Mosin Bubba
Member
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2012
- Messages
- 1,936
You're definitely on the right track with the cartridge. The .38 Special is a fantastic and versatile cartridge. I would stay away from the snub nose models. They're great for the task for which they were designed, but not a lot of fun for just shooting.
I'd suggest a used S&W Model 10. They're on sale for $249.00 right now at Classic Firearms. I bought one a couple of weeks ago and have hardly put it down since. I shoot the darned thing nearly every day and even bought another off an auction site that will arrive today.
35W
here is the best-value answer for a reliable, non-ccw, one and only (or one of many), centerfire revolver.
I just scored a nice S&W Model 10 on Gunbroker for $230. Nice means fully functional and a sweet shooter, with 90% finish but just enough wear and nicks that I’m not afraid to really use it. Figure $250 all in after shipping. (I’m lucky that my buddy is an FFL and will transfer for free for me.) When surplus Smiths are that cheap it’s really hard to justify the gamble of a Charter/Taurus/RIA.
That said, I’d love to buy 3 or 4 RIAs at some point, just so I could stash em in various places in the house “just in case.”
These.
I got a Model 10 (10-6) on Buds last year for $269. Used to be an old French police revolver, and it has a lot of holster wear - cosmetically challenged would be putting it nicely. But there was no rust, and the lockup seems fine.
I love the damn thing. Took it out shooting last weekend, and it was almost too easy to hit Coke cans in SA at 50 yards. The DA trigger is fantastic as well. If we're only talking about using 38 specials, I'd say it's every bit the equal of my GP100 and 686 as a shooter. Heck, the Model 10's DA is clearly better than the GP100.
I don't know anything about the RIA revolvers, but when used Smiths this good are this cheap, why bother with them?
Last edited: