I just cannot buy a revolver.

Buy new?

Buy from someone with a great rating on gunbroker?

Buy from LGS?

You've got options. Too bad you got burned at the gun show.

That's why I don't buy revolvers. Just too many moving p...nevermind. you'll get more detailed advice here and will find a quality revolver soon enough.

Watch your lane.
 
It wasn't the fact that it was a revolver that got you, it was the unscrupulous guy that sold it to you. He could have just as easily sold you a bad auto.

Just curious why you didn't get the Ruger repaired? It cost you money either way.

Anyway, if you really want a .357, hold out a buy a nice used S&W 686 or a Ruger GP100. Buy them from a LGS that is reputable. You might pay a bit more but you'll have piece of mind.
 
Buy new.

Used guns are no different from used cars and the salesmen have similar traits as well "in some cases".

This gun was only shot by a little old lady on Sundays.

sorry you got ripped.
 
A used gun with a zip tie??? To me that is a sign to run away. New gun with a tie is not unusual to prevent cylinder marks, but I still will not buy the gun until the dealer at the show or business takes the tie off so the gun can be examined.

I also have a couple of K-frame Smiths that have seen a diet of magnums with no problems. I believe the problems people talk about are from abuse not from honest use.
 
Most gun shows require that all guns be tied. There have been cases where antis have tried to slip a live round into a gun and then leave, hoping someone will be killed and the incident used to support a ban on gun shows.

Jim
 
Most gun shows require that all guns be tied. There have been cases where antis have tried to slip a live round into a gun and then leave, hoping someone will be killed and the incident used to support a ban on gun shows.
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I've been to plenty of gun shows that use tie wraps to "lock" up the gun. But I have never been to a show where you couldn't clip it off to check out the gun. (Unless it was a NIB, super special, never fired, collector item - then it is the owner who won't remove it).

To the OP

How could you do the revolver check if the cylinder was wire-tied down? 95% of the tests are on timing and fit of the cylinder.

Seems to me that you are "afraid" of revolvers - you should be afraid of being taken advantage of. You are either an uninformed buyer or unable and unwilling to take responsibility for the purchase.

So you got stung then you sold it at a loss? Like was said above, no other options occurred to you to salvage the deal?

I want a .357 revolver so bad I can taste it. What do I do?
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Give up - walk away...

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freebird72
Senior Member

Join Date: March 25, 2010
Posts: 135

Revised, so people do not think I am crazy.lol
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I'd give anything to see the original post.
 
If you blundered the check-out, and now you are afraid, maybe you should not be there buying used guns. When I hear Interstate drivers over the CB say they are tired and sleepy I don't hear anyone say, 'Keep on going, just drive faster'.
 
I guess I should answer some questions. First, the reason I did not keep the broken Ruger is because I could not trust it anymore.

Another question being asked is how did I do the checkout if the gun was locked up? Well I do not do all the checkouts(so maybe that means I didn't do it all in some people's eyes). I did the cylinder lock test, and I dry fired it. I then had the guy cut the tie off so I could look at the cylinder and barrel. He then put another tie on.

I did not buy from a gun vender, I bought from an individual in the show. I had arrived at the show 30mins before it opened and talked the the guy the whole time. He seemed honest and I took his word that it was a good gun. However, comes to find out after talking to the a gun store owner the gun had also been re-blued. So I can only assume I bought the guys project gun.

Listen, I am not trying to make a big deal out of this, and I never meant for my original post to come off that way. I simply do not have enough experience with revolvers to know what I am doing. I just do not have enough money to spend on a sub par revolver.

I guess, I just wanted a confidence booster from people who knew revolvers so I would not be afraid to buy a gun I like.

I do not know what else to say. Thanks for you time.
 
I'm looking at .357s now. I had a Rugar GP100 before. Was a great solid gun. Swapped it for a S&W 29 .44 mag silhouette years ago. I have several revolvers, but not a 357.

At the gun range I use there are always a few dozen guns on consignment. Normally you can put 2 or 3 rounds through a used gun before you decide to buy it.

Are there any gun ranges around your area that do consignment sales?
 
...I would have kept the Ruger and contacted them to see about fixing it. But since it's gone, no sense worrying about what could have been. Security 6 is a very sturdy gun. Must of had some bad abuse.
 
A friend of mine bought a .357 EAA Windicator from Gander Mountain on sale for 269. To heavy for a carry gun, but shot real good. Felt solid.
 
sorry to hear about that freebird72, security sixs are nice guns, do your self a favor and don't be afraid to buy another one, kinda of off topic but ruger will still fix security sixs(for free/+ s&h)?, and if so anyone have any experience with ruger honoring fixing a security six?
 
Sounds like you should just buy a new revolver. Ruger sells GP100s, and Smith and Wesson sells 686s new. Both will shoot .357s all day long.

Pay once, cry once.
 
...anyone have any experience with ruger honoring fixing a security six?...
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Not a security six, but a second-hand Super Blackhawk. Lost the screw from the assembly that holds the cylinder rod in place. They would not send a screw, told me it had to be returned to the factory for fitting. Sent it in, they replaced it, the cylinder rod and all the screws (it was the pre-pin era) in it with new nylon lock screws. Returned it with invoice marked, "no charge". That is why I do not understand why the O.P. sold the gun; unless the frame or barrel was trashed, I am sure Ruger would have replaced what ever small part had caused the problem. As I used to tell my son, "The first thing to do is, DO NOT PANIC!"
 
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On my way home I decided to stop by my LGS I go to often to make sure I did not buy a lemon.

Well everyone in there said the gun looked perfect, "what a great buy" everyone said; that was, until the owner cut the zip tie off. Soon after I learned the fellow who sold me the gun had used the zip tie to hold the cylinder in such a way to hide the fact that it would turn by hand. I was left with a broken gun and had to sell it a couple weeks latter for a loss.
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Another question being asked is how did I do the checkout if the gun was locked up? Well I do not do all the checkouts(so maybe that means I didn't do it all in some people's eyes). I did the cylinder lock test, and I dry fired it. I then had the guy cut the tie off so I could look at the cylinder and barrel. He then put another tie on.
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I'd have to agree with jglsprings. How do you did you do any lockup tests, let alone dry fire, with the tie still on? :confused:
 
The tie was not in the cylinder(aka cylinder chamber), but around the cylinder. So the cylinder would still move and could be fired, but you could not open up the cylinder because the tie prevented this.
 
You were defrauded-plain and simple

Freebird72,

Sorry to hear of your losses. Loss of money, loss of confidence, loss of trust in your fellow man.

The fact is that there are criminals out there who will take advantage of you. Make no mistake, the guy who sold you the gun is a criminal, in spirit if not in law.

A friend of mine had a problem with his engine. One shop tried to sell him $2,000 (estimated) repairs. It was an easily diagnosed other problem. $60 at another shop fixed it four months ago and it still runs fine.

Use your judgement in following this paragraph. Did you pay by check, by any chance? Get the guy's name and notify the administrators of the next gun show in the area. DO NOT embellish the story and DO NOT spread the story widely. Spreading the guy's name is close to slander/libel and could get you into bigger losses, so use your judgement. But it might make you feel better, and that's worth something.

If you buy from a private individual it is best to train yourself beforehand to do a full function check .
Start here:
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57816
Print it out and take it with you if you don't have it memorized before your next purchase. If the owner won't let you do it, walk away. You might notify the Gun Show Administrators that there is an exhibitor or private individual they might want to observe. The people putting on the show have a vested interest in the practices of people in their venue or even in their parking lot. Saying that "A guy is selling a gun over there who won't let me do a function check." is not likely to get you into any legal trouble at all.

The "Sixes" line of Rugers (Speed Six, Service Six and Security Six) are highly respected revolvers. If this is your first, though, it might be better to get a good, new revolver or one from a reputable gun store with a warranty policy (either written or that they have a track record of honoring and a reputation to uphold).

I will leave you with two aphorisms and one advice.

Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement.

If we could sell our life's lessons for what they cost us, we would all be rich.

Don't dwell on this lesson or it will drag you down and degrade the rest of your life. Use it to inform and to improve your future.

Good luck.

Lost Sheep
 
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the guy posted above is right it couldve just as easily have been an automatic or ammunition, or anything for that matter. happens all the time with all nature of items, and the used market reguarding anything is the place where most of it happens. Used is great sometimes, better prices mostly, sometimes its the way to go but those better prices and hard to find items come with the added risk that goes with it. Clothes, TVs, cars it doesnt matter. If youre not a revolver guy thats cool too, some just arent. If you change your mind again and give it another try perhaps buy new from a dealer or certified used from a shop that way u got problems theyll handle it, and go for a reputable brand on top of it. pay that extra money its worth it.
 
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