Best Revolver for IDPA SSR?

[Beorn]

I was wondering...

What is the best revolver for the IDPA Stock Service Revolver division? I will eventually shoot wheel-gun in IDPA again, if for no other reason to try and get a 4-gun award, but I want one that I can play with (while still keeping it stock-ish).

S&W 686? Ruger GP100? Taurus?

Criteria-

quick, quick, quick speedloaders

good beginning grips that keep the hand higher on the frame (better on follow-up shots unless I miss my guess).

easily replaceable sights (Heine or something available for wheel-guns? I could use some straight-8s or something in low light)

cyllinders already chamfered (if possible)

4" barrel (more is illegal, less not as accurate [mostly])

readily accessible carry holster (without snaps or velcro please)

I would cross-post this on revolvers if I knew how.

Let me know please... I wish to learn from other's experiences.

 

[Wilhelm]

Oklahoma Highway Patrol .357 is the best.



Wilhelm

 

[Jim Watson]

There is no doubt in my mind that the very best SSR is a .45ACP/AR with a sack full of moon clipped target load roundnose. Mine is an old M25-2 with the barrel cut to 4", but most you will see are 625s plain and PC.

If you particularly want a .38, the 686 is most common, although what I would like to see is a full-lug 4" K-frame like the small batch of short K-38s they ran off for a distributor in Mississippi.

I have read that a Ruger GP can be given a good DA but haven't seen one. They are certainly sturdy and reliable.

A local gunwriter told me last year that Taurus was coming out with 6-shot Trackers in .45 and maybe 9mm with good SSR features and that he could get me a T&E gun this season but nothing more has been said. I guess you could make do with one of their .38s.

Safariland Comp III speedloaders are the fastest regularly available. SL Variants seem to be off the US market and were very expensive anyway. I have not tried the new production Jet Loader.

Factory grips are what they care to use this month. You might have to swap around to get one you like. I make do with Hogues; I don't really like the finger grooves, but they are about the narrowest available and that is good for my hand size. The Miculeck grip might be what you want, but there are others.

Night sights are available for S&W, I don't know about Ruger or Taurus. I don't know how useful they are in IDPA low-light shoots. The ones I have been to were either dim but usable with regular sights (I paint a white spot on my front blade.) or so dark as to require a flashlight.

I have not seen a factory chamfered chamber. Not a complicated gunsmith operation, though, and often included in an overall action job.

Most of the Kydex benders make open top revolver holsters now. I have them from Ready Tactical Products and Talon Tactical. Blade Tech makes them, too.

 

[M1911]

The best is no doubt a S&W 625 in .45 ACP with a 4" tube.

 

[mikey357]

...my vote would be for the S&W 625 in .45 ACP, using "Full-moon" clips IF you can deal with the size of the N-frame guns AND with the moonclips...seems like people either LOVE or HATE moonclips, with little "middle ground"...I'm a "moonclip Lover", BTW...IF you are tied to the idea of using .38 Special OR speedloaders for some reason, go with either a Smith 19/66 OR a Smith 586/686...FWIW I personally believe that, due to the charge-hole spacing, a K-frame can be "recharged" ever so slightly FASTER than an L-frame using a good speedloader...never have been good enough to "prove it", however...and, there IS a little bit of a trade-off as far as shot-to-shot recovery being a lil' bit better with the heavier L-frame guns...FWIW, I'm presently using a four-inch Model 686 for IDPA...only because they "outlawed" my favored five-inch-barreled 625's, and I haven't got around to having the barrel "cut" on any of 'em....mikey357

 

[Dr.Who]

Started shot'n IDPA with a 6 inch 686 .357. It was prior to the barrell rules. It was fun to shoot, hard to conceal. Did not like the speed loader extra equiptment issue. In other words you had to dispose of if after a load (drop It). This was so unlike my 1917 model. Went on a search and found the gun of my dreams, a 625 Performance Center 4 inch 45acp. The moonies are faster in my hands than a speed loader. It almost shoots the same loads as my 1911 Colt. My vote would be either a 625/ Mountain gun 4 inch in either .45acp or 10mm.

Enjoy...

 

[Tacblack]

Oh this is an eazy one

The new S&W 686 super, made just for IDPA and IPSC

 

[charleym3]

The new S&W 686 super, made just for IDPA and IPSC

Can you say "Game Gun"?
I hav nothing against them, I just think that it flys in the face of the spirit of the game. And yes for the two years that I shot a revolver in competition, I carried the same gun. A 3inch 625. If I wasn't the ONLY revovler shooter, I'd still be shootin it.
Lightly loaded it is much easier to control than a .357 or even a hot loaded .38. And it makes a bigger hole. In the game, bigger holes are easier to score as you shoot. In real life, bigger holes leak more body fluids faster.

 

[Tacblack]

A 3inch 625.

Charley did you use moon clips also.

I count a down loaded moon clip feed 45 gun as a "game gun" too. I just like the 9mm family better and thats would I carry in real life.

 

[faustulus]

Charleym3 said,

Can you say "Game Gun"?

Then he said,

spirit of the game

who here thinks charley may be confused?

 

[GrandmasterB]

One of these ---

4" S&W 625 in .45 ACP with fiber optic front sight.

 

[Tacblack]

See prime example of one of those "game guns" I just like mine in 38 super.

Nice set up Grandmaster B I don't see many of the 4" 45's

 

[Kor]

Personally, I'm still scouting around for what I think is THE ultimate IDPA/SSR "game gun" - the Ruger Speed/Security/Service-Six chambered for moon-clipped 9X19mm.

 

[GrandmasterB]

Oh, you mean one of these ?

Yes, I have two ultimate gamer IDPA revolvers!

 

[Kor]

Well, whaddya know...

...So, G-M-B, have you ever shot an IDPA match with one of your 9mm Rugers? And if so, how loud did the other wheelgunners complain about your gun?

And, would you ever consider selling one of your "ultimate gamer IDPA revolvers"? (Seriously - I'd really be interested in buying one!)

 

[GrandmasterB]

I have shot a few IDPA matches with the 9mm Speed Six. I really like the 9mm moonclips.

But if I have to decide between the Speed Six and the 625 for IDPA, the 625 has a certain edge. Yes, it is a BIG gun, but since the power factor in SSR is only 125, you can really download the ammo and it shoots plenty soft. The big charge holes make reloading fast too. But the biggest advantage of the 625 is the sights. The fixed rear of the Ruger doesn't give me as fast a sight picture.

What I really want is a 4" Security Six with adjustable sights in 9mm -- but alas, Ruger didn't make any of these. I have one in .357 and it has seen its share of IDPA also, but the reloads are WAY faster with moonclips for me.

So IMHO, the Ultimate gamer IDPA 9mm revolver hasn't been made yet. I would think a Security Six or a K-frame S&W in 9mm with moonclips -- 4" bbl would be perfect.

 

[Dr.Who]

GrandmasterB...

Not totally familar with the Ruger Speedy Six. You said that it came with Moonie 9MM's. Was that factory "stock" equipt? If it was not built that way, then it would not be legal with IDPA. The other conversions that can be done on the .357's/.38's are not legal as well. An 8 shot revolver is legal in a sense, you can load 8 rounds but only shoot 6 then must reload.

I don't like the rule, cause I have been looking for a 8 shot .380 with moon's to give the 1911's a run for their money. Right now I shoot the S&W 625PC. The 8 shot revolver rule is most likly a result of the gun being considered an exibition gun and not a carry gun.

Enjoy....

 

[duckfoot]

Colt 38 Special Official Police with the long hammer pull

the smoothest DA revolver I have ever shot

a old timer from The Firing Line advised a shooter with the same question but got shot down with nonintrest

I found some one that had one at my local range and was so impressed that I have been looking for one ever since

I will never ever buck old guns again

 

[GrandmasterB]

Dr. Who -- the Ruger Speed Six did come in factory configuration for 9mm with moonclips. They also made the Speed Six in .38 Special and .357 magnum chamberings.