New to revolvers

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Mr Bernoulli

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Ok I am really thinking about purchasing my first handgun which I would like to be a revolver. I was wondering what would be some things to look for like for example I would like to know what barrel length would be good to start with etc. Also a good caliber for beginners. I was thinking .357 mag that way I could shoot 38 special out of it too to practice with but when I become used to it I can go up with the same gun. Tell me what you guys think. Thanks.
 
I would suggest picking a frame size and action type that you will like and buy it in 22 lr. Practice till you have the action type down well then sell the 22 and get yourself a larger caliber in the same size and type gun.

Smith and Wesson five shot guns or their model 34 go together. So does the k frame 22s and their model 15s through 19s

Single action Rugers and Colts have 22 guns etc

Just my opinion.

jj
 
My first revolver was a .357 SAA with a 7 1/2" barrel.

.38's are inexpensive (relatively) and have almost no recoil out of my wheelie.
 
Not a bad caliber choice, that is how I started. I first learned with a 6" Colt Python with .38 Spec+P loads. While some will say a 22 is the way to go for a first gun but the 38/357 combo is also a good start. The 38 has a realitively mild recoil and can help build confidence. It is also a decent personal defense choice with todays ammo. A pre-lock S&W or Ruger would be a good choice without spending an arm and a leg.
 
Take a Look

at the S&W 686 thread on the revolver section.

It is what is considered an L Frame. You can go to just about any gun shop and handle one, in fact if you go to a range with a rental arsenal I would bet my bottom dollar there are many you could try out, the 686 comes in various barrel lenghts from 2.5 inch to what, at least 6 inches and maybe longer.
I have a 3 inch barrel which is uncommon and the 4 inch are rather a standard and you can do just about anything with it from targeting (even a scope), home defense and take a deer at 25 yards with .357.

Then ask to hold a K Frame a 60 series, lighter slightly smaller with more recoil due to the lighter weight and see what you think. They will both shoot .357/.38 spl.

You will never go wrong having an X86 in the collection.

You may then want to look around for a good used one or settle for something new.

.22 is nice to have, but you won't be satisfied long IMO. ;)
 
That last posts is true, I've only had a .22 since age 7, and now about 50 years later, I'm still not satisfied - I want more, and I already have too many.

If you are a certain age and just starting out, you'll want power, that's just the way it is. But getting a .22 first, and something else in addition later is the biggest favor you can do for yourself. Of course, I could be wrong.

I really just stuck my nose in to ask if your forum name has anything to do with Bernoulli's Principle?
 
It all depends on what you'll be using this gun for.

Home defense/car gun/camp gun - I'd go with a medium or large frame, double action, 4-6" barrel, .357/.38 like a Ruger GP100. Very pleasant to practice/plink with .38, and .357 solids are serious medicine for all but the largest bears.

CCW/Pocket carry - S&W 642 or 442. Check out the 642 club thread. However, I would not recommend a snubnose airweight revolver as a first handgun. It takes a lot of practice to become comfortable with these, and a larger, heavier revolver is better for learning the basics.

Hiking/hunting/general woods gun - Ruger Redhawk or S&W 629 .44 magnum. You can also practice with .44 special, much like the .38/.357 combo.

Target practice/plinking - A single-action .22 would probably be the most fun to shoot on a regular basis, would provide a great platform for learning the basics, and can later be kept in a camping bag as a "survival tool" along side a hatchet, knife, matches, compass, etc.

There are many good firearms manufacturers out there, but for a solid, rugged revolver, stick with Ruger and Smith & Wesson. Both have got it right, but if I had to choose one over the other, I'd give the slightest edge to Ruger based on the all-out ruggedness of their frames. Good luck!
 
If it is just for range fun, I would start with a 22lr. A bulk pack is roughly $10-$12 for 500 or more rounds. .38 at wally world is probably about $15 for a box of 50. Learning the double action trigger takes time and .22 is a good way to go about it.

If you want center-fire, then I would look at .38/.357. .38 ammo is available just about everywhere and its much cheaper than the bigger calibers.

Used is a good way to go, just do yourself a favor and read the revolver check out sticky post at the top of the forum. It will give you some good advice.

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=1430
 
As has been pointed out, it does depend upon what you want the gun for. Having said that, a four-to-six inch .357 is never a bad choice. Shorter is easier to carry, longer is easier to hit with. Shorter than four inches makes accurate shooting a lot tougher -- though it can be done -- and longer than six inches becomes impractical for most things, although they are much easier to hit with.

.22 LR is a great learning tool, and nobody should be without one, IMO. .38 target wadcutter loads, though, are very gentle and easy to get along with, and the only reason one might not want to use them for learning with is cost: a box of fifty .38 Specials is in the same neighborhood, pricewise, as a brick of 500 .22 LRs.

And of course, few guns are as versatile as a .357 revolver, as has often been pointed out. If you have your heart set on one you will not go wrong, IMO.
 
I would get a ruger gp100 w/ a 4 inch barrel or the sp101 for home self defence or range use.For carry go with a S & W 642 ultra lite or if you want to save some more money go with a taurus model 85
 
The first revolver I ever fired was a friend's Smith Wesson .22 LR J-frame revolver, about 38 yrs ago. Seventeen yrs later, I bought that gun off him.

In between, came three 686's, a Model 28, a Model 14 and a Python.

So, to second most of the previous replies, .38/.357 magnum or .22 LR are good choices to start, in no particular order. You'll probably end up owning both of them anyways.

In my case, these are the only handgun calibers I own, and do not envision adding any more.
 
Like the other guys said get you a good .22 revolver to practice with and for cheap shooting. A good .357 is a very good larger caliber handgun that would serve you well.
 
ok this all helps alot. To the guy asking about Bernoulli's principle yes thats where the name comes from, I just thought it was a cool name lol. Anyways is there anything with the S&W model numbers that has to do with the frames? Like just a random example all models 60's or whatever are k frames? Another thing because I was thinking about getting the double action what makes this take a little while to learn on? keep them all coming and thanks so far guys.
 
Everything everyone has said about the .22 is correct and I have mine, but if I only had 1 gun, it would be a .357 with 4 or 6 in barrel. .38's are great for plinking and serious target shooting. .357 are great to go "BOOOM".

By the way, I don't hunt or carry it, it's for HD and target shooting. I love the .22 but I sometimes like the power of the .357.
 
A lot of good info here for the new handgunner. I'll throw in my flavor of opinion as well.

I have shot more 22lr round than anything. .38 following with .357 right on its heels.

Everyone that shoots should own 22 in a handgun and long gun, my opinion of course. Its great fun and cheap to shoot. So now that you've went right out to buy a couple of 22's we can get to the 38/357 :)

Any S&W or Ruger revolver you will be throughly pleased with owning and shooting for a lifetime.

I prefer S&W in double action(Model 19 Deluxe Combat Masterpiece *drools*) and Ruger in single action, specifically the new model Vaquero.

I would do more shopping, researching, and test firing on the 357 you'd like to get and go ahead and get it. They isn't a huge variety of 22lr revolvers comparitivly these days and most are made by the company I consider masters. With the small caliber you'll be please with almost any 22lr revolver made by a name you've heard of.
 
Get a S&W model 66 or 19. Go for a four inch barrel. This is a revolver you will never outgrow. It is the most versatile handgun I can think of. It is small enough to carry. It is large enough to shoot comfortably. It has adjustable sights and can be used with mild .38 Spl or with Magnum loads. The gun won't take a long steady diet of .357, but it will easily handle all you're likely to want to put through it. If you think you may want to shoot a lot of .357, then get the L frame.

I am all for companion .22's. But you can learn to shoot well with .38 spl. just as quickly and easily as with a .22, albeit, not quite as inexpensively.
 
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