Good, cheap "tacklebox" revos

M

MatthewVanitas

New member
I'm hoping to do some gunshow/pawnshop hunting in the coming months, and thinking I might want to pick up a cheap revo. Something I can knock around and not worry about.

I'm thinking in either .22 LR or in .32 S&W

I'm hoping to pay a C-note or less, and I have seen H&R and Iver Johnson revos sell around there, as well as no-name pieces.

Am I right in assuming that H&R made a decent, if budget, handgun? How about IJ? Any good advice on avoiding finger-amputating pot-metal? Any good website w/ pointers on how to check headspace and timing (or whatever it is on a revo) before purchase?

I'm under the impression that the H&R 999 is a nice piece, so I'm particularly hoping for one of those. And some day I will have enough roll in my billfold to buy both a stainless Bearcat and .32 Vaquerito. But for now I'm looking for beaters.

-MV
 
That's a tough one: one can usually find better quality cheap autos than cheap revolvers. About the least expensive revo I'd be willing to buy would be a used Single-Six or ex-police revo . . . you might be able to find an ugly but serviceable one for $150.

Avoid Rohm/RG revos. I don't remember specifics anymore, but I recall that some H&R models were better than others. I recall the 999 being fine. Condition, condition, condition might be a guide for you. I confess that I would be surprised if you were to find a decent condition 999 for under a bill.

Or just save for an extra month to get a better gun. It's harder, but it would be worth it. If you can stand the wait, this is what I would recommend.
 
Well I've heard mixed reviews of the older Iver Johnson's, I like em when you can fing one in good condition,
other than that just keep your eye open, I picked up a Colt pocket positive 32 S&W, for $100 bucks at a show that has not much finish left, but is perfect mechanically, a nice find IMHO

Just keep an eye open, for your purposes, you shouldn't have a whole lot of trouble finding a beater in good condition, look for the one without any finish, but still solid.
 
The older High Standard Sentinels were good DA .22 revolvers. There were some newer models with lugged barrels and satin nickel finishes that didn't uphold the reputation for reliability. Look for a blued one with a skinny barrel.
 
$100 just doesn't buy much these days. There is a much abused EAA single-six copy at a local shop, not sure about quality on those. It is $79 so there are some guns at that price. You might find a Taurus or Berreta mouse gun in that range. Taurus 94 would fit the bill if it was well used might find it for $129 or so...
 
Harrington & Richardson revolvers are just fine and very well suited for what you want. Not fancy, cheap and reliable. Just remember that you will be getting a low end gun that is not overly accurate and not equipped with a S&W action. A 999 in your price range as has been noted is going to be iffy.
 
Heritage Manufacturing makes inexpensive Single Action .22 revolvers. I see'em at gunshows NIB for around $100 and they come with a .22 Mag cylinder. I don't have one but they come up as a topic occasionally on this site. Search "Heritage" to see what's been posted in the past. In general they're thought to be acceptable for the price. They even have a new faux stainless steel model with a silver "... polymer coating." -- Kernel
 
How about-

a 3" barrel Charter Arms .22LR caliber "Pathfinder"; such
as the one pictured in the above post by 9X19, entitled
"Another 3" small frame revo!" I had truly forgotten about
these, until I saw it in the post. Should make for a great
"tacklebox" gun? And it shouldn't be too expensive either.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
My tackle box gun is a old S&W 36 .38 I found for $100 out the door. The finish was gone and it had a few rust spots but mechanically excellent. I spent $75 and got it reblued. If you keep looking you might stumble onto a deal.
 
You're gonna have to shop real hard for any decent gun for a C-note. Buy the time you find one, maybe you'll have saved another 50-75 scoots that'll make a fair number of more commonly availble decent guns available. The aforementioned police trade S&W or Colt, perhaps an H&R. I'd stay away from really old and/or cheap Spanish or Brazilian guns. Taurus and Rossi have come a long way, but they had a long way to go, as well. If you're not just sold out on a revo, a Makarov can usually be scrounged in the $150 range as well. Not what I usually think of as a snake-getter or pine-cone-chaser, but 'twill serve.

G'luck.
 
How about a c. WWII .38 special made in Spain but looking like SW? I am an H&R Sportsman collector, so I wouldn't want to see one knocking around in a tackle box. Plus they are pretty big--six inch barrel. How about a Rossi 38 or 357 snubby, around $250 new in stainless? I don't know what a used one would go for. If you can go with a .22, how about a Phoenix HP22 for $100? Add thirty bucks for a five inch barrel and an extra mag. By the way, this is a very fun shoot.

Drakejake
 
It's a firearm used for protection against the dreaded Tackle Box cartel located in Bingham Maine. Home of the late Gadabout Gaddis, the dreaded ''Flying Fisherman''. Fish feared his very shadow.

Also used as a beater gun in a toolbox, tacklebox etc. Specifically a handgun that the owner does not expect to stay pretty for very long. A ''beater''.
 
Mattd: Usually for fishing applications, the gun stays in the tackle box or pocket of hip-waders and is used for snake control.

Kharn
 
You might find an old charter arms 38 or 44 bulldog in the 150 range if you look for awhile. I've seen lots of Ruger MK I's II's in the $150 range also, these would be a better buy for you. You might also want to look at the Pheonix pocket 22's these are relatively cheap and the one my father bought out of mere curiosity is actually reliable and quite accurate. Taurus PT-22's are better quality still and might be found used for around $100.
 
One of my favorite revolvers is an H&R model 504

the civilian version of their "Lady Ultra". Its a 3" heavy barrel adj sight 5 shot 32 magnum(in which I shoot mostly 32 S&W longs). Its an ugly little sucker(so ugle its cool) with its "boxy look, but its a neat gun. total coast was $79 (on sale 20% off) for a LIB gun. Its a bit heavy for a snubbie but I like it. It will never leave me. currently its "One" of my house guns. I find the 85 frain magnum loads to be quite accurate and powerful enough for govt work. I think Ill keep it<VBG>. This is not my first H&R revolver I also have a 999 and like it as well. For your purposes any of the recent production H&R revolvers will represent a solid value. You will find most of them avaiable in 22LR, these can be either swing out cylinder of fixed cylinder revolvers{you have to remove the base-pin to unload). There are some 32 and even 38's(38 S&W NOT 38 special) out there. These are modern made(from 1950's to I think the 80's these were in production) topbreaks and quite serviceable. there are also sone 32 solid and swing out revolvers out there as well - again I am talking modern made not 100 year old antiques - althrough these are also avaiable I would not recommend one of these except for plinking.
H&R made a lot of simple servceable revolvers. Decent quality accurate enough and dependable. actions were/are a bit still (and god forbid you ever have to take one apart - what a nightmare!). They work and they work well for their intended use. solid dependable working guns. Hopefully in the next couple of years a friend of mine(Doc O'Meara) will be able to get his book on the H&Rs published. I at least can't wait for it to be avaiable.
 
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