Perfect "Camp and Trail revolver?"

rcmodel,

Are you saying you actually have one of the uber rare, non-cataloged 5" 1950 adjustable sight .44 special S&W guns? I would sweep out your garage just to gaze upon it!

Oh yeah, trail gun...

Depends what kind of dangerous critters are in the area. The 2-legged are usually the most dangerous.

If there are no bear or cougars (4-legged cougars) about, then a adjustable sight S&W model 14, 2" barrel. Short, light handy. Even Ray Charles could get accurate hits out to 100 yards.

Second choice: Ruger SP101 8-Shot adjustable sight .22

If bear or cougars (4-legged cougars) are about, a S&W .45 Colt caliber Mountain Gun, 4" barrel.

For 2-legged cougars, toss a pre-paid pass to the buffet their way, then run like heck!

I favor the Stainless HB 64 for all-around knock-around use. J & G has many nice options second hand: http://www.jgsales.com/handguns-c-16_211_431.html

My S&W 651 in .22 Magnum.

I like the S&W M10 but I also like adjustable sights so I would change that choice to the M15.

M-15 for me.

Are you saying you actually have one of the uber rare, non-cataloged 5" 1950 adjustable sight .44 special S&W guns?

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Yes I am.
But its actually 4 1/2".

The serial number is about 550 lower then the first .44 Magnum S&W presented to Elmer Keith.

In all fairness though, it shipped with a 6" barrel and was later shortened by S&W for a county sheriff here in Kansas.

I gave $300 for it in 1999.

1950 Target .44 Special.





rc

rcmodel...NICE!

Interestling enough, I have a 38/44 HD, one of the 6500 post-war transitionals that was cut from 6.5 to 4". The job looks like it was done by S&W. I too think it was a Highway Patrolman's gun. It came w/ S&W grip adapter.

My first pick: S&W 15-3...bless my shakey old hand @ 15 yards! I can hit the steel 100 yard silholettes


My second pick: Ruger SP101, 8-shot .22, 15 yrd group.



My third pick: My first off hand shot @ the 220 yard Ram knocked it over! Yes, it was a luck shot. But the observers had no idea. Their jaws just dropped!



Here's a rare S&W, 25-7, 5", one of only 2000 made in 1989, .45 colt caliber. Old boy @ the gun show had no idea what he had!

15 yards, a cast bullet I designed

I would be hard pressed to chose any thing better for Me, than an Old Ruger Blackhawk or Vaquero in 45LC. I prefer a good Shoulder Holster for just out walking around but do have some good quality Shell Belt & Holster Rigs that I use quite often. If I have been in an area befor and am comfortable with it. A Good Quailty Colt or Ruger S/A 22LR fills the bill for me also also.
ken

S&W model 19 4" or a 4" L frame 357 mag. Plenty of power, can still shoot 38s, generally accurate guns.

Model 10?
Have you lost it?
There's only one correct answer to this question and it's the model 67.

This is a tuffy. haha
Either my SBH .44 Magnum 5 1/2" but that gets heavy, or a Rossi M720 .44 SPC.
250 gr Beartooth WFN (handles business) in the .44 Mag or 240 gr LSWC from MCB in the .44 SPC.

If not, then a .22 Mag single action, or the Springfield XD Service 4" with 125 gr Conical Hard Cast or 147 grain +P+ Gold Dots.

That was if I was walking into the woods to stay for a few days. Typical hiking while camping even in AR with Cougars, Wild Dogs, Pigs, Black Bears, Coyote, Snakes, etc. I'd probably just leave my .380 Bersa Thunder in the waistband with 95 grain Winchester Whitebox solid flat nose, and just be aware of what is going on around me.

My 2 cents...

A trail/camp revolver should be 1) as light as possible; 2) able to handle anything from charming snakes to quietly popping a rabbit or squirrel for the stew pot; 3) provide some level of protection against large predators on four legs or two; 4) durable enough to get wet and banged up and still go bang every time.

So, to me, that means a single/double action .38 sp/.357 mag with at least a 3" barrel for the longer sight radius in a light frame, likely just 5 shots. Adjustable sights would be nice, but I could live without them if it was reasonably on target with the fixed ones.

That new 3" adjustable-sight Ruger LCRx seems like a great choice if going for something new-fangled and a little cheaper, but I'd be tempted to save my pennies and go with nice old-fashioned S&W Model 60 Pro with the wood grips and adjustable night sights. Otherwise, I'd go with whatever lightweight, small-frame .357 I could find second hand.



PS--Oops, I just realized that the LCRx-3 is in .38 Special +P, not .357, but I could live with that, in fact, I would be happy with a .38 Special +P revolver for this use generally and even standard .38 Special if that's what I had available. For the latter, I would definitely spring for a box of Buffalo Bore hard cast wadcutter ammo or something similar to get the most penetration possible agaist wild beasties.

either one of these
Something S&W never made but should have, a model 65 375 with a standard tapered barrel and a model 60-4 in 9mm

Any one of these would be nice

During my 35+ year LE career I have carried the S&W Model 10,19,15,36-1,60 and 649 at various times. On the Colt side I've carried a Python, Diamondback, Police Positive Special and the Detective Special.

My favorites are the Colt Police Positive Special and the S&W Model 36-1. I generally keep the 36-1 with me as it carries very well and the 3 inch heavy barrel conceals easily and tames the recoil nicely. Just my opinion, but it's hard to beat a J frame revolver - it pretty much checks all the boxes.


Note: That is pre-ban elephant ivory on the Colt

Normally a 4" 357.

If there are bears, my 5" 44 magnum.

If there are cougars, a blanket.

So many nice and beautiful options being suggested thus far...!

I will chip in with my choices -- either the Model 65 (top) or the 60 Pro (bottom). I am hoping the 60 Pro will be sporting new Pachmayr grips after Christmas...

Since I live in the southern Piedmont and foothills of the Blue Ridge, I think I will stick with my 45 Colt Ruger Redhawk 4.25". That role is exactly what the gun is for, and I can take the full range of ammo options from Cowboy to Buffalo Bore. 'Course if I opted for my Judge, I wouid have a rabbit and snake gun too, but my 410 coach gun has a sling. I think I might take that, a slug in one barrel and #4 shot in the other. Did I mention we have black bears.

I like my GP100 4 in. A good solid revolver that can handle the heaviest 357 loads ,or be loaded with much milder 38's. 6shots ,dampens recoil real well,holds steady on target,and feels good on the hip . Whats not to like.

my 4" 19 has gone with me into the "northwoods." Used to carry the 6" GP100, but she's a good deal lighter, and (knock on wood) have never, ever had reason to "need" it yet.

Once had an issue with a racoon that got into the "treats" pack, but I punched him out of camp and that was that. but darn if they don't have hard heads!

My trail gun is a 4.2" SP101 riding in a Lobo Model 5 Belt Holster. 4 rounds of .357 Mag ammo and 1 round of rat shot. Makes a great trail rig.

Interesting. Seems most hikers are revolver guys.

redbone said:

Interesting. Seems most hikers are revolver guys.

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You know - I never thought about that. but you're right, in 25 years I've never run into another hiker/camper that carried - that carried a semi auto. huh. wow. I've seen one or two that carried a carbine, but that's about it.

I carried a 3" Ruger SP101 for a trail gun for about 3 years. It was concealable, relatively light but heavy enough to handle Buffalo Bore .38+P 158 grain. LSWCHP, and had decent accuracy. I carry a semi-auto now, but the SP101 would be my choice in a revolver.