First revolver?

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Robbins290

Robbins290

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I feel like going to the revolver relm. I took a look at few in a lgs. They all confused me. Any ideas for a first double action for around $500. Its only going to be a range gun so the caliber is not a critical choice. 6" barrel lengh preferred.
 
You might want to consider the Ruger GP100. My 6" is the half lug. I consider the fully lugged 6" too muzzle heavy, and consider the 4" fully lugger quite good, but you need to handle them and decide for yourself.
 
If you decide to get one, you may need to do your own trigger job. Detail strip the gun, polish mating trigger and hammer surfaces, and put back together with Wolff springs, then dryfire. The result will be a trigger smoother than you ever though possible.
 
Might not be a good idea to encourage a first time revolver owner to do a trigger job on his first gun.
Make sure and talk to some people you know personally about helping you with a trigger job before you take a dremmel tool to it.
 
Never heard of anyone using a Dremel tool to do a trigger job before? Rugers revolvers are about the easiest for first time owners to do a trigger job.
 
My secret polishing media is my Dremel tool with polishing wheels and polishing compound. I use the hard polishing wheel because it is extremely smooth, which is important for even and square smoothing, and it can be shaped to fit into the sear notch at just the right angle. Then I finish the job with the soft wheels and compound. Oh, when I'm using the hard stone, most of the work is with it not mounted on the Dremel but by hand.
USAF, I can be found at the Beretta forum as Newsshooter.
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This was just one that I found on here in about 10 seconds of looking.
It may be a very simple thing to do. It could also be very easy to do wrong. I just felt a word of caution was in order for a first timer.
 
But, maybe he should just learn to shoot and use it for awhile before taking it apart and fixing what wasn't broke!!

Yea! That's the ticket!

rc
 
Howdy

Gunsmiths love Dremel tools. They provide lots of work when they have been misused. I too strongly suggest a first time revolver owner not touch the critical surfaces of the sear and full cock notch on any revolver. Just a couple of swipes of a file, or a couple of seconds with a dremel tool at the wrong place can make a firearm unsafe. Leave that part to the pros, do not mess with the critical angles and surfaces of the sear and full cock notch.

As for your choice of first revolver, the sky is the limit. I suggest a rimfire so you can shoot it lots and lots without eating up a lot of money. Make your second revolver a centerfire.

My first revolver was a S&W Model 17. I bought it when I was a kid in 1975. The first in a long, long line of Smiths for me. They still make it, but it doesn't look quite the same today. But you there are plenty of used ones out there.

Model_17-1.jpg

The Ruger Single Six is also a great first revolver for the new revolver shooter. Single Action, simpler action than the smith. But stay away from the sear and full cock notch.
 
A Ruger GP100 or SP101 certainly are wise choices.

If you might be happy with a used gun,
a Ruger Service Six or Security Six would be good choices as well.

Smith & Wesson 10, 13, 14, 15, 19, 27, 28, 64, 65 & 66 etc are all very good choices as well.
 
A used S&W Model 28 with a 6" barrel is an ideal revolver. Strong enough for any .357 loads and not too heavy (no underbarrel lug). A real joy to shoot with .38 special loads.
KTP can fix you up with one for under $500.
 
In that price range ruger, taurus, or rossi. My rossi shoots right with my dad's gp100 in accuracy but was much cheaper, has a better trigger, and is shorter and lighter.
 
...the caliber is not a critical choice. 6" barrel lengh preferred.
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Due to budget constraints, I prefer .38spl ammo for a range revolver. You can save enough to shoot a lot more, or to get that next gun sooner rather than later.

4" is plenty of barrel for good weight and balance, but my favorites are 3".

The Ruger Speed/Service/Security Sixes or S&W K-frame LEO turn-ins are good first choices if you are not set on a new gun. .357 guns allow variety and flexibility. Stick with a 6-shooter unless you have a specific need for a 5-shot gun.

DIY trigger jobs can go great or not-exactly. For some folks, the learning curve can incur additional cost.
 
Just to second what clemY has said. The 6 inch stainless GP100 is a joy to shoot. I realize that caliber isn't an issue however you have th best of both worlds with the .357 and .38 spl. Each are fun to shoot from the gp. Good luck with your choice and happy future revolver shooting!
 
Owning both, I'd say you need to go hold both, but my personal nod goes to the 4" half lug GP100. Awesome gun. Nice smooth trigger, too.

If you want to go the used route, you can find tons of old Security Sixes in 4 or 6" barrels used for about 350 dollars or so.
 
I would say to get the Ruger sp101 in .22 Long Rifle, it has eight shots, and is really cheap to feed, being a .22 LR. If you like it enough, your second gun can match it, but in .357 Mag :D (or .327 Mag)
 
If you have not already achieved proficiency with a handgun, I highly recommend that your first revolver be a .22 rimfire. You will learn more about sight alignment, trigger control, follow through, and not flinching with a $20 brick of .22 long rifle than you will with any centerfire revolver. I started with a Ruger Single Six, and still shoot a .22 more than all my centerfires combined.
 
Ruger GP-100 if you're looking for a full sized gun. If you like a more compact size you might try an SP-101. I like both in .357 but I'd try the SP-101 in .22 if I had the budget.
 
My first revolver was S&W Model 28 with 4-inch barrel. My second was a GP 100 4-inch barrel. Both were excellent guns in fit, finish, accuracy and reliability. Lost in boating accident right before my divorce...when I start my collection again the GP 100 will be one of the first purchases - it was a perfect revolver for all the random things you might imagine. I don't have any experience with the 6" barrels, but everything else was good on the guns so that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the models in whatever length/caliber you want.

+1 on the SP101, also a nice quality shooter.
 
Another vote for the GP100, its built like a tank and its the cheaper than a smith. The action isnt as fine but its still a very high quality weapon
 
Starter52 said:
A used S&W Model 28 with a 6" barrel is an ideal revolver. Strong enough for any .357 loads and not too heavy (no underbarrel lug). A real joy to shoot with .38 special loads.
KTP can fix you up with one for under $500.
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The frame is suitable for .44Magnum cartridge and the gap between cylinder and front of frame makes .357 version particularly ugly. The lowly Ruger Police Service Six is much faster in draw and more pleasing to eye design.
 
As some others say, I would highly recommend a high quality 22 rimfire for "my 1st revolver"
Skills leaned with such carry over real well to all others, and more affordable practice quickly turns into more practice, an unbeatable combination.

Go with a DA/SA so you can experience the full range of revolver shooting fun.

Highest on my list of suggestions, would be any of the S&W k-frames (k-22/17/18), 4" to 6" barrel lengths, better triggers than most, outstanding reputation for accuracy. Nothing beats a good trigger for revolver shooting, all the rest is window dressing. Trigger control is where it's at. They can be found in your price range, if patient and look around.

Very ergonomic for nearly all folks, many grip styles readily available.
Excellent picture example in above post.

But if ye must go centerfire, then do also consider the centerfire S&W K family... any/all models in 38/357

Similar reasons, affordable shooting and very versatile in 38/357, so many ammo choices available for them, so easy found off-the-shelf ammo.
Centerfire k frames are abundant in the used gun market, anywhere from $250 to $500, real easy found.
Get one with adjustable sights; give yourself as many options as possible with your 1st revolver.

In either case (any case), go with a full size all steel revolver, no snubbies or liteweights no matter how cute they be.
Leave the shorties for "my 2nd" or "my 3rd"

Good luck, and welcome to he wide world of wheelies !

PS
and don't be walking too quickly on by any finds of nice old Dan Wesson or Ruger "six" series centerfire DA revolvers
Colts, good 'uns are great ones, but scarcer and pricier
(and leave home-boy gunsmithing to bubba, unless you be a real gunsmith... or you be bubba)
 
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