Shooters Forum banner

Armscor/Rock Island Armory M200

14K views 35 replies 17 participants last post by  roverboy  
#1 ·
I won one of these a couple of weeks ago on an GB online auction, wasn't able to pick it up until yesterday because I had covid.
After reading about the gun at length I thought it might be the perfect sidearm to carry while walking fields poisoning and trapping rodents, something I spend days doing every spring around here. I hate rattlesnakes and I'm not going to apologize for killing them, the people that hire me to control the rodents are not going to put up with a pest control guy who gives them a pass either.
In the past I've carried a 9mm with shotshells, they don't have much shot in them and the capsules are unavailable for reloading unlike the 38spcl. Add to that they won't cycle a semi-auto in any caliber. I've loaded and shot quite a few of the 38spcl shot capsules over the years with good results so I decided it was time to own a revolver once again after many years. To me it would foolish to buy a Smith, Colt or any 800+ revolver to shoot shotshells.
With a gun in this price category you would expect there to be some pretty significant quality control issues as far as fit and finish, to my surprise there are no tools marks or blemishes in the finish anywhere, amazing for a 200. gun.
The trigger feels really good, it breaks without any creep and the trigger mechanism feels pretty much like a Colt Diamondback. However when I put on a trigger pull gauge I was surprised at how heavy it is, 4lbs 3oz single action, my pull gauge doesn't go high enough to actuate the double action. The only obvious place where Armscor scrimped was by Parkerizing the gun instead of bluing it. The cylinder latch and crane don't move like a high end gun either but they're just fine for a field gun.
While I was waiting to clear the background I shot a few shotshells and cast bullet loads through the gun at the in house range, I didn't grab the target because they were in a hurry to close the place but it shot very well at 10' and 50' with my old leftovers from 15-20yrs ago.
It snowed here most of the day today so I cleaned the gun up and shot some vintage plastic bullets that I used in my Smith's back when I still had them. If I remember correctly those grouped pretty good from a model 686 and 10 back then.
Unfortunately they keyhole out of this gun, I cleaned the barrel and tried several different primers to no avail, they all keyhole without exception.
The gun obviously has rifling but the plastic bullets drop right though the barrel, I don't recall them doing that with the Smiths.
The bullets measure .342 consistently, do any of you revolver guys shoot these as well?


This is not what were looking for in basement target practice.


Shot capsule nirvana!
 
#2 ·
I don't have any experience with the plastic ammo, but I do load the Speer shot capsules in 38/357 & 44 cases. They work great but it can be a little tricky to get the crimp just right, sometimes they they break if you crimp to tight, or creep out from recoil if I don't crimp hard enough. So, I usually only load 2 in the cylinder and fill the rest with wadcutters or other light loads.
It's nice to be able to load larger shot sizes than what the commercially loaded ones come with. It looks like your loaded capsules have heavier shot them. I've found them to work much better than the #9, #11, or #12/dust that they normally come with.
 
#6 ·
That must mean you have one too? Pull that plate. Your nickle is safe, but I'd like to see the action. Guessing Mk-III.

I shot plastic bullets from my buddy's SuperBlackhawk during the gunsmith school years. We were really surprised they went through drywall? Those were .425 diameter. Loaded with 'cracker balls' from the fireworks store in Wyoming, they were Hollywood material that could have been used in "The A-Team" show where Mini-14s sparked on cars but didn't leave any holes. ;)
(Some (most) of the apartments around CST showed wear and tear from firearms enthusiast.)
 
#23 ·
My first handgun was a S&W model 10. I regret trading that gun away. I bought one of these m200s about 3 years ago. Something like $210 out the door new in the box. Wanted it as a truck gun and something I could shoot cheaper than my .44s and .45s. So far I've shot about 300 rounds in it. All low power target loads. Very accurate and so far very reliable.
 
#8 ·
It's an inexpensive handgun and there not going to be able to build a gun without cutting some corners somewhere, they do have lifetime warranty and there's a parts diagram in the manual where most all of the parts can be ordered.
Like I said in the opening post I'd rather not spend a bunch of money on a gun I use to shoot shotshells in predominately.
 
#9 ·
I understand the purchase, but as one that carries a 'ranch gun' with the first three rounds CCI snake shot, I shudder to think how a lesser gun would fair and how reliable it would be after such carry. I guess a holster would help. :unsure:
I traded for this in 2001 as barely used. It's killed a hundred yards of rattlesnakes and a wheel barrow half full of pack rats, jack rabbits and starlings. Two coyotes, but a .22 is not enough and takes too much ammo. It goes in a front jeans pocket when I have to sit in a metal tractor seat.
 

Attachments

#10 ·
I guess this is something of a gunsmithing question, but I wonder WHY Armscor/RIA felt the need to copy the silly Colt-style cylinder release. If I was designing a revolver, the Colt style release is the last thing I would use. The forward-push S&W or even the Ruger-style cylinder releases are faster, more intuitive, and more rapidly learned.
As a non-gunsmith, I don't really know enough about the trigger system on the M200 to know if its use also requires the use of the Colt-style cylinder release. If not, then incorporation of a more sensibly-designed cylinder release set-up would have been nice, and might even have increased sales.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pudfark
#12 ·
That revolver is anything but a 'python' and it ain't a diamondback either...not arguing, just saying I wouldn't have it.
It's cheap, ain't built to last. Colt Python's, generally were slicker than deer guts on a door knob.
Diamondback's, were somewhat smooth and could be made better, if you know how? I did.
In my humble opinion, that gun outta the box prolly works, but I'd never trust it.
No more'n a two dollar pistol. For you non-Texans, a two dollar pistol is one that
you empty rapidly and drop, cuz it's burn'n your hand. ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: JBelk
#13 ·
So some of the negative comments has got me to thinking it's winter here, not much going on why not load 500-600rds for the gun and test it for accuracy and durability. Per the instructions no +p loads. If it's really that poorly designed and constructed it'll either break or be worn out before 1k rds. I'll test it for accuracy and use a couple of high end guns for the control groups.
I would assume you guys approve of S&W, Walther and Glock as control guns in the test. I have some Colts but their all vintage, newest one is 1924mfg, not suitable for such things.
 
#14 ·
I predict the hand or bolt spring will fail first and within 300 rounds. There will be problems with proper rotation or lock-up. I approve of the test and don't need a control group. S&W Model 15s used in the FBI Minimum Standards course shot a hundred rounds a week for many years. When the timing goes, the gun is no longer useable without replacement of parts. You're not going to wear out a barrel on a 38 revolver, but it can become fouled enough to affect accuracy.
 
#22 ·
The range I worked at was used by the Houston office of the FBI for many years. I had a Model 15 that for a time I probably shot 100 rounds a day out of. Some days many more. Me and a LEO friend shot 30K rounds of wadcutters on slow nights over about a two year period. My old Combat Masterpiece never gave me a lick of problems and I did feed it a fairly steady diet of 158 gr SWC +P's. Only gun I've ever had stolen. I still get Police property reports about that pistol and it has never been recovered. I really miss it.

To Kevin. I used to shoot tons of those plastic bullets when we were bored. We would shoot them in the back shop into a 3 lb. coffee can stuffed with paper with an NRA target taped to the front. Lots of fun. Some of them would key-hole, but I don't remember them being that small of a diameter. I hope your new addition holds up. You didn't buy it as a work horse and I'm betting it will fare better than some think.

Good luck and all the best.
 
#17 ·
All of what Jack said and maybe this? Check the cylinder timing before you start the test and then again at 300 rounds and at the end of your test. I hope it works out for you and you're right.
Should you ever get an opportunity to do a side by side comparison to an older Colt D frame and your gun, I believe you'd have a better understanding of our concerns?
Best of luck and I like my crow, heavily salted.
 
#18 ·
The 'Saturday Night Special' of choice for several years was the Rohm RG-10 and the .38 equivalent I can't think of. It was said a boy had inherited the family business if he got a RG-10 and ski mask when his dad died.
The gunshop gave a pair to the Tallahassee PD for testing. Neither used up a box of shells. Timing.
 
#19 ·
Guys, let's wait til Kevinbear gives us a range report before we compare it to something from the dark ages. Everything isn't like you've seen in the gun shop.

RJ
 
  • Like
Reactions: Darkker
#21 ·
If it's for snakes and malfunctions, you can always throw it at the snake and run the other way :eek:

Serious note.... looking forward to the endurance test. You never know. Difficult to say what the quality of the materials and heat-treat is, from a picture. We might all be surprised, one way or the other.
 
#25 ·
I have been tempted to buy one of their .38's as my truck/car gun. Several years ago I picked up a RIA 1911A1 FS at the LGS/indoor range I fequent for $400.00 retail, NIB. Parkerized, yes. All steel, commander hammer, beavertail extended grip safety, wood and rubber grips, adjustable skeleton trigger, 8-round mags, and a good copy of Novak three-dot sights. It seems to have no ammo preferences. Never have a feed problem, and hits the black with anything I can load in it. They build good reliable guns, in my opinion.
 
#26 ·
Kevinbear, hope you're enjoying your new revolver. I remember the plastic bullets we could load into cases for gallery type shooting indoors. I've had way better luck with accuracy and NO key-holing with a product called X-ring primer powered rubber bullets. They're shaped similar to an air gun pellet with a skirt that engages the rifling in the barrel very well. Powered by a primer, I've found that they'll penetrate a cardboard box. I place a bunch of old newspaper and cardboard in a box that works well to stop and collect them for re-use. If you can find them, give these a try.
Image
 
#28 ·
I shot a lot of the plastic bullets from Speer in my first Dan Wesson, and lately in my current DW and Taurus 85 Ultra Light with no issues, sounds like a mixup in packaging. I use large rifle mag primers and they are Hades on pests at close range. I never knock a firearm until I have shot it or reviewed the reliability tests. When I bought my Taurus there were a lot of folks that bad mouthed it, that was 30 yrs ago and after a lot of shooting including +P, its still accurate with no mechanical issues.
 
#29 ·
I made it to the range this morning to try out a few different loads with #12 shot that fellow member Hungry Hollow sent me, thanks again.
The loads were 4.5gr and 5.0 of CFE pistol, with the 4.5gr load the patterns were deadly at 6ft but opened up enough at 10ft as to not be 100% lethal on every shot.
The 5.0gr load threw shot everywhere even at 6ft and I actually had a piece of the plastic capsule come back and hit me in the face, those safety glasses I wear for sunglasses come through again!
NoCry Safety Sunglasses with Green Tinted Wraparound Lenses; Tinted Safety Glasses for Men and Women with Adjustable Arms & No-Slip Grips; Work Glasses with UV 400 Protection; Black & Red - - Amazon.com