Am buying my first pistols next week. Have shot rifles for years, but never pistols. I've decided to get a 9mm Beretta 92FS, but I also want a revolver. For ammo price reasons, i would like to get a .38 special (or maybe a .357...don't want a .22). Any good revolvers you can recommend for around $700? It really just be to shoot at the range because we can't carry in NY. Thanks.
Very Newbie Question
- Thread starter fsfty
- Start date
aarondhgraham
New member
S&W 686 or a Ruger GP-100,,,
S&W 686 or a Ruger GP-100,,,
Both are .357 Magnum handguns,,,
So they will chamber and fire .38 Special cartridges.
Both are available in 4" or 6" barrels.
Each of these guns are very high quality,,,
The best for you depends on which best fits your hand.
Happy Gun Hunting.
Aarond
.
S&W 686 or a Ruger GP-100,,,
Both are .357 Magnum handguns,,,
So they will chamber and fire .38 Special cartridges.
Both are available in 4" or 6" barrels.
Each of these guns are very high quality,,,
The best for you depends on which best fits your hand.
Happy Gun Hunting.
Aarond
.
Chuckusaret
Moderator
Google .38+P vs .38 special.
38 +p is a 38 loaded to slightly higher pressure for more power. Not all 38's are +p rated but many are. It is a non issue if you shoot them out of a 357 because the 357 is a much higher pressure round anyway.
Also, I very much agree with Aarond. You can't go wrong with a GP100 or a 686. I have a 6" GP100 and love it.
Also, I very much agree with Aarond. You can't go wrong with a GP100 or a 686. I have a 6" GP100 and love it.
FloridaVeteran
New member
Don't know about your area, but here in FL we have many indoor ranges where you can rent a variety of handguns, usually for something like $10 first gun, $8 each additional.
It is a great way to try out a gun before you you buy it. The feel of the gun after a dozen rounds or two may be a lot different than the feel at the gun show table. This will give you a good notion of the balance and, depending on the variety available to try, the barrel length you like most. If it were me, I'd call around and see what ranges have for rent the models you are considering. Even if you have to go to more than one range, you're less likely to have buyer's remorse that way.
As Aarond implied, unless you have a specific reason for buying a .38 Spl., (usually that would be price, lightweight pocketability or the option of a beautiful older gun like a K-38), you're best off looking at .357s because they shoot cheap wadcutter reloads for range time and will handle serious stuff, including 38+Ps, for defense. And Smith and Ruger would be my top-tier brands, too.
It is a great way to try out a gun before you you buy it. The feel of the gun after a dozen rounds or two may be a lot different than the feel at the gun show table. This will give you a good notion of the balance and, depending on the variety available to try, the barrel length you like most. If it were me, I'd call around and see what ranges have for rent the models you are considering. Even if you have to go to more than one range, you're less likely to have buyer's remorse that way.
As Aarond implied, unless you have a specific reason for buying a .38 Spl., (usually that would be price, lightweight pocketability or the option of a beautiful older gun like a K-38), you're best off looking at .357s because they shoot cheap wadcutter reloads for range time and will handle serious stuff, including 38+Ps, for defense. And Smith and Ruger would be my top-tier brands, too.
Cheapshooter
New member
The +P you see on cartridge boxes denotes that the round is loaded to approximately 10% higher chamber pressure than the standard round. These standards are set by the Sporting Arms Ammunition Manufacturer's Institute, or SAAMI. They only list +P for 9MM Luger (9X19, 9MM Parabellum, or most commonly just called 9MM), 38 Special, 38 Super ( a somewhat obscure round for semi-auto handguns), and 45ACP.
Several manufactirers sell what they call +P in other calibers, but there is no standard as to how much they are loaded over maximum standard pressure, if at all. Other than in the 4 listed rounds, if it says +P it's advertising hype at best, dangerously overloaded ammunition at worst.
In your price range either a S&W 686, at the top of your economic limit, or the Ruger GP100 at a lower price point would make an excellent choice. With the gun chambered in 357 Magnum you get plenty of performance when you want it, but have the option of using more economical, and lighter recoiling 38 Special ammunition for practice, and plinking.
Several manufactirers sell what they call +P in other calibers, but there is no standard as to how much they are loaded over maximum standard pressure, if at all. Other than in the 4 listed rounds, if it says +P it's advertising hype at best, dangerously overloaded ammunition at worst.
In your price range either a S&W 686, at the top of your economic limit, or the Ruger GP100 at a lower price point would make an excellent choice. With the gun chambered in 357 Magnum you get plenty of performance when you want it, but have the option of using more economical, and lighter recoiling 38 Special ammunition for practice, and plinking.
For $700, you've got a lot of good options on both the new and used market. If the gun is for range use anyway, there really isn't much point in a small, light revolver with a short barrel as a medium-to-large frame gun with a 4" or longer barrel will be easier to shoot well due to its longer sight radius and have less recoil due to the increased weight. I am most familiar with S&W's, so I can give you recommendations for that brand though there are many nice revolvers made by other companies as well.
Good models for range guns includ the following:
10
64
14
15
67
13+*
19+*
65+*
66+*
581+*
586+
681+*
686+
27+
28+*
627+
*-discontined models that may be found on the used market
+-.357 Magnum chambering.
Good models for range guns includ the following:
10
64
14
15
67
13+*
19+*
65+*
66+*
581+*
586+
681+*
686+
27+
28+*
627+
*-discontined models that may be found on the used market
+-.357 Magnum chambering.
) I like the S&W alot.Nothing wrong with a S&W model 686 ( L frame ) ...but don't overlook a good model 19 (K frame ) available blued or in Nickel / or a model 66 (K frame) in stainless...mod 19 and 66 are basically the same gun ( .357 mag / K frame / medium sized frame)....L frame is a little bigger
....N Frame is the large frame ( model 27's and 28's are .357 mag in N frames)...it might be tough to find a model 27 under $ 700 / but you will find some model 28's ).
You can shoot .38 spl out of any of the .357 mag revolvers.../ no reason to shoot +P ammo ...you can practice with less expensive .38 spl / and shoot some .357 mag as well. If I carry a model 19 or 66 ...I carry it with .357 mag in it / and I shoot a lot of .38 spl at the range ( less recoil / a little less expensive to reload) - but I shoot the same bullet in both / a 158gr FMJ.
....N Frame is the large frame ( model 27's and 28's are .357 mag in N frames)...it might be tough to find a model 27 under $ 700 / but you will find some model 28's ).
You can shoot .38 spl out of any of the .357 mag revolvers.../ no reason to shoot +P ammo ...you can practice with less expensive .38 spl / and shoot some .357 mag as well. If I carry a model 19 or 66 ...I carry it with .357 mag in it / and I shoot a lot of .38 spl at the range ( less recoil / a little less expensive to reload) - but I shoot the same bullet in both / a 158gr FMJ.