Off-Brand revolvers....Opinions and Reviews?

[azredhawk44]

Okay, given that the "premium" (and I use the term loosely) revolvers fall into these brands:

Smith & Wesson
Ruger
Colt
Taurus
Dan Wesson
Mateba

What do you guys have to say about these other brands for reliability, fit and finish, and accuracy?

EAA Windicator
Rossi
Comanche
Charter Arms
Charter 2000
Anybody Else...

I ask because I want to get the automatic out of my car and have a 4-inch 6-shooter in there instead in either .357magnum, .44special, .45acp or .45LC (any is fine). If my car is stolen or broken into I don't want to mourn the loss of something irreplaceable, however.

I just feel more warm and fuzzy with a revolver than an auto. I very rarely even shoot my autos any more.

Just FYI, I am leaning more towards the EAA Windicator 4" with a steel frame in .357magnum but don't know about things like speedloader compatibility, accuracy or reliability.

 

[22-rimfire]

I'd get a Rossi in 44 or 357 if you want non-premium manufacturers. A lot of people are pretty happy with them overall for price and quality.

 

[joab]

Rossi Taurus--same thing

That's the extent of my knowledge on this subject

 

[461]

Why you would specifically look for a second rate gun to protect your life is beyond me. My personal choice is a Ruger either SP-101 or a GP-100, if I wanted to save money I might look to a Taurus or Rossi but they'd have to prove themselves with a great deal of range time before they'd be used in a defensive situation. Around here the range in prices between the best and the worst aren't much over a few hundred dollars so to me it makes no sense to go cheap.

 

[MCgunner]

I've owned five Rossi revolvers. I liked 'em all. They were all accurate, reliable, and well fitted where it counted, the action. I did have a problem with a .357 M971. The firing pin snapped off it. I sent it in and it came back a few weeks later, next range session it snapped off again. I took it to a good gunsmith and he installed a new pin. I asked him what it thought it might be. All he said was they "have to be fitted properly". Whatever he did, it never gave me a problem again through several thousand rounds, mostly of .38, but some hot loads, too. I traded it in on a Ruger Blackhawk I really, really wanted, but hated to lose it because it was such a light, easy to carry gun. It was sorta not quite K frame size, full lugged barrel, rubber grip, easy to shoot with hot .357s. It was a four inch gun.

I had a M88 stainless .38 2" I carried for a long time until I got my Taurus Ultra Lite. I sold it to a friend and it's percolating along quite well. I had a M511 .22 "sportsman" kit gun that I loved, very accurate and easy to shoot. It got stolen and I found another at a gun show used for too much money, but I had to have it. That thing shoots 1-1.5" groups (about as good as I can shoot anything) from bags with RWS ammo at 25 yards. I actually shoot it in matches with my local club. It shoots as good as any Ruger/Buckmark type field .22. And, I inherited a M68 Rossi 3" blued 5 shot J frame gun. That thing is nice, very accurate and easy to shoot with the longer sight radius. It seems tighter and better fitted than the M88 I had. I bought it in the early 80s.

Of all of 'em, the M971 had one cylinder that didn't quite time perfectly. The rest had perfect timing and perfect function and locked up tight. The 971 was tight despite its round count when I traded it. I got a Javelina with that one, too, that's mounted on my wall. It was more accurate with .38s than .357s, but out to fifty yards, I could hit well with it with the best .357 loads. It was about a 2.5" grouper with 140 gr speer hollow points. My current M66 Taurus is a good bit more accurate, but is a little heavier and less handy. That Rossi was only about 30 ounces unloaded. I liked the unfluted barrel, too.

So, yeah, I like Rossi revolvers a lot. I'm five for five with 'em. I'd buy another in a heartbeat!

 

[BillinNH]

Let me put in a mildly enthusiastic plug for the Charter Arms Bulldog in 44 Special. Over the years there have been many satified Bulldog owners but also some complaints. AFAIK, the "first generation" (exposed extractor) and "fourth generation" (Charter 2000) models are reliable and good performing, especially as a personal defense belly gun. I have a first generation with the 3" barrel and it is a lot of fun to shoot, accurate and dependable and comfortable enough to use as a range gun. A 2" barrel makes for a very pocketable gun. Check them out but take a good look at it for any posible problems before you buy.

Bill

 

[azredhawk44]

Why you would specifically look for a second rate gun to protect your life is beyond me. My personal choice is a Ruger either SP-101 or a GP-100

Completely understood. Once my ccw permit comes thru, the carry gun on me will be a 3" sp101 in .357. Already have it, trust it, shoot well with it.

I like to always have a weapon in the car, though, just in case I don't have one physically on me thru negligence or inability due to dress restrictions or whatever. That's what this weapon will be. And I may end up matching it to my existing choice for carry, another sp101 3" .357.

I think I would rather have something a little bigger, though, since I won't be carrying this particular gun concealed. 1 extra round and a better grip than the sp101. The EAA looks to have a pretty nice contoured grip on it similar to the Hogues.

 

[Ichiro]

One solution, in your situation, is to buy a used revolver from Auctionarms.com. In .357 mag, Rugers don't demand the premium that used S&W models do. Even cheaper, though, will be a used .38 special revolver, either a Ruger or a S&W.

I purchased two S&W model 10 revolvers from auction arms -- one for $169 and the other for $155 -- and they are both excellent shooters with triggers much better than my brand new GP-100 and SP-101. The first was listed in "very good" condition; the latter in "good." Guns like these have zero collector value because of their condition, and that keeps their prices low, but mine shoot better than my other, new revolvers. They also cleaned up very, very well with Flitz metal polish to the point that they are actually quite good-looking guns.

Edit: used, 4" model 10s are the best deal going in revolvers. And if the seller has hundreds or thousands of positive responses with none or only a few negative responses, I think your risk of buying a lemon are quite low.

~Ichiro

 

[MountainPeak]

Rossi Taurus--same thing

That's the extent of my knowledge on this subject

Yup, improvements just keep happening in the lower priced market!!! Want to hear about a recent "crying jag", by a friend, that's a HUGE S&W fan(I'm one to)? Four of us decided to shoot each others 357mags, that we happened to have with us. We all agreed to try our best with each model. Total guns fired 13(single and double action guns). We shot them off bench in single action. The winner, a Taurus. I only pointed out the S&W guy, because he insisted we ALL didn't try with the "Smiths". Fact is, at 20 yards, the 4 us DID shoot "one" TAURUS 357, better than the other 12 handguns. Doesn't prove anything, but it was an interesting exercise.

 

[New_geezer]

Have a recent Braztech Rossi 971 that is one of my favorite handguns to shoot - about 1000 rounds now with no problems

 

[birddog]

Heritage Arms. Cheap & fun.

On a complete whim, I bought a $165 Heritage Arms Rough Rider .22 a month or so ago. Came with a LR and a Magnum cylinder. It is just plain fun to shoot, accurate as anything else I own, and even kind of nice to look at.
Couple hundred rounds through it so far, and I'd suggest it to anyone looking for cheap fun.

Edited to add: Sorry, I just realized you were talking bigger calibers. But I'll leave my post up anyway.

 

[Onmilo]

Korth=Off brand.
Korth beats them all for simple, elegant precision.

Czechoslovakian Kora revolvers are pretty excellent.

French Manurhin revolvers are extremely well made and not often seen in America.

The Chilean FAMAE revolver would remind one of the old German RG revolvers but is common Police issue in that country,,,,

 

[h_tolley]

Count this as another vote for an older used revolver. A used Ruger Security Six, in .357 will set you back $200-$250. I personally think they are a little ugly, but they work great.

 

[McCall911]

I must be gettin old...
I remember when Taurus and Ruger were considered "off brand" revolvers!

 

[MCgunner]

On a complete whim, I bought a $165 Heritage Arms Rough Rider .22 a month or so ago. Came with a LR and a Magnum cylinder. It is just plain fun to shoot, accurate as anything else I own, and even kind of nice to look at.
Couple hundred rounds through it so far, and I'd suggest it to anyone looking for cheap fun.

Edited to add: Sorry, I just realized you were talking bigger calibers. But I'll leave my post up anyway.

Yeah, but it's a handsome gun for being "cheap", anyway! She looks sweet!

 

[MCgunner]

I must be gettin old...
I remember when Taurus and Ruger were considered "off brand" revolvers!

Yeah, back when the S&W top breaks in .44 Russian came out, it was considered by most old hats to be junk back then compared to the Colts, too. What were you totin' back then, anyway, '51 Navy?

Kiddin', just kiddin'....

 

[McCall911]

Yeah, back when the S&W top breaks in .44 Russian came out, it was considered by most old hats to be junk back then compared to the Colts, too. What were you totin' back then, anyway, '51 Navy?

Kiddin', just kiddin'....

You young whippersnappers!

 

[MCgunner]

I think I would rather have something a little bigger, though, since I won't be carrying this particular gun concealed. 1 extra round and a better grip than the sp101. The EAA looks to have a pretty nice contoured grip on it similar to the Hogues.

I'm thinking if you got in your car forgetting to arm yourself, you might want a small J frame you could stick in your pocket in lieu of your carry you left at home? Just another scenario. If you have to leave it in your car when you go in to buy milk in the convenience store, and an armed robber presents himself, and your N frame is in the car.....well, you get my drift. A Taurus M85UL in your pocket beats a M29 .44 mag in a glove box in that scenario I'd think.

 

[Majic]

When did the Mateba become a premium brand?

 

[Brian Williams]

jgsales.com
S&W mod 10s for $199

 

[GaryP]

I have been around longer than Ruger firearms and do not remember Ruger to have ever been considered an "OFF BRAND"! I do remember when both Rossi and Taurus were considered "JUNK GUNS"! Taurus has improved drastically over the last 10 years or so and Rossi is beginning to show considerable improvement since Taurus bought them but both have a considerable way to go before they are in the same class as a Smith, Ruger, or Colt. Yeah, I know but that's the way it was and still is to some extent. The Older Charter Arms revolvers(Pre Charco or Charter 2000) are good light weight CCW guns as long as they are not fed a steady diet of +P ammo, which they were not designed to shoot in the first place! I suffer no illusions though, Charter Arms revolvers are not in the same class as a Smith, Colt, or Ruger either!

 

[joab]

Edited to add: Sorry, I just realized you were talking bigger calibers. But I'll leave my post up anyway

Isn't Heritage offering a Roughrider in .45 colt now?

 

[kirkcdl]

I owned a 2" Windicator in 357,and I got rid of it,only because I made a killer trade and the Windicator snubby was a part of it.I got a 4" 357,and I still have it.Both guns required removal of about half the front sight in order to shoot POA,but that was easy.Both also functioned flawlessly,the 2" had about 1500 rds through it,and I'm up to about 1200 in the 4",all full power loads.Windicators are well built guns...

 

[McCall911]

I have been around longer than Ruger firearms and do not remember Ruger to have ever been considered an "OFF BRAND"!

Nah, don't pay me any attention. I was just kiddin mostly.

But amongst some old school law enforcement officers that I have known, anything that's not a Colt or Smith & Wesson could be considered an "off brand."

I know Ruger makes some of the finest handguns around and Taurus, from what I gather, is pretty decent too. (Can't say because I haven't owned any Taurus revolvers.)

 

[Old Dog]

I ask because I want to get the automatic out of my car and have a 4-inch 6-shooter in there instead in either .357magnum, .44special, .45acp or .45LC (any is fine). If my car is stolen or broken into I don't want to mourn the loss of something irreplaceable, however.

I was going to offer hearty concurrence with the gents suggesting a used S&W Model 10, then I noticed you didn't include .38 Special in your criteria.

I'm noticing that the prices on used .357 Smiths (especially pre-lock) are climbing quickly. Gettin' tough to find a good used S&W .357 under $325 -350 ... And that's just for 19s, 60s, 640s, etc. -- the prices for even beater-condition used Model 27s, 29s, 627s and 629s are getting ridiculous.

So, if you don't want to go the used route, I would suggest considering one of the Taurus offerings. I've had a stellar Taurus 85 for years, but lately have examined and shot quite a few of the Taurus .357s and .44s; I am steadily becoming a fan of Taurus' revolvers (I've long thought the Taurus PT-92 one of the best buys around in semi-auto pistols), the quality seems quite respectable, and the accuracy is excellent. Trigger pulls are not bad at all. And it wasn't long ago I wouldn't have ever recommended a wheelgun other than a S&W ...

But, if you don't mind your revolvers carrying several extra ounces of weight with big billboards on the barrels ... and barely adequate trigger pulls, I guess you could go the Ruger route ...