The Snubnose option

[Outpost75]

Four 38 S&Ws live at my house--Colt PP x 4" and S&W Regulation Police x 4"... Colt was made in 1920, the S&W roughly 1933. Both are accurate little jewels, as jackrabbits have learned to their permanent consternation. Song dogs gotta eat, too.

The other 2 examples are actually 38/200s of WWII vintage--a S&W M&P x 5" and a Webley-Enfiled top-break with ~4.5" barrel. Both of these need a .363" bullet to fit the throats, and I use NEI #169A to load for these...202 grains in WW metal, and 3.0 grains of Unique imparts 650-675 FPS from the S&W. That #169A is a strange bullet--it is longer than the case it gets seated into. (.810" vs. .775")...The 38 S&W would be a great small game or varmint caliber, as is the 32 S&W Long. It seems a shame that both are relegated to "enthusiast caliber" status these days. Not everyone wants or needs a 17 round mag capacity or thunderous report in their sports sidearms.

I have a couple Victory S&Ws as well, one Aussie and the other Brit. Both accurate revolvers which went Factory Through Repair in the 1950s before being surplussed out. In both I use the Accurate 36-190T bullet with 2.5 grains of Bullseye for 630 fps, which shoots to the fixed sights with astounding penetration and no "flip".

 

[RicinYakima]

Back when I was working the streets, the farm workers up from the south mostly had Rossi revolvers. Locals who wanted a revolver, but could not afford a "good" gun bought Charter Arms. In fact there are two Charter Arms dealers in the area, but no Tarus dealers other than Cabela's.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Ric, when was that and what part of the country?

 

[abj]

I'm wondering if the wholesale distributor's drive this regional preference more so than the end user. Years ago they were all regional, and now we have national distributors. Back in the 80's hardware business that was a huge factor in what we could get at a good price point.
Tony

 

[Winelover]

Nowadays, with the trend toward semi auto's, revolvers are pretty much non existent at LGS. If you happen on one, it's either a S&W J-frame or a Ruger LCR. However, with internet suppliers or auction houses................anything can be obtained.

I had to purchase my "Fit for Duty" Bulldog off Gunbroker. My LGS couldn't find one at any of his suppliers. In my case, Charter Arms was the only option for a lightweight, snubnose, hammerless, revolver in 44 Special. Price wasn't a consideration. No other manufacturer covers my criteria. Wish Ruger would in the LCR line, I'd be all over it.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I'm wondering if the wholesale distributor's drive this regional preference more so than the end user. Years ago they were all regional, and now we have national distributors. Back in the 80's hardware business that was a huge factor in what we could get at a good price point.
Tony

That could absolutely have been a driving force and one that I did consider.
The distribution network in the 1980's was significantly different than it is now. Gun shops were supplied by regional distributors and although shops were not bound to use certain distributors, they had preferred distributors. Paper catalogs from manufacturers and distributors were the the norm in those days.

Additionally, I've often speculated that Charter Arms enjoyed some "home court" advantage in the northeast. Not only was it made in America, it was made in Connecticut. And it was made before Taurus appeared in America.

I suspect, but cannot prove, that when the Taurus model 85 appeared it became the other low cost snubnose alternative. I think the Taurus may have chipped away at the Charter Arms U.S. market but never quite cracked the northeast portion of the market. The fact that the Taurus looked like a S&W probably didn't hurt sales either.

 

[RicinYakima]

Ric, when was that and what part of the country?

Pacific Northwest from about 1970 -1990. Now everyone can afford a black plastic 9MM. Rossi was always the big seller here, Taurus not very much.

 

[Missionary]

We bought a Ruger 5 shot 44 Special when up north last time. Heavy brute. Rides in our kayak and so far has only been a passenger.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Pacific Northwest from about 1970 -1990. Now everyone can afford a black plastic 9MM. Rossi was always the big seller here, Taurus not very much.

Interesting. I don't think the Taurus Model 85 showed up until the mid 1980's. I've heard the model is named 85 for the introduction date but I'm not sure that's accurate. But your observation of Charter Arms being being the secondary choice in the 70's and 80's certainly falls in line with that time frame.

 

[RicinYakima]

Rossi was being imported at least by 1965, if not earlier, Taurus began producing revolvers in 1941 and importing them to the US in 1968 when they were owned by Bangor Punta (S&W). They were purchased by a Brazilian company, along with Rossi about 1977.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Yeah, I read that on wikipedia myself. Not sure when the Model 85 appeared. It was clearly around by the late 1980's .

 

[RBHarter]

I did have a M66 Taurus . Ultimately a Rossi . A 4" 357 . I have to say it shot great right up to the threshold of 357 where everything would fall apart . I mean the works , shot gun patterns , stuck cases etc . That was before my enlightenment , and it did have one load that by shear happenstance that shot just amazing . 7.5 gr of Unique under 95 gr GD intended for a 380 . No idea how fast they were going and there was no doubt a very impressive fire ball . 50 yd I could have probably just about stacked them in . In hindsight it probably had .355-6 parts vs .357-8 mashing jackets down was probably exactly why I had the issues . Had I shot 9mm bullets in it , 147s about 1150-1200 would have been the bee's knees from about 40-60 yd for just about everything in a 16" twist . Oh well , what we didn't know then .....

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Again, Not a discussion about the quality of Taurus and Charter Arms.

 

[RBHarter]

Sorry just observations and confession of my before cast ignorance about chamber groove relationships ......