I changed my mind

[Camba]

I have 4, .44 Magnum guns.  2 of the are S&W629 Classic in 4" and 5" bbls configuration; one of my .44 mag is a RSBH hunter model with a 7.5" bbl.  This particular gun had been decently accurate.  The major problems I have with thzat gun are:  The grips.  The grips seem to get loose everytime I go to the range and target shoot.  After adjusting the grips a few times, the center screw broke through.  I place another set of grips and they also seem to get loose.  Yesterday, I was getting the gun ready to trade it in for something else and I decided to load up some 240gr Speer GDSP ove 18.1 gr of 2400.
I took it to the rasnge for a last time before trading it in.  The results:  I've got two groups so small than I ever seen shooting handguns.  I've got 4 shot in basically the same hole.  Then I tried again and I've got4 shots that were almost touching and the other two opened the group to one inch.  I scratched my head a little and then I said, forget it.  I am not trading this one.  The other problem I was going to say about this gun is its weight.  I think it is a keeper.

Camba

[Redhawk1]

That is why I will shoot a gun with a bunch of different loads. I try to find the best load that the "gun" likes.

[bilmac]

So if you can solve the grip problem you will have a nice gun. I'm wondering if maybe you could put another pin or even two or three in the frame that fit holes in your grips. The holes would have to be precise to do any good, maybe they could be glass bedded , but that would be a precision job too. A good smith will probably be able to fix you up.

[S.B.]

bilmac, I've bedded N frame smith grips for a square butt to a round butt configuration and it was no hill for a climber? I disassembled the gun and then I put one layer of masking tape and then release agent all over the frame and bedded the grips(one side at a time). Actually, I though the accuracy, of this particular gun,  improved because of the bedding?

[bilmac]

I imagine that a hard recoiling 6 shooter would have accuracy problems if the grips slipped a little.

[Camba]

Last year, while visiting relatives in south america, I have a local wood craft person to make me 6 pairs of the bisley grips using exotic wood.  He made them but they still need some work to be done.  I took with me at that time the damaged Ruger grips to use them a a patern.  I had not been able to finish that job yet.  I stil have the 6 pairs but I had not done anything with them yet.  I am ZERO knowledge of how to work with wood.  I think now, that the revolver is showing a great potential, I will get them finished so It can wear them.
I am just excited that I was able to get that much accuracy from a Ruger.
Camba

[critter44]

I fixed a similar problem by using a thin layer of stock bedding compound under the grips. Be SURE to use LOTS of release agent and a small amount of bedding compound. It will leave little 'dams' of compound around the inside of the grip frame and they will stay put without having to tighten the grip screws overly tight.

I, too, have the Ruger hunter model in .44. A VERY accurate 6-gun indeed!

[bluecow]

i hate to sound like a broken record ( thats kind of a dated statment ) houge grips

[Ken ONeill]

i hate to sound like a broken record ( thats kind of a dated statment ) houge grips

I've never thought about it until now, but I'll bet that many who visit this forum have never SEEN a record !
Back to the original topic, most SBH's I've seen are capable of fantastic accuracy, with the right load(s), and in the right hands.

[StrawHat]

Along with bedding the grips, a little shellac or loctite on the screw threads will help keep the screw from loosening.

I bed the grips on any revolver I decide to keep.  If the grip moves around, accuracy will never be at the potential of the revolver.  All have improved or stayed the same, none have given worse accuracy after bedding.

[S.B.]

Along with bedding the grips, a little shellac or loctite on the screw threads will help keep the screw from loosening.

I bed the grips on any revolver I decide to keep.  If the grip moves around, accuracy will never be at the potential of the revolver.  All have improved or stayed the same, none have given worse accuracy after bedding.

While shooting Bullseye competition, the thought was "not to over tighten the grip screw"?

[Mohawk]

Good point, S.B., good point, indeed.

[Possum]

i hate to sound like a broken record ( thats kind of a dated statment ) houge grips

I've never thought about it until now, but I'll bet that many who visit this forum have never SEEN a record !

That's Funny!  I would use some fingernail polish or loctite on the grip screw.  If it is still loose the grips are not fitting correctly.  If it shoots that good, buy some new grips.  It's not often you get a really fine shooting six gun.  I have a Hunter Bisley that shoots really and grips are a whole lot cheaper than trading guns to find another one that shoots that well.

[Mohawk]

  And you're hunting what that requires this much accuracy? If it's deer, you're fine.