S&W "Ultimate Carry" Airweight Revolvers

[HA556]

First off, blackout rear sights have been a "thing" for well over 30 years.

In quite a few of the competition classes, you won't find anything on their rear sights...and those folks are looking for any edge they can over their competition. If 3 dots and other art work on the rear sight was all that, they'd be using it.

A lot of the rear sights that I find that have anything on them are a distraction. If you're spending time aligning the dots and other things on the rear sight and not focusing on the threat at hand, you're putting yourself at a disadvantage from the start.

The people that can draw and hit their target at under 1 second are not looking at their rear sight. They are looking through it to the front sight...and the focus is on the threat. The front sight is superimposed on the threat. Once the front sight covers the intended target, the shot is taken.

Most shooters only use the rear sight as a reference and nothing more. They use many rounds of training to get their draw correct, in that the gun will present to the target level and plumb, and the only concern is getting a look at the front sight on the target, and the only conscience decision is when to actuate the trigger.

Ultimate Carry revolvers are designed for 15 feet and closer. Which means up close and personal type situations, not precision or longer range shots.

This is a fantastic bit of statement right here! I wish more of these new gun owners out there would get themselves better educated before purchasing a firearm for self defense!

TRAIN to fight, fight to LIVE!

 

[Paolung]

First off, blackout rear sights have been a "thing" for well over 30 years.

In quite a few of the competition classes, you won't find anything on their rear sights...and those folks are looking for any edge they can over their competition. If 3 dots and other art work on the rear sight was all that, they'd be using it.

A lot of the rear sights that I find that have anything on them are a distraction. If you're spending time aligning the dots and other things on the rear sight and not focusing on the threat at hand, you're putting yourself at a disadvantage from the start.

The people that can draw and hit their target at under 1 second are not looking at their rear sight. They are looking through it to the front sight...and the focus is on the threat. The front sight is superimposed on the threat. Once the front sight covers the intended target, the shot is taken.

Most shooters only use the rear sight as a reference and nothing more. They use many rounds of training to get their draw correct, in that the gun will present to the target level and plumb, and the only concern is getting a look at the front sight on the target, and the only conscience decision is when to actuate the trigger.

Ultimate Carry revolvers are designed for 15 feet and closer. Which means up close and personal type situations, not precision or longer range shots.

If "most shooters" don't use rear sights other than as a reference, why do they exist at all? If all it takes is practicing your draw until you get your nice presentation, why not just remove them entirely?

 

[ob1]

I suppose one could drill out and disable the Hillary-hole.

Actually I think that was tried. It didn't work out well.
It was called the lightweight Bill plug.

 

[Paolung]

This is a fantastic bit of statement right here! I wish more of these new gun owners out there would get themselves better educated before purchasing a firearm for self defense!

What does "better education" entail for you?

 

[Cerberus Group]

If "most shooters" don't use rear sights other than as a reference, why do they exist at all? If all it takes is practicing your draw until you get your nice presentation, why not just remove them entirely?

Because they're used as a reference in speed shooting, and used extensively in more precision shots.

 

[MikeE]

I finally was able to scratch and claw one of them away from their clutches.

A 432, which means 32 Magnum caliber.

We are now making 32 in both Wadcutter and XTP loads. Once Darryl Bolke and company are finished with their testing it'll be available to the public.

In dry firing, the trigger isn't bad, but like all my other 'Smiths...off comes the side plate for some finish work.

View attachment 1869207

I remember that you were involved making ammo. What is the company again? Hard for me to find 32.

 

[Cerberus Group]

I remember that you were involved making ammo. What is the company again? Hard for me to find 32.

High Desert Cartridge Company

highdesertcartridge.com

32 is available, but not on the website yet.

We make 98gr Wadcutters - 40.00 50 rounds

100gr XTP - 50.00 50 rounds

 

[Cerberus Group]

Finally got out to my range with it yesterday.

I had put some Uncle Mike's Boot grips on it, which mimic the famed Spiegel Boot grip, as I have some on other J frames. The geometry of the UC feels a bit different than other J frames with the boot grips.

The trigger is long and breaks almost when the trigger is pulled back against the frame. I found a bit difficult with the boot grips. I've got fairly large paws, so it felt like the trigger finger was wrapping around the gun twice before the shot broke.

I ran a few groups of both my WC and JHPs, and the gun shot high and right. Good groups at 5 and 7, but the farther I went back, the higher the groups went. May not be such a bad thing, since it's made for 7 yards on in, but just in case of the longer shot...hmmmm

I took the pistol into the shop to move the rear sight a bit left, but that was a chore. After removing the set screw, it took considerable pounding to the get the sight to move. I also replaced the boot grips with the VZ stocks that came with it. That seemed to alleviate the trigger problem somewhat. With the larger diameter grips, it felt much better.

After consulting with Bryan Eastridge, he recommends pulling the side plate and smoothing and lubing the guts a bit...so that will happen in a day or so.

As for shooting high, it will need to go back to S&W for a look over. But moving the sight to the left a bit solved that part.

I edited the post above about the 32 ammo. WC's are 40.00 per 50 rounds, and the JHPs are 100gr XTP.

WCs run at 805fps, and the JHPs are 840fps. Easy shooting, but with the scandium frame, you still know there's something coming out of the barrel.

 

[AKBob5]

The 32 H&R is making something of a resurgence as people realize it's recoil is less than the .38 and certainly less than .38+P.

For a J frame of .38 or .357, I prefer the S&W M&P as it has a very compromising weight to balance out ease of carry and recoil.

Check out Lost River Ammo Company. The owner is providing some of his 32 H&R loads for testing of some of the new J frames. Extensive background and a hell of a shot! https://www.lostriverammocompany.com/

 

[Cerberus Group]

The 32 H&R is making something of a resurgence as people realize it's recoil is less than the .38 and certainly less than .38+P.

...and you're not giving up much in ballistics either.

Also, run the 32 JHP at around 880+fps, it'll open up.

 

[ma96782]

You can remove them, and there's aftermarket Hillary hole fillers.

Aloha, Mark

PS........