Help turn me into a revolver guy!

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fistful

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I'm a 1911 fan, but it looks like my first carry gun will be a revolver, if y'all can help me pick one.

I have owned a 1911 and a S & W 19, and sold both when I needed money more than guns. I can no longer justify going un-armed outside the house, but I don't have any handguns right now. If I had all the money and time in the world, I would pick up a 1911 and do what it takes to make sure it's reliable. Unfortunately, I need something dependable in the 200 dollar range.

I thought my 19 was too big for carry, but I have also handled a Ruger SP101, briefly, and found the grip to be too small. I did like it's smaller, five-shot cylinder, though. I hope to do some rental shooting when I can, probably at Bullz-Eye on Manchester Road. If anyone can suggest another good rental range in the Saint Louis area, please let me know.

I would prefer a revolver in .357 or .45 auto, but I think in the interest of economy and concealability, I will end up with a .38 Special. The majority of inexpensive, used wheelguns I am finding are in .38 Special, and this would also fit well with my low level of experience in pistol-shooting. Should I be concerned that the .38 is too wimpy, or should I just choose a good cartridge and strive for good shot placement?

In addition, I am hoping for something that my non-gunny wife will be able to shoot. She just didn't take to the 19, though she's a sharpshooter with a .22 rifle. Yeah, I'm looking at getting a BuckMark pistol, too. I'll get her up to speed eventually.
 
shooting my dads well loved M10 turned me into a revolver guy. It wont replace my autos, but I now appreciate both methods of sending lead letters...

FWIW- A 3" or 4" M10 will be my next pistol purchase
 
I thought my 19 was too big for carry, but I have also handled a Ruger SP101, briefly, and found the grip to be too small.
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I believe the SP101 and GP 100 grips are interchangeable. I am sure someone here can either confirm or refute this with certainty. If not, Ruger can. If you like everything about the SP101 except grip size then go with that as there are numerous after market grips that are larger even if the GP 100 grips don't fit.
 
I believe the SP101 and GP 100 grips are interchangeable.
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I don't think so. There's a metal cylinder that holds the grips onto the frame, and it's much bigger in my GP than my SP. I've heard that the SP grip panels will fit on the grips of a 3" GP, however.

I've seen pictures of some big aftermarket grips on the SP -- hogues, badgers, I don't remember -- but they were pretty big.

~Ichiro
 
Smith and Wesson 642. You won't regret it.


sw642_sat_02c.jpg
 
Thanks for the feedback.

To clarify, I am not looking for a snub-nose pistol, like the 642, although if a 3" gun is considered a snubby that would be big enough.

I have oft heard of the famed Model 10. What are the other good .38s? I should also point out that Colts are out of the question, as the cylinder latch just seems backward to me.

Thanks again,

fistful
 
Try the SP-101 with the Hogue Combat Grips. They only cost about $15 and almost everyone I know who shoots the SP uses them. They work a lot better than the Ruger grips.
 
They are a little longer and have finger grooves. They're made of a slightly spongy rubber to absorb recoil. They seem to work extremely well on the SP's.
 
Check out a Taurus model 60. It is .357 and is the size of a j frame and is stainless. around 375.00 range.
 
Although I usually carry a Ruger P97 .45 there are times when I carry either a S&W 4" model 10 or a Taurus 85. The model 10 is a very good choice but when loaded with + P ammo even that little Taurus will do the job intended.
 
I carry a S&W model 60-15 J frame with 3" barrel and adjustable sights in .357. I love it. I find it much more reliable than an auto loader and more capable of bringing down large animals. Carries IWB comfortably or w/ shoulder holster.
 
Hi All-

I've never understood the utility of purchasing a .38 Special when one can purchase a .357 Magnum and utilize both cartridges in the same firearm. The minor differences one might notice in bulk aren't worth the loss in flexibility. Whatever model you choose, definitely go with the .357!

:)

~ Blue Jays ~
 
Hey Blue Jays,

I was like you until I walked into a gun store and saw all those cheap .38s and so few .357s that cost more. I don't got a lotta cash right now. Besides that, the Mod 19 I used to have seemed a mite big, and it wasn't even built for the .357. Apparently a lot of people like the 19 for concealed carry, but I think I'll be happier with something less conspicuous, at least until I get used to packing.

On second thought, maybe the extra for a .357 would be worth it as it is a better investment, and will be more powerful when I graduate to a real caliber. :)
 
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Question,

Are the J frames also questionable for the .357? I guess I'm just not into the idea of a gun that's not built to last forever, when used with it's intended cartridge.

Which models are the L-frames?

Is there a good online guide to S&W frames and model numbers?
 
Fistfull, it depends what the gun is made out of. The heavier stainless steel J frames hold up fine to the .357s. It's the lighter alloy guns that people seem to have concerns with the heavy loads. The lighter guns are also harder on the body with a lot more felt recoil and harder to get back on target for follow up shots. Friends who have them tend to just shoot .38 special rounds through them for practice. I don't notice a little extra weight, and prefer a gun that will hold up to lots of use and heavy loads.
 
How about Taurus in 357 mag? Check out their offerings on line. I think they are currently the best bang for the buck on the market. I CCW my 19-5 2.5" bbl on a routine basis but I wouldn't hesitate to carry a Taurus based on the three that I own. All of them are accurate and reliable. The Tracker with a 7 shot cylinder is ridicuously accurate with both 38's and 357's.
 
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