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My BG38 already has a laser on the right-hand side of the frame. I found myself spending more time searching for the red dot downrange (especially against a visually-cluttered background) than getting a decent sight picture and firing. I suspect there is a tighter coupling of eye/hand/brain with regular sights than eye/brain with a laser. At least for me. A few times, when hunting, I've taken snapshots without being aware of the location of sights, or even the barrel. I think muscle memory was used to tell the brain that the other stuff was aligned properly. Again, the universal "YMMV".

Also in the accuracy department, some results with tinkering with a handgun that is already considered one of the elites in the world of high-end M1911 clone. First, my first shots with the Dan Wesson Classic Commander. For me, this is stuning accuracy for the first rounds out of the barrel.

I made a few changes just to satisfy my personal preferences. New rosewood thin grips, new magazine release, and a plastic recoil buffer on the recoil spring. Changes that might improve accuracy included a new match-grade trigger with custom fitting via Nano-lube, and titanium firing pin, hammer strut, and hammer spring end cap, just to cut back on moving mass, and satisfy myself that I crossed every "I" and dotted every "T". These are my latest results:

Still a Ferrari F40 being driven by an amateur, but squeezing out a bit more of the enormous performance that still hasn't been tapped. But it works wonders for confidence and self-esteem. :)

I also picked up some more information (valid perhaps for me, only) on balance and handling for M1911-type handguns.

1. An all-steel frame, weighing six ounces more than aluminum, results in a M1911 that feels lighter, and balances better than one with an aluminum frame. The extra weight moves the balance point further to the rear, putting the balance point more over the trigger finger rather than ahead of it, and also shortening the moment arm, resulting in less torque during recoil.

2. The one-inch shorter "commander" length provides even more of advantage #1, regardless of frame material. Even with six ounces of extra weight, the all-steel Commander feels lighter, and maneuvers with less effort, than the lighter aluminum model. It's weight "well-spent". Save a fraction of an ounce in moving mass with titanium internal parts. It may not be much help, but it won't hurt, and helps keep your OCD "happy" if you're afflicted with that.

In my case, I suspect some of those "trivial" tweaks added up to enough change to tame some of my tendency to throw out a lot of fliers from a handgun that is far more accurate than my modest skills can utilize fully. Not bad for something I pounced on for the simple fact that it was also a hell of a financial bargain.

My comments apply to snubnoses only because I don’t know any of them that allow you to quickly get a solid grip on them. The little finger always seems to be grabbing air.

Afternoon Win-Mag : well done, great target and superb pistolsmithing. It’s built to YOUR specifications. What’s not to like.