My First Revolver - New to Handguns!

Drachenblut

Drachenblut

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Hello,

I am looking for some general starter advice about buying my first revolver. Firstly, I am not interested in a semi-auto.

I have shot a few with friends and really like the .357 Magnum as a cartridge, and revolvers chambered for it can also fire 38 Special according to my friend, who chambered them into his revolver alongside .357's. Nice, clean plinking round (low recoil and power compared to the .357)

What revolvers are chambered in this round? I am happy buying used as I am a milsurp collector for rifles, used is sort of my area of specialty :cool:

Looking for something in the $500 or less range. Would love to hear about makes and models, new and old is fine. 38 special only as a revolver is good as well (such as an old Webley VI)

Thanks CGN!
Drach
 
Are you partial towards 1873 SAA replicas? If so, how about a Pietta SAA? You can get them from as low as $370 (Canada Ammo but sold out) and around $475 on average. If your budget goes a bit higher, P&D have the Ruger New Vaquero going for $580!! That's the cheapest I've ever seen it sold for in Canada. I snatched up a 357 in stainless. Waiting for it to get ATT approved. Hopefully soon! :)
 
ANYTHING chambered in .357Magnum will also shoot the slightly shorter .38Specials...but NOT the other way around.

A used Ruger GP100 can be had for around $500...it is a modern double action revolver in .357Magnum. They come in 4.2" and 6" barrels as well as in blued or a brushed stainless (slightly more $$$).

OR you can buy a used Smith and Wesson Model 10 in ONLY .38Special for around $400...very nice gun tho and an amazing trigger!!!
 
Not familiar with the 1873 SAA replica, I'll look into it, links perhaps to a few for sale please? Hmmm I heard that trigger pull is a big thing with you handgun boys, something about trigger pull and let off ;). Used to military rifles :)
 
You get what you pay for in triggers...a really smooth and nice trigger helps you keep the gun on target. It is harder to keep a handgun on target and shoot it accurately then it is with a rifle for many reasons so making the trigger ONE less reason to worry about never hurts :p.
 
Used Colt Pythons...lets say if you found one for $1,500 it would be a real steal...not cheap guns!!! Barrel needs to be 4.2" or longer.
 
Ah ok, so a 5" barrel .357 magnum revolver is what I'd be looking at. Any suggestions? And wow, seriously? For a handgun that ran the good portion of 45 years, that's expensive... wow
 
Not everyone's into cowboy action or SAA type six shooters but here's Marstar's Pietta lineup of 1873 SAA revolvers in 357.

http://www.marstar.ca/dynamic/category.jsp?catid=76387

And the Ruger New Vaquero which is a more modern twist to the old SAA revolvers. Look similar but internally has some added safety features and gone is the half-#### BUT you can buy a kit to get that 3-click of the old SAA guns.

cfda-vaquero.jpg
 
Drachenblut said:
Ah ok, so a 5" barrel .357 magnum revolver is what I'd be looking at. Any suggestions? And wow, seriously? For a handgun that ran the good portion of 45 years, that's expensive... wow
Click to expand...

Colt Pythons are the Cadillac of the revolvers and where always expensive even back in the day...now with no more being made their value rises every year!!!

A Ruger GP100 in either 4.2" barrel or 6" will be perfect for you. It is in .357Magnum so you can shoot the heavy stuff or the lighter/cheaper .38Specials, has adjustable sights on it so you can sight it in to your load and to your aiming style (6 o'clock hold, cover up, ect). The stock houge grips are really nice for taming the recoil of the heavier loads. The gun is built like a tank and will last you a life time. Holsters are easy to find/get made if that is your thing. You can also get speed loaders for revolvers which are cool and give you a faster reload. Saving brass is muchhh easier in a wheel gun too, especially in the winter!!! :)

The only "down side" is the trigger...it is not as nice and smooth as a Smith's especially when being used in double action (but by no means is it bad!) but the Ruger is also a few $100 cheaper then a Smith. Trigger work CAN be done on them for around $100 and that really does make a difference if your set on cleaning up the trigger. On mine I never got any trigger work because after a few 100 rounds and complete cleanings it smoothed itself out a bit and I got used to it just fine.

1748_zpsbbe463e8.jpg


That gun above is the Ruger GP100 with the 4.2" barrel...that is as small as you can legally go here in Canada without being a 12.6 holder. Like I said before it also comes with a 6" barrel and in blued instead of stainless as well.

NEW they go for $605 plus taxes for the blued model and add another $50 for the stainless which is a great price and they are not always easy to find due to that. Used...knock off $100-200 maybe a bit more if you find a deal.

Watch the EE and post a WTB ad and good luck!!!

- J
 
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I have the Smith&Wesson 686p .357 magnum, the Deluxe model (wood handle), the ''p'' is for the 7 rounds barrel, it is a very nice gun, no need to work the trigger, in revolver I buy S&W....quality is there.....
 
Nothing wrong with the Ruger GP100, but S&W are classics. I have a Model 14-3:

S%26W%20Model%2014-3.JPG


I see that Trade-Ex (T.E.C. Canada- site sponsor above; scroll down) has some Model 14's for around $500.00.
The Model 14 is .38 Spec. only but unless you feel you need the extra muzzle blast/adrenaline, the old .38 Spec. is just fine.
These are lovely, accurate revolvers with excellent triggers.

You'll probably want to get into reloading as well as factory ammo adds up.

:) Stuart
 
josquin said:
Nothing wrong with the Ruger GP100, but S&W are classics. I have a Model 14-3:

S%26W%20Model%2014-3.JPG


I see that Trade-Ex (T.E.C. Canada- site sponsor above; scroll down) has some Model 14's for around $500.00.
The Model 14 is .38 Spec. only but unless you feel you need the extra muzzle blast/adrenaline, the old .38 Spec. is just fine.
These are lovely, accurate revolvers with excellent triggers.

You'll probably want to get into reloading as well as factory ammo adds up.

:) Stuart
Click to expand...

probably the best gun for a guy starting out in revos - very accurate and a beautiful trigger - more accurate than almost anyone who shoots it
 
josquin said:
Nothing wrong with the Ruger GP100, but S&W are classics. I have a Model 14-3:

S%26W%20Model%2014-3.JPG


I see that Trade-Ex (T.E.C. Canada- site sponsor above; scroll down) has some Model 14's for around $500.00.
The Model 14 is .38 Spec. only but unless you feel you need the extra muzzle blast/adrenaline, the old .38 Spec. is just fine.
These are lovely, accurate revolvers with excellent triggers.

You'll probably want to get into reloading as well as factory ammo adds up.

:) Stuart
Click to expand...

+1

The Model 14 is an excellent starter revolver. I highly recommend it. I would also recommend you look for a Model 14 with the target hammer and trigger. They really make a difference. They come up quite often, it seems, it all sorts of condition.

BTW, the OP mentions a Webley Mk VI as being 38 special. The Mark VI was never chambered in 38 spec. The Mark IV was chambered in 38 S&W/.380-200, but that's an entirely different cartridge. The Mark VI was always .455 Webley. Some will be altered to accept 45acp in moon clips.
 
Kirk1701 said:
+1

The Model 14 is an excellent starter revolver. I highly recommend it. I would also recommend you look for a Model 14 with the target hammer and trigger. They really make a difference. They come up quite often, it seems, it all sorts of condition.
Click to expand...

I believe they're referred to as the "3T" models (?) Mine has the target hammer & trigger and it looks like the Trade-ex ones do as well.

There have been a couple of Webleys in .38 S&W calibre on the EE recently, although one might have been an Enfield "Tanker".
But the .455's are really nice. I'll jump in with a pic of mine (before Johnn Peterson does!)

Webley%20%26%20book.JPG


However, ammo is harder to find for the Webleys and expensive if you do find it, esp. suitable bullets for the .455. If the OP is interested in these, Henry at Budget Shooter Supply can get brass and (I think) bullets as I don't think anyone in Canada regularly provides the original-style 265 gr. But they're really a handloading proposition. Some people have reportedly got good results with soft .45 Colt bullets but that's another whole subject in itself.

:) Stuart
 
A lot of good, interesting options here, thanks gents. Yes, my mistake, those Webley/Enfield revolvers were in .38 S&W. I've fired the Webley Mk. IV before, very nice gun with a very nice round, however my desire is to still be able (scarcity aside) to pick up a box of ammo on the shelf. I'd be looking more at the Ruger GP100 or a Smith & Wesson. I'd prefer a gun in .357 Magnum as I can also shoot .38 Spc. but not the other way around. Seems more practical in case I want to go with heavier, more powerful rounds.
As for handloading, I have no issue with that since 4 out of my 5 calibers (#5 being .22LR ;) ) I reload for. I've been doing it since I was 17 so have a good handle on it. Lee Dipper Spoons are your friend for plinking! :)
All the same, I was attracted to the Enfield/Webley as I enjoy a top break style revolver, though I hear tell it is not as strong a system as the modern side-gate style?
 
In my humble option the only two guns you should be looking at in 357 are the Ruger and the S&W unless you want to spend big dollars. Watch for a S&W model 19. They are chambered in 357 and I see them for approx $500.00 from time to time and they are a very nice gun.

If you are ok with just being able to shoot 38 special then by all means grab a S&W model 14 they are really nice guns to shoot as others have stated.

I think that your first idea was the best in wanting a 357 gun as I beleive if you only have one then it should be a 357. You also mentioned you liked the 5 inch barrel, if this is the case I think you will have to look for a S&W as I don't remember Ruger ever building a 5 inch model in there double action guns but I could be wrong about that.

Just my two cents worth.

Graydog
 
Drachenblut said:
...I was attracted to the Enfield/Webley as I enjoy a top break style revolver, though I hear tell it is not as strong a system as the modern side-gate style?
Click to expand...

Nope, but given the low pressure of the cartridges those were chambered for, the top-break action is perfectly adequate. The S&W 586 (or 686 in stainless) is the current .357/.38 Spec. but I doubt you'll find one for $500.00, alas. A used GP100 would be the most likely candidate.

Edit: Graydog (above) mentioned the Model 19 as well. I'd forgotten about that one.

:) Stuart
 
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