Which company should I buy from??

[medic_guns]

Looking to purchase a revolver for the house, one that my wife can shoot. I was thinking of something small, may'be a colt or a smith j frame. Another option would be a larger frame .357 with a 3 or 4 inch barrel. Anyone know of a decent midsize to small revolver. Wifey's hands are small. I also intend on installing CT grips. Any comments would be appreciated.

Ric

 

[461]

My advice would be to skip the J frame, it is definitely not a beginner weapon. If you want a .357 and your wife has smallish hands, I would recommend a Ruger SP-101 as it handles .357 recoil much better than the J frames and the .38's are pure pleasure to shoot all day.

For a larger framed .357, a Smith 66 is a wonderful choice for someone with a smaller hand size.

Crimson Trace grips are available for both of the above weapons, but don't be fooled into a false sense of security with them, they are wonderful tools but don't make up for poor skill. Practice, Practice, Practice and when you're finished with that you should practice.

 

[FPrice]

medic_guns...

"Any comments would be appreciated."

There are an awful lot of choices out there for you to consider. From the sounds of it, you may not be too familliar with handguns. If I am wrong, please say so.

But if this is correct I would suggest that both of you consider taking a Basic Pistol Safety course from the NRA. In addition to teaching you the basics of safe firearms handling and shooting, it will introduce you to people who can help you find some hands-on experience with different revolvers so that you can make a more informed choice.

If you would like to let us know about where you (city, etc.) perhaps someone can steer you towards a reputable gun store in your location who would work with you to find a firearms that will fit your needs.

Personally I am partial to older S&W revolvers, especially k-frames. But everyone is different so what works for me might not work for you.

 

[medic_guns]

A little familiar

I am quite familiar with handguns. I am just looking for input on which brand, to be more specific. I have been looking at sp 101, model 66, and a few others. I was thinking that the sp101 would be a good choice, especially shooting .38 loads. Lately, it seems that s+w stuff has been getting beat up on the boards, otherwise, I was thinking of going with a smith. I go to the range quite frequently, and I am a CCL holder, but my wife does not like to practice at all. I wish I could convince her otherwise. I have no doubt that she would use a handgun, if necessary, but getting out to the range is difficult.

Thanks,
Ric

 

[Mike Irwin]

Used Ruger and Smith & Wesson revolvers are still an extremely good value for anyone looking for a defensive handgun.

Jim March put together an excellent checklist of what to look for when buying a used revolver, and it's also very helpful when buying new.

 

[Majic]

A good choice for small hands is the old D-framed Colts. Diamondbacks are perfect, but tend to be pricey. If you can live with fixed sights then the Police Postive Special fills the bill quite well.

 

[ruger357]

A older S&W k-frame with wood service grips.

 

[tc300mag1]

sp 101 ruger is a good one i was quite surprised how it absorbed the recoil for such a small gun we were shooting a 3 inch version 3's were very low recoil in it +p a bit more even full house 357's werent super bad not that i would want to doa range session for 2-300 rounds with it at a time

 

[No Trespassing]

My wife loves her new Ruger SP-101. She is very small with tiny hands but has no problem shooting .357's and the .38's are a breeze.
I have very large hands but I think it's fun to shoot too. It's only a 5 shot cyl but it's built like a tank and is affordable.

 

[Stainz]

A great choice for a home gun, especially for someone new or unfamiliar to shooting, would be the venerable S&W 'M&P' .38 Special, also known for some time as the Model 10. You can find numerous police trade-in's at pawn shops and gun stores for $175 - $250. A local gun store has a new one at $420 (Yes, they are still available new!). The most common size is the 4", perfect for home, while the less common 2" makes a great CCW. They are blued six shooters with fixed sights. Grips range from dimunitive wood boot service grips to the excellent current stock Uncle Mike's Combat grips. Great actions - even the 1/03 made 2" I bought new last year. In addition, recent examples (Check with S&W's 800# Customer Service if in doubt...) are .38 Special +P rated.

The Ruger SP-101 and GP-100 series are also excellent - as is the S&W M66. I must, however, caution against .357 Magnum use 'in the home'. The possible 'collateral damage', both to your hearing and possible victims of your errant rounds from discharging a .357 Magnum indoors, can be considerable. The high speed Magnum rounds can travel quite a distance after punching through your sheetrock and siding... The heavier rated revolvers can always 'just' be loaded 'down' to .38 Special levels... highly effective in it's own realm as a 'man-stopper'. Recall that the .357 Magnum was developed in the mid-thirties for J. Edgar's 'G-Men' to shoot through car doors at fleeing felons. Unless you have bad guys (or demons) hiding in your fridge, freezer, or washer/dryer, you really don't need them at home.

Oddly, one must employ what one is 'comfortable' with. A case in point: My wife relinquished her CZ-75B 9mm semi-auto last year, and we sold the last of our bottom-feeders. She then 'acquired', much to my chagrin as I had bought the M10 snubby as a house gun, my 4" M625 (.45ACP)! I had put slick Hoque pao ferro monogrips on it - she 'liked' the feel & look of the grips. The added weight of the heavier revolver (43 oz vs the ~31 oz 2" M10) more than compensates for the recoil of the .45 ACP's. The key is familiarity... gained by comfortable time at the range. Always shoot what you will carry, too. I will miss my 625...

Stainz

 

[sm]

Agree with Older Smith Model 10.
Police Trade-Ins and such , some great guns in dedicated .38 spl. Variety of Grips to fit shooter.

Even if someday something comes along to replace it, no regrets to still having a Model 10. Then again, most likely another will be bought to keep the first one company...then a third one...tend to breed they do...

 

[munk]

Well, since everything you read on the boards is absolutely accurate, I geuss I'd never consider a 'new' Smith. I wouldn't think of it, even if CNC production is giving better accuracy than the more handmade models of yesteryear.

Buy what you like.

The police trade-in idea is a good one. Your interest in the Ruger Sp101 is shared.


munk