38-44 Outdoorsman or Mod. 28?

[RacingSnake]

Hi I dont know much about the Outdoorsman and would appreciate some information.

I am looking for a revolver with a 6" plus barrel to shoot exclusively .38 special and need some more information on the 38-44 Outdoorsman to make a decision. Information on the model 28 is easier to get and I know it chambered for .357 and is also an N frame.

Is the 38-44 a good choice for hunting and fun / informal target shooting and are parts still available - I understand it is a much older model? Is it as good as the K38?

Hope you can help.

With thanks, Racingsnake

 

[DCWilson]

The .38/44 Outdoorsman is a great revolver. Many members of this forum love them and own more than one.

The Prewar ODs were made from 1931 to 1940, and then some transitional ODs were assembled in the late 1940s using some prewar parts but with the heavy ribbed barrels that characterize postwar N-frames. In 1950 the modern short action was introduced for the N-frames, and at that point the .38/44 had the configuration that came to be called the Model 23 when S&W went to model numbers instead of names in 1957.

The closest match to the Model 28 in the .38-44 line would be a Pre-23 or Model 23. The model-marked guns are uncommon and their price reflects their rarity. But even the Pre-23s tend to be a little pricey. They are excellent and highly accurate revolvers.

I'm not sure I'd think of the .38 Special as a hunting cartridge, but I suppose someone who knew what he was doing could take a deer with some of the hotter available loads. I mostly just shoot wadcutter ammo in mine when I take them to the range.

The N-frame Outdoorsman is the heaviest and sturdiest standard issue .38 Special that S&W ever made. The K-frame guns, which are the company's standard .38 Special platform, seem small and light by comparison.

Parts are available, so don't worry on that count. And if you buy one and don't like it, you are unlikely to have any trouble reselling it. Only 8000 units were made after the war (transitional and Model of 1950 combined), so there is no supply imbalance on this model.

Sounds like you are already oriented toward postwar production, which is good. The rear sight on the postwar revolvers (large micrometer click assembly) is superior to the small rear sight assembly on the prewar models.

 

[P&R Fan]

If you have a choice and both are available, get the Outdoorsman. Highly sought after by collectors and just plain cool. Plus it being an N-Frame you probably couldn't shoot it enough with sane loads to wear it out. Those are revolvers are brutes. They didn't name the fixed sight 38/44 version the Heavy Duty for nothing.
The M28 is a great gun, but I think you'd really like the Outdoorsman, I sure like mine.

 

[bgrafsr]

I like mine too, and I have three of them. A post war Outdoorsman (pre 23), a blue 5 inch Heavy Duty, and a Model 20-2, 4 inch nickel HD from the Austin, Tx. PD. I shoot the outdoorsman and blued HD, but so far haven't shot the nickel one.

 

[RacingSnake]

Guys, thanks so much for the information that helps me a lot. David, your synopsis was very informative. It looks as though the 38-44 is a great gun. I should've mentioned that the 'hunting' I want to do is really varmit work - I'm not trying to take down larger animals. I like the idea of a revolver that lasts a life time.

I've been re-reading some of Glen Fryxell's articles on relaoding the older model cast hollow points and the Outdoorsman seems the ideal gun to work up loads with.

Best regards, Racingsnake

 

[BUFF]

Anything you can shoot in an Outdoorsman, you can shoot in a Highway Patrolman (any and all .38 Special ammo).

The inverse of this is not true. You can't shoot .357 Mag ammo in an Outdoorsman. The Highway Patrolman is thus more versatile. It gives you useful options.

It sounds like you are going to be toting the gun around outdoors a bit. Be aware that value declines rapidly with blue loss.

It is also going to cost you a good bit more to buy an Outdoorsman than a Highway Patrolman in the same conditions. For what a nice Outdoorsman will cost or less, you can buy the deluxe N frame .357 Magnum, the Model 27. That gun is even prettier and cooler.

If I wanted a shooter, it would be the .357, especially in a field gun. If all I wanted to shoot was .38's, I'd likely buy a smaller, lighter K frame gun, and even then, I'd buy a Model 19 or 66 before I bought a K-38.

I think the Outdoorsman has it's greatest appeal to collectors and handloaders looking for something different. Nothing wrong with that, I just think you get more for your money with the Magnums.

 

[NE450No2]

For your described use I would get a Mod 27 with a 6" barrel. An older gun without the lock.

 

[Pisgah]

It really boils down to what level of performance you want. Of course, either should do fine with standard .38 loads, and the Outdoorsman can handle loads that are not too short of the .357 -- but the .357 tops those loads with some authority. In truth, you are not giving up much if you limit yourself to the heavy .38-44 loads -- but you do give up a bit in comparison to the.357. Both are fine, useful revolvers.

 

[RacingSnake]

Buff you make some valid points. The model 19 has great balance, while the model 27 can handle the hotter loads.

Regards, Racingsnake

 

[alwslate]

Sounds like you are looking for a working gun rather than a collectable.
Get the 28. Cheaper, newer and more versatile.

 

[epj]

If this is a gun you intend to carry in the field, the suggestion of a M19 or a M66 (the 19's stainless counterpart) makes a lot of sense. They are considerably lighter, a little handier, and will shoot any .38 Special ammo on the planet for the rest of your life. They aren't as stout as the N frame, but plenty stout for what you want. I had a 6" 19 for many years and it was very accurate, fast handling, and easy to carry. Were I to seek another 6" for field duty, I'd likely look for a 66 due to the stainless construction.

 

[fyimo]

The Model 28 is a working mans revolver and are a model 27 without the high luster blue and the checkered steel top strap. They were carried by a lot of LEO's back in the day and they are a great gun. They are eactly the same mechanically as the model 27. So for a lot less then the .38/44 you can get a gun that will even handle 357 loads and will do everything you can do with the outdoorsman and a bit more.

The Model 27 is a beautiful revolver and to some like me the best looking of the lot of S&W revolvers and it too will cost less then the outdoorsman.

For varmint hunting you could also consider a K22/model 17 or model 18 in 22lr. A nice light revolver that are very accurate and great fun to shoot.

 

[RacingSnake]

I like the idea of the model 19 / 66 with 6inch barrel. Recoil is a bit harder than the model 28 with .357 loads but with .38 it's a great package. Thanks for all the advice.

Regards, Racingsnake

 

[BUFF]

Everyone's comments are good things to think about and analyze some, but, after thinking things through, I always advise people to buy the one they like the most.