38 special wheel gun?

[ultralightbackpacker]

I have a sw 686+ in 357, 6". Recently I have been loading 357 brass to 38 special pressures. To save the cylinder groove and preserve the fun factor. But I have atleast 3000 38 spec. brass. I need a way to wear those out in my lifetime.

Anyway, I want to buy a new 38 special wheel gun, fun plinker. I was thinking a smith model 10, 4 inch, but no rear adj sights. Then I came across the model 67. Hmmmmm.

It is quite funny when I bought my 686+ brand new it was 389 out the door. The model 67 is 750 new now. Man, times have changed.

So what other 38 special revolvers fun plinkers should I be looking at in 38 special? I wouldn't mind a beater gun, light weight, if you drop it you shout, but you don't swear etc.

Looked at charter arms, but they look to be snub nose. Who else or what else should I be looking at?

I am even open to a 38 special single action.

Thank boys!

 

[rcmodel]

There are still a lot of real good used Model 10's & 65's floating around the gun shows & dealers at very attractive prices.

All Model 10's have fixed sights & blue or nickel finish.
Model 15 is a Model 10 with adjustable sights.
Model 65 is a stainless steel Model 10 with fixed sights
Model 67 is a stainless steel Model 15.


BTW: Shooting .38 Spl in a .357 ain't no big deal.
Use a cordless drill with a short section of cleaning rod, bronze .40 cal brush, and powder solvent to clean the chamber rings out.

Takes about 30 seconds to do all six holes.

rc

 

[oneounceload]

J&G in AZ was selling 64's DAO trade-ins for about $269.00 not that long ago

 

[hardworker]

It's hard to beat a plain old model 10

 

[MrBorland]

The 67 is a fine gun. Craig Buckland used his to win National titles in both IDPA and ICORE.

J&G Sales used to have used Model 15s (the blued version of the 67) for sale at reasonable prices. You might give them a call to see if they have any left. If not, they also sell a 4" .38 Rossi that might fit your requirements.

 

[451 Detonics]

There has been a dump of Model 15's on the market of late in the $250 price range. I bought 2 15-3s which had the pinned barrel, both are great shooters.

 

[Hondo 60]

Model 10's are one of those guns that everyone should have.
These are my 10-5s

 

[HelterSkelter]

if you are looking for a cheap but reliable gun to burn through those .38s with the eaa windicator is a good choice. it cmoes with a 2 or 4 inch barrel and holds six. despite being one of the cheapest revolvers available mine still shoots like the day i bought it and it has many hundreds of rounds under its belt. i think the .38 model goes for 250 with shipping at budsgunshop

 

[jhvaughan2]

10's are the old standby but there is nothing sweeter than a model 14 to shoot 38 special target loads.

For the ultimate .38 get yourself a 38/44 or outdoorsman and lookup some old 38HV loads. ~357 power from a .38 special.

 

[Tomcat47]

You might want to look at Rossi and Taurus .38's? I know all the negative you hear about them but I have had no trouble out of them for pat 20 years.

Either would be in your price range for a new gun.

I nabbed a SW Mod 36 3" Chiefs Special on the 30th for $150.00! It was neglected and needs bluing but action was smooth and tight!

I actually went to buy a Rossi .357 2" SS they had on sale for $349.00 (MSRP $452.00) But the CS popped up, so I put the Rossi on lay away

Also, Taurus has been making Rossi's stuff for the last few years and there finish is looking nice now. There 4" VR MSRP is only $389.00 I am sure you could find it around $300 if not $279.00 I will ask my dealer...he usually does 7-10% above cost for me.

Here is pics of 2" 5 shot and 4" VR 6 shot. and the 357 2" I got

Anyway Happy Gun Hunting!

 

[gordy]

Model 10's are great.
But what about one of the many J-frames out there. Great way to use up all that 38 brass. I love my m60 and m642

 

[NMGonzo]

I would hold on to find a nickel j frame something or another

Pocket guns are easily scratched and nickel finished is sturdier than anything else.

 

[JFrame]

Model 10's are great.
But what about one of the many J-frames out there. Great way to use up all that 38 brass. I love my m60 and m642

Nothing wrong with the J-frames (my screen name might be an indication of my preference... ).

I just think the K-frames stand out as good "value" guns because so many turn up on the used gun market as service and security company trade-ins.

.

 

[ultralightbackpacker]

Yep, I have shot hundreds of rounds through my little J frame (642 airweight). I hate to say it, but after 50 rounds of playing my webbing hurts in my hand. I'm a weakling.

Lots of great points here. I will keep an eye out on all the firearms listed.

 

[BCRider]

OK, I'll help you buy a gun that you don't need....

A 10 with a 4 inch barrel could be a lot of fun. But for grins and giggles I would not pass up on a nice snub nose either. Maybe it won't produce the same tight groupings as a 4 inch but it would be a challenge that would be fun to take on to see if you could get good with it.

I wouldn't say no to a 4 inch 15 for the adjustable sights either. The adjustable sights keeps your load options open.

A GREAT combo would be a 15 with a 4 inch barrel and a snubnosed 10. .38 fun to the max.

 

[CajunBass]

I've become a big fan of 38 revolvers over the years. Really it doesn't matter who made it. I'm mostly a Smith & Wesson guy, but I've got 38's by Colt and Charter Arms also. I had a couple of Taurus' that worked fine too.

A couple of Model 10's. Upper is a 10-5 with a 5" barrel, lower is a 10-7 with a 4".



Model 15-3 Smith & Wesson, Colt Official Police

 

[Taroman]

I recently grabbed one of the police turn in Model 15s. Now, I regret waiting so long. A wonderful revolver. I enjoy shooting it much more than my 8-3/8" Model 14. Got it from Summit Gunbroker in MO:

 

[dgvc63]

borrow a copy of Sixguns by Elmer Keith and then disregard the .38 special, focus on the chapter about gunfights and all will be clear. You can do much better for yourself and loved ones by STARTING your search for a weapon with this information...

 

[Sniper X]

I picked up a sweet model 10-8 for 200 about a year ago.....see em every once in a while at about 300.

 

[PapaG]

Ruger Security Six, speed six, police six, model 10, 13, 14, 15, all are viable. I've never had a fear of "cylinder ring"...just don't happen enough to make a difference...clean it, it goes away.

I load my specials with the Lyman 358156 bullet seated in the bottom crimp groove in special cases. Not much deposit in the chambers and you can load hot (but I never, never go over 95% of the "book" load). Best shooting load in my six in Ruger sec/six with the book load of 2400.

 

[Daveboone]

I love my J frame, but shoot my model 28 much more with .38 loads than with .357. No reason not to load those .38 cases up and shoot them out of the .357. Save the more expensive brass to load with the bigger banging rounds. I doubt you will actually get more life out of the cases loading them lighter, you are sizing, belling,etc. the cases the same # of times.

 

[S&Wfan]

Don't forget the sweet-shooting pre-Model 10 (the M&P). They made a ga-zillion of 'em starting about 102 years ago, and they are very accurate, affordable and FUN to shoot.

Here's a 5" barreled M&P from around 1950 . . . a "Model 10" before S&W started giving them number models around '57 . . .

 

[ArchAngelCD]

While I'm a big fan of the Model 10 and M&P before that but for range use I would suggest buying a nice used Model 15 because of the adjustable sights.

 

[Jeb21]

Sniper X, what type of grips do you have on that model 10?

 

[Jeb21]

Buy a used Smith Model 15, and then be prepared to fall in love with that gun. I lent mine to a friend whose neighborhood was experiencing a rash of break ins. Now I cannot get it back I used mine for competition shooting for about 2 years and found it just plain shot better and better the more I used it.