Entry Level/budget Revolvers?

R

redneck

New member
I am mainly a pistol guy for whatever reason. I have a heritage rough rider convertible that is fun to shoot but I never really got hooked. I'm starting to think I would like to get a DA revolver. I did a search and read a lot of threads but figured I would try to get some up to date suggestions.

The kicker is I am leaning towards .22mag. I don't care if it is convertible, I have a rifle in .22wmr and I am a fan of the round. Would like to give it a whirl in a 4" gun or something in that neighborhood. Not really interested in a snub nose. My mom has shown some interest in shooting and I'm thinking this would be something good to start her on. She has shot a .22 buckmark and did well, and tried a PK.380 and did ok but has a lot of difficulty racking the slide on either. I'm thinking a wheel gun might be a better option and the .22mag would expose her to a little more power than a .22 without a lot of recoil, and I wouldn't have to add a new caliber to my ammo buying.

I handled a taurus tracker at a gun show and like the size/feel but didn't get to try the trigger. It was zip tied and the booth was so busy I didn't want to bother the guy when I wasn't ready to buy. Do these typically have a horribly heavy trigger? Can it be improved at all? I don't need competition quality but don't want a super heavy trigger, think ruger LCP as a bare minimum.

Haven't got to handle a charter arms pathfinder, whats the story on them? Are they an improvement over the taurus?

Does anyone else make a 4"-6" .22mag in DA? I'd like to stay under $400

If there is nothing good in that category I will consider a .38 but want to consider all .22wmr possibilities first.
 
S&W makes the gun you want but not at the price you want . On the other hand you mentioned you might consider a 38 special . You should be able to find a very nice used S&W model 10 with a 4" barrel in your price range . Hard to beat a K frame for a double action revolver and 38 isn't much more expensive than 22 Mag, cheaper if you reload .

Mike
 
Mike beat me to it. To me, a Smith and Wesson Model 10 makes a perfect entry level handgun after a 22lr. They can be found in the $250-$350 range fairly often. What other firearms offer the quality and class at that kind of price?
 
with the cost of .22 mag ammo near that of CF ammo, I'd get a used S&W model 10. Everything you need, and nothing you don't!

swMP-1-1.jpg


(original Mid 50's S&W M&P in .38spec. that later became known as the Model 10)

Yes, it was nickled at some point of its life.
 
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My ex wife had a FIE 22 combo snubbie, I would not have wanted to be in front of her in a fight she was a great shot with it.
 
I'm very happy with the trigger on my Taurus (Mod 66, 357). I put Wolff springs in there, but after a while it smoothed to the point where I put the standard springs back in (It's my IDPA and carry gun, don't want it too light).
 
Note - the pre-Model 10 shown above is likely nickel, normally they are blued. The SS version of the Model 10 is the Model 64, highly recommended.

twin64s.jpg
 
Those smiths are pretty good looking even to a pistol guy :cool: I will have to look around and see what I come across. I've gotten the impression that .22mag isn't very well thought of around here. I really like it in a rifle and have several hundred rounds on hand already. Don't have any .38 or .357 and hate to start from scratch with the market where it is but it may be necessary.


No comments on the charter arms pathfinder at all? My LGS had a few in the past but are sold out right now. I've seen them at gun shows too, but they were never on my radar until now so I haven't handled them.
 
Rossi and taurus sell 4" models in the Middle 300"s,have not owned one myself.
I am a fan of the 22mag myself,I think it is an under rated round.
 
S&W K-frame (#10, #14, #15, etc), or a Ruger Security Six. The S&W has a nicer trigger, the Ruger is the same size and built like a tank.
 
I suggest that there may be a bit of a problem when thinking of an "Entry Level" gun, revolver or any type. Guns don't wear out like other "entry level" objects do. If you buy a cheap car for your teenager, for example, it wears out. Then they (or you) buy something better. Same with lots of things like tools, running shoes, whatever. But at the end of a lifetime, that entry level revolver will still be in the same "entry level" condition it was at day one.

For that reason, I suggest allowing the "upgrade" to happen before you buy the thing at all. Buy the Smith instead of the Rossi. At the end of a lifetime you'll have a Smith.

Something like that.


Sgt Lumpy - n0eq
 
Ruger makes the LCR in .22 Magnum now. That might be a good self defense gun for Mom. Six shots with low recoil. Around $400.
 
In the price range you stated if you are looking for new, and are dead set unyielding in the demand for .22 WMR then you are in the price range of a Rossi/Taurus. I have seen several people shooting the .22 mag Tauri at the range, all were more accurate than the owners, none had any problems.

That said if you are not just dead set on .22 mag then a used S&W can be found in that price range if you look around. I bught a .38 Special Mod 67-1 4 inch that was priced at $325 a year ago Christmas. This weekend I picked up a Model 28-2 6 inch (.357 Mag that was police officer's gun, finish wear from the holster, and not many rounds fired out of it.) For that I paid $300.


Here is a pic of them. The Mod 67 is the stanless one.

SmithampWessonRevolvers003_zps0f9a81db.jpg
 
Lumpy
I look at guns with a minimum quality level, there is alot of stuff I would never buy. When I say entry level, I mean I'm looking for a basic solid platform without alot of bells and whistles. I have hand built guns of my own, and customized several others, it doesn't fit my budget or really even interest me to get a custom or collector grade piece. I'm not trying to find the absolute cheapest though either.


It looks like choices are slim in a .22mag. I really do like the round and could see it being a decent option for small game in addition to plinking. I will have to try and rent a 4" .38 or .357. I don't believe I have ever shot one. The last DA revolver I shot was when someone handed me a very hot loaded .357 snubbie at the range. I have my CCW choices all worked out already and would have no use for something like that.
 
The picture of the stainless gun I posted cost me $325 out the door price for the gun. It was lightly used. It is a pre lock model so no worries over the lock. The trigger is butter smooth in double action. Single action is light, and breaks clean. Recoil is a non factor the gun is solid stainless steel. It has enough weight and heft to soak up any .38 spcl recoil without being uncomfortable.

They can be found for $400 give or take a small bit.
 
not sure if they still have them, but i bought a police trade-in smith and wesson model 10 4 inch .38 special from buds gun shop. not a collector piece by any means, but it is an excellent shooter. recoil isnt bad and its deadly accurate
 
I bought a 4" Charter Pathfinder a couple of years ago. Mine is the combo, with both 22lr and 22mag cylinders. It shoots just fine. I will say that the trigger has some stacking in it, more than any of my other revolvers. I can't compare it to the Taurus which I've never handled, except to say that charter's customer service is miles ahead of Taurus at the moment.
I would feel pretty comfortable recommending a Charter 22 mag, especially if you can handle it to test the trigger first. They are relatively inexpensive, made right here where we live, and the lifetime warranty means something to the manufacturer.
 
Unless one plans on never shooting the thing, the difference in price between "cheap guns" and "expensive guns" is nil. Just shooting 1000 rounds is going to cost maybe 300 absolute minimum, maybe 1000 or more max. That's for non .22 ammo. And that's not trying to figure in current "buy scare" prices or what they might be like in the future. At that price, saving 200-300 dollars buying a Rossi or something instead of a Smith/Ruger or whatever, is a lot less of a difference.

But, of course, you should ALWAYS buy what makes you feel comfortable, regardless of initial price. The life of a gun is LONG. The difference in initial cost amortizes quickly.


Sgt Lumpy - n0eq
 
I would agree that the idea of an entry level revolver is a fallacy. You will spend more money on ammo than the gun.
If you decide you don't like what you buy, and from what you are describing, that is a real possibility, then a brand name revolver from Ruger or S&W will hold more of its resale value, and thus be cheaper.
 
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