Any suggestions about a good but cheap revolver for home protection?
March 6th, 2010 by eranio
My wife wants a revolver for at home and possibly to conceal in a purse as soon as she gets her permit.
She does not want a semi auto or shotgun, or anything like that.
Just a cheap, but durable revolver preferably in either 357 magnum, or something that she can shoot 38 +P in.
Is there anything good for around 0 or less?
Posted in semi auto shotgun
March 6th, 2010 at 3:04 am
as has been suggested… any medium to medium-large revolver with a barrel from 2 1/2 to 4 inches long. The small framed guns like the S&W J-frame (model 36, 37, 60….) and Taurus model 85 are a bit harder to master and are generally not my recommendation. The Colt Police Positive & Detective Special with grips that fit your hands tend to be in between the medium and small category but as they are out of production and it’s hard to find one in good shape for your kind of budget or even a $500 one.
Used Smith & Wesson K-Frame i.e. Models 10,13,15,19, 64 ,65, 66.67(L-frame model 581, 586, 686 is good but heavy)
Used Ruger Speed/Security/Service Six or GP-100(heavy like the S&W L-Frame)
Used Colt IF you can find one in good shape for a decent price: the Police Positive Special, or Diamondback are both .38 Special that Colt approved for +P loads. Also heavy is the King Cobra
new a Taurus 6 or 7 shooter
-edit- Jeff is right about small .357s being nasty to shoot my all steel Taurus 605 is a very fast hard shove against the palm and a loud flashy beast for the report. With Speers Gold Dot Short Barrel .38 Spec. +P 135gr GDHP load it’s much easier to handle. This load is meant specifically to give good performance in a 2-3" barreled gun.
Older(pre-1990s?) alloy framed guns generally were not supposed to get much use if any at all with +P loads. Newer ones mostly are marked on the barrel: .38 Special +P if they are approved by the manufacturer.
March 6th, 2010 at 3:04 am
used smith and wesson
used Ruger
taurus
see gunbroker.com auctionarms.com gunsamerica.com
March 6th, 2010 at 3:04 am
Check at cabela’s or gander mountain for an off brand 357/38
March 6th, 2010 at 3:04 am
I have a Taurus ultra-lite in .38 Special. If I were to buy another one, I would get it in .357 Mag (you can also shoot .38 Special in that too). Crimson Trace makes a laser grip for it if you like that sort of thing. There’s no safety to worry about, the hammer is bobbed, so it won’t catch on anything, it’s a great concealed carry piece. For home defense, it would work just fine.
My fiance used a Smith & Wesson J frame in .357 magnum for concealed carry and home defense for years.
March 6th, 2010 at 3:04 am
I’d be looking for a good used K frame SW… and the .38 special with a good hollow point bullet(from 125-158grains) will work as well as a .357 magnum for home defense.
The J frame 5 shot would be a good choice for purse carry with a permit…again 38 special …. snub nosed guns are a little harder to shoot well…. and even the steel framed 357′s can be a bit recoil intensive…. 110 grain hollow point usually expand consistantly from the shorter barrels.
Taurus makes a very good alloy framed 38 plus P rated 5 shot snub— the 85 series pistols… and they can be found new in the $350 range
March 6th, 2010 at 3:04 am
Most of question is already done, but I would add Charter Arms to that list also. They make a nice snub most of the time.