S&W 581

Classic12 · January 1, 2023, 04:16 PM

A S&W forum member showed his new acquisition a month ago. As luck has it, I found one the next day at an LGS despite those being very rare here in Switzerland and I proceed to buy it for abt $ 750

My distinguished service magnum, made in 1981

The original Magna stocks are way too small for my hands, so I installed some combats I had in reserve.

Range time, indoor 25 m

L frame, fixed sights. Everything you need and nothing you don't

105kw · January 1, 2023, 04:58 PM

Very nice. What range was the target, and what ammo did you use?
25 meters, it helps to read the caption.
BTW, Happy New Year.

Nathan · January 2, 2023, 12:40 AM

Very nice! I love a good blue S&W!

Classic12 · January 2, 2023, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 105kw

Very nice. What range was the target, and what ammo did you use?
25 meters, it helps to read the caption.
BTW, Happy New Year.

Thank you, happy new year

Ammo was .357 magnum Fiocchi 158 gr JSP

Jeff #111 · February 25, 2023, 04:07 PM

Great find. Very nice.

S&W-Keeper · March 13, 2023, 04:33 PM

Looks good.

OldManMontgomery · April 4, 2023, 06:26 PM

I carried such a revolver in the Border Patrol (witnessing how long that was). I still have it and likely will die with it. Along with the Model 13 that looks very much like it.

I found it would shoot Winchester Silver Tip .357 Magnum ammo very consistently and with manageable recoil.

The good old days.

smee78 · April 8, 2023, 06:35 AM

That is a good-looking revolver, what a great fine. Congrats

Sharkbite · April 8, 2023, 04:45 PM

If i had to carry a Revolver as a duty gun…that would be my choice. Those L frames are NICE

bamaranger · April 10, 2023, 09:35 PM

An L-frame was the last revolver issued to me before the NPS went to P-series SIGs. Mine was a 686, stainless with adjustable sights. The NPS went to 110/125 gr JHP magnum ammo after some poor performance from the previously standard .38 spl 110gr +P+ load that was common issue with assorted fed agencies at the time. Also, many of the assorted K-frames that were so common across the service were in no condition, to begin a to a steady diet of mag ammo.

The L-frames handled mag ammo well, and were not as bulky as an N-frame, but they were still heavy. If memory serves, my issue L-frame was heavier than my personally owned N-frame .44 mag Mtn gun by several ounces.

rock185 · April 11, 2023, 10:49 PM

That is a nice example. The L-Frames are very good revolvers in general. I started carrying a 586 soon after they were introduced, and have had several L-Frames in the years since. They have become my favorite .357 revolvers.

Drm50 · April 13, 2023, 03:58 PM

I bought one when they 1st came out. With 158 standard Win ammo it shot like a champ.
I traded it of and got me a 586 adj sight model more friendly to hand loads. The 586 & 686 were the last revolvers I sold to PDs. In less than 10yrs PDs were buying auto pistols. I just traded off a 586 nickel NIB. Seems I sold to cheap.

April 8, 2023, 06:35 AM	#8
smee78 Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,918	That is a good-looking revolver, what a great fine. Congrats __________________ We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located, among the millions and millions of cows in America, but we haven't got a clue where thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are

April 10, 2023, 09:35 PM	#10
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,312	last of the breed An L-frame was the last revolver issued to me before the NPS went to P-series SIGs. Mine was a 686, stainless with adjustable sights. The NPS went to 110/125 gr JHP magnum ammo after some poor performance from the previously standard .38 spl 110gr +P+ load that was common issue with assorted fed agencies at the time. Also, many of the assorted K-frames that were so common across the service were in no condition, to begin a to a steady diet of mag ammo. The L-frames handled mag ammo well, and were not as bulky as an N-frame, but they were still heavy. If memory serves, my issue L-frame was heavier than my personally owned N-frame .44 mag Mtn gun by several ounces.

January 1, 2023, 04:16 PM	#1
Classic12 Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2020 Posts: 696	S&W 581 A S&W forum member showed his new acquisition a month ago. As luck has it, I found one the next day at an LGS despite those being very rare here in Switzerland and I proceed to buy it for abt $ 750 My distinguished service magnum, made in 1981 The original Magna stocks are way too small for my hands, so I installed some combats I had in reserve. Range time, indoor 25 m L frame, fixed sights. Everything you need and nothing you don't

January 1, 2023, 04:58 PM	#2
105kw Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2017 Location: Columbia Basin Washington Posts: 415	Very nice. What range was the target, and what ammo did you use? 25 meters, it helps to read the caption. BTW, Happy New Year.

January 2, 2023, 12:40 AM	#3
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,331	Very nice! I love a good blue S&W!

February 25, 2023, 04:07 PM	#5
Jeff #111 Senior Member Join Date: July 25, 2001 Location: Idaho Posts: 1,072	Great find. Very nice.

March 13, 2023, 04:33 PM	#6
S&W-Keeper Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2009 Location: SE-SC Posts: 443	Looks good.

April 4, 2023, 06:26 PM	#7
OldManMontgomery Member Join Date: May 31, 2020 Posts: 24	I carried such a revolver in the Border Patrol (witnessing how long that was). I still have it and likely will die with it. Along with the Model 13 that looks very much like it. I found it would shoot Winchester Silver Tip .357 Magnum ammo very consistently and with manageable recoil. The good old days.

April 8, 2023, 04:45 PM	#9
Sharkbite Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2013 Location: Western slope of Colorado Posts: 3,679	If i had to carry a Revolver as a duty gun…that would be my choice. Those L frames are NICE

April 11, 2023, 10:49 PM	#11
rock185 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2001 Location: Out West in Rim Country Posts: 1,093	That is a nice example. The L-Frames are very good revolvers in general. I started carrying a 586 soon after they were introduced, and have had several L-Frames in the years since. They have become my favorite .357 revolvers. __________________ COTEP 640, NRA Life

April 13, 2023, 03:58 PM	#12
Drm50 Senior Member Join Date: November 10, 2014 Posts: 1,382	I bought one when they 1st came out. With 158 standard Win ammo it shot like a champ. I traded it of and got me a 586 adj sight model more friendly to hand loads. The 586 & 686 were the last revolvers I sold to PDs. In less than 10yrs PDs were buying auto pistols. I just traded off a 586 nickel NIB. Seems I sold to cheap.