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Thread: What is your favorite revolver for 38 Special?

  1. #1
    Boolit Grand Master tazman's Avatar
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    What is your favorite revolver for 38 Special?

    There are many revolvers out there in which 38 Special will work just fine. Any 357 mag revolver will handle them as well as any revolver chambered for the 38 Special itself.
    So many have been made over the last hundred years that nearly anyone who shoots has fired one at some point.
    I am not going to limit this question to revolvers chambered only in 38 Special. Any revolver that can handle the cartridge counts, including those chambered for 357 Max/etc.

    What I want you to talk about is your favorite revolver to shoot the ubiquitous 38 Special and why?

    Mine is my S&W 14 of which I have two. I shoot them more than any other handgun I own. I don't necessarily shoot them better than others. It just feel right to me.
    I have other revolvers in both 38 Special and 357 Mag, but the Model 14 gets the call most often.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master



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    2 inch S&W Model 60. Fits comfortably in a back pocket with holster, or in a jacket pocket, or even on a belt holster. Good for 15 Yards; although many years ago when the eyes were better; and equipped with a Tyler T-Grip to better fit my large hand - I could hit 4 of 5 and often 5 of 5 Twelve Gauge Shotgun shells sitting on a target stand at 25 yards.
    Mustang

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  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master
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    I have had 10 .38/.357 revolvers, but none were as sweet as my first...Colt Officers. And not too far behind that a S&W M52.

    Yea...I know the M52 is not a revolver.....so I guess second would be the K-38
    Don Verna


  4. #4
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    WOW, I have a lot of choices but would have to go with my 2" model 36. My model 10 is fun to shoot as well as my 66, 586, 19, 642. But the 36 is just so danged handy.

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  5. #5
    Boolit Master
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    Ruger 3" LCRx 38 SP+P. I know it is not "pretty", but the OP asked about favorite gun to shoot, not look at.

    The LCR series was designed for double action with a DA trigger that just "feels right" to me.

    The LCRx added single action capability, adjustable sights and a 3" barrel. Shooting to point of aim with different loads is no problem and in my opinion the 3" adds to both usefulness and fun factor without making the gun too big.

    With light loads, the gun is just plain fun to shoot in both SA and DA.

    It shoots fine with +p 158 gr loads, but I seldom shoot them. They are not so much fun - recoil is more than I like. This make sense given the gun only weighs something like 16 oz. But it nice to know it is rated to handle unlimited quantities of the +P loads.

    Cost was very reasonable.
    Last edited by P Flados; 09-25-2021 at 11:02 PM.

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master tazman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by dverna View Post
    I have had 10 .38/.357 revolvers, but none were as sweet as my first...Colt Officers. And not too far behind that a S&W M52.

    Yea...I know the M52 is not a revolver.....so I guess second would be the K-38
    The M52 and the Colt 1911 Gold cup, both in 38 Special, were the reason I specified revolvers. I have never fired either of those two pistols and probably never will. I wouldn't be able to shoot them any better than I do my revolvers, so what would be the point.
    The 38 Special was made for revolvers and that is the point of this thread.

  7. #7
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    COLT Official Police 6" bbl,
    purchased by My Dad new in 1954. Same year I was born. Wanted that revolver since I was old enough to say "Revolver".
    He gave it to me 2 weeks before He passed in June 1988.
    Yep it's My favorite.
    But I sure do Love My old S&W Model 14, and 1976 Colt Cobra.
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  8. #8
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    My wife's S&W Model 15 4" barrel and my S&W Model 13 with 3" barrel. I really like the K frames. james

  9. #9
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    S&W Model 65 3" bobbed hammer, trigger job, Pachmayer grips, clip draw. Been edc since 1993. Fits my hand, comfortable at 4 o'clock, more accurate than I am.

  10. #10
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    I like the model 14 for range work and the 15 for field work. Basically the same other than 4" vs 6".
    [The Montana Gianni] Front sight and squeeze

  11. #11
    Boolit Master Sasquatch-1's Avatar
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    I had a S&W M60 (2", 38spl only in SS) when I was working that would out shoot the issued 4" S&W M10's. Made the mistake of selling it when I retired. Right now it would be a S&W M10, 2", that I was issued and able to purchase when we switched to Glocks.
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  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy
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    I like the 4 or 6in S&W's (pre-lock only) in .38. Got tired of scrubbing the ring out of a .357 so I load light .357's for those now and keep the 38's in 38's.

  13. #13
    Boolit Master Wag's Avatar
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    GP100 or 586/686

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  14. #14
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    For a range toy, its a tossup between a Colt Officer's Model Match or a S&W K-38, depending on how I shoot that day.

    For a duty gun role, it is awful hard to beat a three or four inch K frame. Although I would like to have a 4" Model 12.

    For concealed carry one of the DAO Airweights makes a lot of sense to me.

    Robert

  15. #15
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    My favourite is a 1980-manufactured 4" heavy pin-barreled Smith & Wesson Model 64! While it has no adjustable sights to possibly get misaligned from wear, its fixed sights are easily recalled (e.g., a tad on the "high" side with my ammo) for good accuracy. With rubber (Hogue, or Pachmyr? I do not recall which) grips a great amount of recoil is absorbed. (Factory wood grips are stored in box revolver came in) I have a Galco holster which fits it "better than a glove" -- and... to me both the revolver as well as holstered revolver -- are most pleasing to the eye!
    geo

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy
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    1952 S&W Outdoorsman (pre-Model 23) w/magna grips. Also S&W Model 27, essentially the same gun in .357 Magnum.

  17. #17
    Boolit Man
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    I have a S&W 10-8 RB with a 4" HB that I carry for duty and a S&W 15 that I carry working on the farm. I never could understand why someone would buy a k frame 38 when you could buy one in 357, until I bought one, then two. Now I am on the lookout for more. I am looking for a nice S&W 14 now.

  18. #18
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    My old LE service revolver; a S&W M15 with a 5" heavy barrel.

    Attachment 289261
    Larry Gibson

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  19. #19
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    Hello, My name is Glen and I am an addict. I cannot resist snub-nose .38 revolvers. My favorite is my Nickle Colt Detective special, but I love 'em all. I have been hankering for a model 12 Smith.
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    I have several others not pictured.
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  20. #20
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    My real 'favorite' is the 4" Colt Diamondback that lives on my wife's side of the bed when it's not at the range. Otherwise, I lean toward the 3" SP101 with a kitchen-table trigger job and Hogue grips.

    Bill
    "I'm not often right but I've never been wrong."

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check