Posted: 5/19/2013 10:50:46 AM EDT
| I don't own a revolver and I would like that to change. What is a good starter revolver for someone who knows nothing about them? |
|
My favorite is a stainless Ruger SP101 3inch .357 mag.
While it's not as easy to find a holster for it as a snubbie, shooting magnums out of it is a whole lot better and it's still not a hard gun to conceal . Also you can always start shooting .38 specials for practice to keep price down. Mine has had the internals polished by the first owner and has a very smooth pull. I shoot it almost as well in double action as in single and in single actions the trigger is very nice and crisp, kind of like a 1911. I find it being a very nice revolver for the price, while it may not be a S&W, it was also the least expensive gun I ever purchased and it's was in LNIB shape (spent casing envelop was dated just over one months prior to my purchasing it). |
|
These things always quickly turn into a "My favorite gun" list.
Decide on WHAT you want to use the gun for. It can be a specific use, like a Target revolver, a home defense gun, a concealed carry gun, a plinker, OR ALL OF THEM as a general do-it-all gun. Once you have an idea of what you want to use it for, get online and look over S&W and Ruger's web sites. Between them they offer many models, and can meet any conceivable need. There are used guns and other, foreign gun makers, but S&W and Ruger are the best, with the best reputation. Then go to gun shops and try to handle the models you think will meet your needs. If you live in an area that has a range that rents guns, rent some that look interesting and shoot them. |
| What is considered a good all around revolver? I think I would use it mostly as a range gun, I have a carry concealed and home protection gun so no need to double up. A follow up question would be how much and available is the ammo for the gun you are recommending? |
|
S&W 686
I own S&W , Colt and Ruger Colts are pretty much beat to hell or priced as collectors Rugers are stout as all get out but compared to S&W guns their triggers are second rate IMHO. A good trigger in a revolver will make the difference between Just a tool and something that is a joy to use Yes Rugers can be made decent with a bit of effort but that same effort on a average S&W will give you a thing of beauty . 686 - Lots of other good S&W models but a 686 is a great starting place |
| I recommend starting out with a 22 LR revolver. Light recoil, and cheap to shoot, Learn the fundamentals of handling and shooting a revolver,, and then move up to a 38 or 357 later on. Buy a good one and you can get your money back later when you trade it in for centerfire revolver. |
|
Quoted:
I think a good range gun is a model 10 Smith, 38 cal. Available. Affordable. Nice triggers. Ammo WAS cheap. Lots of grips. Different barrel lengths. Just a really nice gun with a long history. Mustang, you should check these out: http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/654_774/products_id/411545790 Hard to go wrong for a first revolver, and you don't have to worry about messing up the finish. Reviews have been pretty positive on these, too. |
|
Semi-autos are better combat handguns, but revolvers are superior to semi-autos in a lot of ways. The triggers are better, they don't beat up brass, brass is easier to collect, and they accept a crazy range of load types.
The caliber you seek is .357mag. It's a very versatile chambering, and it's fun to shoot. I'm also going to suggest a barrel between 4" and 6". Anything less, and you're getting blast instead of velocity. Anything more, and you've got a heavy gun that's no fun for long range sessions. Guns I recommend: Ruger GP100- These are tough guns, if a bit crude, and they can sometimes be found for $400-$450. They're a definite win at that price. Retail new is well into the $600 range. That's a no-go. That kind of money can buy you a much nicer gun. Ruger Security Six- This is the predecessor to the GP100. They're out there, and they can sometimes be found for cheap. The action seems a bit smoother than that of the GP100, too. S&W L frames (586 and 686)- A pre-lock 586 is at the top of my shopping list right now. These guns are, in my mind, perfect for the cartridge. Great size, great balance, great trigger. I've had less than great luck in my search, but deals are out there. S&W N frames (27 and 28)- These are basically the same gun. The 27 is the beautiful, high polish version, and the 28 aka "Highway Patrolman" is the cheaper, matte utility gun. The N frame is designed to accommodate much larger calibers like .44mag, so it might be a bit excessive for .357mag. I recently shot a 27-2 with a 8 3/8" barrel. It shot really well, but I think it maybe absorbed the recoil a little too well. They also make the 327 and 627 which are N frame 357s that hold 8 rounds. Dan Wessons- Prices tend to be high, but deals are out there. Dan Wesson revolvers are really well made, really tough guns. The thing that makes them special is the ability to swap barrels, assuming you can find them. You probably won't find one, but know what they are just in case you get a random opportunity. Guns I'm neutral on- Ruger SP101- They're available with 4" barrels, but most are smaller. To me, they're too small to be a target gun, and too heavy to be a carry gun considering the 5 shot capacity. Chiappa Rhino- These are neat, but they're expensive, and they feel a bit goofy to me. My opinion may change if I get an opportunity to shoot one, but I have a hard time seeing it as a good buy. Colt- Colt has made some guns with some slick actions, but pricing is across the board. I've seen some decent values on guns with import marks, and I've seen stuff get crazy expensive. Of the big three (Colt, S&W, and Ruger), Colts seem to be the least gunsmith friendly and require the most attention. I don't think I'd recommend one as a first revolver, unless you go into it well informed and you get a good deal. Guns I don't recommend: Taurus- 'Nuff said. S&W K frames- They're nice guns, and they're a nice size, but they can't take a steady diet of .357s. If you're going to get a .38spc, by all means, look for the K frames, but if you go for .357, it's better to keep shopping. (If you decide to look for a .22lr revolver, K frame S&Ws are the forged bundles of pure joy. Anything else not listed above?- I might be missing something, but I there are a lot of oddballs out there, and most are either too crappy or too expensive to recommend. This advice assumes you're looking for a double action revolver. If you're looking for a single action gun, just go get a Blackhawk and be done with it. |
|
.22 - Ruger Single Six, S&W Mod 18, or S&W 617
38/357 - Ruger GP100, S&W 686/586, S&W mod 19/63 44 mag - Ruger Super Blackhawk, Ruger Super Redhawk, S&W Mod 29/629 For real fun... 45 ACP - S&W 625/525 Nothing less than a 4" barrel and a 5" or 6" would be great if it was not carried much. |
|
As said, these quickly become "my favorite gun" threads.
Since you don't want a defense or CCW gun, and want a range gun, here's what I recommend: Buy a quality, factory new gun. If you have a problem, the warranty will take care of it. Used guns can have issues you don't find until it's yours and can cost you more money to repair. Buy a medium frame double action. These are stronger and more durable than small framed revolvers, and offer lower recoil feel due to the weight and better grip options. A medium frame model has a much better "shootability" then smaller frames. Buy a 4 inch barrel, it's the most "handy" unless you decide on a 6 inch for the longer sight radius. A 4 inch offers lower muzzle blast then shorter barrels, 6 inch offer even better reduction in blast. Which is a matter of what feels best to you. Buy a model with adjustable sights so you can sight it in with whatever ammo you want. Fixed sight guns may shoot off center and can't easily be corrected. Unless you just love bluing, buy a stainless model. These are more durable and have no finish to wear. If it gets scratched you can re-surface it with a Scotchbrite polishing pad. Buy a .357 Magnum. If you buy a .357 you can shoot anything from very light .38 Special "Mid-Range" target loads to full charge Magnum loads. This is much more versatile and the Magnum models usually have better features, like the sights and grips, and have a higher resale value. Buy a S&W or Ruger. These are the highest quality revolvers made today, and each has a top warranty. Each has a plentiful range of accessories like grips, sights, speed loaders, holsters, etc. Each is of a quality that a good gunsmith or the company itself can modify it to have a better, smoother trigger action. Either will last a lifetime and then some. |
|
Quoted:
With a 357 you can also shoot 38. I would look at this first as a great starter. You can shoot two calibers in one. .38 is great for plinking and there are some decent +P loads out there that a revolver chambered in .357 will handle with ease. .357 magnum is a great all-around cartridge. |
|
Quoted:
As said, these quickly become "my favorite gun" threads. Since you don't want a defense or CCW gun, and want a range gun, here's what I recommend: Buy a quality, factory new gun. If you have a problem, the warranty will take care of it. Used guns can have issues you don't find until it's yours and can cost you more money to repair. *snip* I agree with most of what you've said except this. In the case of Ruger, it's a matter of value. New GP100s are ~$650, give or take a bit. I somewhat frequently see used GP100s between $400 and $450. The probability of getting a defective one is pretty damn small, and you can probably get a repair and a trigger job for less than what a new one would cost. For S&Ws, it's more about quality, but value is still a variable. I've seen some talk (internet anecdotal evidence, I guess) that there have been more QC issues with S&W revolvers in the recent past. I haven't had any issues myself, but it seems to be recurring talking point. Another thing is that damn lock. If OP gets an older gun, he can avoid it. A pre-lock S&W is a better investment, because the values on them are rising as more and more people hunt for them. |
Win a FREE Membership!
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.