Not really a revolver guy......

DA/SA Fan

New member
YET! I'm really hooked on semi-autos and have several more to buy before I start on revolvers. I do think that EVERYONE should own at least a .357 and a .44 magnum. I really would like a 2-3 inch .357 and a 4 inch .44 Magnum, preferably an older S&W, with a nice blued finish. I'm still acquiring new semi-autos, but if something nice comes up in one of these categories on the used market, I'd grab it if possible. I don't like spending more than 5-600 on a gun. What are some nice ones to keep an eye out for?
 
What do you want them for?

Usually a 2-3" barrel is about concealment or ease of carry and ought to have fixed sights. A more utilitarian revolver will have a longer barrel and adjustable sights. Even then, if you want a gun capable of a steady diet of full power loads you might want something in a larger frame.

Ruger's SP-101 is a classic small revolver that is all steel and easy to shoot well.

Almost any Smith K-frame will give you good service and is a great all around choice. L- frames are stronger, but heavier. N-Frames you probably wouldn't want to carry much.
 
I agree with the .357 magnum but with a 4" barrel (like the S&W either in models 586 or 686). Another consideration is the S&W .45 Colt in a Mountain Gun. I might one day like to add a .44 magnum but prefer the .45 Colt which I own.

Not disagreeing with the OP but just my personal preferences.
 
The .357 would see most practice with 38 specials. I would like to occasionally carry something with more horsepower than a 9mm semi. The SP 101s look nice. Is it made in a blued finish under another model number? The 44 magnum would be more or less just a fun gun. I wouldn't shoot it a whole lot but it would see more magnums than specials through it. Might even carry it on my hip when I get some acreage in a few years.
 
SP-101 is stainless only

One in .38(I have this one) and several models in .357
A newer one that intrigues me is a 4.25" barrel .357 w/ adjustable sights. The weight is 30 oz and ought to be a powerful and lightweight trail gun.

I don't have any, but S & W pretty much wrote the book on small frame revolvers. They have plenty to offer in blued finish.
 
I started as a revolver guy and drifted to semis. Have enough (at least I think I do) for now and am having revolver lust again.
Went out and rented the Ruger GP100 Match Champion recently. If I can't find a good deal on a pre-lock Smith (in .357), I think it will be my next purchase. Worth a look.
 
YET! I'm really hooked on semi-autos and have several more to buy before I start on revolvers. I do think that EVERYONE should own at least a .357 and a .44 magnum. I really would like a 2-3 inch .357 and a 4 inch .44 Magnum, preferably an older S&W, with a nice blued finish. I'm still acquiring new semi-autos, but if something nice comes up in one of these categories on the used market, I'd grab it if possible. I don't like spending more than 5-600 on a gun. What are some nice ones to keep an eye out for?
I'm a HUGE revolver guy and though I enjoy all of mine, I would have to agree with you on the .357 part and DISAGREE with you on the .44 Magnum part. IMO, if a shooter is a hardcore semi-auto guy, then he should still have a solid .357 Magnum, but a .44 Mag is no necessity whatsoever.

I can't argue all too hard against a 3-inch .357 Mag, but I would rather have a 4-inch... but to be completely honest, I truly prefer a 6-inch. But my point is that you really take a heap of great used .357s out of your grasp if you stick to 3-inch and refuse a 4-inch. For a great used 4-inch .357 Mag that will see more .38 Special than full bore .357, I would suggest:
--any Ruger Security, Speed or Service Six revolver
--any S&W K-frame Magnum, Models 13, 19, 65, or 66.
--any Ruger GP-100 of any finish or vintage

And if you fancy a used 4-inch .357 Magnum to be used with MORE .357 Magnum:
--any Ruger GP-100 of any finish or vintage
--a S&W Model 28, N-frame, the low-key and lower priced version of the fancier Model 27
--a (rare) Ruger Redhawk in .357 Magnum, but not likely to be cheap
--any S&W L-frame, Models 581/586 or 681/686, but can be a little pricey

For a fantastic .44 Magnum found for decent money on the used market, I can't believe there exists any bigger "bang for the buck" than a nice used Ruger Redhawk. These are fantastic and extremely durable, albeit plain revolvers. I have a lot of fun with mine, but it's a big, long, heavy, Mag-Na-Ported 7.5-inch barrel blued one from 1985. I paid $600 for it in "barely used" condition.

One last bit, purely how I see it:

I would pay just as much money for a -used- .357 Magnum revolver of my tastes... than I would pay for a brand new, box fresh, never owned, never fondled, never fired example directly from the gun store or distributor.

Absolute truth.
 
I'm sort of puzzling over your post. You state that you "....are not a revolver guy" but you want a 2"~3" .357 Magnum and possibably a 4" .44 Magnum.

This tells me you are not interested in hunting nor long range shooting, so carry/self defense seems to be your fare. In that respect, I believe you will find revolvers a great disappointment. Accustomed to the flat frame and speed of reloading of auto pistols, you will find revolvers heavier, bulkier, and slower to reload. I'm guessing you do not reload, so you will miss the greater joy of tweaking your ammunition to suit your particular gun. The greater blast and recoil of magnum revolvers will be unpleasant to you.

I'd suggest if you are truly wanting a six shooter, you start with a good .38 Special S & W with a 6" barrel and learn on that to determine if you really want to get into revolvers. Then, if you still are determined, go to a Ruger Super Blackhawk or Bisley in .44 Magnum, with a 7 1/2" barrel. Start out with light loads, .44 Special if you do not choose to reload, then work your way up to full power magnum ammunition.

The revolver is a very versatile handgun, fun to shoot, accurate, and capable of very long range (for a handgun) shots. By loading you own ammunition, you can load very light target loads up to the fire snortin' long range stuff. If you have the mind set for them.

Bob Wright
 
Lots of good suggestions! I will eventually get into reloading. Thing is, I'm like a kid in a candy store. After spending the first 55 years of my life in New Jersey and only shooting a few times as a kid with my dad and occasionally with some friends here and there, I've moved to Missouri and feel free at last! I kinda think I shouldn't limit myself to semis even though I really like them. .357 and .44 magnums are the 2 things that a semi really can't compare to. When I get my CCW I just think I would like to carry a small frame .357 snubby when attire permits. Not all the time, but just to change things up. The .44 would really be more for just plain fun, and like I said maybe to strap on my hip to walk around my property when I get some acreage in a few years. Figuring on a Desert Eagle .50. If that's fun enough I might even get the urge to play with a 500 S&W before I'm done collecting!
 
I have 7 .357 Magnums (as well as several more .38 Specials), but not a single .44 Magnum.

I have no interested in the .44 Magnum cartridge at all.

I do, however, like the .44 Special and the .45 Long Colt, and have S&W revolvers chambered for those rounds.

I also have a .41 Magnum S&W.
 
My all purpose gun is a 3" Ruger SP 101. As far as I know, it only comes in stainless, but I have seen a few with custom aftermarket finishes. My 5.5" Super Blackhawk is probably the most comfortable .44 magnum I've shot and it pairs nicely with my .44 mag lever action carbine. I guess that makes me a Ruger guy.
 
I am a revolver guy, note my screen name

:)

I'm confident that if you buy the right "couple" to start with, you'll be sliding down that path faster than you would have ever thought...

I didn't really get your "purpose" of the revolvers... but then sometimes fun is just enough...

they are a little harder to come by, but there are revolvers that shoot nearly any semi auto round... you could use the same ammo, & thus make your 1st revolver purchase less painful at least in that you wouldn't have to buy separate ammo...

9mm... there are self defense / carry models out there, as well as single action ( cowboy style ) revolvers that have changeable cylinders, where you could shoot 9mm or 357 ( or with the 357 magnum guns, you can also shoot 38 Special )

40 S&W / 10mm... again there are self defense / carry models chambered in 40 S&W, & the S&W 610 is a bigger gun, & shoots both 40 S&W & 10mm with moon clips, which once you are set up, & used to them, reload almost as fast as your semi autos...

45 ACP... again, both styles of revolvers are available...

if you don't have an interest in the semi auto chambered revolvers I also recommend a 4" 357, either the Ruger GP-100 or S&W 4" would be my 1st choices...

as far as 44 magnum... I have a snubbie ( bear defense purpose ;) ) but more just as a fun gun, but the cartridge really should be shot out of a 6" revolver... if you are going to start reloading, I highly recommend looking at the 45 Colt options... double actions are harder to come by, but are out there, & single actions are all over...

but, my highest recommendation, is to buy as high a quality revolver as you can afford... nothing sours a shooter more, than a cheap, poorly functioning gun, & even though that statement seems more fitting when talking semi autos, it still holds true for revolvers... a smooth revolver trigger is a joy to shoot, & a gritty hard to pull trigger leaves a lot to be desired...
 
Mike Irwin wrote:
I have 7 .357 Magnums (as well as several more .38 Specials), but not a single .44 Magnum.

I have no interest in the .44 Magnum cartridge at all.



I also have a .41 Magnum S&W.


Since you do have the .41 Magnum, I can see where you might not have any interest in the .44 Magnum, the two fairly well duplicate each other.

My interest in the .44 Magnum was a continuation of .44 caliber, from having gone through the heavily loaded .44 Special. I did have one .41 Magnum, but it was too close to the .44 to continue using both. I did like the extended range and wider bullet selection afforded by the .44 compared to the .41. Even with the bigger .45s and .460s and .480s, my choice is still the .44 Magnum.

Bob Wright
 
they are a little harder to come by, but there are revolvers that shoot nearly any semi auto round... you could use the same ammo, & thus make your 1st revolver purchase less painful at least in that you wouldn't have to buy separate ammo...

My theory about caliber: I don't want to duplicate calibers. I want to have every caliber I like and a good supply of them. Any rough SHTF situations come up, I won't be worrying about a specific caliber not being available. Definitely want these two, yeah, mostly just for the fun of shooting them. Aside from that I have a 32ACP and 9mm so far. Want 38 special, .40, 10mm, .45, .25, .380, 9x18, 9x23 and .50AE. Oh yeah, and some .22s. This is my hobby not just looking for some particular tools for specific jobs. Once I get some property to shoot on, it will be pretty much shooting in the daylight and astronomy at night.
 
You don't gain a lot when shooting a 357 Mag out of a 2" barrel. It makes for a lot of flash and noise, but the powder is still burning long after the bullet is gone.

A 40S&W can have more energy than a 357 mag in a 2" barrel. 4" and longer, the 357 starts to shine. Look at the Cor Bon 140 in both calibers. Same manufacturer, same bullet weight. Out of a 2" barrel 357 is moving at 911 fps. A 40S&W is at 1093 fps. With equal weight bullets, the faster one will have more energy.

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/357mag.html
http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/40sw.html
 
Even before I had the .41 I had no interest in the .44 Magnum. Never could figure it out. I'd probably be inclined to get one just because it would add another gun to my collection of S&W revolvers, but there are others that I want more.

That Model 25 4" in .45 Long? I searched for it for over 10 years before I finally found it. I paid a LOT for it, but no way was I going to let it slip by and spend years more trying to find another one.
 
I'm another person who doesn't seem to think I need the .44

I've got a Ruger Bisley in .45 that does everything I need to do and without the excessive blast and recoil.
I do like the idea of the .44 special, but haven't taken the plunge yet. They aren't that popular and tend to be expensive when found.
 
Back
Top