Basics with Revolvers

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Pepe308

Inactive
Hello

Newbie here and freshly registered. I've been a semi-auto shooter for quite awhile but I wanted to venture out to the revolver world. Problem is, I don't have any knowledge with revolvers let alone where to start! A Taurus .38 snubbie caught my attention, seems like a good carry and defense revolver for the money (any comments?). Anyone here willing to educate me with the basics including the Frames (L,J,N, etc. how would I know which is which and what's their significance?) I know a bit with +P ammo. but I don't use it with my semi-autos. Any replies would be greatly appreciated... thank you. :o
 
Welcome to TFL.
The order is J-L-N frames, like small-large-x-large. The frame gets bigger as the caliber of the bullits gets bigger. If you shoot semi,s try to find a caliber wheelgun the same as your semi,s or go with the old ever so popular 38. I see you don,t live right around the corner from Smith or Ruger so I would look into availibility of ammo.
 
Welcome Pepe. It depends what's available in your part of the World. .38 is a good and handy calibre. I like Smith & Wesson myself but some of the others are OK. If you can find a 4 inch barrel that would be good.
If you could give us an idea of what you can get it would be helpful.
 
upgrading

If the short Tarus is what you want get it... but be warned that most folks in the revolver range will elect to purchase a 357mag.... reason being you can still shoot the gamet of 38's plus 357's. My opinion is look more toward a 4" barrel, you can still carry, at least in the winter time and have a lot more control at the range.
 
Another suggestion. If your semi's are in 9mm and you have an abundance of ammo waiting to be shot, consider one of Taurus' 9mm revolvers. I like mine a good bit. And since I buy 9mm ammo 1000 rounds at a time, I never have to worry with finding something to shoot.

Boarhunter
 
Taurus good gun

The taurus snub is a good gun. You probably won't shoot more than 38+p in a snub anyway, so whatever you can get a deal on is good. Do get stainless. Revolvers are dirty little beasts with all that gap blast, and it's much easier to clean. Also doesn't rust. ;)
 
I own Taurus 651 in .357mag with the 2in. barrel and i am very pleased with it.I usually dont shoot much more than .38 +p, but i shoot .357 on occasion to wake everyone at the range up, that is until someones mountain gun goes off, man the 629 is nice!
 
My personal answer would be a .357 with a 4-6" barrel and adjustable sights so you can adjust the revolver to you and not the other way around.
If you do not reload then a .22 with adjustable sights, find the brand of ammunition your gun likes.
 
The J, L, and N frame are the small, medium, and large frame sizes, but this only applies to S&W.
Snubbies are going to be a bit more difficult to shoot accurately than a longer barrel model so be prepared for that is you don't shoot compact semi-autos. The newer super light weight models are even harder to shoot. Another thing to lookout for is the stocks/grips. Some models have concealment stocks/grips that don't fit all hands and if they are too small for you then the shooting will then be even more harder. Don't hesitate to change out the stocks/grips.
 
Thanks for replying guys, I now have a baseline to start with...

To Shoots awe lots: Well, its not that hard to understand Frames after all like I thought before, heheh. I usually shoot .45 ACP. Most of the replies encourages me to a .357mag like two birds in one stone (they say and I’ve read in other threads I can chamber a .38 in a .357 wheel gun).

To Blue Heeler: I usually find 2” Taurus in .38 +P rated here (well I think theirs was always +P rated), Smith and Wesson also in 2” (don’t know their models) but I’ll inquire more about it, maybe gun stores don’t display all of them yet. By the way, I’ve seen a Taurus in .357mag with a ported barrel, just don’t know how long the barrel was.

To blume357: I’ll take note of that. I’ve already seen a .357 model of Taurus just not sure if it’s a 4” I’ll check it out here. By the way, what do you mean by control at the range in winter? (sorry, we don’t have winter here in the Philippines).

To Boarhunter: I shoot the .45 ACP, not that I don’t like the 9mm but my uncle started me on a .45 since he's more familiar with it (he served in the army). Just took the advantage of asking ammos from him than buying in a gun store, heheh.

To Jkwas: Yup, I agree with the stainless thing and you’re right, I never shot a +P on my autos never entered my mind even on revolvers. A hollowpoint will do just fine with me. Aren’t the carbon steels tougher than the stainless steel ones though I seem to find more revolvers in stainless steel nowadays?

To Fullfog: Hahaha, I could imagine that! Nice gun, I think that model was the one I saw at a gunstore and at the last gunshow here. Is that ported? Hey, maybe you know a Taurus model .357 in 4?” Some of the replies here encourages me on a 4” or 6” but I think I’ll settle with a 4”

To SIGSHR: Yup, noted. You guys are quite persuasive. I’ll start looking for it but probably load .38 slugs for longer gun life span.

To Majic: I noticed that too. That was the same problem with semi-auto compacts, less weight to help counter balance the recoil, hence accuracy is somewhat compromise if I’m shooting well off 25 yrds. With regards to barrels, a 2” on a .38 would be fine with me, but I’ll look for longer ones if I’ll purchase a .357mag. I need not worry much of the grips though, I don’t have goliath-size hands but not that ladylike tenderness either. Let’s just say I have a hard time with hi-caps of .45 semi-autos.
 
Pepe, i dont think you can go wrong with any of the suggestions in the above posts. The Taurus Model 65 and 66 are fine 4" .357 revolvers, you would just have to decide if you wanted 6 or 7 shots.I have not seen any reviews on this one, but the Taurus Triad-627 wil shoot 9mm,38 special, 38 super(if i am not mistaken)and .357.Might not be a bad idea if you have some 9mm autos,but i have not tried this gun so i cannot comment on its performance.Now get on with the fun part....buying something! :D


Man do i sound like a Taurus rep or what!Just putting this out there, my next purchase will either be a S&W M66 or 629.
 
Not intending to confuse the situation, but if you already shoot .45 acp and ammo is readily available, consider a revolver in that caliber. Both the Smith & Wesson scandium 325 and the Smith & Wesson stainless 625 are superb firearms. Used with moon clips, they are quick to load and great fun to shoot. They are N-frame guns, which mean they are built on Smith's large (not largest) frame, and are a bit more cumbersome to carry concealed (though the scandium version weighs only 24 ozs). Taurus too has .45 acp revolvers, though I am not familiar with their guns in that caliber. My guess is that they are fine guns.

Food for thought.

Boarhunter
 
Taurus

To fullfog: Thanks, I've checked out Taurususa.com, like the 65 but will also consider boarhunter's suggestions on a .45 cal. revolver, just need to research on the availability of the stocks here in the Philippines. I've already called some gun stores and said they don't have stocks of the Tracker model 627 (which caught my attention first while browsing their list of .357 revolvers), also most of what they have are 2" .357s, one of them have a 6" though but I see that's way too long for me. They say "patience is a virtue" don't worry, I'm saving all my enthusiasm to blast it all the way at the range once I get all the infos I needed. I still have to search on the models after I read your replies. Just being cautious not to miss a thing on my first revolver.
 
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.45 revolver

To Boarhunter: I'll try to search on that. I've already asked/called some gun stores about Taurus models and I seem to have difficulties finding the ones I like, hopefully, I don't end up the same way if I would inquire about what you suggest. Wish me luck, thanks.
 
Out of curiosity, Pepe, how burdensome are the gun laws in the Philippines (i.e., guns difficult to purchase/own; concealed carry permitted; limitation on number/type of handguns; etc.?)?

Here in Alabama (and in most of the Southern States), the laws are just about as good as it gets.

Boarhunter
 
Gun Laws

To Boarhunter: Hmmm... well, they're not that quite that strict (at least for me). Basic requirements are gun club membership for hi-powered handguns/shotguns and a gun safety seminar. Permit to carry is our counterpart for your concealed carry permits. Its not difficult to own a gun as long you have the money to buy them (guns are quite expensive here especially the imported best guns not to mention the difficulty to find some imported models!) don't have any pending criminal/civil offense cases and you're proven to be sane enough to use/own one.
 
Thanks for the information.

Sometimes we get spoiled here in the Southern States of the USA. Guns are readily available with great selection at fair prices and concealed carry permits are easily obtained (assuming no felony or domestic violence convictions). It really is a good place to live in these times.

Boarhunter
 
Shoot Awe Lot

You forgot the X-Frame ( Insanely Large). SW produces this in a 4" model for the ultimate in "C & C" and protection :D :D :D
 
Oy, Pepe, nasa Makati ako ("Hey, Pepe, I live in Makati").

I - like most Filipino shooters - used to own a .45ACP 1911A1 (and a 9mm. as secondary). As I got older, I shifted into a revolver, and then a shotgun (easier on the eyeballs.)

At present I have a Smith&Wesson 686Plus 7-shooter, 4-inch barrel. Good for home defense (with +P .38s), and range shooting (cheap range ammo, .38 or .357 reloads), and serious outdoor confrontations (.357 full-power.)

The Tauruses are a lot cheaper, and are good enough for most purposes. If you even get sick and tired of recoil spring problems, magazine problems etc., or having to field-strip your 1911 after each shooting session, go revolver.

But when the revolution comes, the shotgun will be better. Reloading the revolver is relatively slow.
 
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