[elastic limit]

I'm interested in getting my father a revolver for christmas/his birthday, maybe y'all can help me out:

.357 for hunting/plinking, so it shouldn't be especially small or light
High visibility fiber optic sights
Ability to easily mount a scope/red dot/etc.
not too much $$$ (no high end [expensive] custom guns)

Does anyone know of any models that have these features?

I've been lurking here for a long time, but this is my first post...Hello all!

[Sgt.Dusk]

Get a Taurus tracker, excellent gun and not too expensive.
You can get a scope mounting piece from midway.

[19-3Ben]

Used S&W 686? (or new one if $600 or so fits within your definition of "not too much $$$" )

[Magnum.35744]

How about a Ruger GP-100 SS with a 6" Inch Barrel? Built like a tank, and should last your father for the rest of his life ;). Hope this helps.

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

I would be looking for a gp 100 in 6 inch barrell !I don't know of any 357 revolvers that have a scope mount like the SRH or even a weaver type mount ! High vis sights are available ! if you go with a scope mount he might find he likes the Millet red dot type sights ! I have a millet on my SRH 454 and i love it !

[SoonerSP101]

I'd go stainless steel Ruger GP100 but with a 4" barrel instead of 6".

[Neophyte1]

elastic limit: GP100;4"-6" stainless and forget it:)

[Bob F.]

"and should last your father the rest of his life". ANd his kids, and your kidsand your grandkids!!!!!!!!!

Bob

[BikerRN]

I'd opt for a new or used Ruger GP100 in a 4"-6" Barrel.

After the New Year my EDC off duty will be a 3" GP100. Dang I have a good wife. :neener: I'll have to go tell her that right now.

[glockman19]

Go with Ruger or S&W with a minimum 4" barrel.

[Pine Cone]

If he is going to hunt with it I would recommend a nice new or used S&W 686 with 6" barrel. Better trigger than the GP100, very accurate, shoots either .38 special or .357 mags very well.

I wouldn't give mine up for anything! My 55-year old eyes like the iron sights as long as I paint the front sight a bright color. As a father I would have to say it would be hard to find a better gift:D

[dbarale]

Again 6" 686 or GP100, the GP has an easily replacable front sight with lots of options available and can probably be found for a bit less than the S&W.
You can't go wrong with either...

[Quoheleth]

All suggestions have been double-actions. Nothing wrong with that...I have a 6" GP100 and love it.

...but if he grew up on the old Spaghettin Westerns, he might like the Single Action. How 'bout a Ruger Blackhawk? Same excellent sights as the GP100. Good, crisp SA trigger. Still built like a tank. Price is about the same. Plus, there is a "convertable" model that comes with an extra 9mm cylinder. It won't shoot quite as precisely as the .38/.357 stuff (slightly smaller bullet), but for cheap plinking, it'll do the trick.

Q

[RichardB]

6 inch GP-100

[ADKWOODSMAN]

While at Cabela's in Nebraska I saw a beautiful S&W Mod. 28, 6" Nickle (never heard of that finish before on a 28). Check other gun sores for good used smith's and Rugers.

[Checkman]

I can't speak for Rugers but the S&W 686 has been drilled and tapped for scopes for several years. You should be able to pick up a good used one for a reasonable amount. I'm partial to the 586/686 though.

[ronto]

GP100...Of course.

[Dienekes]

GP-100 for numerous reasons, plus Ruger just made fiber-optics an accessory.

[elastic limit]

Wow...lots of suggestions, but they all seem to be between the GP100 and the 686. Thanks for all the advice.
High viz front and rear sights are a necessity, but can always be done aftermarket if they are not available as a standard item (right? Anyone know where to look for these?).
Does no one make a .357 with integral scope bases? Or are they only on the big bore hand cannon?

Quoheleth:
...but if he grew up on the old Spaghetti Westerns, he might like the Single Action.
Well, he already has a .45 Colt SA (was my grandfather's:)), so he's covered on that front, but is looking for something with better sights (don't want to cobble fiber optics on the antique SA.)

Pine Cone:
shoots either .38 special or .357 mags very well.
One of the reasons I was looking at this caliber. .38 for plinking, .357 for backup deer hunting, maybe even take a deer:cool:, and .357 should be big enough not to be totally laughable for bear defense (not that we really have to worry about black bears, but better to have and not need it than the other way around;))

[Sun195]

My recommendation would be a S&W 686 with a 4" barrel. However, probably any S&W or Ruger with a 4" to 6" barrel would fit the bill. Taurus might be another option if you're on a tight budget.

If you're buying used, do a google search for what to look for in a used revolver. There's a bunch of stuff to check. This is one guide; there are many others:

http://thesixgunjournal.net/revolverbuyersguide.html

[Loyalist Dave]

I got my dad a 3" Model 13 from Smith & Wesson. He doesn't have the time to go to the range much, and the fixed sights mean he won't bang them out of alignment or break them. It's his house defence gun, and his plinking gun too.

LD

[Constantine-p89]

Anyone of the models mentioned will do.