Very new to Gun ownership, and Really need a bit of help.

So I, just a few days ago, purchased my first firearm.. It was complete impulse, and am beginning to wonder if it was a poor choice. I haven't received it yet and am still going through the waiting period.. But in the mean time I am doing some research... and it isn't going well. On my receipt I first searched the model on it, Taurus Model 88, But that doesn't add up with what I bought because it's chambered in 38 but the Taurus model 88 seems to be in 357. only.
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Guns chambered for .357 can shoot .38 Special.

I'm not pulling up anything on the Model 88 right now, except one reference that said it's an old (late 80s) .38 Special. (See here.)

I spot checked some older print catalogs, and didn't find anything there, either.


Plus the serial number isn't coming up with any results when I search for it on the Taurus website.
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The lookup tool doesn't always work.

So I'm completely confused with what I actually have. Not to mention I think I severely overpaid.. But I'm afraid to actually know by how much. Anyway, I would greatly appreciate some guidance here.
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So, how much?

Don't be in a rush / maybe pick up some books on revolvers - like Taurus and S&W and Ruger...that'll give you a crosssection of info.
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The Gun Digest Book of the Revolver. (More accurately it would be titled "The Gun Digest Book of the Modern Double Action Defensive Revolver")

Yep, first handgun's a learning experience. We all start somewhere.

I would also suggest going through Jim March's revolver checkout procedure.

Other thoughts: Taurus' manual advises against dry firing. Pay attention to that. My old Model 66 from that era would mash firing pin springs into unusability. Get and use snap caps for dry firing practice.
 
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Welcome to The Firing Line. Don't get caught up in paying to much. We all do. I own several 38/357s a couple 9mm and 45acps. 45 colt and a 44mag along with a couple 22lr. You can own serveal differnt calibers, may be the one you like to shoot most. Like others have said shot often. learn all you can about guns and the one you shoot most often. develop those skills. have fun be safe.
 
Welcome aboard and don't feel bad about overpaying, it happens to all of us.

I bought three pistols from my local range and they cost more than elsewhere but I saw that as an advantage. All the paperwork is done there, all my guns were checked out before purchases and I'm a regular there. They're family owned and they have a smith in employ. Cool folks too.

I bought a Kel-tec PF9 9mm, S&W Sigma 9mm and Sig Sauer P250c 40sw there and they all were flawless. Lucky me. :)
 
I would say the model 88 I have, and now in my possession, is in good shape and I paid 290 for it. And the person who advised against dry-firing came a bit too late as the person I purchased from dry fired a few times. to check the mechanism. Seeing as it's old and has been dry fired, now I am worried it may not work properly or something.. But I have much to learn.
 
Aw man, $290 isn't bad. As I said in my first post, gun prices are very location specific and that may be “market” where you live. As to the age of the gun, my EDC was made in the mid eighties and I only own two guns made in the nineties. My go to deer rifle’s a Rem 722 from the fifties. The age of the gun doesn’t matter as much as the mileage. Also, some dry firing ain’t no thing.

Be happy.
 
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Another encouragement not to worry too much about what you paid, the education aspect is important.

My mantra in such cases is a sigh followed with "I've paid more to learn less!".

And I try to keep it that way :D.

Go shoot the heck out of it and enjoy life.

W.
 
Look at it this way, you over paid only if you don't like the gun.

If you do like it and have tons of fun shooting, feel like you're carrying a reliable gun for protection (if applicable) and find yourself showing it off now and then...is worth what you paid? Maybe what your new gun will bring is priceless.

So learn everything you can about your new gun, its history and the ammo you use and the accessories you need... you know, really get into it!

Shoot often, be safe and have fun!
 
Don't fret about a slight case of "Buyer's Remorse"...having doubts about the wisdom of a purchase, especially if you have a waiting period from the time you commit to buy and the time when you actually have the item in your hand. This happens to many people...and not just for guns,

We recently contracted to have a bathroom remodeled. It was a $6000 job. There was a two week period after we signed the contract before the job was started. Many times during that two weeks my wife and I talked about our concerns about what we were spending etc etc. That is "Buyer's Remorse".

Once you get your gun and do the exercises talked about here, all "Remorse" will evaporate.

I own several TAURUS handguns and enjoy shooting all of them.:)
 
If you lived in a state like Virginia where you can walk out of the door with your gun in about 10 or 15 minutes, you would not have buyer's remorse because you would be shooting and enjoying it immediately.
 
osbornk said:
If you lived in a state like Virginia where you can walk out of the door with your gun in about 10 or 15 minutes, you would not have buyer's remorse because you would be shooting and enjoying it immediately.
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This is true. It's the waiting that sets your brain into high gear running the other 500 doubt scenarios around.

And even if they give you darned gun the next day you'll see some lucky joker they gave a free gun AND a free box of ammo and you'll think what the heck did I do wrong.

As long as the gun shop isn't obviously engaged in crooked deals, if they stand there patiently helping you when you're still learning then you're really paying for their knowledge. You aren't overpaying for the merchandise. Their time is money. Try running a small business if you don't believe that.

MB
 
I think that you paid a decent price for a firearm that is a good choice for a first time gun owner. A medium frame, .38 caliber revolver is a very versatile firearm: it is simple and reliable to operate (no safety, slide release, magazine release, decocker buttons/levers to worry about or complicated malfunction clearing drills to practice); it will be plenty accurate; recoil and noise is fairly mild; ammunition is relatively cheap and easy to find and it can be effectively used for multiple purposes (home defense, target shooting, camping/hiking gun for plinking or protection, concealed carry and hunting are some roles that it can play). The .38 caliber revolver is a good starting platform and, as time goes on and your shooting interest and knowledge of firearms develop, you can add guns to your inevitable inventory that will be better suited for more specialized uses (no serious golfer plays with one club or informed angler fishes with one rod :) ).

If you're not familiar with shooting and/or firearm safety, I would strongly urge you to enroll in a good training and instruction facility in your area. And to practice a lot with your new gun. Finally, give some thought to joining the National Rifle Association. Without the influence of this fine organization, I doubt that your concerns of paying too much for your Taurus would matter much as you wouldn't have been able to buy any gun at any price in the first place.

Good luck and welcome to The Firing Line!
 
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A mid-frame 38 revolver is an excellent choice as a first handgun. Only a .22 revolver might be argued by some as a better choice, but the .38 has much more value for actual self defense.

The OP mentioned that he bought his gun on 'an impulse'. Well, its likely that he'd been thinking about it for awhile. For whatever personal reasons - self protection, recreation, etc - he had a handgun in mind. Good for him that he took action and bought one.
 
I would say the model 88 I have, and now in my possession, is in good shape and I paid 290 for it. And the person who advised against dry-firing came a bit too late as the person I purchased from dry fired a few times. to check the mechanism. Seeing as it's old and has been dry fired, now I am worried it may not work properly or something.. But I have much to learn.
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A few times won't hurt it.

Other revolver advice: don't "flick" the revolver closed. That's hard on the crane, and can potentially bend it (which is an expensive fix).

You might want to look into different grips, if the existing ones don't work well for you. I think (not finding much on that model) is a medium frame Taurus. Many accessories for K-frame S&Ws work with the medium frame Tauri, but not grips.

Take a class if you can. Shooting is a whole body activity, and there are details of stance, grip, trigger control, etc., that are not obvious.
 
While I'm not particularly familiar with Taurus' offerings (I'm a S&W guy myself), from what I've been able to find it seems that the Taurus Model 88 is a medium frame, six-shot, .38 Special double action revolver with a design based loosely on the S&W K-Frame (the design of most Taurus revolvers is based on that of S&W). While the Model 88 appears to be discontinued, the currently-produced Model 82 seems to be very similar to it.

Because it is based upon the S&W K-Frame, many K-Frame accessories such as holsters and speed loaders would likely work with your revolver. As has been mentioned, however, grips and other model-specific parts are probably different enough to preclude interchangeability.

As has also been mentioned, a medium-frame .38 Special revolver is a highly underrated type of handgun. While the .38 Special is a fine cartridge which delivers a useful level of power, from a gun of that size and weight it still produces very moderate recoil and muzzle blast and thus is well-suited to inexperienced shooters. Likewise, a DA revolver has a very simple and easy to understand manual of arms which makes it a platform well-suited to a new shooter. Truth be told, the majority of gun owners would probably be just as well served by a medium-frame .38 Spl as anything else even though that type of gun doesn't seem as "cool" or "tactical" as a monster magnum or whiz-bang semi-auto.

As long as you're happy with the gun, don't worry about how much you paid. Enjoy your revolver and don't mind what other people think about it.
 
to the op

dont worry that your not finding the sales slip to be accurate on the actual model number. Its most likely the person behind the counter doesnt understand that the taurus product catalog.

i see bolt action rifles listed as automatic rifles everyday in gun stores.


wouldnt it technically be the model 66 or 64?
 
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