Armscor mod 200 .38 special

**alaskabushman** · 02-12-2017, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by Rick

My wife carried a Ruger LCR in .38. I didn't mind it not being .357 because she was never going to shoot it with .357s. Guess what? Neither will I. I have an old M&P in .38 that was an uncle's and a couple of .357 wheel guns. I like the versatility in those because they are larger weapons and the .357 doesn't hurt so bad. But the iddy biddy guys will never be a .357 friend of mine.

I tracked down an LCR back in 2009 when they were still tough to find. Its been my CCW since then until very recently when I switched to a subcompact 9mm. It never bothered me either to have it in .38 special only. If I want .357 I'll carry one of my .357's...

**kyratshooter** · 02-12-2017, 02:48 PM

When my late wife got her CCW I bought her a 2" .357 for one reason. If she ever had to buy ammo, and I was not around, any 38spl she bought would be safe to shoot in that particular revolver. I repetitiously pounded it into her memory that she was not to buy .357 ammo even though the gun said .357. All the effort was a waste after I let her fire a full charge .357 from the pistol. "OK no .357 shooting from this one!" was her reply after one shot and that was that.

The .357 capability was a safety buffer.

I guess I am the exception to the Wilderness Survival standard. I really like the .38spl as a cartridge and I have a bunch of them. One reason is that most folks do prefer the .357 chambering in almost the same platforms so I get some real good deals on .38 spls, both in the past as whole American police departments replaced their revolvers with auto-pistols, and more recently as the other nations around the world did the same.

Training and safe handling from beginners is much easier when using a revolver. Swing out the cylinder and it is either empty or loaded at a glance. If the hammer is back it is about to go boom! If the hammer is down it is "safe" so keep your finger off the trigger and don't point it at anything you don't intend to shoot.

WOO, your search for your inexpensive compact semiauto .357 is a whole other thread. Primarily because an inexpensive .357 semiauto has never been produced. Not one that worked anyway. Your desire is the reason the .40 S&W exists.

**Wise Old Owl** · 02-12-2017, 03:04 PM

Thanks - yes I agree this should be a separate thread, even though I am learning I would not start with a revolver.

**Manwithnoname** · 02-12-2017, 03:29 PM

Guys, ya'll are way over thinking this. This is a soon to be 20yr old (don't even start with the "not legal" stuff. Better to be judged by twelve than carried by 6) 5'6" 120lb girl who's dance card is full with school and work. If she can give me enough time to become proficient with and likes it, my SCCY 9mm is hers. The whole reason for all of this, her "mother" took off to shack up with some swingin Bill. Grandparents are keeping the lights and heat on and I'm keeping the fridge and pantry full so she can save what she makes me keep going to school. I'm not giving her an auto without knowing she can handle what hiccups are possible with one. My whole reason for a revolver. If I had one that wasn't a single action she would already have it and this post wouldn't exist. A few moths back I almost bought a 5" .44 target model bulldog but opted for an HR .20ga for my grandson instead. Now I'm wishing I had got the bulldog cause it would be perfect. She doesn't need fancy or high capacity. She needs reliable, quick to learn, be proficient with and ample stopping power. A 4" .38 full of 158gr hollow points fits this bill.

**Wise Old Owl** · 02-12-2017, 03:36 PM

When the thread started - I did not realize it was a revolver (only) thread - So sorry for the thread swerve. My fault.

- when discussing smaller lightweight guns for hiking/backpacking board the LCP was preferred by young women.

**Manwithnoname** · 02-12-2017, 03:47 PM

No worries brother, I could have been a bit more specific from the get go as well I suppose.

**hunter63** · 02-13-2017, 01:57 PM

Sometimes some one will ask the best airline to fly to England.....
Then get complete plans for a DYI 747......

**kyratshooter** · 02-13-2017, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by hunter63

Sometimes some one will ask the best airline to fly to England.....
Then get complete plans for a DYI 747......

That is quite true!

And after going back and reading the OP I do not know how one could make a query any more specific.

I think it is one of the principles of the internet and human behavior to jump into a thread 15-20 posts in, read one post at the end, without reading the entire thread, and decide you know exactly what the OP needs, wants and absolutely must do based on their own experiences or those of the last You-tube video they saw.

Fact is that I have a strong affection for these less expensive but durable firearms which I often refer to as "mid level revolvers". When I first started recreational pistol shooting I had a M39 S&W and came across a German made middle of the road double action revolver called a Titan Tiger (they are still around) which sold for $50 (1968 price, you could buy a new S&W for $75 which was a weeks pay).

I soon realized that the M39 was a fine gun, but it threw those little 9mm cases all over creation and I was spending more time hunting for the empties than shooting them. That Titan Tiger retained the cases for reloading, shot very straight and I did not have to worry about scratching it up or any special care.

I wore out my first set of 38 spl reloading dies using that Titan Tiger, before I finally bought my first S&W M10. The dies were from Herters ($10 a set) and I still have the Lyman mold blocks I used to cast the slugs. By the time I had traded the Tiger the M39 had been long gone, traded for a Colt Combat Commander in satin nickel, which I wish I had back. It is one of the more valuable old school Colts.

Those experiences are one of the reasons why I do not hesitate to recommend some of the "mid level" revolvers as first guns for folks. I still have a lot of Rossi, Taurus, RIA and various Turkish made products in the rack. There are some good guns out there, especially when those folks telling you to "save a little more money and by a S&W" do not seem to realize that most of the S&W products are priced out of the range of the average student or entry level worker, and some of their grandparents.

**Don** · 02-14-2017, 07:17 PM

Manwithnoname,

I have that very revolver, had it for a few years now. Though not pretty it functions well and is accurate. The only drawback is that it will not handle plus P ammo. That said a good wad cutter or semi wad cutter will be plenty for self defense. If I had a young woman or newbie shooter looking for a pistol then I would recommend the Armscor M200.

Don