New to me Model 28-2 Highway Patrolman

[Critch]

I saw this at an LGS yesterday,,,I've never owned an N-frame 357 magnum and I've been looking. This one was made in late 1967. It had some old magna grips on it but I switched them to the Pachmayr Presentations, they are just more functional.

I got 50 rounds of Blazer 158 grain through it yesterday, between horseflies and skeeters....very pleasant to shoot.

The piece has been taken care of, no major scratches or dings and it locks up tight...

 

[shown50]

Looks nice! Model 28s are great guns I’m still on the hunt for a 4 inch. Here’s my -2

 

[329]

Nice catch, I'd pick up a 4" in a heartbeat.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I bought my 6" back in 1981 because I couldn't find a 4"-had to settle for a 4" M-27 instead. If you see an M-28 grab it, it is the closest we have to an all around revolver. Herrett's on my M-28, Pachmayrs on my M-27 for shooting comfort.

 

[PeteC]

Great find! Btw, "some old Magnas" for N-frames are worth quite a bit of money, especially those that left the factory before 1968 with a diamond center around the grip screw escutcheon. I would not toss them into the discarded grip pile, even if you prefer to shoot yours with those Pachmayr presentation grips.

I like to shoot mine with target grips, but I also have oversized hands with fat fingers, which helps. In the pic, on top is a 28-2 from the same period as yours with the target grips I use, on the bottom is a 28 with period-correct diamond-center N-frame Magnas. If those are what you have, I would either save them, or sell them to another forum member who may be looking for a set!

 

[Critch]

I will keep the magna grips for it. They are fairly ratty though, rubbed fairly smooth with big dings in the bottom of the grips. My reloading task for the weekend will be 100 rounds of either 180 grain Keith style LSWCs or some 200 grain hardball (if I can find them).

I ordered an Azula pancake holster for it.

These revolvers were carried by a ton of police agencies around the country. Too bad the Air Force didn't give us these instead of the Model 15s...

 

[.38SuperMan]

Here’s my 28-2 I bought new in 1977. I still have all the paperwork including the moisture barrier paper and the receipt. I grew up a shooter but didn’t have a gun other than black powder at the time. There was an attempted breaking at my home at that time and I felt the need to have something I could protect myself and wife with.

I need to pull the receipt and put it in the box too. I think it was around $175 new. I wanted the M27 but didn’t want to go the extra cash for it at that time.

In the 80’s I sold it to my younger brother for a while to raise the money for an fee blue 6” Python. Eventually my brother tired of the M28 and sold it back to me for what he paid.

Other than the turn line there’s not a mark on it. I have to admit I’d still like to have a very nice M27-2 6” to go with my M28.

Congratulations on acquiring a great revolver.

 

[Pine_Worker]

Can’t go wrong with a 4” HP!

 

[JP@AK]

Here’s my 28-2 I bought new in 1977.
I think it was around $175 new.

That sounds about right. I bought one (a 4") new in 1975 for $135 and change. Get this: bought it at Montgomery Wards. Bought a 2" Model 64 for my wife at the same time in the same store. All the big department stores had a gun section in those days.

 

[Pine_Worker]

My first 28 was purchased in the mid ‘70’s from a gun shop for $128. Memories!

 

[Breakaway500]

OP...If you move that blurry dark object I could see the guns..

 

[Jdavis]

I’m sure that Critch is loving his new model 28. I love the balance and feel of the 4” and intend to buy one some day. I currently own a 1964 28-2, 6” that I have added target stocks, trigger, and hammer. It has all the goodness of its more expensive brother without the fine details and finish.

 

[.38SuperMan]

That sounds about right. I bought one (a 4") new in 1975 for $135 and change. Get this: bought it at Montgomery Wards. Bought a 2" Model 64 for my wife at the same time in the same store. All the big department stores had a gun section in those days.

One of the upper end department stores in town had a really good gun department. At that time hardware stores often carried guns too. I bought my Python from a mom and pop hardware store in a little nearby town and my Super Blackhawk in another hardware store in another nearby small town and every hardware store carried ammo.

 

[Hair Trigger]

I will keep the magna grips for it. They are fairly ratty though, rubbed fairly smooth with big dings in the bottom of the grips. My reloading task for the weekend will be 100 rounds of either 180 grain Keith style LSWCs or some 200 grain hardball (if I can find them).

Lighten up those bullets some, both you and the gun will like it better. 158 grain is the optimum for magnum loads, the 180's would be good as reduced power loads around 950-1000 fps. H110, Win 296, IMR 4227 and AA#9 work well in .357M.

 

[JP@AK]

Lighten up those bullets some, both you and the gun will like it better. 158 grain is the optimum for magnum loads

I agree. I have fired hundreds of rounds using 158 gr. LSWC handloads in my Highway Patrolman revolvers over the past 50 years. Performance has always been excellent.

In the 1970s I tried some of Speer's 158 grain half-jacketed SWCs, but I stopped shooting those because the jacket would often separate completely from the lead core. Used in a .38 Special with reduced loads, they were fine.

In February, 1985, I had to shoot a charging cow moose in the face to keep her from running over my friend and me with our snow machines. My HP was loaded with heavy handloads using 158 gr Hornady jacketed hollow points. The bullet traveled through the side of her face and lodged in her left shoulder. It turned her away from us, but didn't put her down. A couple hours later, I followed the blood trail (lots of snow on the ground) and found her up and eating in the willows.

The story has a sequel. A few days later, we got notified of a moose hit by a train in the same area. We took the snow machines up to salvage the meat and it turned out to be the same cow. I found my bullet in her left shoulder. We ate her.

Note: for you flatlanders, "snow machine" is the Alaska term for what you all call a "snowmobile."

 

[Critch]

That sounds about right. I bought one (a 4") new in 1975 for $135 and change. Get this: bought it at Montgomery Wards. Bought a 2" Model 64 for my wife at the same time in the same store. All the big department stores had a gun section in those days.

I bought a Ruger Super Blackhawk and a Ruger .22 caliber automatic at Monkey Wards in Cheyenne, WY in 1973 when I was stationed there. Still have the Ruger 22.

 

[Dvus]

Note: for you flatlanders, "snow machine" is the Alaska term for what you all call a "snowmobile."

Thanks Jack. I really miss my "snow machine", I just didn't have a need for it after moving to Oklahoma.

 

[McGeezer]

Great find and a great revolver. Got mine in '73 as a rookie PO and carried it in uniform and as a plainclothes officer for most of my 30+ year career. Never let me down.

 

[robvious]

I understand the joy you have found... now your search for a 6 inch begins.. lol careful.. they are addictive

 

[Pointblank2U]

It was my first duty gun in 1975.