[rjk2475]

needing a reminder; what are the reasons for your ONE favorite revolver?

[Ala Dan]

My favorite revolver and changed from time to time,
over the course of about 35 year's. But to answer
your question honestly; right this very minute its
a 6" Smith & Wesson 686-5 that I use for plinking,
and target shooting! With a $15 WOLFF spring kit
installed; its one heck'eva firearm.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[rjk2475]

Ala Dan: if i may tap your brain: does that wolff spring kit lighten the primer strike? what is the da pull? how does the 686-5 differ from the -2? thanks ron

[farscott]

My personal favorite revolver is a K-22 Masterpiece that was made in 1956. I am not the first owner, and the revolver is far from pristine; however, it is a shooter. This revolver, like no other, provides me many hours of pleasurable shooting. I last shot it on Saturday, putting a bit over two hundred rounds downrange.

[Sarge]

Model 29, 4" .44 magnum. It's do it all, and pretty darn well. If I was starting over I'd probably just buy a pre-lock Mountain Gun and be done with it.

[HSMITH]

My favorite and best shooter is a 5 screw K38 Combat Masterpiece (pre model 15) made in 1949. It shoots like a dream for me and for everyone else. Everyone that has shot it liked it and shot better than typical for them with it. IT is what a fine revolver should be. I have plenty of others, the only ones that even come close to the old K38 are a 5 screw K22 Combat Masterpiece from 1951 and a heavily used M19-4 from somewhere around 1980. The M19 is my regular blaster and gets better every time I shoot it. It has well over 20K through it, but it really gets outclassed handily by the K38 in all aspects except power. The only bad thing about my K38 CM is it shows you just how poor the other guns really are.

[Marshall]

My favorite revolver, for reasons more than just numbers is, my 7 1/2" .44 Magnum Ruger Redhawk. It has an AimPoint red dot scope mounted on it and Houge rubber. I have taken mucho game with this gun, from heavy Whitetails to big tom Bobcats. I feed it Winchester 210gr Silvertips, it's scary accurate with this round. Other rounds just don't shoot with the accuracy I get out this one. It's a gun I can pick-up with one hand, put the dot on target and know it's going to hit square on, up to 75 - 90 yards tops. Many things go into a "favorite handgun", memories, trust, what it's used for, etc. Is it the best handgun I own? No. Well, wait a minute, let's define "best". ;)

[ACP230]

I'm in a buying phase with Smith N frames as the main target.

My favorite revolver has to be a smaller Smith, however.
It's my M649. It's my "almost always gun." I carry it everywhere I can legally do so, and shoot it for fun now and then too.

[Quantrill]

A 1969 model 28, 6 inch that I bought new for $98. I carried it for a living for a while, I hunted with it and I even won a few PPC matches with it. Wrapping my hand around that gun is like shaking hands with an old friend. Quantrill

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's Again Ron

The WOLFF spring kit doesn't light'en the primer
strikes; but it does light'en the DA trigger pull. I
changed the main spring; and stopped with the
13 lb. trigger return spring, as I didn't see a need
to go any further! :uhoh: :cool: :D

In the old day's, adjusting the main spring tension
screw was a way to light'en the DA trigger pull; but
get it too light, and you ended up with light primer
strikes.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[Josey]

My 4" nickel Colt Trooper MKIII 357 Magnum. If it could talk.

[Pappy John]

S&W 696.....L-frame with a 3" barrel gives it carryability without loss of accuracy. And I love the big bore.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid109/p73b69a6bdbf5e35e0cbb2cb20386710d/f92d9d0e.jpg
Carryability.....is that a word?

[OH25shooter]

Any revolver made by S&W!

[Tamara]

Three-inch, round-butt, fixed-sight, heavy-barrel K-frames do it for me:

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=988386

Top to bottom:
1982 65-2
1983 10-8
1995 PC-13

[LAH]

M-17 S&W or my old K-38, both 6 inch guns.

[James Bondrock]

Of the revolvers currently in my possession, I would say my Colt Python, a six-inch matte stainless made about 1982, for its appearance, smoothness of action out of the box, and accuracy. Honorable mention: 6 1/2" nickel S&W 29-2, Ruger Blackhawk "Old Model" .45 convertible (interchangeable .45 Colt and .45 ACP cylinders. (It is hard to pick just one. ;) )

[Smaug]

My S&W Model 29, w/ 8 3/8" barrel.

http://user.mc.net/~jzorns/29_19.JPG

I have a nice bunny-fart load cooked up for it:

Meister 180 gr. flat point bullets (Midway item 719-746, $24/500)
5.6 gr. of Bullseye
Winchester WLP primers
crimped with Lee Factory Crimp die to insure that the pressure builds up enough to get the bullet out of the barrel at such low velocities.

With this load, it is about the same level of recoil as a super small 22 pistol, but cuts those nice big clean holes in the paper. This load would probably be adequate for a defense round too...

At this pressure level, the brass lasts FOREVER.

On the other hand, I'm confident that I could put a scope on it and take deer out to about 100 yards with it when I load the full magnums.

[Jeff Timm]

S&W Bodyguard. .38 Spec. 5-shot. The shrouded hammer version. Companion for a long time. The definition of body pistol.

Geoff
Who likes it with a side of shot rounds, just in case of snakes.

[PlayTheAces]

A 1969 model 28, 6 inch that I bought new for $98. I carried it for a living for a while, I hunted with it and I even won a few PPC matches with it. Wrapping my hand around that gun is like shaking hands with an old friend. Quantrill

Quantrill - you got a better deal than I did! I bought mine in '73 and paid $129 for it. That's inflation for ya.

I feel the same way you do - that 28's always been my ol' buddy and the one I shoot best with.

[HogRider]

The Redhawk - because I always liked tanks!

http://members.cox.net/wbhogrider2003/Images/357RH-Stag02-Small.jpg

[Standing Wolf]

I'm partial to Pythons. They fit my hand well, deliver wonderful accuracy, and can be slicked up to produce light, truly crisp single action trigger pulls and smooth double action pulls.

[Marko Kloos]

My favorite revolver is the S&W three-inch heavy-barrel, fixed-sight K-frame Magnum...either the blued M13, or the stainless M65. The best fighting sixgun ever made by anyone.

[P95Carry]

Very tempted to join HogRider .. loving my Ruger ''tanks'' as I do but .....

Fave has to be ..... M27-2 .. the one with 5" barrel .... it replaced my first ever M27 ... is old enough to still have the grace of pinned and recessed .. and the 5" is IMO the ultimate for proportions.

Oh so sweet and a joy to shoot .... mind you .. there is some stiff competition but ... yep, M27-2 wins. :) :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

No good ... just gotta add the pic of my ''lovely'' :)


http://www.bedford.net/design/cb_gun2/m27-2_s.jpg

[grendelbane]

Smith & Wesson Model 58!:)

Pachmayr Grippers are the only modification.

Accurate, powerful, as reliable as any wheelgun.

Impossible to knock the sights out of adjustment.

[shep854]

Second Jeff Trimm's motion. Of course, my Bodyguard is the only revolver I have right now. For overall feel and fun, the K-frames can't be beat. I had one of the original Rossi 971s, six-inch and unfluted cylinder that I liked a lot, but let get away; in fact I think I traded it for a S&W 10, 4 inch pencil barrel. That is one of the prettiest guns around.

[swifter]

4" S&W 25-5. 250 grsWFN @ 900+ will do most things I need a handgun to do.:D

Tom

[sm]

Older S&W K frames.
In particular the 3" RB.
Getting real picky - the blue ones.;)

No Explanation Needed.

[Rob96]

My favorite is my stainless, 4" Ruger GP-100. First, because my wife bought it for me as a birthday present. Second, because the way this thing shoots makes me look good.

[denfoote]

I have one that is swiftly becoming my favorite.
My new (to me) S&W Mod 28-2.
My current fav is my Taurus M85UL, because it was a gift from my wife. Although, I have discovered it needs some work. It's the thought that counts!!! :)

[JOE MACK]

My favorite revolver is a Ruger Old Model Blackhawk in .41Magnum. I bought it new when they came out in the '60s and it may just be buried with me. It's taken animals from armidillos to wapiti. It even leaped into my hand of it's own accord to save me from a nasty goring by an old, mean range cow. If my old lady ever says it goes or she goes, I'll help her pack her bags.:p

[ruger357]

S&W 66 with a 2.5 inch barrel.

[Brian Williams]

Ho do I pick one????

All S&Ws
35-1 22lr on a J frame 6" barrel, add a pocket full of 22lr and you can have a grin that last most of the day.

940-1 Compact, powerful, easy to reload with moonclips.

60-4 3" barrel, Stainless, solid, powerful enough but light and accurate for trail use.

K38 6" Accurate as any... Almost like the grin from the 35 but cost a little more...

13-4 3" heavy barrel, round butt, K frame, it has already been said by Tamara and Marco...

586- I have it the way it should have been from the factory with 4" half lug barrel, short full grips that fill behind the trigger guard.

27-2 8 3/8 Beautiful



Right now I gotta go with the 35-1.....

[BigG]

Any pinned bbl S&W is welcome at my place. Of the newer pre-lock types, make mine a Centennial - I like em all but airweight or lighter is preferred. YMMV. :D

[MyRoad]

My favorite is the 625 in this picture:
http://www.xlr8nrg.com/images2/2wheels.jpg
It actually has nice wood hogue grips, that's an old picture. I love the feel of the N frame, .45acp is a great versatile caliber, and the red dot is a lot of fun!

My second favorite is a 686 2.5" - great balance/weight/size.

[fix]

S&W 681

Sized just right. Heavy enough to make a good club. Tough as a hammer. No adjustable sight to break off when using as a club. What's not to like?

[Dr.Rob]

1917 Colt New Service... big like magnum, kicks like a pussycat. loaded with a full moon clip of 240 gr hydra shocks it's a horse pistol, but it has served as a belt gun on numerous hunting trips and outdoor forays.

[PJR]

S&W Model 15-2 from the early 60's. Still tight, shoots beautifully and heartbreakingly smooth. The heartbreak comes when I tell the boys who spends $$$ customizing their wheelguns that mine is factory stock. With a set of Pachmayrs, it's as close to wheelgun perfection as I'm going to get.

Paul

[PO2Hammer]

Colt Python Elite 6" S/S.
Because it makes me a better shooter.
It is a new (2002) gun, trigger is simply awesome. So crisp and light, never felt anything like it.
I had a red dot on it for ammo testing, and it would put almost any load into 3" or less at 50 yards, some into 2" (anything 180 grains) and CCI Blazer .38's into 2-1/2".
Weight, balance and fantastic trigger. I shoot my best off-hand groups with it.
In fact, it usually groups better off-hand than its companion, a Marlin 1894.
I love Blackhawks too, but the Python is just much more accurate.

[RON in PA]

I have over 30 revolvers and you expect me to say which is my favorite.

For a range gun the Smith PC 627.

For CCW one of my Centennials.

For a do almost anything, either one of my 3" GP100s or my 3" M13.

[tbeb]

Right now it's a .357 magnum, stainless steel, Ruger Speed Six. Double action trigger pull is unbelievably smooth and light. Firing pin hits the primer hard every time. I never knew a Ruger could be slicked up like this. Mine has 2 3/4" barrel and it balances nicely. I also like it's round grip.

[foghornl]

I'm kind of a single-action revo fan, so I am torn between 2...a Ruger Single-Six, and a Sheriff's Model (3-1/2" barrel) Vaquero in .357.



Although, having shot a friend's 5-1/2" Vaquero in .45 Colt........hmmmm

In what might be consdiered a "classic" style DA revo, I would pick the 4" skinny-barrel S&W Mdl 10.

[461]

Ruger Bisley Blackhawk. Stainless steel 5.5" in .44 Magnum. Does anyhting I need a handgun to do and does it well. Paper punches with the best of them with 17 grains of 2400 and a cast 240 grainer , and will take anything in North America with 22.0 grains of the same. Looks good, carries good, and the Bisley grip soaks up the recoil wonderfully. Inside of a hundred yards it's my "go to gun".

[thatguy]

The last gun I bought is always my favorite. This is the last gun I bought. It was made in 1961 and I found it in a hole in the wall gun shop tagged at $295.

http://www.hunt101.com/img/153236.JPG (http://www.hunt101.com/?p=153236&c=500&z=1)

[4thHorseman]

Of the many many revolvers I have, I choose the Colt Magnum Carry. Six shot, small stainless frame, comfortable to wear and the platform supports the 357 cartridge.

[GeneC]

I'll second the S&W 66, 2.5" barrel.

[41 magnum fan]

My favorite is one of my S&W 41 magnum mountain guns.Very versatile gun,can be down loaded for light target loads and small game,loaded at med velocity for self defense and heavy for big game.This gun looks and feels good and light enough for all day carry.Also the stainless finish is also a bonus when carrying in the woods.It has had an action job and red ramp/white outline sights added and also wood square butt conversion grips from S&W added.Also the 41 mag MG is very accurate.The 41 magnum is my favorite caliber.

[Ben Shepherd]

If your talking favorite that I own:

You want me to play favorites with my kids? O.K. fine.:D

Mine is my stainless 7.5" 41 redhawk at the moment. Sure I've got several that are smaller and handier, and several that are bigger/meaner/louder, but I always grin biggest with this gun.

Maybe it's because after a long range session with bigger ones, you feel like you're coming home from a fight instead of a shooting session.:scrutiny: With smaller guns I get the "could have had more" feeling.

Oh, did I mention the thing shoots flat and accurate out to 100+ yards?:D

[Zeus]

My favorite at this point is my 7.5" Premier 454 Casull made by Freedom Arms. However, I just bought an Old Model 45 Colt with 4 5/8" barrel and a 41 Ruger Hunter. Haven't had a chance to shoot these yet but they have a long road ahead of them to beat out the Casull. The Casull has shot 1.5" groups @100 yards off the bench with great regularity with 300 grain XTP MAGs and a caseful of 296. Usually, 3 of the 5 shots were in one hole and I had a couple of fliers that opened the group up to 1.5". Since then, I've taken the scope off of it but it doesn't hurt the guns shooting, my groups just aren't quite as small. Oh well, sure looks better without the scope. GS

[Poohgyrr]

Boy this can be tough. One favorite, and the most often used, is a Smith 640. Most fun to shoot is an N frame in .357 or . 44 Special.

:D

[L-Frame]

Performance Center 681 (black/green) with no porting. I had a front night sight put on it and for concealability, power (.357), rounds available (7), absolute reliability, and quality, it is the finest carry gun (no, not just carry revolver) ever made.

[magsnubby]

Damn,Ron in PA,30? Man now i am jelous. I only have 12. I hate to say it,because i was raised on S&W wheelguns, but it would have to be my s/s Ruger Security Six. Bought it new in '77 and it's had about a zillion rounds through it. It's been cross country with me a couple of times. It's been carried hunting,fishing,in my truck,on my hip,on a tractor,in a boat and just about everywhere else. I'll never sell it.

[LAH]

magsnubby: The use you have put your Ruger to is what makes a favorite handgun. This sixgun is a very good choice. God Bless

[rick_reno]

My favorite is my older Freedom Arms field grade 454, 7.5 inch ported barrel, factory trigger job and sling swivels. Why? This gun is phenomenally accurate and has the other than some of my two stage triggers on target pistols it's got the best trigger I've seen. My next favorite one (someone is bound to ask) is my Ruger Super Blackhawk, 44 mag, 3 screw that my Dad bought sometime in 1959. The blueing on these old Rugers is really beautiful. It's the first handgun I shot.

[Clean97GTI]

The top 3 are as follows

1. S&W Model 19-3. My grandfathers service weapon when he was on LAPD before making Sergeant. This gun was on his hip during the Watts riots
2. Colt Marshal 2". My Grandfathers carry weapon after making sergeant with LAPD. This gun was on his ankle during the Watts riots.
3. Colt Model DA38. This was my great uncle's (father's side of the family) gun that was carried at the end of WWI. He never did trust autoloaders according to my dad. chambered for .38 Long Colt

Of those, the DA38 is my favorite. So much history goes with these weapons. The trigger pull is REALLY hefty in DA, but single isn't bad. Ammo is a little on the expensive side, but the gun is a joy to shoot. I'd say hi 80's to low 90% condition. The original grips are still around although I use a pair of wood grips when I shoot it. The sights suck and it is tough to be accurate, but I still enjoy the heck out of it.

[Bullet Bob]

I'm with P95carry (and Skeeter Skelton); a 5" model 27. I have too many guns, and like 'em all, but for some unexplainable reason, this is the one that just feels most right to me. Not too long or short, loads from mild to wild, accurate, and balances well in my hands. It's my answer to the "if I could just have one gun" question. I love the precision mechanical feel of S&W's in general, and this one in particular. Over the years I've replaced the target hammer and trigger with the skinnier versions, and added Herrett's Trooper stocks. No one gun is right for everybody, but this is the one for me.

http://www.fototime.com/5F3CB629DD490A9/standard.jpg

[popbang]

My favorite revolver is one I have had just over two years. It is a Birds Head Grip Ruger Vaquero with 3-3/4 inch barrel in .45 Colt. The throats have been reamed to .4525. It wears a set of Lett's grips that look sweat. It made a short trip back to Ruger when the case colored finish wore, and Ruger blued the entire gun. It has over 8,000 rounds through it. It points and shoots great for me, and it is one gun that will be with me for quite awhile. It ride mostly in a Mernickle PS6-SA holster on a wilderness 5 stitch belt.

Oh, almost forgot by my scales the trigger breaks at ~3.5 lbs. nice and clean.

[Stickjockey]

Maybe the wrong forum, but my favorite revolver is my Navy Arms 1860 Colt's Army Model. Just plain cool, and it "speaks with authority."

[rjk2475]

WOW! these are great posts. i have only two revolvers. a 28-2 i found anib and a 686-2 assembled to my requests by s&w as a result of their snafu. both fit, have 11 and 10 lb da pulls respectively. and actually shoot where i want them to. so wth did i start this post hoping to find another revolver? :banghead: do i need gun or therapy? ron

[mtnbkr]

My favorite is my 4" GP100. After several years of shooting, carrying, tuning, etc, it is nearly perfect. It goes on every camping and hunting trip. It's perfectly balanced for the type of shooting I do with it. It's not too heavy and not too light. I checked out a 686, but it didn't quite "fit" me.

Over the years, I have done the following:
Gunsmith:
Taylor Throat mod to the barrel
Recrown to 11 degrees
removed endshake
Me:
polished trigger assembly
changed springs for lighter pull
installed Hogue cocobolo grips
installed Williams firesights, then replaced the rear with a Millet after 4 years of use.

The DA trigger is smooth and light. The SA pull could use some work, but since I almost never shoot SA, I don't worry about it. The gun is "minute of pieplate" at 100yds in my hands on a good day.

I have two loads for it. The first is a 38special load that is just shy of +P with a 158gr plated FP bullet. The second is a 180gr SJHP running at 1200fps (I have gone as high as 1400). I have some 230gr wadcutters I want to work up next.

http://mysite.verizon.net/allencb/GP100_2.jpg

I wouldn't mind having a S&W 19 or 27, but I'd rather have my GP100 as my "work" gun.

Chris

[rjk2475]

mtmbkr: what type holster is shown with your ruger? can i get one for a mdl 28?

[sfhogman]

There are some beautiful guns here. My personal favorite is my Ruger 5.5 SS Bisley. It's accurate, feels just right in my hands with the Eagle grips, and is purely a joy to shoot.

Runner-up would be my 5.5 SS Single-Six. This is the gun I use to introduce newbies to the shooting sports; especially kids. They like the look and feel, there's little recoil, and they have to take the time to cock and aim for each shot. My girlfriend's 11 year old son purely loves it, so I do too.

Jeff:D

[mtnbkr]

mtmbkr: what type holster is shown with your ruger? can i get one for a mdl 28

It's a Galco FLETCH. I'm sure they make one for the 28.

Chris

[Gandalf]

I have two favorites: My stainless engraved Python and my Colt SAA in .45 Colt.
http://www.hunt101.com/img/069198.jpg

http://www.hunt101.com/img/129266.JPG

[Bainx]

SFHOGMAN, welcome aboard!
My favorite wheel gun has got to be the Colt 1917 in .45ACP!
Loads with moon clips, shoots to POA. Heck, what is there no to like about it?:p
My particular specimen came from a Knox Co. LEO several decades ago.
He said his father carried it during WWI.
Wow, quite a history connected with this firearm.

[sfhogman]

Thanks for the welcome! It's really great to know the history of a gun. It's like hold ing a chunk of history in your hand. I have a 38/44 made in 1935, according to Mr. Jinks. I wish it could talk...

Jeff

[targetshootr]

Tough question. It might be a toss up between the 5 screw pre 29 and the 7 1/2" 44 flat top. And the 44 New Frontier 7 1/2. And the 4" 24-3. And the 357 flat top. Heck, it might be easier to name a least favorite like .....dunno that either.

[Joey2]

S&W Model 10-4 Hvy. Bbl., Ruger Security-Six Stainless 6" Bbl, S&W Model 19-6.

I could go on and on, but this will due.

[MikeJ]

It took me a long time to respond to this post but after much careful deliberation with myself I would have to say my S&W 66 2 1/2". I just love this gun.:D

[GoRon]

My GP-100, 357, 6" without the full underlug. Jim march called it the finger of God:D I just plain love shooting the thing!

[ducktapehero]

Colt SAA in 45colt, Colt 1917 in 45acp, Smith 1917 in 45acp, and Taurus 455 in 45acp. The only one I own right now is the Taurus but that will change someday. I love dem 45 wheelguns. :D