S&W 431 at $369?

[.455_Hunter]

Greetings,

Should I buy a NIB Smith and Wesson 431 for $369 + tax? It is a blued six-shot .32 Magnum "Airweight" gun with steel cylinder/barrel insert and aluminum frame. I know S&W recently discontinued their .32 Mag guns, and I thought it might be a good time to pick-up one. It also seems to be a good CCW gun for my wife (better than my heavy Model 60), but I was also thinking about getting her a 317 for the ultimate in lightweight controllable firepower.

What do you folks think?

Hunter

 

[roo_ster]

$369 for a new S&W Airweight is a good deal, .32H&R Mag or not. You're talking Taurus lightweight & Ti prices, essentially.

Personally, I would be warmer toward a .38spl loaded lightly (non +P 158gr LSWCHP or HBWC) than I would be toward .32HRmag. Others will chime in to disagree, I'm sure. I bet the HBWC loads would be as gentle on the shooter as .32HRmag social loads.

You might want to take a gander at the going price of plinker & social .32HRmag ammo & compare to .38spl.

OTOH, I don't think it a bad choice in the way I would consider a S&W317 a bad choice for self-defense.

Good luck.

 

[Huddog]

Looks like a good price and if you are buying it for investor potential, It should be kept NIB. If you are buying it to shot go for it. If your wife likes it and wants to carry it more power to the both of you. It is better than her being unarmed, as is the 317.

 

[sabre]

I just picked up a 431PD for $375, and I'm really glad that I did! I was amazed how accurate it is, I usually have to work at shooting J frames accurately, but this one just seems to hit right where it should. Now I'm bummed that S&W stopped making them

 

[JD_LION]

Yes good price I would buy it they stopped making them.

 

[mnrivrat]

A good price at this time, and about as cheap as you get them unless you run across a real deal.

I've seen some sell in the $500 range shortly after S&W announced they were discontinuing them.

I have a Taurus Titanium 731 in .32 mag. and a friend of mine has the S&W 432 in .32 mag. (enclosed hammer version). They are carried daily and we are both pleased with ours.

I've been plinking with S&W .32 Longs made by Aquila. They are reasonably priced from a couple internet sources and I bought mine from Natchez. A little over $8 a box of 50 by the time you pay shipping.