Thinking About Selling My Revolver

[788Ham]

I shoot and carry revolvers, I am pretty proficient with them also. However, I never have cared for the semi, being a Glock, or whatever make. The feeling of "doing better" with a semi isn't always the case, even with more cartridges, spray and pray comes to mind. If one can't do the job with 6 rounds, hit what you're shooting at, what makes you think you can do better with 15 rounds?

 

[tomrkba]

I'm with the group: never sell a gun you like.

A Glock 19 is only $400-425 used. Just save up for a few months and get one.

I'm not doing anything yet, I'm just doing some thinking. I don't live in a warzone or anything, but I can't help but feel that the more ammo the better.

I've wanted a 1911 for a long time but that would be the only gun I would have in .45 ACP. I'm trying to avoid that and consolidate calibers but I'm sure I'll get on eventually. Unfortunately, shooting has become so expensive lately that I'm avoiding fun guns and having only 1 gun in certain calibers. Like with .22LR ammo. I used to shoot that stuff like it was nothing, and now that it's gotten ridiculous I'm also considering selling my 10-22. The only appeal it had was that it was cheap practice, and now that it's not it seems pointless. Until I can start reloading the fun is gone for me.

STOP.

You're falling for whatever insecurities are preyed upon by American consumerism (which in this case is gun marketing). Don't dissolve your gun collection because of some current market conditions. All this will do is cause you to buy the SAME guns a second time a few years down the road.

In the very worst case scenario, pack up your other guns and put them in the safe and leave them there. Focus shooting what you can afford, which sounds like 38 special and 22 Long Rifle. Stick with those. Accumulate stocks of other calibers over time...20, 50, or 100 rounds at a time.

People who plan get the deals.

Relax your brain and start planning. The big box stores don't have ammo right now, so you need to go around them. Get on slickguns.com, gun-deals.com and ammoseek.com and start buying discount ammunition. Login to every discount online ammo retailer, make an account, and create email alerts for the ammo you want...and jump on those deals when they arrive on your phone. Buy a bit here and there, but jump on whatever you come across. Failing to plan ahead will raise your costs for the time being.

Review the economics of what it actually takes to get into a new gun:

1) Gun
2) Add night sights if it doesn't have them
3) Possibly make modifications to the gun, change the grips, trigger work, etc.
4) 10-20 magazines (magazines are expendable items that wear out)
5) Holster and magazine holders
6) Cleaning gear if you don't have them already
7) Reloading dies, brass, primers, powder
8) JHP ammo for testing
9) 2,000 rounds of practice ammo and a minimum of 200 rounds of JHP
10) Spare parts

I always figure $500-$800 on top of the price of the gun. Holsters are the largest expense because I typically buy a Milt Sparks Versa Max 2, kydex IWB holster, DeSantis Thumb Break Scabbard, and Safariland ALS holster. Add in at least two mag holders. Then multiply all that by two if you have to have brown and black gear.

These costs are why I like Glocks and S&W Revolvers so much. Any N-Frame holster (for a full lug gun) fits all your other N-Frame guns so long as the barrel is the same or shorter. Same goes for Glocks.

 

[CraigC]

...but these days with groups of 5+ bad guys...

Huh???

I agree that criminals are mostly cowards who are NOT looking for a fight. I also agree that even if you face a mob, after you shoot the first two or three the rest will quit.

 

[Godsgunman]

I'll buy it

 

[TheGoldenSaber]

I know what you guys are saying, but it just doesn't seem to be getting any better. It's been about a year since the Sandy Hook thing when this all started and .22 ammo is still really hard to find locally and 7 times what is used to cost. I remember buying the Federal 550rd brick for like $10-$12 and now they're going for $80-$100 online. 9mm ammo was $11 for a box of 50 and now it's around $15. I've never seem ammo go down in price so I just do see us recovering from this. I don't think we'll ever see $10 9mm ammo or .22 ammo again. It sucks that they had to go after the one hobby that I really enjoy and could barely afford back then.

 

[tomrkba]

I know what you guys are saying, but it just doesn't seem to be getting any better.

Buy it online. It is available. It's currently 9 cents per round at Natchez. Stop complaining because the world is making you change your ways. I found that in 30 seconds. You can have the entire transaction completed in less time than is required to drive to the store.

http://www.slickguns.com/category/ammo?caliber=3

CCI .22 LR 40 grain Blazer Rimfire Ammunition 50/box $0.09/rd $4.39 In Stock 5m ago Natchezss
CCI .22 LR 36 grain HP Rimfire Ammunition 100/box $0.09/rd $8.94 In Stock 5m ago Natchezss
CCI .22 LR 40gr Blazer Rimfire Ammunition 525/Box $0.09/rd $49.49 In Stock 5m ago Natchezss

 

[CraigC]

It's currently 9 cents per round at Natchez.

Yeah, that's only about 2.5 times what it should cost.

 

[tomrkba]

Yeah, that's only about 2.5 times what it should cost.

Understood, but the world is not going to comply with our wishes. By all means, stop shooting since it means more ammo for me.

 

[Jim NE]

I've got a Smith .357 and I'm thinking about selling it. I like it a lot, and it's a blast to shoot, but I just cant help but think if the crap ever hit the fan I would rather have a Glock with 15 rounds in it. I would love to keep it but I only have so much money to devote to guns, and with things not getting any cheaper I figure it's better to sell fun guns and start getting more "business" guns. The .357 is a proven man stopper, but these days with groups of 5+ bad guys, only having 6 shots gets me nervous.

What do you guys think?

Have you ever wondered what regret feels like before you've actually experienced it? Well it's what you're feeling now.

I learned a long time ago... NEVER sell a gun you like.

What weblance said. It's the voice of experience.

On the other hand, I guess there are some things that people need to learn for themselves. What I would do is keep the revolver and look for a budget semi-auto until you can afford the Glock. Maybe a used Sigma or something? Should be somewhere between 200-250 bucks, I would think.

 

[CopperFouling]

I've got a Smith .357 and I'm thinking about selling it. I like it a lot

To echo what some others have said, if you like it, don't sell it. You will likely lose money selling it, and if you miss it enough, you'll likely pay more to get another one a few years from now.

 

[Hokkmike]

You said another Glock. Does that mean you already have one? If so, keep the Smith. Keep the Smith anyway.

 

[Stevel]

My suggestion is to buy a 442. The color somewhat matches the 19. It gives you 11 rounds without a reload (6+5). You will have a back up if the primary goes down. Same manual or arms (they work the same), and more versatility since you can carry the lighter one when you don't feel like carrying the 19.

Everyone should own a revolver. Some should own an auto. But as has been said, if you have not owned an auto, you need to factor in additional equipment and training. You can get a good used auto for $350 with a few mags. Add a couple hundred for ammo and a holster.

Finally, SHTF scenerios are generally the stuff of imagination. In a real one people think about needing a long gun, though in reality, ANY firearm is better than none. After Katrina anyone with a 38 revolver was pretty well armed.

Good luck.

 

[115grfmj]

Make an example of the one with the biggest mouth....and the rest won't stick around. Unless you dealing with a well organized fire team with military discipline...then your in trouble

Seriously though, don't sell the smith, if nothing else they retain their value better.

 

[bubba in ca]

Ever hear of a New York reload? Pick up a small .357 or 38 plus 9 revolver to go along with your smith.

If you are talking HD and you are worried about a 15 round shootout, among other things you need a carbine or at least a shotgun.

 

[TheGoldenSaber]

Ever hear of a New York reload? Pick up a small .357 or 38 plus 9 revolver to go along with your smith.

If you are talking HD and you are worried about a 15 round shootout, among other things you need a carbine or at least a shotgun.

I'm not worried about home defense, I have a shotgun full of buckshot for that.

 

[CraigC]

Understood, but the world is not going to comply with our wishes. By all means, stop shooting since it means more ammo for me.

I slowed down my shooting because I refuse to pay speculator prices during a temporary shortage. I always try to keep a few cases on hand for such occasions.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I'm a "keep it and save for another" kind of guy.

Whatever you get, it takes money to feed it. If you intend to use it for self-defense, then you should be feeding it regularly enough to acheive a competent level of proficiency in its use AND to maintain that level.

If you can afford to do that, then you can afford to save enough to buy another one.

What this gives you in the long run is versatility in a number of ways. One such important lession many have learned this past year was that when things go south in the market, it's not easy to find ammunition...and some types of ammunition end up being more scarce than others.

Having two different caliber handguns gives you a little bit of versatility with respect to potential ammunition availability in a crunch.

However, I'd also like to point out that having ANY gun, revolver or pistol, high capacity or not, is better than having NO gun. You already have a perfectly adequate self-defense capable revolver. I'd say stay proficient with it and work on other self-defence tactics, which starts with situational awareness and expands from there. Right now you're talking yourself into "higher capacity would be better". After swapping pistols, perhaps your next thought would be "larger caliber would be better". After another swap, perhaps it'll be "a shotgun would be better".


Bide your time and consider additional investments in firearms over the long term. Don't sell yourself short in the meantime.


That said...your budget and your reasons are your own and I certainly will not gainsay them. My opinions are just that...MY opinions; yours are what count. I've been in extremely tight financial situations myself and certainly dropping half a grand or more on a single thing that wasn't strictly a bill or food just wasn't possible. So do what you feel you have to do based on your own circumstances.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

Six-shooters have been reliable sidearms for a century and a half, with no end in sight.

The owners can't all be wrong.

 

[philoe]

I understand where you are coming from wanting a higher capacity handgun. By all means go ahead and get one, just don't finance it by selling or trading off the nice revolver that you have.

I don't enjoy the autos like I do revolvers, but like most everyone here I like a little variety. You should start saving now and look for a good deal come late January/February when the xmas bills come due for a lot of folks and they have to raise funds to pay the man. I am a value shopper so I would be looking for a used SW Sigma or Ruger P-95. There are other options out there as well for just under $300. Best of luck.

 

[TheGoldenSaber]

I appreciate all the replies so far. Just to be clear, I can easily buy the Glock without selling the Smith, but it would definitely be nice to recycle the money instead of spending another $600 on a gun. Also, I've had semi autos before and I have friends that have semi autos. I'm proficient with both in addition to many other types of guns. I've been shooting for many years. I guess you guys are right though, I'll just keep it for now.

 

[B!ngo]

I hear ya and have a countervailing view. If you are constrained to owning one firearm and will base that ownership on having something SD/HD , I would definitely start with a Glock or other semi-auto brand with a higher round count than your current revolver. Many people on this thread will say that they feel well-protected with a revolver, that it's shot placement that counts the most and so on.
It's obviously a question that only you can answer but statistically the odds are in the favor of someone who carries a higher round count than less with most other things being equal.
One form of things being equal is dealing with a FTF issue with the semi-auto which is one of the compelling reason for a revolver and it does require the shooter to skill and drill on procedures that will address such risks. But most folks would say that the reliability of a Glock 19 and a S&W .357 are so outstanding as to be equivalent or nearly so.
If that is your perspective (and it is mine) then going with the easier to carry, higher round count device seems wisest to me.
B

 

[allin]

I've got a Smith .357 and I'm thinking about selling it. I like it a lot, and it's a blast to shoot, but I just cant help but think if the crap ever hit the fan I would rather have a Glock with 15 rounds in it. I would love to keep it but I only have so much money to devote to guns, and with things not getting any cheaper I figure it's better to sell fun guns and start getting more "business" guns. The .357 is a proven man stopper, but these days with groups of 5+ bad guys, only having 6 shots gets me nervous.

What do you guys think?

I would like to see some actual statistics pertaining to # of rounds vs. effectiveness. I have heard that the actually hit rate by [trained] officers is very low. Thinking that each round represents a hit on an attacker sounds wishful to me. 5 BGs facing me, I'm toast, unless I happen to have one of those electric mini guns that are mounted on helicopters and such!
just sayin

 

[one45auto]

I once found myself confronting a similar dilemma, looking at my collection and wondering whether it wouldn't be better to get rid of some in order to depend upon the others. Like you, I appreciated the higher capacity of my pre-ban Glock 19 yet at the same time I was still a traditionalist at heart and loved my revolvers. I was loathe to part with them.

After much introspection I came to the conclusion that the greater capacity of a semi-auto is an advantage - but only if you have plenty of spare magazines already loaded to rely on. Once empty, magazines require more time to reload than a double-action revolver and in the time it takes to reload a magazine and insert it, someone could already have perforated me several times over.

Besides, as many here have already pointed out there are numerous stories of armed homeowners fighting off multiple assailants with revolvers. The comparison to birds on a wire was remarkably apropos because when push comes to shove and the lead starts flying, most criminals don't want to die and would prefer to run rather than face that risk. So a good Smith & Wesson revolver is every bit as effective as your Glock in that regard.

I'd keep both.

 

[Ash]

Over the course of a hundred and 25 years, my family has four stories of firearms used in self-defense. A great grandfather who had to actually fire his, a grandfather who used a firearm twice, but neither time had to fire (first was a Hokins and Allen, the second a S&W Model 10), and a mom who defended our home Scarlett O'Hara style with my dad's Colt New Service (she did not have to fire when the looters fled like the cowards they were after Hurricane Camille in 1969).

In all four cases, a revolver was used. It proved effective against an ox thief (my great grandfather was a logger and used oxen to pull his trees), two scumbags in a 1950's style home invasion attempt in the country, a dirtbag at a Florida rest stop in the 1980's, and several looters in the 1960's.

Ironically the only time shots were fired it was one shot (and unfortunately one kill) with a revolver. These were real stories.

I have autos, I have carried a .45acp Springfield P9 (still do) and a CZ-75 in 9mm, but feel perfectly safe and well-armed with either a Ruger Police Service Six or a Colt Trooper Mk V in .357 as well.

 

[bigtubby]

Well how many shots have you ever fired at bad guys in the past? if your like 99% of us the answer is zero. Now your worried six ain't enough?