What is a good revolver to have as a loaner?

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carlosmj

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Since I live in South Florida and we are about to start another hurricane season, a question has come to mind.

What would be a good, affordable, loaner revolver? I ask this question because everytime South Florida has suffered a hit from a hurricane (like last year's Katrina and Wilma), we remain without power for quite some time.

My immediate family, neighbors, and closest friends (most of which do not own any firearms) always seem to come to me asking to borrow some form of personnal protection during these bad times.

I have no problem lending out anything, but I would rather not lend out any expensive pieces from my collection. I don't want to see anything lost or stolen. I am willing to make the following purchase: 3 or 4 good revolvers at a decent price (~$200.00). Any brand and barrel length would be acceptable. Something my son and I can enjoy and at the same time simple enough to lend to those lesser experienced individuals.

I know I should encourage others to obtain their own firearms, but that is not going to happen. Most feel that firearms are bad until they really need one.

I would like to hear others opinions. Both on the situation and a recommendation on the purchase.

Thanks.
 
Or go to ClassicArms.us and get a wheelbarrow full of the CZ-52 semi-auto pistols for $139, and a bucket of surplus ammo - you'll be good to go and lose nary a wink over any expensive handgun taking a walk.
 
I thought about that, bruss01. I also looked into those Hungarian PP copies. The price is right, but I think they are too difficult for the inexperienced to handle, especially my female friends and family.

I have never handled a Rossi or a Taurus revolver. I only own Smiths and most of the Rugers I have come across in my area have been really abused.

Does anyone know of any distributors selling decent Rugers in my price range?
 
I think some 38 spcl model 10's would fit the bill nicely. If you ask around here there are distribors selling police trade ins for @ $200 if I recall correctly. It might be J&G sales.
 
Hi Carl,

Both Taurus, and Rossi are almost clones of S&W. They wont last as long, but for $200.00 each you can't go wrong. Stick with a wheel gun. ANY adult can use them.

Kevin

p.s. may not be a bad idea to stash 1-2 buried in the backyard, along with a box of ammo. Remember New Orleans?
 
I do not reccomend loaning firearms to those who are not trained in their use and have also not been trained on the legal use of deadly force.

If you want to loan a gun to a family member, take them to the range now, before things get bad, and make sure they understand how to use the firearm and under what circumstances it can be used to defend themselves.

Depending on your state laws, you could be liable for loaning out guns if the person you loan it to misuses it in any way.
 
Depending on your state laws, you could be liable for loaning out guns if the person you loan it to misuses it in any way.
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Do you know of a specific law in Florida that would subject him to liability for a gun he gave to another legal adult? I agree with your sentiment, all people should be trained. There are times though when that is not possible for whatever reason, and self-defense is still a right.
 
Thank you for your input, Trebor.

I should have clarified in my original post that I have never loaned a firearm to an individual who has not been to the range with me and learned its proper use. These are people that for one reason or another, do not want to have a firearm in there homes.

On the other hand, it would be difficult to refuse to help a close friend or family member just because of there level of training. Especially during a time when there is no power, no phone service, looting, and your city is under a curfew.

I understand your standpoint, but I didn't mean I would be loaning them out to whoever knocks on my door.
 
I don't think handguns make very good hurricane guns. When they can be carried openly, shotguns are more powerful, more intimidating, and easier for novices to operate, IMHO.
 
Depending on your state laws, you could be liable for loaning out guns if the person you loan it to misuses it in any way.
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I don't think that's the way it works, though. It's all based on reasonableness. If it's reasonable under the circumstances, you are covered, i.e., would a reasonable person in your shoes have loaned the weapon under the circumstances to that person. So, for example, if you knew, or should have known, that the adult you loaned it to had a rep for being criminal or irresponsible, you might be liable. Otherwise, not. That's my understanding of the law, anyway.
 
I do not reccomend loaning firearms to those who are not trained in their use and have also not been trained on the legal use of deadly force.
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Agreed! To loan a firearm to someone who is not trained in its use and who may or may not be acountable for its use is, IMHO, not a particularly responsible thing for a gun owner to do. The question of the loaning person's liability should an accident or fatality occur is wide open. But more than that it is not a responsible gun owner's position.
 
I understand everyone's point of view concerning the liabilities. I do not think that it is an issue of being a responsible gun owner. I am extremely responsible when it comes to firearm ownership.

Can anyone here deny their father, brother, sister, or best friend access to a firearm during the aftermath of a hurricane because of the chance of the firearm being stolen and incurring some form of liability?

I agree owning a firearm should be a part of anyone's hurricane preparedness. So should stocking water, food, etc. and having hurricane shutters on their home. Unfortunately, the truth is plenty of people don't prepare by stocking the essentials or making the investment of shutters on their home.

It is simple to monday morning quarterback the situation. It is a totally different story when your friends and family drive to your home directly after hurricane andrew asking for a firearm because looters are in their yards on a nightly basis.
 
Taurus are decent and so is Rossi which has been aquired by Taurus. The quality has improved very much. I would prefer a good shotgun to a revolver however. Even a single shot shotgun or coach gun can be effective. A good used shotgun can be had for less than a revolver.
 
If revolvers are on your mind, try to find some S&W M10s/M19s used, or some Ruger Speed-Sixes or similar police turn-ins. You can find them often at gunshows or on gunsamerica.com any time for under $200 a pop.
Or...you could buy 3 or 4 Mossburg 500 12 ga shotties with the 2 bbl combo and hand them out to those close friends and family members as gifts. Then you don't have to lend any of your stuff out, and they also have them for use when needed other than seasonal storms and maybe they will become more interested in firearms and spread the experience to someone else they know. I would think if you went to a local gunstore and told them you wanted 3 or 4 of the same, they would give you a nice discount.
I have a few friends and family members that I would buy guns as gifts for if they needed them or couldn't maybe afford. Most of them are already armed though.
Best-MC
 
For that or a little more you should be able to buy a Ruger Security Six, which probably is more reliable and abuse-worthy...
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I don't agree with the Ruger being more reliable than the 5 Rossi handguns I have owned nor the two Tauri. Those guns are all 100% reliable, so how could the security six be MORE reliable. The SS can shoot loose, too, mine was getting there when I traded it. But, it is a stronger design, can't argue that point.

One of the revolvers I most regret selling is my Rossi M971. I shoulda kept that thing, stainless, rugged little revolver and in a light carryable package. I got a fantastic shooting Blackhawk 6.5" in .357 for the Security Six. I don't really regret that trade.
 
I MIGHT lend a family member a firearm once in an emergency.

IF I believed they were in need, and
IF I knew they were safe with a firearm, and
IF I knew that they hadn't had a chance to acquire a firearm or hadn't realized their need for a firearm up until this point in time.

BUT, if, after realizing that they had a need, they then failed to acquire their own, they wouldn't get one a second time.

It's their choice to not have a firearm in their house and I would support them FULLY in that choice regardless of the current circumstances, and regardless of their current (and demonstrably temporary) state of mind.
 
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As it's not yet hurricane season I would began informing them to get their own handgun and practice with it before the potential time to need it arrives. If they choose not to get their own then I would remind them of that decision when they ask me for one of mine. It's not like they don't know what has happened in past.
 
I would get one of the police surplus Ruger GP100s with fixed sights and the smaller grip. This gun won't feel *quite* as nice as Ruger Six but it will be tougher and easier to handle with hotter loads, and will deliver less recoil to newbies due to the weight increase over the old Six series Ruger DAs.
 
Hello carlosmj,

If I were to do as you propose. My first action would be to consult a lawyer and find out where I stood with my plan in the laws eyes.

If it's still a GO from there, find some used S&W Model 10's. S&W has a good long track record with the Model 10's. Not as many bad production runs as some of it's competitors. Then buy and transfer them just as soon as I could.

Rita came through here last year and with all the talk about Katrina you would think Rita was a thunderstorm.

Good luck.

flatdog
 
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