Author Topic: Revolvers. What do you own? (Read 1550 times)

slickest · « **on:** January 04, 2009, 11:59:39 AM »

Im curious to see what brand, calibers, and barrel lengths of revolvers that people own and for what reason they chose that revolver.

I have been busy ice fishing and spending my money on that so I havent really bought any firearms in a while and i would really like to get a pistol. I have been leaning towards a .357 S&W 6" with open sights. It would mainly be a target/plinker gun and carried as an back up when deer hunting and on my canoe trips since their has started to be alot of mountain lion sightings around here.

I think a .357 fits the description as what I need perfectly But as I said just curious to see what other people have bought and why.

Thanks for the time guys.

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #1 on:** January 04, 2009, 01:07:48 PM »

I'd rather not list the guns I own but that s&w 6" sounds perfect for what you are looking to do with it.

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #2 on:** January 04, 2009, 01:09:13 PM »

Sorry should have recommended the model 66 or 686 if you like heavier barrels

Brett · « **Reply #3 on:** January 04, 2009, 01:58:01 PM »

Taurus Model 94 (early model) - .22lr, - 9 shot, 4" barrel, blued, adjustable sites. Bought for plinking.

High Standard Double Nine "Camp Gun" - 22lr/.22mag - 6" barre, bluedl w/ adjustable target sites and target grips. Originally purchased for plinking and small game hunting. This gun was manufactured by the original High Standard Inc. in E. Hartford, CT. I have noticed that identical guns have been fetching about three times what I originally payed for it some 15 years ago so I have placed it into semi-retirement no longer using it in the field.

S&W Model 60 - .38spl, - 5 shot, 2" barrel, stainless. Just upgraded with a nice set of green/gold/black laminate boot grips Purchased for personal defense. Bought this gun in the late 80s for $250 from an FBI agent friend who had carried it as a back up piece until the Bureau forced the switch to 9mms.

Ruger Super Single Six - 22lr/.22mag - 6.5" barrel, adjustable sites, blued w/ rosewood grips. This gun was purchased to fill the shoes of my High Standard for field work.

That's it... so far.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #4 on:** January 04, 2009, 02:15:01 PM »

I have a few or three but your on the right track IMHO, I lean towards rugers Thou, A GP 100 or Blackhawk would serve ya well.

Foggy · « **Reply #5 on:** January 04, 2009, 02:23:03 PM »

I would have to recomend a S&W model 28 4" Highway patrolman

Bigeasy · « **Reply #6 on:** January 04, 2009, 02:43:35 PM »

A double action .357 is a good choice for an all around field carry gun. Over the years I have gravitated to big bore single actions, but that is just a personal choice. I would lean towards a 4 inch barrel length. A 6 inch barrel makes the revolver a little harder to carry if you ride a lot in a truck, or sit in a kayak. Harder to conceal as well. You really give up little by going to 4 inches, especially if it is not your primary hunting weapon. Just make sure you get something with adjustable sights. Blued is nice, stainless is more durable. I don't know if I would buy new. There are a lot of police turn ins that have been carried a lot, but fired little, at real good prices. Any of the big names are good - S&W, Colt, Ruger, Dan Wesson. Stay away from Taurus - from personal experience.

For plinking, or just messing around, you can't beat a .38 spl. wadcutter / semi-wadcutter load. Works well on small game as well. For serious use against lions and bears, I would choose a good full power .357 158 grain controlled expansion soft point, like the XTP. You might get a little better penetration with a hard cast solid, but I think considering the caliber (bullet diameter) a little expansion is good. I once killed a 275 lbs. black bear with one shot, center chest, as he was facing me, with a S&W 586, 4 inch, .357 mag 125 Remington hollowpoint. Not my first choice, but I was deer hunting with a rifle. I had set the rifle down, figuring I would try the revolver. All of a sudden, there he was, 20 yards away. It was my duty revolver at the time, and I was pretty good with it, so I took the shot. 1 shot, he "woofed", spun around, and died. You should have seen the look on his face, I don't know who was more shocked, me or him.

Larry

45-70.gov · « **Reply #7 on:** January 04, 2009, 02:49:59 PM »

i am never with out my 2 inch 357

a 4 or 5 inch will pocket

6 will shoot better

CHECK HUNTING LAWS REGUARDING HUNTING

my 5 inch 629 smith is my altime favorite

686 will hold 7 rounds now

Mikey · « **Reply #8 on:** January 05, 2009, 12:47:32 AM »

Foggy x 2. Mikey.

Savage · « **Reply #9 on:** January 05, 2009, 01:42:04 AM »

A 4" mdl 19/60 Smith will do everything you want to do and pack a little easier than the mdls 27/28. Don't forget the used Security Six/Speed Six. Great guns for very little jack!
Savage

45-70.gov · « **Reply #10 on:** January 05, 2009, 03:40:32 AM »

i had a mod 28 once

same size as my 29

whats the point in a big gun with medium bullets [unless its one of the new 8 shooters]

S.B. · « **Reply #11 on:** January 05, 2009, 03:57:39 PM »

Here's a peek inside my safe, currently. Mostly S&Ws and few Colts and one Ruger. They range from .22 to .45 Colt.
Steve

Dand · « **Reply #12 on:** January 05, 2009, 10:00:18 PM »

won't go into what I own but mostly 357/38 and 41 mags. For what you describe, I'd agree that a 4 inch gun might be a lot handier. Love my 4 inch stainless Security 6 - very rugged - probably the revolver I shoot best. Love rabbit hunting with it. I have carried Federal 180 cast core when bears might be a concern but not enough worried to take the 41 mag.

Savage · « **Reply #13 on:** January 06, 2009, 01:56:47 AM »

Dand,
I have a stainless Security Six with the 6" barrel. I picked it up years ago for $200. Only use it for centerfire falling plates. Don't care for the 6" for carry. Probably the best buy out there in the used market! Built like a tank and should last forever. It would make a great choice for the OP! I mentioned it briefly in my first post.
Savage

Oldtimer · « **Reply #14 on:** January 06, 2009, 02:55:22 AM »

I have revolvers from a .22 Ruger Single Six to A Virginian Dragoon in .44 Magnum. Most of the time, when I carry in the woods, I have a 3 inch nickeled Rossi. It is also my revolver when the wife and I go walking. I use 200 grain Super Police loads, since I want penetration. I bought a used S&W model 64 with a 4 inch barrel for when I go fishing or canoeing. The first round is a CCI shot capsule, since we have lots of snakes in southern Virginia. If I go larger, it is an old Ruger Blackhawk in 41 Magnum with a 4 5/8 inch barrel. I have dropped two deer with it, using 240 grain lead SWC's.

I mostly agree with what Bigeasy said, except I would go with fixed sights for a utility gun, and then find a load to shoots to point of aim.

slickest · « **Reply #15 on:** January 06, 2009, 05:53:17 AM »

Whats the biggest difference between the 4 and 6 inch barrel? Will I be losing alot of accuracy between the 4 and 6 inch barrel? Or is the 6inch barrel just more of a hassle to carry around and handle compared to the loss of accuracy using a 4in barrel? i stated it would moslty be for plinking and canoe trips but maybe i might use it deer hunting. Depends on the situation.

I just want to make the right choice before i go purchase a firearm that i plan on keeping.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #16 on:** January 06, 2009, 06:55:15 AM »

YOU DO NOT LOSE ACCURACY WITH THE SHORTER BARREL
some people don't shoot as well due to lost sighting radious
a few can see the sights better in the shorte ones
i short barrel is more accurate due to less vibrations but we will never detect that

you do loose velocity and the accompanying bullet drop
you gain muzzle blast as barrel shortens [detrimental to accuracy]

my 2 inch smith is traveling 1250 just cronographed [357 125g mod640]
and i can out shoot most any one i have met with any open sighted hand gun

RBishop · « **Reply #17 on:** January 07, 2009, 10:19:39 AM »

I like a 3" S&W revolver myself. I think its the best "all-around" barrel length. I prefer it in .44 mag.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #18 on:** January 07, 2009, 03:03:57 PM »

i just got the 3 inch 29....had to get a 4 inch holster

it is surprisingly accurate so far

a real blast to shoot with hot loads......literaly

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #19 on:** January 08, 2009, 04:48:42 AM »

If you are going to carry it for hunting, check the local regs. Some have barrel length minimums.

Dand · « **Reply #20 on:** January 08, 2009, 03:13:03 PM »

Slick - handgun barrel length is quite a thing to consider. Regarding accuracy, I feel like I shoot some of my shorter barrel guns more accurately because with less time in the barrel, the bullet has less time for me to wiggle and to get pointed the wrong way. Since I wear glasses it might be that with the sights closer together, I might actually see them better. Overall, I haven't felt like the longer sight radius helps me much. Could also be that I'm not real strong and the bigger, longer guns are harder for me to hold well or to hold still.

The hard part comes when you want to maximize power - then the longer barrels help.

That's where a bigger bore can help. A big 44 or 45 caliber bullet can loaf along pretty slow and still pack a lot of punch (for big game) compared to the 357 or 41.

So it comes down somewhat to expected use. But if in a canoe, I'm pretty certain you'd find a 4 in bbl much handier. Also, when I'm boating I do not carry the hunk of iron on me - I don't float all that well and don't want to add 2 - 3 lbs of anchor to my body. I'd hang it on a thwart or something. Also where the smaller lighter gun is handier.

HTH

Flash · « **Reply #21 on:** January 23, 2009, 04:18:03 AM »

There is only one to chose in my opinion.............Ruger!

Smilin' Jack · « **Reply #22 on:** January 23, 2009, 04:14:50 PM »

Revolvers. What do you own.
----------------------------

Have a Colt Officer's Model Match .22 LR, I bought at K-Mart in 1971. (By the time I saved up the $130, or whatever, I missed the .22 Cal. Diamondback.)

Have a little S&W snubby 432 PD (hammerless) Airweight in .32 H&R Mag.

Also, 2 matching Ruger Vaqueros, case colored/black micarta birdshead grips- in .32 H&R Mag. (single-six), and a .45 Colt.

But a couple of Double Action Revolvers I really respect and treasure are my Dan Wesson Model 15-2, .357 Mag. and my Dan Wesson .44 Mag. These are great handguns- and maybe- can still be found at bargain prices.

LONGTOM · « **Reply #23 on:** January 23, 2009, 06:54:22 PM »

A 357 will serve you well.
I prefer the bigger bores myself.
Don't have to be loaded all that hot to get the job done.
Maybe a 44 special would fill the bill nicely.
Very pleasant to shoot but big enough to get the job done!
Regardless of what brand or even what caliber you choose the secret is PRACTISE, PRACTISE, PRACTISE!!!

LONGTOM

darrell8937 · « **Reply #24 on:** January 25, 2009, 01:50:03 PM »

Flash..

That is quite a collection.. You must be proud! you must have worked alot of overtime to secure such a vast collection I just can't be faithful to just one brand!(women yes) Life is all about variety! I have/had some rugers, BFR's S&W,etc.. I like my Dan Wessons the best. Variety is the spice of life! Thank a vetran. for securing our god given right to colect own and enjoy all these fine revolvers.. I too as well as many of my friends have large collection. Some just don;t understand.. But they are on MTV web site doing whatever they do! I pray I never have to distribute my collection to defend this nation. But remain ready.