Where do I start?

[Clamper13]

I've recently joined USPSA this year with intentions of shooting my CZ in production.  Its been fun so far but I really prefer shooting my revolvers.

 

I have a 627 pro series that I would like to compete with.  Can any of you more experienced members help me get on the right track?  I've read internet forums but it's looking like competing with my revolver is out of my budget (in regards to holster, moon clip holder, moon clips, and modifications to pistol).  Maybe I'm over thinking things.  Some of the things I need advice on are;

 

Ammo (I currently reload my own .38/.357 ammo)

Holster

Moon clip holder

Modifications to revolver ( currently stock except for Hi-Viz front sight)

Shooting USPSA or try and an find ICORE clubs

 

I would like to stick to Minor PF to be able to use all 8 cylinders.  All in all I have no clue where to start or what I need.  Any advice is greatly appreciated.  I live in Tracy, CA BTW if there is anyone local that can help me out. Thanks.

[alecmc]

You can certainly compete with 38 special if thats what you have. Though, alot of people use shorter cases like Starline 38 short colt / 38 long colt.

 

Holster - Double Alpahs are nice, guga ribas, or blade tech ( whatever you can afford )

Moonclip holder - North Mountain is very popular, functional, and affordable - www.4wheelguns.com

Modifications - Trigger job, Cylinder chamfering, front sights, grips, etc.

 

Look to www.tkcustom.com for trigger work  and moonclips

www.getgrip.com for revolver grips

www.bowenclassicarms.com for rear sights

 

Edited May 29, 2018 by alecmc

[mchapman]

I am assuming that your 627 pro is a 4 inch, check speed beez for holsters, there are a lot of holsters out there.  George at Revolver supply has holders and moonclips, and Joe L. at MOJO custom guns can do as much as you want on gun modifications or as little, [ action job for s&w 165 as per website].  These are less money than some of the others but they work well. Tom and Elli at TK custom do great work and have excellent products. What I'm trying to show you is that you can spend as little or as much as you can afford, and as you progress you will more than likely be trying a lot of these things out as you go down the road, but that's all good, it's part of the fun. Just like alecmc said  do what you can afford,  and upgrade as you go.

Edited May 29, 2018 by mchapman

[jcc7x7]

Kinda like going to the dance " go with the one you brung!"

Shoot what you have to start.

Get a moon clip rack as others have stated above.

More moon clips, like mags, the more the merrier.

Generally with practice the draw from a Blade tech won't be much different than from a race holster.

As time goes on get the action /trigger done

By then you'll know what gear is costing you time.

Buy the best moon clips you can and a good loading tool (makes life easier, demooning tool from an old gold club handle to s store bought.

Then go out and shoot A's

Good fortune

[Mcfoto]

You are better set for USPSA revolver shooting than most: you have an 8 shot and you hand load. Add a holster and moon clip holder and you’re ready to party. All the other stuff can come along as you afford them. 

[firewood]

Your revolver will take over your life and leave you centless.

 

Question: Shooting USPSA or ICORE?

 

Answer: Sure, why not?

 

No other words of wisdom. Except try steel challenge if it is available. And dry fire as it takes some time to get the DA trigger under control. Personally I would make getting action work done a priority. It might seem like a lot of money but you already have a gun that is worthy of the time/expense and you handload. Outside of production the start up cost prolly isn't any worse than Limited or Open Auto. At least that is what I keep telling myself.

[MWP]

5 hours ago, Clamper13 said:

I've recently joined USPSA this year with intentions of shooting my CZ in production.  Its been fun so far but I really prefer shooting my revolvers.

 

I have a 627 pro series that I would like to compete with.  Can any of you more experienced members help me get on the right track?  I've read internet forums but it's looking like competing with my revolver is out of my budget (in regards to holster, moon clip holder, moon clips, and modifications to pistol).  Maybe I'm over thinking things.  Some of the things I need advice on are;

 

Ammo (I currently reload my own .38/.357 ammo)

Holster

Moon clip holder

Modifications to revolver ( currently stock except for Hi-Viz front sight)

Shooting USPSA or try and an find ICORE clubs

 

I would like to stick to Minor PF to be able to use all 8 cylinders.  All in all I have no clue where to start or what I need.  Any advice is greatly appreciated.  I live in Tracy, CA BTW if there is anyone local that can help me out. Thanks.

627 Pro- fine gun to start with. 

To start, and save a little coin up front, buy Jerry Miculek's Revolver video. It will show you how to do a basic action job and to properly disassemble and reassemble your gun. 

 

Ammo- shoot a heavy bullet, most prefer 147+ with fast powder. 38s are fine to start with if you have them. Moonclips are funny when it comes to revolvers, to truly be at your best with them they need to be fitted to the brass. If you want to just buy once and be done with it, order up some short colt or long colt brass from starline and get yourself a couple clips from TK Custom fitted for starline. I would rather have 1k pieces of brass and a dozen good moons rather than cases of mixed 38 special brass and junk clips. 

 

And whatever anyone tells you about cheap moons being good enough, they're wrong. 

 

Holster- Anything works. The gun isn't in there long enough to matter. Top of the time would be the DAA race master, it's not cheap but it will fit every Revolver you ever buy. 

 

Moon holder- your options are magnets such as DAA, or Speed-E-Rack, or North Mountians retention setup. Both are good. 

 

Mods- don't worry about any for now. Every time you see a revolver at a match ask to check out their mods. Sights front and rear are common, Hogue Big Butts are the most popular by far, and TK hammers are awesome replacements for stock. TK does a full action job if you wanted, and the gun comes home with an extremely light trigger and snappy return. 

 

USPSA and ICORE Limited are the same equipment rules, so most shooters shoot the same gear for both. You just missed a decent sized ICORE Regional a couple hours from you this past weekend. Great fun. 

[MikeyScuba]

Sorry to intrude but why 38 short/long colt?  My wife is getting work done on her 686 (2nd revo) and I haven't purchased the brass yet. 

[MWP]

The extractor clears the shorter brass, and shorter brass goes in the gun easier and faster. Chop some down and try it in moons before ordering. 

[Clamper13]

Thanks for all of the advice.  I think I will slowly get set up for revolver so by next year I can start to compete.

 

Does anyone have a good source for 38 long colt data?  I've checked my lymans and hornady manuals and have not found anything.

[Brian B]

Hi,
Your 627 is fine. After a zillion reloads you might find the 9mm case length for the 929 a nanosecond faster.

My Moon-clips story:
In order to improve my accuracy on a 40 yard target I cocked my revolver hammer for a single action shot. It froze after a slight rotation. The hammer had moved back halfway and also refused to move; pulling the trigger had no effect. This was during an IPSC (USPSA) Provincial competition with 200+ watching the final stages of my course of fire. This had never happened to me, nor had I ever heard of it ever occurring to anyone else. Revolves are supposed to be profoundly reliable? Keeping it safely downrange I tried to solve the problem. This was the last of 16 stages and 210 rounds. It was a scorcher of a hot day and we were all thirsty. Time was moving. “Slap and Rack” was all I could think of, from my old pistol days. Therefore I decided force might be the solution. While pointing (not aiming) downrange and my finger off the trigger, attempting to close the cylinder, I hit hard against it with the palm of my hand: BANG. I was DQ (disqualified) due to an AD (accidental discharge). Total embarrassment and confusion...
I was using factory ammo (Federal) and none of the casings showed extended primers.
The only potential cause of this issue was that I had leaned hard against a barricade during the course of fire and BENT the next moon-clip to be reloaded, which caused the cylinder to refuse rotation....

Competition moon-clips: I use
https://www.tkcustom.com/products/swn929x8-9mm-035-ss

Practice moon-clips: I use
http://www.revolversupply.com/moon-clip-9-mm-and-38-super-s-w-929-blued-finish/

Imperative, Moon clip checker:
http://www.revolversupply.com/moon-clip-checker-9-mm-s-w-929/

magnetic moon clip holder

BMT loader/unloader

Holster:
https://www.doubletapsports.com/Ghost-International/ghost-holster-for-revolver

Also get the holster extension for the mouth of the barrel and extra powerfull magnets on the moonclip holders from Double Alpha

Home Depot has neat storage containers which I store all loaded clips. Great to transport to and from range. If I miss a used clip I can see the empty space and know to go look for it. Usually someone picked it up, put it on a table or bench, not knowing who was the owner:
17 Compartment Portable Storage Box, Red
https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.17-compartment-portable-storage-box-red.1001052027.html

All above for S&W 929, 610 and Ruger Redhawk 45 ACP/Colt.

Good shooting!



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[Kurusty]

Just an FYI, for USPSA you can run revolver in production, but you can't use a race holster. This only matters if you plan on running it in production class. Race holsters are allowed if you shoot in limited 10 and revolver.

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[Sarge]

14 minutes ago, Kurusty said:

Just an FYI, for USPSA you can run revolver in production, but you can't use a race holster. This only matters if you plan on running it in production class. Race holsters are allowed if you shoot in limited 10 and revolver.

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I don't see any revolvers on the production approved list?

[Mcfoto]

Just now, Sarge said:

I don't see any revolvers on the production approved list?

 

Uh, oh. This is sounding like when I suggested 1911s could shoot Production... Check the list first.

[MWP]

 

S&W

Website: www.smith-wesson.com

Notes: (Any DAO or DA/SA revolver with a barrel length of up to 8.5" is approved) All ported models of approved guns are approved for use in Production and Carry Optics, as long as the barrel is not ported. SD9VE/SD40VE added 10/13/16 M&P9M2.0 added 01/20/2017 XD Mod 2 added 2/8/17

[MikeyScuba]

I have to ask why would you want to shoot revolver in production class?

[Distant Thunder]

I think it's an S&M kind of thing.

[MWP]

 

46 minutes ago, MikeyScuba said:

I have to ask why would you want to shoot revolver in production class?

If someone wanted a warm up for revo nationals they could shoot production the 3 days prior. Or if there's a level 2 or 3 where there aren't any other revolvers. 

 

I've shot my 929 in production in a steel challenge match. .35 slower draw from an idpa legal 625 holster, I finished 11 seconds behind my normal score. 

[Kurusty]

People also do it because some areas don't have many revolver shooters and they like to see how compressive they can be. I personally don't care how many people signup for revolver in a USPSA match because I don't want to change my holster, I run a race master for ICORE and USPSA, it just makes it easier for a lady person like me.

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[Kurusty]

 

S&W

Website: www.smith-wesson.com

Notes: (Any DAO or DA/SA revolver with a barrel length of up to 8.5" is approved) All ported models of approved guns are approved for use in Production and Carry Optics, as long as the barrel is not ported. SD9VE/SD40VE added 10/13/16 M&P9M2.0 added 01/20/2017 XD Mod 2 added 2/8/17

Thank you for posting this, I didn't want to have with it. Congratulations on your current reign of wins in the SW & NW regionals! Keep up the good work.

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[MWP]

8 hours ago, Kurusty said:

Thank you for posting this, I didn't want to have with it. Congratulations on your current reign of wins in the SW & NW regionals! Keep up the good work.

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Thanks!

[alecmc]

10 hours ago, Kurusty said:

 Congratulations on your current reign of wins in the SW & NW regionals! Keep up the good work.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
 

 

1 hour ago, MWP said:

Thanks!

 

 

His head is already big enough.

[MWP]

1 hour ago, alecmc said:

 

 

 

His head is already big enough.

Thanks? Ha

[Richard Koester]

Welcome Clamper 13.  Tracy is almost the local hotbed for revolver shooting.  Richmond Hot Shots has an occasional ICORE match, and well as USPSA shooting twice a month.  San Luis Obispo Sportsman Club has a monthly ICORE match as well as USPSA,  I shoot at The Oakdale Sportsman Club Twice a month.  We have a fair revolver turnout, especially before a major revolver match when we put away the autos and concentrate on revolvers.  Rich Wolfe won high overall against all divisions last match.  He seemed unbeatable.  At least until he ran into Poggie at last weeks Regional in Fallon.  Check websites for dates and times.  Oakdale is close to Tracy.  Bring your revolver, we'll show you the ropes.  Richard.

[Clamper13]

35 minutes ago, Richard Koester said:

Welcome Clamper 13.  Tracy is almost the local hotbed for revolver shooting.  Richmond Hot Shots has an occasional ICORE match, and well as USPSA shooting twice a month.  San Luis Obispo Sportsman Club has a monthly ICORE match as well as USPSA,  I shoot at The Oakdale Sportsman Club Twice a month.  We have a fair revolver turnout, especially before a major revolver match when we put away the autos and concentrate on revolvers.  Rich Wolfe won high overall against all divisions last match.  He seemed unbeatable.  At least until he ran into Poggie at last weeks Regional in Fallon.  Check websites for dates and times.  Oakdale is close to Tracy.  Bring your revolver, we'll show you the ropes.  Richard.

 

Thanks Richard!  I actually shoot at Oakdale for the fun matches.  I will be there this Sunday with my CZ.  Once I get my gear set up for my revolver I plan to test it out at Oakdale.  I'll try and look for you.  I will be the big guy with a beard and ECV hat.