If you could have only one revolver.....

[osteodoc08]

as the title says. If you could have one revolver as a do it all revolver, what would you choose. I will be in this boat for a while until some things in my life improve.

I have the opportunity to trade straight across with a rifle, which is expendable to me with no attachment, for a LNIB Smith 629 Classic with 5" barrel. It handles well and I've always enjoyed the N frames. I know it's not as strong as a BH/RH/SRH, but all I need is a Keith running at 1200 for everyday work. Which I'm casting up now.

Opinions?

[Outpost75]

Depending on how much you shoot, as long as you keep the loads moderate, your 1200 fps should be OK,the 629 should be OK, but if you intend to shoot more than 5000 full power loads over the life of the gun, you should look at something else. I don't know how the current stainless Smiths compare to the old ones, but in the '70s and '80s I wore out two blued 29s which got annual factory trained armorer PM and by the time the cranes had been stretched twice, the barrel set back to close excessive cylinder gap, and oversized lock parts put in and the guns factory repaired to cure cylinder backspin with hot loads I gave up and bought two Rugers, which I still have and use. Original Redhawk 5-1/2" and a 5-1/2" Super Blackhawk I shot a great deal and had factory rebuilt in 2001. One Ruger rebuilt in 20 years is OK with me.

If I were to choose one, it would be my rebuilt 5-1/2" .44 Magnum Super Blackhawk with Bowen Rough Country sights, Belt Mountain locking basepin, steel XR3 grip frame and extra .44-40 line-bored cylinder, by John Taylor, which out shoots the original .44 Magnum cylinder.

Attachment 147699

[JWNathan]

Personally i don't care for the Classic with the full under lug, just an asthetics thing with me. But if ya could only have one, an N frame smith would be at the top of my list too!

I have my do everything revolver, it's a 625 Mountain gun in 45 Colt that's been cut for full moon clips. I like the dual use thing, my second favorite is a 4 5/8" Blackhawk convertible in 45 colt/45acp.
-Jesse

[mwells72774]

For me it'd have to be a smith M1917, 45acp

[osteodoc08]

Had a blued 625 MG that I sold on here actually. Didn't shoot it much. The newer 629's have some changes to ensure longer life than the old 29s. I'm sure I'll send some full power loads down range but that not my primary MO.

[retread]

45 Colt. Very versatile!

[M-Tecs]

I have various Smiths and Rugers that I love but if I only had one it would be my Dan Wesson 15-2 in 357 Mag.

[Gofaaast]

N frame is hard to beat. Mine choice would be a 657 though.

[TXGunNut]

I hate the "If you could only have one..." threads but I feel I have an answer for this one. Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt. Unique plinker loads, crowd-pleasing BP loads and rhino-rolling hunting loads all in one attractive and affordable package. On top of all that you won't be scrimping in the accuracy or durability departments either.

[dragonrider]

My GP-100, it will do anything I need it to do. In fact it is my only centerfire revolver.

[BigAl52]

Only one. I have a Smith 657 power port in 41 mag that will not ever be sold. Thats my choice If I didn't have that it would be any other 41 mag. Al

[johnson1942]

uberti 1871-1872 .38 special open top. nickle plated with custom checkered grips. wanted one since i first found out their is such a revolver. sits in a drawer loaded along side my bed if i need it. almost did the other night. 3 drunks showed up at our very rural home very late the other night. the drunks around here get real mean. if they would have kicked the door in they would have had a suprise. i and the 71 kept calm in the house. later the county cops took care of them.

[9.3X62AL]

Toss-up for me between my S&W 686 x 4" or the 629 Mtn Gun x 4". 95% of my 44 Mag revolver shooting gets done with 240-250 grain bullets running 1100-1200 FPS, or lower velocities than that.

[ejcrist]

That is a very tough question. Do convertibles count? If so I'd have to go with my Freedom Arms 83 in 454 with 45 Colt cylinder. I love that revolver. If convertibles don't qualify I'd go with my FA 97 in 44 Special.

[crawfobj]

625 MG, 686, or 629. Does narrowing it down to one manufacturer count?

[jaydub in wi]

I hate the "If you could only have one..." threads but I feel I have an answer for this one. Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt. Unique plinker loads, crowd-pleasing BP loads and rhino-rolling hunting loads all in one attractive and affordable package. On top of all that you won't be scrimping in the accuracy or durability departments either.

My thoughts exactly. I could live with my black hawk 41 too

[Kskybroom]

If it was One
It would be my
Dan Wessen 44mag SS 8in
Would love to find a 6in barrel.......

[Ola]

That is one easy question.

if single action: Freedom Arms
if double action: Korth

In .357 Mag.

[Djones]

Ruger Blackhawk in 45 colt. 4 5/8" barrel. It sure would be nice in a Bisley but the only factory offering is not a Bisley.

[chuckbuster]

6.5" .41Mag Blackhawk as it appears in my Avatar