What 5 current production revolvers would you buy?

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Savageman25

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I'm thinking about acquiring around 5 to possibly 6 revolvers in the coming years that are currently being produced right now. I'm pretty inexperienced with revolvers, so consider me a complete newby on them. I want to buy them new. These revolvers will be shot some but not a ton. The thought is that they likely will be handed down. While I hope they do gain value, that's not really the purpose.

I want quality but I don't want to brake the bank. I'm thinking in between 500 to 800 max on each gun. I have a few I'm thinking of but I'll just leave this thread to you guys to make a top 5 or 6 list. I'd like to keep them mostly 357 mag with 1 or possibly 2 a 44 mag. Please try to include reasons why.

I own already
ruger sp101 3" 357
A s&w 357 that was handed down to me. I'm not sure of model.
 
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S&W 27, 686, & new 66. Ruger blackhawk in 45, or 357, and uberti cattleman, or el patron

You then have some nice single actions, and some modern steel, some for each purpose. I'd go light on 45's due to ammo costs.
 
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Ruger GP100 3"
S&W 642
S&W 442
Charter Arms Bulldog Pug .44spl
Ruger SP101

I have all of these with the exception of the SP101. All good guns, and no lock on any of them.
 
Ruger GP100 Match Champion .357
Charter Bulldog .44
Freedom Arms M97 .44
Ruger SP101 3" .357 (already have one)
Chiappa Rhino 2.5" .357
 
I am going to assume you have semi autos for self defense, so these will be for target, training, hunting and aesthetic purposes. My choices are as follows:

1) Ruger Single Six stainless convertible, 6.5 inch barrel. $435.00 on Gun Broker.
Basically unbreakable. .22lr for target, .22 magnum for small game. A great training gun for new shooters, the single action requires deliberation between shots, as does the slow load cycle. Very accurate in my experience. Stainless because it would be a field use gun.

2) Ruger New Vaquero in .357 magnum, 4.6 inch barrel. $600 on Gun Broker.
Solidly built single action, emulates the original Colt Single Action Army, but a stronger action and can be loaded with six rounds safely. Satisfies the desire for a cowboy gun. Can be had in larger calibers, but the .357 option allows the use of factory .38 special target loads, factory .357 self defense loads and factory .357 hunting loads. Unless you reload, .357 is the caliber to pick. Blued as it would be a range toy, darker sights are easier for me to see than stainless. I would choose the shorter barrel for speed of deployment if playing SASS or other cowboy games.

3) S&W Model 27 Classic, 6.5 inch barrel. $950 on Gun Broker.
I have a Model 28 with 6 inch barrel from 1968, this is the closest modern equivalent.
Many would pick the L frame 686 over the N frame Model 27. I have large hands, so the grips are fine. The full under lug barrel on most L frames makes the gun too muzzle heavy for my preferences. I chose the longer barrel because it would basically be a hunting and target gun, so extra velocity and longer sight radius are useful.

4) S&W Model 60 Pro Series. 3 inch barrel, adjustable sights. $800 MRSP.
Can be carried concealed if needed. A good step up gun from the Ruger Single Six for those with small hands. Classy grips and longer barrel give it a different look to the generic J frame carry gun.

5) Model 29 Classic 4 inch barrel, nickel finish. MRSP $999.
This gun is a 'just because' gun. Its a classic design, and will jump in your hand. Shorter barrel because experiencing the power is what this is for, the Model 27 is a more controllable range gun and more suitable for small game. Nickel for the pimp gun factor.
 
Anything from S&W or Ruger.

The revolvers from Magnum Research are also of high quality.

I like some of the Charter Arms revolvers made by the current ownership too.
 
Broken record here but...

GP100
686
Ruger Super Black hawk
Ruger Super Red hawk
Sp101

I agree 100% with ArchAngelCD. I would be confident that any revolver currently in production by Ruger or Smith and Wesson will still be shooting strong when my grand kids inherit them.
 
I am not a Revolver guy, so I would pick one practical and 4 unique/collector models

1) Ruger LCR .357

2) S&W 686 7shot .357

3) Taurus Raging Judge 454/410

4) S&W Governor 45/410

5) Chiappa Rhino 4" .357
 
S & W 686 4 or 6 " pre-lock
Ruger Blackhawk .357, 5 1/2 , 6 1/2 , 7 1/2
Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 , 5 1/2 , 6 1/2 , 7 1/2
S&W 617 , 4" or 6" .22
S & W model 10 , 19 , 686 in >38 , .357 snubnose pre-lock
 
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SP101
GP100
LCR
Another SP101
Another LCR

Actually on the last 2, maybe a Chiappa Rhino and a Judge.
 
1. S&W 686
2. Ruger Bisley Hunter
3. S&W 625 .45 ACP
4. Ruger LCR
5. Dan Wesson 715

The Dan is more expensive, but the inexpensiveness of the LCR will average it out.
 
1) Ruger GP100
2) Ruger Blackhawk
3) Ruger Vaquero
4) Ruger Single Six
5) S&W Model 442
6) S&W Model 29
 
4-6" 686+
6" 629 (just above your upper range)
7.5" Ruger Super Blackhawk (scoped?)
5" SAA clone in 44 Spcl./357 Mag.
1 7/8th's" M36 / 3" M60

5 guns, covers just about every typical use from small game (a la 686) to long range silhouette shooting with the Ruger! It does it all with just two calibers so stockpiling ammo becomes easier. I left some wiggle room, and tried not to play favorites too badly and average price should work out to under your $800 upper limit.
 
1) .22 magnum pocket derringer - minimal carry
2) 38 Special +p S&W 637 Wyatt Deep Cover Gunsmoke - pajama gun, backup
3) Ruger GP100 4" - serious carry gun intended for 357 Magnum loads
4) S&W 629 5" (44 Magnum) - nicely balanced range and hunting gun
5) S&W model 60 or Ruger SP101 3+" (shooting 38 spl+p only) - compact carry gun

Struggled a bit, because I have met some of these choices better with used guns in obsolete models. For example, a light carry gun should be 6 rounds of 38 Special only. My gun for that is a Ruger Police Service Six. However, 5 rounds at 3" barrel in the SW60 is a good formula too. I also have the SP101 3+" but couldn't recommend these guns, SW or Ruger, for someone who doesn't reload to lighten charges and who would prefer to shoot 357 Magnum. I think a 38 should be 38-only, but that round has been relegated to snubs these days.
 
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I'd want a pocket 38 so a Ruger LCR or Smith 442/642
Your SP works for the belt carry
I'd want a 4" 357 to shoot IDPA, I really like my 686ssr but the GP Match Champ looks very good too.
Gotta have a 44 mag, 629 or Redhawk
and got to have a cowboy gun either a Blackhawk, Vaquero, a Uberti would work too or could even splurge for a real Colt. Could take care of two birds and have the Cowboy gun chambered in 44 Mag.
Or you could end up like me with all of the above, except my GP is a 6" lol.
 
I don't have any Smith and Wessons, so I'd like a few of those.

Like the 327, the 327 TRR8, and the Governor in black/blue. Plus a 642 to replace one I had looooong ago.

Oh wait, that's only 4. Okay a Ruger SP101 in .22LR, too.
 
Right now I think im thinking the following for 3 of them really unsure about others.

Ruger super redhawk
Ruger gp100 4"
Smith 686
 
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I got outbid on a blued 5.5 Redhawk in .41 Mag recently...I really wanted that one. Maybe next time....

I just saw a stainless GP 100 .357 Mag with a non-lug barrel and Novak sights advertised at a LGS. I MIGHT go buy one of those....

The blued M-29 .44 4" is another bucket list revolver for me...
 
Why no used? In the last year I bought a new GP100 and a couple of used S&W's, a Colt Officer Model Match and a Ruger Single Six. The only one I would be willng to give is the GP100. If your going to shoot them they'll all be used anyways.
My favorites are the S&W's. I've got a 28-2, 66, and a 29-2 - all from the 70's. Those S&W's are easily my favorites - no locks, no MIM, and all are Pinned and Recessed. I paid less than if buying new models and the quality is just as good if not better. Sorry to hijack the thread but that is my experience.
 
reddog81 said:
Why no used? In the last year I bought a new GP100 and a couple of used S&W's, a Colt Officer Model Match and a Ruger Single Six. The only one I would be willng to give is the GP100. If your going to shoot them they'll all be used anyways.
My favorites are the S&W's. I've got a 28-2, 66, and a 29-2 - all from the 70's. Those S&W's are easily my favorites - no locks, no MIM, and all are Pinned and Recessed. I paid less than if buying new models and the quality is just as good if not better. Sorry to hijack the thread but that is my experience.
Click to expand...

I would consider used but it would have to be at a lgs where I could look at it. Ive bought 2 used guns off of gunbroker that where stated as perfect. Needless to say they were not perfect.
 
I'd sure like to find one or the remakes of a Schofield revolver or the similar Russian .44. with 7 1/2" barrel.

The breaktop S&W Model 3 copy that was available in .44 Special, 45 LC, and in a modern giveaway, .38 Special/.357 magnum.

I've looked for so long I guess I'd be alright with the .38 version but I'd most rather have one in .44 Special.
 
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