Craving a new revolver

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bernie

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I am wanting a new (or used) revolver to use as a farm gun. I spend a lot of my spare time at the farm and always carry a sidearm. I currently carry my 1911, but think a revolver might be a little bit more suitable. It is used on small varmints, beavers, and coyotes out to 100 or 150 yards. The farm is pretty open in some places, and longer shots can be taken. I know that 150 yards is a long shot with a sidearm, but I cannot always carry a rifle on me, and we are literally overrun with coyotes, so I will shoot at them at that distance. Also, we have a drug problem in our area (who doesn't anymore?) and am likely to face unpleasant tresspassers.

My two thoughts are a 686 or a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 LC, but shot primarily with the optional ACP cylinder. I really am leaning toward the Ruger, but I hate the original "plow handle" grip, and have never tried the Bisley or Birdshead grip. Also, what are your thoughts on .45 ACP vs. .357 Magnum in this use.
 
I have a S&W that shipped from the factory in 1911 haha.. i picked up a model 1905 hand ejetor 3rd change in 32-20 Winchester for $100 .. i havn't shot it yet but from what i have read about them it could do the job which it looks alot like a 357Mag to me.. local shop has 3 boxs of ammo at $44 a box for 50 rounds. it is said to be a very flat shooting round with some of the vintage hot stuff was like 1800fps.
 
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In either of your revolver choices, I would go with 357 magnum. It will serve you better at long range and is versatile using 38 specials for practice. I would try to find an older model 66 or 65 if I were in your shoes. They are much lighter weight for carry than the 686. Of course the GLOCK 32 in 357 is lighter weight still, and holds 13 rounds....:D
 
Going by what you said it's uses were going to be, I too, would recommend a .357. One of the best "farm" guns is the New Model Blackhawk. I love mine, it is accurate, robust and reliable.

I like the 686 also and don't see how you could go wrong with either one. My current favorite gun for longer range hunting, however, has become this 629-4 Classic DX, I picked up a while back. I is just stupid accurate out to 100 yards and will drop anything including deer and black bears.

629-4
IMG_1669%20centered-XL.jpg


.357 Blackhawk
IMG_1570-XL.jpg
 
I recently picked up 627 Performance Center Smith and Wesson in 357. It is probably my favorite gun in my collection. The perfect trigger, balance, and 8 rounds of 357.

I also spent over 1000 on it.

A more practical buy would be the Ruger GP100 6 in. Outstanding revolver for the money, and there isn't much that a 158 grain hard leadcast round can't do at almost 1600 fps out of your barrel.
 
I was going to say the 629 as well. But a 6" 686+ has a lot to like too, as does the GP100.
 
I can add that I have a Ruger Blackhawk Bisley in 45 Colt and I really like the Bisley grip frame. I shoot mostly 45 Colt but the 45 ACP cylinder is nice to have too. For your intended purpose I agree with others that the .357 Mag might be better at longer ranges. However, I wouldn't want to be the coyote shot with a stout 45 Colt load!
 
bernie

I really think you couldn't go wrong with a Ruger Blackhawk in either .357 Mag or .45LC. My own preference in barrel length, for the guns intended purpose, would be one with a 4 5/8" barrel.
 
Well, given how much I like mine, I'd suggest a 625 Mountain Gun in .45 Colt. Plenty of power but not the over kill of a magnum. Best of all possible worlds to my mind's eye...
 
Gun writer Frank James, whose primary career was as a farmer until his retirement last year, customarily carried a Smith & Wesson .41 Magnum while doing farm work, most often a Model 57 or a Model 58, always in a shoulder holster (which has led to permanent shoulder damage now in his old age). The .41 Mag is flat-shooting and will take everything up to and including deer and wild hogs.
 
Out working away from the house on the farm, generally I just carry my J frame, but stepping up to a full size, I would go with the .357 in a 4-4/58 barrel.
When its deer season around here, I am seldom without my Blackhawk 7 1/2" in 44 Mag, but have recently picked up a Smith 66-1 4" for the same purpose, and a 4 5/8 Ruger Vaquero in 45 Colt for the same duty, only a little lighter and easier to carry.
 
I am in the situtation as you and I carry either a S&W 629 or Ruger SAA. For shots beyond 50 yards I shoot SA so the Ruger would be less expensive. The 357 is a good round but for me the 44 is more accurate for distance shooting. At this stage of life to have any success beyond 50 yards I need to shoot from a rest [usually from the tractor].

I also carry on the tractor a Ruger Mark III 22lr for stupid rabbits.
 
I would also carry a .357 Magnum over a 45 because of the distances you report.

BUT, this concerns me even more:
"Also, we have a drug problem in our area (who doesn't anymore?) and am likely to face unpleasant trespassers."
If that is truly a problem I would highly recommend a carbine instead. Being sure you can keep those type of people far away is more important than trying to figure out how to pack a Carbine. If a Mini-14 or Mini-30 are too much why not a levergun in .357 Magnum? Druggies are bad news and sometimes not effected by handgun fire right a way.
 
Will noise be a factor for you? I agree a .357 would be a better choice for long-range work, but I'd hesitate to shoot one without hearing protection. Your current .45 is loud too, but still significantly quieter.
 
A rifle or carbine is not always practical when on the farm. While usually there is one in my truck, when I have my hands full with, chain saw, small tools, and axe, I will not be lugging along any type of longarm. Besides, I am not in "full combat" mode, we just run into unpleasant people and things from time to time, not all the time.

As for hearing protection, I always keep it close at hand. Either corded plugs around my neck or muffs with me in the vehicle.
 
Blackhawk. For the shots you're talking about, I'd look at the 6.5" or 7.5" barrelsfor the sake of sight radius. Also, you'd be likely to get a flatter shooting gun, if you went to .357 Mag, or .30 Carbine, instead of .45 Colt.

Some quick drop dope, from a ballistic calculator, at 150 yds, assuming a 25 yd zero:

.45 Colt: 38"
.357 Mag: 17"
.30 Carbine 12"
 
I guess I'll be the first to say it...

.41 magnum.

it is a little difficult to find ammo for, but not impossible, almost every gun store will have a box or two laying around.

I have a ruger blackhawk in .41 for EXACTLY the same reason you do, I own a blueberry farm and the deer are murder on my bushes. 100 yard minute of deer is no problem with mine, and it's a 4 5/8 inch barrel.

I used to carry a rifle everywhere I went, but sometimes I would forget about it on the 4 wheeler and it would get rained on, or it was just a pain in the butt. Seemed like every time that I would go out without a rifle, that is when I would see critters that needed dispatching...

I had a friend make me a nice flap holster (like the WW1) gi's had to keep my gun 100% protected from farm work/rain. Now I don't have to worry about leaving my gun on the 4 wheeler, or trying to lug a rifle around. The shorter barrel doesn't get in my way much either when doing work. Sometimes I will take the holster belt off if I'm really getting busy on something, but most of the time it stays right on my side whenever I leave the house.

I'm such a fan of the .41 now that I compare everything else to it... No disrespect to other fine calibers, I just found something that works for me and it works exceptionally well. I still carry a rifle from time to time, mainly if I'm just taking a quick patrol around the place, but 90% of the time I have the ruger on my side...

Also, I felt the EXACT same way you did about the skinny little grips on the blackhawk, it just feels wrong... But there has to be something to the ergonomics of that because they've made guns with those types of grips for well over a century and it works... Of all my guns, the one that I would NEVER sell is my blackhawk!

* sorry, i guess bob did beat me to the punch on the .41 thing*
 
The .357& .41 Magnums will be flatter trajectory for those 100+ yard shots - with an N-frame a good shoulder holster/Verticlal like an
Alesssi Field Master. Withthe 686 a 4" bbl. would work on the belt. I had
a 686P 4" Bbl. with the Hogue finger grooved and checkered medium size
grips. Great gun, just had a lot of muzzle blast with the 4" Bbl.

As a ref. point: I have a 1911 .45 ACP full size, and a 625 in .45 ACP or
.45 Auto Rim heavy loads. -and- for traveling light, a S&W Model 60 rear adj. sight 3" Bbl. .357 Magnum.

A Blackhawk in 45 Colt appeals becasue I have a Marlin 1894 in 45 Colt

Randall
 
Ruger blackhawk on the hip, ear plugs on a cord around your neck;
Rossi 92 behind the seat of the truck, earmuffs next to it.

125 grain 357 mag in both. 6 in the revolver, 6 on the belt, 8 in the carbine, 8 on its stock, and the remaining 22 of 50 in the center console of the truck.

CC the 1911 in town, and keep a shotgun in the house; all the bases covered. :)
 
As great as the .45 LC is, it's not a 100+ yard round.

I own a 686, and it is a great sidearm for any occation. It is my favorite revolver. All the same, I think a single action will suit your needs a little better. A Ruger blackhawk or Vaquero in 357 would probably be your best bet. Whatever gun points most naturally for you is probably the keeper. A 4 1/2 inch barrel has always been best for me. If you're looking at shots out past 100 yards, a 6 inch (+) barrel might be better. In any case, I would highly recommend the 357 cartridge. The 41 magnum - like others have said - is a fine round...I just don't have any experience with it.

Happy Hunting!
 
Any .357 6 in. medium frame or K frame

Colt, Ruger or Smith. Loaded with Plus P 38 special with some .357 available if needed. Or a 22 automatic. If you hit the cyote with a 22, maybe it will run off and die somewhere else. I love the Bisley grip but a 45 Blackhawk to me is a little big for a every day carry gun.
 
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