Buying a used SW revolver

[Brad]

If I am look at buying a used S&W double action revolver what do I need to pay to?
Should I take some pin gauges with me to check throat dimensions?

Never owned a Smith so I'm looking for some things to keep an eye on.

 

[freebullet]

Buy another ruger...or an old colt.

 

[Brad]

I would really like a double action 44 special. I mean really, really like one.

A 44 special Blackhawk would be OK but not a first choice.

 

[freebullet]

I was just giving you a hard time Brad.

I passed on three real nice s&w 44mags last summer. They were like new and at 400 each I really thought about buying all three from the lady. The 1 was new old stock in a presentation wood box. Kinda kick myself for not getting them.

I have no experience with 44spcl except that I've seen dirty harry and the only s&w I've owned was 357. It had a very very nice trigger.

 

[Rick]

I've got a 6 inch model 624 44 spl. Don't really know what they are going for, I bought this one from a friend about 5 or 6 years ago that was selling stuff for his sister in-law when his brother passed away. I only bought it because I figured everybody should have at least one 44 spl. I haven't done much with it but mostly because I'm not much on revolvers that shoot mostly at muzzle thumpin distances.

Check out GunBroker before you leave for the show and see what they are going for.

 

[Rick]

Not to sure what to make of it but I just looked at a page of 50 on GunBroker, several there to see. There is a 624 3 inch with a starting bid of $200 and a buy it now price of $1500. Another older 624 4" with a buy it now price of $1100, another 4" buy it now for $1050.

I didn't know they where going for that much. Hhmmm . . . I wonder how much mine is worth, might be worth selling?

 

[9.3X62AL]

Those "Buy It Now" prices are ridiculous. The S&W 44 Specials from the 1980s tend to have throats running .432"-.434", just like Model 29s of the same vintage. Not a big issue for Us Casters--order a semi-custom mould and sizing die, maybe think about a Taylor throat for the barrel if the grooves are the usual .428"-.429". I sold a 6.5" 624 about 18 months ago for $750, and it took a while to get that. That 3" example's seller is asking Triple Lock money for a Bangor Punta product with a crush-fit barrel. Get bent, I'd say. 44 Specials are "enthusiast guns", a lot like 41 Magnums and 10mms. It is a small pool of buyers for the critters, but they are an enthusiastic lot. Flippers think enthusiasm = ignorance. Caveat emptor. The 4" examples are fewer in number than the 6.5", and cost a bit more. I have resorted to down-loading a large percentage of my 44 Magnum ammo to "44 Special +P" specs (#429421 @ 900-1000 FPS) for both the Redhawk and the Mountain Gun now on staff in the safe. I'm trimming back my 38 Special population apace, and might just DL 357s once that caliber gets gone.

 

[Rick]

Maybe Brad will make me a can't refuse offer for my 624, since he will be here in person on Sunday he wouldn't even need to pay shipping and I even accept green folding cash.

He did say . . .

I would really like a double action 44 special. I mean really, really like one.

Let's see how much he really, really wants one.

 

[Rick]

He also said in another thread . . .

I am sitting at 3 plus years on a 375 bullet from Mihec. Great moulds but you will wait. And wait. And wait.

I have a 375 two cavity NEI made by Walt. Marked 210 gr SWC. I haven't anything to shoot 375, never have had. I've never sold a mold, kinda like selling one of the kids but maybe . . .

 

[JWFilips]

I like old S&W: got my model 19 ( .357 mag ) in excellent condition on Gunbroker a few years ago for $400; got my Model 15 (38 spec) in excellent condition on Gunbroker for $365;
Got my wife's Model 32 Terrier ( .38 S&W) ......again in excellent ( more like unused) condition on Gunbroker for $390.
All are old 1960's & Blued ( I like blued S&W's)

 

[RicinYakima]

Used: about 75% of retail for a comparable new S&W. If the recoil shield has the blue worn off from the cases setting back, pass on it. Look for screw heads buggered: everybody thinks they are S&W gunsmiths. If worn, pass on it. Lines around the cylinder from the lock dropping too soon, pass on it. Generally, anything made before 1966 is OK if not shot a lot.

 

[freebullet]

"OK if not shot a lot."

To me that's not a ringing endorsement of the guns quality from day one. A guy that shoots as much as Brad can plain wear out the gun. I doubt he's into pretty blue safe queens. That pretty blue wears off pretty easy with use. Part of the reason I let mine go, who wants a gun that won't handle what I consider normal use.

I never worry about shooting the ruger alot, it's encouraged.

 

[RicinYakima]

I guess a lot depends upon your expectations. I shot my S&W Model 15 Combat Masterpiece about 100,000 rounds between 1970 and 1980, and it would still shoot less than 1 1/2 inch groups at 25 yards. I have owned about 12 Ruger double action revolvers since my first Security Six. None shot better than 2 inches for me, but that just may be my problem. You may be able to do much better. I could not, so they have all gone down the road except for an SP101 in 32 Mag.

 

[Brad]

I plan to shoot nothing but standard type 44 special loads. I have a 44 mag so I can get all the horsepower I need from that.
A nice Keith type bullet at 750-850 will do all I want from this revolver.

 

[Rick]

Sold my 624 to Brad. He will be here on Sunday & if he likes it it's all his. Now to decide how much to charge him for shipping & handling.



Here it was in April 2011 trying out Tight Group, dirty powder.

.

 

[Dale53]

I have an S&W Model 24 with 6.5" barrel, a 624 with 6.5" barrel, and a 624 with 4" barrel as well as three single action .44 Specials. All of those revolvers shoot really well (under 1" at 25 yards off a rest). All of them work well with the Skeeter load (7.5 grs. of Unique behind a 250 gr Keith cast bullet). The Skeeter load gives about 950 fps and will shoot through a large whitetail deer end for end.

That's my chosen field load. Here's why I like the .44 Special (6.5" Model 624 with Skeeter load, standing at 25 yards in front of witnesses):



I hadn't shot this particular revolver for a while and couldn't remember if it was sighted for six 0'clock or dead on. The first shot was low (it was sighted for dead on at 25 yards). I merely raised the point of aim to center the target and fired the rest...

These are GREAT revolvers. I size my cast bullets to .430".

Just a thought or two...

Dale53

 

[Brad]

That is what I wanted to see and hear Dale. Loads like yours are exactly what I plan to shoot.

Rick, you did clean the revolver, didn't you?

Oh, we made it to Tulsa just fine. Now we can relax and look around.

 

[Rick]

Rick, you did clean the revolver, didn't you?

What??? You have no solvent? No brushes? No patches?

Geez, I miss it already. What a sweet single action trigger! By the way, this revolver had the trigger massaged by the only smith I know that I allow to touch the trigger of any of my match guns.

I didn't have anything loaded in 44 Spl but John does (7 rounds left ) so you will get a chance to shoot it.

 

[Brad]

That sounds good.
I just need to make sure we get to Springfield at a reasonable time Sunday!
i might even stop at Starline on the way home and see if I can get 500 44 Special cases

 

[Blaster]

Might as well stop at the Grizzly toy uh, tool store if you're in Springfield.

http://www.grizzly.com/