Sub $200 4" .38's

[wnycollector]

I wish I had a dollar for everytime I have written or have read the reccomendation to just get a 4" .38 for home defense. A few years ago finding sub $200 .38 service revolver was no hard task, they seemed to be everywhere. Over the last year of so, the supply of decent, inexpensive .38's seems to have dried up.

I just ran across a seller on gunbroker that has ~30 4" .38's (a mixture of S&W model 10's, Taurus 82's and Rossi 851's) for sale from a security company that has upgraded to newer firearms. The pistols look like they would make decent SD revolvers for someone on a tight budget. Here is the link for one of the examples http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=136379752

 

[lightbulb0413]

Those look pretty rough. You can get a NIB 38spl from here http://www.centerfiresystems.com/AC-M200.aspx for 180.

I have the 2inch model and it has worked flawlessly.

 

[armoredman]

I have purchased and sold Smith Model 10s for well under $200, and always got more than I paid for. A SMITH is worth it, where did the Centerfire gun come from?

 

[Drgong]

Most Model 10's I see around here are about $225-250, (and still worth every penny, as it still one of the best all round guns you can buy). I will give credit where Credit is due, and people that have owned armscor revolvers seems to like them.

 

[wnycollector]

Those look pretty rough.

I think with a good scrubbing (maybe some cold blue) and a new set of grips they will give someone years of service.

 

[lightbulb0413]

I was not saying they were not serviceable. Just saying I am happy with the one I have, and have not had to do any work to get it look OK.

I'm sure the Smiths are nice.

The Centerfire gun is from Armscor, which is made in the Philippines. (Couldn't tell if you were seriously asking or if you were being sarcastic.)

 

[fireflyfather]

I think with a good scrubbing (maybe some cold blue) and a new set of grips they will give someone years of service.

And that would easily put you in the $250 range if you bought decent grips and didn't have bluing compound handy.

My vote is for an Astra .357 revolver. $100 for a used one. Just don't dryfire it. A friend ended up having to buy a new firing pin because of that.

 

[Landpimp]

dealer in Seattle has a pile of m10 trade ins, I suspect from OR dept of correction, $140 shipped

 

[wnycollector]

dealer in Seattle has a pile of m10 trade ins, I suspect from OR dept of correction, $140 shipped

That is a great price, care to share the dealers name??? For that price I would pick up another model 10.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

A couple of months ago, our local Cabela's had a bunch of used Taurus and S&W .38 and .357 revolvers for sale, pretty cheap--$99 to $299, most in the $149 range. Some looked quite good (I bought a .357). (I wrote about it here: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=452009)

Getting a good .38 4" for under $200 isn't as easy as it used to be, but it's still possible.

 

[Landpimp]

$140-ish

I have no personal experence(and am not conected) with this AT ALL but....

I would drive up(and I might this week) but I hate going to the city and I really dont need anymore 10's.

they are swamped, call , email and give them sometime, they had another batch come in and I think another coming. Model 10's, some rugers. At least one guy at has gotten his, says just blueing and beat up grips.

shop is legit I know that.

Jers Gun Shop
18029 24th Ave NE
Shoreline, WA 98155
e-mail [email protected]
Phone 1-206-786-8214
fax 1-206-306-0100


[email protected]

 

[Seamore2001]

I spoke with them a couple of times and am buying revolver from them. Their most recent batch of S&W Model 10s have sold out, but apparently more are on the way. The company supplies weapons to police, and disposes of the old weapons that the police departments are getting rid of. From the owner's description, most of the revolvers they got in this recent batch have had a fair amount of holster wear and bluing loss, but are mechanically in good shape.

 

[Snowdog]

The Armscor M200s are great if you get one that works. Curiousity got the better of me and I bought on of these a couple years ago back when they were selling NIB for under $150 ( http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=192385&highlight=armscor ) and it's still running strong.
Though I'm happy with mine, I wouldn't pit it against a S&W. I would suggest a used S&W if you find a deal on one.

 

[earlthegoat2]

199 for a model 10 is money well spent. I got a model 15 for that price recently and it was worth probably 1.50 or more on every 1.00 I spent.

as far as armscorp 200s are concerned get the beat up smith and you will be getting AT LEAST twice the gun for the price. Nonetheless the 200s do work

as long as you get one that works

For more information: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=416615&highlight=armscorp+200

 

[Blue Brick]

Look at JG sales.

 

[Oro]

$140-ish

Really? Well for that much money, I'd just lube it well, load it and drop it in a saddle bag and never take it out. Maybe put one in a baggie in the commode basin, too... - oh wait, that wasn't me, that was Al Pacino in The Godfather.*

Seriously, if anyone lets me know when these are in, I'll go over and check them out in person and give a report. I'm not too far away and at that price, I'd pick up one (like I need another M&P...). But if they are 4" and pre-lock, I'd use one as a kit gun once in a while and leave the prettier ones at home.

* - On further investigation, it appears it wasn't an M&P Michael used, but rather a .38/200 British Service Model (aka, ".38 S&W Victory," or as Landpimp calls them, an "Oswald Special"). The cut-down barrel is a dead give-away. Since to my knowledge these didn't start coming into the US until the early/mid '50s, it's slightly anachronistic for a movie set in 1945...)

 

[ElToro]

a rode hard and retired S&W service gun that was rarely shot and only dropped twice or a gun of questionable craftmanship and metalurgy.

for the same money its a no brainer. for a 100$ more its stll a no brainer.

i occasionally see old ruger service and security sixes for under 300. for bay area PRK thats a fair deal.

 

[Drgong]

While I was able to get a nice K-frame and J-frame S&W, $300-350 is the going price for a model 10 in some stores.

The mass of used S&W is starting to dry up, which means that the Rossi's of the world are becoming better buys.

 

[C-grunt]

J&G has M10s for under 200.

 

[Landpimp]

yes, theres just are not many PD wheelguns in use, I do belive the OR Dept of Corrections was one of the last around here to use the model 10(and my bet is thats where they came from)

last batch of PD revolvers my buddy got where from Kitsap, they were 686 and sat in the PD for years(they went semi years ago) before they were sold, the officers always get 1st chance to buy there own duty gun back and most did, even after all those years

mostly we see Glocks, Beretta's and HK as PD trades anymore, about the only folks that carry revolvers anymore are security companies

Oro, if you head over and find a nice(mechancicaly) 10 for yourself, grab me one

 

[Quoheleth]

J&G has M10s for under 200.

Nope. They have model 64s (stainless version of m10) for $230 and up.

Q

 

[Oro]

Oro, if you head over and find a nice(mechancicaly) 10 for yourself, grab me one

Will do. I sent you a pm.