.38 Special Revolver

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Prepper

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Hey Guys,

I have been looking around and I keep seeing that people are saying oh well .38 specials are everywhere and they are 200-250 dollars and I am having trouble finding any online. So I was wondering if anyone could give me a link to a .38 special revolver new or used.

Thanks,
Prep
 
I dont think I would trust my life to a $200. revolver. Unless its hot, then you dont want it.
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Depends. I paid about that much for a M-64 Smith, (used of course), modified it by putting florescent orange paint on the front sight and shot the crap out of it without any problems what so ever.

It turned out being my ICORE revolver. Easy to shoot, well balanced, accurate and did I say reliable.

Hard to go wrong with a good used Smith and Wesson Revolver.
 
I haven't seen any around in the 200 to 250 range. Last I bought was a model 15, about 85%, 365.00. It's really a good gun.
 
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FWIW, when shopping for a used revolver, "price' is no indicator or either quality or reliability - each offering should be judged on it's own merits (of lack thereof).

Here are the "used" .38 Special revolvers (for sale) sections of some websites:

http://www.gunsinternational.com/-38-Special-Revolvers.cfm?cat_id=232

http://www.gunbroker.com/Revolvers/BI.aspx?Keywords=.38+special+revolver

http://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.htm?T=38+special

http://www.gunauction.com/shop/items.aspx

GI is a "for sale" website, the others are auction sites, but some auction items may have a "buy it now" (BIN) price posted - which allows a buyer to bypass the auction process.

Most of the website's have a listing of FFL's willing to transfer the gun to the buyer, nation-wide.

Good Luck.


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A few years ago, it was possible to find good deals on used S&W revovlers in the $200 to $250 range.
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A few years ago...
Used Winchester/Marlin .30-30s were $200 guns

A few years ago...
.22 LR was less than $10 a brick, and it was EVERYWHERE!

A few years ago...
gasoline was under $1 a gallon...

Anybody who sells a decent revolver today for $200- 250 is either desperate, or has no idea what it is worth in today's market.
 
"I keep seeing that people are saying oh well .38 specials are everywhere and they are 200-250 dollars"

Those are generally quotes from people who are living in the past, or in rare pockets of sublime bliss where outside news about the ENORMOUS jump in demand for firearms hasn't filtered in yet.

Sure, you can get lucky and find a gun for a really good, pre Psycotic Squirrel Rodeo price, but that's luck.

As for the EAA Windicator, my experience with them is no thanks.
 
I paid $500. for a 98% S&W model 67 recently and was happy at that price.

Also recently paid $600. for a 95% Colt Officers model Target, which had $ 200. Patrick Grashorn elk antlers grips on it.

Paid $400. for a Colt Detective Special. Cheap price because used in a suicide.

The last good deal on a Smith was 10 years ago, model 10, 6 inch tapered barrel, $250.

A good quality revolver will cost you some, but in .38 it will last forever.
 
Biggest gun store in central Ohio has two Smith & Wesson Model 10's, each is tagged $250, they are there right now. Both are 4", both have -HEAVY- exterior use and loss of finish. One is a non-pinned heavy barrel, the other has the tapered barrel and it is pinned.

I still see various Model 10s here and there on occasion for under $300 and you can bet that if some govt agency ends up clearing a large lot of them out in one fell swoop to a retailer, you'll find a large supply of them priced under $300 for sale. Obviously, you've got to be fortunate to live somewhere near a retailer that gets such a bulk purchase, I certainly have.

The days of the sub-$300 Model 10 are not yet behind us forever.
A few years ago...
Used Winchester/Marlin .30-30s were $200 guns

A few years ago...
.22 LR was less than $10 a brick, and it was EVERYWHERE!

A few years ago...
gasoline was under $1 a gallon...
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I suppose we'd have to argue about one's definition of "a few years ago..."

I was paying $9.99 for a brick of rimfire in the late 1980s, and that was -ONLY- when they ran a sale. Normal price in '88/'89 where I grew up was $15-$17 per brick.

And gasoline under a dollar a gallon?! Same period of time, near as I can recall. Bro -- that's like a quarter century ago. If we consider how long scientists claim the Earth has existed... then yeah, 25 years is "a few years ago..." But c'mon.
 
Sevens, whats the name of the store that has the 10's for 250. I missed out when bud's had them and been wanting a project gun if they have the heavy barrel. Most of the guns I work on that people paid under $300. for i would be scared to shoot. I'm sure there are bargins out there but they are few and far between.
 
Buckeye Outdoors in Hebron, of the "Vance Outdoors" umbrella. Middle case of the wall, left side of the case, top shelf.

There's six million of these produced, give or take. The deals -- they are out there. Not as often, perhaps, but you've got as good a chance on a very good deal on a Smith & Wesson Model 10 as... well, any handgun in the history of man, IMO.
 
I bought a S&W model 36 snub for $275.00 from my lgs a couple of years ago before the madness, now everything is $500.00 or more, it's sad.
 
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You can't beat a .38 Special for a great all'round revolver! It can defend you feed you. and give hours of plinking fun, BUT today you are going to pay for that! Gone is the $200 special spoken of here, it's more like about $400 for a nice one!
Still a good deal. Still the same preformance and likely even better due to ammunition advances.
Handloading adds even a larger dimension to the puzzle and you can taylor loads to your wants and needs. Todays Personal defense .38Special ammo approaches modern +P levels! You can use these powerfull loads in your regular .38 without damage! They'll put the bad guys down!
My GPrevolver is a .New Model .357 Ruger Vaquero. It's capable of a vast array of .357Magnum and .38Special ammo, making the revo;ver just as versitile as my .22 Single Six is! With a LOT more POWER! The Vaquero is my #1 choice of a Trail companion. Stoked with modern +P ammo both noise and recoil are more manageable than full Magnum loads and preformance is right up there!
Many shooters choose DA .357Mag revolvers and use them similarly. saving the big Magnums for the most serious jobs.
Personally, I shoot a HB Model 10 and carry a No-dash Nickled Chief for everyday carry. Stoked with Horniday H/P ammo it's up to the power levels needed for anti-personel chores! Recoil and muzzle blast are suprisingly low considering the super preformance of this ammo!
Yes the .38Speial is a viable purchase on todays market and is a good choice for all around service!
Oftimes private owners part with good specimins at low prices. Be paitent and shop well, you won't be dissapointed!
JMHO,
ZVP
 
Hi,

There are some new revolvers that can be had in the $200-$300 range, but they are kind of a hit-or-miss type deal.

Probably the one I see that gets decent reviews for that price bracket are the Rock Island Armory .38 special revolvers. From the reviews I have read, they are said to be functional at least. No where as smooth or refined as a Smith & Wesson or a Ruger, for example, but usable none-the-less. They have two models, The 4" barrel M200 and the 2" barrel M206.

M200
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...00+.38+Special+Four+Inch+Barrel+Blue+Finish+S
http://www.gunsamerica.com/96248671...AY_AVAILABLE_CALL_573_364_0333_FOR_DETAIL.htm

M206
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...6/products_id/411541849/API+M206+38SPL+2+BL+6
http://www.gunsamerica.com/909291983/Rock_Island_Armory_38_special_revolver_model_206_2_bbl.htm

The used market is wide open. That said, I have never seen these mythical deals people post about any where in my area.
 
I am not up on current prices but if I found an S&W M&P/Model 10 in good shape for $200-250 I wouldn't hesitate to rely on it. I'd consider it a bargain.
By way of price comparison:
Browning HP NIB 1967-$100
Colt Trooper .357 used 1972-$110
S&W M-28 6" used 1981-$140
S&W M-27 4" Nickel-with an action job-used 1985- $250
 
I am not up on current prices but if I found an S&W M&P/Model 10 in good shape for $200-250 I wouldn't hesitate to rely on it. I'd consider it a bargain.
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Absolutely, I'd jump on that. It's been several years since I found a nice K-frame for $200.00. In 2011 I found a clean used Ruger Security Six for $225.00 and I jumped on it.

The last .38 Special I bought was the Airweight I carry in my pocket. I bought it in January 2012 and because I'm a repeat customer, the counter guy gave me a deal. I told him I wouldn't talk about it, but I paid south of $350.00 for it and considered it a steal.

Right now, in this market, a good serviceable K-frame Smith at $200.00 would be a screaming deal.
 
M-64 Smith for $200???

Wish that was true.

But no, expect to find a GOOD revolver, used, say a M-64 Smith 2 inch or Ruger Speed Six in .38spl for at least $400.

That would be my pick.

Here are some examples...

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A 2 inch 64 is at the bottom (hammer spur taken off and Secret Service stocks added and a red insert in the front sight.)

It was my second carry gun right after the 640 Centennial .38 you also see in the photo with a red insert front sight I had added.

They are well worth $400 and I know were one is for sale for $499 right now.

Deaf
 
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