BIL wants low-$ high value .38/.357

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antsi

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My BIL is on a very limited budget, looking for a .38/.357
He will probably be stashing away $ for a few months then go looking at the Indy 1500 gun show.
Intended use is primarily for range, although he does plan to get his CCW. (He's saying he'll get another smaller gun for carry in the future)

I am more of a semiauto guy than a revolver guy. I am passingly familiar with S&W; vaguely aware of Taurus.

What are some of the other quality/reputable brands of revolvers that might be found at the modest end of the price range?

Any particular brands or models to especially look for? Any to especially avoid?

He was asking for a target $ figure to save up; I suggested $300-350. Seems to me a guy ought to be able to find a very decent .38/357 at a gun show in that price range -- agree or disagree?
 
Ruger SP101 2.25 or 3" Barrels

Ya can't go wrong with one of these nice pistols. I got one and replaced the stock grips with some synthetic ones from Trausch. Carry it in an Uncle Mike's pocket holster in front jeans pocket,
 
For an inexpensive fun range gun, it's hard to beat a S&W model 10. Nice shooter grade 10's with some finish wear can be had for under $200. The ones I have seen recently, have had really nice actions. The model 15 has adjustable sights and can be had in the same price range. I would check out the very informative post by Jim March about what to look for when buying a used revolver, I learned a great deal from it.

I know you were asking about revolvers, but if your friend doesn't reload, you might want to look at ammo costs. Practicing enough to gain a good proficiency with your pistol can be rather costly. Currently, I see 38 special between $9 and $12 for a box of 50. 9mm ammo is normally a few bucks cheaper. I see it for roughly $7 a box of 50 at walmart for practice fodder, bulk packs could be even cheaper.
 
I agree with the S&W model 10 or 60 guys. You might also be able to find a nice used S&W 586 or 686 (stainless) in your buget. I would also prefur to stay away from the newer Smiths with the lock, not that they'er bad, but I just don't trust them.
 
That is a good realistic price range for a .38/.357 revolver. You really cannot go wrong with any of the suggestions above, Smiths, Rugers and maybe even a new Taurus for that price range can be had. I would have him read Mr. March's revolver check out linked above. If looking used it will keep him from unnecessary costs down the road. My personal pick is any S&W K frame or L frame (10,13,15,19 or ss brothers), but, again for $350 he should have a few to choose from, buy what he likes. Bill
 
I see good condition 10's going for $249 all the time at a local shop. I don't see how you could beat that. Many have EXCELLENT triggers and very little wear.

19's seem to go for more. I saw a real nice one the other day, stickered at over $500.

I found a 36 last week, 1982 vintage, unfired in original box for just over $300. A good deal, too, and carryable (although the hammer would be bobbed for that use).

Another option to consider is a 642/442. They are usually $349 sold locally. Not as easy to learn shooting with, but if he wants a dual purpose range/ccw, they fit the bill as good as any. I personally don't mind shooting an x42 but some find it a bit painful.

I won't argue that you can get more shooting in for the dollar with 9mm. It's currently the cheapest caliber to become proficient with in my area. 38spl is $13 a box, sometimes $12, 9mm can be found for $7 a box all day. I shoot primarily 9mm now for that reason, my 45 and 38 shooting being once a week only, whereas I'll visit the range with 9mm a few times a week without thinking about it. I'm seeing S&W's new M&P locally for $419, with 3 mags, holster, and mag holster. That is an insanely good deal, IMO.
 
S&W K frames are really nice guns but won't stand up to high volume Magnum shooting. A used Ruger Service/Security/Speed-Six would be a great choice over a K frame.

If he's looking new and is thinking about CCW in the future then a Ruger SP101 is probably the best choice for him. Since he's a new shooter you don't want him buying a ultra-light J frame S&W Magnum. He will never be able to practice like he should.

Taurus makes a nice revolver in both larger and small J frame sizes. They will probably fit his budget better than the SP101 too. The Taurus Model 650SS2 lists for $447 and can be found for just over $300. It’s a SS .357 DOA revolver just like the S&W M642. http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=268&category=Revolver

It’s hard to suggest a proper first revolver and one that he can CCW too. I would usually suggest a 4" .357 Magnum as a first revolver but that gun is hard to carry...
 
I would think about getting a snubby for CCW first, then a range gun later. My reasoning is this:

- There's nothing saying you can't use a snub at the range.
- Your BIL talks about CCW
- It's much easier to hide a snubby for CCW than almost any reasonable alternative
- I find it easier to be confident in concealment with a snub
- All this makes me pretty likely to have at least a snubby at any given moment
- After some time shooting a snubby, your BIL will have a pretty good idea what he wants from a range gun.

I would choose a three inch Ruger SP101 now, but chose a S&W 642 when I actually made this decision.

Actually, at that time I already had a G26, but wanted something I could conceal more confidently. The Glock got sold.
 
I agree with getting the snub.
I have found that smaller guns are way easier to carry.
You may carry a full sized gun but you are much more likely to carry if you can just pick up a small gun and stick in a pocket.
My CCW is a Kahr P-9 that I got a couple years ago for around $349 is damn near new shape. Before that was a SIG P-225 9mm. The SIG was a wonderful, reliable, and very accurate gun but it was bigger and heavier. I didn't carry it nearly as much as I carry the Kahr. The Kahr goes IWB behind the hip or in the inside pocket of a coat with very little effort. The same could be said of most snubs but not of a 4" K-frame smith.

For a snub I would probably look hard at a hammerless or concealed hammer version. I owned a S&W model 60 (which I still kick myself for selling) and a model 36 that I got for $189. Both were pretty workable but you have to have the right kind of grips to compromise between shooting and concealment.
I made that mistake both ways.
But getting back to the point, hammerless is better for just sticking the gun in a pocket because you have less chance of something getting snagged. But it is a little harder to learn to shoot DA only (I'm still mastering it with the Kahr and a Glock 22).

For your original question, any Smith & Wesson or Ruger in good shape should do. Get adjustable sights for a range gun if you can.
 
Unless your BIL is HUGE, or lives in a very cold area where he will be wearing large heavy clothing most of the year, any of those 4" K-frame guns that the others have recommended will be very difficult to conceal (especially the square butt models).
Honestly, I love my 19-3 (hence my name), but i could never recommend one for someone looking for CCW. I have carried it concealed, and it is just too large to do that regularly. The 4" bbl stick down pretty far, and the grips come up high enough to print. I mean, c'mon. the gun is the best part of 9 inches long, and over 35oz.!

On the other hand, my Ruger SP101 with a 3" bbl, in .357 mag is so easy, it's a delight. Sure, i have a semi-auto that is flatter, and holds more rounds, but I love that Ruger. I cannot possibly give it a strong enough recommendation. I carry it every single day, and it has earned my undying respect. Being 8" long, 27oz, having only a 5 round cylinder, and smaller frame makes the SP101 significantly smaller than the K frames (K-frame snubbies are not too bad, but they still have larger grips, larger frames, weigh more, and have wider cylinders-all of which are hard to hide.)

If he buys the SP101 with the 3" bbl, it is actually nicely balanced, and darn accurate for a fun range gun, and still a good size to carry. He should be able to find it for under 4 bills if he buys used, which should not be a problem because you couldn't wear this gun out if you tried. The only problem is that you actually don't see that many of them laying around used. Wanna guess why not? Yeah. people don't let go of these guns unless they have absolutely no alternative.


Long story short:

I am madly in love with my S&W, and think that a K frame would be a great range gun.
But a Ruger SP101 3" is both a great range gun, AND infinitely more concealable.
Go with the ruger.
 
Thanks for all the replies. There are some very good suggestions there.

A bit more info:

"High volume magnum shooting" - he is more likely to shoot a high volume of .38spl, and a few rounds of 357 here and there.

I agree about the great triggers on used smiths. My brother got a 6" blued one (model 10 I think) and it has about the sweetest DA trigger of any gun I've shot.

My wife has a 6" 686 and a model 60, so I do reload a fair amount of .38 spl. To those who mentioned ammo cost, I could let my BIL reload himself some .38's using my gear.

BIL is not really a new shooter. He hunts and has a milsurp mauser. He's a very good shot; he just doesn't have any handguns.

Personally, I agree that the first handgun someone gets should be carry-able. On the other hand, I know those tiny little carry revolvers - especially the ones made of super-light space metals - can be a bit nasty on the hands for a long range session.
 
Personally, I agree that the first handgun someone gets should be carry-able. On the other hand, I know those tiny little carry revolvers - especially the ones made of super-light space metals - can be a bit nasty on the hands for a long range session.
Click to expand...

The Ruger SP101, built like a tank, is quite heavy for it's class. I think it would be my suggestion. It's a great little gun, can be had in 3 inch, and can take 357 loads in case he wants to carry some real horsepower.

For me, it's the cylinder and grip that can make a gun challenging to conceal, not the barrel length (within reason). I'd get the 3 inch version, especially since this will also be something of a range-gun for a while.
 
Hello, all!

I'm the BIL in question. After hearing about this website and checking it out, I had to sign myself up, so here I am.

Thank you all for the great advice! I really appreciate it.

I'm very intrigued by the 3" Ruger, since it sounds like it will do well for range and for carry. I'm also getting enamored of the reputation the S&W's have for great actions. I have lots of research to do now!

A concern I have is accuracy. Is there much difference in the accuracy of a 3" barrel vs. a 6" barrel? I plan to do a great deal of range time before I consider carrying on a regular basis, and I'd like to get a firearm that will help me look good on paper. :D

Thanks again!
 
Welcome aboard. Whether you have a 2 inch snubby or an 8 inch monster, you are going to need lots of practice to look good on paper. Each has its own special characteristics that need to be mastered with some training and lots of range time. I would suggest going to ranges with friends and borrowing some revolvers or renting. Getting an actual feel for the revolver will help show you what you want.

You might want to take a look at a S&W 3" model 65. It is a round butt k-frame 357 with fixed sights. It is slightly larger than a sp101, holding one more round. The 3 inch barrel balances and carries nicely. I got one not too long ago from CDNN for about $330 and it is my favorite range / carry gun. What works for me may or may not work for you.

Best of luck and welcome aboard.
 
hoosiercheetah,
Welcome to THR...

Most brand name revolvers are accurate especially with modern factory ammo. A 2" revolver is no less accurate than a 6" revolver, it's just a little harder to aim because of the shorter sight radius. If you practice you will find 2" revolvers are very accurate. IMO a Ruger SP101 will serve you well as will a used S&W K frame or Ruger Service/Speed/Security-Six. Like I said above, all are good revolvers and you need to find one that you are comfortable with and one you shoot well. Comfort is a big factor and should be high on your criteria for choosing.
 
The Ruger is surely a good choice, but you could get a used blue S&W in that price range. If it was me, I would pick the one I liked the best as to fit and use since they are both good.
 
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