Revolver newbie

[syh]

I'm thinking about getting a revolver for my wife, with the intention of plinking and conceal carry.

I guess the important things I'm looking for is something that will be shootable at the range (in other words, I've heard that scandium snubbies are not fun to shoot) but still concealable. She's also no wuss, and can shoot 45s without trouble.

Beyond that, I don't know much of anything as far as what's good, what the big considerations are, etc.

I'd even just some primer knowledge on why some people hate revolvers they've gotten, so I can try to avoid the same.

Thanks ahead of time!

 

[C-grunt]

Id say stick with S&W or Ruger and you will be fine. Ive never owned a Colt but they also have a good reputation but are a bit more expensive and I don believe they make revolvers anymore (outside of the peacemakers). Taurus seems to be hit or miss. When they work they are good, but they seem to have a higher dud rate than the big three.

My wife bought one of the S&W Airweight .38 snubs. She loved everything about it but actually shooting it. It has some brisk recoil to it. Not the fly out of your hand recoil, but it will smack your palm good.

We got rid of it and got her a Ruger SP101. Its a little bigger but a good bit heavier. Recoil is reduced a lot but the trade off is size and weight.

I would definitely look into a steel snubby for her and just be sure she fires it before she buys it.

 

[Piraticalbob]

A Ruger SP101 or a Smith & Wesson Model 64 with a 3" or 4" barrel would be a good choice. The 64 is stainless and chambered in .38 Special. The blued version of the 64 is the Model 10.

 

[Brian Dale]

It need not be a snubbie. A longer sight radius is good for shootability; in a CCW gun, the limiting factor is what can be carried in reasonable comfort. Get some revolvers into her hands and have her find out what feels good. If there's a way for her to shoot some of them at the range (rentals, or using friends' revolvers), that's even better.

The posts that I can recall from people who hated their revolvers were from people who bought things that were too light for them to shoot comfortably. Get something that isn't painful to practice with.

Peruse Kathy Jackson's site, the Cornered Cat. She's the managing editor of Concealed Carry Magazine. Here's the link.

 

[Stainz]

First, I would decide on the more important issue - carry or range use. A revolver which will accomplish both tasks will not really be a good match for either. For example, a CCW should be carried 24/7 to be effective, as it does you little good if left at home during a time of need. A decent range plinker is hard to conceal.

If you are new to revolvers, a range gun/plinker should be first. A .22 rimfire revolver is great for the uninitiated due to the lack of recoil - or for the veteran plinker due to the low ammo cost. Since you guys have experience, a .38 - or .357M - may be in order.

A great plinker is the venerable 4" 10 - or, easier to clean, it's SS sibling - the 64. Many good SS .357Ms exist - from the 65 & 66 models to todays 620, 686(+), and even the 627's. Great plinkers - and super house guns. Don't let anyone steer you away from some of the fine defensive .38 Special +P ammo that exists, either.

For CC, a revolver has to be small and light - a snubnose .38 is ideal. The best answer to me is the 642, a 15 oz Airweight with an enclosed hammer. Check out the long '642 Club' threads. Welcome to the world of revolvers - and be sure to keep us apprised.

Stainz

 

[calaverasslim]

I would think a 3" model 10 that is +P rated would be an ideal choice. 7-15 yd range for practice with standard 38 special and +P's for carry. Ideal combination.

 

[Stainz]

The K-frame 3" 64 weighs 33 oz, according to the 2003 S&W catalog. They would make a decent plinker. My new (9/03) 2" 10 became quite a plinker - I could hit a 12"-16" steel plate at 110yd at the range often enough to make it entertaining. At 30.5 oz, it was too heavy for pocket carry, however, even after I replaced the UM's Combat rubber grips with service wood boots. It joined my 20.7 oz 296 5-shot AirLite-Ti .44 Special as a belt-holster rider. It didn't get carried much. They did get to wear larger comfortable grips, however... most of the time in the safe.

Look below for my huge snubby collection. Starting in the upper left hand corner, and progressing CCW: .38 Airweight 642 5-shot (15 oz); .38 2" Model 10 6-shot (30.5 oz); .44 Spcl 2.5" 296 AirLite-Ti 5-shot (20.7 oz); and .44 Spcl 3" 696 5-shot (35.5 oz). The two Al-alloys are great for CCWs. I have Robert Mika pocket holsters for both (see bottom). The 296 thus carried fits ~75% of my britches front pockets. The 642 fits all of my pants - even dress/suit pants. It's a 100% - 24/7 - carry. Not so good as a plinker. Stoked with their PD rounds, neither is a lot of fun to shoot - recoil-wise. A 5-shot .38 or .357M 2.25" Ruger SP-101, midway between the J-frame & K-frame S&Ws, weighs 26 oz, by comparison.



Below you'll see the 296 (top) and 642 in Mika's holsters:



Finally, my suggestions for a plinker, a 4" 64:



I hope this helps.

Stainz

 

[JWJacobVT]

I agree Stainz. My wife loves shooting my S&W model 65 4 inch and will shoot it all day long. I bought her a S&W 642, she will fire ten or so rounds to make sure she can hit her target and than go back to the 65. My 686 is to heavy for her. So get a model 65/64 for plinking and a 642/60 for carry. Even better would be a 63 in 22LR for plinking. Please don't be like one of my co-workers who thought 200 rounds through his keltec P11 would be fun. Gee I don't understand why my hand hurts so bad today. Hahahahaha.

 

[Rmac58]

Either Ruger or S&W in .357 will be fine, but go with stainless steel, and keep .38's in it for use other than the range.

 

[LoneCoon]

As one of the resident Dan Wesson fan-boys here, I'm going to suggest a Model 15, then swap out the barrel for carry vs. plinking.

 

[indiandave]

Is the gun is for your wife take her shopping and let her pick it out. Thats what I did for my wife. She chose a S&W model 60 with a 3" barrel. Not all wifes are the same.

 

[syh]

Yeah, it seems the consensus that S&W or Ruger are good brands to trust. I'll have her try a few on for size and test fire a few to pick out the best. Thanks all for the replies.

A 3" is both carryable and shootable, right?

 

[heron]

Don't forget to consider a set of aftermarket grips (Hogue, t-grip, etc.) -- these can change the feel of the gun.

-- oh, yeah, and a holster. Ammo, cleaning supplies, targets? Maybe some range time . . .

 

[Brian Dale]

A 3" is both carryable and shootable, right?

I was waiting for someone who owns one to reply. I don't have one yet, but I'll respond. Marko Kloos and Tamara (both former Moderators here) have sung the praises of the 3-inch, heavy barreled K-frame revolver for serious use.

Here's one of Marko's pieces on the subject.

Here's another.

Here's something from Tamara.

 

[MrBorland]

A 3" is both carryable and shootable, right?

I was waiting for someone who owns one to reply.

I have 2, so I'll chime in.

Yes, IMO, a 3" k-frame is a terrific all-arounder, and I'd be hard-pressed to come up with a better all-around weapon. That said, if you want carryability and shootability, you have to compromise, and if/when carried on my side, the weight becomes noticeable by the end of the day (I'm 5'9" 155lbs). It is very shootable, though, and shooting .38spl is pleasant. I shot my first IDPA match recently with one, and did perfectly fine.

 

[Low Budget Shooter]

Dear syh,

One of the most important elements to a good experience for her will be using mild ammo for practice, especially at first. If you don't load your own, just buy some wadcutters, which are loaded very mild.

LBS