357 questions

Long ago I was a young man with a family and limited $. I wanted a S&W but, the price was so much higher than others and I bought an other. I just wasn't satisfied and finally sold the "other" at a loss and got a S&W. If I would have waited I would have been better off. I have since never regretted buying any Smith. I have only regretted selling the once I have sold.

So, wait and save. If I was looking for a 357. I would get an L frame although I am an N frame fan, the N frames are kind of big for the 357 and in my opinion better when they have a 4 plus number.
 
....want a 357 with 6" barrel .......I'm looking for a mechanical sound 357 single and double action 6" barrel that I can put thousands of rounds threw with a great warranty like I said on a budget of 300$ it don't half to be pretty so if you know a budget brand that fits all categories I asked about let me know

I agree with the others. I would save up for a S&W or a Ruger, all the while keeping my eye open for a used L (586 or 686) or N frame (model 28) because every now and then one pops up from an individual seller for a great price (maybe close to $300 if you're really lucky) but you would be without a warranty.

Re: S&W and Ruger warranties - see end of post.

Your best bet for a good warranty is to deal with a distributor or reseller that offers a "great warranty."

For example, Davidson's Inc. (www.galleryofguns.com - Buy guns online, top brands, best price, best service, best warranty; all types of firearms: revolvers, rifles, pistols and shotguns.), a distributor, offers a lifetime warranty on firearms purchased through them. You can buy directly from them although they are usually out of stock on S&W revolvers. It looks like a new Ruger GP100 is about $625 out the door depending on your location and local gun stores that participate with Davidson's.

Other resellers or distributors may offer similar lifetime or 100%guarantee warranties similar to Davidson's. For example, Bud's Gun Shop website implies they have a very thorough warranty on BOTH new and USED guns. Here's a link to their warranty page:
Discount Guns for Sale - Buds Gun Shop
A new Ruger GP100 is $524 + FFL transfer through Bud's. I'm not sure if taxes would be involved? My interpretation is that the $399 police trade-ins at Bud's would be covered under their warranty which appears very generous however it does not fit your criteria of a 6" gun. A new Taurus 66 from Bud's is only $73 less expensive than the Ruger GP100.

John

Here are the warranties from S&W and Ruger:
From the S&W website:
1. Lifetime Service Policy
"We will repair any defect in material or workmanship without charge to the original purchaser for as long as you own the handgun."
2. From the Ruger website:
"The Magnuson-Moss Act (Public Law 93-637) does not require any seller or manufacturer of a consumer product to give a written warranty. It does provide that if a written warranty is given, it must be designated as "limited" or as "full" and sets minimum standards for a "full" warranty. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. has elected not to provide any written warranty, either "limited" or "full", rather than to attempt to comply with the provisions of the Magnuson-Moss Act and the regulations issued thereunder. There are certain implied warranties under state law with respect to sales of consumer goods. As the extent and interpretation of these implied warranties varies from state to state, you should refer to your state statutes. Sturm, Ruger & Company wishes to assure its customers of its continued interest in providing service to owners of Ruger firearms."
 
I saw a new, high quality 357 with a full warantee costing $300 once...it was carried by a man riding a unicorn and eating rainbow stew....


You really do get what you pay for..barring that 1 in a million deal on a used revolver
 
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The money you have to spend just may not be enough. But, you are on a S&W enthusiast forum asking what to buy. I would suggest you also stop over at the Taurus forum & see what they have say....
 
$300.00????? What you might buy for that amount wouldn't be worth three cents, unless you could find a clueless seller. Good luck.
 
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My first thought when I saw the thread title was:

Man, that's a lot of questions!

Anyway, I also agree with everyone else. $300 probably isn't gonna do it.
 
Some gun manufacturers use the "Lifetime Warranty" as a way to cut costs. They save money by not having a quality control dept. Instead they send the bad guns out with the good guns and let the buyer be the quality control. It has worked for Taurus.
If you can save up enough money to buy a quality revolver it will retain it's value. I bought a used Smith and Wesson revolver (model 36) several years ago for $350. Today it is worth...$350. I haven't lost much money on it.
 
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Not a problem, you just need a time machine...
I remember buying a like new model 28 for $235, and a 66 for $250, and my Dan Wesson was $265....
 
About the closest for $300.00 would be a Ruger Blackhawk, used. If you look around a lot, you might find a Ruger GP100 for about $400.00. The Security Six is good but parts may be hard to find.

EAA has a Windicator model but I dont know how good it is. Had a couple of their single action Bounty Hunters in 44 Magnum that were good guns.

Years ago I would have said get the Highway Patrolman. But they are way high now.
 
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You should save more money and get a solid model like a smith or ruger. If you plan on putting thousands of rounds through it, what's a couple extra hundred. Your budget is too low and you will end up with a Taurus exploding model.

Good advice and don't fall for the curmudgeon talk about how much better the old stuff is. New guns are made of stronger materials and built to tighter tolerances. Old stuff is about romance, tradition and hand polished bluing.

Get what you want but don't limit yourself. If you want to feed it a steady diet of really hot stuff like Buffalo Bore, a Ruger GP100 may be your best bet. Don
 
Ben Franklin said it best......

"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten"

Save, get a good quality gun my friend.
 

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