I need a education. I am looking for a Smith or Ruger 6" in 44 mag. What do I look for in a used gun to verify that it is still in good shape?
thanks
jwt

With the gun EMPTY, cylinder closed, pull back hammer slowly to see the pawl turn the cyl and that the cyl stop drops into the cyl to lock it in place, try it 6 times to make full circle.
When it is locked in place try to move cyl back&forth (L/R), without much rocking, try all 6 chambers.
Cyl closed look where cyl meets barrel, the gap, try sliding cyl, back and forward (muz-butt.
Cyl open spin to see if the ejector rod is straight.
Screws boogered up, look in barrel for sharp rifling and clean grooves. No leading or jacket fouling.
Few more things to look at....Can't think of all right now.

Good luck on your search..

Agree 100% with RWH24!! I stay away from anything with bunged up screwheads!! A sure sign that some "Nimrod" tried to give it an action job or something!!!!!

Here's a good educational guide on giving a used revolver a check out.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=57816

All good info here but a Ruger even though not as purty as a smith is 10x stronger because of its one piece design and no screw's a red hawk or super red hawk or even a black hawk is much much stronger than a smith.

So a better question is which gun do you wan? and are you going to shoot full house loads in it?

model 29's and 629's with boogered up screws are typical because you need to take a screw driver out with it when you shoot it because it shakes itself loose!!!

I like full house loads and I like smiths but you can hurt one too...

cylinder rock or slide movement is the most crytical check you can make if it don't line up it could go boom or it could sheer lead or copper and blast the guy next too you at the range.