chaim
Member
I recently went through a search almost exactly like the one I did in Dec 2009, http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=491916 (please don't respond to that 6 year old thread). Back then, I no longer found that a 5-shot, 2" .38spl worked for me (the strengths no longer outweighed the weaknesses) and I wanted one, and preferably two, of the following: .357mag capability, 3" barrel, 6 or more shots. Back then I ended up with a 2" 461. Well, I still own the 85CH I was "replacing" with the 461, and I still often carry it, and I still am dissatisfied with the weaknesses of a small .38spl snub.
I never shot that 461 much. I had an annoying break-in issue (the cylinder would bind up, but only when shooting magnums, no issues with .38spl or +P). I actually am not sure if it was a break-in issue or if it doesn't like one brand of ammo since the issue stopped after a while and I haven't bought the brand I first shot out of it since. Anyhow, because of the initial issue, I didn't warm to the gun and never shot it very much, and never truly replaced the 85 with it.
So, about a month ago I decided it was time for a new revolver. Since the 2" 461 never really replaced my 85, and I still had those old reservations about a small-framed 5-shot .38, I started my search. This time, I didn't want as many compromises. I wanted the same criteria: at least 6 shots, .357mag capability, and a 3" barrel. Instead of demanding at least one of the above, and preferably two, I wanted at least 2 (6 shots or better, .357mag or higher caliber), and if I compromised on the 3" (since there aren't many 6-shot 3" revolvers out there without paying a small fortune) it would be to go to a 4" revolver.
During my search I found a 3" 461 several places online. The gun met all my criteria: 6-shot, 3", .357mag, and even better, it was under $300. I figured the chances of two 461s with issues was low, but still, I decided to break out my 2" 461 and do some serious shooting with it to be sure the early issues were gone. Shooting several brands of .357mag ammo, I had no further problems, and as always, it has never had an issue with .38spl or +P. I also dry fired the heck out of it and have seen the DA trigger pull smooth out a bit and it is on its way to being a pretty nice trigger. The one drawback of this process is that I finally fully trust the 461, and I am no longer sure that I'm willing to sell it (in order to fund this revolver purchase and also the Glock 27 I wanted, I had planned to sell a few guns that I never really warmed up to, and this was one of them).
So, I ended up buying the 3" 461. It is still at the seller, but I figure it will be at my local FFL sometime this week. Once it gets there, I can fill out the paperwork, and then the MD waiting period can begin (I figure it will be about 2 weeks before the gun will be in my hands). I can't wait. Hmm, if I end up keeping the 2" 461, I guess you can say that I got two revolvers out of this deal
I never shot that 461 much. I had an annoying break-in issue (the cylinder would bind up, but only when shooting magnums, no issues with .38spl or +P). I actually am not sure if it was a break-in issue or if it doesn't like one brand of ammo since the issue stopped after a while and I haven't bought the brand I first shot out of it since. Anyhow, because of the initial issue, I didn't warm to the gun and never shot it very much, and never truly replaced the 85 with it.
So, about a month ago I decided it was time for a new revolver. Since the 2" 461 never really replaced my 85, and I still had those old reservations about a small-framed 5-shot .38, I started my search. This time, I didn't want as many compromises. I wanted the same criteria: at least 6 shots, .357mag capability, and a 3" barrel. Instead of demanding at least one of the above, and preferably two, I wanted at least 2 (6 shots or better, .357mag or higher caliber), and if I compromised on the 3" (since there aren't many 6-shot 3" revolvers out there without paying a small fortune) it would be to go to a 4" revolver.
During my search I found a 3" 461 several places online. The gun met all my criteria: 6-shot, 3", .357mag, and even better, it was under $300. I figured the chances of two 461s with issues was low, but still, I decided to break out my 2" 461 and do some serious shooting with it to be sure the early issues were gone. Shooting several brands of .357mag ammo, I had no further problems, and as always, it has never had an issue with .38spl or +P. I also dry fired the heck out of it and have seen the DA trigger pull smooth out a bit and it is on its way to being a pretty nice trigger. The one drawback of this process is that I finally fully trust the 461, and I am no longer sure that I'm willing to sell it (in order to fund this revolver purchase and also the Glock 27 I wanted, I had planned to sell a few guns that I never really warmed up to, and this was one of them).
So, I ended up buying the 3" 461. It is still at the seller, but I figure it will be at my local FFL sometime this week. Once it gets there, I can fill out the paperwork, and then the MD waiting period can begin (I figure it will be about 2 weeks before the gun will be in my hands). I can't wait. Hmm, if I end up keeping the 2" 461, I guess you can say that I got two revolvers out of this deal
