Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Good 38 Special revolvers.

This new progressive press has me thinking I might need some new 38 specials.


I have an old DA Colt.


I am cured of buying new Smith and Wessons....what were some good old ones?


Thinking for target practice and plinking for the family.


What would a good Target model be if we get really serious?



Thanks.

S&W Model 19.

Smith K-14.

For me the hammerless S&Ws have too much trigger weight for the girls to shoot, anything with a hammer is much easier.

I have a colt, 2 S&W airweights, one a 442, 642 shouded hammer. I aslo have a ruger 357 blackhawk I shoot 38spec in, single action.

If I was buying a budget plinker I'd look at the Taurus or Charter with hammer, one hammerless is enough if I want to put it in my pocket, no bueno for the girls.

Kent

The colt 3in detective special is everyone's favorite to shoot.

Kent

Agree. Smith & Wesson Model K-38 Target Masterpiece Revolver Model 14

Hard to beat a M15 Smith.

I got a charter snubby pocket lite and a SW snub can’t hit schit with either but shotshells are not copperhead friendly

Security Six.

Balancing quality with price.

For a durable range gun.

Not much experience with .38 revolvers. Shot some in a Model 27-2 and they were awfully pleasant to shoot in that.

Jim, I must not be following closely enough, apparently you've had a couple of bad experience with newer Smiths?? Silly lock issues? Timing and shaving lead? Others?

That would be my choice. Had one years ago. Great little pistol. But they are kind of pricey now.

Folks have already mentioned the two best choices in S&W, the Model 14 and 15.


"I have an old DA Colt." - don't know which one you have but the Colt Officer's Model Match and the original Trooper .38 Spl (pre-Mark III) are both decent buys in today's market, with the 4" Trooper generally commanding a little higher price They both have the same lockwork as the original Python but the OMM is "hand assembled" instead of "hand fitted". Very accurate revolvers.

Those haven't really been bit by the collector status bug so on a good day examples of both in good to very good condition can be found on gunbroker in the upper $600 range.

For a pure target gun, either the Colt OMM or Smith Model 14 are your huckleberries.

This.

I bought a new 686 4 inch revolver.

It went back to Smith. They did a lot to it but the major job was to recut the cone and replace the cylinder!

New gun with a bad cylinder! It hit you with lots of lead.


When I got it back, I noticed a new "jam". The hand was hitting the rims of the cases and would stop the revolver.


I stoned the hand and now it works fine.

Sorry, not what you asked as I Don’t own any 38. But 3, 357s… I’m 357 slut. 38 special at the range. Full mag loads for home defense or in the woods.

All I can say to that Jim is




YIKES!



That would make even me, a semi die hard Smith fan leery.

5" barrel Model 10s have nice balance and shoot well.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...earch/true/6-shots-one-hole#Post18020059

Our very own Sam Olson bought a new 586 and it didn't work at all.

I loved the issue M-15 and loathed the Beretta.