Help Choosing Wheelgun

The two most obvious choices for you are the Ruger GP-100 and the Smith & Wesson 686 - both are very accurate, will last well beyond your lifetime, and can handle as much magnum shooting as you want to feed them. I prefer the Smith for better looks and a smoother trigger, but a Ruger has that "tool" feeling that might also be good for throwing into the truck. Beyond these, you can look to cheaper brands like Taurus and Rossi, but you will find that these guns have spotty reputations (many like them, they are definitely cheaper, but you run a higher risk of getting a lemon).

Look at a S&W 686 2 or 4 inch.

Also look at the Taurus 627 Tracker...really nice gun and as nice as any S&W revolver (IMHO).
The stainless steel 4" barrelled version is the way to go!

If you're willing to forgo the .357 capability, than get yourself a nice model 10, still in production but with plenty of used ones out there.

If you are not going to ccw, a 6in S&W 586, 686 are a great choice. So the Ruger GP100. If can find a S&W 28 see how that feels to you.

I've always envied my buddy's SP101. One of these days, I'll have one of for myself.

GP100, 357mag.

My favorite DA.

SP101 nice too, but I take the GP out far more often.

sw 686 or ruger gp 100. i like both and don't think you could go wrong with either.

I haven't owned a Taurus revolver either. I usually reserve comment on them as any advice I give is purely heresay. I own Colts, Smiths, and Rugers in revolvers. As was mentioned, unless you choose a Taurus, your primary choices are either a Model 686 or 627 Smith unless you find their pre-lock predacessors; or a Ruger GP100 (available in 3", 4" and 6"), Ruger SP101 which are primarly a short barreled snubbie. Never owned a SP101; many love them. Ruger GP100 is very dependable and suitably accurate. I own a 3" and have shot 4" versions. The Smiths will be smoother. I recently picked up a blued pre-lock Smith Model 19 (357) which is quite nice. I'm pleased with it.

Sorry double posted

I have a Taurus 85 and never had a problem with it. But for 357mag option I would stick with S&W or Ruger both are have outstanding service. I had to send a Ruger back due to a recall and when I got it back, they had it looking like new and sent a free magazine back with it. If you have a range that rents handguns and they have a Smith and Ruger try both if not handle each revolver and pick the one that feels best.

falnovice said:

I see the 686 is available in either 6 or 7 shot. Any good reason to get one over the other. I am leaning towards the six just to keep it classic.

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Keep leaning and look for a police trade-in that's been sitting in the warehouse. If you're lucky, the trigger will already be broken in...

I see the 686 is available in either 6 or 7 shot. Any good reason to get one over the other.

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I imagine it's a lot easier/cheaper to get speed loaders for the 6-shot model.

7-Shot 686's

Out here where I live the gun store of choice carries only 7-shots in stock, charges a special order fee to order 6 Shots, AND put the 7-shot 686 on sale for Christmas. I really wanted a 6-Shot for the same reason but they waved a $50 bill in front of my face (figuratively) and the 7-Shot looked better and better.

BTW, I prefer the 686 Action (Although I had a performance Center Master Revolver Job done to it, great $125 buy!). But own SA Rugers and love those.

To finally make up my mind I went to my local Shooting range and rented each one and put 50 rounds in a Ruger and in a S&W, at the end of the day S&W won, not that a GP100 isn't a terrific gun, it was just all about feel to me at the end of the day.

Regards,
RFB

I own a 4" S&W M686-2 and it's a great shooter. I had a 4" M619 for a while too and it was a good shooter too. (7 rounds fixed sights) The M620 is a adjustable sight version of the 7 round M619.

If I didn't already have a 4" .357 Magnum I would seriously consider buying a S&W Model 686SSR (Stock Service Revolver) It has no MIM parts but unfortunately it does have a ILS.
The special work that's in this revolver from the Factory is:
* Forged Hammer
* Forged Trigger
* Chamfered Charge Holes
* Custom Barrel with Recessed Precision Crown
* Bossed Mainspring
* Ergonomic Grip to Force High-Hand Hold, Tuned Action

IMO, the S&W Model 686SSR is a very nice revolver.

BTW, it's no harder to find 7 round speedloaders than it is the 6 round speedloaders. HKS makes them all and they can easily be found online in stores like Midway.

Part # 586-A is for 6 round S&W L frames and the Ruger GP100
Part # 587-A is for 7 round S&W L frames and Taurus 7 round 38/357 revolvers

Choosing a Wheelgun

I would definately look into a Ruger 50th Anniversary 357. Nothing points like a single action. The adjustable sights will allow you to shoot POA with your favorite/most used load and the 50th Anniversary models are better made and feel better in the hand than the larger blackhawk models.

Edited to add: Welcome to THR and sixgunning! I love both the GP100 and the S&W L-frames. (686,586,681,581) I shoot these better than any other handgun out there, when shooting in a hurry, and while I am not an expert or "gun guru" in any way, I am not a novice, and have carried sixguns as duty sidearms and still use them for carry on my own time and as "backup" when at work. By cherry-picking, either the GP100 or L-frame can be found with a good trigger pull and lock-up. Look at the sticky post at the top of the revolver section for checking lock-up and other important things. My early 90's GP100, a former duty sidearm, even came from the factory with "grunge grooves" under the extractor, a NICE touch to make it resistant to powder fouling. I don't know when Ruger dropped that feature, but my later-90's Rugers do not have them.

Since you're talking about it being mostly a "Fun Gun" I would be another vote for a single-action and, of course, "single-action", on this planet, means Ruger Blackhawk. I would suggest strongly the 5.5" barrel though, for much nicer balance.
If you wanted something good but from the "not everybody has one" category I would heartily suggest the Uberti replica 1875 Remington (pic below) which is .357/38 Special and an absolute ton of fun.

I own a S&W 686+ in 4". I can't speak for the Rugers, but I can say the 686+ has met my needs. The seventh shot doesn't make a huge difference but it does comfort me when I don't carry a reload in a speed loader. Thats just me. Something to keep in mind is that the 686s have a great number of after market products available if you should go that route. The 686+ is a straight shooter and well balanced in a 4". If you are looking to get a truck gun, then the 686+ is a good candidate because you don't have to worry about hurting it. It is well built.

Get the best and not have to buy again(for a while). S&W 686

Looks like I will have to paw through the local gun shops and see if I can locate a nice used 686.

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Here's a few photos of the used M686-2 I bought a few months ago: