Value Priced Revolver for CC
- Thread starter WV_gunner
- Start date
Sorry to start the Taurus bashing... I had a PT101. It was accurate enough. Fun to shoot and kept me safe in college. Sorry it doesn't meet everyone's expectation of minimum gun. I'm glad I owned it. It is gone now.
I suggested the 85 because it is a small cheap 38 special which is quite popular and easy to find. Also, lots of budget leather available too. The trigger will be a little rough, but you can learn that.
As a revolver, I would be hard pressed to imagine it jamming. You might get a lemon, but I doubt it. The key will be bringing a knowledgable friend to look at the timing and lock up. If it's good, it's good!
Would I choose it over my s$w 640? No, but it like half the price!
I suggested the 85 because it is a small cheap 38 special which is quite popular and easy to find. Also, lots of budget leather available too. The trigger will be a little rough, but you can learn that.
As a revolver, I would be hard pressed to imagine it jamming. You might get a lemon, but I doubt it. The key will be bringing a knowledgable friend to look at the timing and lock up. If it's good, it's good!
Would I choose it over my s$w 640? No, but it like half the price!
Went to a pawn shop today. Wasn't thinking I went across a state line and can't buy a handgun without having to deal with a bunch of stuff. Had a nice S&W .38 asking $300, a Taurus .38 asking $300, and the other gun I was interested in was a .357 mag stainless S&W with a 6 inch barrel and asking $500. I probably could of got it for $420 I bet. Very beautiful gun but not worth the trouble. I'm going to big gun store tomorrow that's really great. If I can't find a good deal there, I'm buying that Rossi.
excelerater
Moderator
Value?
spend a little more and get resale value IMO...Spend less and loose more
spend a little more and get resale value IMO...Spend less and loose more
230therapy
New member
S&W Model 642 and 442 revolvers (without the stupid lock) are available for around $400. I scored a Model 36 for $250 used. If you look around, you can find good deals in the used gun section of your local gun stores.
Went to Sam's, they had a Taurus .38 for $275 but no hammer, a Model 29 for $600, new j frames for $400 but no hammer, and an imported SA .44 mag for $375 were the revolvers I was looking at. But I ended up not getting any of them. As much as I didn't want an auto, I got a 16 round Baby Desert Eagle in 9mm. It was $375. I didn't want an auto or 9mm, but I fell in love with it.
Mr.Bluster
New member
After reading all two pages of this thread, why do I feel like Charlie Brown kicking through a football pulled away at the last second?
A lot of your answer will depend on how you define "budget priced".
Bud's Gunshop is selling a brand new S&W Model 638 Airweight for $357. That's actually cheaper than the Taurus version called the "CIA".
If you don't mind haunting pawn shops and used gun counters, look for a good deal on an older Colt D-frame revolver.
These would be the Colt Police Positive Special, Detective Special, Agent and Cobra. The latter two are the alloy framed guns.
Colt Detective Special - 3rd Issue
Colt Police Positive Special - 4th Issue
Colts in pristine condition bring top collector prices. But once there is some wear on the finish or some minor bumps, the prices fall quickly. The above Police Positive Special has a minor flaw in the finish and cost me less than $325 in 2003. Even with a 4-inch barrel it's easy to carry concealed in an IWB holster.
Bud's Gunshop is selling a brand new S&W Model 638 Airweight for $357. That's actually cheaper than the Taurus version called the "CIA".
If you don't mind haunting pawn shops and used gun counters, look for a good deal on an older Colt D-frame revolver.
These would be the Colt Police Positive Special, Detective Special, Agent and Cobra. The latter two are the alloy framed guns.
Colt Detective Special - 3rd Issue
Colt Police Positive Special - 4th Issue
Colts in pristine condition bring top collector prices. But once there is some wear on the finish or some minor bumps, the prices fall quickly. The above Police Positive Special has a minor flaw in the finish and cost me less than $325 in 2003. Even with a 4-inch barrel it's easy to carry concealed in an IWB holster.
KingGabby,
This is off topic a bit, but if you find a gas station that waters their gas, please ask them for me, how they got around the laws of physics. I used to manage a station. I thought this legend would have been killed by common sense years ago, but I hear it all the time. Gas floats on water. They do not mix.
To the OP,
If you really want to carry a SA wheelgun concealed, it is your choice. If you win a gunfight with it, it was a good choice. Train, train, train, and your 5 or 6 shots will probably carry the day. Most shootings by CCW holders do not involve a reload. OF COURSE, there is that other 1 in 100, but, as someone else says: you makes your choices, and takes your chances. I would sooner carry a SA of .38 or .45 caliber, than a mousegun. TO THAT END: If I were looking for a SA carry piece, I would check out Cimmeron's 3/4 scale 1873, in .38spl. It is a quality gun at a reasonable price, and a pure joy to own and shoot. For SD purposes, I would file the front sight 'till it hits point of aim. They all shoot low at first: that's how they were designed, and why.
This is off topic a bit, but if you find a gas station that waters their gas, please ask them for me, how they got around the laws of physics. I used to manage a station. I thought this legend would have been killed by common sense years ago, but I hear it all the time. Gas floats on water. They do not mix.
To the OP,
If you really want to carry a SA wheelgun concealed, it is your choice. If you win a gunfight with it, it was a good choice. Train, train, train, and your 5 or 6 shots will probably carry the day. Most shootings by CCW holders do not involve a reload. OF COURSE, there is that other 1 in 100, but, as someone else says: you makes your choices, and takes your chances. I would sooner carry a SA of .38 or .45 caliber, than a mousegun. TO THAT END: If I were looking for a SA carry piece, I would check out Cimmeron's 3/4 scale 1873, in .38spl. It is a quality gun at a reasonable price, and a pure joy to own and shoot. For SD purposes, I would file the front sight 'till it hits point of aim. They all shoot low at first: that's how they were designed, and why.
I'd go look on the used rack and see what I could find. I sometimes carry an old five screw Smith & Wesson, M&P, with a 4" barrel. I'd call them "value priced."
But my everyday carry gun is a old, Charter Arms Undercover 38. I've got two of them actually, with a 2" and the other with a 3" barrel. Good litle guns for not a lot of money. You'll have to look for them, but they're out there. (Avoid anything marked "Charco" or "Charter 2000." Quality is very hit and miss.)
Three inch Undercover from 1966. Note the tiny grips. About the only thing I don't care for with them. With these grips the recoil is pretty stiff.
This two inch (1 7/8"?) Undercover is from 1977. Like the above one it had the near brutal grips, so I replaced them with a set of grips from Charters current production revolvers. A bit harder to conceal maybe, but MUCH better for shooting. This is my day to day carry.
They cost less than $250.00 each.
I used to have a Taurus 85CH also. I liked it.
But my everyday carry gun is a old, Charter Arms Undercover 38. I've got two of them actually, with a 2" and the other with a 3" barrel. Good litle guns for not a lot of money. You'll have to look for them, but they're out there. (Avoid anything marked "Charco" or "Charter 2000." Quality is very hit and miss.)
Three inch Undercover from 1966. Note the tiny grips. About the only thing I don't care for with them. With these grips the recoil is pretty stiff.
This two inch (1 7/8"?) Undercover is from 1977. Like the above one it had the near brutal grips, so I replaced them with a set of grips from Charters current production revolvers. A bit harder to conceal maybe, but MUCH better for shooting. This is my day to day carry.
They cost less than $250.00 each.
I used to have a Taurus 85CH also. I liked it.
kinggabby,
I think you and Dale Gribble must be the poster children for the old adage, "Never argue with fools, because they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience."
Neither of you appear to have the class to admit when you are wrong (even when you falsely accuse). Dale Gribble even takes it to the extreme of letting a boy defend him on this thread, and yet never comes to the boys aid. That said, assuming that neither of you are boys yourself (although if I were gauging by the mentality of your comments in this thread, I'd guess you were both a couple of young know-it-alls).
Shame, but not too much of a surprise.
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To the OP, I recently purchased a Taurus model 85, all stainless (new). I used the revolver checklist provided on this site (a very wonderful and practical aid, I thank you very much!). I went through a couple of guns finding one that locked up tight, but was confident in my purchase at the end. Good luck, and use the checklist. It was a very big help to me.
Jayhawkhuntclub
New member
How you can do better than an LCR is a mystery to me: reliable, non-punishing to shoot, compact, proven, affordable, American made and super lightweight. All this with a trigger as good (usually MUCH better) as anything out there.
dalegribble
New member
gee whiz, i never thought i would create such an uproar. i have never asked anyone to blindly follow me or blindly believe what i say. i am not some gun maven or national gun writer that gets paid to promote guns.
firearms are just a hobby to me. i enjoy shooting, i hunt when i can and i believe in self protection. i have some guns with names that people bow to and i have some guns that some people love to hate. the one thing all my guns have in common is that they all work.
i like western six guns and sometimes post about my uberti six guns. some "expert" will always tell me they are junk and i should buy colt or ruger. well i have colt and ruger six guns and i like my uberti guns better for my purposes. i sometimes post about my taurus pt-92 and people tell me they are junk and i should get a beretta 92. well i've had both, i gave the beretta 92 to my brother and bought 2nd taurus pt-92. 1911's are popular, i have a taurus 1911 that i like very much, it has worked perfectly straight out of the box and has alot of features at a very good price. people scream that i should have spent more money and gotten a better gun. well i have spent more money, i have a number of springfields and colt 1911's. they are all fine guns and i am pleased to say they are as reliable and some are even almost as accurate as my taurus 1911. i own various s&w revolvers and pistols, amt, ruger single and double action revolvers and semi autos. i also have taurus and a few lesser known guns that all work and shoot where i aim. my most carried pp guns lately have been my 380 amt backup (almost 30 years in my pocket), my taurus pt 709 slim (9mm) and my taurus pt-145 (10+1 45 cal). i have other more well known and more expensive brands i could and have carried but these days i carry taurus because they work just as well and have features i like.
i don't tell people what to buy and i don't normaly comment on gun/brands i don't own or have no experience but i will suggest guns that have worked well for me. i will normally ask about a brand or caliber i might like to add to the collection. i will post about my personal experience with certain brands or calibers from personal experience and people can use that info it it's helpful, or not. my experience with taurus has been 100% good and the people i know with taurus guns have never had a problem either. it does bother me to see taurus bashed especially by people i suspect have never owned a taurus or have a personal agenda or just parrot things they have read on the internet. if there comes a time i have a bad experience with a gun, any gun, i will post my specific brand/make and caliber and complaint. if i have a problem with a specific brand i might give the brand a second try but i would hope i would be smarter than to buy 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 more of the same brand and complain about all of them. i have found that many people that can afford expensive guns just like to brag. unfortunatly their brags often have to put down other brands to build up their own.
firearms are just a hobby to me. i enjoy shooting, i hunt when i can and i believe in self protection. i have some guns with names that people bow to and i have some guns that some people love to hate. the one thing all my guns have in common is that they all work.
i like western six guns and sometimes post about my uberti six guns. some "expert" will always tell me they are junk and i should buy colt or ruger. well i have colt and ruger six guns and i like my uberti guns better for my purposes. i sometimes post about my taurus pt-92 and people tell me they are junk and i should get a beretta 92. well i've had both, i gave the beretta 92 to my brother and bought 2nd taurus pt-92. 1911's are popular, i have a taurus 1911 that i like very much, it has worked perfectly straight out of the box and has alot of features at a very good price. people scream that i should have spent more money and gotten a better gun. well i have spent more money, i have a number of springfields and colt 1911's. they are all fine guns and i am pleased to say they are as reliable and some are even almost as accurate as my taurus 1911. i own various s&w revolvers and pistols, amt, ruger single and double action revolvers and semi autos. i also have taurus and a few lesser known guns that all work and shoot where i aim. my most carried pp guns lately have been my 380 amt backup (almost 30 years in my pocket), my taurus pt 709 slim (9mm) and my taurus pt-145 (10+1 45 cal). i have other more well known and more expensive brands i could and have carried but these days i carry taurus because they work just as well and have features i like.
i don't tell people what to buy and i don't normaly comment on gun/brands i don't own or have no experience but i will suggest guns that have worked well for me. i will normally ask about a brand or caliber i might like to add to the collection. i will post about my personal experience with certain brands or calibers from personal experience and people can use that info it it's helpful, or not. my experience with taurus has been 100% good and the people i know with taurus guns have never had a problem either. it does bother me to see taurus bashed especially by people i suspect have never owned a taurus or have a personal agenda or just parrot things they have read on the internet. if there comes a time i have a bad experience with a gun, any gun, i will post my specific brand/make and caliber and complaint. if i have a problem with a specific brand i might give the brand a second try but i would hope i would be smarter than to buy 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 more of the same brand and complain about all of them. i have found that many people that can afford expensive guns just like to brag. unfortunatly their brags often have to put down other brands to build up their own.
To reiterate....
Wife's primary concealed carry piece = Taurus 431 3" bbl .44 Special.
Wife's backup concealed carry piece = Taurus 431 3" bbl .44 Special.
Only 2 issues ever (with both guns):
1) Loosening of cylinder latches (fixed with Loctite, and have remained fixed for >10 years).
2) Once or twice each gun has spit back a bit o'lead.
Neither of the above issues are exclusive to the two Tauri mentioned above, at least among the revolvers I have owned over time. I regularly check my LGS and the auction sites, as the wife wants a third identical 431 to keep as her bedside gun (she likes things in threes.....which has me a tad worried as I am her second husband.....).
Wife's primary concealed carry piece = Taurus 431 3" bbl .44 Special.
Wife's backup concealed carry piece = Taurus 431 3" bbl .44 Special.
Only 2 issues ever (with both guns):
1) Loosening of cylinder latches (fixed with Loctite, and have remained fixed for >10 years).
2) Once or twice each gun has spit back a bit o'lead.
Neither of the above issues are exclusive to the two Tauri mentioned above, at least among the revolvers I have owned over time. I regularly check my LGS and the auction sites, as the wife wants a third identical 431 to keep as her bedside gun (she likes things in threes.....which has me a tad worried as I am her second husband.....).
Dalegribble,
Once again, you aren't man enough to admit you were wrong. I don't bad mouth guns based on brand either, and I certainly don't make things up. I simply shared my experience. If I were to apply your logic, then I would accuse you of lying about your good experience with Taurus, because based on my bad experience, I know that no one could have a good experience...right? I've been on this forum since 2000. Not that anyone would want to, but one could probably go back and do a search (between here and THR) of my user name and trace the 7 Taurus guns I've mentioned. For the record, they were in order of purchase a Taurus 605, 94, PT111, 85, two 650' (one blued, one stainless), and a 905IB. Purchased between 1998 and around 2005ish.
As far as bragging, well I just bought a Heritage Rough Rider 22lr. I've posted on this forum about it. I like. How's that for bragging.
In truth, it sounds like you are just another one of those really closed-minded people, who claim to open-minded.
Once again, you aren't man enough to admit you were wrong. I don't bad mouth guns based on brand either, and I certainly don't make things up. I simply shared my experience. If I were to apply your logic, then I would accuse you of lying about your good experience with Taurus, because based on my bad experience, I know that no one could have a good experience...right? I've been on this forum since 2000. Not that anyone would want to, but one could probably go back and do a search (between here and THR) of my user name and trace the 7 Taurus guns I've mentioned. For the record, they were in order of purchase a Taurus 605, 94, PT111, 85, two 650' (one blued, one stainless), and a 905IB. Purchased between 1998 and around 2005ish.
As far as bragging, well I just bought a Heritage Rough Rider 22lr. I've posted on this forum about it. I like. How's that for bragging.
In truth, it sounds like you are just another one of those really closed-minded people, who claim to open-minded.
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