Looking for a "Combat Revolver" in .357

[evan price]

Choices are going to be easy to find under $500

Smith & Wesson "K"- frame- blued: 13 or 19. Stainless: 65 or 66.

Ruger Security/Service/Speed Six or GP100.

Colt Trooper/Lawman Mk III

Taurus Tracker, 65, 66, etc.

 

[Contumacious]

Just to alleviate any doubts, I'm in the Army and stationed in Germany, but will be PCSing in a few months, hopefully to Fort Hood. All my guns are currently in Texas and I am originally from there.

I really like the style of all of these classic revolvers, and I've never really fired a ruger revolver so I'll have to give that a try. I am fairly partial to S&W because their revolvers seem to fit my hand very well and I like the "chamber open" switch (sorry, not sure what to call it).

This isn't going to be a concealed carry weapon, although it might be a home defense one.

 

[doc2rn]

For CCW of a K frame I highly recommend a 3" barrel and Hogue grip on a square frame.

 

[David E]

I like the "chamber open" switch

Most likely, you mean the cylinder release.

And while we're at it, the round thing that revolves is called the "cylinder." The holes bored into it where the cartridges go are the "chambers."

It's annoying and confusing when people use the wrong term.

 

[dogngun]

Smith Model 13...fixed sights, 6 shots, nothing "extra"...

one of my favorite handguns.

mark

I have to add that I own a 4" S&W Highway Patrolman, a 4" S&W Model 15 and a S&W Model 1917 DA .45 ACP....


.But I'm carrying a Rossi 462.

 

[Radium]

another vote for the speed six

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Security Six, by Ruger. Usually less expensive than S&W, and I believe them to be more durable. Also, you'll like the cylinder release once you get used to it.

 

[blackfoot5]

Ditto on the Ruger GP 357 or new 327 mag . I have both they are tough, accurate and easier to fine tune (YMMV). My Smiths are "prurr...dier though" (Model 25 and 2 Model 67). gene

 

[TexasBill]

To answer your question about owning a handgun in Germany, here's a link to the U.S. Army's Privately Owned Firearm info. It runs 9 pages.

 

[MCgunner]

Before I bought a NEW Smith, I'd get a Taurus carry or even a Rossi. New production Smiths don't meet my price/quality requirements. USE, that's another story. Lots of good short barreled 66s out there. A 2.5" round butt 66 would be my ideal. I got a Taurus 3" M66 square butt some time ago that I carry, though. K frames bring a premium down here and 3" ones are impossible. I kinda like the 3" length in a carry, but wish I had a round butt.

My idea of a PERFECT carry, though, is a 5 shooter, SP101. If you can find a used Security Six in good shape for a decent price, that's a good option in 6 shooters. I had a Security Six at one time.

 

[Jeb21]

Wow, so many good suggestions. If you are planning to shoot a lot of magnums then I highly recommend a 3" or 4" Ruger GP100. Very comfortable to shoot and can handle a lifetime of magnum use. If you are going to shoot mostly 38s then I really like the suggestions for a 3" to 4" smith k-frame. A real sleeper is the Ruger Security six or service six. They are very nice weapons that are unfortunately not made anymore.

One other point for consideration, I have found that it is easier to find holsters for the smith line of revolvers than the Ruger line. I don't know why.

 

[pdawg.shooter]

Two words, Colt Python. If you are going to stake your life on a handgun, best to go with the best.

 

[Jenrick]

Look for an old 686. If you get lucky and track one done from a cop that was a shooter, it'll be broken in with a trigger that is unreal. S&W triggers just get better the more their pulled. A used 686 isn't going to command a premium either, so it wont break the bank.

-Jenrick

 

[Iggy]

I carry this 2 1/1 incher every day.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

All nice guns to be sure. I'd go with a S&W 627 8x shot, though you said you didn't really like SS guns. I own a ruger and a S&W. Ruger is built nice. The trigger pull on a S&W is always smoother, and so is the action. Just my opinion.

 

[ElToro]

the bottom gun in post 7 is what you want in a combat revo. 3 inches, fixed sights and bobbed hammer. if you can get i ladysmith config with underlugged barel better. i assume this is fro ccw. if its a duty or house gun you can afford bigger size

 

[Stainz]

I have a friend at the range who loves his 327TRR8 - but it's a bit pricey - and I am not fond of alloy framed guns for anything but a CCW. I like more serviceable SS for both home defenders and plinkers. I particularly like the SS 627 series. I entertained the thoughts of a 327NG as a house gun in October until I looked it over carefully and noted that it wasn't moonclip ready. A few shelves down, they had another 2 5/8" PC 627 UDR - it was literally a couple of dollars difference. I say 'another', because I bought one last April, when the first reappeared - the remake of the 'Blood Work' gun. Literally, it had proven to be too much fun to relegate to HD duties... but so did this second example.



Both are shown with aftermarket grips, the included Eagle wood boots being too small for my hand. Like my 627 Pro, a 4"-er that runs ~$840 locally, the 2 5/8" PC 627 UDR will take 8-hole moonclips (Ranch Products $50/50) or a specialty speedloader (machined aluminum - $25 - 5starfirearms.com) and is <$900 locally. As a PC Shop gun, it comes with a nice trigger - slightly better than the 627 Pro - which is better than the average production 686, for example. A lot of money - but worth it for a great 'keeper' of a .357 Magnum. A Ruger SS 4" GP-100, KGP-141, runs <$600 there, too.

I cannot speak to the PC 627 UDR's recoil with full load .357 Magnums - I reload plinkers, which are probably no warmer than the Remington R38S12 .38 +P 158gr LHPSWC's I keep it stoked with for protection. I haven't chrono-ed them yet from it's 2 5/8" barrel, but that round makes 860 fps from my 2" 10 and made 900 fps from my 3" 65, while I had it, so expect 880 fps - pretty much uneventful to shoot, recoil-wise. At 37.6 oz, the UDR is 2.4 - 3.4 oz less than the 4" 686/GP-100 - and balances perfectly - with the larger grips. I would rate reloading under dire circumstances about as fast with either the moonclips or the 5 Star speedloader - either being a lot faster than hand reloading two at a time. The top grip above is a S&W product ~$49 + s/t + s/h only from S&W Accessories.

Stainz

 

[Zaydok Allen]

That's a beautiful pair. Makes me wish I had a better job.

 

[waidmann]

DC, start you own new thread. FYI I can answer for 1982-1985, they had to jump through hoops then.

 

[HoosierQ]

627. 8 rounds, all steel.

 

[bigtubby]

19-3 with 2 1/2" pipe like they say "everything you need in a revolver and nothing you don't"

 

[derek45]

S&W 586-2
6"

 

[18DAI]

My "Combat revolver" is a 3" S&W 13-3.

I had it rendered DAO, and the hammer replaced with a spurless PC hammer. sort of a "poor mans PC13".

Very slick carry gun. I shot a 98/100 with it at my last 218 qual with it. TJ

 

[Colt Smith]

S&W M19 or M66. 'nuff said.

 

[StrawHat]

I have carried a revolver every day for the last 30 years. If I had to carry a 357 Magnum, it would be a S&W M19, M66 (or M13, M65 if you prefer fixed sights). The M586/M686 and the M27/M28 are great revolvers but much heavier than the K frame and a bit harder to manage. The K frame 357 was introduced as the Combat Magnum and nothing so far has come along to replace it. I have handled the Colt and Ruger counterparts but was not impressed with the way they felt in my hand. Try them all and see what fits you the best.