Whats your favorite budget-friendly DA revolver?

Suther

Suther

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I've been really feeling the itch for a revolver lately. I have never owned a revolver, but they have always been appealing. If I had $1000 I'd just buy a used S&W in 357 and be done with it, but thats not in the budget right now. I also don't want a single action, otherwise I'd just get a Ruger Wrangler.

I am not dead set on the caliber, but I was leaning towards either 22lr, 38spl, 357mag, or maybe 9mm.

So, that said, what are your favorite budget-friendly DA revolvers?
 
Probably the most available, least expensive are S&W M&P/Model 10 or Colt Official Police in .38 Special. These sturdy medium framed revolvers were standard police issue for generations.
They will have fixed sights.
One of my favorite recreational handguns is a Smith M&P 4" .38Sp. Smooth, accurate shooter.
 
Charter arms have a nice 9mm that does NOT use moon clips and have a smooth trigger.( if you have a chance to check it out and look at the unique ejector )
They also have 38 and 357 but I have never tried them .
Unlike they're 22 revolver that had a heavy , crunchy trigger.
 
For a .22, consider the High Standard Sentinel. These are excellent, and are usually modestly priced.
 
Don’t discount single actions. I really like my Blackhawk. It’s very accurate and most new shooters I take out really like it compared to the semi autos. Having said that..I just bought a dual action off the EE too. I just really like the mechanical simplicity of the revolvers. I have a wrangler too and that’s a lot of fun.
 
Raymund said:
Charter arms have a nice 9mm that does NOT use moon clips and have a smooth trigger.( if you have a chance to check it out and look at the unique ejector )
They also have 38 and 357 but I have never tried them .
Unlike they're 22 revolver that had a heavy , crunchy trigger.
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Whats the quality like on Charter Arms revolvers? I almost bought one in 44spl a few years ago, one of the dealers had one for a really good price, but I wasn't sure about the quality of the brand.

Alchemist said:
Don’t discount single actions. I really like my Blackhawk. It’s very accurate and most new shooters I take out really like it compared to the semi autos. Having said that..I just bought a dual action off the EE too. I just really like the mechanical simplicity of the revolvers. I have a wrangler too and that’s a lot of fun.
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Too late, already discounted them. lol
I have nothing against single actions, but I want to experience a double action revolver to see how I like it, besides they can generally be used in single action as well so I can try both with one gun and see how I like 'em.
 
The whole discussion depends on how many rounds you plan on shooting. Feeding the beast is where the real cost is. If you are going to shoot around 1000 rounds a year, then figure around 350 dollars in ammo, depending on caliber. I would get a nice revolver that you like. For 22LR, a SW model 617 or Ruger 10 shot. These will keep you happy with their accuracy and they have a good resale value. For 357, then a Ruger GP 100 or SW 686. They also have good resale and are a ton of fun. The initial cost of the revolver is dwarfed by ammo costs over the years. Buy something nice that you like.
 
+1 on a used s&w
I would go with a 357 mag one, not 38 spl.

There is a 586 in the ee now for 625 shipped, not bad imo and you won't loose money on it.
Once done with it you sell it for the same or more.
Better investment imo then a b-brand new one.
 
You can lurk on the EE and grab the rare S&W Model 19 or 66 that is offered for sale. I found my 66 by being lucky just one came up for sale. Or maybe an Alfa Project may come up for $400-500.
 

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Alfa Projs are probably the cheapest you can get new. If you go used you can usually find Smiths or Rugers for the price of a new Alfa Proj. I have seen used Alfa Projs go for as cheap as $300.
 
I would suggest that you save a little more and hunt around the EE for S&W, perhaps a 19 or a 66 or a 27 or 28. Older models can be had for as low as 650 and a good Smith will last a lifetime with the after market support to back it up.
Learning to shoot wheel guns well and fast can be a fun challenge, especially learning the nuances of shoot quick, accurate double action.
 
I like my smith 19 because it is 4 in and tuned and I am so use to it. But a model 14-2 6 in shoots like a laser, but it is only 38, not 357M like the model 19, But don't shoot much 357.
The smoothest I ever had was a Dan Wesson, hard to find.
Ruger makes a good gun, Triggers are a bit heavy from the factory.
22 Smith model 17, or stainless 617, but you are into 600-900.oo unless luck on a bargain. H&R made some good 22's and they sell reasonable, they make a 9 shot.
Charter Arms are fine. they make a 9 shot 22 as well. Had a 44 special, though it was a 3 in , so a prohib. gun , Worked fine, I would not want one in 44 Mag, too light,
That 586 would be a great gun, I prefer that to the 686 . The are a L frame gun , so will handle 357Mag way better than a model 19, which is a K frame ( lighter)
 
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I had been on a tear buying older S&W K frames. What I found is say one in three was shot out due being too light built, lots of use. I have some really nice ones but they are not all nice.

The EE these days is pretty iffy it seems. My last three buys have been not so good. Two of the three I didn't get any feedback despite doing my part. One guy was using someone else's username and easy would go 24 hours for a simple response. Than went 7 days no response when it appeared the gun was lost by Canada Post. Another seller did not disclose obvious damage to the gun and then blamed me for not demanding better photos. And the packaging was bad. Another described a new S&W as a 4 screw S&W, I didn't find out till I was informed by CFO. Prices on HGs are really down and it seems sellers are getting a little desperate, sellers in big cities mostly it seems.

For a revolver I would say go 22LR or 357Mag/38S. The 9mm isn't really a revolver cartridge at the very least. As far as S/A vs D/A I shoot almost all the time in S/A with a D/A. There is advantage in loading/unloading but that is it. Revolvers are guns that you need a quality build. Cheap just doesn't do it. If you decide 357 I would look at the 586/686 in S&W or the GP100 in Ruger, the Ruger is just a little less pretty than the Smith. I like long barrels, 6 inch at least but many like the 5 inch barrel. I wouldn't cheap out on a revolver but I bought a Alfa Proj recently and it seems pretty good for the cost, it isn't a thing of beauty but functions well.
 
Alfa project 9mm with the short cylinder is a unique revolver and well priced. The shorter 9mm cylinder results in the 4 1/4" barrelled gun being the same size as a typical 4". Uses moon clips.

GP 100's are nice and there was a .22lr that was tempting me on The EE last week, not sure if it's still
there...

SP 101's as well.
 
I was looking at the Taurus M66 which gets decent reviews but then got a ridiculously good deal on a used S&W 686 so did that and am glad I waited. If you are in a hurry the Taurus is supposedly a pretty decent copy of the S&W Model 66 (although I've read that the QC can be hit and miss with some people getting a lemon and others getting an excellent one) or be patient and wait for a good deal on a used S&W or Ruger etc.
 
marshall said:
I like my smith 19 because it is 4 in and tuned and I am so use to it. But a model 14-2 6 in shoots like a laser, but it is only 38, not 357M like the model 19, But don't shoot much 357.
The smoothest I ever had was a Dan Wesson, hard to find.
Ruger makes a good gun, Triggers are a bit heavy from the factory.
22 Smith model 17, or stainless 617, but you are into 600-900.oo unless luck on a bargain. H&R made some good 22's and they sell reasonable, they make a 9 shot.
Charter Arms are fine. they make a 9 shot 22 as well. Had a 44 special, though it was a 3 in , so a prohib. gun , Worked fine, I would not want one in 44 Mag, too light,
That 586 would be a great gun, I prefer that to the 686 . The are a L frame gun , so will handle 357Mag way better than a model 19, which is a K frame ( lighter)
Click to expand...
+1 on the 617
 
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