Hi everyone I have a couple of questions about revolvers. First here's what I want: Used Smith and Wesson 357 with a 6 inch barrel. My Questions are: What is the difference between all the different models? Anything good or bad about the model 19 (I found one for sale)? I have read the post on what to check for when buying a revolver but if I buy one online what kind of questions should I ask the seller before buying? Anything I need to know to go from being predominantly a slide guy to a practicing revolver guy? Also, if anyone knows anywhere I can pick up a decent SW for $300ish I would really appreciate the info. Thanks in advance for any info.
Revolver Newbie with Questions.
- Thread starter Bane
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Read the sticky from Jim March "revolver checkout" at the top of the forum. Here is a link for Smith and Wesson model changes.http://www.handloads.com/misc/Smith.Model.Changes.asp. After you read Jim March revolver checkout reread it again it is an excellent article. Hope this helps...
Be warned ahead of time. 6" .357s are harder to find. 4" .357s were the standard for duty use, and still the most common length. They're easier to handle and don't lose any appreciable accuracy.
For S&Ws:
The K-frame .357s. Built on the original .38 Special frame, it's a "Carry a lot shoot a little" guns... inspired by Bill Jordan and others as the "ultimate cop revolver" in .357. Fits the hand well, easy to shoot and light. The S&W 19, 13, 65 and 66 are K frames, generally found in 2.5", 4" and sometimes 6", along with the rarer 3".
The N-frame .357s. These are the Model 27/28, built on the .44 frame, and were the "First" from 1935 on till the mid 50s. Bigger, heavier gun, little recoil though. A bit heavy to carry.
The L-Frame .357s. These have the K size grip frame, but when practice all the time with full-power .357s became the norm, to stand up to the additional pounding the K's weren't designed for. This is the current generation S&W 581/681 and 586/686 wheelguns. They're slightly beefier than the K frames, but otherwise, very similar in size and weight.
The K frames are being phased out, but are the perennial favorite for carry guns in .357. The L frames are just as popular, but some people are picky.
As to what to know, anything written by Bill Jordan (who was a primary shaker/mover behind getting the Model 19/66 released as the Combat Magnum) on revolver shooting is good. Ed McGivern, and Elmer Keith as well.
For S&Ws:
The K-frame .357s. Built on the original .38 Special frame, it's a "Carry a lot shoot a little" guns... inspired by Bill Jordan and others as the "ultimate cop revolver" in .357. Fits the hand well, easy to shoot and light. The S&W 19, 13, 65 and 66 are K frames, generally found in 2.5", 4" and sometimes 6", along with the rarer 3".
The N-frame .357s. These are the Model 27/28, built on the .44 frame, and were the "First" from 1935 on till the mid 50s. Bigger, heavier gun, little recoil though. A bit heavy to carry.
The L-Frame .357s. These have the K size grip frame, but when practice all the time with full-power .357s became the norm, to stand up to the additional pounding the K's weren't designed for. This is the current generation S&W 581/681 and 586/686 wheelguns. They're slightly beefier than the K frames, but otherwise, very similar in size and weight.
The K frames are being phased out, but are the perennial favorite for carry guns in .357. The L frames are just as popular, but some people are picky.
As to what to know, anything written by Bill Jordan (who was a primary shaker/mover behind getting the Model 19/66 released as the Combat Magnum) on revolver shooting is good. Ed McGivern, and Elmer Keith as well.
A six inch model 19 is a dandy gun, for everthing but as a CCW.
$300 is a pretty good ballpark figure for what a nice used one would be worth.
You might want to do a search on S&W revolvers in www.gunsamerica.com for your state, to see what prevailing prices are.
Buying a used gun, sight unseen, especially for the inexperianced, is a bit of a risk. You may be better served by shopping at local established gun shops.
Good Luck...
Joe
$300 is a pretty good ballpark figure for what a nice used one would be worth.
You might want to do a search on S&W revolvers in www.gunsamerica.com for your state, to see what prevailing prices are.
Buying a used gun, sight unseen, especially for the inexperianced, is a bit of a risk. You may be better served by shopping at local established gun shops.
Good Luck...
Joe
Thanks for all the info. I have already read and printed a hard copy of the "revolver checkout". I am looking for something I can shoot alot, so I can become good with it. I am reading Ed McGivern's Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting and have become very excited about revolver shooting.
Would one of the model 27/28 guns be better than a model 19 since they are larger and heavier. Also, if I carry the gun it would most likely not be concealed.
Thanks again.
Would one of the model 27/28 guns be better than a model 19 since they are larger and heavier. Also, if I carry the gun it would most likely not be concealed.
Thanks again.
If you're looking at shooting alot I would go with the 27/28. But the 686 is a good revolver and also designed for heavy shooting. In terms of weight a 4" 686 is only a couple ounces lighter then a M28 w/4" bl. I own three M28's and a M27. I also own a 686+ w/4" bl. I do find that the N frames seem to soak up the recoil a little better, but you won't go wrong with an L frame. The other possibility is to buy a Ruger GP100. You can pick up a new one for not much more then you would pay for a used N frame - in some cases you might pay less. The GP100 is a very strong six shooter and was designed around the .357 mag plus it's a medium size frame. Just something to think about.
The L frame (581/681 and 586/686) retains most of the handiness of the K's, but is beefed up to shoot .357s all day long for the rest of your life.
If the 9mm craze hadn't hit in the 80s most cops would still be carrying 686s if we'd stayed "revolver cops".
I owned a 581, the 4" blued fixed sight "cop gun" model of the L-frame. It was wonderfully accurate, good trigger, light enough to carry a lot but heavy enough to soak up the pounding and recoil. They're the compromise between the massive N frame and the medium K frame.
The Ruger GP100 is also a "L frame" size gun more or less, if not a bit beefier. Good shooters, cost a little less than a S&W, the triggers aren't quite as good out of the box, but put 500 through it and it cleans itself up many times.
My very first pistol was a 4" Ruger Security-Six (the gun the GP100 replaced) which was Ruger's Model 19 equivalent.
If the 9mm craze hadn't hit in the 80s most cops would still be carrying 686s if we'd stayed "revolver cops".
I owned a 581, the 4" blued fixed sight "cop gun" model of the L-frame. It was wonderfully accurate, good trigger, light enough to carry a lot but heavy enough to soak up the pounding and recoil. They're the compromise between the massive N frame and the medium K frame.
The Ruger GP100 is also a "L frame" size gun more or less, if not a bit beefier. Good shooters, cost a little less than a S&W, the triggers aren't quite as good out of the box, but put 500 through it and it cleans itself up many times.
My very first pistol was a 4" Ruger Security-Six (the gun the GP100 replaced) which was Ruger's Model 19 equivalent.
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