No. 3 or D.A.

[bear tooth billy]

I am looking for a S&W to use at a ncows shoot once in a while, I bid on a #3 target model at the
Rock Island auction last weekend, but it went higher than I wanted to go. What would be the price difference
between the two models, for a shootable, similar condition gun. My other guns are 44/40 but I'm leaning
towards getting a 44 Russian in this. Lastly, will a D.A. shot single action shoot as well as a No. #3 Thanks


                                                         BTB

[JohnsonBarr]

Until the firing pin broke on my .44 DA Frontier (.44-40) I was able to generate single action groups as tight as my Uberti made No.3 New Model. More .44 DA's were produced in .44 S&W Russian and are much more pleasant to shoot than the jacked up .44-40. All of the .44 DA frames were produced before 1899, so all are considered BATFE antiques. I sure would like to put mine back on line, if anyone has a parts hammer please drop me a line: johnsonbarr@lonestarbridge.com 

[Pancho Peacemaker]

Billy, regarding the S&W DA's

1) the spring that holds the hammer for single action shooting is one of the more common parts to "go" on these guns. I own and have handled a number of these old guns that will function only in double action mode. The double action on these large frame models is very heavy.

2). Like JB said, hunt for a 44 Russian caliber.  They are easier to find, making the price much nicer.  The Russian is much more pleasant to shoot.  That said all of my 44 DA's are in 44 WCF (due mainly to their relative rarity & I enjoy collecting guns in rare calibers).  .  In 44 WCF, these gun will give your hand a stout pounding.  

This is a video of Books shooting one of mine last summer:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=546293345409725&set=vb.100000871928441&type=3&theater#

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[WV Scrounger]

Pancho...link aint working...

[bear tooth billy]

Thanks for the info, a couple of more questions, should the D.A. not be shot single action?, I have a Colt lightning that I
have been told to not try to shoot it single action. If you break something on these original S&Ws can you find parts
or can a gunsmith make springs etc. Again I want to get a decent shooter to be able to shoot once in a while at a
ncows shoot



                                       BTB

[JohnsonBarr]

Smiths have separate sears for single and double action modes. There is no problem shooting  S&W DA's single action. That being said, I have a couple of DA's that suffered from single action hammer push off. The single action sear needed to be freshened up a bit to hold engagement. Took longer to disassemble the gun than to stone the sear.

[Montana Slim]

Beartooth...remind me of the question next time we get together. I have some experience with both models and workings of DA vs SA on the Smith DA models.
Slim

[bear tooth billy]

Slim, I have a frontier D.A. on the way, should be waiting when I get back from vacation. At the Midwest regional
I'm planning on trying to shoot the match with original guns including this Smith. It would be great if you could make it
up there and camp with us!!!

                                 BTB

[Blair]

Now, I got to say, that sounds like a great invitation.
My best,
 Blair