1st revolver advice

B

Blade37db

New member
I just want to say that this forum has been very informative. I've been browsing the posts for a week and have learned a ton!
I will be purchasing my first gun (I've decided on a revolver) in the next few weeks (after obtaining my permit) and have narrowed my decision (based purely on reading and research) to a) S&W 686P w/2.5" barrel and b) a Taurus 617 w/ 2" barrel.
Now, I know that the best way to choose is to actually shoot both of them, but I'm not sure if I can find a range (in Connecticut) that has both for rental.
With that in mind, my criteria is:
a) A .357 even though I will probaly shoot mostly .38spl +p
b) A solid home defense gun that both me and my wife can shoot comfortably.
c) A gun that can withstand shooting about 50-100 practice rounds a month.
d) A gun that is suitable for concealed carry (preferably IWB)
e) I prefer a 7 shot, but might be willing to settle on a 6 shooter.


I've read several articles (including Gun Tests) and they speak highly of both.
My concerns are:
a) the weight of the 686P for concealed carry
b) Taurus' quality and reliability

While buying both might be an option (price isn't an issue), if you had to choose one, which would it be?

Thanks for your help!!
 
If it is your first gun I would suggest getting at least a 3" and possibly a 4", they are just easier to shoot well. However, if you are sure between these two it is a tough call.

Taurus quality is generally quite good these days. Some of the bad rep some people still associate them with is from the "bad old days" about 15-20 years ago when they first came to the market and were generally pretty bad. Some is because they sell more guns in the US than any other maker, you have more guns out there you'll probably also have more bad ones (in sheer numbers, not proportionally). Part is they were just shaking off the old rep when they brought out two products a few years ago before the bugs were all worked out- the original titanium revolvers and Millenium pistols had some real issues, since worked out in currect production guns.

I have 2 Taurus handguns currently, a Taurus PT140 Millenium Pro and a 1991 vintage Taurus 85 and I love them both. They are very well made guns that have been 100% reliable.

In the past I've had 2 other Taurus revolvers that were both good guns.

My first gun was a Taurus 82 that was a good gun, but at the time I didn't expect to own more than a few guns so I sold it when I got my first .357mag (I didn't see the point of having a medium framed .38spl when I now had a medium framed .357mag since I "knew" I'd only have 2-3 guns :rolleyes: ).

I used to own a Taurus 605. Great fit and finish, incredible trigger, no troubles. However, I didn't like .357mag out of a small snubby and since it was heavier than the .38spl version I sold it to eventually be replaced by my current Taurus 85CH.

I also own quite a few S&W revolvers. I love the older S&Ws. If you will buy a used gun it will save you a few bucks and probably be better than current production S&W (though current S&Ws are pretty good). If you must buy new, I'm not sure S&W quality really is any better than Taurus anymore and the Taurus is a lot less money.

So used, buy the Smith. New, buy the Taurus.
 
I agree. A good 3 or 4 inch revolver makes a good first gun. I used to have all 357s but I switched to 38s. I currently own a Taurus 85 snub which I carry daily and I have just put money down on a Taurus 82. Both are 38s.
 
I'll go along with what the other posters said..

But I'll add "spend a little more and get stainless steel". Revolvers get dirty all over, and cleaning that stainless is a lot easier. I have a Taurus 605 in stainless. It was my first gun, maybe not the best choice for a first gun, but very versatile for an only gun. I put a combat grip on it and shoot 38+p. Very reliable, over 850 rounds shot since november.
It is very concealable, and it will be my carry gun when I get my ccw.
Ideally, get a house gun, and a carry gun. My house gun is a ruger P89, which is very user friendly, but I think the revolver is more goof proof.
 
A Sixgun is a Sixgun

First off, and it's only because I righteous belief in tradition, I have to say 'get a six shot revolver.' Having more than six rounds is confusing. Especially if you shoot a number of revolvers. When six are shot you know it's time to reload. This routine becomes internalised and you know automatically that it's time to reload. How would Dirty Harry have coped? 'Did I fire 6 or 7 or 8 or 10 - damned if I know really?'

Otherwise I recommend a Smith & Wesson Model 66 in 4in barrel. The 66 because it is a 'K' Frame, smaller than the 686 'L' Frame and easier to carry concealed; and 4in barrel because it's easier to sight than the short barrels.
As jkwas has said already, stainless is best. It is my personal opinion that Smith & Wesson is a better buy than the others because: it has many standard options available, service is not a problem and they hold their value pretty well.
And, since you are not price sensitive, buy a new one.Support the makers.
 
jvlip3, I'm in Stratford. I plan on taking my NRA class at Valley Firearms in Shelton. Any suggestions otherwise?
I assumed a 3" or 4" barrel would be too long or too heavy for concealed carry. I have shot before and am comfortable shooting small barrel revolvers...just have to keep practicing. I don't want anything too heavy because I want my wife to be able to shoot it as well.
I guess I'd be interested in a Colt Det. Special, but I'm leery of used guns (like I am of used cars).
Question to all: as a newbie looking to buy a revolver (new or used), what are the things I'm looking for/at?
 
Bluehealer makes a lot of sense

My only addition would be a 3" medium heavy barrel in a K-frame would be a good compromise of sight radius versus CC. I seem to recall this configuration was a favorite of the FBI for years. I would buy a good used S&W instead of a Taurus. The trigger will most likely already be smoothed out nicely from use. Tauri are not bad, but in my opinion a S&W is worth extra money and you probably will not pay any more than what a Taurus costs new.


"In a world devoid of semiautomatics, a properly set-up Webley is the ultimate full-size self-defense handgun".
 
Have you considered a 65LS? There are still a few left, and would probably fill all of your requirements better than your initial choices...also, for a few dollars less, is the Ruger GP100 3" stainless with the half-shroud barrel (the pic shows the full-shroud version).
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There is Arms and Munitions in Monroe. They have an indoor range and rentals. Blue Trail is in Wallingford with indoor and outdoor plus skeet/trap. There is a indoor range in Norwalk with rentals. Then there is the Bridgeport shooting range with a website. They have rentals. I will see if I can dig up more for you. Glad to help out.
 
A used Revolver S&W- new Taurus. I have a Taurus 85 which gives me excellent preformance. But it's a 38 Special and blued but that's my own preference. To first time shooters I recommend 3 to 4 inch revolver stainless steel which is about as low maintainece and easy to use as you can get. If you like a 2 inch go for it. If we all thought alike then we would all have the same gun. Whatever you choose I'm sure you'll love it.
 
You are not comparing apples to apples. I think you should start your research over. A 3" barrel is going to allow full 357 case extraction and provide a better sight plane. A round butt or a square butt is personal preference. Grip size and style is personal choice also. I actually would seek out a 3.5", 357 Magnum, adjustable sighted, K frame S&W Model 19. A stainless steel Model 66 would be fine. A 4" wouldn't be terrible. 6 shots of 180 gr 357 Magnum should accomplish the task. 2 speedloaders could be carried easily.
 
S&W showcase firing range not far from CT

In Springfield MA you can visit the Smith and Wesson Academy and Retail Store. There's a firing range available to the general public (Positive ID is required; Handgun permits are NOT required). The Academy is well staffed with very helpful people who will not only help you narrow the scope, but will be more than happy to assist you with any of their rental guns! So, for a reasonable fee, you can try a great number of firearms! There are revolvers and semi automatics to choose from. After trying the S&W Academy you might come away being less sure of the firearm you want to purchase. Yet, when you decide to purchase, your decision will be more informed and you will have actually fired the handgun you are going to buy. While you will not be able to try Ruger and Taurus products at the Smith and Wesson Academy, you'll get a feel things like caliber, frame size and barrel length. Of all the pieces of advice I have every received when it comes to finding the one firearm that is correct for me, I found the following the most valuable: "Never buy a handgun that you have not fired."

PS: http://smithwesson.com > S & W Academy – Training. (They are open Saturdays, closed Sundays during the summer.)

Best of luck, and enjoy.
 
Everybody has stated things pretty well: I'll throw in my hat also for a 3-4" stainless 6 shot--again new or slightly used later model Taurus or used SW "K." I had a pre-Taurus smallish (= seemed slightly smaller than a K) frame Rossi 971 stainless 4" .357 - 6 shot - which was great. Their 3" (?) 971 models with the odd comp out front also a nice choice -- these if you can find good-used. New era Rossi-Taurus has resurrected the 971 4" but only in blue--but is a nice place to start and modestly priced with the Taurus lifetime warranty and safety system; the stainless is 6" only (model 972).
 
I will second sdj's comment to visit the S&W Shooting Sports Center in Springfield if you are nearby. They have at least 30 of their handguns available for rent there (call for availability)... and, if you buy at the store desk across the aisle from the range desk, they will subtract your rental cost. They just did that for me this evening on buying a 4" S&W 617 revolver. :D
 
First, I believe you are wise in choosing a revolver. I'm going to make a different suggestion.

Guns are tools, and different tools perform different jobs better. Some people use a monkey wrench to hammer nails, and a screwdriver to pry lumber. Yep, they will work, but not as well as the proper tool.

For a carry revolver it's hard to beat a S&W Model 38 or 649. The S&W Model 60 and 340 Centennial are also fantastic. They are light, effective, and easily concealed. Note that they are all J frames. The trade-off is that they take training to learn to use well, and you are down one round.

For a house gun, the 18 inch barreled 12 gauge shotgun is the undisputed champion. I prefer a pump, others disagree. Regardless, it is hard to argue the ineffectiveness of nine .32 caliber pellets in each shot. Load it with 2 and 3/4 inch low recoil 00 Buck, and install a Compstock if you must. Chances are, neither you nor your wife will need the Compstock once you learn to use the gun. No pistol grips.

If you must have a handgun for the house, a 4 inch S&W Model 66 is a good one, as is the Ruger GP100.

See what I'm getting at here? If you want one gun for many jobs, you must compromise. If you want the best gun for different jobs, you must own different guns. Having said that.............

It is my belief that a person's first handgun should be a .22LR target pistol. Why? A gun is only as effective as the person weilding it. A novice shooter must realize that without marksmanship skills, his gun is a worthless club. Magazine capacity does not make up for effective shooting. A gun with a short sight radius and large caliber is notoriously difficult to learn the basics of marksmanship with. .22LR ammo is dirt cheap, meaning it doesn't cost much to shoot. The more you shoot the faster you learn. The low recoil and long sight radius enhance learning. Nobody would put a new driver behind the wheel of an Indy 500 car and say "just push this pedal and turn this wheel." Yet we do the same with guns frequently.

Have no fear though, it won't cost much. Scour around for a used Ruger MKII, 22/45, or Browning Buckmark pistol. Expect to pay around $200. Haggle if you must. Buy it for $200 or less. Spend 6 months or so with your wife learning marksmanship. Get professional training.

During this time, buy a used Mossberg 500, Winchester 1200/1300, or Remington 870. Expect to pay $100-150. Have the barrel cut to 18.5 inches. Learn to use it as well. Get professional training. Now you have your effective house gun.

When you can hit Coke cans reliably at 15 yards with your .22 pistol, consider a 4 inch .38 or .357 revolver. You will be using this gun to transfer your skills over to a larger caliber. Buy a used S&W K frame, and shoot .38spl. Use Jim March's Revolver Checkout to make sure you get a good gun. Pay no more than $250. Looks don't matter. Again, get professional training.

When you can hit that can at 15 yards with your K frame, you are ready for the J frame. Consider the ones I listed above, and once again, get professional training.

Some will say that this is the long way, and totally unnecessary. It may be. However, very few of us are born marksmen. Marksmanship skills are learned. Some guns are better platforms for learning than others. I, myself, began with 9mm and moved into .40S&W before ever owning a .22 pistol. Then I bought my son a Ruger MKII to learn on. I quickly bought one for myself. I learned more from that pistol in 6 months than I learned from a decade of shooting 9mm. My groups went from 6-8 inches to two inches in a couple of weeks. The skills I learned in .22LR transfered directly over to my other guns.

Notice that I suggested professional training at each juncture. This is not a nicety. You cannot train your wife. You do not yet know enough yourself. Good, focused training always saves money. Blasting ammo downrange in a feeble attempt to learn is the waste. It would, in fact be beneficial to schedule different classes. Women tend to learn to shoot very quickly IF thier husband is not around.

Buy your guns used for a fair price, and take care of them. If you do that, you can get your money back (sometimes even making a few bucks) when you decide to sell. Chances are, the only gun I have listed that you would ever consider selling is one of the J frames. Most people who buy a used .22 pistol, a 4 inch K frame or a pump shotgun never let them go.

This takes time. Marksmanship and effective self defense is the goal, not gun ownership. Remember that.
 
I pretty much agree with whats been posted so far. You can quibble about which revolver model and so forth, but that is subject to your personal likes and dislikes.

I want to second Xavierbreath's comments about the 22 to learn marksmanship and gun handling with. There is no substitute for the 22 due to price, lack of recoil, inherent accuracy etc. The key is that you need to develop skills and the best way to accomplish that is with a 22 handgun. I love my Ruger MKII bull barrel (5.5"). I also love to shoot 22 DA revolvers. Take your pick from the "name" brands. If you start out with a higher powered handgun, you could easily NOT develop the skills you need depending on how you handle recoil. Some people start with a higher powered handgun and pretty much bias their whole handgun experience in a negative way.
 
Here's a third recommendation for the Sports Center

I went there a few weeks ago for the first time wanting to shop for a revolver. I had never really used a semi before, but after testing both versions I walked out with a 9mm DA. I'm happy. Being able to test the selection is a big deal. Also,
if you buy they knock the $25 range fee off the price and you get to shoot for free for a month
 
Just take a look at ammunition costs at Midway online for example:
- 100 rounds of CCI MiniMag Copperplated .22LR = $4.09
- 50 Rounds of basic Winchester USA in .38Special = $9.99

...the centerfire ammunition is 4x more! (the difference can be bigger, of course). If you want to practice a lot, it sure is cheaper and more comfortable to do that with .22LR.
 
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