I bought this Smith & Wesson Tactical R8 in 357M at a pawn shop (slightly used). It is my first revolver and my main reason for buying it was because it is cool. It was slightly used but apparently whoever bought it new didn't put too many rounds through it. The magnums have quite a kick but this is a very heavy gun so the overall shooting experience is manageable and you can keep it on target easily. I would say after about 50 rounds it's one of my favorite handguns, although I still seem to gravitate to the Glock, and would do so in a pinch. The trigger is nice. It is super light in single-action (maybe too light) and very controllable in double-action. I find it most accurate for me when I pull through the cocking action then confirm aim and a quick squeeze and the round is off. The accuracy was really good, surprisingly so at 25 yards.
Lately, I have been focused on low rate of fire stuff: lever rifles and this revolver. Not sure if the bad press ARs are getting or my nostalgic love for all things Buffalo Soldiers are to blame. Somehow the more crazy the world gets the more I want to hop on my horse and ride off into the sunset. Frankly, I do find these guns are more about the fun of shooting than the efficiency of the kill. There is something super satisfying about cycling the lever and having that spent shell fly away; or dumping the rounds from a revolver that is really fun. They even smell different than the autos, or maybe that is the 357 rounds? Anyway, the revolver really spits a lot of stuff out of the gun when you fire it. Hold this gun like an auto and you will get burns on the hands!
So is this an ugly gun? Yeah, it is. I looked at the Colts (Python, OMG) and other S&W's and they make some really sexy revolvers! But I love the utilitarian look of the R8, and I sort of like the tactical add-ons, it's like accessorizing your Busa. Looking at adding a red dot and flashlight.
Lately, I have been focused on low rate of fire stuff: lever rifles and this revolver. Not sure if the bad press ARs are getting or my nostalgic love for all things Buffalo Soldiers are to blame. Somehow the more crazy the world gets the more I want to hop on my horse and ride off into the sunset. Frankly, I do find these guns are more about the fun of shooting than the efficiency of the kill. There is something super satisfying about cycling the lever and having that spent shell fly away; or dumping the rounds from a revolver that is really fun. They even smell different than the autos, or maybe that is the 357 rounds? Anyway, the revolver really spits a lot of stuff out of the gun when you fire it. Hold this gun like an auto and you will get burns on the hands!
So is this an ugly gun? Yeah, it is. I looked at the Colts (Python, OMG) and other S&W's and they make some really sexy revolvers! But I love the utilitarian look of the R8, and I sort of like the tactical add-ons, it's like accessorizing your Busa. Looking at adding a red dot and flashlight.
