[HB]

I'm in the market for a second handgun and I want a revolver.:) I'm thinking I want something with a 3'' to 6'' barrel, adjustable sights, in .38 or .357. A classic S&W or Colt would be best, but a Ruger would suffice. I don't mind a well worn exterior, so long as it's a solid shooter. This gun is purely for fun/ informal target practice, so .357 is not that important. My budget should be about $400 plus or minus $100. I'm thinking an old service pistol may be the best, so What am I looking for???
Any and all input is appreciated
Thanks,
HB

[easyrider6042004@yahoo.ca]

How much do you want to spend?

[HB]

Sorry, I forgot that part, about $400 +/-
Thanks,
HB

[Jim March]

Well...what I would look for is a clean older "pinned barrel" (or at least firing-pin-on-hammer era) S&W in 38Spl, with a bit of holster wear.

"Jackpot" would be somebody's old racegun used for PPC or similar matches. Something like an S&W model 10 (or it's ancestor) with a heavy barrel and custom sights won't hold much collector value, but might actually be holding $500+ worth of modifications.

An old Colt double action will be on average more accurate than a Smith, but also more delicate and much harder to find a gunsmith more (bordering on impossible in some cases). Don't get involved in old Colt DAs unless you understand the breed.

Older used Rugers will on average be tough as nails but not quite as "refined" as the classic Smiths and Colts. If this is a gun that might one day save your life, sure, think Ruger.

Stupid question but...have you consider the world of Single Action wheelguns? BIG fun and on average more accurate for a given price-point. $550 worth of USFA "Rodeo" (their low-cost-finish model) will be among the most accurate guns you'll own from anybody. A Ruger single action worth about the same new will be more accurate than most DA revolvers and will, like Ruger DAs, be tough as nails.

A bone-stock S&W Model 10 (their basic 38 made for...jeez, generations) can be had used with a bit of finish wear in good working order for $250 or so. That gives you room money-wise to do some sight upgrades and better grips. Guns of this class are still very viable defense pieces in a pinch.

Use the "revolver checkout" (stickied post) to identify something cosmetically a tad rough but still worth owning.

[easyrider6042004@yahoo.ca]

Depending on your location, $400 +- 100 can buy you any decent or new K, L or N frame Smith, or a new Ruger GP100.

For informal target/plinking, meaning CC is not an option, a 6" barrel will deliver best all around accuracy due to its sight radius. You may want a longer barrel but they are not common.

Some shooters like the balance of a full underlug barrel, some prefer a half-lug for its quicker handling, see if you can try out examples at your local gun shop. Your personal preference is the only factor. The full underlug is heavier, steadier on target and transmit less felt recoil and faster follow-up shots, but slower to swing (for fast action shooting) than half-lug.

I always choose .357 magnum over .38 special because of the extra versatility of the magnum, i.e. you can feed it target .38s to full house magnum.

You do have to find what load your particular piece likes for optimum accuracy.

Personally, I have SW 686, GP100 (stainless) both with 6 inch barrel, and Blackhawk with 6.5 incher, all .357 magnums.

[Guillermo]

take your time. You will be able to find a nice Smith for that price.

I recently got a model 19 for $445. As long as you are patient you will get a nice .357

[Floppy_D]

I picked up a 686-3 for less than that, just watch the trade forum and your local sources (craigslist, consignment section at the gunshops).

[Brian Williams]

Look for a used S&W 586 with a 4" barrel.
And have fun with it when you get it.

[woodsltc]

Look for a used S&W 586 with a 4" barrel.
And have fun with it when you get it.


+1 to the S&W M-586 4inch.

These are great guns and you can shoot any .357 load to your hearts content or take it easy and shoot .38's.

Don ;)

[smee781]

Smith model 65???

[woad_yurt]

You should be able to get one for $300+. A pure pleasure to shoot. They're affordable, great guns. Here are some:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=99750901
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=99505351

[HB]

Thanks, I appreciate the help. I did look into SA's but most don't have adjustable sights... Although the ruger blackhawk looks nice.

thanks,
HB

[Jim March]

HB, there's one Blackhawk that's something REALLY special. The 50th Anniversary 357 Flattop. You can generally find them for $500/$550 if you look around.

Here's the deal:

All Blackhawks produced after 1973 were built on the "large frame" (same as the SuperBlackhawk). So were the Vaqueros (fixed-sight version).

In 2005 Ruger came out with the New Vaquero, which introed a new smaller "mid-size frame" very similar to a Colt SAA. Close enough that all Colt SAA holsters will fit, as one example. This frame size is the perfect platform for the 357, able to use ALL the horsepower that this caliber offers. They also re-did how they build the mid-frames, with a new process on the cylinder build that drills one bore hole at a time in series, with the same drill bit. The large-frame series uses six bits at once and variance between bores is all too common. With better cylinder dimensions, the mid-frames are on average more accurate than their large-frame cousins.

Ruger also fixed an annoying "bug" found in the large frames where the cylinder bores don't line up with the loading gate on each "click"...the mid-frame cylinder bores line up right.

The 50th 357 is an adjustable-sight mid-frame - the ONLY one made so far. It's mostly parts-compatible with the New Vaquero, so it's basically Ruger's answer to the Colt New Frontier.

Best of all, it's all-blue instead of that funky fake-case-coloring they use on NewVaqs that aren't stainless. Ruger's bluing is pretty good, the fake-case sucks. (On the new John Wayne commemorative NewVaq, they didn't DARE desecrate it with fake-case). The 50th 357 comes in a 4.68" barrel only, but that's OK as in my opinion that's flat-out perfect for a single action.

Enough 50th 357s were made to eliminate any collector value - they're still shooters, and very good ones.

My gun is a NewVaq357 with sights modified to where they're better than a NewVaq, not quite as good as a 50th 357. I have windage adjustability via dovetail and my front sight height has been optimized for 135-140gr loads; it's still effective between 125 and 158gr. I've also modded it with a lower-slung SuperBlackHawk hammer (dropped in, no gunsmithing needed), spring kit, smooth grips now and a "personality upgrade" :).

http://www.equalccw.com/vaqhawk.jpg

[bannockburn]

HB

I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet but you might also want to consider a 4" or 6" Ruger Security Six. These guns may not have the same prestige as a vintage Colt or S&W, but they were well designed, nicely crafted, and extremely durable revolvers that can still be found at affordable prices.

[c1ogden]

I have 3" versions of the Smith M66 (medium "K" frame) and M60 (small "J" frame). Both are very nice and very handy guns. Make sure to get an older one that doesn't have that asinine key lock.