Model 65 .357 Mag. Revolver

[Old School]

My current collection is tragically absent of wheel guns. That is pretty odd considering my favorite pistol from my teen years was a pretty much worn out s&w .357 mag of my fathers. I used to love to load boxes of weak .38 spl for it and go plinking. And the occasional hot .357 load for amusement.

I have decided to right the oversight and add a revolver to my collection. I was considering the Taurus - MODEL 65 .357 MAG. REVOLVER.

My criteria is medium barrel, durable, practical and quality revolver with value pricing. I prefer stainless simply for duarbility of the finish and ease of care.

Is this a good choice?

 

[papajohn]

It's a WONDERFUL choice. I lusted after a Model 65 for years, finally found one at a good price in the CDNN catalog, and had my FFL order it on the spot. Mine is a 3-inch, but I also think I need a 4-incher to go with it.

A collection devoid of wheelguns is a sad thing indeed. You must rectify this situation ASAP, do it for The Children.

IIRC, CDNN has both 3 and 4-inch M-65's available in varying grades for around $300, some are a bit less. Mine was a well-used police trade-in, and I've modified it a bit, shaved off the hammer spur and re-shaped the bloody idiotic stainless steel front sight so I can actually SEE it.

I keep 357's in it when I carry it around town, but mostly shoot warm 38's in it, and it's a pussycat with a good grip. If I snag one of those four-inchers, I'm gonna put a set of Herrett Cocobolos on it, and shoot it until my trigger finger falls off.

You NEED one!

Papajohn

 

[Old School]

Thanx for the feedback on the Taurus. I also considered the Ruger P100. I am amazed at how expensive the brand name revolvers are compared to autos. With autos being so complex, I would think they should be more expensive but that is certainly not the case. Anyone know why the revolvers are so expensive? Do revolvers like the s&w model 686 sell for near their $875 asking price or is there deals to be had?

 

[lee n. field]

Autos more complex? I suggest you take a look at Kuhnhausen's S&W Revolver shop manual.

 

[loneviking]

My vote is for the Ruger GP100. I see 'em going for under $400 on Gun-Broker, and that is one of the heaviest, best built revolvers I've ever seen.

 

[easyrider604]

I thought the OP meant S&W M-65.

Police trades are still available for less than $300.

Never had a Taurus but my family owns 2 (two) ex-police M65s and they are really nice. Lots of fun and I think their prices will only go up as the sources dry up.

 

[Trebor]

The S&W Model 65 is a better choice then the Taurus revolver. They aren't hard to find used in good shape.

 

[bestseller92]

I have had a Taurus 669 since 1997, and it's been a good gun.

 

[Kosh75287]

I'm a big fan of the the medium frame Ruger double actions, for lotsa jobs. As a first or archetypal "police revolver", it MIGHT NOT be my first choice. I think Rugers are strong, durable, well made revolvers. I think they accomplish this strength by using fewer, beefier parts in their designs. While slightly less durable, the S&W k-frames seem to be more tunable in terms of trigger pulls and such. I don't know how to work on either revolver, but I seem to find a lot more S&Ws with glassy smooth 9 or 10 pound double-action pulls and crisp light single action let offs, than with Rugers. This isn't important to everyone, but I sure like to be able to shoot anything as own just as well as it's possible to do so. A well tuned triggering system makes everything easier. Well, it does for ME, anyway.

 

[Old School]

I thought the OP meant S&W M-65.

Police trades are still available for less than $300.

Never had a Taurus but my family owns 2 (two) ex-police M65s and they are really nice. Lots of fun and I think their prices will only go up as the sources dry up.

I was planning on buying a new unit because I don't have alot of time to treasure hunt and I just don't know alot about revolvers yet. However, I am not opposed a vintage s&w unit at all.

My preference is for a 4" in stainless or maybe nickel on a medium frame. Adjustable sites are a plus. Anything that fits the bill both new and used in the $400 or cheaper range is right in there for me.

 

[easyrider604]

I don't have alot of time to treasure hunt and I just don't know a lot about revolvers yet. However, I am not opposed a vintage s&w unit at all.

Old School, good things come to those who wait (and have patience and know how to haggle)

Your $400 budget will bring you a nice S&W K frame for sure.

However, regardless of brand/model you choose, give it the Revolver Checkout by Jim March...see Sticky: Revolver Checkout in this sub-forum.
That will teach you a lot about revolvers.

FWIW, I did not follow the checkout when I bought my brand new GP100 four months ago. It failed to index and lock on two chambers. The Ruger warranty center in Quebec (Thank you, Paul) fixed it to my complete satisfaction that I think it is the perfect stock GP100.

 

[Old School]

I was at a local gun store today. They had a Taurus model 65 in stainless 4" on the shelf. I handled it for a bit and the fond memories came back immediately. The gun seemed very smooth. The only thing that did not feel like the old S&W was the cylinder swing out felt a bit tight to me. But in all fairness that old Smith my father had was completely worn out. It would just flop out when you pressed the release.

I have to say, I am fond of that 65 design. It just has a nice revolver look and feel to me. The GP100 is a nice gun, but I just prefer that classic look. I poked aroud a few gun shops but classic Smiths are few and far between around here. There is several 38s out there but not 357s. Even the 38s I found are $500 or more in descent shape.

 

[Shade00]

I don't think you need to do any treasure hunting to find a S&W Model 65, which I would choose over the Taurus any day of the week + all the days of next week. CDNN, as mentioned, has them, and so does Centerfiresystems.com. Shipping will add a few bucks and FFL transfer will cost you, but all of that will put the price somewhere under $400. To me, that's a steal for a stainless S&W.

 

[Jenrick]

One of the reasons so many old S&W wheel guns (especially police guns) have glassy smooth triggers is that they are easy to polish. Lightening the trigger pull takes specialized knowledge, but just getting the engagement surfaces cleaned up was something anyone with time and crocus cloth could do. This was of course back before agencies said that doing ANYTHING to the trigger was a no-no.

Many, many, officers spent many an evening in front of the TV, the radio, the wife, patiently smoothing down the base of the rebound slide, etc. For the folks who didn't have patience, there was always another officer who would do it for them. Also almost any major town, had a gun smith who could do a trigger job on a revolver. Maybe not to something of the standard of the masters, but still lighter then stock.

Then add the fact that any agency trade in will probably have been issued 3-4 times, that's a LOT of times the triggers been squeezed in dry firing and qualification shooting.

-Jenrick

 

[Shade00]

Personally, I find some appeal in owning a gun with some history. CDNN and Centerfire's guns are police trade-ins and will likely have a P.D. marking, which I think is cool. Good point on the trigger, Jenrick. The guns may be worn in, but I doubt they are worn out.

 

[woad_yurt]

I see S&W 65s for sale in good condition for $300 or so fairly regularly. Way more for the money compared to buying a Taurus, imho.

 

[machinisttx]

I bought three S&W M65's from CDNN. IMO, if you order from them you need to look the guns over VERY carefully before laying down your cash.

 

[Virginian]

I have owned a lot of guns. One of only two I really regret getting rid of was a Smith 65. But, I currently own no Smiths, and my carry guns are a Taurus 44 or a Taurus 357. Taurus does occassionally have quality issues, but they are not the crap some here would have you believe. I grabbed a brand new Smith 686 out of the case one time, and it totally locked up on the first attempted cocking. Yes, S&W fixed it, and I have no personal knowledge of any S&W or Taurus that ever needed fixing that didn't get fixed.

 

[Elvishead]

Although most of my revolvers are S&W, I would recomend the Ruger GP100

 

[Schmidlin]

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/SW-65-4.aspx


thats listd right now on that site...really good deal.

 

[S&Wfan]

When I got ready to purchase my first serious handgun years ago, I asked my brother (a gun collector and gun show exhibitor of many years) about several brands.

He steered me to the S&W, saying that "when one's life is on the line you'll want the best weapon possible in your hands."

I took that advice, got a S&W Model 65-3 with a 3" barrel, and never regretted it. I still have that wonderful wheelgun and it has won quite a few handgun matches for me through the years. The sights are perfectly regulated and it is one sweet-shootin,' and accurate .357.

Back then (1990) I paid $235 for a six year old Model 65 in great condition. Today I could probably sell it for about twice that amount. You can get the more common 4" versions for about $399 used right now . . . and sometimes a lot cheaper via a private seller.

One day it will be one of the S&W revolvers that my three sons will inherit. It will surely be worth a lot more by then. S&W revolvers only appreciate in value if you maintain them in good condition!!!

I'd go with the Smith! Here's mine, with later S&W grips:

 

[PzGren]

Among the over a dozen revolvers that I am hanging on to, is a LE trade-in S&W M65 that is my favorite centerfire range revolver. The light cylinder of the K frame helps with a fast D/A trigger pull.