Impossible S&W Decision

[Engine49guy]

He he he.....and so it begins

 

[awp101]

Nope. Experience says that no matter how many you have, you're always looking forward to that next one. Ask me how I know.

Yep, it's always "Just one more"...

 

[rwsmith]

The psychologists say......

........that there is a VERY THIN LINE between pain and pleasure. So, punish yourself by picking up a Smith.

 

[lhump1961]

Nothing more fun than a revolver. I'm a die hard K and L frame fan with not enough examples in the safe. Here's a few favorites...

 

[Brian in Oregon]

Well then you NEED to have at least one in each frame size.

And then each finish (blue, nickel & stainless).

And then each cartridge.

And then each barrel length.

And fluted and unfluted cylinders.

And then pintos and reverse pintos.

And then prewar and postwar.

Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

 

[Brian in Oregon]

He he he.....and so it begins

That image begs for True Story Time....

Back when we were first married and I had to smuggle new guns into the house, I knew it was a matter of time before the wife would realize I had a lot of guns. Especially since I was handling and cleaning the preciouses every night.

So, thinking I was clever as a fox, I decided to collect mainly 4" K-frames and 6"/6.5" N frames, though a few others crept in. Figured she would only see the outline and not realize how many there were.

I figured, hey, this is great, I'm getting away with murder.

One day I bring home a nice PPK/L in .22 LR.

As I'm admiring it and wiping it down in my easy chair, the wife is eagle eyeing me from across the room

Finally she squints her eyes, and then forms a frown, and says, "Is that your Nazi PPK or is that a NEW PPK?"

I start stammering and she continues, "Don't think I don't know how many guns you have. You fiddle with them every night. I see the differences."

Oops.

 

[muddocktor]

Heh, if you lived near New Iberia, LA I would take you out to the range with my N frames and see how you would like actually shooting some quality revolvers before you went buying. I have several 27's, a 627 Pro, a 629 Classic and just for giggles I would break out the Coonan too. I bet you never shot a 357 Magnum 1911 style pistol either. Much more fun than shooting a 45 Auto 1911 except for trying to recover the brass afterwards. I still have to acquire an 8 3/8" and 6" 27 to finish out my model 27 collection, but do have 3 1/2", 4", 5" and 6 1/2" 27's. You really need to get out with someone who has some nice S&W revolvers and try them out.

EDIT: Here is a pic of the Coonan my brother caught when at the range one cloudy afternoon. I bet you never saw flame like that out of your 1911.

 

[petemacmahon]

And this Forum does NOT help! All the wonderful choices for every occasion. All I can say is ... it's painful.

Yeah, don't come to us for help!!

I've recently come to the point on the curve that I'm approaching the top, as I've realized that I've pretty much acquired every one that I set out to 20 years ago or at least every caliber. I don't collect, I buy shooters. As to the L & N frames, I'm way behind getting them "blooded" in the deer fields so I think my focus will be to hunt with them and score now.

But those pesky K frames are another story! There's always another one I don't have! agh, I'm doomed here!!!!

 

[POWinCA]

If you must have a revolver...

If you must have a revolver and you may only get one, then the clear choice is a Smith and Wesson 686 or 686 plus.

If you have a less constrained budget, then get one of the eight round 357 magnums.

357 is a deadly round but still manageable, and you always have the choice of loading 38 special or 38 +P. You can also use 38 for target practice and 357 for self defense.

Barrel length depends a lot on what you plan to use it for. A snub nose is concealable but the flash and report will be awful. A 4 inch barrel is ideal.

44 magnums are fun, but not practical unless you are in places with bears or moose. And even in those cases a handgun is grossly under powered. It's just better than nothing at all.

J frame revolvers are a fistful of dynamite, especially with 357 magnum rounds. They hurt like hell for any period of prolonged shooting. For a pocket pistol you're better off with a small 9mm or 40.

 

[LJBrennan007]

So I promised my bride that I would sell some guns to help pay off the Kreighoff K-80 that I was certain would increase my trap scores (it hasn't yet). So I sold a Ruger Red Label and then I sold my M66-1 snubbie NIB gun. All was well until I took the M66 to my LGS yesterday for shipping the the other guy's FFL holder, and don't I walk out with not one but TWO new handguns--a Colt Diamondback .22 and a Browning Nomad .22 auto. Oh well, I tried!

 

[supervisor]

You can never have too many guns or tools.

 

[supervisor]

I had a gun shop years ago and a fellow came in and asked if I had any old air rifles. I did not but asked him why he wanted them. He was getting married in a few days and said he would put them in his gun cabinet and when he wanted a new rifle he would take an old air rifle from the cabinet put it in a dumpster and bring home a new rifle so his wife would not know. A few weeks after he was married his wife came in and bought him a Ruger 77R for their two week anniversary. I asked her if she had any sisters.

 

[Acadianlion]

Well, it's serendipitous indeed! I just happen to be selling a very nice Model 67-1 as we speak. This gun was purchased by me in 1979 or perhaps early 1980 from a client who had opened a small gun shop. I went in on my way home from my office one night and there she was, all silvery, and lovely in his case. No box, and he said it had been fired, but I couldn't see how that could have been and I HAD to have it. I bought it and then put it away until last year when I decided I wanted to do some shooting. That's right: my pistol had been in safe storage from 37 years and never was fired. Since I began to shoot, I have found my interests change some and the familiar old, K-frame that was my first .38 experience in the airforce has changed. I am not a collector, so I will sell this pretty nice 67-1 to finance something else.

And yes there is a slim chance that I may regret it. But if I do, I'll break down and buy another revolver, but probably not one like this.

Since I began to shoot last year I have put around 300 rounds through the 67-1.

Best of luck with your addiction!

 

[Brian in Oregon]

...EDIT: Here is a pic of the Coonan my brother caught when at the range one cloudy afternoon. I bet you never saw flame like that out of your 1911.

That's an image you don't see every day. You tripped the shutter just before the gun fired, then when the gap in the shutter reached the midway point, the muzzle flash lit up the scene.

 

[TAC]

Well then you NEED to have at least one in each frame size.

It's even worse than that! Sometimes you need several barrel lengths, all in the same frame size. It never ends! You can't fight it, there is no cure!

 

[jr235]

Gun-O-Holic

You are in good company...instead of being an alcoholic you are a Gun-O-Holic Oh hell, I think I'm one too! We can start a new organization Gun-O-Holic Anonymous, we would have to stand up and say to the group , My name is John Doe and I am a Gun-O-Holic VOTE Donald J Trump and protect the 2nd Amendment

 

[Tex_1968]

Well then you NEED to have at least one in each frame size.

Don't forget one of each barrel length!

 

[Traxless]

If you must have a revolver and you may only get one, then the clear choice is a Smith and Wesson 686 or 686 plus.

If you have a less constrained budget, then get one of the eight round 357 magnums.

357 is a deadly round but still manageable, and you always have the choice of loading 38 special or 38 +P. You can also use 38 for target practice and 357 for self defense.

Barrel length depends a lot on what you plan to use it for. A snub nose is concealable but the flash and report will be awful. A 4 inch barrel is ideal.

44 magnums are fun, but not practical unless you are in places with bears or moose. And even in those cases a handgun is grossly under powered. It's just better than nothing at all.

J frame revolvers are a fistful of dynamite, especially with 357 magnum rounds. They hurt like hell for any period of prolonged shooting. For a pocket pistol you're better off with a small 9mm or 40.

Your advice is wonderful ... maybe because my self-directed study augmented with readings from this forum have helped me to reach the same conclusion. The S&W first on my list is the 686SSR. I've not been able to shoot one, but have rented and borrowed several other S&W revolvers and found them very accurate for my skill level. If I stumble upon an older 686 close to home, then all bets are off.

 

[henry1089]

Me too...I feel much better about myself now

I don't post much, but love the forum..I couldn't resist this thread
In the early 80's I had several Smiths and a few Colts and a couple of High standards. I Sold them all when the kids came along (except for a 6" M19 and a nice M41)
Started buying Smith revolvers about 4-5 years ago and now I can't stop..... Please send help.
At least I'm not alone, and now I know where to go for comfort and consolation after I've spent all my $$ and brought home yet another fine piece of American Craftsmanship and history. A fascinating hobby and without question addictive, boarding on obsession
I have no plans to stop anytime soon

 

[muddocktor]

Traxless, if you like the looks of the 686 SSR, then also look at the 627 Pro. Same type 4" barrel but 8 shots instead of 6. It is also cut for moon clips and includes 3 with the revolver. I bought mine and received it in May and have well over 1000 rounds down the pipe from mild to wild and it's a darn nice gun! If you shop online you can find it for less than $800. I bought mine from Bud's.