38 Special snub nose

[ept000]

Hey guys, I'm looking for a decent used 38 special snub nose for pocket carry. I don't have the cash for new, so I am hoping to find something that may have some cosmetic damage, but still functions correctly. I have a friend who brings me old coppies of Shotgun News, and there used to be some deals in there on law enforcement trade-ins. Are there still any deals to be had?

[BIGGUNGOBOOM]

very rarely. as far as revolvers. every once in a while one of the prison systems will get rid of their old inventory and youll find a 38 snub or 357 snub that one of the big wigs carried. my advise is go to the gun show, find someone that is trying to get rid of one and low ball em. or low ball one of the dealers. I know it sounds mean. but i have had great luck low balling gun dealers, you'd be surprised on what people will do to move product.
also every once in a while you can get a good deal on a new one. I picked up a New Taurus model 605 at sportsmans last year for 245.00 out the door, sure its not a smith but ive blasted hundreds of rounds threw it and it's damn accurate. i personally feel that Taurus makes a damn fine revolver. enough so that I would bet my life on it.

my .02

[gwalchmai]

Scan the classifieds of the major gun forums (GT, THR, TFL, S&W, etc) and be patient. They can be had. Taurus 85 is a great little gun for this, btw, considering it's not going to see the same number of rounds a range gun will.

[CZ93X62]

2"-barrelled revolvers tend to be "carried much and shot little". They are often in pretty good condition mechanically, even if cosmetically-challenged. Myself--I can't hit JACK with the J-frame S&Ws, no matter what grip set I try using.

My long favorite 2" 38 Special in the Colt Detective Special, esp. the later-series examples with the extractor rod shroud--the steel-framed variants were +P-certified. Older DetSpecs lacking the extractor shroud should avoid +P ammo.

I carried a Model 10 x 2" for a back-up/off-duty gun for quite a while, and it was LIGHTS-OUT ACCURATE. I let it go when my agency transitioned to autopistols in 1987, and that was a mistake. If I were to "replace" the 2" M-10 now, it would be with the 3" Model 13 or 65 in 357 Magnum.

[MullahElRon]

Give CDNN a call to see if they've got any used Smiths. You never know what they may get in and when.

[ept000]

Give CDNN a call to see if they've got any used Smiths. You never know what they may get in and when.
I can do that, but who is CDNN?

[mbradst]

http://cdnninvestments.com/

there you go.

[sparky241]

http://cdnninvestments.com/

there you go.
you have to download the catolog to see the gund they have. Ive delt with cdnn for years and have always been happy

[killarbb]

http://www.summitgunbroker.com/index.html



try here also........he deals in trade ins and seizure type weapons..

[myg30]

very rarely. as far as revolvers. every once in a while one of the prison systems will get rid of their old inventory and youll find a 38 snub or 357 snub that one of the big wigs carried. my advise is go to the gun show, find someone that is trying to get rid of one and low ball em. or low ball one of the dealers. I know it sounds mean. but i have had great luck low balling gun dealers, you'd be surprised on what people will do to move product.
also every once in a while you can get a good deal on a new one. I picked up a New Taurus model 605 at sportsmans last year for 245.00 out the door, sure its not a smith but ive blasted hundreds of rounds threw it and it's damn accurate. i personally feel that Taurus makes a damn fine revolver. enough so that I would bet my life on it.

my .02

I had a 605, purchased from a co-worker. The gun had some troubles after a box of magnums,jamed the cyl. He had it sent to taurus for repair.
When he got it back he wanted to sell it, I got it, shot some good shooter. then the jamming started..again. I got pissed and sent it to taurus. Well next thing I got a phone call from my FFL, told me to come down and get my NEW,BRAND NEW 605.Had to do the paperwork again. Taurus DOES stick to the lifetime warranty. +1 for The T.

Mike

Forgot to say the new one did have the key lock.Shoots great too.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

BGGB's .44 will stick the cylinder if you run a few cylinders full of hot loads through it. Let it cool off and the gap will open up and everything is AOK.

[BIGGUNGOBOOM]

If you run a hot enough load threw any revolver it will heat the cylinder up and give you a little lock up. I have yet to have the Tauus 605 do any lock up on me. My Taurus 44 Mag ported will if i run the whammy loads threw it. but i have seen the Whammy loads do it to ruger's also.
I wont run Whammy loads threw my smith mod 29 though, i find it hard to abuse such a pretty gun.

[gjk5]

I'm a big fan of the S&W 638, shrouded hammer so it won't snag, but you can still get that SA shot if you ever have to. Very light and pretty tame for it's size/weight. I had a Taurus 651 (all steel shrouded in .357), too heavy and .357 was not much fun even with the added weight of an all steel frame.

[CJStudent]

Scan the classifieds of the major gun forums (GT, THR, TFL, S&W, etc) and be patient. They can be had. Taurus 85 is a great little gun for this, btw, considering it's not going to see the same number of rounds a range gun will.


+1, got a Taurus 85 as well as an occasional-carry gun. Been 100% reliable for me and my g/f, no probs at all. Prolly put 300-400 rounds through it so far.

[gwalchmai]

Yep, I like my T-85, also consider Charter Arms & Rossi.

[BustedFlush]

For pocket carry, get one with a completely shrouded hammer, like a S&W 642, a J-frame.

Nothing wrong with a model 38 or 638, but with those you need to beware getting lint inside the shroud, potentially impeding your hammer.

Sure, it gives you the SA option, but for a pocket gun that is likely to be used at "defensive distances", I practice DA and plan to shoot DA.

BF

[GLOCKENNBOOMER]

I'm watching "The Maltese Falcon"right now with Bogey. I carry a Smith 642 right now, but I'm jonesing for a pre-lock blued Smith snubbie or Colt Det. Special with a set of antique stag grips.

[Warhorse]

For pocket carry, get one with a completely shrouded hammer, like a S&W 642, a J-frame.

Nothing wrong with a model 38 or 638, but with those you need to beware getting lint inside the shroud, potentially impeding your hammer.

Sure, it gives you the SA option, but for a pocket gun that is likely to be used at "defensive distances", I practice DA and plan to shoot DA.

BF
Never has been a problem for me and my 638. Of course I do check the weapon everytime, before I put it in a pocket holster, in a pocket, with nothing else in it.

[jawjaboy]

Yep, I like my T-85

Yep, me too. All 3 of 'em. Grannys be on da left. I bought it brand NIB at a show a number of years ago for $140! That's how long it been! Bought the daughter a new one a few years ago when she turned 21. And the stainless one I bought(stole) from a co-worker about 6 months ago. I thank I claimed it as mine. :wink5:

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g194/jawjaboy/IM000183.jpg

[ASH]

I picked up this Model 37 In nearly mint condition for a little over 300 bucks. You have to look around. Revolvers like everything else have come up in price, but you can still find decent deals out there if you look around.

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc207/cwade550/SW37003.jpg

[BustedFlush]

Never has been a problem for me and my 638. Of course I do check the weapon everytime, before I put it in a pocket holster, in a pocket, with nothing else in it.

As long as you are diligent, there's nothing wrong with a 638/38. But I've seen a couple of bodyguard airweights that were scary filthy. One from being carried around in a pocket and never cleaned. Another left in a glove compartment. No excuses for these guys, but they'd be better off with a completely concealed hammer.

[rico567]

Picked up a Rossi 88 out of a CA pawnshop (couldn't be sold in CA) for around $150. Nicely made little gun, smooth action and dead accurate. It's a knockoff of a Smith M60, but for far, far less money.

[Helms]

As some mentioned, the Taurus model 85 is tough to beat. My typical carry gun is this Taurus ultra light that I picked up last year for less than 300$ brand new. The trigger is flat out awesome on it. I highly recommend anyone looking for a decent snub nose at least try out a taurus before making the final decision. I am very happy with mine.
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa36/Helmsdini/Picture016.jpg

[chewy]

My Taurus 650 CIA has been a gem. I like the shrouded hammers of mine and the S&W 642s also. I'm real weener when it come to buying revolvers, I ain't brand specific, but I gotta see it, check it out in person so's I can check the b/c gap. lock up, etc. Everyone seems to have great suggestions, being a little patient gets my vote.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k298/chewybaca67/Fire%20Arms/PB190001.jpg

[yammerschooner]

I am very happy with my model 36. I picked it up on the arfcom EE in the handgun section a couple of years ago.

[Silverback]

[quote=CZ93X62;3694]2"-barrelled revolvers tend to be "carried much and shot little". They are often in pretty good condition mechanically, even if cosmetically-challenged. Myself--I can't hit JACK with the J-frame S&Ws, no matter what grip set I try using.

The crimson trace laser grip really changed that for me. I now trust my backup !!!-

[Anvil]

I've got a model 36 square butt with very light cosmetic damage I'm trying to get rid of but the police officers I work with are a bit tight fisted right now. I'm not looking to ship but if you want to do a local pick up I'll let it go with holster and orginal grips and pachymer grips for $215 (hammer is bobbed). I'm in Memphis if you're interested.

[alank2]

Hi,

I've got snub and it is a S&W 442. At first I wasn't sure if it was a keeper because the trigger was SO heavy, but after smoothing the internals a little and replacing the rebound spring with something more sensible, it is a sweet shooter now. I've almost got about 500 rounds through it. People complain about shooting these lighter snubs, but I have to be careful because I always end up shooting more ammo than I want to. Once I start blasting away with it, it is too fun to stop...

Good luck,

Alan

[ept000]

I've got a model 36 square butt with very light cosmetic damage I'm trying to get rid of but the police officers I work with are a bit tight fisted right now. I'm not looking to ship but if you want to do a local pick up I'll let it go with holster and orginal grips and pachymer grips for $215 (hammer is bobbed). I'm in Memphis if you're interested.
Hey Anvil, do you have any pictures?

[CZ93X62]

Silverback--

Oh, I could hit a badguy at 7-10 yards just fine with a J-frame. I should have been more clear, and mentioned target- or hunting-type shooting. With my old M-10 x 2", any jackrabbit at 35 yards was TOAST--wouldn't try such shots with the 36/60. Same story with a couple 22 LR Kit Guns (both 4") and a couple 32 Hand Ejectors--can't hold them properly in my big ol' paws.