Need Caliber Suggestion for Next Pistol

First off what is your reason for not wanting a .22. it is great for the range. I am not trying to change your mind just trying to understand. I suggest a .38/.357 mag as well as long as you can get ammo..357 is about the most scares ammo where im from.
 
How about a .38 that's not a .357, have you considered a S & W Model 52 Master? You did say you were looking for a target shooter.
 
What length barrel do you guys suggest?
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The 4" barrel is probably the best choice. For decades, almost every law enforcement agency in the US used 4" revolvers as their service weapons. The 4" barrel is long enough to provide decent velocity yet short enough to be easy handling.
 
Which pistol next?

That's easy, get a Smith and Wesson Model 19 with 4" barrel. You can shoot .357 mags and .38 specials in it and is probably one of the best built pistols ever made in my opinion. I love mine and would not sell or trade it for anything. They are smooth, reliable and accurate. Good luck.
 
I too will suggest a .357 Magnum revolver. Since this will primarily be a target gun, adjustable sights and a medium or large frame would seem preferable. Good models to look for include S&W Models 27, 28, 19, 66, 586, 686, and 627, Ruger Models Security Six and GP100, and Colt Models Python, King Cobra, and Trooper. While a 6" or longer barrel is nice for target work, if you think there's ever a possibility that you might carry the gun you might want to look at a shorter barrel. A 4" barrel is a good balance of everything as you've got a long enough barrel to give a good sight radius and respectable velocity but short enough that it can still be carried concealed without too drastic a change to your wardrobe.
 
I reiterate the suggestion that .357/.38 would be a fine choice IMHO.

So, as I've seen and heard many times here....

"Just get a Colt Python";)
 
For affordable ammo I would get a Glock 35 (40 cal). Very sweet shooting gun. Plus with the 35 you can get a conversion barrel for 357 sig and 9mm. 3 in one.

If you want to stick with 9mil then a Glock 34. Both have a 5.3 inch barrel. Great target and HD guns.
 
You said no .22 LR,,,

Try a revolver in .38 Special or .357 Mag (so you may shoot .38 if you so choose),,,

You already have the most inexpensive caliber for semi-autos,,,
.38 Special is probably the least expensive ammo for a revolver,,,
It's only a bit more expensive than the 9mm stuff you feed your semi.

But I do think you are missing out on a lot of good fun,,,
As well as productive trigger time by not considering a .22 of some type.

I love shooting and actually practicing with my medium and large bore handguns,,,
But with the price of ammo these days I would not be able to enjoy shooting as often as I do without my Double-Deuce guns.

Just a thought,,,
 
I'd go for a colt .45 you can shoot cowboy loads which are really light and easy. Or you can load it powerfull enough to go kill some wild buffallo.
 
I'd go for a colt .45 you can shoot cowboy loads which are really light and easy. Or you can load it powerfull enough to go kill some wild buffallo.
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Just a note: Colt Single Action revolvers are not strong enough to handle the monster-magnum .45 Long Colt ammunition out there. Such ammunition is best left to guns like Rugers, Taurus Raging Bulls, T/C Contenders, and Freedom Arms. The most powerful ammo I'd shoot in a SAA would be something like Buffalo Bore's Standard Pressure .45 Long Colt ammo or an equivalent handload, even then I'd only really feel comfortable shooting it in a gun made after WWII.
 
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