Looking for a beater for the fiance.

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Roadwild17

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I'm looking for a gun for my fiance, shes going to be living with a roommate and I want her to have something for HD. She isn't into autos and that all I have, so its time to expand my horizons.
I'm looking for a quality peace that doesn't have to be the prettiest thing. It wold be great if they are abundant in the used market, it doesnt have to be brand new. I would like it to be .38/.357 and it would be nice to have ~4 in barrel, any suggestions on where to start looking?

I was told some of the older S&Ws were a great place to start looking or possibly a taurus?
 
Looking for a beater for the fiance.
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What, you couldn't do the job yourself? :neener:

But seriously:
It seems to me like your not too picky about brand, or features. Why don't you just go to the local gun shops and see what is in the used gun display case at a good price? Were it me, I'd go, and look for a S&W, Ruger, or a Taurus, and do the "used revolver test" in the sticky on the top of this forum's page. See what they have for the right price, that fits into the category of a medium framed revolver, ~4" barrel, and either .38 or .357.

Only thing to know is, would she take good care of it? If so, either blued or SS would be fine. If she won't, then go with SS because it doesn't require any maintenance. Although, if she is leaving it in the night stand, unless you live in a very humid area, the blued prolly wouldn't need much care either.
 
in .357 mag I would look at :

S&W K-frame guns such as the model 19 , 66 , 13
Taurus mid frame guns like the model 66 , 65
Ruger midframe gun like the GP 100, speed 6
Dan Wesson mid frame like the model 15 ,14 ?

If wanting to go to .38 Spl only then the field and choices opens up.
 
I think a .38 will do the job here. I would highly recommend a Smith & Wesson model 10.

They are abundandt, high-quality and cheap. It won't let you down. Especially for $300.
 
Does she have a preference? What comes to mind in a wheelgun are S&W model 60, 36, 66, 19 really depends on what she feels comfortable shooting.
 
There are still a few of the CAI import Ruger GP100s floating around. Rough looking but the ones I've seen have been mechanically sound.

DAO, fixed sight, stainless revolver--pretty "newbie friendly. Can usually be had for around $250.

BTW, if she ever sees the title of this thread, you're a dead man. :D
 
I've seen good prices on the old Model 10,
but I've had really good revolvers which would handle .357 for not a whole lot
more cash.
Rugers I've owned, shot, and loved.
A few Taurus wheelguns, never had a problem with 'em.
Wow... I guess that's it. I've owned quite a few, but they were all
from those two companies.
I'm getting a stainless GP100 for Mrs Velo, and she likes the DA revolvers
better than the P95 I was going to give her.
 
What kind does she want? Has she shot a revolver before? I say that because when I first started shooting, the one thing I did NOT want was a revolver, I didn't like the way they felt in my hand, and ended up with my XD-40 as a result. Eventually I got a revolver (the m37 S&W I still have) as a replacement for my Bersa. Its grip was terrific for me, and it didn't even have the Evil Lock because it had been made for some unknown foreign power that decided they didn't want them. Worse luck them :D .

I've been absolutely pilloried for saying this before, elsewhere, and I'm hoping it doesn't happen here. But she needs to be the one to choose the gun she will shoot. Grip is such a unique individual thing, what feels right to one just doesn't work at all for another. Weight, also; the airweights like I have are great because they can clip onto almost any waistband, even one that doesn't take a belt, without bowing down the clothing. But the downside is more recoil. And while it doesn't bother me, it does lots of people.

So. Take her to gun shops, pawn shops, gun shows (if you have any around)and let her handle about a zillion of them. If she says "I don't want one" then you can buy whatever you want and that fits you and buy her some pepper spray. If she wants a snubbie airweight, see if you can't arrange for her to actually shoot one to check out the recoil (especially if she ends up with a .357 :what: )

But...here we go...let her pick it if you want her to use it. If it's going to be yours, then have fun shopping and get what you want.

Springmom
 
(Sigh) Well i'll do it if no one else will but it'll cost you at least a couple boxes of ammo.
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Ohhh, WA... that's bad.... funny but bad.

+1 for the GP 100. One of very few I will trust as used.
 
Good suggestions so far. Couldn't really go wrong with any of these, as long as they fit her:

S&W Model 10 or other K-frame
Ruger Speed Six/Security Six/GP100
Taurus
 
I would also recommend helping her find some books on the subject and look into getting formal training. It is often easier for folks to learn from someone not a loved one (desire to please conflicts with need to learn).

I also recommend you show her www.corneredcat.com for good advice for women by women (and men). It covers issues and questions women have that men may never think of. Also it has good links to other new shooter/female shooter resources.
 
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My grandma has kept a Ruger Security Six for the last 30 years. I think any used .357 or .38 special would serve as a perfect nightstand gun.

How trustworthy is her roommate going to be? Might want to invest in a safe as well.
 
I bought a 4" Smith Model 10-6 the other day for $180 from Century Arms.

The finish was rough but mechanically it was great.

Heres a picture of it.

smithmodel10.gif
 
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