1st Revolver

[GRIZ22]

4" 357 mag can do most things with the size and ammo selection available. A GP100 or 686. For a k frame size S&W 13, 19, 65, or 66 or find a Speed or Security Six.

If you go for the smaller frame shoot mostly 38s. Stay away from lighter (under 140 grains) bullets with a k frame Smith.

Contrary to what many say I also like Taurus. I have a 669 from 1988 that's had a bazillion rounds of 357 through it, never has any issues, and is still tight. Trigger not as good as a Smith or Ruger but you can work with it.

 

[loneviking]

I’m surprised no one has mentioned the N Frame S&W. My 28-2 will handle anything from mild to wild and the weight makes full power loads easy to shoot. Get one with a 4 inch barrel and use a chest holster for the woods.

And absolutely get a 22LR Mod 17 or a K22. They are great to learn with, ammo is cheap.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Thanks everyone! I’ll start working on that flinch! Thanks for all the advice and know how! GP100 sounds like a winner too!

 

[Obturation]

Thanks everyone! I’ll start working on that flinch! Thanks for all the advice and know how! GP100 sounds like a winner too!

Here my 6" gp100, if you all knew what this thing has been through I think you'd be impressed . countless heavy h110 loads (no less than 7,000), even more 2400 loads, some lighter loads too but it's been my main range gun since 2014, it's given up nothing, shows zero signs of wear and is still as accurate as the day it was new. The thing doesn't know how to do anything but work and work well. I'll admit that I've abused it some but it shows no ill effects from it. Rarely cleaned, shot a whole lot and fed cartridges that even I think are stout (I'm a magnumholic and ain't going to meetings). Tough as hell and mine is smooth as butter, unbeatable . I wish there were others in the general price range but there aren't , get the ruger and be happy.

 

[Mark_Mark]

View attachment 1003592
Here my 6" gp100, if you all knew what this thing has been through I think you'd be impressed . countless heavy h110 loads (no less than 7,000), even more 2400 loads, some lighter loads too but it's been my main range gun since 2014, it's given up nothing, shows zero signs of wear and is still as accurate as the day it was new. The thing doesn't know how to do anything but work and work well. I'll admit that I've abused it some but it shows no ill effects from it. Rarely cleaned, shot a whole lot and fed cartridges that even I think are stout (I'm a magnumholic and ain't going to meetings). Tough as hell and mine is smooth as butter, unbeatable . I wish there were others in the general price range but there aren't , get the ruger and be happy.

I got a few extra $$$ might just buy a 4” ! Ruger has never let me down!

 

[stonebuster]

A little Renaissance Wax puts a nice shine on a blued Ruger GP100.

 

[Mark_Mark]

View attachment 1003661 A little Renaissance Wax puts a nice shine on a blued Ruger GP100.

that’s NICE! super nice shinny blue!

 

[Pat Riot]

I mentioned my S&W 327 Night Guard earlier. The barrel is 2 1/2” so you don’t get the full benefit of .357 magnum and the fireball is quite impressive but S& W does make the 327 TRR8 and the M&P R8. Both are .357 Magnum. They all hold 8 rounds and the TRR8 and the R8 have 5” barrels. They are a little pricey compared to most of the gun mentioned on this thread. They weigh 35 or 36 ounces. Not too light, but not too heavy.

S&W TRR8 link:
https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/model-327-trr8

S&W M&P R8 link:
https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/mp-r8

Here is my 327 Night Guard with my Glock 45 as a size comparison.


I have been debating on buying a TRR8 for some time now. I have only seen 2 in real life and both of them were priced too high for me at the time. One store wanted $1399.00. The other was $1299.00

Edit: I forgot to mention that these are N frame revolvers.
@loneviking post above prompted me to mention N frames.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I mentioned my S&W 327 Night Guard earlier. The barrel is 2 1/2” so you don’t get the full benefit of .357 magnum and the fireball is quite impressive but S& W does make the 327 TRR8 and the M&P R8. Both are .357 Magnum. They all hold 8 rounds and the TRR8 and the R8 have 5” barrels. They are a little pricey compared to most of the gun mentioned on this thread. They weigh 35 or 36 ounces. Not too light, but not too heavy.

S&W TRR8 link:
https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/model-327-trr8

S&W M&P R8 link:
https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/mp-r8

Here is my 327 Night Guard with my Glock 45 as a size comparison.
View attachment 1003687

I have been debating on buying a TRR8 for some time now. I have only seen 2 in real life and both of them were priced too high for me at the time. One store wanted $1399.00. The other was $1299.00

Edit: I forgot to mention that these are N frame revolvers.
@loneviking post above prompted me to mention N frames.

that little thing holds 8 rounds of .357! That’s what you call fire power in a small package!!

 

[Pat Riot]

that little thing holds 8 rounds of .357! That’s what you call fire power in a small package!!

It’s not that little. The grip fills my hand. It weighs 27 ounces. I keep it loaded with .38 Specials as it is a bedroom gun and out of all my revolvers my wife shoots it best. Not sure why as she has small hands and I wear XXL gloves, but she is confident with it and that’s what matters.

 

[Tallball]

"I’ll start with a S&W .22LR and learn to shoot DA..."

That's very smart. That will teach you how to shoot a revolver, and will probably help your other pistol shooting as well.

Once you can shoot the 22 revolver accurately... most of us probably started our centerfire revolvers with a medium-framed 38 or 357... probably with a four inch barrel.

There are still some nice S&W Model 10 (or 64) police trade-ins showing up. That would be a good place to start.

 

[Mark_Mark]

"I’ll start with a S&W .22LR and learn to shoot DA..."

That's very smart. That will teach you how to shoot a revolver, and will probably help your other pistol shooting as well.

Once you can shoot the 22 revolver accurately... most of us probably started our centerfire revolvers with a medium-framed 38 or 357... probably with a four inch barrel.

There are still some nice S&W Model 10 (or 64) police trade-ins showing up. That would be a good place to start.

and .22 is cheap… I don’t want to use up all my reserved primers for training, until primers get back to $.04

 

[Hartkopf]

Ruger also makes the GP100 in 44 Special and the Redhawk in an 8 shot 357 Magnum. Lots of neat options out there once you’re done burning 22s.

 

[Huntolive]

Get the 3-in Colt King Cobra 357 it's a beautiful and elegant little carry gun that packs a punch and a pretty package
When you realize the kick is too much for you you can always use 38 Special

Do Not get anything with a barrel shorter than 3 in or you still won't be able to hit the side of a barn.

If you want to save some money get a Ruger GP100 or SP101 with a three to five inch barrel

 

[Pat Riot]

Do Not get anything with a barrel shorter than 3 in or you still won't be able to hit the side of a barn.

Nonsense! I can hit a barn with my snubbies.

Actually with practice one can become very proficient with a short barreled revolver at reasonable distances. The problem with snubbies and the OP’s requirements is the ammo doing the job that is needed. For woods carry you want a bit more oomph and performance from your ammunition.

 

[CajunBass]

what band do you guys like??

I haven't seen a brand I don't like. I consider myself a Smith and Wesson guy, but I've owned and shot them, Colt, Ruger, and Taurus...probably another one or two I don't remember right off the top of my head. Charter Arms. They've all done what I expected them to do.

Right now, I'm on a Colt Python kick. I think the new ones are the cat's meow.



And one more makes three.



They might be a little heavy for day to day carry though, but I don't carry revolvers anymore. I've gone to a compact 9mm for that job, but for shooting at the range...the Pony's are hard to beat.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I haven't seen a brand I don't like. I consider myself a Smith and Wesson guy, but I've owned and shot them, Colt, Ruger, and Taurus...probably another one or two I don't remember right off the top of my head. Charter Arms. They've all done what I expected them to do.

Right now, I'm on a Colt Python kick. I think the new ones are the cat's meow.

View attachment 1003862

And one more makes three.

View attachment 1003863

They might be a little heavy for day to day carry though, but I don't carry revolvers anymore. I've gone to a compact 9mm for that job, but for shooting at the range...the Pony's are hard to beat.

love the barrel rib on those Colts!

 

[bigpower491]

Just go all out

Get a Freedom Arms 83 in 357 or a 97 in 45 Colt

You aint gotta leave you family squat when you're gone, and they can fight over it while you look on from above(or below) whilst LYAO........

 

[Mark_Mark]

Just go all out

Get a Freedom Arms 83 in 357 or a 97 in 45 Colt

You aint gotta leave you family squat when you're gone, and they can fight over it while you look on from above(or below) whilst LYAO........

Great Idea, but with my luck, I’ll be looking from below…. lol

 

[bigpower491]

Great Idea, but with my luck, I’ll be looking from below…. lol

Join the club.

Lots of great revolvers out there, good luck in your search

 

[lee n. field]

Advice on a 1st revolver: I bought a .460 Mag as my 1st revolver, but I don’t count it as a 1st revolver. It’s a 1 shot gun and after the 1st shoot my flinch is SO BAD, I could not hit the side of a barn.

Is this for real?

Wikipedia (that font of all wisdom</sarc>) tells me .460 is "a lengthened, more powerful version of the popular .454 Casull, itself a longer and more powerful version of the .45 Colt."

So, yeah. Not a good choice for first revolver.

Maybe shoot .45 Colt through it?

Suggestions for a 1st revolver? I would like to carry it in the woods and on the streets (Seattle)

thanks!

Depends on what you might need to shoot. 3" or 4" barrel medium frame .357 revolver. An "old cop gun". Shoot .38 Special through it.

S&W Model 19 carry comp. Assuming one can be found.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Is this for real?

Wikipedia (that font of all wisdom</sarc>) tells me .460 is "a lengthened, more powerful version of the popular .454 Casull, itself a longer and more powerful version of the .45 Colt."

So, yeah. Not a good choice for first revolver.

Maybe shoot .45 Colt through it?



Depends on what you might need to shoot. 3" or 4" barrel medium frame .357 revolver. An "old cop gun". Shoot .38 Special through it.

S&W Model 19 carry comp. Assuming one can be found.

Yeah, I seen it at a gun show and bought it. It’s a .460 Mag and shocks every sense in your soul when it’s ignited. Like a bomb going off. Fun Gun, just impractical for Bear defense. I would probably miss and be eaten

 

[Mark_Mark]

Here my pick so far:
.22 GP100
model 69
& .357 GP100

or

Les Baer

or

Colt Python

 

[bigpower491]

Real nice blue GP on the broker right now, ending soon Mark
I've been watching it myself

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/902416694

 

[Mark_Mark]

Real nice blue GP on the broker right now, ending soon Mark
I've been watching it myself

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/902416694

I don’t mess with GB man. To each his own, or is it, it’s own