Which Is Best As One Handgun for Non-Hobbyist?

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The most accurate handgun I ever owned was a .38 Special. Even beat my .22 LR rifles and handguns. It was the wonderful Smith & Wesson Model-52.

In one-gun-only scenarios, though, I have to agree with the OP, the .38/.357 revolver is a tough one to beat. Rather than full wadcutters, though, I would opt for the semi-wadcutter as a good "do most anything" round.
 
Almost Heaven as in W VA? I actually live 14 miles from "Almost Heaven" campground.


I know that campground. I go to the bowfest every year.
 
Ok, so now I'm convinced that I might be missing something, what is a good revolver, I think that it would be in 357 as I like in interchangeably of the round (yeah next I'll have to get a lever gun, still better than an m4)

I'd like it less than 400, and don't care about used as long in in good condition
 
I think that it would be in 357 as I like in interchangeably of the round (yeah next I'll have to get a lever gun,
Click to expand...

Now, there ya go! The same cartridge for the rifle and the sidearm made sense in 1876, and it still does. Besides...as Cooper noted...The lever-action is a politically correct assault rifle.
 
Ok, so now I'm convinced that I might be missing something, what is a good revolver, I think that it would be in 357 as I like in interchangeably of the round (yeah next I'll have to get a lever gun, still better than an m4)

I'd like it less than 400, and don't care about used as long in in good condition
Click to expand...

NOW you're thinking!
 
There are still trade-ins available from time to time. I saw a pile of worn but functional .38sp revolvers for $150-200 a few months ago. Mostly Taurus (82? something like that) but a few S&W 10s. There were a few .357M guns in the pile but they were asking a $50 premium for those. I was told that an armed guard company had upgraded but who knows.

Would I guide a new "non-hobbyist" shooter towards a .38/.357 revolver as their only gun? Not as such. I wouldn't guide them away either, but I think the premise of a single gun is flawed. Shooting is like riding a bicycle... you need to practice a lot to learn the skills. Once you've learned, well, you get worse with lack of practice but you don't forget how to ride altogether.

A new non-hobbyist shooter needs to dedicate a few Saturdays/Sundays to learning how to shoot. Intensive days; ideally 500 rounds per day.

A decent .22 will cost $350 for gun + 2500 rounds of ammo.
A decent .38 will cost about $1500 for gun + 2500 rounds of ammo (non-walmart prices).

Either will give enough proficiency to put the gun in a box, forget about it, and potentially use it effectively 5+ years later. Obviously not as well as if they stayed in practice, but well enough for government work. Anything less really won't.

I'm not going to steer a non-hobbyist towards something that would cost $1500+ when they can spend $800 ($350 .22LR + $450 .38sp) to reach the same point. If they want to melt down the .22 at the end of their practice they STILL come out several hundred dollars ahead of buying only the 4" .38sp revolver.

Buy two guns...it's just common sense.
 
I have .22 just for that, and IF I want to melt something down, it will be my Tokarev, about the cheapest ammo I've got right now, I would say 357 because of the ammo interchangeability and because it's my minimum for a hiking gun, actually the Tok is my hiking gun right now. The difficulty for me has been the premium that revolvers seem to be at versus similar autos and that there doesn't seem to be much in the way of reasonable revolvers around here. If I want a .50 Linbaugh or other such, can find that, LOL, but other than a LRC or charter arms it's pretty dry.
 
Good article.


While I have/had many 38/357's, I just bought a 4" blued Colt King Cobra, and let me tell you what a joy it is to shoot. I tried a variety of loads through it, and oddly, only the lightest load and heaviest loads shot extremely well. 5.2gr Titegroup/158LSWC .38's shot tacks, as did my heavy 14.7gr 2400/158XTP loads. Others shot patterns, but I'll tighten them up.

Anyways, I really like the versatility of this gun, perfect all-round barrel length at 4" and it's great for target work as well as defense/hunting. Couldn't be happier. I should have ditched my snubbies long ago.
 
I was asked this very question today by my friendly local bank teller.I told him what I felt was what he needed and he agreed.A 4" K-frame in .38 spl. or .357 mag.tom.
 
38 K frame with grips fit to the user. 2 to 4-inch barrel. a few speedloaders. This set up will see most people through all things they will ever need a handgun for if they are not hobbyists/competitors but rather casual owners concerned with home defense. It is so timeless and effective it is almost magical. Brings a tear to my eye just thinking about all the people I have taught to shoot with a K frame 38!
 
MY first home defense handgun after a lot of research was a S&W model 65. 4" barrel, .357 but shoots cheaper .38's for practice. Reliable as gravity, stainless.
Now it's not very sexy, but I still have it. And I always will.
 
Great post, thank goodness that no one has tried to interject the Glock into this discussion (well until now). I see that one as one of the most dangerous for new shooters.
 
Hello friends and neighbors // So, I did good? strenthen the armofliberty.jpg

1) S&W Model 586 6" .357/.38 6 shot w/ Hogue grips, Quest IWB holster, self modified speed loader and Eveready No. 2631 Flashlight.
2) S&W Model 442 airweight 1 7/8" .38 +P 5 shot w/ factory grips, leather custom made Eric Whisnat pocket holster and Strenthen the Arm of Liberty scarf slide from my Scouting days.

I'm not rich, bought 586 as my do all revolver. 442 is a much debated/awaited recent purchase and a treat to carry compared to 586.
I do believe OP is correct.
 
Maybe not, If you trained a new shooter with a glock, you might see it as similar at older revolver, in that they never assume that it's ok to mess around with the gun because the safety is on, and lets all admit at some point we have all heard "it's on, it's on safe"...
 
Shadow 7D I based my conclusion in part on the number of trained professionals who shoot themselves each year with the Glock. I am not a Glock hater, I really like my G20 but I see the limitations to it. It is not as safe as a lot of other guns. Don't like the inability to un-cock with out pulling the trigger. You have to do that before you disassemble it. No back up safety (unless you buy and install an aftermarket safety. Any other guns have so many of these aftermarket supplemental safeties??) to provide a second level of protection. I see one reason the Sprinfield XD has a grip safety to counter these concerns among buyers.

Of course if we all followed every safety measure to perfection each and every time there would be no accidents, but some guns seem to have more incidents than others.
 
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