I decided to take the plunge and buy a police turn-in revolver from AIM Surplus.
I have K-frame .357 S&Ws, but no dedicated .38’s with a 4” barrel. I decided on one of their model 64 trade ins, which are listed for $370. I also used an AIM recommended FFL to handle the transfer, and the FFL was not only closer to home but charged $45.00 less than my usual transfer dealer. .
The gun, a non pinned nor recessed 64-3, was shipped right away and I waited the ten day wait to take possession.
The negs: it was dirty from not being cleaned, the stocks were wooden...but were toast and the previous owner painted the rear sight channel orange and the front baby blue (?!?!)...the worst part was a series of small nicks in the rear frame near the hammer and where the frame meets the barrel. It looks like some moron hammered small nails with it... one nick even left a ridge that was sharp, requiring me to sand it down with sandpaper.
The pos: it is tight, no endshake or off-timing at all. It cleaned right up with a liberal application of Hoppes, a brush and patches. I had an old Hogue Monogrip that popped right into the frame after I popped off the old stocks and cleaned up a touch of rust where the panels touched the frame. The paint came right off with acetone, a brush and a cloth.
The trigger pull is very smooth in DA, and excellent in SA, plus it wasn’t engraved with a rack number or PD name...so when I have it bead blasted to hide the nicks it’ll look pretty darn good.
It shot very well, I put 50 WC with 4.0 gr Bullseye through it, two handed DA at 10 yards. Slow, rapid, it didn’t matter, it hit X-ring point of aim on a B-27E.
My last cylinder of six was fired DA at 10 yds at the small silhouette on the upper part of my B-27 target, and I was happy with the results. Certainly no Bullseye match winner, but I hit blue with each shot
All in all not a bad deal for a stainless Smith with some cosmetic blems but otherwise in great shape.
Stay safe.
I have K-frame .357 S&Ws, but no dedicated .38’s with a 4” barrel. I decided on one of their model 64 trade ins, which are listed for $370. I also used an AIM recommended FFL to handle the transfer, and the FFL was not only closer to home but charged $45.00 less than my usual transfer dealer. .
The gun, a non pinned nor recessed 64-3, was shipped right away and I waited the ten day wait to take possession.
The negs: it was dirty from not being cleaned, the stocks were wooden...but were toast and the previous owner painted the rear sight channel orange and the front baby blue (?!?!)...the worst part was a series of small nicks in the rear frame near the hammer and where the frame meets the barrel. It looks like some moron hammered small nails with it... one nick even left a ridge that was sharp, requiring me to sand it down with sandpaper.
The pos: it is tight, no endshake or off-timing at all. It cleaned right up with a liberal application of Hoppes, a brush and patches. I had an old Hogue Monogrip that popped right into the frame after I popped off the old stocks and cleaned up a touch of rust where the panels touched the frame. The paint came right off with acetone, a brush and a cloth.
The trigger pull is very smooth in DA, and excellent in SA, plus it wasn’t engraved with a rack number or PD name...so when I have it bead blasted to hide the nicks it’ll look pretty darn good.
It shot very well, I put 50 WC with 4.0 gr Bullseye through it, two handed DA at 10 yards. Slow, rapid, it didn’t matter, it hit X-ring point of aim on a B-27E.
My last cylinder of six was fired DA at 10 yds at the small silhouette on the upper part of my B-27 target, and I was happy with the results. Certainly no Bullseye match winner, but I hit blue with each shot
All in all not a bad deal for a stainless Smith with some cosmetic blems but otherwise in great shape.
Stay safe.
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