First Revolver

[nebeel]

Ok, doing some looking around wanting to get my first revolver.

Ok ok, I guess I do have a .22 revolver, but it's a small ruger bearcat so I don't count it

Wanting to get a a full size revolver that can just be used as a range gun, possibly home defense weapon. Won't be carried that I anticipate. Biggest problem being, I have almost no experience with revolvers. What should I look at? What caliber, 38, 357, 44?

Experts help me out!

 

[WTBguns10kOK]

Probably a .357 would be your best bet, so you can also shoot lots of .38 special, which recoils relatively little. Still has plenty of power for self defense, even with .38 special rounds, if you don't decide to shoot .357 rounds much. Likely a standard 4" barrel will be best for a first gun of this type. I was going to suggest a .44, but that's better for when you start reloading...factory ammo is expensive for .44

 

[nebeel]

That's what I was thinking, seems like the general consensus is to get a 357 and shoot mostly 38 out of it unless you reload.

I'm very accustomed to shooting semi-autos of various calibers, what is the biggest difference (other than the obvious platform difference) to keep in mind?

Any recommendations for a good starting manufacturer? S&W, Ruger, Heritage, Colt, Taurus, etc....?

 

[bluethunder1962]

Def 357/38 combo. If you haven't shot anything other than 22 don't even think bout 44mag. Way to much power and you will not enjoy shooting. Work your way up to that. Sorry I gave my advice and I am a long way from expert.

 

[nebeel]

Sorry I'll clarify... I've definitely shot bigger than a .22, just not in a revolver platform.

I'll welcome advice from anyone around here, expert or otherwise!

 

[BYJO4]

I also suggest 357 Mag. A very accurate caliber and allows the option of shooting 38. Cost of ammo will be more reasonable and you can get factory ammo for any type use. A 4" or 6" barrel will work well for you purpose.

 

[sidheshooter]

I will also throw a vote in for a good, medium frame double action .357.

I am partial to the S&W 65 K-frame; note that there are lots of great used guns like this out there for the looking, since some of the most revered are no longer produced.

A quick search of the forum here using "best .357" or "which .357" will yield both detailed and predictable results (S&W K&L frames of all generations, stainless and blue, possibly even scandium; Ruger GP100 series, as well as the older "six" series guns; Colts and Dan Wessons and beyond).

I would not necessarily sneer at a gun chambered in .38 special only; while maybe not as versatile as their .357 counterparts, a quick trip to the range with a clean, pre-lock 3-4" S&W model 10 or 64 is long proven to be a beautiful thing. Could be all you need to start. Security trade-ins can be great sources of cheap 10/64s, although I have found some absolute time machines (as in: "looks like it is 1978 all over again" condition) in my local haunts.

HTH.

 

[philoe]

You mentioned that you wanted a full size revolver and you listed multiple manufacturers. Cost and versatility suggests .357 as others have suggested.Price point will be a issue and will determine the route you go. Colt no longer manufactures what you are looking for, and their prices seem to climb higher every month for multiple models(Trooper, King Cobra, Python)

In my eyes you are left with Smith and Ruger. Should you want new producti on, the GP 100( he said full size, otherwise sp101), by Ruger, is screaming your name. $500ish (based on finish) gets you a new production warhorse that will last two lifetimes. Smiths new productions are more than that, but secondhands can be found in that range and cheaper.
Rugers do not have the ILS lock that everybody seems to hate, but the trigger is not as nice as the Smiths. Rugers reportedly handle heavy loads better over time than smiths (hearsay) should you ever want to hunt with the heavy stuff.
At the end of the day you need to handle em, and go with ehat your gut tells you. You can't go wrong with either imo. Best of luck.

 

[bikemutt]

Consider range rental too, if available in your area. Most have a deal where you pay one fee and can cycle through as many guns as you can stand. Yeah the ammo they make you buy is not cheap; the payback is not buying the wrong gun retail and selling it wholesale.

 

[Soldiernurse]

No moon clips for me

 

[nebeel]

I'd love to go to a rental range but unfortunately there aren't any around my area that I'm aware of. Consequently, my purchases recently have been based on what research I can do online and what seems to fit my hand at the shop that I go to.

Obviously this method has flaws, but so far I have kept a vast majority of what I have purchased.

 

[Ralph G. Briscoe]

I wouldn't neglect the Colt Trooper III. They can still be found in good shape in the $500 range if you're patient. I have 3 of them so I may be prejudiced. They are very strong, well-built revolvers. I agree that a .38/.357 would be the way to go...very versatile. I suppose my 2nd choice would be a Smith model 28...."six of one..." I don't care for the looks of the Ruger DA's, but they're supposed to be great as well.

 

[The_Shootist]

If ultimately for CHL duty, a SP 101 in 3" bbl would be my recommendation. Rugged and versatile and easily concealable, enough weight to soak up even the stoutest .357 loads.

For range work / home defense a new GP 100 in 4" bbl or (if you could find one) a non-ILS 686+ in 4" bbl.

 

[4v50 Gary]

38/357.

 

[nebeel]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll be looking for a 357 so I can also shoot 38spl out of it. Since this is my first one and I'll probably bang it around a fair amount, I'll probably lean toward a Ruger since they're a bit less expensive. Maybe down the road I can get a nice S&W for a prettier range gun.

 

[22-rimfire]

As most have suggested, I also would choose a 357/38spl revolver for its versatility. My favorite 357 mag is my Colt Trooper Mark III (6"). If you are thinking home defense, I would lean toward a 4" revolver as the most flexible (shooting, quick pointing, etc.).

The Ruger 4" GP-100 is a very good choice and one I favor. I have a 3" that I like for fairly close range shooting. They are well built and the trigger smooths out with use or sitting in front of the TV and dry firing it.

Many like the SP-101. I would choose the 3" in that gun.

Of course you can get a single action. I don't own a 357 mag single action. They are pretty comfortable to shoot for a 357 mag.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

3 5 7 Baby!!!! Seriously though, it's the way to go. Great caliber for beginers............. and then get a 460.

 

[foghornl]

For a good general purpose revolver, a .357 Mag is hard to beat...Can shoot everything from "Rodent Flatulence" .38Spl wadcutter/target and cowboy action shooting loads, up to just this side of thermo-nuclear .357Mag ammo.

I don't have a double-action 357 revolver, but I do have 2 Ruger SA's in this calibre..a short-barrel glossy-stainless Sheriff's Model Vaquero, and a 50th Year 357 Blackhawk. My next 357 is going to be a GP-100, undecided on 4" or 6".

The shape of the SA grip helps it to 'roll' in your hand under recoil, generally making a more comfortable shooting experience.

 

[BCRider]

If you don't want to get into reloading then for sure stick with the .357Mag option since the .38Spl ammo isn't too stupidly pricey.

But if you are willing to get into reloading then you have the option of stepping up to a .44Mag or .45Colt and then tailor your loads to the use you make of the gun. For range fun you can load from mild to wild. For HD you can load the brass up to more moderate power levels that mimic the .44Spl loadings. Such rounds have a pretty good rep for good stopping power and proper penetration without being over the top for indoor shooting if needed.

But the cost of buying factory .44Mag or .45Colt just makes this prohibitive. You have to commit to setting up for reloading at the same time you buy the gun if you should elect to go for a big bore.

But if you should elect to go the big bore route you sure as blazes would have something far removed from your .22 wheelgun plinker....

 

[Numeric]

I have a brand new (May 2011) Ruger NM Blackhawk .357Mag, 6.5" barrel. It has the smoothest action of any SA revolver I have yet handled. It is more accurate than I am (the best I can do at 50 yards is a 12" group) and is an absolute blast to shoot. Plus, it's heavy enough that felt recoil of .38 Special is almost nothing.

I also have plenty of experience with the Ruger Security Six (4") and GP100 (6") .357s. I find the Six's action smoother in SA and DA, but the grip of the GP100 fits my hand better. Both are very easy to group with, and obviously more useful for home defense than the Blackhawk (faster to reload, double-action).

For me, the Blackhawk is more fun at the range than any other revolver.

 

[Swing]

The .38 Special/.357 Magnum would be a good starter. Are you looking for a full-sized or a snub? You don't mention CCW, so I gather the former.

 

[PabloJ]

I would go to large gun show where you can look at many different guns. I have even seen revolvers chambered for 9x19 and 10mm pistol cartridges. The 9x19 is cheap to shoot and .40S&W which can be shot in 10mm revolver was one of the few handgun calibers for which ammo was readily available during last shortage when rest were empty shelves (excepting .44MAG of course).

 

[Jim NE]

If cost is a consideration at all, you may want to consider .38 Special instead of .357 mag.

Why? Because looking at used S&W revolvers, .357's seem to go anywhere from $100 to $150 more than the corresponding .38 Special. (Model 13 vs. Model 10, for example.)

As range/target guns, I never shoot .357's out of magnum revolvers, only Specials. Don't feel .357 is the defensive round I want to use, either, but that's jmo.

If you want to save money, but still want a .357, then you might look at Ruger's SP101. Reasonably priced when used and good quality. I have an SP101 because it was about the same price as most good used .38 Specials. The other magnum revolver I have was given to me, otherwise I really wouldn't bother owning guns in .357 because I'm stingy.

If money's not a problem (or a compulsion, like with me) buy whatever you like. Not saying .357 isn't a good caliber - it is. There are some great .357's out there, but don't buy a second rate .357 because it's the same price as a GOOD quality .38 Special. Go quality.

 

[TXSWFAN]

I'm a wheelgun fanatic. Hence my handle. IMO, the closest to thing to a perfect handgun for carry, truck, tackle box, backpack, etc., would be the 4" S&W Model 28-2 Highway Patrolman.

 

[DocRx]

Not knowing the exact use of your desired handgun, it can be encompassed by 2 routes. For range and CCW, I'd go with a .357/.38 by Ruger or S&W. The Ruger SP 101, or a Smith equivalent are good choices ( I carry a Ruger KLCR .357/.38 daily) Shooting .38spl ammo is fun and accurate in most. Using .357mag - "best stopping round available" per Ayoob, Sanow, Marshall, etc. may be a handful for some. Personally, my other revolver takes care of hunting and SD. Contrary to 460Kodiak's obvious sentiments, I have a Taurus Judge Tracker .45Colt/.410ga. 6.5in revolver. Use the .45Colt for deer (works wonderfully BTW-stopped one in her tracks this year) or the .410ga.for Pheasants, rabbits, etc.(also verified workable) and one can only imagine the use for SD. Love it! Good luck in your search, have fun.