A first wheel gun

[thewillweeks]

I'm looking at buying my first wheel gun and while I'm curious as to models and makers etc, the first thing I have to figure out is what caliber I want it in. I've got a Glock 23 in .40 and a SCCY CPX2 in 9mm so carry isn't the primary function of what I'm looking for, but I wouldn't mind if it did work for carry.

I do think I will want to try handgun hunting, is .357 fully capable out of a pistol for that? And what size of animals would we be talking if that is possible? Can I get by with a 4-5 inch barrel or am I looking at a 6 or +? Am I better off just pushing up to something bigger to start with, say a...well what other common wheel gun hand gun calibers can you hunt with?

I'm really not used to wheel guns so any help would be appreciated.

 

[Panzerschwein]

You CAN hunt with a .357 magnum from a 4" barrel, hunting up to and including whitetails. BUT... a 5 or 6" barrel is going to give better ballistics.

You are right to be steering towards .357 magnum for a first revolver. You can always fire .38 specials in it, which are cheaper but still powerful enough for self defense with the righ load.

I think for your purposes, a Ruger GP100 with a 5" barrel would be PERFECT. They are accurate, dependable, not too long not too heavy but long enough for good ballistics, would be a PERFECT "all rounder" .357 revolver and would do well to "ride the river with".

http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/...&cat=All&type=All&cal=All&fin=&sit=&pid=&inv=

 

[Tallball]

357 is a good one to start with. 4" is good for general use, but you might lean more towards 6" for hunting.

 

[Starter52]

S&W Model 28 with a 6" barrel. Plenty of used ones around.

 

[philoe]

The first thing you want to make sure you do is research your local laws regarding caliber if you plan to hunt with with the revolver. Several states require .40 or larger when hunting with a handgun. (Apart from squirrel and crow with rimfire)

Next you need to figure out if you need/want a double action revolver or if single action interests you. Tons of models in both types.

I agree with some of the other posts regarding barrel length. You definitely want longer as it will give you a better accuracy and velocity. For hunting I would go between 6" and 8". That is just personal preference.

As for what you could hunt, folks have taken every type of animal in North America with handguns. So the sky is the limit, but you do need to be ethical when doing so. Knowing the cartridge's limitations as well as your skills with the handgun should trump all else when in the field.

My vote would either go low, as in .22lr (yes you can hunt with it!),
Or go .44 mag or above. The other two handguns you mentioned are similar to what you would gain with the .357/.38 when it comes to firepower.(Speaking vaguely here, don't flame me)

There are some incredible cartridges out there. If you have the chance it would be great for you to test them out before you buy.

 

[USSR]

IMHO, the .357 Magnum is a good choice for a first revolver. Shooting .38 Specials is affordable and the low recoil will help your marksmanship. While the .357 will work for whitetails, it is a marginal deer round. Before anybody jumps on that statement, I have killed several deer with my S&W Model 686. I would suggest you get a 6" barrel and restrict your shots to 35 yards or less.

Don

 

[urbaneruralite]

If you are going to hunt deer with it, there's no substitute for a .44 magnum. If you're looking for a target revolver that may or may not be used to hunt deer and can limit yourself to ranges you are 100% positive you can put the bullet on the money, you can get by with a .357. It's not like there are any deer that will not die if properly shot with a .357. And of course the .38s are cheaper than .44s.

I would go for the 6" if you are going to stick to iron sights. It would be best if the gun has an easily swapped out sight to find what works best for your eyes. (It's a Patridge.) 4" if you intend a red dot, or are just an extraordinarily good shot.

 

[joem1945]

I prefer S&W's although I have colt, ruger and taurus.

 

[tomrkba]

S&W 686 or Ruger GP100. Either with 4" barrel. Both are durable, accurate and have great support from vendors.

 

[msmp5]

I'd go with a 6" bbl S&W Model 66. The stainless will be a bit more durable for outdoors use than a blued gun; its a .357 so it can shoot .38's for practice too; its a bit lighter than the L frame (M686) and N frame M28) .357 mag S&W's (both great guns also though) which might be helpful for extended field/hunting carry; .357 mag is a good "compromise" caliber for a first hunting handgun; and, if need be, you could concealed carry a 6" bbl Model 66 in a shoulder rig, not optimally, of course, but certainly doable. (Once upon a time, I regularly carried a S&W Model 28 6" bbl gun in a shoulder rig, but not my first choice for concealed carry!)

 

[gotboostvr]

I bought my 686+ 6" specifically for deer hunting, but layer upgraded to a 44mag 629 also in 6"

The 357 is marginal with good ammo, in 44mag you have much more leeway with what you're slinging. I'd feel perfectly fine with SWCs in 44, but want a heavily built purpose driven semi jacket to punch through and would be picker with my shots.

To each their own, in either case it's the Indian not the arrow.

 

[bannockburn]

I would agree with a .357 would be a good place to start with your first revolver. Lots of decent guns out there new and used. One possible way to go with not knowing what barrel length you want would be to check out a Dan Wesson Pistol Pac. Would be a bit pricey but would give you several different barrel length configurations to choose from.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

357 is a good start and very useful. It's very effective on deer sized game at an appropriate distance. A 6" barrel would work well.

If you aren't recoil sensitive, a 44 mag would open up more hunting options to you, though they are a lot more expensive to shoot.

 

[TUBBY1]

Cooldill gave great advice. Gp100 , 357 five inch is perfect. Four inch if you want the option of concealing.

 

[thewillweeks]

Wow! Thanks for a wonderful flow of responses.

Answer a few questions, I'm in Kansas to anything centerfire and launching a single projectile can pretty much be used for deer legally.

I'd like to keep the option to conceal, but I realize I should likely give that up and go for a 6 inch and just make it a hunting piece and get something else if I decide I want to carry a wheel gun. A 5 inch barrel wouldn't be all that much more than a full size 1911 would it? (So technically a larger frame person could hide it?) Or heck, make it my open carry piece.

As far as the suggestion to go up or down in power instead of staying in the same class, that's a very interesting thought. I was considering wheel guns because of fixed barrels and increased accuracy mostly, not just because of a jump in power. I guess I was thinking .357 because of common (cheaper) ammo, and if I'm going handgun hunting it's more about the challenge. If I want to just smack a deer down I have rifles for that. I guess I kind of want to try out the "Whats the smallest humane firearm to take a deer with?" theory and the .357 seems right in that group in most peoples books.

Now to the next step, the actual gun. What the heck do I look for on a wheel gun to tell if it's a good one? Obviously brand names tell you a bit, but if I buy used what parts do I need to specially inspect? I've heard you need to check distance between cylinder and front of the frame, anything else I need to check? Also, I've eyes a few Taurus wheel guns in the past, are they crap for a first wheel gun? It seems to me a wheel gun, presuming proper metal is used, is harder to screw up than a semi auto?

Thanks high roaders!

 

[philoe]

As for what you are looking for... Check out the Reference Library thread in revolvers (at top) . In there you will find the Revolver Checkout thread. All kinds of things you should be looking for (especially in used market) are in the thread.

I have never had a Taurus so I can not comment on quality. A revolver is a tool that allows the user to hold an explosion in their hand which has the power of tens of thousands of psi. Any of the modern makers who are producing a revolver that is chambered for any magnum type chambering is going to be fine. I have been pleased with S&W, Colt, Magnum Research and Ruger when it comes to revolvers. Although I do feel that you get what you pay for in the world of revolvers, my overall experience has been that Ruger offers the best value proposition to a prospective buyer. Basically you get the most gun for the least amount of money.

Once again it is up to you. Single action? Double action? Blued or stainless? Adjustable sights(hope so if hunting or target)? Looks like you have figured out your chambering in .357. Now you need to answer the questions above to see what will work for you.