Revolver or semi help

shown50

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Whats up I'm thinking of buying some more guns my problem is Idk if I wanna add to my smith collection with some more revolvers or go with a semi auto 9mm I go shooting a couple times a week with my model 14-3 .38 which I love but 9mm is a little cheaper I've looked at the fn p I think it's called and the rra 1911 tactical I need some opinions
 
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Although revolvers are my first true love, some of the semi's have captured my interest.

The 9's have become a favorite for me. Low cost of ammo, much better selection of self defense rounds than 25 years ago and just downright fun to shoot.

Nothing wrong with a little variety in our lives.
 
I like S&W BUT

this may be sacrilege but there are other guns out there that are fun to shoot. I had never heard of Rock Island Armory(RIA) and confused them with Rock River Arms.. BUT I bought the steel frame 1911 that shoots a 22 TCM cartridge and has a conversion barrel, spring and extractor for 9mm. Price was very reasonable. The 22 TCM is a blast.. loud and a big muzzle flash. Have not tried the 9mm yet but the fit and finish of the gun are very good, esp for the price.
So I have a nice steel 1911 frame that shoots this new 22 TCM and also 9mm. I think this was a win/win for me. It costs more than the 9mm but I think you would like the ability to switch calibers.

I do like steel over Tupperware :)
 
First off, you never cannot have too much guns.

Second, buy what you like. There's a huge variety of calibers and models out there, so try 'em and buy 'em...

The only thing who can stop you is your budget...
 
I was in the exact same boat as the OP about a year ago; I liked .38's a lot but the price of ammo was eating me up.

My solution; I wandered over to the reloading threads and, VOILA!, I've reloaded over 3,000 rounds of .38 special in the last 6 months at an average price of less than $7 per box of 50. I'm shopping the lead and primers more aggressively and have lowered my cost even more.

I know this isn't a reloading thread - but I put less than $200 into gear and have already saved 6 or 7 hundred beans on ammo.

Suffice it to say; my 9's are quite lonely these days.

Edit: of course I could reload 9mm too with just another set of dies!
 
Hmm lot of good info my problem is do I wanna get a couple revolvers to put up in the box like my dad did with all his smiths so when I'm his age(60) and have a son I can pass them down or go with a semi in 9 and use it to death
 
Check out the Semi-Auto Pistols threads. You'll be showered with information on the 3rd generation S&W 9's as well as the M&P 9 and Shield.

And do us old guys a favor. Please use some punctuation and capital letters. It's not easy to read "text speak".

Small gripe but hey, I'm old and grumpy!

Thanks! :)
 
I find that my appreciation for fine firearms spans both revolvers and autos and I need both to feel whole. When I go to the range I usually bring a couple of both!;)

I have a 22a that I bring most of the time to practice the fundamentals at a low cost...shoot as many as I want without blowing the ammo budget...then move to the others. I have improved my shooting skill with all my guns using that .22 to groove my habits. Many people have .22's for that reason and it works! Of course the .22 is good for that occasional gopher as well and given that I shoot it quite a lot that gopher is in real trouble.:)
 
If you're shooting a Model 14, it'll be a challenge for you to find a semi-auto (I call them "square guns") that will shoot anywhere near as well. The Model 52 is a fantastic semi-auto, but it shoots .38 Special wadcutters only.

I think you should look into reloading. You will be surprised at how much money you can save and how enjoyable it can be. Also, the costs will reverse. Most 9mm use jacketed bullets while most .38 target loads are lead.
 
As much as I love wheelguns, if you're not sure about picking between a 38 or a 9mm, and you already have a great shooting 38, you may as well add that 9mm to your collection so you have both of what you like.
 

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