.38 Special 2" Revolver Suggestions

[BSA1]

Vodoun da Vinci,

Your low number of posts suggested to me that you are new to THR.

THR is like a good library. There are lots of books (threads) with great information in them directly answering your question. When I read your original post I thought you were seeking advice about choosing a revolver for your wife and merely was directly you to some relevant books (threads) that would help you.

Your sarcastic reply was not deserved and was offensive. Since you are too thinned skinned for my suggestions I bid you goodbye.

 

[Lucky Derby]

The Colt DS is really a hard to beat option. I really wish they, and the longer barreled Police Positive Special, were still in production. If you can find one, then by all means that is what you should get her, since that is what she likes.
IMHO, the closest thing, size and feel wise, currently produced to the DS is the Ruger SP101. You lose one round though. Any of the other guns out there are either larger (K frames & similar) or smaller (J frames & similar & you lose the 6th round with these as well).

 

[Old Fuff]

If she does well with, and likes the S&W model 19, consider buying a model 15 (K-38 Combat Masterpiece) on the used market. They are slightly lighter but almost identical to the .357 Magnum version, but chambered in .38 Special. Because they were popular with police departments surplus ones are not rare and sometimes found at attractive prices. Accessories such as holsters and speed-loaders would interchange between these two revolvers.

As much as I favor my Colt Detective Special, I will point out that they have a following that keeps prices high. On the other hand if one develops a problem finding new (and new is important) repair parts and qualified gunsmiths is difficult and likely expensive. As has been pointed out, a Police Positive Special that is identical to the Detective Special but with a longer 4, 5 or 6 inch barrel can often be bought for less money then the snubby and is easier to shot accurately.

 

[j1]

I had the thought but did not express it. Why not the 357 instead of the 38. It will do everything the 38 will plus more should you want more.

 

[aarondhgraham]

The only problem with the Colt Detective Special,,,

The only problem with the Colt Detective Special,,,
Is that it is somewhat problematic with parts,,,
Colt won't repair the guns due to no parts.

I know this because a close friend of mine has one,,,
It broke and Colt said they don't have the parts to repair it.

For that reason I would stick with either the many S&W offerings,,,
Or possibly the Ruger LCR that has been mentioned.

I avoid Taurus handguns because of their iffy quality control,,,
If you get a good one out of the box it will last forever,,,
If you get a bad one it will probably never work well.

This isn't just Taurus bashing,,,
It's from my personal experience with 3 new Taurus revolvers.

Unless your pocketbook says you need to consider a lower priced handgun,,,
Stay with S&W or Ruger.

J-frame (5-shot) and k-frame (6-shot) S&W revolvers are everywhere,,,
New they are pricey but well worth the cost,,,
Used are plentiful and affordable.

Just my humble opinion,,,

Aarond

.

 

[gym]

I carried a Detective Special and a model 60 in NYC, for 20 years, they are both great little guns. The Detective special was lost in a robbery, "go figure". I never replaced it, That was my first carry gun, when issued my NYC license. It's a bit larger and heavier than a 60 or 36. You may want to decide on if you want 5 or 6 rounds. I would love to get a "like new" DS, but they are just too expensive, and I would get a model 19, or a 686, for a couple hundred more. Even a 60-2, or a 340 or 360, just in case I wanted the option of the 357. Maybe the last round could be a finisher. At that point you have to reload anyway so getting off target isn't as important.
If you get a DS, get the last gen, so you can shoot +p's in her. The 36 is a very accurate gun, I just like as many rounds as possible in the world in which we live now.
I had a Taurus titanium, lightweight, they made it for 2 years, it weighed in at 12 ozs, I think it was technically called the alloy. It felt like a water gun. I eventually sold it because I never used it anymore. I just can't go back to 5 rounds, when my PM9 is 8 rounds and 17 ozs , 20, loaded. I really feel it's silly at this point to go that route, even though I like the aesthetics and enjoy shooting the revolver more.
Also I can throw 2 mags in my sock, or in my pocket or belt, with no bulge or hassle, and they reload in a second, click, click click.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

Thanks for the opinions...

I have no problem getting her a .357 but she'll never shoot .357 in it. The extra weight will be nice to suck up the recoil of .38s but we need to remember it's for my Wife and she's 5' and 120. A little on the heavy side is cool but she's likely gonna carry it and a big heavy gun is gonna get left behind.

This is also why it's likely a 2" barrel - Concealing a 4" revolver on her *could* be done but I do not think that will happen.

Next time out at the range we need to get the to shoot the Ruger LCR. There are several S&W guns at the LGS/Range that I need to get her to handle as well. Are the Colt Detectives prone to needing parts or "fragile" in some way? Seems I heard they can have timing issues and, as already stated, finding a gunsmith with the skills to fix some of the older style, hand fitted revolvers is getting hard and spendy.

VooDoo

 

[Jim Watson]

The Detective Special has that all important shot... the sixth one.
Really, Colt used that line in advertising versus S&W Terrier and Chief. And it applies to the Ruger LCR and SP101 which are otherwise fine revolvers. Likewise most Charters.
I worked to transition a Lady from a Charter to a Glock. She can SHOOT the Glock quite well, but she DEPENDS on the revolver.

Another Lady of my acquaintance, not familiar with the mechanics of different action types, complained to Colt that her DS had a much heavier trigger pull than her Gold Cup. They did the best they could, it came back with a Custom Shop action that rivals a Python.

If Mrs daVinci specifically likes the DS, get her a DS. They did not used to be thought so delicate. Chic Gaylord, cutting edge holster maker of the 1950s, preferred Colt for all applications.
I think it is computer radiation attacking the structure.

If it is just that she likes the weight and feel of a steel revolver, get her looking at things like S&W K frame 2-3" guns, to include models 10, 13, 15, 19, 64, 65, 66.
Don't pass by a Ruger Speed Six 2.75" without a look, either.

 

[spm]

Colt Detective Special. She likes them and wants one. That was easy.

I generally carry one of mine.

+1.

I love my Detective Special and carry it all the time.
spm

 

[harvester]

Get the Colt, it will hold value if you wish to sell later. 6 shots, steel frame, well made, lots of holsters, accurate.

 

[Dframe]

Don't swallow the "keyboard old wives tale" of how fragile the Colt is. I have a couple from the thirties that are still shooting great. Unless abused they last a LONG time, like decades.

 

[sgt127]

I would lean towards a S&W 2" 64. Pleasant to shoot, six rounds, easy to get repaired if necessary and stainless. The Detective Special is a great gun, but, I can't carry a blue gun up against my body. It will be a brown gun inside of 3 hours.

If the 64 is too bulky, I vote for an older model 60. As much as I like the J frames, I have never found a female that really likes shooting them.

 

[Old Fuff]

It's quite true that Colt's are not fragile, but Colt used to recommend they occasionally be returned to the factory for a quick tune-up, that usually took about 15 minutes with no parts replacement. At the time the service was free, and the Post Office would bring it back to your door. Unfortunately those days are gone - probably for forever.

Obviously any revolver that started (in its basic Police Positive Special form) in 1908 and was still being made into the 1980's had something going for it. On the negative side, the design required expert hand fitting so it couldn't remain competitive in the market place.

I purchased the one I previously mentioned in the mid-1950's. The finish is now worn, but the gun is tight and shoots fine.

 

[Lucky Derby]

The Colt is not fragile. And the issues that it can have (much like the forcing cone issues on Magnum K frames) are a bit overblown on the internet.
However, in the unlikely event that a problem does arise, there is no convienent way to get it fixed. Colt no longer works on them. There are very few gunsmiths remaining who are qualified to work on them, and those that are often have waiting lists in given in years. And thats if parts can be found and/or fabricated.
I really wish I had not sold my DS.