Best “One *Revolver* To Do Everything”

[Lnf Crzr]

Absolutely- A Soft Shove of recoil instead of a snap. The Marlins and 180grainers…. A well made match from my experience

 

[RealGun]

My SP101 3" with 6 shots of subsonic 327 Federal Magnum. Took awhile to get there with lots of experience with maybe 60 guns of various types, calibers, most gone now. Next in line is my 19-4 nickel that carries really well in a Galco FL114 OWB with good forward cant.

 

[Palladan44]

I have yet to find a reason to dislike my 4" Colt Lawman MKIII from the 1970s in any way, shape or form.....for some reason the fixed sights always hit where I'm aiming from 7 yds to 25 and out to 50... now, you'd think that my fixed sight Ruger Police Service Six would offer the same accuracy, but it just does not. Maybe trigger pull or other problem with ME not the GUN...

I could defend and trust my life with it any day of the week.
It's compact enough to carry concealed or open
I know I could Deer Hunt with it with effective results.... Truth be told, I love 4" guns in caliber .38/.357. Ruger, Smith or Colt, I like em all.

 

[ThomasT]

I know I could Deer Hunt with it with effective results.... Truth be told, I love 4" guns in caliber .38/.357. Ruger, Smith or Colt, I like em all.

For the last year the OP has told me so many times in emails how his life would be complete if he could just get a 4" barreled model 10. It puzzles me about his starting an endless string of threads asking about other guns. I agree with him a model 10 would suit his needs.Now he has enough money to buy one and of course he is off on another tangent for a gun he can't afford. It never ends.

 

[Targa]

Heck...I do that. For years I have wanted a M1a...since then I have purchased enough guns to buy a M1a ten times over. Still want the M1a but am quite certain something else will bait me into buying it.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

For the last year the OP has told me so many times in emails how his life would be complete if he could just get a 4" barreled model 10. It puzzles me about his starting an endless string of threads asking about other guns. I agree with him a model 10 would suit his needs.Now he has enough money to buy one and of course he is off on another tangent for a gun he can't afford. It never ends.

1. My life would be complete if I could find a gorgeous trophy wife who also happens to be God-fearing and deeply devout, marry her, raise a family, and fix my eyesight... but we know (at least the last part, and probably most of it) ain’t gonna happen short of a divine miracle.

2. If I could find a Mdl 10 that didn’t look like it has been drug through a gravel pit for twenty years, and that the seller realized it really wasn’t gold plated and didn’t belong to Ronald Reagan; I’d buy it in a heartbeat. A Mdl 10 of any variation.

3. It might not’ve been you... I don’t think it was... anyways, one of my closest friends has been whispering in my ear for a year that if I’m gonna get a wheelgun, it should be .357 Magnum for supply commodities sake.

 

[Mosin77]

No such thing. You can get a really good revolver but it won’t be ideal for everything, merely pretty good for some things and acceptable in a pinch for others. Any real competition or match is probably to require adjustable sights or some other specifics. The gun that’s comfortable to shoot accurately at the range will probably be less than great for concealed carry due to size and weight, etc. And fixed sights are better for concealed carry.

Caliber is whatever. Some people like them big and slow eg 44, some people like them smaller and fast eg 357.

If I had to pick one revolver for absolutely everything it would be a Smith & Wesson model 15 (.38, adjustable sights, k frame) with a snubnose barrel. I don’t know that such a beast was ever made by the factory but there’s a good chance. If not it would be easy enough to have a gunsmith make one up but not cheap nowadays.

But barring that I’d pick a .38spl Ruger LCR for concealed carry, a Smith & Wesson model 10 for everything else, and forget about competition unless I wanted to spend a couple grand on a fancy tuned gun.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

No such thing. You can get a really good revolver but it won’t be ideal for everything, merely pretty good for some things and acceptable in a pinch for others. Any real competition or match is probably to require adjustable sights or some other specifics. The gun that’s comfortable to shoot accurately at the range will probably be less than great for concealed carry due to size and weight, etc. And fixed sights are better for concealed carry.

Caliber is whatever. Some people like them big and slow eg 44, some people like them smaller and fast eg 357.

If I had to pick one revolver for absolutely everything it would be a Smith & Wesson model 15 (.38, adjustable sights, k frame) with a snubnose barrel. I don’t know that such a beast was ever made by the factory but there’s a good chance. If not it would be easy enough to have a gunsmith make one up but not cheap nowadays.

But barring that I’d pick a .38spl Ruger LCR for concealed carry, a Smith & Wesson model 10 for everything else, and forget about competition unless I wanted to spend a couple grand on a fancy tuned gun.

I’v no inclination whatsoever to compete, and probably shouldn’t honestly, due to health issues of the ocular nature.

 

[Ru4real]

Apologies. Had I posted this early, in the second or third comment, we wouldn’t have needed 8 pages. Shown with 25yard results.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Apologies. Had I posted this early, in the second or third comment, we wouldn’t have needed 8 pages. Shown with 25yard results.

Wouldn’t have helped. Not buying a Kimber

 

[Biblethumpncop]

No such thing. You can get a really good revolver but it won’t be ideal for everything, merely pretty good for some things and acceptable in a pinch for others. Any real competition or match is probably to require adjustable sights or some other specifics. The gun that’s comfortable to shoot accurately at the range will probably be less than great for concealed carry due to size and weight, etc. And fixed sights are better for concealed carry.

Caliber is whatever. Some people like them big and slow eg 44, some people like them smaller and fast eg 357.

If I had to pick one revolver for absolutely everything it would be a Smith & Wesson model 15 (.38, adjustable sights, k frame) with a snubnose barrel. I don’t know that such a beast was ever made by the factory but there’s a good chance. If not it would be easy enough to have a gunsmith make one up but not cheap nowadays.

But barring that I’d pick a .38spl Ruger LCR for concealed carry, a Smith & Wesson model 10 for everything else, and forget about competition unless I wanted to spend a couple grand on a fancy tuned gun.

Yes, S&W made a 2" model 15. It has a heavier barrel than my 4" model 15. My heavy barrel model 10 is at the gunsmith getting the barrel chopped to 3", slabsided and parkerized. Any 3 of these would fit the multi-role purpose the OP is looking for. I have grown very fond of K frames this year.

 

[stonebuster]

For the last year the OP has told me so many times in emails how his life would be complete if he could just get a 4" barreled model 10. It puzzles me about his starting an endless string of threads asking about other guns. I agree with him a model 10 would suit his needs.Now he has enough money to buy one and of course he is off on another tangent for a gun he can't afford. It never ends.

1. My life would be complete if I could find a gorgeous trophy wife who also happens to be God-fearing and deeply devout, marry her, raise a family, and fix my eyesight... but we know (at least the last part, and probably most of it) ain’t gonna happen short of a divine miracle.

2. If I could find a Mdl 10 that didn’t look like it has been drug through a gravel pit for twenty years, and that the seller realized it really wasn’t gold plated and didn’t belong to Ronald Reagan; I’d buy it in a heartbeat. A Mdl 10 of any variation.

3. It might not’ve been you... I don’t think it was... anyways, one of my closest friends has been whispering in my ear for a year that if I’m gonna get a wheelgun, it should be .357 Magnum for supply commodities sake.

A couple of thoughts... A trophy wife would likely be more trouble thans she's worth. S&W made 6 million Model 10 variants over 122 years. If you can't find one that suits you, you're not looking very hard. If you want a 357 capable gun, I wouldn't choose an SP101. Hot 357 magnums out of my SP 2.25" are brutal. IMO. My scuffed up DOC Model 10 trade ins and my LE trade in Model 64-8(with the dredded lock & two piece barrel) are great shooters. They are fine HD, range guns, handle 38+P easily and at 34oz. carry well in the right holster.

 

[Mosin77]

3. It might not’ve been you... I don’t think it was... anyways, one of my closest friends has been whispering in my ear for a year that if I’m gonna get a wheelgun, it should be .357 Magnum for supply commodities sake.

This is common thinking. However in my experience when one cartridge disappears in a panic, they both do. And .357 is invariably more expensive. Therefore you should choose the cartridge that you like. Shooting .38 in a .357 works fine, however it does have some drawbacks in the form of the carbon ring that can make subsequent chambering of 357 difficult. For this reason I’d only advise the additional heft of a .357 gun if you actually like and plan to shoot primarily .357 out of it. Stick with your plan of getting a model 10, get comfortable with it, learn its tricks, likes and dislikes… and down the road you may decide to try a .357 revolver. Cross that bridge when you come to it.

 

[Palladan44]

Caliber is whatever. Some people like them big and slow eg 44, some people like them smaller and fast eg 357.

I always thought they were about the same velocity, one just bigger and with a heavier bullet......but once I got into 44mag handloading about 3 years ago (been loading 357 since the beginning) I quickly learned that the 44 Magnum is also faster than 357, with more than double the energies. Just saying.

 

[Mosin77]

I always thought they were about the same velocity, one just bigger and with a heavier bullet......but once I got into 44mag handloading about 3 years ago (been loading 357 since the beginning) I quickly learned that the 44 Magnum is also faster than 357, with more than double the energies. Just saying.

You’re right. I was thinking 44spl, which has some application in concealed carry etc., but 44 magnum is a whole different beast!

 

[mcb]

This is common thinking. However in my experience when one cartridge disappears in a panic, they both do. And .357 is invariably more expensive. Therefore you should choose the cartridge that you like. Shooting .38 in a .357 works fine, however it does have some drawbacks in the form of the carbon ring that can make subsequent chambering of 357 difficult. For this reason I’d only advise the additional heft of a .357 gun if you actually like and plan to shoot primarily .357 out of it. Stick with your plan of getting a model 10, get comfortable with it, learn its tricks, likes and dislikes… and down the road you may decide to try a .357 revolver. Cross that bridge when you come to it.

As best I can figure this carbon ring is only true if you're shooting some of the absolutely filthiest ammo going. I have shot well over 1200 rds of 38 Short Colt in my 627 and then dropped in a moonclip of 357 Magnum into that dirty cylinder and it fell right home and ejected fine after firing. I have done the same with 10mm into a 610 that had seen well over a thousand rounds of 40 S&W without cleaning and the fired 10mm Auto without issue. Everyone talks about this mythical carbon ring and I have seen very little evidence of it in my own use of revolvers. If you shoot decent ammo and clean the revolver every few range sessions this carbon ring is a whole lot of nothing. I can't imagine how bad the ammo and/or how much neglect a revolver would need to be subjected to to get a meaningfully and problem causing carbon ring.

https://i.imgur.com/m0fdYmk.mp4
This short video clip is me dropping in a moonclip of 357 Magnum into my 627 after three matches of 38 Short Colt (~450rds fired) again no issue.

 

[Lnf Crzr]

Mr Mosin
Perhaps a Model 10,That’s a bit of both…. In 357 is something to consider.

Called a 13. They are not uncommon, are available in 4” and 3” variants. Tho like most Pre Lock Smiths- Not inexpensive. Yet quality usually is costly.

 

[Palladan44]

Mcb- "I have shot well over 1200 rds of 38 Short Colt in my 627"

I have a bunch of these 38 short colt, and they don't fit in the cylinder of .38 SPL They make it 90% and then stop, cylinder won't close. These are old factory loads, I have no idea why they are not the proper size.

 

[Lnf Crzr]

Like most ammo now a day$- “Inflation”.

 

[mcb]

Mcb- "I have shot well over 1200 rds of 38 Short Colt in my 627"

I have a bunch of these 38 short colt, and they don't fit in the cylinder of .38 SPL They make it 90% and then stop, cylinder won't close. These are old factory loads, I have no idea why they are not the proper size.

Are you sure they are modern 38 Short Colt and not 38 S&W? Those two cartridges in their modern interpretations are very close in size to each other. I have 38 S&W ammo for my Webley and Iver Johnson and it will fit in some of my 38/357 but not all of them.

The original 38 Short Colt used a .375 diameter heeled in bullet similar to the way 22 LR seats its bullets. Modern 38 Short Colt is basically a 38/357 case cut down to ~.765 length and loaded with traditional .357 bullets. 38 S&W used a .361 diameter bullet and the case is slightly larger is diameter. 38 S&W base diameter is .3865 where 38 Short Colt .379, same as 38/357

 

[Lnf Crzr]

Apologies. Had I posted this early, in the second or third comment, we wouldn’t have needed 8 pages. Shown with 25yard results.

Just my opinion,So please take no offense ,I must say….If “Beauty is in Eye of the Beholder “ I feel I must shut my Eye’s.

I understand function before Looks….. Tho That’s on par with a Chiappa Rino.

To each his own

 

[Lnf Crzr]

Edit- Rhino

 

[mcb]

Just my opinion,So please take no offense ,I must say….If “Beauty is in Eye of the Beholder “ I feel I must shut my Eye’s.

I understand function before Looks….. Tho That’s on par with a Chiappa Rino.

To each his own

I like the looks of the Kimber and the Rhino but then again I think a Webley is a beautiful revolver...

No accounting for tastes and beauty is in the eye of the beholder...

 

[tubeshooter]

This thread feels like a mighty roundabout way to validate that a 3" SP101 is reasonably good at what a 3" revolver would be good at.


Just my opinion. No offense intended to OP or any hype men.

 

[Lnf Crzr]

Like I stated, No offense to Those who like the Kimber,Rhino…. Just not my thing.