What Do I Want?

[napp]

Looking for a little advice on buying a car gun. Here are some of my thoughts. After you read them, I would like to see some of your comments.

1. Gun must be cheap...preferably under $250. If it is stolen from the car, I don't want to take a big financial hit.
2. Must be reliable....don't care about pretty....but should shoot without fail.
3. Should be a revolver. I don't want the possibility of ejected casings ricocheting around inside the car.
4. Would prefer six round cylinder; but could go with five.
5. Barrel length should be at least two inches....but no more than three inches. Gun is carried in a holster velcroed to side of console. Longer barrel lengths get unwieldy inside the car.
6. A car gun can be expected to be fired from within the car....probably one handed; therefore, recoil and noise should be considerations. Most likely, the best caliber would be .38 Special....but, I am open to other suggestions.

I suspect likely candidates that meet most of the above criteria will be guns made by Armscor, Rossi, Charter Arms, Taurus, and other non-premium name brands. My price point will likely eliminate S&W, Colt, and Ruger guns.

Comments....suggestions????

 

[fast306stang]

Looks like you've answered your own questions by using your criteria to eliminate options. Only a few revolvers will match your needs...I'd go with Taurus or Rossi, MAYBE Charter Arms...but I'd shoot the heck out of it to make sure it runs reliably. I had a brand new Charter Arms that wouldnt...but the next owner said it ran 100 percent for him. Could have been the ammo?

 

[WLhunter]

Same.. me tho SCCY 9mm..semi but have 2..no failure with factory or handloads.shot the snot out both. Cheap reliable accurate and a good warranty.

 

[JDS556762]

Looks like you've answered your own questions by using your criteria to eliminate options. Only a few revolvers will match your needs...I'd go with Taurus or Rossi, MAYBE Charter Arms...but I'd shoot the heck out of it to make sure it runs reliably. I had a brand new Charter Arms that wouldnt...but the next owner said it ran 100 percent for him. Could have been the ammo?

Same same on a charter. Had a Taurus that ran all day eer day though. Go figure

 

[fast306stang]

When I bought the Charter Arms, I was trying to save money on my EDC. After shooting it and having the failures, I decided my life and my family's wasn't worth risking by saving money and buying a cheap gun.

My 2nd lesson was cheap gun or not---if your life is going to depend on it---run it and make sure it's going to do what it's supposed to when that moment comes. For semi-autos, that means running your expensive SD ammo through it. Just cuz it cycles ball ammo doesn't mean it's gonna cycle your JHP's when that moment comes.

Part 2 of the above...if you unload when you get home, periodically check for deformities. If the same round gets chambered a few times and deforms, it may not cycle if it's the 2nd or 3rd or whatever round down the mag later on.

 

[Kahrnut]

There's a s/s 'Taurus .38 special revolver $265' listed today.

 

[napp]

There's a s/s 'Taurus .38 special revolver $265' listed today.

Thanks, I saw it; but it is quite a hike from my house.

 

[JDS556762]

Thanks, I saw it; but it is quite a hike from my house.

Can't go wrong with something like a LCR or even an old S&W wheel gun. I have a Protector Poly? .38 +P Taurus in my pants time now it goes bang, has a fiber front sight, is light weight and rated for +P and got it for less than 300.00 in fact 260.00 BNIB at buds gunshop in stock time now.

 

[napp]

I've got a .38 Special LCR w/ laser; but it would bother me to leave something that pricey in the car and risk it being stolen. I have been using a S&W Model 64-4 in my car; but it has a 4" barrel...I would prefer something shorter.

 

[JDS556762]

A 260.00 pistol is not something I personally would call expensive. Giving the Protector Poly a nod still