The range is one of several in the area and one of the best. This morning there were two Range Safety Officers (RSOs) for four shooters. (It was early in the day.)
Not only do the RSOs make certain safety rules are followed, they also make suggestions on how to improve marksmanship.
I TOOK MY WHEEL GUN and 9mm and .357 ammunition and checked in.
Wait. 9mm AND .357?
My current revolver (a/k/a wheel gun) is a Taurus Model 692, hereafter just “692.”
The revolver is sold with two easily interchangeable cylinders. One seven-chamber cylinder accommodates both .38 Special and .357 Magnum cartridges. The second seven-chamber cylinder accommodates 9mm ammunition normally used in semi-automatics.
In order to accommodate the 9mm ammunition, each round must sit in what Taurus calls a “stellar” clip, a/k/a “moon” or “star” clip.
Planning ahead
Range time is sold by the hour or portion thereof.
Since my 9mm ammunition requires a seven-cartridge moon clip, I loaded 49 cartridges (7*7) at the house. A number of companies make loaders, most of which sell for $30 and up; way up. I loaded my 49 rounds by hand. Not a problem, at least for me.
One advantage of the moon clips is that they act almost like a “speed loader.” The cartridges can be quickly loaded into the revolver and equally quickly ejected from the revolver.
Removing the spent cases from the moon clips, which I was warned could be difficult, was a snap with a pair of needle nose pliers from my toolbox; again, no need for an expensive cartridge removing tool. (However, if someone wants to send me such a tool I will be happy to “test” it.)
Taurus Guns ≠ Liberty Ammunition
Liberty ammunition is made in Florida. It uses light weight, 50 grain bullets designed to create a large wound trail.
I bought a box to fire in my Taurus Model 605 .38/.357 revolver.
Absolutely minimum recoil (kick).
The only problem was, the cartridges apparently expanded and I could not eject them from the chambers.
I thought the problem might be limited to the 605.
I loaded and fired seven rounds of Liberty .357 cartridges. They ejected normally from a previously unused cylinder.
I changed cylinders and fired 49 rounds of 9mm.
Then I reinstalled the .38/.357 cylinder and fired 17 rounds of American Eagle 158 gain Jacketed Soft Point.
Finally, when I only had four American Eagle rounds I added three Liberty rounds to fill the seven-round cylinder.
Is it Taurus, Liberty, or all revolvers?
When I fired this mix, the American Eagle cases ejected cleanly but the three Liberty cases were stuck solidly in their chambers.
They remained stuck until I got to the house and the tool box. With hammer and Phillips head screwdriver, I managed to force the Liberty cases out. The gun’s ejector rod would not budge them.
I complained to Taurus and to Liberty about this issue with my old 605. Neither company bothered to reply. I no longer will recommend or buy Liberty ammunition.
My Second Born son used Libertys in his semi-automatic and claimed the bullets went wild. He also has “sworn off” Liberty ammunition.
Recoil and Rubber Grip
I was surprised at the kick from Remington’s 115 grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) training ammunition.
- According to my first born, a police detective, his accuracy greatly improved when his department switched from .40 semi-automatics to 9 mm semi-automatics.
The 692 has a 3” ported barrel (below) that is supposed to reduce recoil. Since I never have fired 9mm before, I can’t say yea or nay to that claim. I have fired my son’s personal Springfield Armory .40 and .45 semi-automatics and they had less recoil. I also have fired .38 Specials from the 605 and an over/under Derringer. Recoil never was a problem.
Taurus 692 with 3” ported barrel and rubber grip
While the 9mm did have more recoil than expected, the 692’s rubber grip saved my hands.
Even with the American Eagle .357 Magnums the kick was both as expected and comparatively easy on the hands.
The 692’s soft rubber grip allowed me to fire many more .357 rounds than I managed with the 2” barrel 605 with a harder grip. I KNEW I had been shooting .357s when I fired the 605.
Size Does Make a Difference
My accuracy with the heavy, 3” barrel 692 was markedly improved over the lighter, 2” barrel 605.
I am not ready for “prime time” competitive shooting, but my paper target showed lots of holes. Given this was my first time out with the 692 and that I don’t spend a lot of time at a range, I’m satisfied that spending more time at home on the range, my accuracy at 17 feet will greatly improve. As it is, it’s “good enough” for self-defense but I would NEVER trust myself to fire into a crowd.
A Clean Gun is ...
Once I managed to hammer the three Libertys out of their chambers, I set about the task of cleaning the 692.
Revolvers are much easier and faster to clean than semi-automatics.
A good brush to loosen any powder residue followed by a Ballistol-soaked swab to clean the barrel and chambers followed by a dry swab to remove any excess gun oil and DONE! No disassembly. No springs to loose.
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