Gift suggestion (.38/.357 carry revolver)

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GoHskrs

Gift suggestion (.38/.357 carry revolver)

Post by GoHskrs »

Hi all -- lurker, (very) occasional poster, and refugee from gunthing.com here, likely to get the terminology wrong (in the most amusing way possible) ...

I'm thinking about a carry piece for my spousal unit as a gift. She has completed the Ohio Concealed Carry course, so she does know her way around a firearm, but not yet done the CCW paperwork. Once her CCW permit is in hand, if it doesn't get revoked by executive order at 12:01pm on 20 January 2009, she'd probably carry her handgun in a purse.

In the shooting portion of the CCW class, she found revolvers more to her liking than semiautomatics, and .38 to be an agreeable caliber that didn't beat up on her wrists too badly. The last time we went shooting, we rented a 6" barrel handgun that could handle either .38 Special or .357 Magnum rounds. Being a dumbass, I forgot to write down what model number it was -- but I like the flexibility of using the .38 rounds for practice, and the .357 rounds for the stopping power.

Also, I'm cheap. 8^) I looked on the S&W site, and da-yam. Everything that will shoot .357MAG/.38 is well over $900. That caused a bit of sticker shock -- I'm hoping not to spend quite that much.

So, based on my rather incomplete information above, and keeping in mind that this is the beginner forum, any recommendations for what I should look for? How much, in round numbers, should I expect to spend?

Thanks. GH
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randy
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Re: Gift suggestion (.38/.357 carry revolver)

Post by randy »

Welcome aboard!

IIRC you're in central Ohio? Just this past week or so Olde English Outfitters in Tipp City was advertising Police trade in S&W Model 66's (.357 Mag, 6" bbl, stainless) for around $399. Probably carried a lot and shot a little.

I'm tempted even though I don't really have the money at this time. Would make a nice companion piece for my Model 19

It's on Page 3 of their latest sales flyer

Maybe you can find something similar in your neck of the woods. If not, a road trip might be in order
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BadgerVet
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Re: Gift suggestion (.38/.357 carry revolver)

Post by BadgerVet »

Six inch is too long for a purse. Check out the S&W model 60 stainless in three inch.
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Darrell
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Re: Gift suggestion (.38/.357 carry revolver)

Post by Darrell »

A .357 w/6" barrel might be a bit large to fit in a purse... but then, I don't know your wife's purse. ;) Look at the Ruger GP100 w/4" barrel, you should be able to find one for about half the price of a Smith & Wesson. I have one, it's my bedside handgun. Shoots great and handles well. The only change I made was to put a Pachmayr grip on it, didn't care for the stock Ruger rubber & rosewood grip.
Eppur si muove--Galileo
drice

Re: Gift suggestion (.38/.357 carry revolver)

Post by drice »

Take a look also at Taurus. I've heard good things about them, and they make many models that are knockoffs of S&W but less expensive. Take a look at the snubbies in the Model 605 class. There's about 10 different models. All for less than $500 MSRP which means you should be able to get them in the $400 range.

I would stay away from the ultra-light models. I'm a large guy, and my ultra-light S&W hurts like hell to fire. I think your wife's wrists would appreciate the help available with the weight of a steel frame.

Something else to consider is if she wants a hammer or not. It may depend on whether she has a specific hidey hole in her purse or not. If not, she may want to go hammerless, as you don't want your gun's hammer pulling your keys and your change of clothes and your picture book, and your shopping list, and your makeup bag, and your rolls of quarters, and your camping equipment...sorry, I'm just going off what my ex carried in her purses...anyway, you want your gun to come out clean and ready to fight with no hangers-on.
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mekender
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Re: Gift suggestion (.38/.357 carry revolver)

Post by mekender »

purses are the #1 item that are stolen from a person's body during a snatch and grab...

if she carries in her purse, she just gave a gun to a purse snatcher...

please read this and then have her read the entire site

http://corneredcat.com/Holster/purse.aspx
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Catbird
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Re: Gift suggestion (.38/.357 carry revolver)

Post by Catbird »

I would suggest that you consider the Smith & Wesson Model 38 Bodyguard.
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First Shirt
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Re: Gift suggestion (.38/.357 carry revolver)

Post by First Shirt »

The Boss has a GP-100, in four-inch, and likes it a lot, but it's a little heavy (she says) for carrying in a purse. (This from a woman who could carry the bumpers from a '53 Roadmaster in her purse!). So she has an SP-101 for concealed carry, as does The Darling Daughter, but hers is DAO, and has a spurless hammer. Honestly, since all three were purchased used, we probably have less than a grand invested in all of them.
But there ain't many troubles that a man caint fix, with seven hundred dollars and a thirty ought six."
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GoHskrs

Re: Gift suggestion (.38/.357 carry revolver)

Post by GoHskrs »

randy wrote:Welcome aboard!

IIRC you're in central Ohio? Just this past week or so Olde English Outfitters in Tipp City was advertising Police trade in S&W Model 66's (.357 Mag, 6" bbl, stainless) for around $399. Probably carried a lot and shot a little.
Randy, you recall correctly. (I'm in Pataskala, east of Columbus.) Thanks for the pointer.
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Combat Controller
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Re: Gift suggestion (.38/.357 carry revolver)

Post by Combat Controller »

A used S&W is always a good choice. Keep an eye peeled at pawnshops and gun stores.
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