Hey, I've been considering getting my first revolver, but my knowledge and experience is limited to semi-autos. Can someone recommend a good solid reliable, accurate and affordable gun? So far I've been recommended by a friend the Rugar Redhawk in .357... any ideas, suggestions or help greatly appreciated. Thanks again!
Good first revolver?
- Thread starter 270Win
- Start date
Depends on your interests and degree of shooting skill. I usually recommend a good .22 since a combination of inexpensive ammunition, low recoil and muzzle blast encourage the practice necessary to master the handgun. A Redhawk in .357 is a a good choice of course, a good .357 should
be one's first revolver, the Redhawk is a good shooter, a little large for concealment if that is a consideration.
be one's first revolver, the Redhawk is a good shooter, a little large for concealment if that is a consideration.
The Redhawk .357, is a fine revolver! Super strong and heavy(For the caliber)but to me, this is a good thing-since these Redhawk's are heavy enough to make shooting the .357 caliber, without having to deal with much recoil at all! 
Have you already located a Redhawk .357? If not-then, you might have some difficulty in finding one of these revolvers-as only about 5,000 Redhawk .357's were ever made-and, these were discontinued in the mid 1980's! I know that I had an extremely hard time finding my(7.5")Redhawk .357-and, I have never seen another one since! :barf:
Have you already located a Redhawk .357? If not-then, you might have some difficulty in finding one of these revolvers-as only about 5,000 Redhawk .357's were ever made-and, these were discontinued in the mid 1980's! I know that I had an extremely hard time finding my(7.5")Redhawk .357-and, I have never seen another one since! :barf:
Sadly, no, I don't have one specifically in mind. The friend who recommended it owned one once - he commented also on the scarcity - and loved it to death. The moment I brought up revolvers, he praised it left right and center. He sold it years ago, tried like hell to track it down again, but hasn't had any luck.
Nevertheless, I'm keeping my eyes wide open for one... you never know!
Nevertheless, I'm keeping my eyes wide open for one... you never know!
Standard first wheelgun recommendations are the S&W 686 (or 620) and the Ruger GP100--guns which are all in production, well suited to the 357, and excellent tools for learning to shoot a revolver. 4", 5", or 6", depending on exactly what range of shooting and/or toting activities you have in mind.
The Redhawk 357 is a fine gun, but pretty oversized for the caliber. They are particularly desired by handloaders who want to push the 357 to and beyond its limits.
The Redhawk 357 is a fine gun, but pretty oversized for the caliber. They are particularly desired by handloaders who want to push the 357 to and beyond its limits.
If plinking and/or informal target shooting are your interests, then I'd choose a quality .22LR double-action revolver. S&W makes fine ones. If you want one for defense, or for more authoritative plinking, I'd suggest a .357 Magnum DA revolver. Again, I think the S&W is best, although I will freely admit that the Ruger is a much more robust design. Plink with .38 Special, and load .357's for defense or hunting. I'm sure there will be some good advice that follows this post, as well.
Pop into your local gun shop and try a few on for size. The fit of a revolver is just as important as it is with a semi. The Ruger Redhawk is fairly big revolver at 49 oz. It may or may not fit your hand. However, it's not made in .357 anymore. .45 Colt or .44 Mag only now. Both of which can be loaded down.
The GP-100 is a top notch .357. Comes in 4" and 6", blued or SS, BNIB for under $600 MSLP. Rumour has it that there are lots of used GP's around too.
The GP-100 is a top notch .357. Comes in 4" and 6", blued or SS, BNIB for under $600 MSLP. Rumour has it that there are lots of used GP's around too.
The .357 is an EXCELLENT choice
because it is so versatile. Shoot wadcutter .38s for accuracy, inexpensive lead .38s for practice/plinking and full-house .357 for defense or hunting. Get speedloaders and shoot pin/plates, USPSA or IDPA competitions as well.
THAT said, let me also suggest the S&W 625 in .45 ACP or the 610, which is the 10mm version. If you get the 625 and have or will get (and I'm guessing you WILL get) a .45, you can shoot two guns for the same ammo.
If you get the the 610, you can do with .40 S&W what the .357 does with .38s; use a lighter, cheaper load in the same gun. Again, if you get a .40 - and there are many to choose from - you can shoot the same ammo in two guns. Very handy if you go to competitions with both revolver and auto divisions.
because it is so versatile. Shoot wadcutter .38s for accuracy, inexpensive lead .38s for practice/plinking and full-house .357 for defense or hunting. Get speedloaders and shoot pin/plates, USPSA or IDPA competitions as well.
THAT said, let me also suggest the S&W 625 in .45 ACP or the 610, which is the 10mm version. If you get the 625 and have or will get (and I'm guessing you WILL get) a .45, you can shoot two guns for the same ammo.
If you get the the 610, you can do with .40 S&W what the .357 does with .38s; use a lighter, cheaper load in the same gun. Again, if you get a .40 - and there are many to choose from - you can shoot the same ammo in two guns. Very handy if you go to competitions with both revolver and auto divisions.
22-rimfire
New member
Every shooter should have a good 22 revolver. Best gun to learn to shoot with. With current availability and price as a consideration, I would get either a 4-inch or 6-inch Colt Mark III. Otherwise, I like the Colt Officers Model Match.
If you lean toward 357's, I would again make the same recommendation.
If you lean toward 357's, I would again make the same recommendation.
308Enfield
New member
The .357 is a great caliber and for wheelguns you simply can't go wrong with a Ruger. Good luck!
azredhawk44
Moderator
I own 3 revolvers, and I wish I had bought differently...
I started with a Ruger SP101 3" .357. I wanted a lightweight, small revolver with a good punch to it. Backpacking gun. I'm a pretty good shot with it to about 50ft, which is all I ever intend to shoot it out to. I don't regret this gun, but I will get to my point in a second.
I followed up with a Ruger Redhawk .44 5.5". I have since decided that I don't care for the grip on it and I have ordered a hogue hardwood grip. I am waiting for delivery right now. I have pretty good-sized hands. I find that I don't like my middle finger being mashed behind the trigger guard, and the hogue closes off that space. I have also found that the trigger on S&W's is much smoother with stock guns, and I will probably have a trigger job done on my Redhawk.
I got a taurus 9-shot .22 DA revolver 5" around november of last year. I again don't care for the grip on it at all. That being said, I have not changed the grip yet... will probably do so in the next couple of months. This little guy has been very good at teaching me how to shoot a revolver smoothly with a DA trigger pull. The trigger pull is very stiff on it (I'd guess over 15lbs) but that is because of the short cylinder travel per trigger pull, I think. Get a six-shot cylinder if you want a .22.
My point is, get a .22 first. If you're enough of a gun nut to post here, then you WILL end up owning more than one gun. Learn to shoot a DA revolver reliably out to 25 yards. Get a decent length barrel. The longer the better, especially on a .22 that you won't end up using for self-defense most likely.
After that, think about whether you are going to hunt with a pistol. What game are you going for? Or is this human defense? Everybody can handle .357 with a little practice, maybe even .41 magnum. Fewer people can handle .44magnum or larger magnums (.445, .454, .480, .500, etc.), and lots of places in the US don't require that level of power. How much fiddle-farting can you stand with moon clips? If you have a .45acp or 10mm, Taurus, Dan Wesson and Smith and Wesson make revolvers that will shoot those cartridges, but moon clips are unpopular with some shooters.
Also, consider what brand of full-size revolver you will probably end up with. If you want a Ruger GP100 in .357, look at the SP101 4" .22. If you want a Taurus, look at a similar frame design in .22. Try to buy a .22 that matches your intended centerfire wheelgun.
Don't buy the big wheelgun before you have put at least 5000 rounds thru the .22, however. You'll be much more accurate after getting a good feel for how your revolver's trigger works and how much wrist strength it takes to shoot a DA revolver accurately.
I started with a Ruger SP101 3" .357. I wanted a lightweight, small revolver with a good punch to it. Backpacking gun. I'm a pretty good shot with it to about 50ft, which is all I ever intend to shoot it out to. I don't regret this gun, but I will get to my point in a second.
I followed up with a Ruger Redhawk .44 5.5". I have since decided that I don't care for the grip on it and I have ordered a hogue hardwood grip. I am waiting for delivery right now. I have pretty good-sized hands. I find that I don't like my middle finger being mashed behind the trigger guard, and the hogue closes off that space. I have also found that the trigger on S&W's is much smoother with stock guns, and I will probably have a trigger job done on my Redhawk.
I got a taurus 9-shot .22 DA revolver 5" around november of last year. I again don't care for the grip on it at all. That being said, I have not changed the grip yet... will probably do so in the next couple of months. This little guy has been very good at teaching me how to shoot a revolver smoothly with a DA trigger pull. The trigger pull is very stiff on it (I'd guess over 15lbs) but that is because of the short cylinder travel per trigger pull, I think. Get a six-shot cylinder if you want a .22.
My point is, get a .22 first. If you're enough of a gun nut to post here, then you WILL end up owning more than one gun. Learn to shoot a DA revolver reliably out to 25 yards. Get a decent length barrel. The longer the better, especially on a .22 that you won't end up using for self-defense most likely.
After that, think about whether you are going to hunt with a pistol. What game are you going for? Or is this human defense? Everybody can handle .357 with a little practice, maybe even .41 magnum. Fewer people can handle .44magnum or larger magnums (.445, .454, .480, .500, etc.), and lots of places in the US don't require that level of power. How much fiddle-farting can you stand with moon clips? If you have a .45acp or 10mm, Taurus, Dan Wesson and Smith and Wesson make revolvers that will shoot those cartridges, but moon clips are unpopular with some shooters.
Also, consider what brand of full-size revolver you will probably end up with. If you want a Ruger GP100 in .357, look at the SP101 4" .22. If you want a Taurus, look at a similar frame design in .22. Try to buy a .22 that matches your intended centerfire wheelgun.
Don't buy the big wheelgun before you have put at least 5000 rounds thru the .22, however. You'll be much more accurate after getting a good feel for how your revolver's trigger works and how much wrist strength it takes to shoot a DA revolver accurately.
buckethead
Inactive
I just bought my first handgun a few weeks ago. I went with the S&W 66-7 in a 4 inch barrel (6 shots). The dealer had the 7-shot 686 in the same size, but the 66 just felt better in my hands, so I went with it. It's a nice gun but I'm going to have to send it back to S&W pretty soon here because the cylinder is getting sloppy. Other than that it's great fun, the .38's are perfectly manageable at the range, and the .357mags are good for a thrill at the range, or shocking and astounding your non-gun owning friends. Personally the .357 rounds don't seem practical for much of anything except for maybe hunting. For SD I got the Remington Golden Saber .38+p JHP.
So it's a great gun, a good size to be useful in a lot of different situations, and a good amount of power that you can be a gun newb and learn to handle it (in .38) All I wonder is, what is so much better about the 686, that everyone likes it so much better? AFAIK, this 66 and the 686 are practically the same gun, right down to the black rubber grips, except for this 66 fires 6 shots and has a slightly different shape.
So it's a great gun, a good size to be useful in a lot of different situations, and a good amount of power that you can be a gun newb and learn to handle it (in .38) All I wonder is, what is so much better about the 686, that everyone likes it so much better? AFAIK, this 66 and the 686 are practically the same gun, right down to the black rubber grips, except for this 66 fires 6 shots and has a slightly different shape.
arizcowboy
Inactive
Get yourself a Smith & Wesson and save yourself all the trouble of having to filter out the Ruger, Taurus, or Rossi from your future collection.
You are already familiar with handguns from your experience with autos so I wouldn't go for a 22. The most versatile revolver is a .357 because of the variety of ammo you can shoot from 38 wadcutters to full house magnum loads. The Smith 686 or Ruger GP100 fit the bill. If you are not interested in the flash and bang of the 357 magnum a revolver chambered in 38 special will do just fine and have the advantage of being cheaper by 25-50 dollars. The old reliable Smith model 10 or its stainless version the model 64 come to mind first or if you want adjustable sights the model 15/67 are available.
+1 on the recommendations for a Ruger GP-100 in .357mag. I have one, it was my first, and I enjoyed it immensely. I'm only trading it because I'm getting an Enfield Jungle Carbine in return, and I plan to get a revolver of the same general type with a shorter barrel (mine has a 6" barrel, making it somewhat impractical for carry while hiking - I would prefer a 3" or 4" barrel).
As far as I can tell in my neophyte opinion, I wouldn't get too hung up in the Ruger vs. Smith vs. Colt arguments; any of them should be a decent revolver provided the condition is good. Get one of each!
The .22lr revolver suggestions are wise as well.
As far as I can tell in my neophyte opinion, I wouldn't get too hung up in the Ruger vs. Smith vs. Colt arguments; any of them should be a decent revolver provided the condition is good. Get one of each!
The .22lr revolver suggestions are wise as well.
The second I saw your post I knew there were going to be at least 50 replies telling you to get a boring .22, even though you cited semi auto experience. Well I was wrong, but there were several
You mentioned a Redhawk and if that is what you like, I'd go for it. I think the most versitile .357 available today is the 686, but that's just my peronal preference and opinion.
You mentioned a Redhawk and if that is what you like, I'd go for it. I think the most versitile .357 available today is the 686, but that's just my peronal preference and opinion.