Revolver newbie with a question

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Viper99

New member
Hello all,
I been wanting to buy my first revolver for a while and my lgs has a used but unfired S&W 19 4 that its still wrap on the wax paper and box. Not a scratch on it. Blue for $650 + tax.

Now my question is, is that a better option than a new Ruger SP101 for $599 + tax?

Regards to all
 
IMHO yes, the 19 will have a better trigger both DA and SA. Also a K frame (for me anyway) is a better sized gun than the SP. You may want to look at a S&W 686 as well.
 
I never really "got" the SP101 thing, while the M19 is one of S&W's iconic revolvers, and for good reason. If it were me, I'd get the M19, and plan on shooting mostly .38spls through it.
 
I have a 4" bbl. 19-4... Great classic.

I used to have an SP101 but traded it 'cause I never warmed up to the long trigger pull.

There's a substantial difference in size... 5 vs 6... So, if CC is a strong part of the equation, I'd probably opt for the SP101 'cause it's easier and more comfortable to CC.

But, otherwise - for range/home defense, I'd snatch up that LNIB 19 quick before someone else does.
 
I own a SP101 and think it is a fine revolver. It is rugged, just the right amount of weight to soak up recoil, accurate and conceals excellently. to me, it is a perfect size and weight for a .357 5-shot revolver.

That said, the S&W M19 snub is a very nice revolver (I'm assuming the one you're looking at is a snub?). You'll lose some conceal-ability due to the overall size, but you are gaining an extra round, adjustable rear sights and it will most certainly hold better resale value (if you care about that).

You are comparing two fine revolvers and which ever one you choose, you will end up with a great gun.

I will say though, if there was an unfired M19 sitting next to the SP101 in the display case, the day I purchased, I probably would have been talking about how great my M19 was today, lol. It would be hard to pass up a gun like that.. especially since SP101's can be found in abundance in my area.
 
I will say though, if there was an unfired M19 sitting next to the SP101 in the display case, the day I purchased, I probably would have been talking about how great my M19 was today, lol. It would be hard to pass up a gun like that..
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Same for me.
 
Hello all,
I was waiting to find a nice S&W 686 but in reality I don't plan on carrying it and it will be mostly for the range. I became interested in finding out about the model 19 because it really looked good and the condition that it is in. 686 snubs don't come in often to my lgs and when they do, they go fast.

How does the 686 compare to the model 19 aside from the size?

BTW, is $650 a good price on the model 19 or should I pass?
 
is $650 a good price on the model 19 or should I pass?
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If it's really LNIB, $650 is a good price. The 19 is a historic American lawman's sidearm. Thousands of LEOs across the country carried them in the days before autos became more accepted. They were prolific among lawmen then and appreciated for their solid reliability. Their LE role was kind of comparable the role the Glock 19 came to fill later.

Probably every connoisseur of handguns should have one.

Model 19 on youtube:

http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&fr=slv1-yie10&p=youtube s&w model 19&type=
 
Hello all,
I been wanting to buy my first revolver for a while and my lgs has a used but unfired S&W 19 4 that its still wrap on the wax paper and box. Not a scratch on it. Blue for $650 + tax.
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BUY IT NOW!!

...if it is in the condition you stated. The Model 19 is considered THE 357 Magnum revolver to own.
 
Pretty much agree with all of the above comments. Been shooting model 19's for years without a single issue. If you've found one in that condition at that stated price, I think the decision would be a no brainer.
 
Well I went back to my LGS and it is a model 19 7. Not knowing any better I thought the second number was for the barrel length. Talked them down to $575 + tax. I think that it has been fired but still looks very good.
Comments?
 

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Hmmm... looking at those pics... "unfired", "still wrapped" & "not a scratch on it" seem to be kind of generous characterizations for that gun. It has a substantial cylinder ring and seems to have a sizable area of discoloration in the bluing on the left side. Sometimes it's hard to tell from pics but I'm thinking $575 is an "OK" price for it... not a special "deal" price.

Here's a comparably-priced/condition one on gunbroker:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=367923809

BTW, I was just shooting my 19-4 at the range a couple of hours ago along with my 6" bbl. 586. There was NO difference in my accuracy between the two... (both great)... Love my 19!
 
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That gun is far from LNIB/unfired...

Bet they gave 250 or so as a trade in on some plastic ray gun..
Offer 400 cash, in your hand, in 20's and 10's..put it on the counter, fan it out and see what happens :)
 
19-7's were made in 1994...thru 1997.../ in 1994 they were still making the Square butt frames in this model / in 1995 - 1996 they got rid of the square butt frame in this model....and the grips were changed to Uncle Mike's combat synthetic grips in 1994...in 1997 they began putting on MIM thumbpiece and changing over to MIM triggers....

but I think your gun looks like a 1994 model - Square butt....and previous owner replaced the grips .../ but it sure isn't new and unfired .../ you can verify with the serial number - if you post it / a lot of us have the S&W standard catalog and can probably give you the year of mfg.

$ 575 is ok ..../ and if you really like the gun ...it won't matter.
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even used, the model 19 has a much better trigger than the Ruger you were considering...

Model 19 is a K frame ( medium frame ) ...and the 686 is an L frame ( a little larger ) but not significantly ...

Model 19's - no dash ....thru dash 4's ....in very good shape ( blued are worth around $ 650 ) ...and if you had one in Nickel, add about $ 100.

Model 66's ( are the K frame stainless version of the model 19's that were either Blued or Nickel)....and the 686's are L frame Stainless..( if the model has a 6 in it - its stainless )...
 
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Model 19 is a K frame ( medium frame ) ...and the 686 is an L frame ( a little larger ) but not significantly ...
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To add to this correct analysis-the K and L frames share the same (K-frame) grip size and configuration.
 
I was using the camera from my cellphone. The fading it shows is from the flash but it certainly is not as good as I thought it was. I has been fired. I will probably get better pictures tomorrow with a real camera and posted.
 
S&W .357magnum K frame....

If the S&W revolver is NIB(unused) & is a older(no lawyer lock) model then yes.
If it has the security lock then no.
I owned a NIB SP101 .357magnum DA only in the early 1990s(my first revolver).
I had 0 problems with it & would buy another Ruger in the future.
The Smith & Wesson model 19 4" K frame was a real workhorse for 1000s of sworn LE officers for decades.
The stainless 66 was also very popular & a great value.
 
What really separates S&W revolvers - from other revolvers - is their trigger in double action / S&W has a very good trigger ....and very different from the Colt, but Colt also makes a very nice gun.

Frame size is one aspect of picking a revolver - K, L ...or the bigger N frame or the smaller J frames...and then there is Square Butt frames and Round Butt frames.../ we all evolve into liking or having preferences for some vs others....and if you change the grips or stocks on the gun / it feels different as well....its a process !!

and picking finishes ...do you like the older Nickel, or Blued....or the stainless...

and with S&W revolvers - you need to do some research on the engineering dash numbers...and figure out what each change was within that specific model...some of it is cosmetic, some matters to collectors, some is mechanical.....

but bottom line...have fun with the process ( I do, and over the years I've amassed a collection of about 25 S&W revolvers...with .357 Mag being my favorite caliber in model 19's, 27's, 28's, 66's and 686's ...in 2", 4" and a few 6" barrels.....and some in .44 mag model 29's and 629's and .22's in model 17's, 18's and 617's...../ and I hope you have fun with the process too...
 
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