What do you consider to be the ultimate fighting revolver

[B!ngo]

I think it's an interesting thread. I'm not sure if I had a broad range of handgun choices that I'd choose a revolver. But if I did, my criteria would include:
A balance of rounds in the cylinder and
The potency of the rounds chambered
A sufficiently long barrel to present decent site control and picture
A great trigger in SA and DA to help with accuracy
A barrel weighted sufficiently to ensure quick and accurate follow up shots.
My choice thus would be any of the S&W .357 Performance Center 8-shot revolvers such as this current one:
Model 627 V Comp
5" weighted barrel with removable port
8 rounds of .357 mag or .38 special
Performance Center tuned for great trigger feel
To be honest, I'm not wild about the 2-tone (they used to make an all-stainless model but no longer) but heck, I'd make a sacrifice.
B

 

[Dave T]

The custom 581 shown early in this thread made me think there might be a few of you who would appreciate a variation on that idea.



This 681 was shortened to 3", round butted, converted to DAO, leading edge of the cylinder was beveled, Novak Mega Dot Tritium front sight was installed and finally the whole gun was fine bead blasted to give the frosted finish.

The gun that inspired the custom pictured above was this used purchase, originally offered by the S&W Custom Shop.



The un-fluted cylinder makes it heavier than it needs to be and the two tone Birdsong finish is just (expletive deleted) ugly. Shoots reasonably well in spite of all that.

Dave

 

[Orion8472]

B!ngo, . . . the thing I never liked about that S&W is that the barrel portion does not match the frame at all. It looks like some sort of S&W barred with a Taurus barrel.

I don't have revolvers, but if I were going to find one, I would prefer an 8 shot. It would be an open carry gun, for sure, . . . but it would have to have 8 shots available. Not very many options, though. Expensive S&W revolvers. . . . and Taurus.

 

[larryh1108]

Another vote for the S&W M19

 

[sidheshooter]

The custom 581 shown early in this thread made me think there might be a few of you who would appreciate a variation on that idea.

I've already said my piece on this thread, but I've got to chime in again: I like everything about that revolver.

 

[RealGun]

It's interesting how people become accustomed to a trigger and hammer that don't match the gun, even convincing themselves that they prefer something cynical and ugly. There have to be better looking alternatives, just as a matter of basic art and craftsmanship.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I'll go along with a re-issue of the New Service, although I'd prefer the Shooting Master configuration (adjustable sights.)

 

[back40]

It's interesting how people become accustomed to a trigger and hammer that don't match the gun, even convincing themselves that they prefer something cynical and ugly. There have to be better looking alternatives, just as a matter of basic art and craftsmanship.

it's interesting how you seem to find it necessary to call other's color case hardened triggers and hammers ugly and unattractive in multiple threads. your view of "basic art and craftsmanship" obviously differs from a great many other's.

if you're that bent out of shape about your color case hardened trigger and hammer, perhaps you should trade off that "ugly" gun and move on.

 

[larryh1108]

I'm sorry, did the lighting make it seem unacceptable to you? Here's a picture I just took just for you. Hopefully it will pass your judgement. I guess you don't like S&W factory hardware?





Stick that nose up any further and you can use it to catch flies while you drive....

 

[back40]

larryh1108, a fine revolver in any light imho.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

The ultimate fighting revolver is the one on hand....which is why we need to practice daily to really make it count....

Laura

 

[larryh1108]

Thanks back40, I don't think many gun people would say any S&W or Colt revolver is truly ugly. However, beauty is in the eye of the beholder no matter who or what it is.

I do agree that my photography skills aren't as good as my taste in guns. However, for someone to call out a gun as ugly, no matter what it is, has little tact and even less taste. I'd bet he even tells perfect strangers that they are ugly as well. You know the old saying,,,, it takes one to know one. It rings so true in a lot of ways in life.

 

[HighRoadRover]

As far as equipment goes, it might well be a 686 Plus, 3" barrel, relieved for moonclips, backed up with a bunch of moonclips loaded in .357.

No handgun is faster than a double-action revolver for the first cylinder's worth of shots, whether six or seven. After that, it is a reloading game, and the moonclips go along way towards making the revolver close the equal of the pistol (I agree with the theory that if you need more than 6 or 12 rounds, you have stayed there too long). If you factor in reliability, the revolver is hard to beat for self-defense scenarios!

 

[Drail]

I believe that most of the world records for react, draw and fire were all done with SA revolvers. Maybe that has changed. I have stood behind Jerry Miculek several times and seen what can be done with a DA though. It is truly frightening. If a person with that level of skill decided to shoot you, you would never even see it coming.

 

[ghitch75]

this....S&W 325PD loaded with these.....

 

[CraigC]

It's interesting how people become accustomed to a trigger and hammer that don't match the gun, even convincing themselves that they prefer something cynical and ugly. There have to be better looking alternatives, just as a matter of basic art and craftsmanship.

I think you'll find yourself the odd man out on that, 99.99% of the time.

Some people have no taste.

 

[David E]

No handgun is faster than a double-action revolver for the first cylinder's worth of shots, whether six or seven.

That just isn't true.

After that, it is a reloading game, and the moonclips go along way towards making the revolver close the equal of the pistol.

Also not true.

If you factor in reliability, the revolver is hard to beat for self-defense scenarios!

True!

 

[Dr_B]

A 4 inch .357magnum. But in response to the OP, a snubby is fine because a 4 inch barreled revolver is a duty-sized gun, not a carry gun. That snubby .357 lcr will mess up a bad guy real bad.

 

[PJSprog]

I've always been a revolver guy. While I own a couple of semis, I'll be carrying a revolver when my state finally gets its excrement together and gets a CCW system in place and functioning. My 6" 686 is my "go-to" weapon at home, but I'll likely end up carrying some manner of 5-shot .38+P as an everyday.

Just about any modern revolver will be just fine as a defensive weapon, so long as the user knows how and when to use it. Practice. Practice. Practice.

 

[Coyote3855]

Because I own them now, I would choose my Ruger Speed Six with 2 3/4 barrel in .357 or an old and somewhat abused Colt 1917 .45 ACP of course.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Interesting, since the Colt and S&W M1917s actually are fighting revolvers.

 

[gwalchmai]

K-frame was also issued to troops.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

K-frame was also issued to troops.

Yep. I saw a bunch of them turn into junk in Viet Nam.

 

[gwalchmai]

Yep. I saw a bunch of them turn into junk in Viet Nam.

I suspect that can be said of just about anything, but it doesn't change the fact that they were issued to troops and served well in three major wars.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I suspect that can be said of just about anything, but it doesn't change the fact that they were issued to troops and served well in three major wars.

I carried a Colt M357 my first tour, and an M1911A1 my second tour. The automatic was a better choice.