I want a revolver but know nothing! Help!

[xmanpike]

So, I own 4 rifles, 2 shotguns, and 2 semi auto pistols.

I'm ready to buy a revolver but have only shot a handful of them and truly don't know much about them in comparison to other types of firearms.

This gun will not be a CCW. It will probably be in my nightstand for home defense and used for shooting at the ranch. I believe I want something in .357 mag or larger, and I do reload quite a few calibers and will for this pistol as well.

Not sure if I would prefer SA or DA. Leaning toward DA.

Hoping to spend around $600, but if convinced I could probably go to $750 if it was worth it.

Recommendations please!

Mike

 

[56hawk]

Hard to beat a S&W 686. 357 Magnum with six or seven shots. With a four inch barrel it handles really well and would be great for target shooting and home defense.

You can buy them new for $684:
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/26266/Smith+%26+Wesson+686P+.357+Mag+4%22%2C+7+round

 

[PabloJ]

For me top pick would be S&W 686-4. The '-4' is very important. Very close second would be Ruger 'Security Six' Stainless.

 

[highpower]

Any .357 and larger caliber revolver made by a reputable manufacturer will work for what you want. I would recommend a double action over a single action for home defense duties as the double action trigger pull will make it less likely to have an accidental discharge.

I personally would try to find a gun like a Ruger GP100 (new or used) , any K or N frame S&W (try to buy an older one) or a Colt Trooper (out of production, so only available used). If you are going to buy used, be sure to check the potential revolver you may be looking at over carefully.

One thing to note regarding the use of a large caliber weapon inside a house is over penetration. Unless you have no family, do not live in an apartment, and have no close neighbors, a large caliber handgun is not really the best choice for home defense.

Even a 9MM can go through walls and injure or kill a person on the other side. Recently I heard of an incident where a person had a negligent discharge inside his house. The bullet went through the walls of his house and through the outside wall of his neighbors house lodging in an interior wall. While the gun in question was not a handgun (it was a rifle in .223) under the right circumstances, a handgun bullet could do the same.

I live out in the country and don't have to worry about hitting anyone by accident, so I keep my S&W Model 66 (.357) in my nightstand, although sometimes I rotate in a Colt New Service in .45 Colt.

My favorite bedside gun though, is my 1897 Winchester trench gun.

 

[xmanpike]

What does the 4 mean in 686-4? What's the difference?

 

[xmanpike]

Any recommendations on barrel length?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The -4 is an engineering change designation. As for barrel length, since it will also be for home defense and not just for the range I would go with a 4" barrel.

I'm a big fan of the M686 or even the newly re-released M586 which has a blue finish instead of Stainless. The S&W M686 will also hold it's value.

 

[SabbathWolf]

In your price range, I picked up this Ruger Blackhawk 357/38spl/9mm convertible for right at $480 including tax and shipping.
I also owned a S&W and GP-100 in the past as well.



Since this will not be for CCW, and you mention a ranch as well...I don't think barrel length will be a huge factor.
I live on a ranch myself and actually prefer the longer barrel.

The longer barrel gives you a little more velocity and the longer sight radius helps with a little better accuracy too. The added weight absorbs a little more of the recoil and muzzle flip too.
Shorter barrels are better for CCW, but that's about it really.

 

[xmanpike]

Should I buy new or look for used? Also, what is this I'm seeing regarding no lock?

 

[SabbathWolf]

Should I buy new or look for used? Also, what is this I'm seeing regarding no lock?

HUH?
What lock are you talking about?
Ya lost me.
Internal gun lock? Door lock? Safe lock?

New or used is up to you.
I buy new just so I'm sure I didn't just inherit someone elses problems....lol

 

[xmanpike]

I honestly don't know. As I've been looking I see people preferring revolvers with no lock, much as a lot of guys prefer series 70 1911's to series 80's due to the added safety mechanism. (one extra part that may fail).

Anyone?

 

[mustanger98]

My recommendations... all used... prices mostly tend to be lower.

Ruger's Blackhawk in .357/.38

S&W Models 10 (.38), 19 and 28 (.38/.357), and 29 (.44mag)

Regarding Models 19 and 28, the U.S. Border Patrol used to issue the 19, but from what I understand, if an agent preferred the 28, it was fine according to the regs to carry it.

I prefer no internal safety lock too. I'd prefer not to get in a bind fooling with some extra gadget... maybe pressed for time... maybe lost the key...

 

[SabbathWolf]

I honestly don't know. As I've been looking I see people preferring revolvers with no lock, much as a lot of guys prefer series 70 1911's to series 80's due to the added safety mechanism. (one extra part that may fail).

Anyone?

OH!!!!
Now I see.
Many newer handguns come with an internal lock that disengages the hammer or trigger so the cannot be fired by a child or whatever on accident.
There is usually a tiny lil hole to put a tiny lil key in to lock or unlock the gun.
You can just leave it unlocked forever if you want and just toss the key away if you feel like it.
It has no bearing at all on the functionality of the gun.

 

[David E]

Home defense use precludes a single action.

Since you reload, you can also consider a .44 magnum, which can handle .44 Special with aplomb.

My choice would be a Smith & Wesson Model 29 or 629 with a 4" or 6" non-lugged barrel. For ranch duties, I'd carry it in a Bianchi #111 or KyTac Woods Walker, both worn cross-draw.

Typical load would be a 240 SWC @ 1000 fps or so.

Home defense would find it loaded with factory JHP's in .44 Special.

 

[o Unforgiven o]

"No Lock" or "Pre-Lock" refers to older S&W revolvers that were made with no internal lock. Most revolver guys prefer pre-lock S&W's because they were made long enough ago that the quality of them is superior in some ways over today's models, and some just don't like the idea of their gun having an internal lock.

 

[SabbathWolf]

Home defense use precludes a single action.

Lol....says who?
TV?
a YouTube armchair commando?
Rambo?

 

[TennJed]

I would recommend a double action over a single action for home defense duties as the double action trigger pull will make it less likely to have an accidental discharge.

I am sure i am missing something but wouldn't a SA be far less likely to have an accidental discharge? The trigger pull doesn't matter until you cock the hammer.

I like the suggestion of the Ruger Blackhawk in 357/9mm. Gives you a lot of ammo choices and a lot of fun.

 

[xmanpike]

Is this Talo version worth the price and is the 3" too short?
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...ts_id/411549877/S&W+M629+DLX+44M+REV+3SS+TALO

 

[highpower]

I am sure i am missing something but wouldn't a SA be far less likely to have an accidental discharge? The trigger pull doesn't matter until you cock the hammer

When a single action is cocked, it takes very little trigger pressure to discharge the weapon. A double action (actually it should be referred to as trigger cocking) trigger pull is heavier and longer and therefore requires a more deliberate action on the part of the shooter.

At some point you are going to cock the gun, I can't speak for others, but if I was tracking an intruder in my house, I would be full of adrenaline and probably more likely to pull the trigger before I was ready. I would rather have the more deliberate action required to use a revolver in the double action mode. Besides, if you really, really have to walk around your house with a cocked gun, you have the option of using your double action gun in the single action mode.

 

[towboat_er]

I like that 629... Looks like a good choice to me.

 

[splithoof]

S&W 625, 4". New, used, or old, a very capable wheel gun that shoots very well, will last forever, and is a very good nightstand social piece.

 

[357 Terms]

As a nightstand gun something "357 or larger" is prolly not the best choice. (noise)

I don't know what "auto's" you have but they are prolly better suited for nightstand use.

For range use and around the ranch a single action Ruger is an excellent choice.

 

[TennJed]

When a single action is cocked, it takes very little trigger pressure to discharge the weapon. A double action (actually it should be referred to as trigger cocking) trigger pull is heavier and longer and therefore requires a more deliberate action on the part of the shooter.

At some point you are going to cock the gun, I can't speak for others, but if I was tracking an intruder in my house, I would be full of adrenaline and probably more likely to pull the trigger before I was ready. I would rather have the more deliberate action required to use a revolver in the double action mode. Besides, if you really, really have to walk around your house with a cocked gun, you have the option of using your double action gun in the single action mode.

That makes sense. I love SA revolvers but do not use them for self defense. I shoot them a lot and would like to think I would not cock one is a SD situation unless I was ready to fire, but having never been in that situation I can not say for sure what I would do.

I do feel a SA revolver is a great option for someone just starting out in handguns though. The deliberate act of cocking the hammer should be a safety asset in range use (IMHO)

 

[skidder]

OH!!!!
Now I see.
Many newer handguns come with an internal lock that disengages the hammer or trigger so the cannot be fired by a child or whatever on accident.
There is usually a tiny lil hole to put a tiny lil key in to lock or unlock the gun.
You can just leave it unlocked forever if you want and just toss the key away if you feel like it.
It has no bearing at all on the functionality of the gun.

I might be mistaken, but didn't they change the shape of the frame too?
It looks to me like the curve below the hammer is much lower on the older ones without the lock.

 

[SabbathWolf]

When a single action is cocked, it takes very little trigger pressure to discharge the weapon. A double action (actually it should be referred to as trigger cocking) trigger pull is heavier and longer and therefore requires a more deliberate action on the part of the shooter.

At some point you are going to cock the gun, I can't speak for others, but if I was tracking an intruder in my house, I would be full of adrenaline and probably more likely to pull the trigger before I was ready. I would rather have the more deliberate action required to use a revolver in the double action mode. Besides, if you really, really have to walk around your house with a cocked gun, you have the option of using your double action gun in the single action mode.

I really don't see your issue as an issue really.
When the hammer is cocked after I chamber a round in my semi-auto pistol, it's the same difference.

Your finger shouldn't be on the trigger either way with "any" gun, cocked or not, until you are ready to shoot.
This isn't a matter of "this gun vs that gun."
It's a training issue.