I bought one new back in the early 90s. I liked the way it shot. I even put some 115 and 124 grain +P+ thru it and thought it handled great. I think that heavy 158 grain +Ps and hot 125s kicked more from a .38 than the 9 mms from that gun. I wasn't keen about the moon clips, but it was more of a personal thing. The problem I had with the gun was that it locked up and would not let me open the cylinder one afternoon. I'd been shooting Fed Hydra Shok 147s. After it cooled down, I got it unloaded and back to the shop that sold it. It got back to S&W, allegedly fixed, but no explaination as to what was actually done, so I traded it for a .38 version right there. Now I wish I'd kept it.