First Revolver choice..my dilemma

[Spieler]

Okay, so after having played exclusively with auto pistols for the last twenty years or so I have finally been bitten HARD by the revolver bug....I really WANT one, but what to get?

I have fired a few over the years and am partial to the medium frame .38SPL/.357 Mags. I don't care to start off with an 11 oz scandium/titanium/aluminum/tinfoil 2 inch ported J frame .357Mag , and on the flip side I really don't want something so big and heavy that it requires a bipod to shoot well with. Middle of the road seems like a good place to start for me.

This will primarily be a range and fun gun so it won't consume a steady diet of +P+ or full house .357 Mags if I go that route. Are the surplus S&W 65 and 66s that I see from SOG and Centerfire for $220~$270 the way to go or should I go New gun?

Bottom line is I have a gun budget of $400 at the moment to spend. So, do I go new or used? Smith, Colt, Ruger, or Taurus? Classic blued or stainless? .38 Spl or .357 Mag.? 3 or 4 inch bbl? Fixed or adjustable?

Yes, I know it comes down to what I ultimately like and feels good in the hand, I'm just fishing for some input from a very knowledgable crowd here. So help me spend my money and show me the way to a happy six gun experience!

Thanks!

 

[valnar]

It really is truly up to you. A good S&W model 66 with adjustable sights is hard to beat. The non-adjustable model 65 is fine too. If you are not a collector and want a good shooter, I see no reason to get a blued gun at this point. Get a modern M66-3 (dash 3, as in revision) or newer. They would be able to handle the hotter rounds.

Get a Smith. Get it used. Barrel of 4" is fine, unless concealment is important.

-Robert

 

[Majic]

Using the standards you set I say first of all an adjustable sighted gun. Blued would be fine, but not much more will be invested in a SS model. A .38sp will fill your needs, but a .357 will give you a little more flexibility. The used market is full of models to choose from and a careful check can land you a not only serviceable model, but one to be proud of also.
Smith will probably lead the field with models to select from. M19s, 66s, 586s, 686s are all fine choices. Colts because of rising prices will probably limit you to one of the Trooper series but they are lacking in nothing. Ruger has the Security Six or possibly if your are lucky a GP-100 which both rates with the models of the other 2 brands. Taurus has several models, but have had spotty performance and production QC issues over the years so yu have to be extra careful with them. A good bet is to stay with the first 3 till you know what to look for. There are threads that explain in detail what to look for when buying used revolvers and it is very good advise.
With careful and thoughtful shopping, $400 can place a very fine shooting revolver in your hands with possibly some change back.

 

[tbeb]

I would buy a nice used Smith and Wesson Model 66 with 4" barrel. I like stainless and adjustable sights. Model 19 is the same gun but with a blue finish. (I have owned a 2 1/2" and a 6" model 66, and a 4" model 19.)

I once owned a Ruger GP100, which weighs a little more. This is a good gun too, but I prefer the S&W 66/19.

 

[Morgan]

I concur with the 66/19.

My favorite revolvers are the Airweight Centannial .38's and the 625's (little one for backup, biggun for big bore), but the 19 has a balance that's unmatched.

 

[mtnbkr]

4" 66/19
4" 686
4" GP100

in no particular order

Chris

 

[Stainz]

I have six S&W's - all .44 & .45's. I, too, want a .38 plinker. I know of an FFL holder who will transfer to me reasonably - if you have one, this may be a great way to acquire yours. CDNN Investments (easy to find them and their 800# with a 'Search') has an interesting 'remainders' catalog printed several times a year. They still have 6" m66's (SS with adjustable sights) with scope mount and rails in the box all new, for $350 + $10 S/H (Priority Mail to your FFL holder). They also have a similarly new 2" M10 (Blued fixed sight 'M&P' model) for $290. Perhaps your local dealer would 'transfer' one for you - even at $25-$50, it is a deal for that 66.

Now, if you want a big bore for real fun - with little recoil - spend ~$550 and get yourself a new 625 in 4 or 5 inch. Buy some extra moonclips and some .45ACP's and have fun - my most-used S&W is a 4" 625 bought new last autumn. Note - even used, these are decent buys as little 'gun destroyer' ammo is available in that caliber.
Just get a S&W!

Stainz

 

[Vic303]

4" GP-100. Or if you can find it, the 3" GP-100. I think SOG had some 3" GPs in stock recently for about $250 used, stainless.

 

[wunderkind]

Rossi or Taurus K-copies

From time to time a Taurus or Rossi .357/ 4" may show up at a local shop.

I have had great experiences with the Brazillian revolvers. And you can usually walk out the door with them for less than two bills, sometimes much less.

It's great to have a 'beater' gun. And if full-house mags take their toll, buy another one-almost like a disposable lighter.

If you shoot 50-100 'hot' loads through it once a week you should get YEARS of fun out of it.

 

[John Ross]

I agree that you won't go wrong with a 19/66 .

Two suggestions:

Handle a 6" barrel gun. You may like the longer sight radius.

Try a Model 27 N-frame. There is no finer .357 than the one that started it all, and you find them used from private sellers for $300-ish occasionally.

JR

 

[Jim March]

1) The advice in favor of a K-Frame S&W 357 (models 19, 65, 66, etc) are on target. Ruger's GP100 is a larger size frame, roughly equivelent to the S&W L-Frame (586/686). If you're into the hot stuff or want to hunt deer with a 6" barrel and some gnarly-hot fodder, the GP100 or L-frames make sense.

2) I don't recommend buying used revolvers sight-unseen. SOG and similar often get whole shipments of police trade-ins. Most will be OK, some will be great, some will be beat to hell. The checkout procedures really work but only if you've got the prospective gun in-hand.

3) The Ruger SP101 is an oddball. It's roughly the same size as S&W's smallest 357s (J-frame five-shots) but a bit beefier and heavier - it's generally considered tougher than most of the S&W K-frame sixguns. While it's "only a five-shot", it's available in a 3" barrel and some people really like how they feel.

4) Ruger used to make a "K-class" 357 sixgun: the Service/Security Six series. These were well-made, expensive to produce and are very well regarded by most of their owners. It was replaced by the GP100 which is bigger, stronger, but just a wee bit less..."precise". If you come across a specimen in good shape (run the checkout!) and you like how it feels, snap it up.

5) If this is purely for "range fun", you *might* want to ponder a Single Action wheelgun . At least handle a Ruger Vaquero or Blackhawk.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

I'll defer to those much more experienced. Nevertheless, here are my opinions:

1. Ruger GP100. Accurate and solid. Also one of the best firearm values around IMHO.

2. Used Dan Wesson Pistol Packs can be found at very good prices. Once you have one, you'll find all sorts of deals on the barrels. You can get barrels from snubby to pseudo-rifle and many grip options. The design of these revolvers allows you to change a barrel in less than a minute. Supposedly, the design "tunes" the barrel for better accuracy, but I still shoot my GP100 better than my Dan Wesson.

3. Ruger Vaquero seems like a lot of fun. Probably an OK hunting pistol too, but DA gives me comfort if it's a bear or bad guy pistol.

4. You probably can't go wrong with a S&W, but I got into revolvers right at the peak of the S&W scandal, and I've never gained an interest.

In any of these, I personally like a muzzle-heavy set-up like a full-lug 6". It seems to steady me better on targets.

 

[Josey]

Hey My opinion is to look for a couple of used S&W M&Ps/Model 10. 38 Special and a 3" and a 6". They are excellent plinking firearms. Cheap, plentiful and the 3" can have the hammer bobbed for CCW. Grips, springs and other K frame S&W and aftermarket stuff is available. You should be able to find a pair for $400.00. If you really want a great Model 10, look for a skinny taper, non-lug stainless model. An absolute classic.

 

[schapman43]

With a $400 budget you can pick up a spankin new Gp-100 in stainless.