S&W model 10, 4 inch barrel

[browncoatdawn]

I was wondering, a friend just offered to go in on a buy with me, both of us betting 2 each to get them at reduced price. We understand that these are fine with +p ammo, and we mainly want them for plinking and a private group of target shoothing people. How do these guns handle? What are the general opinions of them, and their inherent characteristics? I cant believe getting 2 of these for $229 each, in 70-80% condition, with tight lock up. the only problems are the mix of round and square butt, and rather chewed up grips. the guy who has them bought 30 of them and has only sold 4. sad. may pay off for us though.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Ya mean like this?



Personally, I love S&W Model 10s and their predecessors, the 38 Hand ejectors, also known as the Military and Police revolvers. You just about can't go wrong with one. The Model 10 and its predecessor were the quintessential police revolver for most of the 20th Century. On top of that, $229 is an excellent price these days. I am seeing them in the $400 price range more and more these days. Yes, a Model 10 will be fine with +P ammo. Buy it and shoot it, you won't be sorry.

 

[browncoatdawn]

YES!!

That exactly! I plan on keeping one, or 2 if I buy 2, since I just sold an Olds 455 rocket for a fair price, and I may have them re-blued by a pro just for my own peace of mind. Throw on some custom finger groove hardwood grips and enjoy! What are the recoil characteristics like? I would imagine very mild.

 

[KCAce]

Agreed...buy them...you won't be sorry. The first pistol I bought many years ago is just like the one in the pic, though mine had the plastic grips. I bought it used over 30 years ago and would guess I've put 1000 -2000 rounds through it. Put a pachmeyer grip on it cuz the wife liked it better that way, and not needed to do anything else.
A great plinker, and a great home SD weapon. What else could you spend your $$ on and enjoy for so many years?

KCAce

 

[BCRider]

I positively salivate at the thought of the time I had shooting around 200 rounds from a 4 inch Model 10. The gun itself is fantastic and just the right weight for the power of the .38Spl. Add to this the great balance in the hand from the 4 inch length barrel and it's a great gun.

Due to our laws up this way I've had to "make do" with 6 inch guns until recently. Then I got a stainless K frame S&W which had been lengthened and sleeve to make it 4.25 inches. I can't notice the little extra but when I pickup my 6 inch 19 and the 4.25 66 one after the other the 66 feels just SOOOO right.

So yeah, you're not going to be at all dissapointed in these 10's. As for the round vs sq butt you have grip options that convert a RB frame to a SB feel. But if you have a SB frame you're stuck. So if you have your options I'd go with all RB guns.

 

[just for fun]

One of Smith's finest. A standard bearer for all revolvers.

 

[CajunBass]

I'm not sure about the Model 10.

I've only got five of them, so the jury is still out.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

We understand that these are fine with +p ammo, and we mainly want them for plinking and a private group of target shoothing people. How do these guns handle? What are the general opinions of them, and their inherent characteristics?

While I feel the M10 is just about the perfect .38 Special K frame it's really not a "target" revolver because it has fixed sights, not adjustable ones. A good target gun will have adjustable sights. My M&P is from 1948 and it's still very accurate and a great revolver to shoot...

 

[Geezer Glide]

I have 4 Model 10's and 1 Model 64. Yeah, I'd get them if I were you. If chewed up grips bother you, Ebay is full of factory K frame grips.

 

[browncoatdawn]

we are starting a small group

we are getting together those who are physically disabled, and some who are fine, and forming a group to shoot at the local range for informal competition. nothing serious, just fun doing the best we can do. In this case, fixed sites or no, I feel the Mod. 10 would be fine.

 

[Jim NE]

I own several handguns, close to half are classic old S&W revolvers, and nothing feels as good in my hand - grip, balance, etc. - as my worn (but not worn out) model 10 w/ a 4" tapered barrel. I can't figure out why that is. My model 64 is basically the same thing, but it's heavy barrel keeps it from having quite the great feel that the model 10 does. That's what keeps me from buying one of the Bud's guns - they have heavy barrels.

Very tight groups, but point of impact isn't point of aim. I could have it altered, I guess, but I just compensate instead.

 

[BCRider]

The fixed sights aren't a big deal if you find the ammo which shoots to POA. Generally these guns were set up for the "classic" load of 158gn cast lead shooting at the standard pressure. For target shooting a lesser recoil can be had from 148gn HBWC bullets. The classic load for these being 2.9 gns of Bullseye behind the cast Hollow Back Wad Cutter bullet set flush with the end of the case. Very soft recoil but it still has the proper internal ballistics to raise the gun correctly to hit to POA.

My own 6 inch Model 10 shoots both these loads spot on to POA.

 

[ewrski]

Buds has police trade ins for $269 with free shipping. Good deal I would believe.

 

[Agsalaska]

Ive been real close to buying one from Buds. I would absolutley by two for $229 each. No quesiton about it.