I am fairly new to the world of revolvers. I have shot a few and enjoy the way they feel and shoot and am considering buying one. I would be using it primarily to hunt with but i would also like to be able to use it for self defense should the need arise. I mostly only hunt whitetailed deer and the occasional hog. So here are my questions: What would be the best calibers for me to consider? Which manufacturers do you all recomend? What barrel length do youall think would be appropriate? And just what in general should i look for in a good revovler? Thanks in advance for any info you all can give me
Lookin for some Wheelgun wisdom...
- Thread starter T in VA
- Start date
If your going to hunt, bare minimum of a 4" .357 and i mean MINIMUM!! 6" or slightly more would probably be your ideal barrel length as it will give better velocity, good sight radius but still be easily carried. Idealy, a 44 mag would be much better and more forgiving if you fudge your shot. Most rugers are a great buy, strong, accruate and will probably last forever. The GP-100(.357) are very strong revolvers and will probably outlast your children...they are excellent shooters. Their Redhawk and super redhawks are great revolvers and are available in 44 mag. If you have a little more to spend, Smith&Wessons 686(.357) or their 629(44Mag) are great choices and i feel are a little more refined than the rugers. Their fit and overall finish seem to be a little nicer, triggers are much lighter and crisper and are usually a overall nicer gun. Not a big fan of any taurus so i wont recomend those...5 years ago, i wouldnt have touched one of their guns with a 10 foot pole, but some of their products are actually quite good but still seem to be hit or miss in the quality department.
Hunting revolver
I would go with any of the various Ruger's they are nearly unbreakable in my experience. The Smith and Wessons are somewhat more fragile in my opinion. I have broken firing pins and had ejector star shafts wear to the point they would jump the rim of cartridges on extraction. Never ever broke a ruger or had anyone bring one in for repair unless he had tried to modify something and broke it out of stupidity.
I would go with any of the various Ruger's they are nearly unbreakable in my experience. The Smith and Wessons are somewhat more fragile in my opinion. I have broken firing pins and had ejector star shafts wear to the point they would jump the rim of cartridges on extraction. Never ever broke a ruger or had anyone bring one in for repair unless he had tried to modify something and broke it out of stupidity.
The Ruger is going to be my next purchase for hunting as well. I am going to get a Super Redhawk in .454 Casull. (Thanks to the input from the folks in the hunting forum.) I am in the same boat, I primarily hunt whitetail for which I will use the lighter .45 Colt, but the .454 gives me the option of using a gun I know for a special hunt out west should I get the opportunity, and I hope I do. 
I like the Rugers for their durability. I am not looking for a show-piece, I want a worker.
My dad has used the Super Blackhawk in .44mag for whitetail for years and it is a sweet wheelie. His is in the 10 in barrel and jumps less than my 220. I am going with the longest Ruger offers in the Super Redhawk line, the 9 1/2 in barrel. They are running about $600 new in my area.
I am not looking to conceal it from the deer, if they see me they know why I'm there. It's no CCW by any stretch of the imagination Should a PD situation arise it will do the job, but I will go for 12 ga. or .45 first in an HD situation.
I like the Rugers for their durability. I am not looking for a show-piece, I want a worker.My dad has used the Super Blackhawk in .44mag for whitetail for years and it is a sweet wheelie. His is in the 10 in barrel and jumps less than my 220. I am going with the longest Ruger offers in the Super Redhawk line, the 9 1/2 in barrel. They are running about $600 new in my area.
I am not looking to conceal it from the deer, if they see me they know why I'm there. It's no CCW by any stretch of the imagination Should a PD situation arise it will do the job, but I will go for 12 ga. or .45 first in an HD situation.
Sir William
New member
I would lean towards a used 5" S&W 625 in 45 ACP. A nice balance, a easy recoil, 230 or heavier grain bullets are available and ammunition is inexpensive. In single action, Ruger has a dual cylinder setup in 45 Long Colt/45 ACP. You will appreciate the lighter weight S&W 325 in 45 ACP also.
Go with a Ruger double action 44 mag. I would look first at a 5 1/2 inch Redhawk model. I second what others have said about Rugers' value and toughness. You would get more gun than a smith, and for a lot less $. The drawback with the Rugers are heavier, rougher features (esp. triggers). But, once you get used to the triggers through practice, you won't miss the smoother and lighter Smith trigger.
The reason I suggest the 44 mag over the .357 is that the .44 will be a much better hunting gun. Most consider it a minimum handgun caliber. While it's a bit exessive for self-defense, for that purpose, you would use .44 specials. The .44 special gives you bullet weight and balistics much like a .45ACP. That's a great self-defense option in my opinion.
If you wanted the gun only for self-defense, I'd say go with the .357. But, a .44 mag offers the best of both worlds for what you need. Just my 2 cents. Good luck.
The reason I suggest the 44 mag over the .357 is that the .44 will be a much better hunting gun. Most consider it a minimum handgun caliber. While it's a bit exessive for self-defense, for that purpose, you would use .44 specials. The .44 special gives you bullet weight and balistics much like a .45ACP. That's a great self-defense option in my opinion.
If you wanted the gun only for self-defense, I'd say go with the .357. But, a .44 mag offers the best of both worlds for what you need. Just my 2 cents. Good luck.
IMO, you have left it a little TOO wide open.
How do you feel about a double action versus a single action? They have a very different feel in the hand. Some people like one and not the other and you need to be sure you don't end up with the "wrong" one.
"Hunting deer" is pretty broad as well. You can treat a handgun like a bow and then a 4" revolver will work fine. You are trying to get the deer within 35 yards and surely the difference in sight radius isn't going to make or break you there! But some guys get a 9.5" Super Redhawk and put a scope on it. Those guys are killing deer out to at least 150 yards. More like a short rifle that really needs some kind of rest.
From a caliber standpoint we seem to have gotten the usual split. Those who think the .357 is "big enough" to hunt deer versus those who think a .44 Magnum can really be a good gun for "social work." The funny thing is, there is a caliber in the middle! A lot of us thought about this "too little on one end" and "too big on the other" and went with a .41 Magnum. Just about everything you can get in .44, you can also get in .41. Might have to look but it is actually kind of nice to have something different than everybody else.
If I was personally going to have to pick one revolver for deer hunting in the day and self defense at night I would probably go with..... hmmm.
Single action: Ruger Bisley Hunter. Something like this: http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=6201953 (The real dream gun would be a Freedom Arms but I don't think I have that kind of money!)
Double action: that's harder. I love the Redhawk in .41 but they are getting hard to find. (Quit bidding on them people! They're mine!) One of the older S&W 657's without the underlug barrel in 6.5" would be nice. Like this: http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=6294952
This one would be nice if you like the longer barrel. Can't imagine it for "defense" though! http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=26553770
Enjoy the hunt! That's the best part.
Gregg
How do you feel about a double action versus a single action? They have a very different feel in the hand. Some people like one and not the other and you need to be sure you don't end up with the "wrong" one.
"Hunting deer" is pretty broad as well. You can treat a handgun like a bow and then a 4" revolver will work fine. You are trying to get the deer within 35 yards and surely the difference in sight radius isn't going to make or break you there! But some guys get a 9.5" Super Redhawk and put a scope on it. Those guys are killing deer out to at least 150 yards. More like a short rifle that really needs some kind of rest.
From a caliber standpoint we seem to have gotten the usual split. Those who think the .357 is "big enough" to hunt deer versus those who think a .44 Magnum can really be a good gun for "social work." The funny thing is, there is a caliber in the middle! A lot of us thought about this "too little on one end" and "too big on the other" and went with a .41 Magnum. Just about everything you can get in .44, you can also get in .41. Might have to look but it is actually kind of nice to have something different than everybody else.
If I was personally going to have to pick one revolver for deer hunting in the day and self defense at night I would probably go with..... hmmm.
Single action: Ruger Bisley Hunter. Something like this: http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=6201953 (The real dream gun would be a Freedom Arms but I don't think I have that kind of money!)
Double action: that's harder. I love the Redhawk in .41 but they are getting hard to find. (Quit bidding on them people! They're mine!) One of the older S&W 657's without the underlug barrel in 6.5" would be nice. Like this: http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=6294952
This one would be nice if you like the longer barrel. Can't imagine it for "defense" though! http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=26553770
Enjoy the hunt! That's the best part.
Gregg
Aug,
With all due respect, if you're going to quote me, quote me correctly. I said that he should use 44 SPECIALS for self defense, Not 44 mags. Given the fact that he wants a hunting gun and a self-defense gun, it was my opinion that a 44 mag would offer the best of both worlds IF HE USED 44 SPECIALS FOR SELF DEFENSE. I hardly think that's an "amatuer's choice." 44 specials are hardly a sophmoric option for SD.
As for the Smith v. Ruger debate, that's a matter of personal preference.
With all due respect, if you're going to quote me, quote me correctly. I said that he should use 44 SPECIALS for self defense, Not 44 mags. Given the fact that he wants a hunting gun and a self-defense gun, it was my opinion that a 44 mag would offer the best of both worlds IF HE USED 44 SPECIALS FOR SELF DEFENSE. I hardly think that's an "amatuer's choice." 44 specials are hardly a sophmoric option for SD.
As for the Smith v. Ruger debate, that's a matter of personal preference.
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Sammunition.44mag
New member
I couldnt agree more about the .44mag! The versatility of this gun is outstanding. When you own one, you have something that can be used for hunting, and as vitesse pointed out, can be used for SD with the .44spc loads. .44 spc guns have quite a bit of history behind them...in fact, the generic term "bulldog" defines any 5 shot .44spc with a 3 inch barrel. Its an excellent SD load. Sadly, because it was the chosen weapon of a certain infamous serial killer, the round is sometimes much maligned. When you buy a .44 mag, you get it all. Its nowhere close to being "too much gun" for any purpose other than perhaps small game hunting...just my opinion
The only wheelgun I would trust to do double duty like that would be a S&W 610, 4".
Yeah, it's a little heavy for everyday CCW, but it's up to the task of whitetails or pigs with hot double tap ammo.
What's nice about it is you could load .40 in it, and shoot bowling pins, load 10mm blazers in it for fun, and load double tap 10mm in it for hunting and some nice silvertips or doubletaps self defense loads for carry.
I bet that there are a lot of very good carry loads for .40 that are very easy to shoot in that 52 oz. gun.
4" nframes are big, but certainly much more manageable (Hideable) than a 5 1/2" ruger .44 mag, and much cheaper to shoot.
Moon clips for fast reloads, and mine just shoots like a dream.
But honestly you'd be better off getting a shotgun for home defense/hunting, and a S&W airweight snubby for carry.
I know, big $$$.
Yeah, it's a little heavy for everyday CCW, but it's up to the task of whitetails or pigs with hot double tap ammo.
What's nice about it is you could load .40 in it, and shoot bowling pins, load 10mm blazers in it for fun, and load double tap 10mm in it for hunting and some nice silvertips or doubletaps self defense loads for carry.
I bet that there are a lot of very good carry loads for .40 that are very easy to shoot in that 52 oz. gun.
4" nframes are big, but certainly much more manageable (Hideable) than a 5 1/2" ruger .44 mag, and much cheaper to shoot.
Moon clips for fast reloads, and mine just shoots like a dream.
But honestly you'd be better off getting a shotgun for home defense/hunting, and a S&W airweight snubby for carry.
I know, big $$$.
Thanks for all of the input. I have another question for you all. You have recomended both S&Ws and Rugers in a variety of caliber and I was curiouswhy no one has mentioned the Taurus line of revolvers? Are they not as good a quality as the others or what? Thanks for the advice.
They make some interesting guns and I'm going to have to try one out some day. I especially like the Tracker style .41 Magnum. But I would want to buy it somewhere where I could actually pick it up and carefully check out the exact speciman I was going to buy. I _think_ I could weed out a lemon that way.
I would say the perception is that Taurus isn't as high in quality as S&W and Ruger. It will certainly affect resale value down the road. I like buying guns that gradually gain in value. The big question is: are today's Taurus as good in quality as _today's_ S&W's? That's a lot closer question than if we compared Taurus to the grand old Smiths of the 50's and 60's.
But that is what a lot of us buy anyway. I won't buy a Smith with the lock in the side. And I prefer a P&R gun. So I mostly buy the grand old classics. You can't really expect a Taurus to compete with one of those; today's Smiths can't compete with one either!
And Rugers are sort of a separate question. They aren't as graceful as a Smith but generally they are built to be very sturdy and long-lived guns. I'll take new or old there.
Gregg
Taurus seems to get some seriously mixed reviews on the boards here and elsewhere. That was enough to push them out of my consideration I don't want to squeeze off a magnum round and have my cylinder bind on a followup. I don't even like the low possibility of that happening. I haven't seen a post dogging the Blackhawk/Redhawk or the S&W yet. It seems from my reading that it is much like the preference in shotguns, the quality and service are about equal so find what fits you and what you like.
Ruger
I would go for a ruger myself but Taurus makes a nice gun. They look like Smith and Wessons but they have unbreakable coil springs instead of flat mainsprings. They also have floating (normally unbreakable) firing pins as opposed to the fragile firing pin on hammer of the Smith and Wesson. Taurus makes a stronger gun than Smith and cheaper too. For that very reason my wife shoots a Taurus.I most respects the Taurus is an "improved" Smith and Wesson.
I would go for a ruger myself but Taurus makes a nice gun. They look like Smith and Wessons but they have unbreakable coil springs instead of flat mainsprings. They also have floating (normally unbreakable) firing pins as opposed to the fragile firing pin on hammer of the Smith and Wesson. Taurus makes a stronger gun than Smith and cheaper too. For that very reason my wife shoots a Taurus.I most respects the Taurus is an "improved" Smith and Wesson.
progunner1957
Moderator
Big bore revolvers: Serious medicine!
I can't see how a person could go wrong with a big bore revolver for self defense; I'm talking a caliber that starts with the number four as in .41 mag, .44 mag, .44 special, .45 Colt and even .480 Ruger with the right handloads.
Of all the above, the .44 mag and .45 Colt would be the best choices due to the many loads available for them; with the right load selection, either of these calibers will do just about anything from self defense to hunting any animal walking in North America EXCEPT Grizzly, the big Alaskan Brown Bears and Polar Bears. These three animals require some SERIOUS ordinance, as in .45-70 lever guns or something more powerful.
Big bore revolvers are not the easiest to conceal and carry, but I would not feel undergunned for self defense purposes; 98% of the time the bad guy(s) cease and desist after looking down the muzzle of their intended victim's gun.
The bigger the gun and the hole in the barrel, the better to scare them into submission. If shooting is required, the average self defense shooter fires 3 rounds or less; the bigger the bullet, the better chance you have of stopping the attacker with one WELL PLACED hit.
One of the Marine rules of gunfighting states, "thou shalt never attend a gunfight with a handgun whose caliber does not start with the number FOUR."
Sounds good to me!!
I can't see how a person could go wrong with a big bore revolver for self defense; I'm talking a caliber that starts with the number four as in .41 mag, .44 mag, .44 special, .45 Colt and even .480 Ruger with the right handloads.
Of all the above, the .44 mag and .45 Colt would be the best choices due to the many loads available for them; with the right load selection, either of these calibers will do just about anything from self defense to hunting any animal walking in North America EXCEPT Grizzly, the big Alaskan Brown Bears and Polar Bears. These three animals require some SERIOUS ordinance, as in .45-70 lever guns or something more powerful.
Big bore revolvers are not the easiest to conceal and carry, but I would not feel undergunned for self defense purposes; 98% of the time the bad guy(s) cease and desist after looking down the muzzle of their intended victim's gun.
The bigger the gun and the hole in the barrel, the better to scare them into submission. If shooting is required, the average self defense shooter fires 3 rounds or less; the bigger the bullet, the better chance you have of stopping the attacker with one WELL PLACED hit.
One of the Marine rules of gunfighting states, "thou shalt never attend a gunfight with a handgun whose caliber does not start with the number FOUR."
Sounds good to me!!
vitesse9 said:
I quoted you exactly my friend. Nothing incorrect about it.
I said what I said about 44 mag not 44 spl. Although, the 44 spl is not as proven as a top shelf manstopper like the 357 magnum. It may be as good but the 357 mag 125 grain SJHP is the standard by which others are judged.
vitesse9 said:
It is only a personal preference if you have Rugers. I've yet to run into the S&W revolver shooter that prefered a Ruger DA. I have met many guys that ditched Rugers for S&W's. Just never the other way around.
Aug,
Fair enough. Not worth turning a forum full of helpful, nice people into a place to quibble. I agree with you that using a .44 mag LOAD for SD would be silly. But owning a .44 Mag REVOLVER (which can also shoot .44 specials) offers the best of both worlds to someone who wants a gun to hunt with and for personal defense. That was my point.
Anyway, I own Smiths and Rugers. I want to dump my Smith for a Ruger and own all Rugers. Just personal preference.
Fair enough. Not worth turning a forum full of helpful, nice people into a place to quibble. I agree with you that using a .44 mag LOAD for SD would be silly. But owning a .44 Mag REVOLVER (which can also shoot .44 specials) offers the best of both worlds to someone who wants a gun to hunt with and for personal defense. That was my point.
Anyway, I own Smiths and Rugers. I want to dump my Smith for a Ruger and own all Rugers. Just personal preference.