I would like a small revolver

[Orkanen]

Oh boy! That is one back of a markup. I'm lucky to be in the same country as S&W...

Just curious and off topic. What would you pay for a used MR-73? Here's one for sale in Sweden with 2.75" barrel at $1,500.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I'm searching for a suitable revolver for competition purposes. There are of course limits.

• It must be smaller than 200 x 150 x 40 mm and weigh no more than 1,000 g.
• Trigger weigh should be above 1.360 g..
• Cylinder should have a capacity of at least 5 rounds
• Accuracy is preferred, longest range in competition is 70 m.
• I start each round with the gun out of holster, ready to fire and pointing down, thus, shaved sights or hammers are not required.
• Low recoil has its advantages, shortest shooting time is 6 seconds.

Beyond that, I'm mostly confined to what's available here in Norway, with the most common brands like Smith & Wesson, Dan Wesson, Colt, Ruger, Taurus, Webley, Korth, Manurhin, Kimber. Other brands may also be found, but there's always a question about spare parts.

Availability is very limited. I've requested someone at the local gun shop to keep a look out and notify me whenever something suitable passes by. I also keep tabs on our version of Craigs list, Finn. Today's vast sortiment is found here. In other words, not very impressive.

What should I look out for, what can I expect, where can I go wrong?

I was today offered an unused S & W 640 38s from 1990. It requires lots of TLC and perhaps a Hogue grip to become competition worthy, trigger weight presently being around 3 kg. I'll get to test it later this week together with a Ruger GP 101 in good condition.
View attachment 864088

That 640 is a better gun than the Ruger all day long. If the frame states "tested +P+ is still there it means it was a first production run & adds to it's value.

 

[If1HitU]

Three Airweights S&W's
M&P BG ,38 SPL+P
442-2 .38 SPL+P
638-3 .38 SPL+P
And a BUCK 110

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Just curious and off topic. What would you pay for a used MR-73? Here's one for sale in Sweden with 2.75" barrel at $1,500.

I really can't say because I know nothing about that company's handguns. I don't know their reputation and I have never seen or shot one. Sorry...

 

[drobs]

I am, and very much so. Hunters House in Denmark is a well known shop among gun toting Norwegians. Another thread brought my attention to a Polish 9 mm pistol I'll be willing to examine for use in "military class" competition. I mentioned this to some Polish friends, incidentally owning a house an hours drive away from the factory. I do find it peculiar though, you pointing at the S&W 66 and not the MR-73 presently for sale there, being 199 mm long and perfect, not to mention, a far better revolver.

Adjustable sights would be high on my wish list for the type of shooting you are doing. This S&W M15 looks pretty clean:
https://www.waffen-ferkinghoff.com/english/m15-3-black-2-adj

S&W (at least in the USA) will have greater parts availability. Parts can be found on Ebay. Within the past year or 3 we (the USA) had a bulk import of surplus Manurhin Revolvers. 1st time I've seen them in the USA. I had no interest in buying one and would rather have another Smith & Wesson. Then again I'm a biased American - as far as DA Revolvers. Not knowing your price range - the S&W's IMHO are a better deal. You could buy the above M15 and a M10 or M66 for the price of the MR-73

I like S&W and Ruger. This Ruger Security Six of mine with the 2 3/4 in barrel recently accompanied me on a trip to N. MN for Bear Defense. No bear were seen.

 

[RealGun]

Actually they are relatively easy to lighten. In my spurless SP101 I changed to a 10# hammer spring coupled with the 8# trigger spring. Also installed a set of hammer shims in less than an hour. That included taking a drill bit and cleaning the trigger spring tunnel by hand turning it to clean out left over manufacturing debris. The trigger now is light and glass smooth.

Is the 10# spring dependent on Federal primers to preclude light strikes?

 

[WheelGunMan]

Is the 10# spring dependent on Federal primers to preclude light strikes?

Since changing the springs I have put close to 1,000 rounds of Remington, Winchester, and various other manufacturers ammo down the pipe. I have had "0" light strikes after many random inspections of spent shell casings and 100% positive ignition.

 

[Orkanen]

Adjustable sights would be high on my wish list for the type of shooting you are doing. This S&W M15 looks pretty clean:
https://www.waffen-ferkinghoff.com/english/m15-3-black-2-adj

It sure does look pretty neat. I'll keep a good look out while I wait. I recently handed several weapons applications to the Police, hoping they come back before the end of this year. I'm told I'll have to wait 2 to 3 months for processing.

S&W (at least in the USA) will have greater parts availability. Parts can be found on Ebay. Within the past year or 3 we (the USA) had a bulk import of surplus Manurhin Revolvers. 1st time I've seen them in the USA. I had no interest in buying one and would rather have another Smith & Wesson. Then again I'm a biased American - as far as DA Revolvers. Not knowing your price range - the S&W's IMHO are a better deal. You could buy the above M15 and a M10 or M66 for the price of the MR-73

You shouldn't dismiss weapons you've never tried. The MR-73 is known to equal Freedom Arms revolvers in accuracy. It's considered among the best DA revolvers out there. I bought a brand new 6" a little over a year ago, and around 2,000 + rounds later, plus a ****load of dry firing, it's the best revolver I've ever laid my grubby hands on. Spare parts? Don't need 'em. That gun is rock solid. It's built to handle any ammo out there, more Magnum ammo than your wrists can handle, years on end. One of my shooting club mates has an old one. All he's done to it is add a barrel weight, some oil and lots and lots of ammo. When I've done with mine, hopefully in 30 - 40 years time, I'll expect to hand it over to one of my grandchildren for their enjoyment. Intact and original to the last screw.

I like S&W and Ruger. This Ruger Security Six of mine with the 2 3/4 in barrel recently accompanied me on a trip to N. MN for Bear Defense. No bear were seen.

I've only tried one Ruger, a Blackhawk. A couple of rounds with 295 gr FP and 23 gr of Vihtavuori N110, I decided that shooting .44 Magnum isn't for me. The SP101 for sale locally together with the S&W 640 has no adjustable sights. I'll consider it, I'll test it, but knowing nothing is done to it, it's difficult to get a good picture of its potential. Finding someone with a Ruger who has done what should be done to it is a challenge. I've so far dismissed .22 revolvers, even despite this advert. At those prices, I might as well buy the short MR-73 in Sweden, getting my money back if needs be isn't an issue.

 

[Orkanen]

View attachment 865178

I forgot to mention, I started a thread here, concerning Manurhin MR-73s.

 

[drobs]

It sure does look pretty neat. I'll keep a good look out while I wait. I recently handed several weapons applications to the Police, hoping they come back before the end of this year. I'm told I'll have to wait 2 to 3 months for processing.

You shouldn't dismiss weapons you've never tried. The MR-73 is known to equal Freedom Arms revolvers in accuracy. It's considered among the best DA revolvers out there. I bought a brand new 6" a little over a year ago, and around 2,000 + rounds later, plus a ****load of dry firing, it's the best revolver I've ever laid my grubby hands on. Spare parts? Don't need 'em. That gun is rock solid. It's built to handle any ammo out there, more Magnum ammo than your wrists can handle, years on end. One of my shooting club mates has an old one. All he's done to it is add a barrel weight, some oil and lots and lots of ammo. When I've done with mine, hopefully in 30 - 40 years time, I'll expect to hand it over to one of my grandchildren for their enjoyment. Intact and original to the last screw.

I've only tried one Ruger, a Blackhawk. A couple of rounds with 295 gr FP and 23 gr of Vihtavuori N110, I decided that shooting .44 Magnum isn't for me. The SP101 for sale locally together with the S&W 640 has no adjustable sights. I'll consider it, I'll test it, but knowing nothing is done to it, it's difficult to get a good picture of its potential. Finding someone with a Ruger who has done what should be done to it is a challenge. I've so far dismissed .22 revolvers, even despite this advert. At those prices, I might as well buy the short MR-73 in Sweden, getting my money back if needs be isn't an issue.

The surplus ones that came into the US were rough and ugly. Example:
https://www.classicfirearms.com/manurhin-mr73-357-magum-38-special-revolver-surplus/

The nice ones go for a pretty penny:
https://www.gunbroker.com/All/search?Keywords=Manurhin MR73

I have loads of guns but keep a few DA revolvers around for fun. My most recent revolver acquisition was this Ruger Redhawk in 45 Colt / 45 ACP. I traded a Milled Norinco Mak90 AK47 for it that I bought a month prior for $300.

 

[Orkanen]

The surplus ones that came into the US were rough and ugly. Example:
https://www.classicfirearms.com/manurhin-mr73-357-magum-38-special-revolver-surplus/

Nice Gendarmerie. It's obviously been put to good use for years and years. Two screws missing beyond that, good to go. Fixed sights isn't an issue with them. Mine's fitted with adjustable sights but they've never been touched.

The nice ones go for a pretty penny:
https://www.gunbroker.com/All/search?Keywords=Manurhin MR73

There's a new one there for 3.2 k just like mine, although I paid 2.6 k, but if money wasn't an issue I'd buy a Mulhouse instead. They're said to be the best of the best.

I have loads of guns but keep a few DA revolvers around for fun. My most recent revolver acquisition was this Ruger Redhawk in 45 Colt / 45 ACP. I traded a Milled Norinco Mak90 AK47 for it that I bought a month prior for $300.

Darn, I'm jealous. You certainly love your guns. I'm sitting here playing with mine as we speak. Now please don't read that the wrong way.

By the way, I believe this post of yours would fit better in this thread.

 

[drobs]

Looks like you "need" that matching MR73S. I find it's best to own pairs or triplets.
I was organizing my handguns a couple weeks ago. Need to fit 7 more into here somewhere: