My Next Gun

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aaaaa

aaaaa

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So i have 6 handguns now (zero before December 2020) and still want more. So I am exploring things. First, what I have:

S&W SD9 VE 9mm semi-auto 16-round magazine
Seacamp LWS 32 semi-auto 6-round magazine
KelTec P32 semi-auto 7-round magazine
S&W Model 686 Plus 7-round .357 Magnum revolver
S&W Model 642 5-round 38 Special revolver
S&W Model 31-1 32 Long 6-round revolver

These guns are on my radar, and while I am partial to S&W for revolvers, I really just want a 45 but not with moon clips:

S&W Model 25 Double Action .45 Long Colt
Ruger Redhawk .45 Colt/.45 ACP Double-Action Revolver
Taurus Model 450 double action 5-round 45 Long Colt

There is a Charter Arms 5-shot 45 Long Colt at my local GS for only $450 and that is more my price range. The S&W and Ruger are both likely to cost twice that, but I have a bad feeling about Charter Arms quality. Have heard some bad stores and so am reluctant to go with the CA 45. Also the CA turns the opposite direction of a S&W and it seems to me one should be better off with all turning the same direction in case one needs to do a quick wrist twist to fire at a perp who is holding the cylinder. However, I can carry the S&W .357 and just keep the 45 for range fun.

I am more likely to grab something that comes into the GS than to order online, so that is a limiting factor, but then there is no hurry. The Taurus would be nice as it turns the same direction as S&W and is budget priced.

What other brands 45 Colt revolver are there I shoudl consider?

Well that is my big desire, now for a smaller desire:

If I ever run across a larger (not pocket or compact) 32 ACP I would be tempted to buy it. I know it is not the first choice for SD but it seems like it would be a fun range gun.

Beyond that maybe a 45 ACP semi-auto, but really I want a revolver.
 
ruger blackhawk convertible single action revolver in either 45lc/acp or 357/38/9.

here is something close to a blackhawk that is available now at a not-terrible price for these days, an italian-made pietta 45lc/acp:
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/928743971

just noticed that you don’t have a single 22lr handgun...oh my, the horror of it! a ruger wrangler or sr22 could be a start but there are lots of choices. yes i like rugers...
 
jstert said:
ruger blackhawk convertible single action revolver in either 45lc/acp or 357/38/9.

just noticed that you don’t have a single 22lr handgun...oh my, the horror of it! a ruger wrangler or sr22 could be a start but there are lots of choices. yes i like rugers...
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I guess SA is workable if is to be just a range gun, but if I want to pull it into self defense use ever, then a DA would be preferred. Likely the SA is going to cost less.

No desire for a 22 at this point. I had an old Astra pocket semi auto 22 and stupidly sold it for 25 bucks about 15 years ago. Even had the box, manual, extra mag. At least went to a good home.
 
Here’s a vote for the Model 25. Handsome, very accurate and a joy to shoot!

index.php
 
I really love my 625 mountain gun in 45 Colt. It's my favorite woods walking revolver.
Might consider a 6" if they decide to do away with the Hillary hole.
Hoping Colt is going to release an Anaconda in 45 Colt, it's on my bucket list.
 
I had a S&W Model 25 in .45 Colt and foolishly traded it for a Beretta 92 FS. It was a sweet gun and right up there with the worst trades I've ever made.
 
Expect to spend at least $1,100-$1,300 otd for the S&W or Ruger. They are both well-made, large-framed handguns. My N-frame Smiths across the board are more finely fit and finished than my two large frame Rugers are, but the Rugers are hell-for-stout and will take a lifetime of hearty loads and still be shooting when your grandkids inherit them.

The Taurus or Charter will be more affordable, but with that comes the potential for lower overall quality and a lower resale value. (Potential, not a guarantee of lower quality.) The three Taurus revolvers I’ve owned were, IMHO, very well made. (I cant comment on charter, Ive never owned one.)

If you do not reload .45 Colt, stand by for some serious sticker shock when it comes feeding time. Ammo for the .45 Colt isn’t common, nor is it cheap, on the LGS shelves. It is very easy to reload for if you do already roll your own though.:thumbup:

I believe @Pat Riot recently brought a newer production 25 home, maybe he can chime in with his impressions of his new boomer.

As for the .22, IMHO a nice S&W model 17 or 18 .22 LR will give you scads of shooting time and good feedback, without having to sell a kidney to pay for ammo. I know mine get a good workout when I am in revolver-mode. :)

Good luck finding your future prize, let us know what you come up with when you do. :thumbup:

Stay safe.
 
Riomouse911 said:
Expect to spend at least $1,100-$1,300 otd for the S&W or Ruger. They are both well-made, large-framed handguns. My N-frame Smiths across the board are more finely fit and finished than my two large frame Rugers are, but the Rugers are hell-for-stout and will take a lifetime of hearty loads and still be shooting when your grandkids inherit them.

The Taurus or Charter will be more affordable, but with that comes the potential for lower overall quality and a lower resale value. (Potential, not a guarantee of lower quality.) The three Taurus revolvers I’ve owned were, IMHO, very well made. (I cant comment on charter, Ive never owned one.)

If you do not reload .45 Colt, stand by for some serious sticker shock when it comes feeding time. Ammo for the .45 Colt isn’t common, nor is it cheap, on the LGS shelves. It is very easy to reload for if you do already roll your own though.:thumbup:

I believe @Pat Riot recently brought a newer production 25 home, maybe he can chime in with his impressions of his new boomer.

As for the .22, IMHO a nice S&W model 17 or 18 .22 LR will give you scads of shooting time and good feedback, without having to sell a kidney to pay for ammo. I know mine get a good workout when I am in revolver-mode. :)

Good luck finding your future prize, let us know what you come up with when you do. :thumbup:

Stay safe.
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Thats where the Ruger 45 Colt/45 ACP is nice. The ACP is half the price. I can get handloads of 45 Colt (new brass) for $38 a box of 50 and 45 ACP for $19 a box of 50. I have purchased from the linked company several times and they are making up soem 32 S&W Long ammo special for me that should show up on their page later this week.
 
aaaaa

If a S&W Model 25, Ruger Blackhawk ,or Vaquero isn't in your budget right now, maybe you try looking at Italian SAA copies, made by Uberti and Pietta. Still affordable, decent fit and finish, and make for really good times at the range. I have both an older Vaquero and a Beretta Stampede (made by Uberti) and they're lots of fun to shoot, especially if you do it old school by shooting one handed!
4HZq7FJ.jpg
lfYs7m5.jpg
 
You could use a milsurp, and you like the idea of a "bigger" .32ACP pistol. How about a CZ70 to round out a trio in the caliber? Nice, solid, all-steel piece of Cold-War history.

I like revolvers, too. I've been watching for an older Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 Special, though that would be a new caliber for me.
 
Last edited:
MedWheeler said:
You could use a milsurp, and you like the idea of a "bigger" .32ACP pistol. How about a CZ70 to round out a trio in the caliber? Nice, solid, all-steel piece of Cold-War history.

I like revolvers, too. I've been watching for an older Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 Special, though that would be a new caliber for me.
Click to expand...

That CZ70 does look nice. I prefer guns without a safety but that may be hard to find in larger 32s. I know of one milsup store locally but it does not appear that they sell guns:
https://www.harrysarmysurplus.net/
 
The surplus .32 Beretta 81's that were everywhere for $200 are still around albeit not at $200 anymore. Hard to go wrong with one of those. It's a fun gun and one of the best surplus values in recent memory.
 
aaaaa said:
These guns are on my radar, and while I am partial to S&W for revolvers, I really just want a 45 but not with moon clips:

S&W Model 25 Double Action .45 Long Colt
Ruger Redhawk .45 Colt/.45 ACP Double-Action Revolver
Taurus Model 450 double action 5-round 45 Long Colt

There is a Charter Arms 5-shot 45 Long Colt at my local GS for only $450 and that is more my price range. The S&W and Ruger are both likely to cost twice that, but I have a bad feeling about Charter Arms quality..
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IMO, Taurus and Charter are just cheap imitations of S&W; if you're going to buy, suck it up and get quality. The Ruger will take much hotter loads than the S&W, so consider that when buying. Limit your ammo to 250 grain at 800-900 fps for the Smith, and it will live a long time, and is more fun to shoot. Since the other guns you listed above aren't from "classic" days, look for a M25-6 or newer. Supposedly the throats are better spec than the earlier ones. That said, I have a M25-5 that shoots just fine and the throats measure 0.453". Its accuracy is easily Minute of Man at the longest distance it would be effective for defense.

aaaaa said:
That is a beauty and no lock. If they had that one tomorrow (I plan to stop in) I would probably not resist even if they wanted $900 for a used gun.
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Unlikely you'll find even a used one for less than $1000, unless the finish is worn. I gave $1250 for this one, back in January. No box or tools, etc.
IMG_1372.jpg
IMG_1376.jpg
 
Redhawk in the classifieds

Blackhawk or Vaquero is a viable SD carry gun.
Dual cylinder .45C / .45ACP makes a great companion.

An old Colt .32ACP make for a fun shelter.

The hunt is most of the fun.
 
Well I really wanted a 45 but today I just was at the local gun shop and they got a used SA INTERARMS VIRGINIAN DRAGOON in 44 Magnum, a few small gouges on the frame, which is the heat treated (looks like a bad bluing job), with solid blue barrel and cylinder but the ejector and backstrap are a deep red color. Want $450 for it. Maybe I should not be too fussy, that seems like a decent deal.

I can get handloads $38 a box of 50 for 45 Colt and 44 Special and $44 for 44 Magnum.
 
Seedy Character said:
Dragoon is a beast. Great price, too.
Click to expand...

I am tempted to run over there tomorrow and nab the Dragoon 44. I watched a number of videos and so learned a lot about single-action revolvers. Still prefer SA/DA but it might be nice to have one SA just for the fun of it since it is very different from the DA revolver.

The big drawback on this Dragoon is what if something breaks? The company is out of business for , what, 30 years? Where would one get parts?

I fondled the Charter Arms 45 Colt revolver again at the GS yesterday, but I see enough bad comments and the feel is kind of clunky when I open and close the crane,. Its a snubby and they want $450 new, but I am not inclined to go for it. I either get the Dragoon and hope nothing breaks or wait for another deal to come around.
 
Riomouse911 said:
I believe @Pat Riot recently brought a newer production 25 home, maybe he can chime in with his impressions of his new boomer.
Click to expand...

Thank you and yes I did. Not sure how I missed this thread…

Anyway, I bought the new 25-15 a year ago and I must say I do love this revolver. I have fired a variety of loads in it and it truly shoots very well. I do not have any complaints about my model 25.
9F89FA49-C6E7-4A26-9EA1-D9FAA98435C7.jpeg

I paid $980 for mine in March 2021. If I remember correctly. I don’t regret the purchase at all.


Someone will be along shortly to tell you that they saw them for less recently. Ask for proof then jump on it. ;)
 
I also have 2 Ruger SA’s, an original Vaquero and a New Vaquero. Personally, I prefer the original model Vaqueros. With the right loads or commercial ammo they can be very accurate.

88BE5A7E-0C71-4F45-9EAA-D1DB426CA013.jpeg
 
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