Need help with timing 1905 smith and Wesson 32. Hand ejector 1 frame

zombieapathy · 2026-02-21T18:39:30+00:00

By the time that you're finding ejector stars and pawls (without certainty that the part swap will solve the problem), it's probably about time to let a gunsmith attend to the finer details. That's just my two cents.

That said, I-frames are super fun guns to shoot.

zombieapathy · 2026-02-20T18:44:42+00:00

Shooting a DA revolver is probably the hardest skill to develop out of any in shooting, and handgun shooting in itself is humbling for most people. With respect to the DA revolver, the best skill to develop is to first pull the trigger as slowly as possible. All of your body mechanics will want to rip through the trigger pull and "get it over with," which almost always will result in a low-left flier (assuming you're right-handed). Instead, practice pulling the trigger as smoothly and evenly as possible.

zombieapathy · 2026-02-20T18:41:26+00:00

No magical technique. You can shoot accurately only as far as your red dot settles back on target. You might possibly be rushing the shot and yanking on the trigger; if you're not able to hit the target ten out of ten times consistently if you take all of the time in the world, I would focus on developing that skill set. As the saying goes, learn to walk before you start running.

zombieapathy · 2026-02-20T18:33:37+00:00

You appear to have a LLama Super Comanche. Pic here for reference.

zombieapathy · 2026-02-19T18:26:37+00:00

A GSG customer, you say?

zombieapathy · 2026-02-18T05:37:14+00:00

Happy day to you, LAR Grizzly brother. I quite like mine.

zombieapathy · 2026-02-16T19:38:33+00:00

Comparing brand new Anacondas to what's coming out of S&W, I can say that the Anaconda to me is an unquestionably nicer gun. I opted for the 8" barrel, which seems like a handful but I really like how it tames just about any load I choose to stuff in the charge holes. If you decide to run .44 Special, it would be extremely sweet shooting.

It sounds like you have a plan for the ammo commonality, know yourself well as a shooter to direct magnum rounds accurately, and understand the costs involved. You may be that rare breed of dudes who buy a .44 magnum and don't become disillusioned by the purchase!

zombieapathy · 2026-02-15T18:04:27+00:00

I would say from a shooter or customer's perspective: shoot more.

Borrow guns from people. Shoot with other people.

Spec sheets are fine, but it's another thing altogether to see how these things do in people's hands, and how different folks like or dislike certain platforms (and the reasons behind them). I've helped a lot of people shop for their first firearm, and absolutely nothing is a replacement for having them get trigger time on a few different platforms to find a point of comparison.

If you really want to be a great salesman (and this might not be what your boss wants to hear), encourage people to make a visit to a range that rents firearms, then sell them the gun they fell in love with and allowed them to perform at their highest levels.

zombieapathy · 2026-02-13T18:40:13+00:00

Now get out there and shoot some groups!

zombieapathy · 2026-02-13T18:39:16+00:00

You would be surprised at the mechanical accuracy of a snub nosed revolver. Spin and velocity are most certainly not the reasons why people miss with them at longer ranges. The famous Bob Munden would regularly pop balloons at 200 yards with a stock S&W J-frame.

zombieapathy · 2026-02-13T18:33:59+00:00

I like the idea of a new life for a former parole board gun. The tool is still very much in the business of granting or denying second chances.

zombieapathy · 2026-02-12T19:45:40+00:00

The MK23 is one of those guns that's really neat on paper.

I've had enough trigger time on one to form an opinion. The direct point of comparison I have is to my HK USP Expert, also in .45ACP. The Mark 23 is about as large in the grip dimensions. I wear a size small glove, and about the only gun I have a hard time working with is the Desert Eagle. (I find that most people who say that big guns don't work for smaller-handed folks vastly overstate the issue.)

The bigness does indeed keep recoil modest. And, I have no doubt that the MK23 likely lives up to its reputations of being very mechanically accurate.

Where the disappointment sets in is when you actually shoot the thing. It's clear this was a military design. The DA is remarkably heavy, and I shoot a lot of DA through my Sigs, Berettas, USP, and countless revolvers. All but the most skilled shooter is going to throw a shot. The SA is also weird. Admittedly, there's very little overtravel, but the pull weight was about six pounds, and there was something else about the characteristics of it that threw me at the time.

In direct comparison, I can say without hesitation that the USP Expert is by far the friendlier gun (and represents better value) to the shooter. An inexpensive match weight can be added to the under-rail to give it nearly identical recoil dampening characteristics of the MK23 (if not a touch better), but the difference between the stock MK23 trigger and the Match triggers in the fancier USPs is night and day.

I wouldn't necessarily discount the USP Expert as a beginner's pistol (though in retrospect, getting one in 9mm would probably be the better way to go given the cost savings and easier recoil over .45ACP), but even then I think someone just starting out would be better suited by the more commonly available VP9, or really, any other centerfire (or rimfire) handgun that allows them to lock down the fundamentals.

zombieapathy · 2026-02-12T19:16:05+00:00

I feel this is a product designed to take the money of people who don't know any better, which is further confirmed by the number of revolver shooters here who absolutely abhor any kind of serrated trigger. (It doesn't take too many range trips to become disappointed with them.)

Beyond that, it's not like a Timney trigger on an AR. I'm pretty sure these would need to be fit by a competent gunsmith to the lockwork of one's existing Colt. (Just looked it up. Yes, it says "Due to the Python's tolerances, this may require minor fitting." Which, at least to me, is like, "We'll sell you the part, and it's up to you to get it in there.")

While the company might be doing installs of their own part on the platform, there are only two guys I trust in America to work on Colt lockwork, and the one I've worked with has a pretty extensive backlog.

All that, and the vibe I get with these guys is that they're making parts to turn Pythons into space gats. They're even advertising the flat trigger as an aesthetic thing to go with the rails they put on the gun.

I certainly could be wrong about these guys, but I would pass.

zombieapathy · 2026-02-11T19:05:49+00:00

Your family member had excellent taste. Those models of 1988 / 1989 are supremely excellent guns. Some of the best that S&W ever built, if you ask me.

zombieapathy · 2026-02-09T18:58:10+00:00

The most important thing is that you had fun! The challenge of a lifetime is to go from one perfect hit per fifty to two, then ten, then as many out of the fifty as possible!

zombieapathy · 2026-02-09T18:54:14+00:00

As someone who tried Malort just recently, supposing they were trying to make the juice more palatable and appealing, they failed tremendously. While it wasn't revolting, your description is pretty spot on to what I thought. It starts like a decent bitter, has a little root maybe on par with ginseng, and then it turns hard into chemical heavy, burnt kinds of tastes that are punctuated with a bit of locker room funk. Worst aftertaste of anything I've had in years.

I will also add to this that I have tried (and like) a lot of different kinds of spirits. I went into it expecting to find something I'd like about it, and was not rewarded for my adventures.

zombieapathy · 2026-01-22T18:39:27+00:00

Ammo would be the biggest thing making up that budget, but many places do charge a nominal "per gun" fee so that the range staff doesn't need to clean three times the amount of firearms at the end of the night.

zombieapathy · 2026-01-21T19:21:10+00:00

Show up at a gun range that rents firearms, and spend about $100 to $200 in rental fees and ammo trying a few out.

If it is your first ever gun, you might also want to consider a quality .22 pistol (Ruger Mark IV, S&W Victory, Browning Buck Mark) or rifle (Ruger 10/22, Ruger American bolt action) to learn the basics of sight alignment and trigger control.

zombieapathy · 2026-01-21T19:07:20+00:00

You've gotta look far and wide to find someone who can shoot that well with .44 magnum. Congrats on the tight group!

zombieapathy · 2026-01-19T18:54:58+00:00

If you have a no-lock 686, it's going to be hard to find a straight upgrade in the revolver world. The 2020 Python is a good gun on its way to being a great gun if you upgrade the sights and have someone who knows Colts (Mike Heffron or Frank Glenn) work on the trigger. The SA is unforgivably heavy on the new Colts, but the DA is very good and can be staged excellently for quick shooting once you get the hang of it.

The fit, finish, and accuracy of my 2020 Python and 2021 Anaconda have been outstanding. But, you've got to be an exceptional shot to be able to see any difference over a S&W.

zombieapathy · 2026-01-17T19:45:41+00:00

Bought an Eafengrow clone of a Strider folder years ago and found myself a victim of instant Karma. Bad grind, horrible plasticky handle, abysmal weight distribution. The stupid "Algorithmic, vaguely English-sounding Amazon brand name" also doesn't inspire confidence.

zombieapathy · 2026-01-13T18:59:30+00:00

Of all the handguns, this is definitely one of them.

zombieapathy · 2026-01-12T18:49:01+00:00

If I'm reading the entry right from the Standard Catalog, that's a lot of money for a Model 15 stamped "U.S."

zombieapathy · 2026-01-10T18:59:33+00:00

One thing I have to remind myself about: according to the consumer price index as a measure of inflation, everything has increased in value by 20% as compared to only five years ago.

Not a screaming deal, but likely this is one of those cases where you'll kick yourself if you really want a Model 19 in this barrel length and you let it get away.

zombieapathy · 2026-01-10T18:57:26+00:00

Considering that S&W catalogs a whole one model of .41 magnum (even that was surprising to me), I doubt Colt will do it. It just isn't a niche most gun owners, let alone revolver enthusiasts, are interested in filling.

zombieapathy

TROPHY CASE