Combat Revolver choice?

D

Deerinator

New member
This is probably been done to death but i'm new to this site and the revolver bug has bit me and its starting to itch. I have grown from my child like obsession with gazzilion capacity mags in sleek auto loaders to the more "adult" version of a pistol made to make hits. Don't get me wrong i still like to drop 15 rounds on a target but my shooting skills dimish with time as i do this and am going to go back to my roots and shoot like i mean it with a revolver. Something about knowing you have 6(sometime 7 or 8) to make it count makes you a better shot in my mindset about things anyway and the benefits of the revolver such as potent ammo, less likely of malfuction, generally they point better for me anyway, and accurate to boot without investing money into a action job. Okay my revival to the revolver rant is over and lets get down to the nitty gritty.

As some of you know i purchased a model 19 smith with 6 inch barrel and love the thing but the Fragileness of the rear sight makes me cringe at having to deploy with speed and in doing so crack that baby off. I know it seems far fetch but i would rather have solid site for a gun fight. So this has lead me toward another road to spend more money. I WANT A COMBAT REVOLVER BAD.

I recently handles a Taurus model 65 with 4 inch barrel and that thing fit the bill for me in terms of pointability and the 357 loads i know have the power to stop but alas the cylinder in lock up was shacky..it moves maybe not quite 1/8 when i played with it and i asked my local dealer and he said that it was perfectly fine to shoot and that wasn't a problem. Well maybe it wasn't a issue but i wasn't going to chance paying 275 for a used taurus that i didn't feel comfortable holding up for long but he said that they have a lifetime warranty on there guns and its good to any purchaser not just the original but to all purcasers! I didn't want to chance it so i passed. But the idea of a light no nonsense 357 set up for combat was still a future purchase and i need your help on the selection of a model.

I would like the sights to be fixed but i want a inherently accurate gun with a 4 inch barrel and be able to shoot mild 357 loads all its life. With a 6 shot capactiy.

I was interested in the taurus 65 in stainless but i don't own one of there guns and can't attest to there durability and accuracy but i do like the companys warranty.

Another choice was the M66 from smith&wesson but the price isn't a great pleasure to me but hey you get what you pay for.

And finally the ruger gp-100 BUT i don't believe they have fixed sights do they?

I know S&W and Ruger are both great companies with great guns and i would do good to buy one of them and be happy. I am more curious to see if The TAURUS line is a diamond in the ruff that is hindered because it is made in brazil and if that is all that the scuffle about them is i would gladly pay 300 bucks less and get one of those..also does their warranty hold good to all purchasers and not just the orginal purcaser.

I would gladly hear input on people who have dealt with all 3 of these firearms for their comparison on the subject of a combat revolver. Or if that is to far fetched someone who has dealt with the three companys and general and can attest to the quality that they bring to the tabel.

Thank you for your time and advice.
 
I've owned several S&W, Colt, and Taurus revolvers. When I ended up selling off most of the sizeable collection, I ended up keeping just a couple.

S&W 66-2 (3")
S&W 10 (2")

I've added a 65LS (3") and feel that I've got all I need.

That being said, of the many Taurus revolvers (80, 82, 65, 66, 85, 605, 617, 627) I've owned I was really fond (favorite) of the 2" Model 617CH. It was a DAO 2" compact framed blue steel, rubber-gripped, fixed-sight 357 magnum with 7-shot cylinder. That was one fine shooting snubby. It fit my hands great, shot the tightest groups, and was slick on the trigger. Could fire that thing so fast and accurately at the range that guys in adjacent lanes would stop and see WTF was going on. When you can offload 7, reload and offload another 7 fast and smooth -- it gets attention.


I used to carry it and 2 HKS-587 speedloaders stoked with +P LSWC-HP, and NEVER felt undergunned. The Buck folder made a fine backup knife companion too.

Taurus has had quality issues in the past, but I think by and large, they have made great strides as of late.
 

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What dash number is your 6 inch model 19? My 6 inch is a 19-3, made around 1974 and the rear sight is very solid.
Oh, and I bought a Taurus 617 brand new last year and the cylinder locked up on it during my first range trip.
 
Many good Revolvers!

Deerinator,

I've never owned a Taurus. I have owned S&W, Colt and Ruger. They are all fine weapons. I carry (legally in La.) a Colt Detective Sp. stoked with Federal Hydra-Shoks in a non +P load. In all fairness, I feel that I'd be better off in a self-defense scenario with my S&W Model 10 (with an odd 5-inch barrel). At the risk of sounding immodest, I can HIT with it!
Ditto for my Ruger GP100 (with a trigger job from Clark Custon Guns!) and my stock S&W 586. I've logged 1,000's of rounds with each. Knocked down alot of steel plates at 10-15 yds. I've also owned a Colt Python. These are simply the finest .357's made by anyone. Accurate as hell! Smoooth trigger. One must shoot one to believe what an enjoyable experience it is.
To sum up: S&W,Ruger and Colt (Troopers, King Cobra's and the Python) make revolvers with which a semi-skilled shooter could with confidence, bet his life. I agree with you, there's just something about having only 6..also I feel so comfortable and confidant with that D/A trigger. My two cents and YMMV. Good luck! Let us know what you buy!

Respectfully,
Eggman :)
 
Speaking for Ruger sights, on my Super Blackhawk they've stayed sighted in after 600+ rounds of .44 mag. That, and I have carried it around the woods and such, dropped it once. They seemed the same sight when I looked at one in a shop(planning to get myself one for general purpose... SBH is to dang heavy to carry on the trail for long).

I've heard good things about the SP101, which the sights are fixed on.

On another note, my dad's M15-3, which dates to around '75 has the S&W adjustable sights and they are very sturdy, though I have not shot it yet(and its only been shot 6 times).
 
Combat revolver huh? Well there is only one revolver left in use in modern US military service. Its the S&W 686 used by the US Navy SEALS. If you want a combat revolver I'd dare say there is only one choice.
 
Bulldozer-Thanks for your input on the revolvers you carried. I like the m66 design as well as the model 10. Good to see my choices are your top two choices.

Boss Spearman-I was told my revolver was in the 70's but the number under the yoke is 19-5. The rear sight is a solid but the insert in the rear sight apeture is what i worry about breaking. And i quickly found out that 6 inch is good for defense shooting but i want something a little more lighter and just as potent.

Larry C.-Thanks on your input into your experience. The model 10 seems to be a gun everyone is good with. The gp-100 is nice the only beef i have with it at all is the blockyness of it but if i put my mits on it and it fits i wouldn't be unhappy with it. I have a ruger redhawk and the grip is to short for my hand and i don't what this to be a issue. Is there a grip that increases the length up and down while still being solid. I like my smith 19 grip witht the "bell at the bottom as it is just long enough for my hand.

Jonathan-Is the sp101 a small frame gun? Like a j model type or a k-model type when compared to smiths?

The Body Bagger-Holy toledo i didn't know the seals carried revolvers still. I like the 686 except the price. For my taste i want a more meat and potatoes revoler but thank you for you advice.

Sir william-What is a model 15 is that like a model 10? Of is that a 357? Every one says a 38 +p ammo is a definet man stopper...so in theroy if i got old model 10 it would serve me just like having a mild 357 load?

Babe Louie-Thank you one pointing out that the gp-100 has a fixed sight option. I missed that. Would you recommend the half luged or full luged in a 4 inch barrel?

Thanks for the input guys that was really great of you for your advise in these firearms.

My list for a choice is a Taurus Model 65, Smith Model 10, 15, another 19, Ruger Gp-100 and sp101. That about covers my decision.

If i go with a 38 special and load it with +p ammo hollow points that could stop say a 250 pound attacker right?

This gun would be a everyday carry for me at work and on the farm so anything from a diseased coon to a crazy hillbilly is in the sights with this type of firearm i wish to purchase so i don't know is the 38 would be the best choice thats why i opted for a 357 to handle crazys but i don't know about 38 and 357 enough yet to warrant a completly informed decision.

Thanks guys and keep the info coming if there is any.
 
I don't know how the SP101 compares to a J frame(honestly, I have never fondled a J frame), though I have handled an SP101 and it is a small frame. 5 shots though, that might be a concern for you.

The m15 is a heavier barrelled M10 if I am not mistaken, and its available with adjustable sights or the normal fixed groove. If your planning to shoot JUST .38 spl, go with an m15. If you look you can find one with a NICE crisp DA trigger pull :D
 
jonathan-I don't like the 5 shooter but thanks for the imput. I wouldn't need a heavier barreld m10 type i can tame recoil pretty well if a good grip so a follow up shot is easy for me to tap out with a 1/4 to 1/2 a second. Thanks for the descip on the model 15.

Mike Irwin-I like my model 19 with a 6inch and i can be pretty suscessful at 7 yards with a point shooting style and firing as fast i can. A 4 incher would be a nice on the weight reduction. Does the 4 inch barrel come with adjustable or fixed sights?

Thanks for the input
 
I'd be happy with a Lew Horton 624. The .44 Special makes a big hole without the massive recoil of the Magnum.
 
Bacon-I complety forgot about the thunder ranch revolver. A 44 special would do a good job as a man stopper. The problem with those is how much are the cartriges for a box of 50? I like the idea of shooting 38's for practice and 357 for carry as do most. Are 44 specials about as much as 38's or are they close to 44 mag ammo?
 
Since you like your 19 but are worried about the durability of the adj. sights, then get a 19 with FIXED sights (hooray!).

The Model 13 or it's stainless cousin, the Model 65 :)
 
Mike, don't we all know that? Was just leading up to suggesting the 13, which, for the most part, is a 19 sans target features.
 
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