, but slowing down your shot to shot time.

[Doc8404]

Thanks for posting. Here is something to view

http://www.targetshooting.ca/docs/Pi...t_Analysis.pdf

[Cgrutt]

Last group was awesome for a short barreled revolver at 7 yards. Gun is new. Give it a chance. It might not like 38s. I'd try some 38+p and see if it makes any difference. As far as miss firing what happened? Did hammer not fall or did it fall and not fire? Try dry firing while putting some pressure on cylinder. It should advance to next round with each pull. If you can pull trigger hammer falls but cylinder doesn't advance there could be problem with timing which might be what happened to you. This would be a problem that needs to be fixed. I had it happen to me on a brand new S&W j frame. I'm sure a gunsmith can make trigger pull just how you want it to be. Good luck.

[swilliams]

As far as miss firing what happened? Did hammer not fall or did it fall and not fire? It should advance to next round with each pull.

I'm not sure. Trying to remember exactly, and I think the hammer didn't fall, then the cylinder rotated when I released the trigger to get a better grip.

If the trigger can't be made to break just slightly ahead of where it does, then I could have a potential problem. I have these big ol' Nordic mitts, and my natural grip puts the joint of my index finger on the trigger. I have less leverage that way, so it's harder to pull all the way back. Look where my finger rests on the Beretta prior to pull, vs. the SP101. I might have to start using those eggs-ersizers, lol.

[Cgrutt]

Did hammer leave an indent in unfired round just off center of the primer?

Nice granite looks like my pics LMAO...

[swilliams]

Nope. Looks like the firing pin never hit it. (It is the firing pin, right?)

[swilliams]

On a total side note - my poor fingernails. Broken away to nothing in this stupid weather.

[VARMINT223]

The SP101 is not a target gun. Out of the gate those initial targets look just fine. Momma bear would be one up on any bad guys.