Six shot snubbie

L

little bear

Inactive
Does anyone have any experience with the Rock Island Armory model 206 snub nose revolver? Looking at the picture of it, it appears to be a copy of the Colt dective special which was discontinued. It is a six shot snubbie which is what makes it interesting. Buds has it at a very cheap price.
 
I'll have to check that out too. Always interested to see what (few) .38-class small frame 6 shots are still/again out there. It's been a largely--and oddly--ignored niche since the Colt's demise, save for a very few guns.

Little Bear, I don't recall if you were in this thread, but if you have not seen, it's ongoing and germane. Check it out..
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=495887.
 
Just checked it out. Can't argue the price, but I'd take a look at the Armscor--even a closer DS clone, and the Rossi's darn close while uniquely being .357...and both have a "more expensive" look a about them...at least compared to what you can superficially tell from the Bud's RIA photo. Bud's may also sell the Rossi. I believe it did before. Not priced like this but very decent for what it is ca $300 +/- depending on finish.
 
Bite the bullet and get a Colt DS or Cobra if you want a small six shot snub.

About a month ago I got a Colt Cobra, mousy on the outside but tight and excellent on the inside. Just got a pair of old Colt DS wood grips and now It's one shooting machine!

Now I'm a S&W guy but I have to say the Detective Special line was a good one and since this Cobra is mousy looking I sure will use it!

Deaf
 
I have the Armscor m206 and m200, they're well made guns for the money. The finish is no way near the Colt though. Get a good set of Pachmayr type grips and you have a very functional snubnose. I use mine a my parka pistol, just toss it n my pocket and go.
 
I'm just curious: Is a Detective Special materially smaller than a S&W K frame round butt with the same length barrel? I've never handled a DS, but do have a couple of K frame 38s and can't imagine the cylinder being much smaller and still holding 6 rounds. If the DS isn't smaller, what would be the attraction over a Smith, whose design is still in production? (I shoot my guns a lot, and so think about repair parts and factory service - none of which I've ever needed, but I still think about it.)
 
The DS is a bit smaller and its handier. Not much bigger than a Chiefs .38 and in fact one of my IWBs made for a Chiefs fits my Colt Cobra fine.

Now if you shoot alot I'd just get the 2 inch M10 or 64 as parts are much more available.

Deaf
 
Six shor snubbie

Thanks for the help. I ordered the Armscor 206 (Rock Island) from Buds yesterday after reviewing all the comments. It should make a good car and self defense gun if needed. A Hogue monogrip should improve its usability.
 
little bear
Six shot snubbie
Click to expand...

The Armscor 206 is very similar to the Colt Detective on the outside but is similar to a Colt J-Frame on the inside. The wood grips (faux) are darn good imitations and look very nice. The finish being Parkerized is rough looking but you'll never have to clean the outside. The extra shot over a S&W J-Frame makes it a huge plus in my book. It's a shooter for me. The trigger is smoother than I had expected. It's been reliable through a few hundred rounds so far, but hey - it's a revolver from the same company that makes the RIA 1911... The only thing I would recommend is swapping out the grips for a set of Pachmayr grips to lessen the bite from SD loads. Hope you'll enjoy yours.
 
Does anyone have a pic they can share. The stock picture at Bud's makes the finish look pretty bad. I wonder how it compares in real life. The price looks hard to beat an RIA has a good rep.
 
The Armscor 206 is very similar to the Colt Detective on the outside but is similar to a Colt J-Frame on the inside.
Click to expand...

I assume you meant to say Smith J-Frame. That said, I have to ask in what way does the Armscor revolver resemble the J-Frame's innards? Does it have a coil mainspring, for instance?
 
No. Colt J-Frame. I've attached 2 PDF's. One of the Trooper and one of the Armscor M Series. The M206 looks like the Detective on the outside and the same speedloaders will fit both. Internally, the M206 is very close to the Colt J-Frames in design.
 

Attachments

As I have commented in other threads, the M1911.ORG e-zine recently reviewed both the Armscor M200 and the M206. As to the action, it IS based on Colt's later mechanism, with a coil spring on a strut for the mainspring.

The M206, with factory grips:

Armscor_M200003.jpg


Comparing the M206 action to a Colt dertective Special:

Armscor_M200010.jpg


Link to the review: http://ezine.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=140
 
That's a good honest review. I have two of 'em - a 200 & a 206 and my experience with them matches the reviewer. Although mine are strictly range toys, I would not hesitate to depend on one if necessary. WAY better than a HP or the current crop of 3rd world country police trades like Rossi & Taurus 82's for those on a budget, IMO.
 
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