Manurhin MR 73 for bullseye

I made an impulse buy this weekend and bought an as NIB Manurhin MR 73 Sport 357 Mag with 6” bbl.  Registration / transfer can take up to 6 weeks here in Canada so I won’t get a chance to shoot it for a while yet.  While I’m waiting I was hoping to pick your collective brains on how well this gun will shoot mid range 38 WC loads.  I’ve read the barrel has a pretty slow twist rate at 18.75 inches (or something close to that) and I’m wondering if it will be enough to stabilize a slower (750 FPS) WC bullet?  Also, feel free to provide your opinions on this gun sans the French jokes… lol.

The 18.75: 1 is standard on most S&W revolvers. The barrel twist rate won't be a problem.

I know a little about them. I don't know the difference between the MR73 and MR38 but you should be just fine. The finest trigger in the business. For the price people are paying for a Colt now these are bargain basement priced and you can shoot them all you want.

bet that's a bear for SA rapid fire cocking.!!

But, for those who DA four shots in TF/RF it might be perfect.

Maybe I should buy one?

You should! Give us a full report after…..
Plus I’m sure you’ll let me shoot it when you come visit!!

It will likely shoot as well, maybe as well as a Python or OMM.

Got my 14-7 being breathed on by a specialist. Need to get that back and try it. Patience!

If he can't make it shoot like my beloved K16-4 then I shall have to consider other options.

My MR38 has a 25m test target around 5/8" for 6 shots, shooting WCs.  They are phenomenally accurate...

The marketing of Manurhin in USA is confusing. I just discovered that they are now, apparently, being imported by Beretta:-

https://www.beretta.com/en-us/manurhin/

But only a couple of models.

Meanwhile the primary Manurhin website in France lists several models - these appear to be the ones most interesting to Bullseye shooters, with the MR38 being of particular interest to me:-


But I have also seen them offered by this vendor - said to be available for delivery in early 2022?
https://www.scopelist.com/manurhin-MR73-revolvers.aspx?view=grid

Does anyone here have any facts to share?

There is a video on Youtube with a factory tour showing how they are made, a lot of hand fitting.  Nice looking revolver.

I would give my right ball to shoot one of those. I would try 2.7gn WST with a good Wadcutter and see how it prints. I heard the DA on those are like magic.

rich.tullo wrote:I would give my right ball to shoot one of those. I would try 2.7gn WST with a good Wadcutter and see how it prints. I heard the DA on those are like magic.

Ah mine is not available. I want no part of that payment plan.

One of Manurhin's biggest US dealers told me he has had a very difficult time getting them since Beretta started being the importer. He said he has 20 pistols on order and has only been able to get 2 since Beretta took over, previously he imported them direct. Perhaps bad timing with COVID and supply issues. I might consider one at some point.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/915853910

robert84010 wrote:

rich.tullo wrote:I would give my right ball to shoot one of those. I would try 2.7gn WST with a good Wadcutter and see how it prints. I heard the DA on those are like magic.

Ah mine is not available. I want no part of that payment plan.

Are you sure , I just shaved it , nice and shinny......

So, notwithstanding the apparently poor representation in USA, would an MR38 with that target sight that extends rearwards over the hammer be permitted for NRA Distinguished Revolver?

RoyDean wrote:So, notwithstanding the apparently poor representation in USA, would an MR38 with that target sight that extends rearwards over the hammer be permitted for NRA Distinguished Revolver?

Good point, I think there is MAX sight radius rule. Barring that, as that is an OEM sight, that should be good. Also, I never handled one but I think there is a DR rule against an over travel screw.

Interestingly enough, for DR there is only a only a max barrel length requirement; not sight radius. 

As for overtravel / stop, no external (added) or internal (added) unless it was original internal equipment for that model.  

Now what exactly is "external" and "internal" could be questioned.  Is a screw install in the trigger as a overtravel stop by the factory "external" as it can be seen or "internal" as it is part of the trigger?  

And just to be contrary, its interesting that adjustable front sights are not allowed (like on lots of early revolvers), even though there were installed by the factory. 

Alas; the more rules you have, the more rules you have to make to explain the earlier rules.  Eventually you get to something like the USPSA / IPSC rule books.

CR

If this pistol passes all the DR requirements it might just be the best thing going for an off the shelf DR pistol. I was reading the DR rules this weekend and didn't see anything about an overtravel screw but might have been old rules, found a PDF online. The fact the MR trigger has several adjustments built is kind of gives you some freedom to adjust without a trigger job which isn't allowed.

CR10X wrote:Interestingly enough, for DR there is only a only a max barrel length requirement; not sight radius.

There you go,

First off I would like for these to be allowed in DR. But I would be wary of being DQd for the trigger stop. I would think the trigger stop would be considered an external trigger stop and not allowed. If this is not an external trigger stop then what is? Below is the rule in question:

(f) The following are not allowed. Trigger shoes, compensators of type or design; any external trigger stop device; any internal trigger stop not originally installed by the factory as original equipment in stock revolvers of the same make and model; tape on the stocks or stocks flared at the base.

What's funny is they also say no grips flared at the base. You mean like nearly all factory revolver grips lol.

For example I have one of these and thought it disallowed due to the trigger stop. I actually thought about having another S&W trigger without stop put in it so it would fall in the rules. This is the S&W 686 Competitor.