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I am wanting a revolver...why I don't know but they have an appeal to them I can not shake. I am looking at a S&W 325pd. It is a scandium framed 2 1/2" barreled .45acp revolver. Any thoughts on this particular gun or others like it. I usually don't like snubbies or revolvers for that matter but I like this one. What might be a fair price and has anyone ever handled or shot this particular pistol. Everyone's help and opinions are always appreciated.

RECIT wrote:I am wanting a revolver...why I don't know but they have an appeal to them I can not shake.

I am a fan of the revolver. It takes some practice to become proficient with a snub nose, but it can be done. That said - a high quality revolver, with a good trigger, is essential.

I would stick to a rimmed cartridge, which would eliminate the .45ACP and the 9mm. There may be nothing inherently wrong with a revolver with rimless cartridges, but I still can't get behind them. The .44 Special is a great cartridge, but I think that is only available in the Charter Arms Bulldog. I don't think much of their quality. I wish that Smith & Wesson manufactured one. For concealed carry, that pretty much leaves the .38 Special and .357 Magnum. If it weren't for the five shot capacity and the name, I really do like the S&W 60LS and the 36LS [Ladysmith].

Many of the newer, smaller, and lightweight revolvers carry only five shots, but I would also suggest that you stick with a six-shooter. The light weights may be easier to carry, but I haven't been able to master the art of shooting them accurately. I hope that I have been some help.

I also love revolvers, but a scandium would not be my choice. Even with a modest cartridge like .45acp, recoil might be unpleasant.

I have snubbies in .22LR, .38 Spl, .357, .41 Mag, .44 Spl, .45 Colt, and .44 Mag. But they've all got some heft to them, except for the Airweight .38's.

The Charter Arms in .44 Spl isn't bad, but recoil is worse than my Taurus 445.

Have several revolvers but my wife and I really like the Ruger GP100 in the 4" bbl. If you just have to have a large caliber snubnose, Ruger has the .454 Casull in a 2 1/2" bbl and you can shoot 45 long colts out of it also. Don't own one but have run about 100 rounds of .454 thru one and its not that bad to shoot.

WildBill wrote: ...The .44 Special is a great cartridge, but I think that is only available in the Charter Arms Bulldog...

Can't the Ruger Redhawk .44 Magnum also fire .44 Special? I think it's 6 shot and available with a 4" barrel. I think that's the revolver my older son has and recoil when shooting Magnums isn't that terrible and when shooting Specials isn't bad at all.

I like the GP100 with the 4" barrel in .357. Those are nice and I have held one at my local Gander Mtn. What would be a fair price if looking for a used one and what would be something to lookout for in a used revolver. The S&W 325pd just looks so sweet to me, but I understand about the complications of the rimless cartridge.

I have a few Redhawks and they are awesome, but huge. I have the 4" .44 mag but I also have the 4" and 5 1/2" in .45 Colt.

Both the .44 spl and the .45 Colt are excellent cartridges, but please handle these in advance to understand how large and heavy they are.

I would also point out that the excellent GP100 is available with a 3" barrel, making it a better option for carrying.

Right now, I could point you to a stainless Ruger Service Six .357, 3", for $350.

These preceded the GP100s.

My goal for revolver is S&W 629 4" and a S&W 686 4" (perhaps the SSR). Then I ran into this deal last week. A Taurus .44 Magnum Tracker.. It was a good deal and affordable compared to the S&W. Still going to get those two though.

Both S&W and Taurus make lightweight framed 4" .44 magnums which are attractive and which can fire .44 Special:

Taurus 444



S&W 329PD-HiViz

The Annoyed Man wrote:Both S&W and Taurus make lightweight framed 4" .44 magnums which are attractive and which can fire .44 Special:

Taurus 444



S&W 329PD-HiViz

I fear the recoil of the .44mag ammo and have never shot anything in .44spl. Affordability to shoot is also a factor, I know the lightweight S&W has got to be $900 or better? I would like the exact same pistol maybe in .357 though. Is that made?

RECIT wrote:I am wanting a revolver...why I don't know but they have an appeal to them I can not shake. I am looking at a S&W 325pd. It is a scandium framed 2 1/2" barreled .45acp revolver. Any thoughts on this particular gun or others like it. I usually don't like snubbies or revolvers for that matter but I like this one. What might be a fair price and has anyone ever handled or shot this particular pistol. Everyone's help and opinions are always appreciated.

I like the 325PD, but never carried it much because it was on the N Frame which I think is a little large for carry. S&W DOES HAVE A 44 Special. I sold one to Mike1951 not long ago, but you can have he 44 Magnum and then you can shoot 44 Specials in it, but once again it is on the large N Frame.

I love and carry revolvers. I like the PD's from Smith. One of my revolvers that I carry 80% of the time is a 340PD. I hear people talk about the recoil. I shoot full .357 loads through mine. It is a punch, but I am capable of doing it. I do practice with more .38's because it is much cheaper. I am looking at the 327 Night Guard in K Frame. I also carry a Ruger SP 101 customized by Gemini Customs, a S&W 66 2 1/2 inch that was customized by Gemini Customs.

It does take some practice with a revolver if you are not a regular shooter because there is a great difference between shooting a SA and revolver. Be sure to post some pictures when you get them.

Model 66


Ruger SP101


Model 340PD (on right)

RECIT wrote:I fear the recoil of the .44mag ammo and have never shot anything in .44spl. Affordability to shoot is also a factor, I know the lightweight S&W has got to be $900 or better? I would like the exact same pistol maybe in .357 though. Is that made?

.44 magnum recoil in a full sized steel framed pistol is impressive for the uninitiated, but it is not painful. The design of the frame and the grip panels is pretty good, particularly when the pistol has some kind of Hogue type rubber grips. I have a 5" Model 29 Classic and have shot as many as 50 - 100 rounds through it in one session before, and it didn't hurt me. It wore me out, but it didn't cause me pain.

That said, .44 special fired from a large framed .44 magnum is like shooting .22 LR. The recoil is almost non-existent, and yet you're firing a round that is near to .45 ACP in ballistics.

As to the same pistol in .357... your wish is my command:
Large Frame (N) - Model 327 M&P R8 - 8 Shot, .357 Magnum Revolver


You can even get all tacticool mall ninja with it :

The Annoyed Man wrote:

RECIT wrote:I fear the recoil of the .44mag ammo and have never shot anything in .44spl. Affordability to shoot is also a factor, I know the lightweight S&W has got to be $900 or better? I would like the exact same pistol maybe in .357 though. Is that made?

.44 magnum recoil in a full sized steel framed pistol is impressive for the uninitiated, but it is not painful. The design of the frame and the grip panels is pretty good, particularly when the pistol has some kind of Hogue type rubber grips. I have a 5" Model 29 Classic and have shot as many as 50 - 100 rounds through it in one session before, and it didn't hurt me. It wore me out, but it didn't cause me pain.

That said, .44 special fired from a large framed .44 magnum is like shooting .22 LR. The recoil is almost non-existent, and yet you're firing a round that is near to .45 ACP in ballistics.

As to the same pistol in .357... your wish is my command:
Large Frame (N) - Model 327 M&P R8 - 8 Shot, .357 Magnum Revolver


You can even get all tacticool mall ninja with it :

LOL...the second picture is actually my wallpaper on my work desktop already. I really like that pistol, but gosh its expensive. I like the pics posted above with the carry revolvers, those are nice. Really nice actually. Isn't Gemini customs the company that makes art out of 1911's? Those are beautiful revolvers and I am envious. I will keep everyone posted on my decision. More input never hurts...

RECIT wrote: I like the pics posted above with the carry revolvers, those are nice. Really nice actually. Isn't Gemini customs the company that makes art out of 1911's? Those are beautiful revolvers and I am envious. I will keep everyone posted on my decision. More input never hurts...

Yes Gemimi dowes do the 1911's. Marc is a great guy and easy to work with.

If you like the GP100, I noticed that Ruger is now offering it as a 7 shot .327. Not as big a caliber as what you are looking at, but I thought it might interest you.
BTW Carlson1, that is the sweetest looking sp101 I have ever seen.