cheap revolvers

Status
Not open for further replies.
^^ Well, for goodness' sake!

Back to the topic of .22 revolvers, then! Others have already mentioned that the H&R or NEF revolvers (both the same) are serviceable and don't cost a lot (in comparison to other stuff in today's gun market--everything seems bizarrely high to me these days). But they are out of production and spare parts might be a problem, for some models.
 
snake loads

I test snake loads by shooting snakes. I like an even patern at 10 feet about the size of a dinner plate. Sights are meaningless. Point the gun at the snakes head and pull the trigger. This works for me. I use the CCI shot loads in 22 and 38 special. It is dirt simple and its cheap. Plus it works.
 
Kendal Black, revolvers don't wear out, do they? If an H&R / NEF revolver wears out on me:mad:, I can just replace the entire gun for less than I could probably get the part for anyway. Just kidding, if that revolver wears out on me, it was probably not worth getting, and definitely not worth getting another one of the same model; or at least that is the way that I see it. If it does sometime down the road a few years wear out on me, I will probably have replaced it with something of higher quality by then anyway.
 
Mauser lover said:
Kendal Black, revolvers don't wear out, do they? If an H&R / NEF revolver wears out on me:mad:, I can just replace the entire gun for less than I could probably get the part for anyway. Just kidding, if that revolver wears out on me, it was probably not worth getting, and definitely not worth getting another one of the same model; or at least that is the way that I see it. If it does sometime down the road a few years wear out on me, I will probably have replaced it with something of higher quality by then anyway.
Click to expand...


While a very reliable machine, a revolver is still a machine, thus subject to the foibles of machinery in general. If it were not so, we would not have spare parts merchants for the things, but of course we do--and they have parts not just for the economy brands, notice, but the top shelf ones, too. Anyhow it's easy to look into parts availability.

I may be over-thinking this! :) But a final point to ponder is you can sell a gun that works for more than a busted one, so it's often worth keeping even your collection's temporary guests in good repair.
 
Are there any other cheap revolvers besides H&Rs? If there are not any H&Rs at the pawn shops, what are some others that I should look for? The Hi Standard double nine has already been mentioned; so what are the others?
 
Vern Humphrey and Kendal Black, I definitely hope not to see enough snakes to wear it out, and I would rather shoot a rifle in practice so I probably would not shoot it that much, hopefully not enough to wear it out. Although if I start shooting .22 LR handguns much I might begin to like them more...
 
For me shooting any guns in local matches has made the whole effort of getting my legal permits in order all worth while. I seldom even bother to look at the results. It's more about testing myself. But it IS a helluva lot of fun. Look into what is available in your own area and base whatever hand gun you buy from that. I'll bet you start shooting handgun a lot more if you have one that fits into one of the classes.
 
BCRider, I do not really like shooting against other people, probably because I always lose. My little brother shoots better than me, with MY gun. However I am trying to get into a rimfire shooting match, just waiting to get the schedules all lined up, with my church on that day, that time specifically, and all of the other stuff. I just want something to stuff in a backpack, pocket, tackle box, etc... As I already mentioned, I do not really need something that is really accurate, or outfitted for competition, I just want a list of cheap revolvers at this point, and if I get one, and if I get good enough with a pistol, I might enter some competitions.
 
.38 wadcutters may be a better choice for snakes than a .22 since you're not looking for shotshells. Armscor makes what looks to be a Colt Police Positive/Detective Special clone in .38 (non +P) for around $235.00-$250.00. I've seen them at gun shows but haven't messed with them. You might be surprised.

ECS
 
Watch gunbroker or go to the gunshows and pick up a High Standard Sentinel revolver. You can generally find a nice used one for $200 or less. Might even find one of the short barreled ones. They are extremely accurate, decent triggers, and the best feeling grip ever put on a handgun. They had some features that should be copied by current manufactures like positive lockup of the cylinder both front and rear.
 
I just saw that you live in California. What ever you decide on, make sure it is on your "State approved safe gun list" before you buy (assuming you are making an internet purchase to transfer to Calif).

In fact, you might want to START with that list before you even go looking, might narrow your search down a bit!
 
Elm Creek Smith, I would rather get a .357 Rem. Mag. and shoot .38s through it than get a .38 Spl. non +P just because I can use the .357 for other stuff that I couldn't use the .38 for. Thanks for that company name though, never would have thought to look for pistols from them, and I will keep their name for future reference, maybe if / when I get a 1911.

denster, Thanks for that name, I just looked that sentinel up on the internet, and wow, I will definitely be looking for one of those, but how do you get the cylinder out of the gun for reloading/ejection? I just hope that I find one before I get an H&R.

mgkdrgn, I definitely will check for guns that are legal in CA; but I simply refuse to buy a cheap revolver off of the internet, I am too afraid of buying a non working gun, or one that is off on its timing, etc,etc,... Plus I don't want to have to pay a "dealer transfer fee" of $65.00 or more on a gun that is only worth $150.00. I hope to check out some pawn shops soon, and if I do not find one there, I will have to go to a gun show. I have already been to several gun shops looking for a used .22 revolver, but all that they had were a couple of overpriced (my opinion) Ruger single actions at one shop and an old Colt single action at another shop (not really overpriced, but still too expensive for what I want to use it for).
 
Last edited:
To release the cylinder you pull forward on the ejector rod. The sentinel was designed to be an inexpensive revolver not because of lack of quality of parts or machining but by simplicity. I bought my first one in 1971 and had it for years until I let a friend talk me out of it. I've recently bought two more of them and these are staying put. Expect no less than 1&1/2 in groups at 25yds with good ammo and you will get about 2" with the junk promo ammo. Keep it clean and oiled and it will last darn near forever.
 
Thank you denster, definitely hope that I find one before I get one of the H&Rs. By the way, what barrel length are those group sizes for?

Anybody else know of any other cheap revolvers? Or did I exhaust all of the cheap ones.
 
Last edited:
Any of the barrel lengths will do it even the short barrel although I confess with it I need a rest to get that kind of accuracy. That's my failing though not the gun.
 
denster, WOW, never thought you could get that kind of accuracy with a short barrel (with or without a rest). I always use a rest when going for small groups anyway.
 
Denster, if you can shoot 1.5"groups at 25 yards freehand then you sure don't have much in the way of "failings"! ! ! I only know a few folks that have a keen enough eye and steady enough hand to get that good. And when they get serious about their accuracy it's humbling to watch. With my old guy eyes and arms I'm happy to hit a 5 inch circle at that distance. And that assumes that the target has a good enough contrast and shape to let my fuzzy eyes see it half decently :D

In any event it certainly confirms what I know about my own H&R. Mauser Lover, it may seem like a lot of trouble to pull the pin and flop the cylinder out for reloading but you'd be amazed at how quickly you get good at this. So yeah, if you can find one of the H&R's with the "remove to load" cylinder I sure would not turn your back on it.

And if you're a handy sort you could use the cylinder to mark out and then drill a block and set it up with brass ejector pins so you can punch out all 9 empties at once for the range. It's not something I'd carry in a back pack but it would make the reloading at the range a lot quicker. And with a bit of practice you'll find you get pretty good at picking up and chambering two or three rounds at a time when the cylinder is out in the open like that.
 
BCRider, I do not mind "flopping" out a cylinder, especially for the price of H&Rs these days compared to S&W or Colt or Ruger or etc, etc..I'm not really much of a "speed shooter", I would rather make every shot into the bullseye than a bunch of boxes spent reloading quickly. I was actually looking at a NEF model r92, nine shot, swing out cylinder, but only if I didn't find a Sentinel, once I learned the name, and I wouldn't reject an old H&R or NEF double action just because it has a remove and flop out cylinder to reload; if I can't kill a snake with nine shots, then I probably am not meant to kill it. One other thing, in the first "Indiana Jones" movie (Raiders of the Lost Ark) Jones uses an auto in his first firefight. In his girlfriends bar, he can be seen shooting a 1911 at a "bad guy". Although Jones uses a revolver several other times, I think that it should not be forgotten that he uses an auto as well.

Here is a link to a description of the r92: http://www.thesixgunjournal.net/hunnerdollargun.html
 
I picked one of these up earlier this month for $208 and IMHO it is one of the best gun buys that I've ever made. It certainly isn't a pocket gun but you could put it in a cheap holster or a large winter coat pocket. Nice looking, accurate shooting and reliable for me. .22lr/.22WMC convertible.
Heritage22Convertible004.gif
Heritage22Convertible006.gif

http://www.heritagemfg.com/site/
 
RevDerb, Thanks for the thought, but that revolver is single action, and I was looking for a cheap double action, although I do like the idea of interchangeable cylinders; and I live in central California, the last time I put on a winter coat with pockets large enough for that gun, I was on vacation to a much colder place. Nice tag line, I was thinking of putting that same verse on mine, I just couldn't figure out how to put on a tag line on my account.
 
If I had been paying attention, I'd have noticed your CA location. Sorry.

Regarding the tag line, if you'll go into user options section on the site, you'll find a "signature" field where you can enter whatever you want to be your personal sig.

Happy searching.
 
RevDerb, thanks for the instructions on the signature line, and don't worry about the winter reference in your post, there are cold places in CA, in fact, the place that I was on vacation with my winter coat was in California. Lets hope I did the signature right and it works...

woad_yurt, that revolver looks about the same as the NEF R92, so I will be looking for one of those H&R 929/930 as well.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Mr. Mosin
  • Locked
.22 snub nose
2
Replies
31
Views
3K
ThomasT
ThomasT
M
  • Locked
Looking For Advice On A .22 Revolver
2 3
Replies
51
Views
5K
ThomasT
ThomasT
A
  • Locked
A Question for HS-21 Owners
Replies
2
Views
746
doc2rn
D
M
  • Locked
Ruger Double Action Revolvers?
2
Replies
30
Views
2K
Mauser lover
M
L
  • Locked
Ruger single six convertible
Replies
19
Views
2K
Smoke
S
Back
Top