help deciding on a revolver

[Wolffire99]

I've ended up with a little extra $ this year and I've decided that I need a .357 in my collection. It will be mostly a range toy but also somewhat of a woods/hunting gun when the opportunity arises. I've done some research and narrowed it down to a few models and found a good deal on two different specific guns and was hoping you guys could help me narrow it down.

1. S&W 19-3 4" It's in 90% condition. Looks like it was a lightly used duty weapon, holster wear near the muzzle, no rust. $475 OTD

2. Ruger security six 4" Almost looks NIB, 99% only because a couple minor spots you really have to look to see. $450 OTD

Any thoughts?

[WMD]

Those prices seem high for those guns Especially, the Ruger Security Six. I bought my wife our second Ruger SP101. I paid $460 for it brand new in the box. A security Six IMO is worth around $250.

The Ruger SP101 is a good little revolver. It comes in 2 or 3 inch barrel lengths. We have one of each barrel length. If you want a longer barrel, I recommend a Ruger GP100. You can pick those up used for reasonable money. Another good gun is the S&W 686.

Both Ruger and S&W make fine revolvers. I prefer the Rugers because they are heavier built and can take a steady diet of +P+ ammo. Not so with S&W's. I have seen S&W reolvers with "stretched" frames due to too much hot ammo fired through them.

You may also want to consider a single action revolver. Again, Ruger would be my choice. You can find then in .357 used for not too much coin.

Sorry if this sounds like a Ruger commercial. I did not intend it that way.

Hope this helps!

[Barth]

Prices do seem high.
I almost bought a used pristine SP101/357 for $300.
Got my S&W 640-1/357, in perfect condition, for $489.

Can't go wrong with Ruger or S&W.
I'm a S&W man myself.
Think they have better triggers and look better.
My personal choice would be a S&W 4" 686.
If you prefer Ruger a GP100.

Check your LGS and gun shows for trade ins.
Take your time.
With cash and as Xmas approaches there will be deals to be had.

Took me three or four patient months getting my cherished S&W 640-1.
Guns are forever. Take your time.

[jocko]

well

Those prices seem high for those guns Especially, the Ruger Security Six. I bought my wife our second Ruger SP101. I paid $460 for it brand new in the box. A security Six IMO is worth around $250.

The Ruger SP101 is a good little revolver. It comes in 2 or 3 inch barrel lengths. We have one of each barrel length. If you want a longer barrel, I recommend a Ruger GP100. You can pick those up used for reasonable money. Another good gun is the S&W 686.

Both Ruger and S&W make fine revolvers. I prefer the Rugers because they are heavier built and can take a steady diet of +P+ ammo. Not so with S&W's. I have seen S&W reolvers with "stretched" frames due to too much hot ammo fired through them.

You may also want to consider a single action revolver. Again, Ruger would be my choice. You can find then in .357 used for not too much coin.

Sorry if this sounds like a Ruger commercial. I did not intend it that way.

Hope this helps!

not really a commercial. alot of commercials are full of B.S. I think as most gun owners knew ,,,what u stated are good facts proven in the past.

I just am not a fan of +P+ ammo. A steady diet for me is 4 slices of pizza 5 days a week; Just sayin

[JFootin]

For a range/woods/hunting gun, I would go for a longer than 4" barrel.

[Wolffire99]

Really? I checked gunbroker and didn't see any security six's going for less than $400.

[Barth]

Really? I checked gunbroker and didn't see any security six's going for less than $400.

I really think you can get better deals locally than the internet.
Prices always seem high on gunbroker, gunsamerica, ...

Picked up my Sig Sauer P239/357 at the LGS, looking NIB, for $550.

[Yogi 117]

Ruger man here, can't go wrong with either the GP-100 or SP-101. For packing in the woods, I would go with the larger framed GP-100. A good 180 gr .357 round should be enough. Spendy, but worth it for protection against animals of various sizes! Exactly the round I carried when we went horseback riding in the Oregon wilderness!

[Barth]

Ruger man here, can't go wrong with either the GP-100 or SP-101. For packing in the woods, I would go with the larger framed GP-100. A good 180 gr .357 round should be enough. Spendy, but worth it for protection against animals of various sizes! Exactly the round I carried when we went horseback riding in the Oregon wilderness!

Ammo is a good point.
You really don't want standard JHP Anti-personnel rounds for the woods.
Wild animals are much harder targets than people requiring deep penetration.
Make sure your loaded with hunting rounds.
I'm not knowledgeable on 357 for that (mine is a 2.125" snubbie - LOL!).
My woods guns is a S&W 629 4" 44 mag with super hard cast bullets.
Garrett makes some skull busters,

[Yogi 117]

Ammo is a good point.
You really don't want standard JHP Anti-personnel rounds for the woods.
Wild animals are much harder targets than people requiring deep penetration.

Exactly. I provide a link to an article by Chuch Hawks titled "Handguns For Protection In The Field", which spells out the weapons & ammo of choice for each caliber. When buying these 180 grain .357 magnum rounds (or any larger bullet in any caliber), please remember that these are NOT for personal Self Defense, but for animals only. These large grain bullets will likely pass thru a human and wreak havoc with anything behind said human target! And, I can't emphasize enough that you need to practice practice practice with your chosen "Animal defense" weapon & round, being able to handle the recoil for follow up shots is paramount. Shot placement on a wild animal is also of extreme importance in stopping said wild animal, they move faster than you think!

http://www.chuckhawks.com/protection_field.htm

[Bawanna]

If you want the option to carry hot loads for beast I'd go with the Single Action Blackhawk. In a perfect world I'd probably get about a 5". It'll handle anything you put in it and ask for more.

If you want a double action I'm in the 686 Smith camp, I prefer the old 6 shooter over the 7 shooter but for range and woods a 7 shooter might be nice.
I would avoid hot loads if you went the Smith route.

I'm a fairly devout Ruger fan but I'm partial to their single actions, don't care much for the autos. I do like the SP101 and the GP100 with minor reservations.

[gb6491]

I've ended up with a little extra $ this year and I've decided that I need a .357 in my collection. It will be mostly a range toy but also somewhat of a woods/hunting gun when the opportunity arises. I've done some research and narrowed it down to a few models and found a good deal on two different specific guns and was hoping you guys could help me narrow it down.

1. S&W 19-3 4" It's in 90% condition. Looks like it was a lightly used duty weapon, holster wear near the muzzle, no rust. $475 OTD

2. Ruger security six 4" Almost looks NIB, 99% only because a couple minor spots you really have to look to see. $450 OTD

Any thoughts?

If the Security Six is stainless, "out the door" those prices range from about right to about $25 high (on the base price) for my area.
Both are good guns.
The Smith will probably have a nicer double action pull. The availability of parts and folks who know how to work on them will also favor the Smith. Likewise, you will find a greater selection of aftermarket grips and sight options for the Smith. The last will also apply to holsters, though the "Six" series guns will fit in some holsters made for "K/L" frame Smiths.
With all that said, I don't have a Model 19 (or 66) anymore, preferring instead a Security Six i have (also have a Speed Six). That's not a knock on Smith, I just happen to really like this Ruger. You really can't make a bad decision with your two listed choices.
Here's my Security Six when i had some stag on it:

These days, it mostly wears these "Target" grips:

Regards,
Greg

[Barth]

I have to say I did some target shooting with a Wamma Jamma 7.5" Ruger Super Redhawk 44
that seemed like it was looking for a helicopter to knock down.

I've never done any handgun hunting.
And even when talking a woods gun I can't seem to get out of Self Defense anti-personnel mode.
Wanting a gun that can do both with the right ammo I.E. 4" barrel.

But that Super Redhawk seemed made for
the dreaded deep woods Jurassic Park scenario.
And at 25 yards the accuracy was outstanding.

[TheTman]

Along with Gunbroker and Guns America, I'd look at Armslist.com, they have it broken into states so you can possibly arrange a face to face transactions.
I've can't speak about the Rugers but I think they are fine weapons. I do have a fairly new 686 Plus, 7 shooter with 6 inch barrel, that I really like. It's very accurate, and has a smooth double action pull, with a slight hesitatation before the hammer drops, and shooting single action is scary light. I really like my Dan Wesson .357's too, the Monson products were put together very well. They are a bit harder to come by these days, and more people are realizing their value and driving up the price. Not sure on the prices they are asking, I'd look around some before I paid that.

[Markis82]

Check this out. S&W 65 .357 mag police trade in $319.99

http://www.sportsmansoutdoorsupersto...858/c/firearms