Soliciting first purchase advice

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buy a 50 round mag.. fully load it, and leave it for a year.. come back and try to get the rounds out... good luck.. that is all the science I need... I keep my mags loaded to about half capacity when I am not carrying.. still have them if I need them, but doesnt kill the mag at a young age...
 
"Well if you keep the magazine loaded 24/7 then the spring eventually wears out. I mean it does take a super long time, and i guess i can't say from personal experience but if science serves me right then it all makes sense."

Yup, like hundreds of years!
 
Do some research on that before you call it "science".
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No, I think I'd rather not waste my time "researching". Anyways, I prefer revolvers because I know they are alot less likely to have something go totally wrong, they are easier to clean, and there's something about a revolver in the sock drawer that says security.
 
"You see, the spring doesn't have a clue about what time it is - the spring doesn't know if it has been fully compressed and then released over a decade (loading a mag, storing for a decade, then using that mag) or a few seconds (loading the mag and immediately using it). To the spring, that's one compression - time has nothing to do with it. Abraision has everything to do with it."
 
Snubbies are short for purposes of concealment. Thus, they are less than ideal for in home defense (get a longer barrel); and they are not (in my opinion) fun to shoot (too much recoil). For fun at the range get a used 22 rifle; they are really fun to shoot. For home get a used shotgun. If you want bragging rights, get a BBQ gun.
-BothellBob
 
For home defense I think it is best to go with a revolver definitely because it can sit loaded FOREVER without any damage unlike a autoloader.
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Well if you keep the magazine loaded 24/7 then the spring eventually wears out. I mean it does take a super long time, and i guess i can't say from personal experience but if science serves me right then it all makes sense.
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I would also like to see you back this up with hard facts.

Springs don't suffer wear when fully compressed or relaxed, spring metal only fatigues due to constant usage. Loaded magazines don't wear out if left alone.

Are you aware that if a revolver does have a malfunction, you will not likely be able to fix it in the field -unlike a semi-automatic with a tap-rack-bang drill? That would kinda suck if you hear a bump in the night.
 
Snubbies are short for purposes of concealment. Thus, they are less than ideal for in home defense (get a longer barrel)
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I'm not following you there. In my mind, a shorter barrel would be better for home defense. If someone grabbed for the gun and got the barrel I would want the leverage on my side, not on his.

Granted I'm probably thinking about it too hard...

Are you aware that if a revolver does have a malfunction, you will not likely be able to fix it in the field -unlike a semi-automatic with a tap-rack-bang drill?
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With the proper care though wouldn't a revolver be much less likely to have a malfunction in the first place?

If things are too complicated to operate, my wife will usually not bother with them. I do like the looks of the CZ 75 / 75B / 2075 but wouldn't know the first thing to do with a semi-auto.
 
Mag springs in autos don't wear out. The issue with autos sitting for long periods of time is the lube evaporating (which it does do slowly) and leaving the gun unlubricated and therefore unreliable.

Revolvers can't be beat for year in and year out reliability. That said, snubby revolvers and tiny autos are the most difficult handguns to shoot well and will retard your learning dramatically. The extra kick teaches your brain to fear the shot, inducing flinch. It also makes you not want to practice. The short sight radius requires great technique to get anything resembling accuracy, and that's not going to happen without practice. I have never met anyone who started on a small gun like the ones you mention and actually became competent with it.

Those model 64's are a great buy. The 64 is the same as a model 10, except in stainless. Do not buy Taurus. They cost nearly as much as S&W guns and aren't nearly as well made. You're on the right track with .38 instead of .357 for two reasons: a gun built for .38 will have its sights regulated for .38, while a .357 will shoot low with .38 loads. Second, the K frame .38 is a lighter gun than the L frame .357, and so most shooters shoot them better. With +p hollowpoints the .38 is as good a manstopper as the best 9mm loadings which have been serving police and civilians for decades just fine.

Choosing a shooters gun instead of a concealment piece will mean better shooting from you with less practice.
 
I've read Taurus warranties their guns for the life of the gun, regardless of owner. If I purchased one of those S&W 64s and something needed work on it, would I have to pay S&W or a gunsmith to fix it or does S&W have a warranty similar to Taurus?
 
You'd be on your own with the Smith, but the chance of needing such work on that revolver is very small. They're more complex than a hammer but they're nearly as reliable. Smith & Wesson's been making (non-stainless models of) that particular revolver and its immediate predecessors for something over 100 years. They've got the bugs worked out. :)

The Taurus warranty could be called a marketing gimmick, except that they've become famous for standing behind their products very well indeed. The warranty's a great idea.

J&G Sales lists a 30 day inspection period on their Conditions page. Plenty of time to have the Smith looked over. I'll admit that I'm biased in favor of Smith revolvers like the 64 that you're looking at; however, that bias is based on their record. Used, K frame, Smith & Wesson revolvers are some of the best bargains one can find.
 
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Back to the original question.

The LCR may be tough to obtain, and the 637 may be less $ than the 360, but the 360 has a great feature that the 637 doesn't have, and that is a pinned front sight. You can replace it with a night sight that will make it much more useful as an HD gun.

I just received my Bud's Special 360 today.

For your question, the 360 is my vote.

But for the uses you described, I would look to a larger framed, steel revolver.

The <1lb revolver category is ideal for carry, but only holds disadvantages for HD and range use.

If you really like the snub look, go with a steel 2" or 2.5" k frame in 38 or 357. It may cost you more, but it'll be worth it in the long run because it has it all: better control, 6 round capacity, and concealability.

Be patient, they're out there.

Let us know what you decide.
 
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I'm not following you there. In my mind, a shorter barrel would be better for home defense. If someone grabbed for the gun and got the barrel I would want the leverage on my side, not on his.

Granted I'm probably thinking about it too hard...
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A longer heavier barrel is better for the following reasons:
-a longer sight radius makes it easier to aim, both with the sights and instinctively if you don't have time to get a perfect sight picture.
-a heavier barrel reduces the tendency for a revolver to jump up due to recoil and makes follow up shots faster. It also reduces felt recoil and therefore reduce the shooter's tendency to flinch
-a longer barrel has less muzzle flash because more powder burns IN the barrel and less in front of the muzzle. This translates to less "perceived" recoil and less chance of getting blinded in a low light defense situation
-a longer barrel gives the expanding gasses more room to accelerate the bullet so the bullet leaves the muzzle going faster
-A bigger gun looks scarier to bad guys
-A heavier gun hurts more if you have to hit them with it

There are Combat revolvers, and there are Concealment revolvers. For home defense and fun at the range, Combat revolvers are pleasant and accurate to shoot. Concealment revolvers sacrifice shooter-comfort and accuracy in favor of light weight and conceal-ability.
 
SouthShore explained it very well. Accuracy with a pistol is very difficult to master. Personally I take all the help I can get.

A problem many of us encounter (at least I know it's a problem with me) is that we daydream (fantasize) about the situations we see on TV dramas. I keep reminding myself, "That's fiction!". Practicing (or mentally rehearsing) for such unlikely nonsense might be counterproductive. Read the Gary Kleck study on defensive gun uses. Try to think of ways to keep yourself with the people who never have to use a gun in self defense, or finding yourself unlucky, with the 95% of cases where you never pull the trigger.
-BothellBob
 
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If it is truly your first purchase then I would try a lot of different guns out and see which one feels more natural to you. It is probably just the head playin tricks but I swear it doesn't matter if a gun is more or less "accurate" or whatever but as long as it feels natural to me then I am awesome with it. I like Walther PPk.
 
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