Continuing with our back to basics article series; this time we will go over general revolver set up for optimal field performance.
When you first get your new or new to you revolver you should spend some time with it on the range as is. On these first range outings you should get the feel for the way the gun recoils, its general accuracy potential as is, and start thinking about how you want to set it up for field use.
There are a lot of options on the market to DIY customize your revolver to fit you. The first thing to address for me is the grips. The factory grips often times do not fit me the best. Over the years I have found Hogue to fit me the best, more specifically their top finger groove only design. Hogue offers several different options and all of them will impact the fit of the grip to your hand differently.
When I started running the Spohr’s I re discovered Nill grips which have an improved hand fit for me.
What am I looking for in a grip fit/design? I am looking for a grip that gives me 100% contact with the back strap of the grip/frame. I also want the grip to force me as much as possible to obtain the same grip on the gun each time I pick it up. There is no easy way to figure out which grip is best for you. You will have to try multiple designs and fire the gun with them to find what is perfect for you. This may change as recoil goes up or as the balance of the handgun changes.
Next we want to decide between iron sights, red dots, or handgun scopes.
When we look at iron sights we want something that stands out well against all backgrounds and draws in your eye. For me this is a fiber optic type front sight with a blacked out rear. Your eye can only focus at one distance at a time and for accurate shooting this has to be the front sight. The target and rear sight should be out of focus or blurry and the front should be crisp and in perfect focus.
Another option for sighting is magnified optics. A pistol scope will aid in your ability to precisely aim but at the cost of needing more stability to do so. The magnified optic will “magnify” your wobbling around. Shooting from a support becomes mandatory with anything above 3-4 power magnification. I find a magnified optic to provide the most advantage when hunting from a stationary position where you can bring in some kind of shooting rest.
Splitting the gap between iron sights and a magnified optic we have red dots. Red dots simplify the sight picture vs iron sights and do not magnify the wobble like a magnified optic. They do sacrifice some of the precision aiming capabilities at distance that the magnified optics offer. Selecting the dot size in the optic is another choice. The dots will be measured in minute of angle. Most dot sights are available in a 2, 3, or 4 moa size. In a simplified way of explaining this, the dot size in moa is how much of the target it will cover at 100 yards in inches. At 200 yards it will be double the area covered and at 50 yards it will be roughly half. Most find larger dots faster to acquire a sight picture and smaller dots to be more precise.
If you have chosen optics, now we have to look at mounting them. When you fire your revolver with optics the mass of the optic, mount, and rings will attempt to stay still as the gun recoils. This resistance is what places stress on the mounting screws, optics, and the method of attachment. To reduce this stress we want to keep our optic, base, and rings as light as possible. Quality aluminum rings and mount/base is the way to go. EGW offers several options for multiple makes and models of revolvers.
Where you mount your optic on the handgun can also change the way the gun recoils and handles. Mounting the optic over the cylinder often times has the best balance and mounting it on top of the barrel will reduce muzzle flip.
The only way to decide what optics, grips, and other accessories you want to use to make the gun more effective in the field for you is to put time in on the range. The method in which you hunt is also going to be a major factor in equipment selection.
Now you just have to get on the range and get to experimenting!
Back to basics part 1 article.