First Revolver Advise

tote'n a roscoe · January 28, 2009, 09:01 PM

experienced around semi pistols.
wanting advice on first revolver.
cal? barrel length? Brand? mod #? trigger style?
BTW gun not gonna be used for carry
and wife needs to be able to shoot it.
make it short and sweet gentlemen

thanks

wdelack · January 28, 2009, 09:09 PM

Midsized in 38Special/357Magnum. A S&W 686 or Ruger GP100 are good first choices. I would recommend barrel length in the 4" to 6" range.

saber9 · January 28, 2009, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Midsized in 38Special/357Magnum. A S&W 686 or Ruger GP100 are good first choices. I would recommend barrel length in the 4" to 6" range.

What wdelack said. I agree completely. Both are as good as you can get. I own several S&W's and admire them greatly, but for a working revolver I am partial to Rugers. They are not as slick and refined as a S&W, but they are a tough workhorse, very durable and reliable, and somewhat less expensive as well.

jhgreasemonkey · January 28, 2009, 11:02 PM

Smith & Wesson model 10 4" barrel .38 special. Look into it.

#1 Moses · January 28, 2009, 11:05 PM

Smith & wesson Model 60 or model 638 or a 642 Good luck

JohnPaul · January 28, 2009, 11:10 PM

You will be surprised how accurate 2-4" can be on a wheel gun

**Mike Irwin** · January 28, 2009, 11:15 PM

We have a revolver section, which is the logical place to ask for advice on revolvers. So logic dictates that I move this to the revolver section.

mnhntr · January 28, 2009, 11:22 PM

686 4in barrel ctc grips very versatile

carguychris · January 29, 2009, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Smith & Wesson model 10 4" barrel .38 special. Look into it.

+1, or the same gun with stainless steel finish (Model 64), adjustable sights and blued finish (Model 15), or both (Model 67).

They're inexpensive and easy to find, yet hold their value; unless you make a remarkably bad purchase, you'll always be able to sell it for at least what you paid for it. (However, you'll find that never want to sell it.

) The triggers are wonderful. Their ergonomics and pointability are great. They're as dependable as the sunrise. They're accurate. The cartridge is relatively mild and pleasant to shoot, yet potent enough for confident SD use. Their lines are classic and timeless, with no excess fat. They wouldn't have been the standard American police gun for 3 generations if they weren't any good.

IMHO their only drawback is that they won't fire .357Mag, but OTOH this holds the price down relative to comparable .357Mag Smiths.

CDH · January 29, 2009, 09:33 AM

Short and sweet as requested: Model 66 w/4" barrel, then put a pair of Pachmyer Compac grips on it.

Shoots both .357 and .38 Special.

Great gun for home defense as well as target shooting.

woad_yurt · January 29, 2009, 09:45 AM

Any K-frame S&W will do beautifully. I have an old cop gun, a beater 4" Model 10, that's a pleasure to shoot. If you can find a shorter barreled Model 14, you'll be amazed. I have an 8 3/8" one and it’s a tack driver with an all-star trigger pull and adjustable sights. It’s kinda big, though.

Although I haven’t owned a Ruger, I’ve shot a few. They’re a little bit heavier feeling and I preferred the S&W trigger feel. Definitely good guns, though.

WESHOOT2 · January 29, 2009, 09:51 AM

Ruger KGP-141 (stainless steel 4" adjustable-sighted 357 Magnum-chambered six-shot).

Or that S&W model 10....

Rmac58 · January 29, 2009, 09:03 PM

I'll agree with all the above.

skoro · January 29, 2009, 10:03 PM

I have a bunch of revolvers, but my favorites are the midsize S&W 38 Specials with 4"barrels, the so-called k-frames. The Model 10 is blued and its twin in stainless is the Model 64. These are very forgiving firearms, in that they're so easy to handle and to shoot accurately. They have enough mass so that firing hot 38+P ammo doesn't result in too much recoil.

These were the sidearms of nearly every law enforcement agency in the USA for half a century, up until the late 80's. And after you've fired one, it's easy to understand why.

Jasper616 · January 29, 2009, 10:10 PM

Go for a Smith & Wesson 686P 4" or 6". Very solid. Very Reliable. Very Smith & Wesson.

The P means you have 7 shots in stead of 6. Also you have the option of using 38 Special or 357 Magnum.

B.N.Real · January 29, 2009, 10:14 PM

They've got those Smiths in double action only for $225 at J&G gun sales on the internet.

That is a GREAT PRICE for a classic Smith.

These guns were apparently modified by a security company or police force to only fire doulble action but they look really good.

David the Gnome · January 29, 2009, 10:21 PM

What would it take to convert one of those into a SA/DA?

And for anyone else interested:

Smith & Wesson Model 64 38Spl 4in Stainless, Square Butt w/ Bobbed Hammer. Very good condition $229.95
http://www.jgsales.com/product_info....oducts_id/3103

Smith & Wesson Model 64 38Spl 4in Stainless, Round Butt w/ Bobbed Hammer. Very good condition $249.95
http://www.jgsales.com/product_info....oducts_id/3104

2rugers · January 31, 2009, 07:38 PM

Sp-101 3" would be just bout' pefect.

Kreyzhorse · January 31, 2009, 08:16 PM

Either a S&W 686 or a Ruger GP 100 would be a perfect revolver. Both are .357s but give you the option of shooting .38 spcls. Both are available with 4" or 6" barrels.

The only other advice I have is to try to stick to S&W, Ruger or Colt. QC is pretty hit or miss with some of the second tier brands.

BarkSlayer · January 31, 2009, 08:31 PM

Can't go wrong with a Smith & Wesson. I have four of them and love them all.

mikeovers · January 31, 2009, 08:39 PM

I got my wife a ruger .22 bear cat. She stands about 4'11" so finding something in her size is kind of hard. But this gun is a winner very accurate, and easy for her to control. Plus its easy for any one to shoot

DG45 · January 31, 2009, 08:49 PM

Wife's gonna shoot it huh? No doubt then. Get a high quality 38 Special that is rated to shoot +P ammo. Yes, you can buy a 357 magnum revolver for a little more money, and yes it will shoot either 357 cartridges or 38 Special cartridges, but not with equal accuracy. If you load it with the 357 rounds it was designed to shoot, it will be very accurate but I doubt if your wife will ever fire it (but once). If you load a 357 revolver with 38 Special cartridges as most 357 owners do, you won't get the accuracy you could have gotten from a 38 Special revolver loaded with the 38 Special rounds it was designed to shoot. So, my advice is simply to buy a 38 Special revolver to begin with. I like 6" barrels. They give a longer sight plane that helps with accuracy. Longer barrels also allow a 38 Special round to develop considerably more power than short barrels do. (A 6' inch barrel produces about 25% more power than a 2" barrel does in 38 Special +P). Most folks seem to prefer 4" barrels these days. They're ok. I do not advise buying anything less than a 4" barrel though; ie, no snubbies. Load your 4" barrel or longer 38 Special with standard round nose 158 grain ammo at the range and your wife will love it, and will lquickly earn to shoot it accurately. Afterward, don't make her mad, or you may not take an easy breath til she "lays that Colt on the table". personally, I'd load 38 Special +P ammo for home defense.

Ricklin · January 31, 2009, 08:57 PM

Get her a .22 if it's really for her. Girls like .22s. Ruger or maybe that Taurus 9 shot. When I take the women out shootin, they all want the Single Six, short and sweet.

January 28, 2009, 11:05 PM	#5
#1 Moses Senior Member Join Date: November 24, 2008 Posts: 114	Revolver Smith & wesson Model 60 or model 638 or a 642 Good luck

January 28, 2009, 11:10 PM	#6
JohnPaul Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2008 Location: UTAH Posts: 218	Smith Mod 60, 686 or Ruger GP100 You will be surprised how accurate 2-4" can be on a wheel gun __________________ Infidel ? - Who, me??

January 29, 2009, 09:45 AM	#11
woad_yurt Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2008 Posts: 1,206	Any K-frame S&W will do beautifully. I have an old cop gun, a beater 4" Model 10, that's a pleasure to shoot. If you can find a shorter barreled Model 14, you'll be amazed. I have an 8 3/8" one and it’s a tack driver with an all-star trigger pull and adjustable sights. It’s kinda big, though. Although I haven’t owned a Ruger, I’ve shot a few. They’re a little bit heavier feeling and I preferred the S&W trigger feel. Definitely good guns, though. __________________ A Makarov? Simple, easy and works perfectly every time. ¡Vale!

January 29, 2009, 09:51 AM	#12
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	two Ruger KGP-141 (stainless steel 4" adjustable-sighted 357 Magnum-chambered six-shot). Or that S&W model 10.... __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

January 29, 2009, 10:03 PM	#14
skoro Senior Member Join Date: April 30, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 1,952	First Revolver Advise I have a bunch of revolvers, but my favorites are the midsize S&W 38 Specials with 4"barrels, the so-called k-frames. The Model 10 is blued and its twin in stainless is the Model 64. These are very forgiving firearms, in that they're so easy to handle and to shoot accurately. They have enough mass so that firing hot 38+P ammo doesn't result in too much recoil. These were the sidearms of nearly every law enforcement agency in the USA for half a century, up until the late 80's. And after you've fired one, it's easy to understand why.

January 28, 2009, 09:01 PM	#1
tote'n a roscoe Junior member Join Date: January 11, 2009 Posts: 80	First Revolver Advise experienced around semi pistols. wanting advice on first revolver. cal? barrel length? Brand? mod #? trigger style? BTW gun not gonna be used for carry and wife needs to be able to shoot it. make it short and sweet gentlemen thanks

January 28, 2009, 09:09 PM	#2
wdelack Senior Member Join Date: November 27, 2005 Location: Houston, TX. Posts: 439	Midsized in 38Special/357Magnum. A S&W 686 or Ruger GP100 are good first choices. I would recommend barrel length in the 4" to 6" range.

January 28, 2009, 11:02 PM	#4
jhgreasemonkey Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2006 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 2,238	Smith & Wesson model 10 4" barrel .38 special. Look into it.

January 28, 2009, 11:15 PM	#7
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	We have a revolver section, which is the logical place to ask for advice on revolvers. So logic dictates that I move this to the revolver section.

January 28, 2009, 11:22 PM	#8
mnhntr Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2008 Posts: 972	686 4in barrel ctc grips very versatile

January 29, 2009, 09:33 AM	#10
CDH Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 941	Short and sweet as requested: Model 66 w/4" barrel, then put a pair of Pachmyer Compac grips on it. Shoots both .357 and .38 Special. Great gun for home defense as well as target shooting.

January 29, 2009, 09:03 PM	#13
Rmac58 Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2008 Location: central Va Posts: 182	I'll agree with all the above.

January 29, 2009, 10:10 PM	#15
Jasper616 Member Join Date: January 8, 2009 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 39	Go for a Smith & Wesson 686P 4" or 6". Very solid. Very Reliable. Very Smith & Wesson. The P means you have 7 shots in stead of 6. Also you have the option of using 38 Special or 357 Magnum.

January 29, 2009, 10:14 PM	#16
B.N.Real Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Posts: 4,092	They've got those Smiths in double action only for $225 at J&G gun sales on the internet. That is a GREAT PRICE for a classic Smith. These guns were apparently modified by a security company or police force to only fire doulble action but they look really good.

January 29, 2009, 10:21 PM	#17
David the Gnome Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2007 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 3,092	What would it take to convert one of those into a SA/DA? And for anyone else interested: Smith & Wesson Model 64 38Spl 4in Stainless, Square Butt w/ Bobbed Hammer. Very good condition $229.95 http://www.jgsales.com/product_info....oducts_id/3103 Smith & Wesson Model 64 38Spl 4in Stainless, Round Butt w/ Bobbed Hammer. Very good condition $249.95 http://www.jgsales.com/product_info....oducts_id/3104 __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum. Last edited by David the Gnome; January 29, 2009 at 10:35 PM.

January 31, 2009, 07:38 PM	#18
2rugers Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2005 Location: texas Posts: 762	Sp-101 3" would be just bout' pefect. __________________ Pain Is The Quickest Teacher 2RUGERS AKA "HALFCOCKED"

January 31, 2009, 08:16 PM	#19
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	Either a S&W 686 or a Ruger GP 100 would be a perfect revolver. Both are .357s but give you the option of shooting .38 spcls. Both are available with 4" or 6" barrels. The only other advice I have is to try to stick to S&W, Ruger or Colt. QC is pretty hit or miss with some of the second tier brands. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

January 31, 2009, 08:31 PM	#20
BarkSlayer Senior Member Join Date: October 26, 2008 Location: Northwest Ohio Posts: 265	Can't go wrong with a Smith & Wesson. I have four of them and love them all. __________________ Northwest Ohio USA

January 31, 2009, 08:39 PM	#21
mikeovers Junior Member Join Date: January 31, 2009 Location: Yorktown VA Posts: 5	A good plinker for the little lady I got my wife a ruger .22 bear cat. She stands about 4'11" so finding something in her size is kind of hard. But this gun is a winner very accurate, and easy for her to control. Plus its easy for any one to shoot

January 31, 2009, 08:49 PM	#22
DG45 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Posts: 904	Wife's gonna shoot it huh? No doubt then. Get a high quality 38 Special that is rated to shoot +P ammo. Yes, you can buy a 357 magnum revolver for a little more money, and yes it will shoot either 357 cartridges or 38 Special cartridges, but not with equal accuracy. If you load it with the 357 rounds it was designed to shoot, it will be very accurate but I doubt if your wife will ever fire it (but once). If you load a 357 revolver with 38 Special cartridges as most 357 owners do, you won't get the accuracy you could have gotten from a 38 Special revolver loaded with the 38 Special rounds it was designed to shoot. So, my advice is simply to buy a 38 Special revolver to begin with. I like 6" barrels. They give a longer sight plane that helps with accuracy. Longer barrels also allow a 38 Special round to develop considerably more power than short barrels do. (A 6' inch barrel produces about 25% more power than a 2" barrel does in 38 Special +P). Most folks seem to prefer 4" barrels these days. They're ok. I do not advise buying anything less than a 4" barrel though; ie, no snubbies. Load your 4" barrel or longer 38 Special with standard round nose 158 grain ammo at the range and your wife will love it, and will lquickly earn to shoot it accurately. Afterward, don't make her mad, or you may not take an easy breath til she "lays that Colt on the table". personally, I'd load 38 Special +P ammo for home defense.

January 31, 2009, 08:57 PM	#23
Ricklin Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Location: SW Washington state Posts: 2,018	.22 Revolver Get her a .22 if it's really for her. Girls like .22s. Ruger or maybe that Taurus 9 shot. When I take the women out shootin, they all want the Single Six, short and sweet. __________________ ricklin Freedom is not free