I was reading up on one of S&W's newest releases for 2025. It's a .357 2.5" revolver without that ridiculous Clinton Era internal keyed lock. At first glance this looks like a solid revolver with a lit of updated features including an exposed hammer. Full round forcing cone and full length extractor rod. Sounds like it has a 11lb 14 oz trigger pull which is a bit heavy for my liking, however it says it breaks at 4lb 8oz. That seems like it would help that heavy initial pull. Adjustable sights is a plus for some. There is a bunch of other internal changes that make this an attractive pistol to many I think. To me it's a good looking gun that if I was in the market I might consider....... until I saw the price tag. $1299.00 MSRP. I don't mind paying for quality but that's a bit steep in my opinion.
S&W Model 19
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I carried my 4” M19 for awhile but I never could shoot it as well as my M28 so I went back to it.
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As Klbsa mentioned, P&R Smiths are spendy these days. I sold my 98%+ model 19-3 w/box&tools, a couple of years aog for almost 3 times my original cost in 1995. With the proceeds, I bought 2 used Ruger Security-six .357s: 1 stainless & 1 blued, both in very good condition. I've since sold the blued Ruger w/wood grips, a Ruger Security-six factory box & manual for $600 that I put toward a good to very good S&W 586 no dash, that cost me $675. The 586 is to placate my soul after having sold my very first pistol, a 586 no dash back in the 1980s, the only sale I regret.
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Are you referring to the Hillary hole?
When I first got into guns way back when, revolvers were still king---bought the then new Ruger Security Six blued 4" from the old Brass Rail gun store in Hollywood (long gone now) for a hair over $100 OTD... Shot it for years, sold it to my best friend to finance my first Browning Hi Power ($300. !)... Years later, bought a mint, used Ruger stainless 4" Security Six that I still have---a fine, reliable field gun---bought a used but hardly used Hunter holster (remember those?) at a gun show for $2. (!)---still have both and a stack of speed loaders for it...
If I didn't have too many guns now, I'd consider an S&W 686 4" stainless 7 shot, no hole, but the Security Six is plenty of .357 for me right now...
If I didn't have too many guns now, I'd consider an S&W 686 4" stainless 7 shot, no hole, but the Security Six is plenty of .357 for me right now...
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Interesting point. When Ruger brought out the GP 100 the LGS priced their Speed and Security sixes to sell. Basically, blowing out their inventory to make room for the GP 100. I picked up a security six with a six-inch barrel for a rock-bottom price.
It was a solid revolver that shot surprisingly well. When compared to the GP 100, the security six was panned and the rest is history. I think it would be interesting to see the reception the speed and security sixes would get if Ruger reintroduced them in a limited run. Both S&W and Colt have retro offerings in iconic revolvers, why not Ruger?
In a market dominated by polymer framed auto pistols a resurgence in revolver popularity would be hard to detect. It may well be that the younger generation has taken up an interest in revolvers.
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Yeah, the gun market decided that a medium frame .357 revolver, could never hold up to the likely 250 rounds of .357 ammo the average gun owner would ever fire.....
Skeeter Skelton did an endurance test with two Service or Speed Six revolvers, the fixed sight version of the Security Six. He fired 10,000 rounds of factory .357 magnum ammo through each one. After 10K, no parts breakage or measurable wear on either gun.
Each time I went through the Ruger LE Armorer's school, they gave me a ton of parts, for Security Sixes and later GP100's and SP101's. IIRC, I have never, in all those years, used one of those parts to fix a worn out part on those revolvers. Lost during disassembly, operator error, (like using a hammer to dissemble), yes. Never a worn out one, not once.
I have way more Smith revolvers than Rugers, and I mostly preferred the S&W's. But if you want a .357 that will be around when cockroaches go extinct.... get a Ruger.
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In your opinion is there any difference between a Security Service Six and a Police Service Six?
Edit: I think I answered that question for myself. It looks like the security six has an adjustable rear sight aperture and a much taller front sight post.
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Oh, and afaik, the last revolver the US military bought for issue was the Ruger Service Six. It was the only revolver that could pass the mil spec test of dissembling 50 revolvers, and mixing up the parts, reassembling and functioning. I had one in my collection I bought after an armorer's school, but sold it to a friend for what I bought it for who had to have it, ($150 ish), who sold it later for multiple's of what I paid for it.
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After all these years of buying S&W’s, and occasionally Colt’s I bought three Ruger SP101’s a few years ago (a .357, a 9mm, and a 4.2” .22LR eight shot “kit gun”). Very well-made revolvers.
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Someone that knows what they're doing can smooth the action on them where they're pretty darn good. Not quite as good as older Smiths, but pretty good.
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My Rugers are just range guns at this time. I ccw my S&W M442-2 Centennial Airweight. I also have a S&W M340PD to back it up (both loaded with Federal 38 Special +P). At this point of my life (w/ bad back & knees) lightweight is good.
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Now were talkin some gravy.
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