.38 special--S&W Model 10-8 or Colt Trooper

[tbeb]

Which .38 special is the wiser purchase--a S&W 10-8, or a Colt Trooper? Both have 4" barrels, and are in excellent mechanical condition with excellent bores. Finish is "fine" on both. Colt costs $35 more.

One concern is that Colt was manufactured 47 years ago. Another concern is if the Colt grip, which has original checked grips which don't cover the backstrap, will fit most hand sizes like the Model 10 with stock grips does. I'm talking about the grips that start at the top of grip frame, and fill the space behind the trigger guard. User of gun will be a 5'-2" petite lady.

 

[valnar]

I'd take the Smith, for more reasons than it's newer than the Colt.

 

[Preacherman]

The Colt is no longer made, and parts for it are going to be harder to get hold of (particularly down the years, assuming you plan on keeping this revolver). The Model 10 is still in production - in fact, it's over a century old, and is the longest-produced firearm in history. I'd say go with the Smith.

 

[JoeHatley]

The older I frame Colts are getting harder to find all the time, especially in excellent condition. You can always pick up a model 10.

Go with the Original Trooper. Now if it happened to be an MK II or III, my advice would be different...

BTW: Repair parts shouldn't really be a problem. The Trooper is a less finely finished version of the Python, with a plain barrel.

Good Luck...

Joe

 

[Lone Star]

Be advised that very few gunsmiths today are really qualified to work on Colt actions. If you need help, it it will usually be harder to find and cost more than it will to get a S&W worked on.

Lone Star

 

[Gordon]

I'd go with a S&W 10-5 or earlier or the Trooper if both were in same shape(which should be close to like new) . Being the Colt is more robust you would think that it wouldn't need that many repairs. Hell I can fix most S&W K frame needs. The Colt's are weird BUT I can now stretch hands and replace bolt spring on most old Colt's and I presume a REAL gunsmith could do it better!!!!!

 

[one45auto]

Personally speaking, I'd go with the Colt. Age has very little to do with the reliability of a firearm provided that it has been properly maintained and there are no structural defects. Eggs have an expiration date, firearms don't. Why, I know several people who rely on older weapons like that day in and day out. One owns a Ruger Blackhawk manufactured in the late sixites whereas another keeps handy a Colt Detective Special which his late father purchased in the early fifties. Both guns are still in perfect working order, in fact I've shot them at the range myself. No problems whatsoever.

 

[444]

I would go with the Model 10 for the simple reason that I like it better. The Model 10 is an all time classic. It's design is so good that it has been made forever. I have four of them myself and are honetly my faviorite shooting guns. I don't shoot them as much as some other ones but I enjoy shooting the Model 10s more than anything else.

 

[Ala Dan]

Another vote for the Smith model 10. Old Colt's are
truly some fine handguns, no questions about it!
But in the long run, it seems like the S&W model 10
would be the easiest to shoot and become proficent
with. As previously stated, not all gunsmiths of today
would be able to repair the Colt. Besides the cost
factor, parts may be difficult or nearly downright
impossible to find!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Majic]

I would go with the Colt. A stronger gun and it also has adjustable sights. Need I say I'm more of a Colt fan.

BTW....if it breaks we still know where parts and qualified repair centers are.

 

[Johnny Guest]

I'd need to consider the use.

tbeb - - You mention that, "User of gun will be a 5'-2" petite lady." Will she be actually carrying the revolver on her person, in a purse, in glove box or console of a car, or keeping it in a drawer, for home defense? Either revolver can be fitted with fairly compact stocks, either plastic, wood, or rubber. CDNN has a wide selection of wood stocks for both brands, at reasonable prices. These can be modified with rasp and sandpaper, to fit the hand of the used, and then refinished. I would NOT modify the Colt factory stocks, as these have some collector value of their own.

The model 10 is somewhat smaller and slightly lighter piece, and lends itself to concealed carry a little better. You'd want to do a certain amount of testing to find a particular load that shoots to the sight setting of the S&W. The adjustable sights of the Colt make this an easier task.

The Colt, being a heavier-framed piece, and manufactured after 1950, would probably bear up longer under a diet of +P level loads, though it would take a lot of shooting to wear out either piece. You might want to check back on your other thread - -
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&postid=916324#post916324
- - for my, and others', remarks on this aspect.

As an aside, if the piece will be used for true target shooting, the upper level PPC match shooters, at least back in the 1960s and -70s, felt that the rifling characteristics of the Colt .357-bore barrels were somewhat more accurate with "soft" wadcutter loads. I was never THAT good a shot, myself, that I could discern the difference. At the same time, though, the bore of my Colt Three-Fifty-Seven, from the same era, handles heavy .38 handloads well enough to be interesting at longer ranges (up to 200 yards.)

Is there any consideration that this will be mostly a training revolver, and might possibly be sold off for an "upgrade" later on? If so, the Colt, if kept in fine condition, will bring more money in the long run. This particular model was produced for a relatively few years, cost more than a Colt Official Police or a Smith & Wesson, and consequently, is considerably less common than the others. Scarcity = increased collector demand.

Whatever your choice, good luck.
Johnny

 

[tbeb]

The gun is for home protection.

Owner of Trooper wanted an answer last night. I wasn't sure. I told him I'd take it if he could bring price down closer to S&W Model 10-8 heavy barrel. He wouldn't.

 

[bubbygator]

You won't be sorry with the Model 10. I had a 10-6 & it was an easy shooter. Had to sell it because I discovered I needed a round butt instead of a square butt. Replaced it with a Model 66.

 

[dogngun]

The model 10 is essentially the same revolver Smith has been making for over a hundred years, but improved. Colts changed their design from time to time, and the Colt you saw is not as rugged a gun as the S&W.

The model 10 at one time was THE handgun of over 80% of all law enforcement agencies in the US. There is good reason for this. It's compact, accurate, reliable, and easy to shoot well. I have owned and shot these handguns for over 30 years, some of them going back as far as 1917, without any sort of problem.

You will be happy with the S&W.

mark

PS Check

www.smith-wessonforum.com/cgi-bin/sandwcgi/Ultimate.cgi

for information on your Smith.

 

[Majic]

The model 10 at one time was THE handgun of over 80% of all law enforcement agencies in the US. There is good reason for this. It's compact, accurate, reliable, and easy to shoot well.

.....and so was the Colt OP (the fix sighted version of the Trooper).
Both are excellent choices with similar qualities. You won't go wrong with choosing either one.