Used Model 10-11 (Picture Added)

S&W Rover

S&W Rover

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Just arrived, my new (to me) S&W Model 10-11 .38 Special 4" heavy barrel revolver. Formerly owned by the Victoria Police in Australia (it had a VPA inventory sticker on the side plate) it is about 80-90% condition. Bluing is a bit worn, especially from holster rub on the front barrel, and the backstrap is handworn. Mechanically it is in fine shape with a good bore, minimal endshake, and good lockup.

It has a new-style thumb piece, although I have ordered an old-style one as a replacement; nice wooden grips, which I replaced with Hogue rubber grips; and of course it does not have the IL.

Kind of a classic. The feel and balance is really good. $319. A great revolver for taking to the range and experimenting with hand-loads that are this side of +P.

Will append a range report after I take it out this weekend - we'll see if it shoots to POA and if it displays the expected accuracy. Everyone should own an old S&W revolver! Everyone should own a .38 Special!

Picture added - see below.
 
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I have a 10-10 from the Victoria Police. Although finish challenged, it has one of the smoothest triggers of my many SW's and it shoots ragged hole groups off a rest. Without the rest - not so much. Maybe it's the gun ;)
 
S&W Rover said:
...my new (to me) S&W Model 10-11 .38 Special 4" heavy barrel revolver. ...
Click to expand...

I thought the -11 was a Tapered Barrel and the -12 was the same gun with a Heavy Barrel.

The "new" angle style latch was introduced into standard production in 1995, so 2015 will be it's 20th anniversary year.
 
Isn't starting a thread about a new revolver acquisition without posting pics an infraction? ;)
 
I have a 10-11 heavy barrel also from Victoria Police. Beat up, but shoots good. I replaced the filed down strain screw and the Uncle Mikes grips. After that I just shoot it and clean it and shoot it again.

M10's are great guns. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do.
 
I have one also ordered from the same dealer, same price. hope mine is as good as yours. Still waiting 14 days!
S&W Rover said:
Just arrived, my new (to me) S&W Model 10-11 .38 Special 4" heavy barrel revolver. Formerly owned by the Victoria Police in Australia (it had a VPA inventory sticker on the side plate) it is about 80-90% condition. Bluing is a bit worn, especially from holster rub on the front barrel, and the backstrap is handworn. Mechanically it is in fine shape with a good bore, minimal endshake, and good lockup.

It has a new-style thumb piece, although I have ordered an old-style one as a replacement; nice wooden grips, which I replaced with Hogue rubber grips; and of course it does not have the IL.

Kind of a classic. The feel and balance is really good. $319. A great revolver for taking to the range and experimenting with hand-loads that are this side of +P.

Will append a range report after I take it out this weekend - we'll see if it shoots to POA and if it displays the expected accuracy. Everyone should own an old S&W revolver! Everyone should own a .38 Special!
Click to expand...
 
Kernel Crittenden said:
I thought the -11 was a Tapered Barrel and the -12 was the same gun with a Heavy Barrel.

The "new" angle style latch was introduced into standard production in 1995, so 2015 will be it's 20th anniversary year.
Click to expand...

My internet research also says the 10-11 is a tapered barrel starting production in 1997. This 10-11 has a heavy barrel -- but that may because it was part of a large police order.
 
It sure is nice to see the Model 10 getting quite a bit of love around here lately. It's an all time, all time classic that almost anyone can afford. Congratulations on acquiring a great gun at a nice price.
 
Back from the range: only one small surprise.

The 158 gr hand loads, both SWC lead and plated, fired a little high (maybe 1" at 20 feet). The 125 grain handloads, both lead RNFP and plated RN, hit point of aim. (Both loads using 4.5 grains Unique). All of the loads, and the revolver, grouped well.

I would have thought the gun was regulated to fire 158 grain bullets to POA. Maybe it is, and my handloads in that weight are hitting high because of a somewhat light powder load, and my 125 grain loads are just right the way they are!

Whatever, the Mdl 10-11 is a pleasure to shoot, with mild recoil and very good accuracy. The fixed sights are easy to use. Overall, the 10-11 is a 10.
 
deanodog said:
I bought two of these 10-5s and they are very tight lock-up and good triggers.
Click to expand...

That is neat! My impression is that 3" Model 10's are fairly rare -- I think they look really good; just the right balance.
 
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S&W Rover
Congratulations that's a nice six-gun. I wouldn't let 1" high @ 20 worry me that's a pretty good zero.
The only thing I'd do is find a nice set of wooden stocks for that nice gun, but I prefer wood to rubber not all do. I'm betting that gun will soon be making memories with you.
 
10-11 is indeed a Heavy Barrel, it was the first 10 with the frame mounted firing pin. I have only seen one 10-12, it looked like the same frame as the 10-11 with a taper barrel screwed on, kind of unsightly.

Why would the Victoria Police file the strain screw? Unless the individual officer did it to lighten the pull, it seems like an unlikely move for an armorer.
 
like mine a bunch!
FullSizeRender_zpsyjjy4zvi.jpg

Looks more like this now..
IMG_0051_zpsjtlw4dnz.jpg
 
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That is a nice revovler that you got. My son and I got a 10-10 each about three years ago when they were $279. The guns showed plenty of wear but were mechanically sound.

I am used to doing trigger jobs on my S&W revolvers and found the stock action on the 10-10s rather stiff and not as smooth as I am used to.

You are absolutely right when you say that every revolver enthusiast should have a Military & Police revolver! I clearly prefer the heavy barreled ones.


image.jpg5_zpseklick02.jpg
 
Best buy these days. 38 Special loads for self defense have improved the utility of the 38 Special. Handloading components are easy to find. I have 2 K frames and want more. Looking for a standard barrel 4 inch M10 for practice as I use a 4 inch M12-3 for carry.
 
There are a ton of powders, bullets, & cases to make the .38 Special run & run well. It's a great choice for small game, & even medium game has been reliably taken with it. It can be handloaded from mild to medium without worries about wrecking anything & a 158gr lead SWC @ 850 is pretty formatible for a lot of uses. I also agree about the improvement of .38 Special loads for carry. But the old school FBI load is still available & it has a pretty nice street record.
One of my favorite loads is a pretty light load a good 148gr WC over 2.5grs of Bullseye, that's a light load, but will shoot really well, is easy on shooter & gun, & has taken a LOT of small game for me.
The mod. 10 is a perfect platform for it & one I highly favor.
Lot's of nice mod.10s shown here, thanks everyone.
 
ironhead7544 said:
Best buy these days. 38 Special loads for self defense have improved the utility of the 38 Special. Handloading components are easy to find. I have 2 K frames and want more. Looking for a standard barrel 4 inch M10 for practice as I use a 4 inch M12-3 for carry.
Click to expand...

The S&W M10s and M64s are still bargains but the prices are noticeably climbing.

I got my M65 for $60 cash and four Glock 29 full cap mags during the AWB.

imagejpg1_zps448814e7.jpg
 
Frank V said:
There are a ton of powders, bullets, & cases to make the .38 Special run & run well. It's a great choice for small game, & even medium game has been reliably taken with it. It can be handloaded from mild to medium without worries about wrecking anything & a 158gr lead SWC @ 850 is pretty formatible for a lot of uses. I also agree about the improvement of .38 Special loads for carry. But the old school FBI load is still available & it has a pretty nice street record.
One of my favorite loads is a pretty light load a good 148gr WC over 2.5grs of Bullseye, that's a light load, but will shoot really well, is easy on shooter & gun, & has taken a LOT of small game for me.
The mod. 10 is a perfect platform for it & one I highly favor.
Lot's of nice mod.10s shown here, thanks everyone.
Click to expand...

I use Bullseye since Hercules days and can easily be identified when I come from the gun range by the grayish residue on the hands.
 
stantheman86 said:
10-11 is indeed a Heavy Barrel, it was the first 10 with the frame mounted firing pin. I have only seen one 10-12, it looked like the same frame as the 10-11 with a taper barrel screwed on, kind of unsightly.

Why would the Victoria Police file the strain screw? Unless the individual officer did it to lighten the pull, it seems like an unlikely move for an armorer.
Click to expand...

I guess that's what happened. It did have a nice trigger. Too bad it only fired about half my rounds loaded with CCI primers. He may have tried to "tune" his revolver to the ammo required by his department. I've had no problems since I replaced the strain screw. Great gun.
 
ChazFraz said:
I guess that's what happened. It did have a nice trigger. Too bad it only fired about half my rounds loaded with CCI primers. He may have tried to "tune" his revolver to the ammo required by his department. I've had no problems since I replaced the strain screw. Great gun.
Click to expand...

Often people will back out the mainspring screw to lighten the DA trigger pull. It will lighten it, but often give light strikes too.
Glad yours is working well now.
Great guns the Mod. 10!
 
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