Budget Revolver

[roaddog28]

Here are the revolvers I bought for under $400 or under. Any of these would be good options. I suggest you start with a 4 inch revolver.

1. S&W model 10 4 inch heavy barrel 38 special. $324 out the door.
2. S&W M&P pre 10 4 inch tapered barrel 38 special. $399 out the door.
3. Ruger Police Service Six 4 inch 357 magnum. $404 out the door.
4. S&W model 66 4 inch barrel 357 magnum. $355 out the door.
5. S&W model 19 6 inch barrel 357 magnum. $269 out the door.

Again these are out the door prices. If a person is patience and shops there good quality used revolvers out on the market. I would not buy the cheaper made revolvers.
Howard

 

[JMSUN]

The Smith model 10 would be an excellent choice. Not going to be as small as a J frame if your are looking for something to carry, but you have an extra round. 38 is definitely not the defense round .357 is, but in my opinion is sufficiently adequate. If you reload, you probably would have to go to .22 LR to find something cheaper to shoot than .38 Special. As for accuracy, you definitely would be better off with 4" of 6" barrel rather than 2" because of sight radius as has been mentioned before. I personally would look for one in 4". I would rather spend $250 or $300 on a good condition used Smith than on a new Rossi. I have a Model 10 and have messed with other Smiths and with a new Rossi, and not to say the Rossi is not a good gun (I have heard that they are a good gun), but there is no comparison in the trigger and smoothness of the action. I am not sure what you can find a Ruger for, but they are great guns as well.

 

[MrBill120]

How about a S&W Model 10-8 for $30??
Clean bore. No rust. Just some holster wear on the muzzle and bottom of the trigger guard.

 

[fireside44]

In the price range you're shopping I would buy Charter Arms over Taurus and especially over Rossi.

Not me, I'd take a Rossi over a Charter any day.

 

[Paul7]

I wouldn't get a Colt Official Police for defensive work. You can't regularly shoot +P though them.

 

[Rocketmedic]

For $30, definately.

 

[branshew]

Why would you need to shoot a man sized target at 50 meters with a handgun for defensive purposes? That would land you in jail in most states (unless you have a 50 meter span inside your house and you caught the guy breaking in).

In either case, the snub nosed would be harder to shoot at that distance accurately due to the shorter sight interval. I'm pretty confident that I could do it with mine, but I'm not sure with how much consistency.
A 3" Model 19 would be a solid choice. You could get a Ruger Service or Security Six in your price range.

 

[madstabber]

ruger sp101 over charter arms or taurus or rossi without a doubt

 

[Rocketmedic]

We're also going to use it as a range gun- a pistol that's only accurate up-close isn't much fun on the range.

 

[Rocketmedic]

How long should a barrel be for what I'm planning to use it for?

 

[fireside44]

ruger sp101 over charter arms or taurus or rossi without a doubt

You can get an Interarms Rossi .357 for two hundred less than a new SP101. It weighs probably 1/3 less and then some, shoots as accurately as the Ruger, holds six shots, and has better factory grips.

 

[pacpiper]

Unfortunately prices on the Smith and Wesson Model 60, .357 seem to have gone up recently so it's no longer a sub $400 revolver but I can't help but give it a strong recommendation as a CCW and home defense firearm.

I shoot 38 and 38+p all the time and my wife prefers them too.

Anyways, great revolver and if you can save up an extra $100-200 (or get lucky and find a good deal on one) it's well worth it.

 

[Trad Archer]

I'm a big fan of Ruger sp101.

Have you considered the 327 Federal Mag? I have one and love it. You can shoot 32 S@W long, 32 H@R mag in it as well.

 

[MCgunner]

A Ruger SP101 is a nice little gun in .357 that has enough bulk to handle the recoil of magnum loads, at least with a Hogue grip on it. Maybe a Taurus steel frame 5 shooter might be fine, but the little LCR, well, I don't know, but I shot a Smith Scandium wonder with .357 full house loads and, uh, no thanks you very much. There's 1 ounce difference in the weight. I'd get the SP101 in your shoes, personally, with a second place to a Taurus steel frame gun. I have a 3" Taurus 66, a medium frame gun, very accurate and a great shooting revolver. It's over two decades old and still tight and shoots tight. It's no pocket gun, but rides easy on the belt in a Don Hume JIT slide or an IWB.

Anyway, I'd stick with steel and go for the heavier guns. I don't think snubby .357s get any better than the rather excellent and STRONG SP101.