I haven’t responded or thanked you guys for a ton of information but I have been digesting it. I said I was in desperate need of a revolver but it’s more accurate to say there’s room in the safe. I’m afraid it was more of a want than a need. I planned on justifying it (not that I have to) by telling myself that a hammer less revolver in .38 could be concealed easily. Concealed means concealed is a great rule of thumb but one of you old bulletheads countered that with basically a “who gives a crap if you print” attitude and there’s a lot of truth to that. I’m not a big guy but I can pull off a 2:30 carry of a full size 1911 and I don’t think anyone has ever noticed. The exception being youse guyswho are alert and aware enough to take note of who’s carrying. I guess I don’t even look for a print on the people in line with me at Cumby’s. Do you guys notice when someone is printing or carrying? It bums me out a bit to realize how situationally UNAWARE I am. Being aware is easily as important as practicing at the range isn’t it? As it stands in warm weather the Shield carries well and in hot weather I can always drop the .32 cap Seecamp into my pocket. I might not be able to hit an assailant at 10 feet with the damm thing but it’s something. I can’t shoot that gun for crap! It’s like it doesn’t have ANY sights. It was also pointed out that it just doesn’t matter much if the .38 is more powerful than a 9mm or vice versa. The difference is small and getting shot with either would suck. You guys did a lousy job of convincing me to hit the LGS to buy a J frame. I also remembered that 40 plus years ago I had a little Colt Detective Special in .38. I’m not even sure if it had a barrel but it was an angry little gun and not much fun to shoot. It wasn’t a gun that I’d burn a lot of ammo through that’s for sure. I’m still in the market for a wheel gun but I’ll make it more usable than for strictly carry. Maybe something in a cowboy cartridge or maybe something for shooting cloverleaf’s. IDK but there’s always a reason for a new firearm. Thanks and I will see you at the range.
My relationship with revolvers has been a rocky one. Every few years in the 30 years I’ve owned guns, I’ve gotten the itch for a revolver, enjoyed them for a year or two, decided I can’t hit crap compared to even a cheap 1911, and sold them for yet another semi auto.
My very first centerfire handgun was a Taurus model 85. It was a terrible choice for a first “real” gun. It was difficult to get great groups with and had flinch inducing recoil. I followed it up with a Glock 17, and immediately became a better pistol shooter.
Next up was a Rossi somethingorother in .357. That one had a 6” barrel and was heavy enough to soak up the recoil. But the trigger was shite, it was expensive to feed compared to a 9mm, and it ultimately didn’t hold my interest.
Next time the itch needed scratching, it was a S&W 686. That was my first quality revolver, and I actually enjoyed that one. I replaced the factory springs with Wilson Combat ones, and the trigger became, light, smooth, and predictable. I started hand loading .357, so cost wasn’t an issue. She was a great gun, but, she also didn’t hold my interest, and I still didn’t shoot her as well as any of my autos. When I had the chance to trade her for an Sig 226, I did.
Fast forward through a couple of cheap, crappy, .22 revolvers (I’m looking at you Ruger Wrangler), and I started shooting my buddies 686…and actually starting to shoot it well. Hitting the plate at 100 yards offhand, making decent groups with .38 wadcutters. He’d bring it just about every week, and every week I’d enjoy it a little more. Then he added a Python. And that old wheel gun lust reared its head again. I found a good deal on a vintage police trade in Model 64, and it was love at first bang. 40+ years of use made it the smoothest DA pull I’ve ever felt, and I shoot her better in DA than SA. Then I was off to the races, I quickly added the aforementioned 642. My first range trip with it, I made a 3” group at 25yards, and as soon as I slipped it into a cheap clip on suede holster in my waistband my body went ahhhhhhhh.
I’ve since added a Ruger NM Blackhawk in 45LC/ACP and a Heritage Rough Rider in .22LR/WMR, and am constantly on the lookout for my next wheelgun.
Looking back on my journey, the conclusion I’ve come to is that a snub nose revolver is a terrible gun to hand to a new shooter. It’s designed for concealability above shootability, and takes some skill to shoot well. A much better choice for a new shooter, is a mid size semi auto (Glock 19 or the million others like it). However, the more I progress as a shooter, the easier it is for me to shoot revolvers well, and the better I shoot them.
OP, sounds like you already have a safe full of guns to take to war. In that case, definitely give a revolver a chance. If you’re like me, you might have to go through a few of them before they start to click, but once they do, it’s kinda magic.
On J frames (Or at least the 642s they sell now), the boot grips they come with are awful IMO. I bought mine used, and the former owner also included a set of Pachmayr grips that are much better. They are actually a little thinner than the boot grips, but add just enough rubber below the frame to get my pinky onto the grip. Makes the gun feel way more controllable.