S&W beater Revolver for beginners

[UnderDawgAl]

Ditto on the Model 64 for beater gun. I've got one, and I love shooting it. It points and balances great, has good fixed sights, shoots more accurately than I can hold, and is easy to keep clean. I prefer blued to stainless, but the Model 64 is a dandy for all-around use.

On the SA front, I've got three Rugers: Single-Six 32 Mag, blued w/adj sights; Flattop New Model 44 Spl, blued; Single-Six 22 blued.

 

[Tennjed]

Hey Tenn, just FYI; those 64's on JG that you refer to are typically going to be hammerless. So check before buying. I thought to mention it because you like single actions. If you enjoy SA, and buy a hammerless accidentally you might find yourself going; Arrrrrgggghhh!

Good point and thanks. Now that I think about it I would not want a hammerless gun

 

[Sgt Neutron]

Just to put my 2¢ in.....In the past couple of years I've gotten 3 Model 65's (4" bbl), each in the $250 price range. All are former police guns, one is in better shape than the other two. The two lesser condition guns are used when I go hiking & fishing. Both have Pachmayr gripper grips on them, and I use Fobus paddle holsters. The 65's are nice because I can use both .357 & .38 ammo. The holsters are kydex and won't retain moisture (same reason for the Pachmayrs). Fixed sights won't get knocked out of adjustment. I also seal my primers and case mouths with lacquer to keep my powder dry. When I'm out fishing, I want a dependable revolver with adequate power, but not one that I'm going to worry about if spashed with water, or bumped against a rock or branches. There are Police 65's on the auction sites that are dinged up a bit, but good otherwise.

 

[williamlayton]

I distinguish between a shooter and a beater.
I would never put a shooter in a tool box. I really don't see the advantage of a gun in a tool box anyway.
A Beater is a project gun that is bought to get it back to speed and a shooter.
A shooter is not a collector piece. It is a run of the mill weapon, without pedigree, it loves the dark of a glove box and is a desireable shooter--reliable and kept well, if not in the dark.
I have one onder a matress, one in the kitchen, one hidden near the front door, one near the back door, one in the back computer room, one normally rides in the console of the Pony car--if not on my hip.
I shoot all of these on a regular basis because they are fun to shoot. I take care of them.
A Rossi is a desireable gun for a tool box--who cares what happens to it--it is a last chance gun anyway.
Blessings

 

[David LaPell]

If you want a revolver to beat on, but a Taurus but you are going to want a spare while the first one is being repaired in Brazil. But if you want a reliable gun to shoot (but still take care of) get a Smith Model 10 or pre-Model 10. This old timer didn't cost alot and will shoot whatever, whenever.

 

[Tennjed]

David and William,

You might actually want to read the thread before you post....I stating many times that "beater" was the wrong word o use around you S&W fellows.

I am looking for a Smith that has already gotten a few scratches on it.....which should bring the price down......that I will take care of just will not get too upset if it gets more scratches.

I may keep it in my toolbox or tackle box when I am out fishing or on the farm but I promise to keep it holstered

 

[ColbyBruce]

I got a "beater" gun for you. I ran across a Colt Official Police Mk III .38 special, blue, 6" barrel, FS, IIRC $225.00. The ejector rod is slightly bent, the LH corner of the hammer is broken off, and it has a few marks in the blue finish like blood got on it. P.M. me if you want to know where it is.

 

[JayBird686]

For 361 you can get a brand new, ie with lifetime warranty, model 442/642 from budsgunshop. Might be something to think about.

After the initial "newness" of having my 642, i realized it is a carry gun and not a bbq gun. Mine is six months old and has character, the finish on the barrel is flaking off. Does it bother me? Not really, its only gonna get worse i imagine, and if i sent it to Smith, it would probably happen again.

 

[gr7070]

Do not get a J-frame as your first revolver.

Any (of the many) used K-frame for $300 or less would be a good buy.

Pretty simple.

 

[Maximumbob54]

"Not to hijack my own thread, but do any of you Smith and Wesson fellows shoot many Single Actions? If so what are your favorites?"

- Ruger NM Blackhawk .45 Colt -

 

[gr7070]

No single actions here. I would like to pick up a Single Six some day...

 

[BAM-BAM]

I started reading this thread yesterday........... boy did the word "beater" bring out the "reaction" from the group...... so 5 pages later.........

I understood the intent of the OP.......so let me suggest the term;

"utility gun(s)" for those that are "working guns" for "field use"......

good S&W guns that are not collectable and have seen and show some honest use........ often these are police trade ins. Mine are a 6904 a 5906 and a 4 inch model 66.

Guns that are treated well and well cared for but if the grips get bumped or a slide gets dinged..... I still cringe but I know I can live with it.

 

[A10]

As for single actions, the first handgun I ever owned was a Single Six, great shooter, pointed great, fantastic balance and a good trigger out of the box. I speak in past tense because it was the first handgun my then fiance ever shot, and she took it from me. 28 years later, it is still in the house but belongs to my wife. I've owned alot (ALOT) of Ruger single actions, mostly in .45. Great guns, just never had one I liked so much I had to keep it, so they all went off as trading guns. Never lost any money on them. I have a couple black powder Colt 1860 copies I really enjoy shooting. My favorite I ever handled was an original prototype Paterson revolver, just loved having my hands on something the colonel no doubt worked on. Never even asked how much the guy would take, no doubt I could have bought a REALLY nice house with that amount of cash!

 

[jframe]

I just bought a Model 65 today, stainless .357 Magnum with a four inch heavy bull barrel. Not the prettiest I've seen, but I spent about an hour and a half with cleaning then Mother's Mag Polish, and it looks pretty damn good. Seems to lock up tight, and has a decent set of square butt Magna grips serial numbered to the gun. On top of it all, it dates to roughly 1981, so it has the pinned in barrel that is slightly more desirable on S&W's, and the recessed chambers in the cylinder, which came with all Magnum caliber Smiths before 1982. The best part? $300.00 bucks from a friend who needed some cash to pay school bills. Have to go back tomorrow and pick up whatever ammo he has to throw in with the deal. You can't go wrong with these fixed sight, stainless .38/.357's. However, I DO believe they should be taken care of, which is why I came home and cleaned, polished, and re-oiled it, and have been rubbing on it ever since.

 

[VaRecon]

Good point and thanks. Now that I think about it I would not want a hammerless gun

You can still get hammered from the factory for around 550, last I saw.

 

[whtsmoke]

the lgs has some of those S&W's for 300 bucks cash, they look pretty good

 

[amazingflapjack]

overseas undies?

So the draws are made in Nam now. That's ironic, because it was there that I learned not to wear underwear over 40 years ago, and still don't! Flapjack.

 

[1jimmy]

my guess is price, size and weight are big factors. smith has recently lowered a lot of there prices. model 637 and 638 are both 5 shot, light weight 38 caliber revolvers. one has a shrouded hammer the other is exposed. prices were 616.00 retail now they are 449.00 retail. all smith revolvers are good imo.

 

[Roberto Renauld]

Buy a good used Smith and Wesson Model 10 or Model 15 with 4inches barrel in .38 Special caliber the best Smith and Wesson revolver ever built, very reliable, very accurate, strong, handsome looking gun, and very"forgiving"to shoot for the persons who dont do plenty shooting!!!! a real pleasure to shoot!!!!!!... when you can master this gun you will be shooting 2 inches or less six shot groups at 25yds and 4 to 6 inches at 50yds!!!!!....
Try in country hills with jackrabits!!!!!.....
Yours
Roberto Renauld

 

[geodimeter]

Man, this post sure brought out the venom. Get a stainless 6" model 686 and shoot whatever you want to out of it. Not the cheapest gun, but up to being neglected and come up firing as needed. You can also shoot as many .357 mags as you want through it.