First revolver...

What's your opinion?

  • S&W Performance Center 627 .357 8-shot (Politics aside...)

    Votes: 20 23.8%
  • Colt Python stainless, 6" barrel

    Votes: 13 15.5%
  • you are nuts, start with something more affordable

    Votes: 51 60.7%

  • Total voters
    84
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Rival

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Joined
Dec 29, 2002
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284
Location
Los Angeles
My friend and me buy guns together... He gets something, then I get something, but there was no wheel guns before. Now we decided to get revolvers, and nice ones at that. He already ordered his - it is on its way. He got S&W Performance Center 627. Politics aside (as someone on these boards said, the first rule of engagement is not to screw yourself...) it is a great gun.
I am really looking into Colt Python. In California only 6 inch stainless Python is permitted for sale.

You tell me which one you would prefer from your expirience...

Oh, and we are not going to carry either of them, those are fun range guns / home defense weapon

And this picture I just can't resist to put here - it kinda reminds me of a barrel on a cruiser...

Python_front.jpg
 
Either one would be good. For defense I don't think the bad guy would know the difference.
I'll take a Ruger GP100 stainless.
 
Greeting's All,

Nothing beat's starting out with an affordable .357
magnum. I know that every persons financial status
is different; so therefore I'm going to direct my choices
to the general public.

Its extremely hard to beat any of these choice's;
listed in my order of preference:

a) Smith & Wesson model 27 or 28*

b) Smith & Wesson model 19 or 66

c) Smith & Wesson model 586 or 686


*FootNote- my favorite!

All these are target sighted weapons; very capeable
of extremely fine accuracy.


Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
First of all, you cannot put politics aside. That's how you came to be stuck in one of the least gun friendly states in the country.

My choice would be a Colt King Cobra. New Pythons are overpriced, so are the S&W Performance Center offerings.

A King Cobra will be a used gun, which may be tough to find in state, but if you start looking for something used, you may come across one of your original selections in used condition at a nice price in the process.

Was not impressed with the Python I had. YMMV.
 
Ala Dan & I thinks the same on this. Im particularly fond of the Mod. 28. Both my 4" & 6" are absolute "tack drivers", and the fit and finish is as good as anything on the market today.
There is certainly nothing wrong with the Performance Center guns, but I doubt if they "punch paper" any better than mine for a lot less money.
 
Pretty hard to find a better gun than a S&W M-27 unless it's a Registered Magnum. And when you factor in that you can buy a pair of M-27s or my preference, one M-27 and a M-25 for what you'd pay for the 627...
 
Ala Dan, may I ask why you prefer model 19/66 over model 586/686? Unfortunately I can't get models 27 and 28 because these models are not on the darn California safe guns list. The only large frame .357 Magnum S&W revolver you can legally buy here is, in fact, 627...
 
A good first revolver should be accurate and durable. Mine was a S & W Mod. 28 that I bought 18 years ago for $ 125.00. I still have it, shoot it frequently, and wouldn't part with it.

I think a 4 in. barrel, 6 shot in S & W K, L, or N frame, Colt Trooper/Peacekeeper/King Cobra, or Ruger Security Six/GP-100 in very good used condition for under $ 300.00 would be excellent choices for a first revolver. By sticking with a six shot and 4 in. tube there are lots of assessories available at reasonable prices. I would also limit caliber to .357 magnum so the .38/.357 ammo combination can be utilized.
 
Well, I think you have a couple of good choices listed and if you can swing either the PC 627 or Python, I can't for the life of me figure why you would want to settle for something less. I have Rugers which are fine guns, but I certainly wouldn't compare my GP100 to the two choices you're considering.

If I had to ditch one of my .357's, my Python stays. So do all my Smiths.
 
on the contrary

Rival,

It is far from impossible to own a M27, M28, M19, or any other older revolver/handgun here in Lost Angeles.

Last year I purchased a M28 (no dash), a M36-7, a 1946 2" M&P, and a 1917 Colt New Service. The newest, the M36-7 is 5 years old. None are on the "approved list".

Three shops off the top of my head regularly have a nice selection of used consignment revolvers; Red Star Militaria in Culver Cit, LA Guns in Hollywood, and Bullseye Sporting Goods in Long Beach. You can also try Bain & Davis in El Monte, Kings Gunworks, and a few others.

If you're willing to buy used and are willing to shop around, there are lots of fine revolvers available. We do pay a premium over prices in other parts of the US, but there are still great guns to be had.

Jeff
 
For durabilityand cost I would buy a 6" Ruger GP100. I have one and accuracy is very good.
 
i'd get a used Ruger 4" GP

.....or if you are like me and like to keep your friends constantly on edge, let your bud dump the major $$ for either the Python or the Performance Center.

While he is doing that, spend 1/2 as much or less on a nice used Dan Wesson with 6" barrel and out shoot him. Pony up an extra $20 for the Hogue tapered finger grip. Before leaving the range, spend a minute or so popping off the 6" for the 2" (that you also got in the deal) and holster it up all your urban needs.
 
Something cheaper. Not necessarily because a 627 or Python would be a bad value, but if you start there you'll be spoiled. There's lots of nice wheelguns out there for $300 that you might pass on owning one of the above sweet-*** guns.

I say, grab a used S&W 66 or Ruger Security Six.
 
Another vote for the Ruger GP100 for all the reasons already mentioned.
 
Ala Dan, may I ask why you prefer model 19/66 over model 586/686? Unfortunately I can't get models 27 and 28 because these models are not on the darn California safe guns list. The only large frame .357 Magnum S&W revolver you can legally buy here is, in fact, 627...

A lot of us find the balance of the K frames better than the L frames and so we tend to pick the 19/65/66 over the 586/686.

And in CA, look for a good used M-27 or M-28. There are lots of them on the resale market out there.
 
BOYOBOYOBOYOBOY So many choices :)

I'm with Ala Dan and others here: any good S&W, used or new, will do just fine.

Now, there is something special about Pythons and S&W's PC .357's, and I wouldn't turn one down. But you could do a lot worse than starting with any 3" to 6" S&W .357.

I kind of balked at the prices for used revolvers here in CA, until I remembered that I was still getting a great gun at less than "normal for here" retail prices. And some of the best N frames can only be bought used.
 
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