What to look for buying used

[bubbacrabb]

Im looking at buying a s&w 44mag revolver. Im more of a 1911 type guy. I just want one of these revolvers. What should I look for when I go to buy it? The guy says low round count etc. I just want a reliable revolver that my reloads shoot well thru. Just wondered if anyone had any tips of red flags to watch out for. Thanks

 

[oldfool]

same as said for any revolver in the revolver "checkout" sticky.
all the rest is personal preference
(but what you don't want is a "lite" gun)
absent a specific model being stated, there just isn't much to say

PS
44 mag ain't no wussie gun, kicks a lot harder than a full size 45 acp
this is one of those for which the reliability of the infamous S&W ILS may be rightly suspect
you might want to think about a hefty SA

 

[Starter52]

A Model 29 or 629 will give you years of service, especially with handloads. Don't worry about getting a used gun; used N-frames have stood the test of time. Rubber grips will be a big help with full-house magnum rounds.

 

[Remllez]

Yep,N-frames are tank like and unless they look beat to heck it's hard to hurt them,make sure you check the timing as stated in the stickies. Many people buy them and don't like dealing with their recoil so they don't get shot a lot.

Good luck and enjoy your BIG BOY!

 

[newfalguy101]

Look at the inside of the recoil shield ( the frame area between the hammer and back of cylinder ) if the area around the firing pin hole/bushing is shiny, its had lots of rounds through it.

Not necessarily a bad thing, just something to be aware of, it will also either shore up or shine doubt in the "low round count" statement.

Cock the hammer as if you were going to shoot, then while the hammer is fully cocked check to be sure the cylinder is locked in place and does not turn, if it turns and you hear a quiet click, it *could* be out of time. Do NOT cock the hammer slowly as this WILL often cause the cylinder to stop short of full lock-up, it needs the momentum to ensure it locks in place.

Beyond that, look at overall condition and as stated earlier, a .44's gonna kick and weight is your friend, especially as this is your first, a full size STEEL gun is the way to go.

 

[zombie44]

I'd also check out the condition of the barrel & crown for any signs of wear (due to excessive cleaning believe it or not ) or bulges/rings due to squibs and check for mangled screw heads on the sideplate which would give indication that the internals were messed with.