Gun Picture Thread

Hammer67 · 2026-07-21T08:17:09-0400

Alone said:
How's the recoil? Is it snap'alicious?

Finally got to the range yesterday to put the first rounds through the 396 - Freedom 200gr FMJs and Hornady 165gr FTX JHPs. Numerous light strikes with both. Guess I'm going to have to drop an Apex EFP in it.

RLB0414 · 2026-07-21T08:39:32-0400

Hammer67 said:
Finally got to the range yesterday to put the first rounds through the 396 - Freedom 200gr FMJs and Hornady 165gr FTX JHPs. Numerous light strikes with both. Guess I'm going to have to drop an Apex EFP in it.

That sucks that you have to replace parts to make a revolver run reliably. Actually sucks on any modern firearm.

Hammer67 · 2026-07-21T09:16:33-0400

RLB0414 said:
That sucks that you have to replace parts to make a revolver run reliably. Actually sucks on any modern firearm.

It's ridiculous. I can buy extremely reliable pistols for significantly less. I could make some simple improvements to ensure reliability on this one, but I shouldn't have to.

Boru13 · 2026-07-21T09:38:34-0400

Hammer67 said:
Finally got to the range yesterday to put the first rounds through the 396 - Freedom 200gr FMJs and Hornady 165gr FTX JHPs. Numerous light strikes with both. Guess I'm going to have to drop an Apex EFP in it.

I keep seeing negative reviews about the newer Smith’s… pretty sad given the cost.

RLB0414 · 2026-07-21T09:45:07-0400

Hammer67 said:
It's ridiculous. I can buy extremely reliable pistols for significantly less. I could make some simple improvements to ensure reliability on this one, but I shouldn't have to.

Yes it is. I agree. For the cost of that pistol it should perform flawlessly from the start. The quality of new S&W revolvers is not what it once was.

ferider · 2026-07-21T10:37:46-0400

Hammer67 said:
Finally got to the range yesterday to put the first rounds through the 396 - Freedom 200gr FMJs and Hornady 165gr FTX JHPs. Numerous light strikes with both. Guess I'm going to have to drop an Apex EFP in it.

Sorry

I needed EFPs for all 3 S&W of mine. The only rounds they took reliably were Speer GD.

I guess one can blame (besides S&W) CA drop tests.

Hammer67 · 2026-07-21T14:08:10-0400

ferider said:
Sorry I needed EFPs for all 3 S&W of mine. The only rounds they took reliably were Speer GD.

I guess one can blame (besides S&W) CA drop tests.

I’m going to have to do the same with the M19 I bought a while ago as well. What really infuriates me, if S&W is truly putting short firing pins in their revolvers due to “drop test” concerns, is that they aren’t increasing safety by doing that - they’re actually making the gun less safe.

It’s not worth the hassle of sending it back - I can install an EFP easily enough myself. But the idea that I need to do that on a brand new gun, really ticks me off. I gave S&W another chance with this one, but in the future, I’ll stick with my Colts & Rugers.

Alone · 2026-07-21T22:09:10-0400

Hammer67 said:
Finally got to the range yesterday to put the first rounds through the 396 - Freedom 200gr FMJs and Hornady 165gr FTX JHPs. Numerous light strikes with both. Guess I'm going to have to drop an Apex EFP in it.

Bruh, that SUCKS.

I'm pretty disappointed, but not exactly surprised.

*Maybe try an extended strain screw? I dunno'.

Alone · 2026-07-22T04:17:00-0400