.38 Specials

[familywgn]

Does anyone here shoot revolvers in just .38 (maybe also .38+p)?

I'm interested in a .38 revolver for fun and maybe for HD, after my .357 and shotgun, and also as a test bed for my new reloading adventures.

Are there any good .38's out there that won't break the bank, but are reliable?

Also, I'm mostly looking for at least a 6 shot cylinder, but more is always welcome. Also, i am not interested in snubs noses at this time. My last one I sold because I couldn't the wall of the barn while standing inside.

Thanks for all the help,
Familywgn

 

[.38 Special]

I've, uh, occasionally shot .38 Specials.

If you have to have new, I think Taurus makes several dandy .38 revolvers. There are folks that bash the name, but I gether that the problems are largely confined to the autopistols, with which I have no experience. I am sure they turn out the occasional crummy revolver, but I have not had one.

In your shoes, though, I would start hunting the gun and pawn shops for a nice used Smith & Wesson Model 10. These are great guns for .38 and can often be found for a song.

Have fun!

 

[Oro]

I find a S&W Model 15 (or model 67 in Stainless) is an excellent "38 only" platform and have had two over the years. The adjustable sight picture is much more eye-friendly than the low, narrower sight picture on the Model 10/64. A little more than a 10, but not a whole lot.

If you already have a .357, why not shoot .38 out of it? I usually always warm up with .38s on my .357s before shooting the full magnum rounds.

 

[woodsltc]

In .38 cal one of the best values available in a "quality" revolver is the S&W Model 10. There were a "gizillion" of them made and you can still pick up a good used one for less than $250 if you will look around a bit. S&W Model 15's and 14's are great in .38 cal but might cost you a little more.

Don

 

[Slamfire]

This is a Security Guard Special. At least from the holster wear and total lack of shooting wear. I purchased this M10-5 at couple of years ago and it has turned into a favorite.

It just shoots well. I have short stubby fingers. This K frame with a clam shell grip is just perfect for my hands. I cannot think of another revolver I own where I can double action shoot the thing, and hit my 12” gong target six out of six at 50 yards.

These older Smiths shoot to point of aim with 158 grain bullets.



The D frame Colt Police Positive was a very popular Cop gun. Accurate and well built. Lots of security guards used them also. It is lighter than the M10 Smith and I think that contributed to its popularity. If you can find one in good shape, get it. I think they are getting to be collector items. Twenty years ago this was a $200.00 pistol.

This one also shoots to point of aim with 158 grain bullets.



I do not recommend shooting +P rounds in the Police Positives, I know the M10 will take it. For self defense load up with +P, but for practice, I only shoot standard velocity. No need to beat up the revolver.

 

[bannockburn]

familywgn

I would think a S&W Model 10 would fill the bill nicely, as would an older but still very capable Ruger Service Six in .38 Special.

 

[greener]

Other than my Airweight, the two ".38" revolvers I have recently purchased are .357's. I like the increased choice of rounds although they see mostly .38 special. I like the Model 10 (and earlier) S&W .38 specials. Every now and then I see them at reasonable prices at gun shows. I'm not sure why I haven't bought one because I have an S&W Military & Police .38 special that I've been shooting for 40+ years. I enjoy shooting it and have always enjoyed it. Not sure how old it is (ca 1917?) but my Dad bought it used in 1932. I could have treated the nickel plating a bit better, but it is still a great shooter.



Some family history involved. I believe it had something to do with Dad proposing to Mom.



I've fired several of the newer ones, but I really like the old S&W's.

 

[Confederate]

One of my favorite .38s was a .357 Smith Model 13. Another feller on this board was lucky enough to find a .38 Speed-Six, which was an incredible find. Any S&W would be great. So would any Colt. Taurus and Rossi are more drawer guns in my mind. Don't know how well they stand up to sustained use.

 

[SaxonPig]

Love the 38s. Have a bunch of them and make no apologies.

Got this Model 14 off GunBroker. Has some rough spots in the finish but shoots great and it cost $100.





This Combat Masterpiece also came from GunBroker. Again, a shooter with lots of holster wear but I thought it was well worth the $135 I paid for it.





This Model 10-7 was unfired when I got it off GunBroker (God, I love that place) for $177.





Colts? OK. A Mark III Metropolitan for $150 (GB, of course).





And this Official Police looking worn (the cheesy stocks don't help) but working just fine at $165.

 

[GeezerwithGuns]

I've posted this picture of my Colt Officer's Model before. It is my favorite handgun. Beautiful to look at and a joy to shoot with a trigger that has to be felt to be believed. Oh, and did I say accurate?

 

[Tom Servo]

My current carry gun is a S&W 67:



It only shoots .38's, none of them new-fangled "Magna" rounds all the kids are hollerin' about.

Of course, given how well it shoots, I don't think I'm the least bit outclassed with what one person called a "mediocre" caliber. In fact, the same guy was shocked that I carried a revolver at all, since "they're obsolete."

With 148gr wadcutters, a 4" K-Frame is simply...relaxing to shoot. Even with 125gr +p, it's easy to manage. Oh, and .38 is easy to reload and cheap to shoot.

 

[Cel]

Erik F- Those are very nice grips on a beautiful gun.

 

[rocinante]

SaxonPig you get some great deals off gunbroker,com. Aren't you a moderator at gunbroker.com?

 

[Phil DeGraves]

Regardless of what it says on the barrel, I believe all K-Frames to be .38s. And the best of those is the M19. I shoot the .357s out of my N-Frames.

 

[Wang]

Don't get me wrong I do like shooting 38's. I just don't see why I should buy a new 38 instead of a 357
It seems to me that if I buy a 357 its like I get two guns instead of one.

 

[Markbo]

You are correct, sir!

I bought a couple of .38's in the past and just always felt I was missing something... like the ability to load up. With a .357 I don't have that problem at all. But there is usually a trade off of bigger/heavier so choose wisely.

 

[Z_Infidel]

There is nothing wrong with buying a .38 Special revolver if what you want is to shoot .38 Special cartidges. Currently all of my revolvers are chambered for .38Spl+P.

As said above, there are lots of good used .38Spl revolvers around. But if you want a new gun, S&W still makes models 10, 64, and 67 and IMO they are still fine guns. The 10 and 67 are available with 4" barrels and the 64 is available with either a 3" or 4" barrel. The 3" Model 64 balances beautifully and doesn't give too much up in velocity to the 4" guns.

Also nothing wrong with buying a .357 Magnum revolver and shooting .38 Special cartridges in it, just be sure to clean the chambers regularly to avoid residue buildup from firing the shorter rounds.

 

[amprecon]

I may be mistaken but is not the S&W Model 10 the quintessential .38 revolver? I bought a used circa '64 production 4" model and it works well. It's a no frills weapon.

 

[20nickels]

When you look at the low price of S&W M-10's you really do not miss the magnum caliber. If you think you need more later on you can always get it, but at 2-3 times the price.

 

[armoredman]

I am not wild about 357 mag, just me. But I do love shooting my 38 Special Smith Model 10-8, my inheritance revolver, and one sweeeeet shooter. I also don't feel underarmed carrying it as my sidearm, either.







It's kinda photogenic, too...

 

[Phil DeGraves]

And lets not forget the .38 Special Colt Single Action Army...

 

[RustyShackelford]

good basic .38spl DA revolvers....

Here are a few good basic selections in .38spl or .357mag/.38spl;

Ruger SP-101, Ruger GP-100, Taurus model 82, Taurus model 66, S&W model 620.

Go to www.gunsamerica.com and compare prices/specs. I'd avoid most used revolvers. They may be dirty or have loose/broken parts.

Ruger is considered by many gun owners to be the "workhorse" of DA revolvers but the Taurus has a lifetime protection offer and is low cost, . S&W are highly rated but cost more too.

Rusty S

For ammo pick; Speer Gold Dot 135gr JHP +P or Corbon's 110gr JHP +P+ or Buffalo Bore's 158gr lead SWC-HP +P.

 

[jad0110]

The S&W Model 14 makes an excellent range/target gun. Great fun shooting handloaded 148 wadcutters. It'll also fit the bill for HD, though in a handgun, I prefer 4" barrels for HD duty.

I paid somewhere around $320 for this 14-4 a year and a half ago, and although it is shot the least of all my guns, I'll never part with it:

 

[The Bushmaster]

Erik F...What are the grips made of on that S&W mod 67?

Own and shoot 3 S&W mod 10's...

 

[SaxonPig]

Rocinante- Yes, I am a moderator on the GB Forum which is completely separate from the auction side. I get no special deals or advantages in bidding. I just have been lucky a few times in watching the auctions and staking out some guns that for some reason didn't attract the other bidders.