Need opinions and suggestions

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test drive

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without going in to detail, my wonderful wife gave me a $ 1000 gift card to my favorite gun store that has a very large selection or can order. !! Normally that kind of money to spend on a firearm would be out of reach without trading something I already have. So I could really use some recommendations and opinions on what I have listed.
I am partial to big bore revolvers with shorter barrels.

Ruger Redhawk in .44 mag
Blackhawk .45 convertible 4 5/8 bbl
Super Blackhawk 4 5/8 bbl
Uberti Schofield top break 5 inch bbl
Any Uberti copies of late 1800s type guns
Smith & Wesson model 29 4 inch or less bbl
And what am I missing ?
Thanks.
 
OK, you asked for an opinion, I'm a S&W guy for most anything. From your list though I'd go with a 5" Redhawk.
 
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Because it's a gift card & you're limited to that store, from that list, I'd choose the Redhawk. If the store sells used guns, maybe a 2nd hand Freedom Arms if available & in the price range.
Pretty great wife you have there.

Tuckerdog1
 
Hi...
I would get the Schofield...only because I don't have one and I have all of the other guns and calibers except a RedHawk but I have that niche filled with a Dan Wesson .44Mag stainless revolver.

I really need to get a Schofield... I keep finding other handguns that I "need" more.
 
First let me say -Yes you have a wonderful wife!

Both my RUGER Blackhawks (44 mag and 357) have long barrels, so I’m no help there. I’m a long barrel guy for target and hunting.

I don’t have a 44 mag Redhawk so that sounds good!
So does a 3” 44 spc GP 100!

What a wonderful dilemma to be in!
 
Thanks. I have a Blackhawk .357 paired with a Rossi 92 lever gun and I love this set up. I don’t hunt but I’m fortunate to have a out door range.
What ever I get will be for range plinking or when we are out horseback riding we often meet up and do a little target plinking for dollar bills. If it’s not in stock at the store they will order what ever. Iv dealt with them for years and he’s a good guy.
 
Short barrel big bore revolver?

Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan in .480 Ruger. I'm serious, that's how I'd answer that question.
 
I have a nice round butt model 19 S&W that keeps the .357 double action monkeys off my back.
 
Being an S&W guy but also a Ruger Vaquero guy for Cowboy Action I really do like Bones741’s recommendations. I have never even considered a .45 convertible. I like the 0472 and 0475 models with the Blackhawk hammer. Very nice.
 
I'm not gonna give you any brands or models, but I am gonna tell you if you buy a new revolver inspect it like you would a Colt Python at a gun show with a $300 price tag on it. Look that thing over like the damn Zapruder film because new doesn't guarantee quality with any of the major manufacturers.

Obviously with Freedom Arms and Magnum Research this doesn't apply.

The only direction I'll point you towards is any used revolver from a reputable company made before 1990.
 
Unfortunately, with a revolver that's to be more than a safe anchor, you'll need to plan for some work to be done on it after the purchase or to find one that was built or worked on in the past. I've come to understand that new production revolvers are more like revolver-kits. You are more likely than not to need to send it back to the factory for more serious issues to be fixed under warranty. But then there's the finishing work that will take a gunsmith a few hours which in the past was done at the factory before the revolver was sold, but nowadays is incumbent upon the buyer to have finished themselves.

I certainly wouldn't buy a revolver or take delivery of an ordered revolver without at least using some feeler gauges, a 10x loop and a bore light to inspect it. You'll want to check for gap, endshake, lockup, timing, straightness, finishing defects, and more. I do believe there's a sticky on revolver checkouts. You might think you're trying to avoid the bad one in 10. But it's not like that at all. Believe me, you're looking for the good one out of 10.

That's just the reality for revolver buyers today. I've been to several gun stores that don't even stock them -- as in none at all. For a lot of buyers, they're just relics or novelties or something like pay phones. The days when it paid for a manufacturer to give the special attention to a revolver that's a requirement of it's design are long gone. They can churn out slides and polymer handles without nearly so much fuss, and sell them for half the price, twice the profit, and in 10 times the volume. Any attention given to revolvers is done begrudgingly.
 
Unfortunately, with a revolver that's to be more than a safe anchor, you'll need to plan for some work to be done on it after the purchase or to find one that was built or worked on in the past. I've come to understand that new production revolvers are more like revolver-kits. You are more likely than not to need to send it back to the factory for more serious issues to be fixed under warranty. But then there's the finishing work that will take a gunsmith a few hours which in the past was done at the factory before the revolver was sold, but nowadays is incumbent upon the buyer to have finished themselves.

.

This not the case with all newly manufactured revolvers. I have found none of these issues with BFRs out of the box. You pay a little more than you would a Ruger, but you get a lot more.
 
My 45 Blackhawk convertible is one of my favorite and most useful revolvers. It shoots a lot more 45acp than 45colt.

Any S&W N-frame goes on my "good list". I would love to have a Model 29. My model 625 in 45acp is another favorite of mine, as is my Model 28 in 357.

If you like 40-something calibers, 45acp is a nice choice. It's relatively cheap and is available everywhere.

I'm greedy. I would be looking to get something like a Blackhawk AND an N-frame for $1,000. It's certainly possible to do so if you buy used. For instance, I got my SBH used a few years ago for $400 plus whatever, and my Model 28 for $430-something plus whatever just recently. They're both excellent shooters. I generally prefer to buy used revolvers. I'm not afraid of the new ones, but I feel like my older ones tend to have been better-made originally.
 
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You have a fairly varied list. Is there any particular purpose you need this purchase to serve?


Unfortunately, with a revolver that's to be more than a safe anchor, you'll need to plan for some work to be done on it after the purchase or to find one that was built or worked on in the past. I've come to understand that new production revolvers are more like revolver-kits. You are more likely than not to need to send it back to the factory for more serious issues to be fixed under warranty. But then there's the finishing work that will take a gunsmith a few hours which in the past was done at the factory before the revolver was sold, but nowadays is incumbent upon the buyer to have finished themselves.

I certainly wouldn't buy a revolver or take delivery of an ordered revolver without at least using some feeler gauges, a 10x loop and a bore light to inspect it. You'll want to check for gap, endshake, lockup, timing, straightness, finishing defects, and more. I do believe there's a sticky on revolver checkouts. You might think you're trying to avoid the bad one in 10. But it's not like that at all. Believe me, you're looking for the good one out of 10.

That's just the reality for revolver buyers today. I've been to several gun stores that don't even stock them -- as in none at all. For a lot of buyers, they're just relics or novelties or something like pay phones. The days when it paid for a manufacturer to give the special attention to a revolver that's a requirement of it's design are long gone. They can churn out slides and polymer handles without nearly so much fuss, and sell them for half the price, twice the profit, and in 10 times the volume. Any attention given to revolvers is done begrudgingly.
I don't know where you come up with this stuff.
 
Love the look of the blued Ruger Redhawk in .44 Magnum with a 5 1/2" barrel. Next up would be a Ruger Blackhawk .45 convertible with a 4 5/8th" barrel. My third choice would be one of Taylor's Schofields in .45 Colt but with a 3 1/2" barrel.
 
Yes those N frames are beautiful. Going tomorrow to look at Uberti Schofield and a Redhawk just to get a feel. Thanks everyone you all have given me a lot to consider. I feel like the proverbial “ kid in a candy store “ !
 
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