Why a S&W?

[au2183]

I've always been a believer in the right QUALITY tool for the job as well. Where is quality more important than when your life depends on it? I would never carry a gun with any less than the best quality. Smith, Ruger, Sig, Beretta all fit into that category for me. Taurus and Charter do not. I need to know it will go bang every time. I DON'T need to be worrying about it when my life is at stake.

 

[SSN]

I have personally used the S&W warranty. They made it very easy for me. Paid shipping both ways (overnight is expensive and required for shipping firearms) got it right the first time, and got it back in less than two weeks.
I've known people waiting months for Taurus to return their guns and some didn't get it back with problem corrected.
Would look at Ruger as they honor their warranty.
No experience with Charter. Would like a .44 Bulldog.
You may never need a warranty repair. Mine was a brand new 37-2 and almost soured me on S&W quality. The warranty fixed that.

 

[rpg0123]

I know the fit and finnish is nicer on the SW, and the trigger is nicer.

Issues I see are:
Better fit & finnish = better resale / future value
Better trigger pull = more hits
The BMW dosent' get you to work any better than a Kia

Sounds like you answered your own question. Plus, I haven't met many people willing to trade in their BMW for a Kia. For S&W over Taurus and such I would add (1) style, (2) reliability, (3) customer service, (4) tradition.

 

[Lop]

Thanks guys,
Preaching to the chior. Like I said, I didn't need to be convinced, just wanted all the ammo I could get to talk them into the right gun. What I've got is :
Warrenty- no charge shipping both ways
Reliablity- SD must be best possible quality
Resale- holds value better/increases value faster. Like grampa's Shottie, heirloom quality
Better quality- more enjoyable experince=more/better ability.
Priced higher for a reason- Market would not support primium w/o reason.
Buy American
Pride of ownership
Style

I'm actually going to spot them my 637 & Don hume IWB until they save up the pruchase price. I'd be willing to spot them the $100 if they needed, but not really an issue. She will run 100 rounds thru the gun before she takes it to show both myself and her that she knows what she is doing. Because in a "time of need" it is double action, I'm leaning towards hammerless, although there is a $50 primium on that in our local market right now.
Agian,
Thanks
Lop

 

[ENGINE18]

Smith&Wesson

 

[dbc]

Lop...Here one for you. My S&W is not shooting as good as it did 17 years ago. So S&W is going to make needed adjustments/repairs as needed under warranty. Call tag already sent for me to return...all paid for.

 

[stantheman86]

Tools

Yes, you can go buy a cheap made in China wrench for daily use at Sears, and it will do the job. Or you can get a Snap-On. Where will the cheap wrench be in 5 years or so, probably broken, the Snap-On will still be in the tool kit.

Any gun you buy at the shop will go "bang" out of the box. How many times it will go bang depends on the quality. Sure, S&W, like any company, lets a few "lemons" get by, people also have lemon BMW's and Land Rovers, but these companies like S&W will make it right.

Taurus seems to be focusing their energy into semi-auto's, trying to get the "tactical crowd" dollar and their revolvers are spotty. I have an older 80's era Taurus that has issues, it goes bang, but I use it as a shooter just to see how long it will take to break, even then I'm only out a $175 used gun.

As well as being a Smith fan, I'm also a Ruger guy. Rugers are made to SHOOT (so are S&W).

I learned the heartburn of buying "cheap" guns, I have lots of S&W's and Rugers but on a whim bought a cheap Armscor .38 revolver just to see if it was a "hidden gem" maybe a good shooter on the cheap, it was not a gem. A $200 NIB gun, the Armscor was not reliable in DA mode, I "deactivated" the DA pawl on the hammer and now it is SA only, the only way I could get it to function, and I shoot blackpowder rounds out of it just for fun. I should have put that $200 to better use and got another used S&W 10-10 or something, now I have a boat anchor relegated to "non essential shooter-beater status"

Buying cheap will only get you burned in the long run, the only way I condone buying "cheap" is if you already have a few S&W's and/or Ruger or other quality firearms like Sig, Glock and you want to get a Hi-Point or Taurus just for "shoots and giggles" or just as a range shooter or training gun, to keep the rounds off your nicer guns if you shoot ALOT of rounds. Given other options I would NOT trust my life to a Taurus or Charter. Why? Why do it, when there is better out there.

I have PO'd many "Taurus" fans, and I wonder why Taurus even has a "following" other than people trying to justify buying cheaper guns, like the guy who said his Honda Shadow was much cheaper than my Dad's H-D Road King...." and I was like, "Yeah, but you ain't riding no Harley Davidson!!"

 

[Centenniel]

You get what you pay for.

Amen! My grandfather always told me, "son, buy the best quality you can afford." He was right.

 

[Marshall 357]

Get her the very best, a Smith and Wesson.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Trust me, I too went the" I'm not paying more for a S&W logo" route for the first 6 or so yours of my shooting involvement. Bought Rossi, Taurus, H&R, FIE, STAR etc. Then I quickly found out that quality on most of those brands was spotty. Sometimes you got a good one, sometimes not. ( example: Of the 5 Taurus I owned, two were problem free, 1 wore very quickly, 1 lived at the factory for warranty work and the last blew up in my hand. Nuff said.!) In all cases, finding holsters, grips, speedloaders/extra mags , dot bases, etc was frustrating, expensive and very limiting. Also in all case's resale was pitiful. I still own a (very few) in .22 plinkers but the rest had to go. I won't say S&W is the ONLY handgun to buy but it's likely the best supported, most accessorized, highest value retaining, most consistent quality handgun out there. I've learned my lesson the hard , expensive and painful way. I buy nothing but "A" brand guns now. S&W first , closely followed by Ruger, Colt etc.
Lastly, If you choose to ignore my mistakes, I'll just ask" Is your life worth the few extra dollars?"

 

[m657]

Whatever she gets, remind her that 'training for bicycle races' is far less important than 'training for saving her LIFE'....and "once a year" is simply absurd....unless she really does have a death wish.

 

[K1500]

Whatever she gets, remind her that 'training for bicycle races' is far less important than 'training for saving her LIFE'....and "once a year" is simply absurd....unless she really does have a death wish.

To look at the other side of the coin, from a statistical point of view, poor health is more likely to kill than an violent attack, so exercise is perhaps more important than handgun training. I do agree that once per year is not enough. IMO, the best way to motivate is fun. She already has suffered the precipitating event (a scare that has made her aware of the need for self-defense). Now make the shooting experience fun and relevant and she will likely become a shooter. When my wife had the 'awakening' she was amazed by all the 'accessories' one needed. She is a shopper, so she was also pleased by the need to shop for holsters, mag pouches, range gear, ammo, etc.

The best thing you can do is make the firearm easy for her to carry within her lifestyle and existing wardrobe. This may mean fanny packs for the bike, purses or belly bands for town, etc. Whatever works. If she is serious she will make it work for her.

 

[Lop]

Hey guys,
The range is in my yard, so any time she is up here is a potential shooting day, but as my OP said
"just once a season running a hundred rounds thru to keep her hand in it"
I think 4 times a year is ok. To say she needs to be here bi-monthly is setting her up to fail. But to say "come on, it's spring time, lets go shoot" sounds like a plan we can stick with. 'Course then I'll get him to shoot some clays, and see if we can't get some more converts.

 

[Sub sailor]

When your life depends on it, you want it to go bang "ALL THE TIME", NOT MOST OF THE TIME. I have personally seen too many Taurus and Charter arms not go bang. Any gun I pick for self defense will be Smith & Wesson, Colt, or Ruger. There are also some other brands such as Sig which have a fine reputation, but not my preference.

I am Sub Sailor and I approve of this message!

H Richard is right on the money. A tool has to work when you need it the most!

 

[batmann]

If you have to ask-------

 

[Dan Cash]

Why Smith? Because it is simply the best and comes at a price working folks can afford. You can buy a cheap, piece of junk car just to run to the market but sure as heck, come cold weather, it won't go so you wasted your money. Buy a cheap, piece of junk revolver and when it does not go, you die.

Buy the lady a good, older Smith snubby; 36, 642, 19, 66, the choice is almost endless. Nuts to the scamdium frame, ignition lock 2 piece barrel stuff; that is in the same class as Charter/tarus.

 

[David Sinko]

I'll gripe about the lock and MIM parts, but S&W is still far superior to Taurus, Charter Arms, Rossi and in my opinion Colt too. The only product that is comparable is Ruger. The problem with Ruger is their refusal to sell certain important parts to the public and their refusal to work on custom guns.

All said and done, in the end I'd buy an older used S&W revolver.

Dave Sinko

 

[rpg0123]

I prefer an older S&W when one is available. When a piece is only available in a newer model, I see no reason not to buy one. S&W is still the best revolver on the market. Ruger is a close second. The only model where I think they probably beat S&W is likely the LCR. And the sp101 is a great model. I just hate to see those of us who like S&W trying to drive them out of business over absolutely nothing being wrong with their new models. For heaven's sake, you guys should be proud of your brand.

 

[Lop]

man, I was at the lgs today. For exactly the same money they had new airweight hammerless sw and the ruger lcr. Lcr was a little bigger, a little lighter, but the trigger was much nicer. One issue is a problem with the lcr is the lack of a pinky grip. I have a spare houge grip for my 637 that lets the pinky help grip the gun. I find it amazing how much it changes the firing of the gun. I prefer the smaller grip because it carries better, but for a novice shooter, the better grip makes quite a differance. You do have to wonder how long the lCr will hold up. Not as long as a steel gun, but how about against an aluminum one?

 

[one eye joe]

NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO SCRIMP ! When your life is on the line you DO NOT want to depend on a Taurus. I've had 3 and they were all junk. Get a 642 with Lasergrips and put your mind at ease. There's nothin better for the intended purpose..............