Time for Revolver Reality Truth?

[tkosiba]

Ok guys. I have heard, seen and experienced enough. Is it time to set some truths for our next generation?

1) Please stop telling the younger generation to wait for "P&R" M29 deals. They are rare due to early estate buy-ins, owner/employees early buy-ins, and finally "left overs" in the retail gun case, that are usually over priced for collectors. BTW, they collect powder residue and require frequent clean out.

2) Promote buy now products, even with the lock. Get younger people involved in shooting sports, reloading, etc. New guns are great, regardless of old style "mental attitude."

3) Buying guns is the cheap end of the sport. Shooting and providing ammo is a bigger issue. Practice makes it complete.

4) Invest and resale guns as is. Customizing, like cars, is a huge expense, with little return on investment.

These points are not complete, nor perfect. Just a starting point. So I'm willing to hear from others.





3)

 

[chud333]

It's a good thing to "wait" sometimes, teaches patience.
Plus the old P&R's will always hold their value if cared for properly.
It's not that difficult to locate a nice specimen, just put in your time.
The new MIM and Lock guns are not going to hold their value as well.
That's just a fact unless it is a rare or made in very small run gun.
I agree with gettting the younger generation involved but until they can find a quality revolver why bother. Borrow grandpas or dads "good
models" and start shooting.
Also if you plan on keeping the gun as yours i see no reason not to customize something to fit your needs. I'd take a nice old P&R beater and customize it to fit my needs any day over buying a "new" weapon
that has MIM and Locks. That's my 2 pennies worth.


Chuck

 

[panamajack310]

Hey, I will chime in. My kids are learning to shoot everything starting with .22's I just happen to have several revolvers and semi autos foir them to learn on. I personally do not like the lock on the side of the revolvers even though I have a model 642.. I simply removed the lock and fixed the problem. I also do not like the MIM parts. I like the older Smith with the hammer and firing pin all together. I am not a fan of the new hammer and seperate firing pin.

I speak for my self but I grew up shooting a S&W model 41 and my first revolvers were a 19 and 66. I still carry them and shoot them today. I will be encouraging my kids to learn about both semi automatics an revolvers as I did. The most important part is the safety aspect of the different types of guns so they know how to load and unload the guns and be safe with all of them. As far as shooting them I don't care what they decide to shoot as long as they have fun.

 

[tkosiba]

I'm posting this due to "old school" thinking that may be hurting our sport.
Nothing wrong with getting into the sport with a new gun. Having the option to buy into older firearms is also ok. But why wait? You have heard of "death and taxes'" right? Besides, what is the return on investment? Small dollars over time with the ever so perfect model?

My point. Let's cut new shooters free. All is good.

 

[Fishslayer]

I can't afford the new S&Ws.

Guess I'll just have to settle for old ones...

 

[Dale53]

I have old Smiths and new ones. I like my new Smiths as well as my old ones. I am NOT a collector. I am a shooter and shoot what I own. I will admit to having entirely too many for any rational person but I DO have a smile on my face.

Continually slamming the new revolvers is not very productive in my view. Especially since my shooting tests give them a GOOD (might I say EXCELLENT) bill of health.

Dale53

 

[C Broad Arrow]

Are there any Smith revolvers that you would realy kick to the curb?

 

[KoiBoy]

I too own "old school" and "new school" Smith revolvers. I like shooting and carrying both. I recommend you buy/borrow and use both over time and see which models you like best for yourself. You can find nice used "new school" guns just about anywhere, and I think they hold their value just fine - both in build quality and resale. I won't turn up my nose at a good deal on a used Smith revolver just because it has a lock on it. Old and new Smith revolvers will go bang just the same when you pull the trigger.

 

[TNDave]

The reality around here is young guys have almost zero interest in revolvers. They see them as an obsolete weapon platform. There is some interest in J frames as casual carry guns, but if someone is going to wear a belt and holster they are going to carry a semi auto with double the revolvers ammo payload.

That being said you will sometimes find a younger guy who like revolvers. That guy should be cultivated revolver wise but you don't find a guy under 30 who is interested in carrying a K frame concealed very often.

Sad but those are the facts. Young guys view carrying a six shooter about like we view carrying a cap a ball revolver.

 

[spaniel]

Perhaps I am fooling myself but I still consider myself a "younger guy" in my early/mid 30s.

I'm not ashamed that I'm not a collector or a revolver snob. But I like revolvers like I do most other options (have not yet warmed up on AR15s, just recently developed a hankering for a 1911). I buy what I like. I shoot the snot out of it. I couldn't care less what the appreciation or the resale on it is, I've only ever sold one gun and the rest I will gift away to my offspring and grandchildren.

As long as the new revolvers shoot and don't have defects, I have little concern for the lock. I don't use it. If it bothers me (I have a 329 and even with heavy loads no issues yet) I will remove it. Not sure what the big deal is. Yes I would rather it not be there but it's not a requirement.

 

[SixGunSam]

With the exception of the desirable and rarer Smiths, I generally see that the older, higher quality Smiths are less expensive than the newer, questionable Smiths. By what I've seen on forums and at gun shows, gun for gun the older Smiths are easier on the wallet. Used 36's are generally cheaper than NIB locked 642's, and I usually see used 29-3+ for a lot less than NIB 29's and 629's. I encourage people to get into shooting by whatever means necessary, and the less expensive route is usually the used (and in most cases better) gun.

Until S&W starts to price their revolvers more competitively, I'm recommending that shooters go the used route. This doesn't necessarily mean P&R, but good S&W's aren't hard to find.

 

[cornfed83]

Well I may be the exception to the rule here but I'll wear that hat proudly. I'm 28 years old and have been shooting for more than 23 of that now. I have a passion for revolvers S&W in particular. I own more revolvers than most guys my age own guns. All of my revolvers are pre-lock and only 1 has MIM parts and several of them are P&R. My normal EDC is a 940-1, what I like to refer to as a "gentlman's gun." I have been trying to encourage my friends to venture into the wonderful world of revolvers but many have little interest and would prefer newer tupperware guns instead. I did however recently convince a friend to pick up a model 12 that he wanted for carry while hiking and what not. I was just short of getting another friend to buy one after he handled my 625-4 but his wife pulled a veto on that one real quick and in a hurry.

Don't loose faith in all of us young bucks, some of us are still trying to keep the art of the six shooter alive.

 

[AveragEd]

That was refreshing to read, cornfed, But from what I see at the local gun clubs where I am a member, younger guys are focused on autoloaders and seeing how quickly they can empty the magazine while shooting at a silhouette target almost close enough to touch with the gun's muzzle. We olde pharts trying to shoot tight groups at 25 yards with our revolvers just look at one another and shake our heads because we're pretty sure the first thing those guys would have to do after realizing that an intruder is in their home would require a trip to the bathroom.

I encourage every young person who shows any interest in shooting to pursue that interest and often allow them to shoot my handguns. But it isn't long before they ask, "It only holds six 'bullets'?"

As far as the old versus new Smith & Wesson revolvers go, I do prefer the older ones but that's what I've owned and try to buy when I see a nice one. If I MIM lock guns were what was available then, I would probably like them just as much and think the newer forged no-lock ones were weird.

Ed

 

[kbm6893]

That was refreshing to read, cornfed, But from what I see at the local gun clubs where I am a member, younger guys are focused on autoloaders and seeing how quickly they can empty the magazine while shooting at a silhouette target almost close enough to touch with the gun's muzzle. We olde pharts trying to shoot tight groups at 25 yards with our revolvers just look at one another and shake our heads because we're pretty sure the first thing those guys would have to do after realizing that an intruder is in their home would require a trip to the bathroom.

I encourage every young person who shows any interest in shooting to pursue that interest and often allow them to shoot my handguns. But it isn't long before they ask, "It only holds six 'bullets'?"

As far as the old versus new Smith & Wesson revolvers go, I do prefer the older ones but that's what I've owned and try to buy when I see a nice one. If I MIM lock guns were what was available then, I would probably like them just as much and think the newer forged no-lock ones were weird.

Ed

It's funny you say that. Some people post on here with pics of their "great groups" at 10 FEET! That's three yards. And the group is about the size as a dinnerplate. At 10 feet, if you have a group bigger than your fist, you need lots of practice. (unless you're rapid firing).

 

[RussellD]

I once heard a quote that said where you stand on an issue depends on where you sit.

Lots of good points being made. I have suggested to several people that a good first gun is a used model 10. They can still be picked up at bargain prices..not cool enough for many younger shooters until they see what you can do with it at the range.

Older revolvers do hold their value while being enjoyed. Clean and wax them after each range session and keep them out of a holster...... and the only new smiths I carry are the lightweight j frames

My goal is to teach at least five new shooters how to reload every year. Watching the look on a guys face when he fires the first round he loaded is priceless.

 

[tkosiba]

Although I'm also an auto loader (1911, Glock) fan as well, large N frame revolvers fit into my platform mix quite nicely. Why? High performance "big bore" .44, .45, etc. work best on a revolver frame for range or hunting. And trying to master three gun platforms in shooting, keeps my interest on-going.

 

[RobsTV]

The Internet probably had the biggest effect on why younger people choose weapons other than revolvers. A little research is now easy to do. It doesn't take long to see why LEO stopped using revolvers, as the Miami shootout changed a lot of things. So if revolvers are no longer good enough for LEO, and now considered old school classics, not much you can do. Research also confirms original posters thoughts, that newer is not always better for revolvers. In my eyes, as an owner of a 2012 S&W revolver, quality control does seem to be severely lacking. Times have changed. (reality truth from a +50 shooter, not one of the youngsters)

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I think that it's great that young folks are taken by autos. That means that I and people who ask my advice can get great revolvers at retail for far less than they would normally be worth. Just a couple of years ago, an older gentleman decided, after a break-and-not-enter that he should have a sidearm. We found a nickel 4" 19 for $375!

 

[brucev]

On Tuesday I went by the range. I carried a (new to me) SA-GI 1911-A1, a 4" 66-3 and my beloved 18-3. There were a number of folks at the range, firing everything from rifles and handguns. I started out w/ the 1911. Then... I set up and fired a double-action course w/ the 66-3. I shot fast using a standard B-27. Firing DA I leaked on round low in the 8 ring. Everything else was in the 9/10 ring. People started paying attention. I ran the same course with my 18-3. A gentleman at the far end of the range engaged me in conversation. He works as a corrections officer at the local prison and had just qualified the previous week. His older teenaged son was extremely interested in my revolvers. I showed him how to grip and use the 66 in DA, etc. He remarked as to how very well it handled and how easy it was to use. Who knows? Maybe he's a new convert!

Involving young people in the shooting sports, etc. is not unlike involving them in any activity/interest which one considers important. I have worked with children and youth groups for 30 years in pastoral ministry. Relationships are about the best means to help children/youth appreciate/value and make a personal commitment to Christian faith. I have found the same to be true in other areas. My daughters are committed Christians. They also are very strong supporters of the 2nd Amendment and very much enjoy shooting revolvers (notice a pattern here) and rifles. They are gown and gone living many miles away. When they get to come home for a visit, they always want their mother to cook chicken and dumplings, cornbread, etc., and sweet iced tea. They always want me to take them... shooting! One who was considered the wisest of the wise once said, "Raise up a child in the way in which he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart." Put another way, "As the twig is bent, so grows the branch."

 

[petemacmahon]

tkosiba, Sorry but it's called the free market system. Perhaps, if enough of us spurn the new product offerings (MIM) the producers will get the message and start offering products we want to buy. Until then, I'm not buying any of the current junk!

I have no trouble finding reasonable older models and my kids have no shortage of guns to shoot.