Looking for advice/recommendations for revolvers

[BlackIce05]

I'm about as unfamiliar as possible with revolvers. In fact, in my entire life I've shot 2 of them. One was my sons Heritage arms .22LR, and then just today I shot my Mom's Ruger New Model Blackhawk .357. That one confirmed my suspicions and made me see the light that I must have at least one revolver in my collection, although I get the feeling it's going to be the first of many. So anyway, I'm hoping some of you that have extensive knowledge and experience with wheelguns can point me in the right direction. So far I'm thinking I want something in .357 magnum since I already have some brass for it, and one of my 9mm molds casts at .359 before PC. Something in 45 may not be too far out of line either since I cast for 45acp too, but with the brass and everything, .357 just makes more sense to me. I think I would like DA/SA because I like options, and I'm somewhat used to that anyway, my go to semi auto is a sig 227, which is DA/SA. Anyway, that's as far as I know. I would greatly appreciate any advice, or what you have and why it's better than others, or whatever help you can provide.

[tbceja]

Right makes convertible revolvers 357/9mm and 45lc/45acp but they are single action . The plus is you can use ammo you already load.

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[tazman]

For 357-----S&W 686 or Ruger GP100 Take your pick.
I personally prefer the Smith.

[tbceja]

Ruger sorry didn't read before I sent.

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[CDRGlock]

For 357 Magnum, you have a wide variety depending upon the size of your hands and the desire for a high capacity.

Medium Frame
S&W 686 6 or 7 shot
S&W 586 6 or 7 shot
Ruger GP100
Dan Wesson

Large frame
S&W 627 8 shot
Ruger Redhawk

I personally prefer the Smith and Wesson because of the smooth action. A lot more aftermarket options for a Smith when it comes to holsters and grips. Ruger is built like a tank. Rugged and reliable. You can't go wrong with either.

I have the following :

S&W 627 Performance Center 8 shot with 5 inch barrel
S&W 586 L-Comp Performance Center 7 shot with 3" barrel
S&W 640 J frame Snubby
Ruger GP100 4" and 6"



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[Mk42gunner]

It is very hard to beat a 4" DA .357 for general usage; after all the smoke cleared the one I kept is a 4" GP-100. It works better for me than the L frame S&W's.

For a range toy or hunting, a 6" is a tiny amount better, but I think the handiness of the 4" adds enough to give it the win.

Robert

[str8wal]

My first 357 was and still is a 6" Ruger GP-100. Unless concealement is a concern I'd suggest the same, otherwise a 4" version of the same gun.

[RJM52]

Another vote for the Ruger GP-100 if you want to go .357/.38 Special... That said S&W makes a very nice 9mm that I have been looking at....the 986...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6TxdRTgRds

Bob

[sharps4590]

As others have said my preference for a DA revolver is a S&W. That said there ain't no fly's on the Ruger or the Colts except that Colt prices have headed for the stratosphere. For your first I agree, a .357 is an excellent choice, it's never wrong. Not my choice today and I don't even own a 38/357 but it's darn sure where I started 40+ years ago. 4 or 6 inch is a matter of taste and convenience. 4 inch is my choice in a DA revolver and 5 1/2 in. in a SA revolver.

I expect you're correct in that you won't own just one.

[JSH]

I have come to like the GP100. A good "massage" by experienced hands goes a long way. Folks will say the GP can't be made as smooth as a SW. I have two that are so close to a SW it is not worth arguing over.
I have exactly one SW, a 19 that I have shot a bunch.
Las far as the GP's I have four, yes I like them.
Jeff

[charlie b]

I have only owned a few revolvers. Taurus, Ruger and the Colt Python handed down to me. The only one I still have is the Python (4" blued).

The Taurus pistols were surprisingly nice. Very smooth triggers. I would add that brand to your list, BUT, try one before you buy it. Their quality control seems to be inconsistent. Some would say the same about Ruger as well but both of mine were very good out of the box. The GP100's are a great gun.

My Python is a thing of beauty and came out of the original Colt custom shop. But, I would not advise getting one just due to the cost and regular tuning needed. If you can find an older Colt Trooper III or V, I'd get one of those, but, I like the older Colt's.

[BlackIce05]

I forgot to mention that it will definitely be mostly used for general purpose, killing targets, water bottles, occasional opossum or raccoons, etc., I would like to be able to use it for hunting, but that's not a deal breaker, MO recently added handguns to the list of approved weapons for what used to be called muzzleloader deer season, now they've changed the name to "alternative methods season". I don't care much about concealing it, because I figure that would take a different gun (or at least that's what I'll tell the wife). I'm unsure of what I want for barrel length, I think that New Model that I shot was 6 inch. Even with .357 shells I was surprised by the lack of recoil. I don't know if that was due to the length of the barrel adding weight or what.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

You cant go wrong with a S&W 686 or a Ruger GP 100 but i would give the nod to a 686-3

I know you said 357 but as long as you just looking right now maybe give a 41 magnum some thought would be a better woods walking / hunting
you reload and cast so why not have one

[Virginia John]

If at all possible shoot one before you buy it. You may not be able to shoot the one at the LGS but find someone who has one just like the one you want to buy and see if they will let you shoot theirs. I have bought a few guns that if I had shot them first, I certainly would not have bought them. Of course, you can always turn abound and sell or trade them but if you can try them first you may save yourself a lot of disappointment.

[CDRGlock]

I forgot to mention that it will definitely be mostly used for general purpose, killing targets, water bottles, occasional opossum or raccoons, etc., I would like to be able to use it for hunting, but that's not a deal breaker, MO recently added handguns to the list of approved weapons for what used to be called muzzleloader deer season, now they've changed the name to "alternative methods season". I don't care much about concealing it, because I figure that would take a different gun (or at least that's what I'll tell the wife). I'm unsure of what I want for barrel length, I think that New Model that I shot was 6 inch. Even with .357 shells I was surprised by the lack of recoil. I don't know if that was due to the length of the barrel adding weight or what.

I prefer 5-6" personally for those purposes. Anything longer becomes a bit ornery to control, unless we are talking 44 Magnum and above. In that case, the longer the better for the sake of maximum velocity.


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[Sasquatch-1]

All my revolvers, except my cap and ball Pietta, are Smiths and Rugers. For a first revolver, if you are not worried about speed of reloading (it's a gate loader), I would suggest the Ruger Blackhawk .357/9mm convertible. It comes with a 9mm cylinder that does not need moon clips. Only disadvantage is that properly sized 9mm (at .356) tend to tumble at 15 yards from the one I have. If you reload and size the bullets at .358 or .359 you should have no problems.

[contender1]

Well, you have asked a lot in just a few lines.

First & foremost,,, I'm an instructor. So, I always tell everybody to find what fits THEM!!!!!!!! It has to fit their hands, (often a set of grips makes all the difference in the world here,) AND it has to fit the desires of their own personal uses.

Buy a quality name brand. Ruger, Colt, S&W, etc will always be a good purchase. Even if it needs a little tweaking.
Next, select the style you prefer,,, DA (double action,) or SA, (Single-action,) for your desires.

Calibers.
Since you mentioned you will likely get more than one,, start with a .22LR. Very versatile, and most folks end up with one somewhere anyway. And, then look at the potentials of the different calibers you enjoy. You have mentioned owning a 9mm already,,, then if the SA design is your thing,, a Ruger Blackhawk convertible in .9mm/357 mag will do a lot. In that gun, you can shoot .9mm, 38 spl, and 357 magnums. If hunting is an option, study your state laws concerning caliber AND bbl length restrictions before your purchase.
The 357 mag revolver is a very versatile gun in the wide selection of ammo, AND capability.
But,,, if your desires lean toward serious hunting for larger game, Deer, hogs, bear,,, I'd look at the versatile 45 Colt for an additional caliber. Many folks can & do use a 357 very successfully for these animals,,, but for the average person, having a bit "more" can be very beneficial.
And don't overlook the .41 mag, as it too is a very good caliber. The folks who prefer the 41 mag over others have found a manageable caliber over the heavier 44 mag, w/o sacrificing much.
The 44 mag is a solid all around big bore caliber. Mild to wild,,, it'll do a lot. Again, you have to figure out what works for YOU!!!!!!!

So, study your desires, and you will see that more than one will be needed in the long run of uses.

Lastly,, get a KNOWLEDGEABLE instructor to help you learn HOW to PROPERLY shoot a bigger caliber revolver.

[BlackIce05]

Great advice so far, and I appreciate all of it, one thing I'm not understanding is the .357/9mm convertible. Wouldn't that send 2 different sized projectiles down the same barrel? Seems to me that it either has to be loose for one or tight for the other which I would expect to cause something like the tumbling mentioned above. I know I'm asking a lot, but I also know what people here are capable of. I agree completely that the best way to go about this is get my hands on as many different revolvers as possible to figure out what fits me the best. But, I'm an OTR truck driver which unfortunately has severely limited my time for friends. I have a few, but they're all more interested in AR's and AK's, none own a single revolver. I've shot both of the 2 that I have access to and both are fun, and comfortable. There are a couple LGS within an hour of me, but I won't even go in to them any more. Just not the kind of people I'm willing to give my money to. Which leaves me with buying either from someone on here, or buds or something similar. I can occasionally get into a cabela's so that might be an option. I just figured that if it doesn't fit perfectly I could always change grips, or maybe I'm over simplifying that? I guess basically I'm just trying to figure out what would be simple yet reliable and reasonably priced. Speed of loading doesn't matter to me, I'm in no rush to do much of anything (which is why I still only have a single stage press). Lastly I apologize, apparently I'm unable to type on here without typing a full paragraph.

[BlackIce05]

Something else to throw in, would it be better to start out with a new or used gun, or would it really matter? I would assume new would be better chance of being in perfect condition mechanically since I'm not familiar enough to know what to watch for as far as wear and tear, but with all the threads I've read about various companies lacking in QC, and the fact that I trust most of the people on here, I'm not sure if that still holds up. I'll look into that 41 magnum. My only real reasons for preferring 357 were the expected wide availability, and only thing I'd need to buy would be dies.

[Petrol & Powder]

WOW, you're going to get a shopping list !!!


I'm a dedicated revolver guy and have been for many years. I'll toss in my $0.02.

A 4" DA 38/357 revolver is one of the best firearm tools you'll ever find. It is incredibly useful and fills many roles.
In that realm the two obvious candidates are the S&W L-frames (686) and the Ruger GP-100. A LOT of ink (electrons ??) has flowed in the debate about which is better and I'm not going down that path. They're both great guns.
In my eyes, the 6" barreled revolver is a target gun or a hunting gun. A 4" barrel is a good compromise and a better "all-around" gun, IMO.

The revolver world is a big place and there's a lot to learn. In the interest of full disclosure I'll openly say that I'm a DA revolver guy. There's nothing wrong with SA revolvers and I own a few, but I've always found the DA revolvers to suit me better.
In the DA revolver world the two big competitors are S&W and Ruger. Within those two camps there's a lot of info to absorb. Frame sizes, finish, sights, etc. are just the surface.

Outside of S&W and Ruger you will find the other makers such as Colt, Dan Wesson, Taurus, etc.
With the exception of the new Colt Cobra, which is a subnose, Colt is pretty much out of the DA revolver game. The older Colts such as Pythons, Troopers, are out there but it's a complicated (and expensive) market and you should educate yourself before entering that field. A lack of knowledge will be financially risky if you start buying Colts without a solid base of knowledge.

The used revolver market has a lot to offer and there are some great deals to be found. However, one must have some basic knowledge about revolvers in order to be an informed consumer. Again, knowledge is key.