Good revolver for around $500?

[Fordtough25]

Used Ruger GP100, great revolver. Like said already, just shoot 38's through it for less cost and recoil. Just watch the carbon build up in the cylinder in any .357 you shoot a bunch of 38s in.

 

[kludge]

I'm looking for a revolver for around $500, but don't want super expensive ammo so .357 is out.

Reload!

A .357 revolver is far more versatile than one in 9mm.

 

[bcannon]

S&W 610 twice your price range - try the S&W model 60 - plink with 38sp and get 1 box of PD ammo - great wheel gun - I love mine - got it for $500

 

[JBI812]

You said a revolver....well for something around 300 to 450.00 find yourself a Ruger Security/Speed/Police Service Six with a 3" barrel in .357/.38 special. Or, a Taurus model 65 with 3" bbl which is similar to SW K frame revolvers. Both are built like a tank and very affordable. If you can find one....look at a SW model 10 with bull barrel. All three sell for less than 500 and all are great revolvers to have. >38 special ammo is cheap when compared with other calibers.

 

[45acp223]

I have a Ruger SP101 4" and love it. Great gun to shoot but a bit large for me to conceal. So I got a Ruger LCR .357 for $499. Love that gun too. I can reload .38/.357 for a little under $8/ 50. It's cheaper for me to shoot .357 than it is 9mm bought from a store. Plus you never have to chase your brass!

Do you shoot .38's or .357's out of your LCR? How is the recoil with .327's, I'm guessing not fun to shoot. It got to be one of the smallest carry guns along with the S&W 642 AirWeights.

 

[6mm Shoot]

I was looking to buy a 327 Ruger and It has only about 2/3 the recoil of a 357. I like the way it shot and the recoil was very manage able. The only real problem with it is the cost of ammo. It is more than 357. I plan to pick one up when things cool down. I think then I might be able to get a deal on one. I will see. I really like the size of it.

 

[Smokeeater]

My vote would be for a 686. Paid a little over 500 for one recently.

 

[JimmyR]

I have owned 3 good revolvers that fit your bill, and both were under $400. The first was a Ruger Security Six, .357, shot mostly .38's from it. Great gun. Ended up selling it and regretting it, and got a Rossi 972. It shot great, but I wasn't using it that much, and traded it for a Mosin M44. Finally got some sense and grabbed a Smith and Wesson model 19. Taking it to the range today, but I have plenty of faith that this will be a keeper...

Like others have said- get the .357 in a wheelgun, and shoot 38's for practice, and maybe even for SD if you get good .38 specs.

Welcome to the wheelgun fanclub...

 

[JBI812]

I thought I saw someone with a question regarding .327 Federal. Ruger's SP101 is just one of my favorites. The revolver is very flexible as it shoots .32 SW longs, shorts, H&R mags and if you want to kick butt use the .327 Federal ammo. It's a great shooter with less recoil than a .38 special. My only concern is the SP101 grip is small. I shoot .32 SW in several different revolvers and have yet to find one I didn't like. But all 32 revolvers small and have small grips.

As far as Taurus goes...... I have a model 65 with a 3" Barrel that is fantastic. It's heavy like the SW K frame. It has a new trigger spring and is likely my favorite handgun. I've also had a Taurus 1911 that was great. But, I can't say the same for their other products or services because I've never used them.

 

[Denny347]

For a snubbie, go for .38spl. In the short barrel revolvers there is very little difference in muzzle velocity between the 2 but a world of difference in recoil. Longer barrels, go .357.

 

[45acp223]

For a snubbie, go for .38spl. In the short barrel revolvers there is very little difference in muzzle velocity between the 2 but a world of difference in recoil. Longer barrels, go .357.

Good advice! I personally would want a 4-6" barrel for .357. I've shot a 2" and it's ok for a few shots.

 

[Rob54]

Maybe that was just your particular gun. I will agree that a Taurus may not be as good as a Colt or a S&W, but for a utility gun they are fine. If you were having such difficulties, Taurus should have been able to help. Actions may not be as smooth as a well worn Colt, but you should never have to "smack" the cylinder to open it up. I have a model 85CH and other than the trigger pull being heavy, it works fine. I have a Wolff kit to help out with that. When I finish my bench, I will smooth up the action and install the spring kit. I fully expect it to be a sweet shooting pocket gun!

Maybe I got a bad example, but a lot of other people find the quality of Taurus to be pretty bad as well. I did add some Wolff springs. The fit of the parts was awful. I know that I could have sent it back, but I have talked to people who were still not happy after the factory "fixed" the problem.

 

[voodoo304]

Do you shoot .38's or .357's out of your LCR? How is the recoil with .327's, I'm guessing not fun to shoot. It got to be one of the smallest carry guns along with the S&W 642 AirWeights.

I shoot both 38 and 357 in the LCR. I don't know about the "327" as I've never shot one.

I reload 38/357. I load the 357 down and use 125gr bullets so the recoil isn't too bad at all. I plink with the 38's and practice with the .357 since I carry it loaded with .357 125gr critical defense.

I had a box of Blazer .357 158gr JSP and they were absolutely brutal on my hand. However the 125gr CD isn't that bad and I can make decent follow up shots.

 

[Wannabe Alchemist]

I have a Taurus .357 with 6" barrel, model 2-669161, laying here on the desk. When I need to reload it I will have to heel-punch the cylinder while pushing from the other side in order to open it.
I'd be thrilled to trade it on about any reloading or other firearms if a Taurus lover were interested.

 

[45acp223]

I shoot both 38 and 357 in the LCR. I don't know about the "327" as I've never shot one.

I reload 38/357. I load the 357 down and use 125gr bullets so the recoil isn't too bad at all. I plink with the 38's and practice with the .357 since I carry it loaded with .357 125gr critical defense.

I had a box of Blazer .357 158gr JSP and they were absolutely brutal on my hand. However the 125gr CD isn't that bad and I can make decent follow up shots.

"327" my bad, it was a typo, I meant 357. Good to know that the 125gr loads are ok. I'm guessing like you do, most folks would shoot 38's for plinking/practice and 357's for defense.

 

[grayblaster1]

There are tons of very good used 357's out there, Just run 38's though it and it will work great..... Should be able to pick one up with ammo and still have money for dinner???

 

[warren5421]

I will say I would not buy a Taurus. Taurus brought out a clone of a Colt Lighting Rifle for use in SASS and NCOWS. It had a lot of function problems and at first Taurus tried to fix them. They had so many come back to fix and they could not make them work well. They stopped making it right with the owners and same as said "tough S**t" leaving the rifle owners with a $1000 fence post.

I would look at a used S&W , Ruger, or a Colt in .357. If you want new I would look a S&W or Ruger. I don't know much about the .327 mag but have several Ruger single action .32 H&R mags and would not fill under gunned carrying one in the Ruger SP100 or Sp101. I don't know if S&W makes a gun in the .327 mag.

I carry a J-Frame S&W 640-1 in .357. Today if I was buying I would look a a bigger framed .357 to get 7 or 8 round cylinder. This gives you the same round count as a Model 1911 and using speed loaders some people can reload as fast as you could with a 1911

 

[gunbunnies]

In the price range your looking at I would look at the Ruger GP100 or SP101's they are a great product and built to take all kinds of abuse. The 38 spcl would be the steady diet and the 357 magnum is for when you want to impress the other ise of the gun, or take medium size game. These cartridges are a very good choice for both availability and multiple use ammo. The Smith is the top of the line and might just be a tad over your price point but either way the Smith or the Ruger will last you a lifetime... The Taurus will last along time and take a beating if they get it right from the factory and for the most part they will make it a working gun, the problems I find with them is the in-ability to get a decent trigger job on them... If your up in NW Indiana sometime let me know and we can go do some revolver shooting.... Never know what you want till you get a chance to put some rounds through em...

 

[SSGSAD]

Can't go wrong with a used S&W model 19. They can be had in the $400-$500 dollar range and are available in various barrel lengths. My second choice would be a Ruger SP101, again can't go wrong with one of them

YES, this, 4" .357, is a REAL NICE gun.....

 

[mike63502]

stick with the Smith or Ruger in 38/357.