AntiVenom observations

[Gnomie]

The bird's head grips are painted plastic simulated pearl.  The boot grips are painted rosewood. 

[pietro]

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I'm likin' the snakeskin look - Niiiice ! 

[Gnomie]

So...

I took these two to the range today and shot them at about 5 yards experimenting with a variety of ammo. 

The 1 5/8 just came back from NAA with a new mainspring and a re-crown.  I had sent it back because it was keyholing 90%.  While it was there, I ordered an LR conversion cartridge.  I planned to carry this one when I get my CCW, but it's still keyholing a good 40%   

I just got the 1 1/8 short a couple of weeks ago and this was its virgin session.  It shot much cleaner with less keyholing (about 5%) than the longer barrel. I think it's the gun, but maybe it's the boot grips? 

I was less accurate with the short; my groups were about 8" as opposed to 4-6" with the long, but that could be because I shot the short first; I improved as I went along. 

I tried a variety of ammo in both guns.  In the 1 5/8 Magnum I shot ten rounds each of:

Speer Gold Dot WMR
Hornady Critical Defense WMR
Hornady V-Max WMR
CCI Maxi Mag TMJ WMR
CCI Maxi Mag TNT JHP WMR
Federal Champion FMJ WMR
CCI Standard LR
Federal Punch LR

In the short, I shot ten rounds each of:

Speer Gold Dot WMR
Hornady Critical Defense WMR
CCI Maxi Mag TMJ WMR
CCI Maxi Mag TNT JHP WMR
Federal Champion FMJ WMR

The Gold Dot was the most accurate WMR. It keyholed 20% from the short barrel and 40% from the longer. I wish I could find more I only have half a box left. 

The Critical Defense keyholed 10% from the short barrel and 70% from the longer.  I was so thrilled when I finally found it that I bought 9 boxes, but it keyholes the worst by far of any round in the longer gun. 

The target rounds (CCI MM TMJ and Federal Champion FMJ) had the least keyholing. I can see why some folks choose these for defense.   

I was most accurate with the LR rounds, maybe because I shot them last.  They still keyholed as much as the WMR's, unfortunately.

I'm not a well-experienced or trained shooter, but I'm committed to continued practice.  Hopefully, as my technique improves, the keyholing will diminish commensurately. 

[Rimfire]

Gnomie- Thanks for the range report. Interesting to see how common keyholing is with these pistols. You mentioned sending yours back because of keyholing- what, if anything, did NAA say about that issue and what did they do to try to fix it?

[Gnomie]

Gnomie- Thanks for the range report. Interesting to see how common keyholing is with these pistols. You mentioned sending yours back because of keyholing- what, if anything, did NAA say about that issue and what did they do to try to fix it?

First they told me short-barreled revolvers tend to keyhole and I should try different ammo. Then they agreed to take it back and sent me a prepaid mailing label. The service was great, I had the gun back 3 1/2 weeks after sending it in (including the LR cartridge). They re-crowned it and replaced the mainspring.