I am guessing you have shot a bunch of different semi auto pistols already... 9mm, S&W 40, 45 ACP etc...You can always do what I did and purchase a very desirable model 29 .44 Magnum (Dirty Harry) Mine is with a 6.5 inch barrel. Not only is this gun fun to look at but it is outstanding to shoot. It is worth the average of a dollar a shot for factory loads. My next S&W will be a model 27 .357 magnum followed by a .45 Long Colt (Forgot the model) I consider myself novice because the .44 Magnum is my first gun purchase. I have shot my friend's .40, 9mm and .357 and even his S&W 500 so I was well prepared for the recoil of the .44. Others have said that you should go to a range that has rental guns and try them out. That would definately be a good idea.
Been Bitten By the Bug- Where Do I Start?
- Thread starter Ray1970
- Start date
Racegunner
Member
A 686 or 681 with a 4" barrel and you can stop right there ... but you won't 
OP
Ray1970
Member
I doubt I will acquire any 22 cal models... I am a little quirky when it comes to rim-fire guns and I just can't justify spending too much on one.... I was recently looking into getting a model 17 for my wife to shoot as she is just beginning to get into shooting handguns but the cheapest I could find one for locally was around $650... While I am perfectly happy spending that kind of money on a center-fire piece, I just can't bring myself to do it on a rim-fire.... I picked her up a Taurus 96 instead... I could have bought her three of them for what I would pay for one model 17.... and had money left over for ammunition.
If you don't want to spend too much, starting off with popular models that had large distributions will mean there should be more on the market and possible better deals.
I also am in my early 40's, have owned many gus over the years and happened to have sold off my semi-autos to collect/shoot S&Ws.
I started with a classic 17-3. Inexpensive to shoot, plenty to choose from and a great looking classic K frame.
My next purchase was a 28-2 because I like the looks of the gun and the flexibility of the 357 magnum cartridge. I'd like a 27-2 someday, but if you are starting off, the 28 is basically the same gun on the inside, just a different finish and a lot less money.
I purchased each of these for less than $600. If you shop around, you can find good deals.
I guess 2 questions you need to ask yourself are how much do you plan to spend and do you plan to shoot these or just collect for investment.
Some want mint condition high cost items and others are willing to purchase "slightly used" because they plan on shooting them anyway.
Personally, I shoot all the guns I own.
Just too much fun not to use them for what they were intended for.
Good luck and have fun too!!!!
I also am in my early 40's, have owned many gus over the years and happened to have sold off my semi-autos to collect/shoot S&Ws.
I started with a classic 17-3. Inexpensive to shoot, plenty to choose from and a great looking classic K frame.
My next purchase was a 28-2 because I like the looks of the gun and the flexibility of the 357 magnum cartridge. I'd like a 27-2 someday, but if you are starting off, the 28 is basically the same gun on the inside, just a different finish and a lot less money.
I purchased each of these for less than $600. If you shop around, you can find good deals.
I guess 2 questions you need to ask yourself are how much do you plan to spend and do you plan to shoot these or just collect for investment.
Some want mint condition high cost items and others are willing to purchase "slightly used" because they plan on shooting them anyway.
Personally, I shoot all the guns I own.
Just too much fun not to use them for what they were intended for.
Good luck and have fun too!!!!
rpg0123
Member
You can find lots of mint or near mint S&W's in the date range of this thread for $500 to $1000. I would decide what barrel size you want to start with first. 4", snub, etc. Do you want big bore or 38/357? I started off with a 4" model 19 357 but quickly developed a love for S&W snubs and wound up with two model 10 snubs, a model 15 snub, and a model 36 2" pretty rapidly. Now, I'm moving back toward 4" for awhile. With S&W the sky is the limit - all kinds of date ranges, frame sizes, finishes, etc. I would look around and find something that strikes you and start there.
OP
Ray1970
Member
Once again I would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and opinions... this is exactly the kind of input and advice I was seeking. I do plan on shooting my "collectibles" so picking up a LNIB piece is not a major concern for me. On the other end of the spectrum, I don't want a piece of junk with major finish wear either. Since the purpose of my S&W purchases is going to be for "pride of ownership" and occasional range time, I have ruled out the J-frames. Nothing wrong with the J-frames, especially for defensive purposes, but there are much better options for punching holes in paper at the range. I have kind of a passion for calibers that are a little off the beaten path (and sometimes way off the beaten path) so at this point I think I have come up with at least two criteria for my first purchase and will narrow it down from there.
My two criteria so far are:
1- barrel length of at least 4"... longer is OK too.
2- caliber of something other than 38/357 or 44mag... not looking to find an extremely odd or rare caliber... maybe just something in 44spcl, 41mag, 45colt or something along those lines.
If anyone wants to save me a little research and tell me which models may fit my criteria, please feel free to do so.
Thank you all again!
My two criteria so far are:
1- barrel length of at least 4"... longer is OK too.
2- caliber of something other than 38/357 or 44mag... not looking to find an extremely odd or rare caliber... maybe just something in 44spcl, 41mag, 45colt or something along those lines.
If anyone wants to save me a little research and tell me which models may fit my criteria, please feel free to do so.
Thank you all again!
model70hunter
Member
I have owned 41 mags, they are great. I own a 629 and it too is great and will be kept forever. I have 357's via 19-3, 27-3 and a 27-2. I like them all. The most fun centerfire is the 25-5 in 45 long colt. Almost no recoil with factory loads and throws a BIG 250 grain bullet down range, accurately. My next N frame want is a 29-2 in 4". It will get some 44 specials shot in it which should be similar to the 45 LC. So if you want one to do all it could be a 29 so you can do 44 mag and 44 specials.
rpg0123
Member
Models 57, 29 (shooting special), 21, 25 would be on my wish list for your caliber choices in 4". Out of your options I would probably look at the 25 in 45 LC. With the cowboy SA shooters out there, that round is probably a little easier to get ahold of than 44spl or 41 mag?
Last edited:
model70hunter
Member
I agree on better 45 LC ammo availability. I shoot cowboy loads in my 25-5. They are stocked in most of the shops I frequent. 44 SPL or 41 ammo is not stocked by many places.
Jeff423
US Veteran
A bit off topic but...
You might want to try reloading (if you're not already). Then you can afford to shoot any caliber you want. I found this to be particularly true with .41 magnum.
My 2 cents.
Jeff
You might want to try reloading (if you're not already). Then you can afford to shoot any caliber you want. I found this to be particularly true with .41 magnum.
My 2 cents.
Jeff
Yurko
US Veteran
OP
Ray1970
Member
Some of my favorite calibers are things like .223 Ackley, .30 Herrett, and .22 K-Hornet.... most of my firearms have never even seen a factory round... so availability of factory ammunition is not a factor for me.
