Author Topic: should i buy a S&W, ROSSI, or CHARTER ARMS??? (Read 3885 times)

oldfart · « **on:** January 24, 2009, 01:25:17 PM »

i have $300.00 to spend on a handgun and i like revolvers over semi-auto's, so here is my choices. i went to my local gun shop, he has a new rossi 971 in 357, a new charter arms undercover in 38spl. or a used s&w model 36 in 38spl. the rossi and charter are new, the smith is used but in great shape i'd guess about 90-95% in blueing, it works great and locks up tight, it has a 3 inch barrel and a square butt. the dealer said it was made before 1990 because they stopped making square butt revolvers in 1990. so which gun would you buy? i'm looking to carry on my side when i'm on the farm, and to keep as a home gun. oh i forgot to tell ya'll the dealer said he would take $300 for either otd.

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #1 on:** January 24, 2009, 01:28:27 PM »

I would get the Rossi in 357 since you can shoot both 38 sp and 357.

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** January 24, 2009, 01:40:47 PM »

Buy the used S&W it is far superior to the other two.

ihuntbucks · « **Reply #3 on:** January 24, 2009, 04:31:39 PM »

S & W......nuff said

........Rick

dbriannelson · « **Reply #4 on:** January 24, 2009, 04:44:01 PM »

Yeah, the Smith. The others would probably work just fine, but a S&W 36 is a better revolver.

-Don

OLDHandgunner · « **Reply #5 on:** January 25, 2009, 12:36:33 AM »

Go with the S&W. Don't waste your money on the others.

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #6 on:** January 25, 2009, 02:44:02 AM »

S&W!!!

oldfart · « **Reply #7 on:** January 25, 2009, 06:47:48 AM »

thanks everyone ya'll helped me out alot, i'll get the s&w it ain't been shot much you can tell by the way it looks. and 38's still pack enough punch to stop a wild animal on the farm, and a wild criminal in my house. i'll get plain 38's to practice with, and load it with 38+p for defense. thanks again.

darrell8937 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 29, 2009, 11:07:14 AM »

Thinking back in the dusty innards of my feeble mind. I rember cautions using +P's in the 36.. Here is a brief article. May pertain to older guns.. Food for thought though! but should do some reaserch for safety sakes!

http://www.snubnose.info/docs/Model_36.htm

Syncerus · « **Reply #9 on:** January 29, 2009, 11:56:39 AM »

The Smith is a no-brainer in this group. That said, you might want to look around for a used 642.

Devy55 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 30, 2009, 11:19:45 AM »

If I had my druthers, I'd go S&W, TAURUS, Charter Arms, and then Rossi.

Shawnee Gene · « **Reply #11 on:** February 01, 2009, 04:46:49 AM »

I carry a SW 36 that is exactly as you descibe.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #12 on:** February 10, 2009, 02:02:44 AM »

couldnt give you a better answer!!!!

Quote from: Graybeard on January 24, 2009, 01:40:47 PM

Buy the used S&W it is far superior to the other two.

Bear Wallow · « **Reply #13 on:** February 27, 2009, 08:06:35 AM »

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #14 on:** February 27, 2009, 11:00:54 AM »

S&W !
the other 2 are to small for boat anchors

dougk · « **Reply #15 on:** February 28, 2009, 10:41:32 PM »

Quote from: oldfart on January 25, 2009, 06:47:48 AM

thanks everyone ya'll helped me out alot, i'll get the s&w it ain't been shot much you can tell by the way it looks. and 38's still pack enough punch to stop a wild animal on the farm, and a wild criminal in my house. i'll get plain 38's to practice with, and load it with 38+p for defense. thanks again.

How does the S&W shoot?
Doug

Hank08 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 01, 2009, 10:35:35 AM »

Glad you decided on the S&W. That 3" heavy barrel and the sq. butt will make it easier to shoot. Don't worry about the +p ammo. I've shot hundreds of them thru a 36 and it's as tight as it ever was. Of course your milage may vary but I doubt it.
H08

oldfart · « **Reply #17 on:** March 01, 2009, 10:37:29 AM »

it shot great, but i had to sell it some bills came up. then i found out my wife had sold some do dads to get the money so i was without a gun so i went back and the only gun they had was the charter. but i've got good news on that, the charter shoots great too. i have put almost 100 rounds thru it (single and double action) and its not failed once. lock up is tight as i have seen on a revolver and it shoots to sights so i'm happy.(just wished my wife had told me she had the money for the bill before i sold the s&w) i also need to say, the charter was the only one in my price range. the shop had more guns but all were over $450, i haggled the shop owner down to $275 for the charter, its the police undercover built on the bulldog frame.

Old Griz · « **Reply #18 on:** March 15, 2009, 05:30:56 PM »

Charter was my second choice.

Old Griz · « **Reply #19 on:** October 25, 2009, 12:33:23 PM »

Quote from: oldfart on January 25, 2009, 06:47:48 AM

thanks everyone ya'll helped me out alot, i'll get the s&w it ain't been shot much you can tell by the way it looks. and 38's still pack enough punch to stop a wild animal on the farm, and a wild criminal in my house. i'll get plain 38's to practice with, and load it with 38+p for defense. thanks again.

I knew a rancher who always carried a .38. He even used it to put down steers. Said he didn't need anything bigger.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #20 on:** November 02, 2009, 03:20:17 AM »

we have a guy who kills a nd butchers beefs here that uses a 22LR to put down any beef he kills some well over 1200 lbs . We used to kill 400 to 600 lb hogs with a 22 short RF . That said get one pizzed off and all bets are off and no where to run give me something bigger !

P.A. Myers · « **Reply #21 on:** November 04, 2009, 03:12:56 AM »

My usual carry gun is a late model 636. S&w quality is only matched by Colt. A possible problem could be that if droped the gun may lockup, requireing the key to unlock. I have not handled the small Rugers.

woodsie57 · « **Reply #22 on:** December 20, 2009, 08:11:37 AM »

If you buy the C.A. or Rossi,take it home and shoot it, you now have a used gun anyway. So, buy the SW. I currently own a Rossi mod. 85 [I think] snubbie in stainless, have had a couple blued Charter undercovers. All good guns, but investment wise, the SW really shines

bearmgc · « **Reply #23 on:** December 21, 2009, 05:42:36 PM »

I'd get the SW 36, knowing I'd be able to pass it on to my grankids. Its proven quality.