So, I got one for my birthday. I am truly enthralled with this late 19th century design. The one I got was a 1927 Tula, clearly refurbished as it looked nearly new. Nice clean bore, strong rifling. It also came with a .32acp spare cylinder, but that will need some fitting. One chamber does not index correctly and has to be nudged into place, the rest are fine. The orginal cylinder fits fine.
What I've discovered is this. This pistol has a horrendous double action pull but it is consistent and can be learned. It is accurate and can keep shots inside of 4" off hand at 50'. I don't have a pistol rest to test it, but I'm sure it would group well.
I am going to use Hotshot ammo which rates right about at 1000 fps. I think this can be pushed a bit with reloading as the original military load was around 1100 fps putting it right around the power of standard .38spl. For some reason the commercial ammo loaders think we only want target ammo.
I think this is going to be my new going camping gun. It is light enough to carry, has virtually no recoil, and I'm not going to shoot a bear or mountain lion with a pistol anyway. I may also have the .32acp cylinder bored out to .32 HR magnum. I know they will work in the standard cylinder with no modifications, but having the straight walled cylinder would save on brass for reloading.
I figure for a gun that costs about $100 delivered, it beats a .22 and is a gun I don't mind going into the woods with. That and the full flap military holster and lanyard just screams adventure. :grin:
What I've discovered is this. This pistol has a horrendous double action pull but it is consistent and can be learned. It is accurate and can keep shots inside of 4" off hand at 50'. I don't have a pistol rest to test it, but I'm sure it would group well.
I am going to use Hotshot ammo which rates right about at 1000 fps. I think this can be pushed a bit with reloading as the original military load was around 1100 fps putting it right around the power of standard .38spl. For some reason the commercial ammo loaders think we only want target ammo.
I think this is going to be my new going camping gun. It is light enough to carry, has virtually no recoil, and I'm not going to shoot a bear or mountain lion with a pistol anyway. I may also have the .32acp cylinder bored out to .32 HR magnum. I know they will work in the standard cylinder with no modifications, but having the straight walled cylinder would save on brass for reloading.
I figure for a gun that costs about $100 delivered, it beats a .22 and is a gun I don't mind going into the woods with. That and the full flap military holster and lanyard just screams adventure. :grin: