Best choice for buying a revolver

D

Doc Holliday 1950

New member
This has been asked a zillion times. My closest cousin wants to get a wheel gun.
He tried semis and put off by the reloading of clips and such. I promised him I'd help him to pick out a great 2" to 4" revolver,
He shot my 2'' Rossi 357, wife's LCR 357 and 4.2" Ruger GP100 all 357's and likes the weight and action of the Ruger best.
So, and I know this is fairly dangerous, he's looking to me to help him buy a great 5-7 shot revolver in a 357 mag.
What are your thoughts and reasons for your answers?
For this the budget is up to $1200.
I really want everyone to chime in on this. In my field of expertise I know exactly what to do, but in this???? A reminder, the Forum helped me 6 months ago to get the Ruger GP100 4.2" 357 mag.
I think either a Smith & Wesson or a Ruger is what's called for.
Doc
 
Smith has a nice 357 model 27-3 I believe. This comes from their performance shop I believe. My LGS has this for under $900 and online for less. I had a model 28 with 6 inch barrel and it was a tack driver and easy to shoot.
 
Sounds like the GP100 should be the choice from what I am reading. I myself wouldn't rule out a S&W 686 without at least firing it.
 
Doc Holliday 1950 said:
This has been asked a zillion times. My closest cousin wants to get a wheel gun.
He tried semis and put off by the reloading of clips and such. I promised him I'd help him to pick out a great 2" to 4" revolver,
He shot my 2'' Rossi 357, wife's LCR 357 and 4.2" Ruger GP100 all 357's and likes the weight and action of the Ruger best.
So, and I know this is fairly dangerous, he's looking to me to help him buy a great 5-7 shot revolver in a 357 mag.
What are your thoughts and reasons for your answers?
For this the budget is up to $1200.
I really want everyone to chime in on this. In my field of expertise I know exactly what to do, but in this???? A reminder, the Forum helped me 6 months ago to get the Ruger GP100 4.2" 357 mag.
I think either a Smith & Wesson or a Ruger is what's called for.
Doc
Click to expand...


With a $1200 budget, you really have a lot of options.

My first question is this: what will this revolver be for? Will this be carried, will this be a nightstand gun, or just a range toy.

I love S&W revolvers, and reccomend any of their old ones for any purpose.

For carry- either a full steel J frame 357 (a la Model 640) or a K frame of 3" or less, with channel rear sights (a la Model 65).

For HD- K/L frame 357 4" with adjustable target or channel sights (plenty of options here)

Range Toy- K/L 357 4"-6" with adjustable sights (Model 19, etc)

In the Rugers, you obviously have your GP100 series, but I also think the older Six series is a great gun for the money. The Service Six and the Speed Six in 357 are great for carry guns, and the Security Six with a 6" barrel is a great range gun.
 
Help cousin with new revolver purchase. D

Doc,your cousin is fortunate to have your experience and honesty helping him.:D The Firing Line,and your friends will help your cousin get that special revolver. Skeets
 
How is someone "put off" from reloading mags?

Anyway... It's hard to go wrong with a Ruger Six series, SP101 or GP100 but if you have that much to drop on one, you might as well take your pick from Smith's Performance Center.
 
Before buying anything, I suggest finding a S&W 686 and at least try it first.

I personally think the 3 inch 686+ (7 shots) is one of the best all-around revolvers ever made at any price. Find a nice used example or get a new one (the ones with the lock and MIM parts are just fine, don't let anyone tell you they aren't) and send it to the factory for the Master Revolver Action Package (definitely use the Express Service for only $20 more). This set up will spoil you. You'll never even look at a Ruger again.

I've owned several Colts (still own a Python), as well as multiple Ruger revolvers. The Rugers have all been solid, quality guns, but a tuned S&W is in a different league altogether. The Python is a work of art, but it will never see leather or hard use like my Smiths.
 
Older S&W would be fine, but can't stand the stupid lock gizmo on the new ones. So my choice would be Ruger or a older model S&W.
That what I have..................25 year old smith 617 and .357 mag Ruger S.six.:D
 
I usually recommend a 357 K/L frame 3-4" to new shooters because an easy way to "customize" it is new grips that fit their hand perfectly. There's about a zillion grip styles out there for one of these and with $1200 to spend he could try a whole bunch of grips to find the one he really likes.

These are also about the easiest to move if he decides later he wants something different.
 
With that kind of budget, he can get just about anything he wants. Smith & Wesson, Ruger, or even some of the Colts...forget the Python probably.

I think I'd truck on down to Ali-Babba's House O Guns, and pick up one of the new Smith & Wesson Model 66's...I forget the dash number. Or I'd get one of the new Model 27's...Yes, they've both got the lock, but I don't consider that to be a deal breaker. They can both be had for less than a grand.
 
I always enjoy Doc's posts. :)

If he liked the Ruger...

For carry, LCR (isn't that the polymer one?) or SP101.

For HD, GP100. My FiL has a terrific one.

Range toy, Blackhawk. My 6.5" Blackhawk is my newest range toy and it is lots of fun. My only 357 was a 4", and I got tired of the FiL outshooting me, so I got the Blackhawk. Things are pretty much even now.

If he were patient and scouted around he might be able to score three of the four for $1200 used. It took a couple of months, but I got the aforementioned Blackhawk for $300 in very nice condition. I have never shopped for the others (used). I think my FiL paid around $550 for his 6" GP100 brand-new. Its trigger and sights are outstanding.

Here is a bad picture of the Blackhawk:

Blackhawk20357_zpstt55vpkx.jpg
 
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And just for grins, here is my Sp101. I got the bigger grips to fit my XL hands better. The trigger is stiffer than I would like, but I am told they smooth out over time.

7139ec28-578a-4655-be3a-f30a26c85d74_zpsotqeajqm.jpg
 
Thanks TallBall and Skeets.

I just got some more info from him. He's moving from NJ down to sunny Florida
and told me that he wanted to get his carry permit ASAP.

So what he wants it primarily for SD and to carry and of course going to the range with his "big older cousin" and having friendly contests.

We already discussed going to the different GS's/range, here in Fl. and checking out the Smiths and the Rugers. I know he likes my GP100 4.2", but I want him to try the Smiths as well. So, please keep on replying to this post with your thoughts. After going to the range with him yesterday, I could tell that he shot the 4.2" much better than my 2". we were shooting Magtech 38 sp. 158 gr. plinking ammo and he liked that he could use several different types of ammo with the 357. Hope this info helps.

Doc
Happy New Year
 
Doc, if he's going to be carrying it (T-shirts and shorts), I would suggest either the Ruger LCR or the Airweight J frames like the 642 or 442. I have both of those and the Ruger is lighter by a tiny amount. The Smiths are quieter, the LCR rattles (transfer bar). If I had to choose one I'd go with the Smith and Wesson. Solid revolver.
 
With a $1200 budget, he can easily afford a Chiappa Rhino. Barrel is on the bottom of the cylinder, so it has no muzzle flip because it pushes straight back. Every family or friend member that has fired mine has loved it. You can one hand fire .357 magnum no problem and you get to ignore anyone's comments about lower recoil rounds making for a better self defense round because of controllability issues.
Rhino-4_zpslgnymis4.jpg
 
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