Let's see some of your favorite budget revolvers! (Appreciation Thread)

[Styx]

Most threads are about S&W, Ruger, and Colt revolvers, so I wanted to start a budget revolver application thread.... What are some of your favorite budget revolvers that are NOT S&W, Ruger, Colt, Kimber, Chiappa, Korth, Dan Wesson, or the like?

Here's my favorite. A Taurus model 85 that I use to carry regularly almost a decade ago. I recently started carrying it again.

 

[Gork10]

Does my wife's favorite count. Rough rider barkeep.

 

[shoebox1.1]

I can’t play. I don’t have one

 

[Riomouse911]

I have a few guns that are nice, but honestly fall into a lower tax bracket than others.

A couple of Taurus rimfires, a 94 .22 LR

And 941 .22 Magnum


An AIM Surplus trade-in S&W Model 64 .38 that was pretty dirty and nicked up by the previous owner/users.


And a couple of Ruger Wranglers with some aftermarket grips.


Stay safe.

 

[Targa]

Rossi Plinker

 

[hemiram]

SAR sr38, a pretty close 586 clone. I don't know how well the ceracote finish will hold up, but it's a decent enough gun. Lock up isn't great, but is acceptable (SAR USA has no parts for this gun, so I can't get another bolt to hand fit to improve it)., and it shoots fine. I paid $349 for it back when it first came out.

 

[Tallball]

I've had the Charter Arms for 5-10 years. It's a good carry piece. Light and has an okay trigger. The shrouded hammer is a nice touch. I don't know if it will stand up to thousands of rounds, but it's fun to shoot some cowboy loads through it every once in a while. Good for overalls or coat pocket.

This Taurus 82 is what you hope to get from their revolvers. I've had over a dozen. Only one was a lemon. The rest have worked. It's just a question of how stiff their trigger is. This one happens to have a nice trigger. It's basically a S&W Model 10 with a coil spring and a transfer bar safety. The fit and finish are good. A good one like this isn't quite as pretty as a Smith, but it's the functional equivalent. This one is a LE trade-in I got for an absurdly low price.

My experience with Rossi has been mixed, but their Model 720 was sure a nice revolver. I have a SAO version and this one, too. The size, weight, balance, trigger... everything is very nice. It seems to be a good fit for small and large hands. Everyone who shoots it really likes it.

Charter Arms Bulldog 44 Special

• Tallball
• Apr 6, 2020

Taurus82

• Tallball
• Mar 8, 2023

Rossi 720 44 special

• Tallball
• Mar 20, 2020

 

[Hillbilly Hydrographics]

Ive carried taurus revolvers for probably 15 years. Never had any issues with any of them. My edc currently is a taurus 605 357mag snubbi with 2 inch barrel.
I also have a taurus 85ul 38 special snubbi. Ruger wrangler 22lr single action, naa 22mag mini revolver, several iver johnson and H&R old top breaks in 32 long 32 short and 38 short.

 

[Y-T71]

I have never owned any "budget" revolvers but I (I'm a S&W/Ruger fan) but I have often given thought to something other than those 2 brands.

A Charter .44spl has always been a handgun that I would like to own, It's just never happened.

Lately I've been thinking about a basic Taurus .357; something to just Informally shoot.

I only have 1 Taurus (revolver; my time with Taurus semiauto has been good) experience under my belt and it was a bad one.

Someday I'll be in the right place at the right time and I'll give one (or even both) a chance.

 

[ACORN]

I currently own a Rossi Covert 720 that is much nicer than you’d think for the $200 I paid.
I am on the lookout for an older Charter Arms Undercover.
I had one I let get away from me and am looking to replace it. If I can find one.

 

[NorthBorder]

I just got this (back from Charter Arms). It spent most of a month there getting fixed. A Bulldog 45LC. Its about a budgetty as one can get.

 

[Mark_Mark]

If I seen this Rossi, I will buy it in a heart Beat!!!

 

[PzGren]

That would be a H. Weihrauch HW9, the target model that can deliver excellent accuracy.

 

[357 Terms]

My Speed six is in rough shape, looks like it was stored under a truck seat for 30 years.
Bore and chambers are bright, nothing else is!!
Hardly a turn line or rub marks on the trigger when I got it.
Six series Ruger's aren't "budget" anymore, but I paid a little more than half of what they're going for now.
So I guess this counts?
Shoots great!

 

[Y-T71]

...Six series Ruger's aren't "budget" anymore, but I paid a little more than half of what they're going for now.
So I guess this counts?
View attachment 1169332

Ain't that the truth!

Nice revolver.

 

[nofendertom]

357 Terms --- I would say it doesn't count, because many of us on the Forum have purchased firearms that would seem to be a low price now but it wasn't then.
For example --- Mod 28 --- $149.95. It was the going rate.

 

[357 Terms]

357 Terms --- I would say it doesn't count, because many of us on the Forum have purchased firearms that would seem to be a low price now but it wasn't then.
For example --- Mod 28 --- $149.95. It was the going rate.

Paid less than $350 a couple months ago.
Obviously because of its cosmetic condition.

I see what you mean tho, a pristine Speed six would be pushing $650 to $700 now, maybe even higher!

 

[Speedo66]

My Speed six is in rough shape, looks like it was stored under a truck seat for 30 years.
Bore and chambers are bright, nothing else is!!
Hardly a turn line or rub marks on the trigger when I got it.
Six series Ruger's aren't "budget" anymore, but I paid a little more than half of what they're going for now.
So I guess this counts?
Shoots great!
View attachment 1169332

Is it plated or stainless?

 

[.38 Special]

I should taker a better picture, bet hey, everyone knows what a Taurus 85 looks like. I bought this somewhere in the 1980s for, as I recall, $125. It may be the gun I have owned the longest; it is one of the few survivors of the burglary a few decades back, as it was in my coat pocket at the time.

 

[stonebuster]

My Speed six is in rough shape, looks like it was stored under a truck seat for 30 years.
Bore and chambers are bright, nothing else is!!
Hardly a turn line or rub marks on the trigger when I got it.
Six series Ruger's aren't "budget" anymore, but I paid a little more than half of what they're going for now.
So I guess this counts?
Shoots great!
View attachment 1169332

View attachment 1169404This one went for @ $375 + tax & transfer on GB last week. Looks more neglected than abused Glad I got mine before recent price spike!

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Super bargain basement. $80.00 with .32acp cylinder included. Yeah, more than a "couple" years before any price-spikes.

 

[LimaCharlie]

Taylor's & Company 1873 in 45 Colt.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Taylor's & Company 1873 in 45 Colt.
View attachment 1169408

Is that an Uberti? I'm guessing it is. I have a EL Patron, .45, which I don't know if it qualifies as "budget". But no matter how much I examine it, I don't/can't see where it plays second fiddle to a Colt. I paid $750 for mine, which compared to a Colt would be budget for sure!

Above the El Patron is a EMF "Hartford Model" that I got for next to nothing from a guy who couldn't see the sights anymore. Nice pistol, but does not fire full power .357 well. (primers back out) Fine with hot .38 Special loads.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Here's an Uberti Model 1863 Remington New Model Army in Navy caliber. (.36) I got this from a friend of Maria Uberti, who sold it to me for "whatever you want to pay for it", "name your own price". I took it away for $200.00. This was one of the guns she took to the 1986 Shot Show.

 

[Tallball]

I'm not surprised to see so many Taurus Model 85's in this thread. I've owned six or so. All of them went bang. This one cost a little more than $200 used in 2022. I use it for practice to keep down the wear on my fancier carry revolvers. It replaced the previous Model 85, which gave up its life protecting me from my friend's faulty handloads.

Taurus Model 85 38 special DAO

• Tallball
• Feb 12, 2022