That sticky ejection would drive me nuts. But I love the idea of a safe and reliable .357 that can be picked up for under $500. Turkey has really been stepping up their manufacturing game in recent years.
Maybe consider trying a newer Taurus at that price point? They've gotten much better as of late, and any customer service is now handled through their Bainbridge, Georgia plant that opened in 2019.
The double action trigger of a revolver really helped me with my trigger pull and grip with a semi-auto. Doing dryfire drills with the trigger, keeping my dominant eye on the front sight and making sure it did not move, made drastic improvements on my accuracy at the range with my semi-auto. Highly recommend getting a revolver.
As an FMF Corpsman, I had to qual with my Marines. Back then, I wasn’t familiar with semi autos and so sucked at shooting the Berretta M9. Gunny handed me a S&W .38 spl and I shot Sharpshooter first try. I have a bunch of autos, but recently picked up Taurus 856 in .38spl….really enjoy shooting it.
I love Turkish handguns ! Caniks being my favorite , but Sar for the money makes excellent guns their CZ 75 clone the B6P is a budget gem highly reccomend those ! Basically a polymer CZ , good trigger reliable and van be found in the $250 -300 range
Revolvers really helped me with my flinch. I would load all the rounds except for one and give it a spin. You'll find you flinch real quick and learn to overcome it. A great training tool.
It’s funny how subconscious the flinch is. You’ll shout your first two mags just fine, then all of a sudden you’ve got a violent flinch seemingly out of nowhere and your accuracy tanks. Revolvers really force you to address this, particularly with the double action trigger pull. I’ve by no means defeated that habit, but my time with my revolver really helped me understand what’s happening.
@@Kraakesolv You still have to manually cycle the slide vs just pulling the trigger again, in addition to, keep track of the snap caps. Also, if you're putting the snap caps, you kind of know the pattern. Whereas, spinning the cylinder prior to closing it makes it a bit more random.
...IMO, getting a revolver last year was a REALLY good & fun idea, as I previously only had semi's. There are super fun drills you can do at the range with a revolver that are impossible with a semi, which makes range time more dynamic & entertaining! If you don't yet own a revolver, I strongly recommend getting at least one - for the fun of it (plus noobs like to shoot 'em too).
@@Albrtd3 When I bring my buddies to the range, I have them elevate their heart rate by jogging to the parking lot & back to the firing line (a ~25yrd total distance). ...Then they grab the revolver & shoot as [comfortably] fast as they can at a 7ryd target. What's fun, is that the 6 cylinders have a mix of .38 Special & .357Mag, with 1 empty casing. This is a drill to control flinch response, because I find it's my biggest weakness when I'm under stress, or rushing my shots. That empty casing really gives it away. ...No racking the slide to clear a light primer (like in a semi), it's just "Go-Go-Fun-Mode!"
My grandma has two. A Smith model? And some wierd German brand that I told her please don't shoot, but she keeps it in her car anyway. It has been years since I shot her S&W, but I do recall great accuracy at longer ranges. I have been really considering A .357 revolver and lever gun combo because of the impressive performance of most .357. I don't own a ton of guns, but already have the usual suspects. I may be moving out to some acreage pretty soon, from the house to the front gate is probably a little over 100yards. Yeah, my 9mm can make it that far, but I don't trust myself flinging 9mm at that range. The neighbors are sparse, but do exist. I don't know, especially with the reappearance of black bears in the area, a .357 with a five or six inch barrel just feels like the ticket while working the property.
Nice review. I would suggest you circle back to check out the Taurus 627 in 357 mag. It is in the same price range as the SAR-38, but it is in stainless, has a ported barrel, is a 7 shot revolver that has excellent timing. Mine shot better than the two S&W 686’s that I’ve owned in the past. It also has a decent trigger pull.
I'm just now getting into revolvers. My first revolver is a Taurus 856 .38 special with a 3" barrel. I really like it and even considering for my everyday carry. That SAR 38 seems like to be a nice addition to my collection if my gun shop has it.
The RIA M200 I had was on point. It's timing was perfect there were no wheel lines or anything. Only put 1000 through it before it was sold to fund another gun. I've seen the issues people have had though
This is probably the most shocking review of his I’ve ever seen. Never thought he would even think twice at a revolver, let alone a “cheap” one. But I guess there’s “cheap” and “inexpensive”. Glad to see there still making some quality revolvers out there that don’t cost as much as college tuition. Great video MAC!
I have always had good luck with Taurus revolvers, yes I admit they weren't always top shelf. But I think they have been unfairly pigeonholed to a degree. They certainly have been very consistent over the last decade to the point that gun shops in my area can't keep some models in stock, and are on allocation.
I have only ever owned a number of Taurus tracker revolvers and only had problems with one that gets hard to rotate the cylinder after a few shots. It's an older one and aluminium
Did Taurus make an entire line of revolvers which bound up when shooting .357? Oh, wait, that was thousands upon thousands of "no dash" 586, 686, 681 wheel guns. Requiring endless recall and a whole pile of specialized armorers tools to "fix" Smith's Union hack manufacturing.
Taurus earned their terrible reputation, but they've been digging out of it rather well. The expectation is no longer that you're definitely going to have to return it.
I own a Taurus 38 special w/4" (sure of model) from the 1970s it was a gift from my dad, and it has always performed well. I carried it for several years through the 1980s to mid-1990s it was a great gun, but I did eventually trade out for S&W model 36 snubby made a better ccw because of barrel length. My sun recently bought an EEA 357/38 I think it's a windcater it seams to be a pretty decent revolver for an introductory gun to revolvers its a little on heavy side but definitely think it's a gun truck gun.
I have a red dot sight on my 986 pro series and I love it. LPA sights with the pick rail section built into them so you get your rail and you iron sights man are they great.
Bought an EAA Windicator back in the day for less than 300 bucks. Still looks great and has worked fine for however many hundreds of reloads I put through it. It is possible to get quality at a low price.
If you are interested in imported revolvers, there are other models: - Alfa Proj from the czech Republic - the high end models from German compagnies like Korth and Spohr - in addition of the mr-73, the french Manurhin also has a more affordable model, the MR-88, close to the Security six And i'm sure that there are other models
It's always nice to see more wheelgun offerings in the US. These aren't bad, though I do prefer the looks and balance of a partial underlug over a full underlug, and I can't say I'm a fan of the grips or the cylinder release blocking clear ejection from the cylinder. But no internal lock is a big plus, and forged parts are nice to have! For what it's worth, I've also been pleasantly surprised with the Taurus 856 Executive model I picked up a few months ago - and that's coming from a pre-lock S&W and Ruger purist. Here's hoping RIA imports more of the Alfa Proj revolvers they've started to bring over - they're supposed to be pretty decent quality.
Been a huge fan of the channel since it began and look forward to new content each week. Out of nowhere you reference RATM. Did we just become best friends? Love the channel and I also share your love of the Machine.
I have had two taurus revolvers in .357. No issues except with the blazer aluminum shells. It’s a really fun round too, and doesn’t recoil that bad with the 6” barrel.
I have several revolvers in my collection and in fact my most common EDC is a S&W 442. I gave each of my granddaughters a 3" Smith Princesses 1&2 ages 15 & 13 each got a Model 10. Then my daughter and son in law surprised me with Princess #3 currently 5 years old, I couldn't find another 3" Model 10 so she got a 3" Pro Series 357 Model 60. Their father got a 3" CS1 a 686 variant. He also got a 638 and a Sig P250 with compact and sup compact frames and slides. I have SA and conventional DA/SA revolers from Colt, Smith, Taurus, Pietta Astra, Ruger, Heritage and Interarms along with some oldies from IJ, HR and High Std. I have a slew of autos as well and my first love is God's sidearm the 1911. There are currently 17 different 1911s in the collection. But for just a lazy day at the range it's hard to beat a revolver specially a SA. They just force you to slow down and smell the gunsmoke. Love your videos please keep them coming. I'm in my 7th decade and have been accumulating guns for at least 6 of them.
This is a great video. Now I know what to look for before buying a cheap reolver. I like the look of a Taurus 605 4inch. I hope you can do a before you buy video on it.
I raised myself on double-action revolvers and still love them! Did you open the sideplate? I suspect that you will find the innards bone-dry of lubrication! This is so that there is no oil leakage in the package while shipped and stored before sale. Add some clingy oil (NOT WD-40!) at contact points and be amazed at the improved slickness in the action...........................elsullo
The new incarnation of the Taurus 856 seems to be wildly popular. My early 2000s Taurus 85 (still made in Brazil) has been an amazing carry and range piece!
Thanks for reviewing a Revolver. I want one, but my SSDI doesn't exactly make a good revolver easy to budget for. I really want a S&W 686 7 shot with a 3 inch barrel, but who knows if I will ever be able to spend that much. So maybe a SAR revolver might be a more budget friendly option to consider if I can't buy the Smith. Great video, thank you! 😎👍
I would spec the cylinder release and Dremel it/shave it down as needed for clearance if applicable. No way on the consistent shell stoppage. But certainly not afraid to fix it. Then I'd re-blue or paint the part after shaving it down.
I bought a used Ruger SP101 a few years ago at a local gun shop for $425 and I use it as my 38/357 reload mule. Warm 357’s don’t feel so good on the palm with the factory grip but the gun is solid so
Bought one several years ago new and had the firing mechanism bind up and jam after three shots of .38. Had to ship the gun back to get repaired as internals got so messed up, that you couldn't cock the hammer at all. Also, for anyone looking at buying this, the manual specifically states not to dry-fire the gun. Based on my experience, you should follow that advise. I can almost guarantee the issues I had were caused by people dry-firing the gun repeatedly while it was on the shop floor.
Great review. I own several Taurus pistols. I believe there QC is better than say the 80s and so forth. I've read that they use the actual machinery as say Beretta, on the F 92/ M9 versus the Pt 92/99... Anywho, that looks like a good revolver, the SAR....
The S&W 686 and the Ruger GP100 are equal in build quality in my experience. The S&W probably has a better trigger out of the box. However, the GP100 feels overbuilt (like a tank), and there are manufacturers that produce high-power loads that are denoted “Ruger Only.” I choose the GP over the Smith.
I’m buying one! I’ve been looking for a 44 mag for a while. 1100-1500 dollars for even a Taurus. I can’t pull the trigger on it .. thanks for the video buddy.
I actually own this revolver in 4 ''. I did a trigger job on it by shooting thousends of round through it. It's fuckin smooth! I learned shooting revolvers with a S&W 22 lr with a far havier trigger pull, I payed a shit load of money for the Smith as a training tool for the cheap gun and I don't regret the beauty Smith neighter. Both made me a better shooter over all. I load hot loads near to 44 mag. The revolver has such a low and mild recoil and it holds up to the abuse since many years. If I don't have to carry a semi auto I carry this gun in a apendix holster I made for this gun and my body. I can rapid fire it like my striker fired 9 mm, but why. It hits steal like my 12 gauge shot gun. I feel save with this gun and I love it. It made me a revolver guy, it's so spot on there is no ratteling, the barrel is not moving. On long range there will be enough foot pound left with my narc loads. I question my self if 9 mm spray in a crowded situation is really the answer to all tasks. But most of the time I am on 12+1 and 21+21 mags. Gracias desde Sudamérica
I went to smith and wesson after taurus really boned me on a brand new one i bought. 10 shots through it felt like there was sand in the extractor when u spun it by hand broke it dowm to give it a good cleaning. The extractor rod stripped coming apart. 10 months later numerous phone calls to them and not even being looked at they finally send me a new revolver. On top if them telling me i still have to pay to get it transfered back into my name AGAIN. So 350 dollar revolver brand new shot 10 rounds through it and it was in taurus posession for the time of owning the firearm. Like my dad told me spend the couple extra bucks and buy quality. I will never buy taurus again and anyone who asks me how i feel about them ill tell them they are junk. Period.
I am and will always be a sucker for revolvers with a full underlug. The Colt Anaconda/Python, my S&W 629 .44mag, this SAR 38, and other that design just look intrinsically bigger and more aggressive. Yeah it's extra weight, but looking good is *obviously* the most important thing
I've been really impressed with SAR semi automatic pistols and now own three of them but I can't seem to find this revolver anywhere. Is it actually on the market as yet?
SAR is good to go. I have the B6P9C which is basically a poly CZ75 compact. It's really nice for the 299 I paid for it. And RATM needs to change their name to Rage For The Machine. I have tickets for them that they have canceled twice since 2020 and I'm not even going to go when they finally reschedule it after some of the idiocy they have pulled the last few years.
That cylinder gap produced a LOT of fire. I wonder how it compares to S&W, Ruger, Colt, Taurus, etc.? I can remember getting hit by shavings from the shooters next to me when shooting wadcutters...they may have been suffering the same. A great reason to wear eye protection when shooting on an open line.
It could be an issue with the cylinder gap, but it could also just be the ammo. Some rounds will produce a pretty big flash out the gap and the barrel every round, but cameras won't always pick it up every time.
Another sub $500 that should be considered if you want to carry a revolver is the charter arms pro V and the variations. 6 shot, 25 Oz, .357, made In usa and lifetime warranty. I did have to use my warranty on mine, and I had light hammer strikes, but a trip back for service and an extra power hammer spring and it's reliable. Did also add some loctite to some screws. But at half the cost of anything else in the same chamber, capacity and weight, it's something that should be considered if you are looking to carry a. 357 magnum on the belt concealed.
If I wanted a revolver for carry or home defense, the ejection hang-up would be a deal breaker. If it gets in the way of cases coming out, then if you use speed-loaders, it would get in the way of reloads.
I like having a side plate to frame fit so tight the joint is barely visible. I like bright blue, or at worst, brushed or bead blasted stainless finishes. I like all my empties to fall out of the cylinder when I push the ejector rod. I'll stick with the Colt, the Smiths, and the Rugers I already have, thanks. Hell, even Charter Arms and Taurus products will eject properly.
Wow, I honestly thought you were shooting .38specials. That is a good answer for people who want into the revolver game on the less expensive side. Great video Tim.
What's your opinion on the Taurus Tracker 627? It's in a similar category as these SAR revolvers except it has a more experienced importing company. Minor fitment issues but they seem very functional and the triggers are better than what you described so far.
@@ghostwolf4354 did you ever notice the small issues with the double action smoothness on certain cylinders? Five out of the seven cylinders are smooth and easy to break but two of them require more force to break the shot and cause inaccuracy. If you know what I can do to get that addressed in regards to what part (s) I would be grateful!
Out of curiosity, what makes the carry case the firearm comes in not TSA approved, as I see that is both lockable and hard sided, which I thought were the perimeters.
Gravity is your friend. When you eject you should have the back of the cylinder pointing directly downward. That way even if a round hits the cylinder release latch, the shells will fall to the ground vs laying and getting stuck on the frame. Good vid. Note: I have found shooting a lot of DA revolver makes my pistol shooting better. I've gone back to often carrying revolvers. With revolvers I use a NY reload. Having an inexpensive reliable revolver makes me feel less guilt about throwing one to the ground like I would with my 686, Python, a Model 19, a Detective Special, a Chiefs Special, etc.
@@user-iq6yj4ep8i The 856 is my go to. I carry a 3 inch for my primary and a 2 inch UltraLite for my 'reload'. Snubbies are a bit too small for 357. I would look at the gun from this video or the Taurus Model 65 or 66 for 357. I match a large frame revolver with a lever action of the same caliber when I hunt or camp.
Yup, my go to reload is to control the revolver and cylinder with my left hand, muzzle to sky, open my right hand, smack ejector, grab loader with right hand while pointing revolver down with left hand and load. It's a bit like the ayoob reload but I keep the revolver in my left hand and twist it a bit as I come down to eject so I can ride the barrel down with my right hand. WIth ayoob the right hand is in control of the revolver during ejection and then gets trasfered to the left hand for the reload. I'm not crazy about switching hands.
@@forrest225 I picked up a Charter Arms Southpaw just to see how it would reload. Having the cylinder swing out the the right, holding it in your left hand, makes it so much easier and faster to reload rounds using your right hand, only transition once and not have to contort your wrist.
I wish I knew Tim’s tests for function of a revolver 20 years ago before I purchased the Taurus Tracker .44Mag. It would have failed one of the tests in the gun store. IIRC, the cylinder could be advanced by one chamber with the hammer cocked. Anyway, I learned NEVER to buy a Taurus revolver for serious use. A fun albeit sometimes annoying range gun, maybe.
I wish rock island would make their m200 in .357 or even .45 as one that size, my gal could carry easily out on the land or hiking. I could use it as my charger gun, as I don't own a truck, I own a 69 charger which I drive daily. I love 6 inch revolvers though and this one seems a right peach for the money.
Although I like my Ruger 10mm Match Champion, Redhawk 45 Colt, and Blackhawk .357 mag/9mm, and taurus defender 3", This one does look decent for the price. I do not, however, like the idea of the brass getting hung up on the cylinder release. Never have that problem with a Ruger. Also, in extreme recoil, that slide style of release can let the cylinder unlock, but then again, you can't shoot the same high power ammo in one of these as you can a Ruger.
Pleasent joyrney i have to say. You can literally push this gun to bog and i will work and shoot well. Now at 43 year old oldie i feel this pistol should get a medal.
First carry gun I bought at 21 was a 3" GP 100. Bought it used, but in excellent condition for @ $300 if I remember correctly. I still have it and even still carry it occasionally almost 30 years later now. Things a tank and will probably go to my kids someday.
