|
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 190
Campfire Member
|
OP
Campfire Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 190 |
I have a few S&W revolvers, all are VERY nice so I never thought I'd be asking a question like this, but should I condider a Taurus?
Here's the story... My widowed mother-in-law brought over an AMT single action 380 last night and said she wanted to learn how to shoot it. She found it in a closet and it belonged to by FIL before he passed away. There have been dogs in her yard barking and growling at her and she wants something to carry out when she walks with her 8lb dog. Her having that AMT in the house and loaded is just plain out of the question, so I figured I'd give her something to carry out with her. The only S&W that I have that is light enought for her to handle is a 4" HB Model 10, but it's blued. Since it'll probably never be oiled, that's out.
Sooooo, I start looking and S&W has airweight .38's for under $350. Are they any good? When I googled S&W 637, the reviews are very mixed. I suppose I'd also consider a stainless Taurus, but only because the frame is steel instead of aluminum. They are slightly cheaper, but not much. Which would you choose?
S&W 637 .38 special (Aluminum frame) Taurus 605 .357 (but carry 38 spl's)for the same price (Steel) Taurus 85 .38 special for $50 less than the above two? (Steel)
Or something else? Any semi auto is just flat out of the question.
Thanks in advance, Adrian
Last edited by adrianrog; 08/11/11.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,856
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,856 |
Taurus 627 Tracker with a 4 inch barrel. Have her carry .38 +P's in it. The light 637 wouldn't be a lot of fun for a neophyte shooter.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 61,130
Campfire Kahuna
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 61,130 |
Old S&W; new Taurus. Stick with those, and you'll be fine. The old S&Ws are superb; the new Taurus versions are excellent, and I actually prefer them to the new S&W revolvers. YMMV...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,943
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,943 |
Have you considered an alloy snubbie? Like a Ruger LCR? Decent price, no neglect issues (rust), very conceal-able for a lady and easy for her to handle with 38's.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 556
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 556 |
Any special reason you are looking for a .38? It would seem to me that your Mother-in-law would be just as well off with a .22 or .32, both of which would be easier to handle. Either of these will discourage an aggressive dog-- in fact, it has been my experience that merely the report of a pistol will stop a dog in his tracks, while a second loud bang will cause it to turn tail and run.
Anyhow, if it has to be a .38, then it's a toss up between the Taurus and a S&W Model 60; both are excellent guns and well suited to the intended purpose. Neither should set you back much more than about $300-350. Ammo? Try something with low recoil (no +P stuff). In town and against dogs your Mother-in-law is probably better off with snake shot as there is less likelihood of injury to humans caused by misses or ricochets, and thus far less potential liability involved once she pulls the trigger.
Last edited by Old_Writer; 08/12/11.
Life is hard. It's even harder when you're stupid. --John Wayne
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 13,234
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 13,234 |
.38 snakeshot or a target wadcutter should work well.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,574
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,574 |
Taurus 627 Tracker with a 4 inch barrel. Have her carry .38 +P's in it. The light 637 wouldn't be a lot of fun for a neophyte shooter. +ps? Personally I would prefer some personal defense loads lighter recoil and good bullets that makes more sense to me Hank
Thank You Lord for another day,Help my Brother along the way
When you mature,you realize hospitals and schools are businesses,and the Beatles were geniuses
Live Like A Champion Today
NRA EndowmentLife Member,My Daughter is also a Life Member
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 19,516
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 19,516 |
Nothing wrong with S&W of any vintage.
MAGA
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,312
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,312 |
I saw that J&G had some Smith M10 heavy barrels for $229 which would be perfect.
NRA Life Member
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,323
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,323 |
Have to side with BillyGoatGruff on this one. I'll take the Smith any day.
`Bring Enough Gun`
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 115,424
Campfire Sage
|
Campfire Sage
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 115,424 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 13,801
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 13,801 |
Original question: "... but should I consider a Taurus?" - - - - - - - - - -
"Consider"? YES! Somehow My gut feelings about Taurus firearms have long been something less than First-Class in spite of knowledge and experience to the contrary.
One of the best performing 'revolvers' I have ever shot and 'own' IS a Taurus.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 367
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 367 |
If they were close to the same price I would take a Smith over a Taurus. I prefer the older Smiths before MIM parts and the "safety lock." I also would not recommend an alloy frame or a snubby because of the extra recoil of an alloy frame, and the short sight radius of a snubby, either of which make it more difficult to shoot well, particularly for an inexperienced shooter. An alloy snubby is particularly difficult to shoot well compared to a standard service size revolver, as anyone who tries to shoot a police-type qualification course will soon discover. A used S&W 64 (stainless version of the Model 10) would be a good choice and a quick Google search shows that J&G has a listing for a good condition 64 at $260.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 367
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 367 |
duplicate post, sorry.
Last edited by Jlin222; 08/13/11.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 190
Campfire Member
|
OP
Campfire Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 190 |
A new S&W model 60 is probably the ideal except for the $600 price tag. I do like the model 10, even have one, except for the fact that it's blued and will rust with no care. I guess I need to get out to a gun store or two and lay hands on some.
I did see that SOG had model 64's with the hammers whacked off for $259-$300 depending on condition.
-Adrian
Last edited by adrianrog; 08/13/11.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 18,308
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 18,308 |
|
|
|
|
528 members (222ND, 160user, 1beaver_shooter, 222Sako, 1Longbow, 12344mag, 44 invisible),
2,058
guests, and
1,167
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,191,877
Posts18,478,919
Members73,947
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|