What do you consider to be the ultimate fighting revolver

[Claude Clay]

everyone has a (different) opinion
and i try to moderate my comments understanding that and not seeking to
purposely tick some one off cause their idea of pretty may differ from mine

but this is about fighting revolvers and i have trouble with those two words together as a concept;
i've felt that hand guns are a defensive too;l though if pushed into a defensive roll some will perform quite well -- clearing enemy tunnels in war for instance or your home if that's all you have in the moment of need.

much rather a 1911 but for a revolver id want a dependable large bore with full sized grips and a minimum 4" barrel. grip so i can hold the gun tight when i use the long barrel as a striking tool.

accuracy is necessary cause with only 6 (or 7) shots ain't likely you'll be laying down much suppression fire. id go with either my CASS 45LC or for barrier penetration the same in 357. or any 4" S&W M66 in 357 ( or a Ruger).

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Claude: "ain't likely you'll be laying down much suppression fire" ........................
"When someone fires 5-6 round at you, are you really counting, and assuming they only have a revolver at that point, and haven't quickly reloaded?

 

[Kleanbore]

...the group of older guys kinda laughed and said no disrespect to you but "you missed out on the glory years of revolvers" the group all agreed that a 4 I ch barrel would be preferable over anything else long or short and that if if didnt start with a 357 or a 44 mag or 44 special 45 colt they do not meet the right criteria to make the perfect fighting revolver so I ask you what do you think makes the perfect fighting revolver.

It might be fun to reflect upon just what were the "glory years of revolvers".

If you were a Texas Ranger chasing the Comanche back in the day, the five shot Colt Paterson would have served you rather well, but it would not have been perfect. A six shot Walker .44 would have been a lot better.

In the war Between the States, a .44 Army--either Colt or Remington--would have served you well. And also on the plains. But only until you had acquired a revolver that used self-contained metallic cartridges. The Single Action Army and its Remignton counterpart were highly sought after, but a top-break Schofield or a S&W American would have been easier to reload and would have been "more perfect."

But double action was even more "perfect". The Colt Army proved lacking in power. Enfields and Webleys were undoubtedly superior. The excellent .45 Colt New Service 1909 was almost made standard, but by then, the days of the "fighting revolver" were waning. Semi autos prevailed except as substitute standard (Model 1917 revolvers, for example) or for carry by aircrew, guards, or Air Police, everywhere but the British Empire. Or for police departments, of course.

But even those revolvers have been retired. Now even the Indian Army uses semi autos.

If I had to carry a "fighting revolver" I think it might be a Ruger with moon clips, because of the ease of maintenance. But it would not be my first choice.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

If you were a Texas Ranger chasing the Cherokee back in the day

When did the Texas Rangers chase the Cherokee?

 

[back40]

those are some mighty fine looking six-guns, craig!

skidder, that security six is sweet!

 

[Kleanbore]

Comanche.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

4in S&W 66 or maybe a 686 if the weight isn't an issue.

Ruger GP100 in 4in would be my next suggestion. All in .357mag.

 

[JShirley]

Mr. Clay,

Have you tested penetration from the .45 Colt vs. .357?

I have seen quite a few people express an idea that heavy, slow bullets will penetrate less. In real life, bullet construction matters, but other factors being equal, a heavy, slow bullet usually penetrates more in barriers than a faster, lighter one.

John

 

[MartinS]

Barriers come in hard, like armor, and soft, like, well, lots of stuff. A small cross section projectile may do better into hard I think.

 

[5thSFGroup]

Here is a horror story for you....I have some friends who are my age and now have sons in Special Forces in the sand box. They were issued 9mm much to their disappointment. They were also issued 200 rounds. They went out to practice and returned to supply to draw additional rounds to replace what they shot up....they were denied and told that the 200 rounds is all they get. They now have to trade rounds out to whoever is on duty and then get the rounds back when it is their turn. Nice way to treat the tip of the spear. The other point is that 9mm have wormed their way into the combat material.

 

[Pilot]

Soldiers used to carry revolvers. Some flight crews still do.

I don't know of any U.S. "flight crews" that carry revolvers, and I don't recall any other countries airmen carrying them either. U.S. flight crews carry the Beretta M9 or Sig M11 depending on branch. Maybe I have overlooked some though.

 

[TestPilot]

There is a team of combat, not sport, professionals who takes revolver very seriously. It's the GIGN of France. Their choice is Manurhin MR-73.

Absent that choice, I am planning on buying a 3 inch barrel GP100 357 Magnum.

 

[Dave T]

No offense Mr. TestPilot, but the French haven't been roll models for picking combat weapons for a very long time...if ever.

Dave

 

[40-82]

The ultimate fighting revolver? Maybe the U.S. Model 1909 45 Colt New Service. When I sense something unknown out there in the night, and I grip the old Colt a little tighter, I know that whatever is out there is nothing compared to what this Colt has seen in the Philippines, the Great War, the banana wars, and probably even World War II. The touch of the Colt is a comforting feeling.

 

[PabloJ]

No offense Mr. TestPilot, but the French haven't been roll models for picking combat weapons for a very long time...if ever.

Dave

Having had PA-15 at one time I would have to agree. Instead of fielding MR73 they should have had Colt, Ruger or S&W make revolver for them. The MR73 was imported into this county in 70s but it cost about three times more then quality US DA/SA revolver therefore almost nobody bought them.

 

[JShirley]

5thSF,

I have been attached to two different ODA teams. They had an entire 40' Conex full of ammo for no more than 12 guys total, including attached troops like my 5-man fire team, with chopper support. That story is not believable for SF.

John

 

[WC145]

5thSF,

I have been atrached to two different ODA teams. They had an entire 40' Conex full of ammo for no more than 12 guys total, including attached troops like my 5-man fire team, with chopper support. That story is not believable for SF.

John

I agree. My boy is a USAF TACP on his 3rd A-stan deployment in 4 years, and, while not SOC or SF, he does get to play with the big boys on occasion and if there's one thing they're not lacking it's ammo.

 

[pittspilot]

My preference may be my 625-2 in .45 ACP.

 

[easyg]

GP100

 

[brutus51]

My vote is for a 4" S&W 625 mountain gun in .45 Colt, mainly because a .45 Colt will handle just about anything anywhere and do it with less muzzle blast and recoil.

 

[Claude Clay]

Mr. Clay,

Have you tested penetration from the .45 Colt vs. .357?

I have seen quite a few people express an idea that heavy, slow bullets will penetrate less. In real life, bullet construction matters, but other factors being equal, a heavy, slow bullet usually penetrates more in barriers than a faster, lighter one.

John

---------actually yes, i have tested. what i did not say ( typing isn't easy for me) is that by '45LC' i am assuming ( my bad) a 250gr LRN bullet and a 357 is a jacketed 125 or 158gr bullet. windshield glass means little to either but the 357 performers better through wood thicker than 2"; the 45 seldom even penetrates. though through medium density material, where the material has space to be pushed aside, the 45LC is , as you say, a very good performer

one of my house guns is a 4" m66; by my bedside is a 1911 with a 10 stick and e-muffs.
my preferred is a m-1 carbine but my daughter now has that and besides, this about revolvers.

 

[JShirley]

Thanks for the follow-up. I respect folks who base their choice on actual practice and testing instead of guesses.

John

 

[Black Butte]

I love case-hardened guns, and CraigC's revolvers are fine looking specimens.

 

[armsmaster270]

Any of these

 

[Robert]

Focus on the pistols and simply accept that some people like different things. STOP BICKERING.