From: tssmith@netcom.com (Tim Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: New Hangunner: Summary
Date: 12 Sep 92 13:53:22 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest)

About two weeks ago I posted a request for info on this newsgroup, as
"New Handgunner Needs Advice."  I know rec.guns gets a lot of requests
like this, so I was very pleased to get a ton of responses
(well, about 40 :-).

I tried to answer all the responses.  If I missed you (a few emails
bounced) my apologies, and please accept my thanks via this article.

I asked about: (1) revolvers vs. pistols, (2) is a Smith 586/686 a good
gun, (3) is it better with a 4" barrel or a 6" barrel (not for carry),
(4) .22s, and what are some good models for target shooting.

Here's a quick summary:

(1)  Most people seemed to agree that
     (a) a revolver is a better gun for those who don't/can't practice
         much, as it's simpler (not my situation, but useful advice).
     (b) good revolvers, out of the box, tend to be more accurate, and
         have better triggers, than good semi-autos.
     (c) you should get what you feel most comfortable with.
     (d) the round capacity difference isn't all that important in real life,
         defensive situations.  It is important for certain kinds of
         rapid-fire competition, which virtually requires pistols.
     (e) most of the "serious" handgunners use pistols, tho' most of
         these seem to have a revolver somewhere in their past, or in
         their garage. :-)
     
     (Some further comments of mine, after trying out a few more handguns:
     I was surprised how fast you can get off 6 aimed rounds from a DA
     revolver. Before I shot handguns, I always imagined that revolvers
     were really slow and clunky, and that for anything but slow target
     shooting or plinking you really needed a SA autoloader.
     Doesn't seem so.)

(2)  No one had a bad word to say about the S&W 686.  Quite a few said
     that it was their favorite handgun.  A few said that they had bought
     a Ruger (like a GP-100) after considering a Smith, because it seemed
     slightly sturdier and more robust than the Smith.  Everyone who had an
     opinion on stainless vs. blued preferred stainless, except for hunting.
     The S&W Model 19 (like the 66 in stainless, both .357s) was judged less
     sturdy than the 686/586 if you're going to be shooting lots of
     magnum loads.  One guy said that the 686 will "last forever" on a steady
     diet of .38 147g wadcutters.

(3)  As to revolver barrel length, most people said that 4" is better,
     in that it is not significantly less accurate than 6", and the 
     muzzle flash isn't much greater. Two people said that 6" is much
     better for bowling pin or metal silhouette shooting (whatever these
     are -- I've got a lot to learn).

(4)  When it comes to .22s, there's less consensus.  I had
     mentioned the S&W K22 (revolver), the S&W M41 (target pistol), and the
     Ruger MkII (pistol).  Lots of people who responded own Ruger MkII's,
     and almost all of them were positive about these guns, within the
     pistol's limitations (they're not Olympic-class target pistols).
     Several people said that the S&W 41 is a very accurate .22.

     One respondent from Germany said that he wouldn't recommend either
     a Ruger or a S&W 41, and mentioned the Russian MC pistols, or
     the Star FR Sport .22 (I haven't seen either of these listed here in
     the US, but the prices he quoted (in Germany) were very
     low (around 100-200 DM)).

     Nobody specifically recommended a .22 revolver, though the
     German respondent claimed that the most accurate .22 revolver around
     is the Casull ("with a Free Pistol-like accuracy").
     (Probably well out of my price range. :-)


So, I have decided to get a .357 revolver, almost certainly a S&W 686
with a 4" barrel.  I'll practice with that, using .38 loads, until I
_can_ hit the side of a barn, keep it forever as a defense weapon,
then think about pistols, either .22 target or perhaps 9mm or .40,
depending on what direction my interests take.

Thanks again for all the great advice.


--Tim (tssmith@netcom.com)