one revolver to rule them all...

Make Mine Ruger

In answer to such a fun question, and as one who owns a battery of different guns, I have a matched set of stainles OM Ruger Vaqueros in 44 mag that I got from a friend when he retired from exhibition shooting. These guns have had everything done to them that can be done to a revolver. They point and shoot so naturally it seems they are doing it themselves. With these I can meet any need that may arise, from snake protection with shotshells, to hunting with stout loads to personal defense, to carrying concealed for bodyguard details.
 
One revolver to rule them all...
Fun gun to take to the range...


Since practicality and portability are of no consequence, I think I'd go with the belt-fed M39 revolving cannon. Firing from the six-o'clock position, I believe it was the original Metaba/Rhino. ;)
While 20mm is fairly expensive to shoot, it can still be justified for a range toy...
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The small, second cylinder and frame are electrically actuated to provide gas pressure for clearing jams. (Using special blanks based on .38 Special.)

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I have the Ruger 4.2" SP101. It's a good compromise between cartridge, portability, capacity, and flexibility. I like it and it shoots great.

However, if I had it to do again I might choose a S&W 686 plus and just give up on portability.
 
For me it was a 4" Stainless Security Six. Any adjustable sighted, 4" .357 is a solid choice.

Lately single actions are catching my fancy- can't say why though.
 
This is an animation of the Mauser MG213, the gun the M39 was based on:

217211d1354087406t-revolver-cannon-design-canon_revolver_mauser_mg_213_ani-1-gif


It used a mechanical extractor and a two-stage mechanical "rammer" to strip rounds in from a belt-feed system coming in from the side.

To my knowledge there is only one personal arm based on a loosely similar feed cycle, my "Maurice" (modified New Vaquero) in 9mmPara:

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014/03/03/maurice-frankenruger-magazine-fed-revolver/

I'm using spring-pushed tube mags on insertion and a gas-operated ejection cycle. The two are completely disconnected, in fact I built and tested the gas-powered ejector separately while it was still a 357Magnum.

Like the M39, I can't get Maurice to jam easily at all...in fact it hasn't jammed once as a 9mm. The feed path on insertion is dead straight and doesn't care about the round's OAL or nose shape. I've tested the action with empty shells and it will feed those! At some point I'm going to make some full wadcutter extra-short ammo based on some 100gr .356" slugs Penn Bullets makes. I should be able to get 10rds in my long mags that way and possible three in my short carry mag. I'd be able to fire 25 rounds with a single reload using the two long mags I've made up so far.
 
ruger

ruger single six 22lr/wmr will outlast your grandkids. 22lr for fun for kids of all ages, 22wmr for protection with handgun specific defense loads.

if you insist on a centerfire then a ruger blackhawk 357/38/9 convertible. 9mm for cheap fun, 38 for timeproven bite without a magnum's bark, 357 for addressing any threat in the lower 48.

both are built like brick s---houses, are politically correct everywhere and, as obiwan described the lightsaber to luke, are elegant weapons for a civilized age.
 
My choice is what I can have in my pocket and available at all times. My Ruger LCR 357. That's if I could only have one.
 
S&W Model 14 with a 6" barrel. Besides a Thompson Center Contender it's the most accurate center fire handgun I've ever owned
 
a 4" barreled medium weight in .357 comes to mind as a particularly nicely balanced compromise between power, weight, recoil, accuracy, velocity, and carrying ability.

Probably why I have 6 of them... lol
 
Go back and look at post 56. That's the one that brought all the others to the party! Every revolver man should have one. I've got one just like it! I've got S&W Performance Center revolvers, Ruger Redhawk,Super Redhawk,and Blakhawks but the Colt Single Action Army is the real thing:eek:.
 
Jehu - the Colt Single Action Army is the real thing
Click to expand...

You mean the one that is not supposed to be fed anything more robust than SAAMI spec? I have a beautiful clone that just doesn't interest me much because even a max Trailboss load is kind of boring. I like the drama of the more powerful cartridges and my New Vaquero that can shoot higher level 45 Colt loads in the 45 ACP pressure range (tier 2). A nice Colt specimen might be a fine piece of machinery, but it wouldn't "rule all my revolvers".

I have a lot of revolvers and the one that would be especially endearing would be one that never needed to go back to the factory or be rescued by my gunsmith. Those are few, mostly prelock Smiths, I think.
 
330px-XM70E2_revolver.jpg

My father was proud of this patent, but it only made research money. It has constant recoil force over all the 6 rounds fired full auto. That means action forward motion acceleration reaction is the same as the hydraulic parabolic taper constant recoil force absorption in the rear direction. It hunkered down on the suspension when the shooting started and came back up after the last. The previous research contractor has so much recoil trouble that the gun would flip over, upside down.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM70E2
 
One revolver? Man that's a tough one. Blackhawk .38/9mm/.357 would be a good choice I guess. However a SS adjustable sight ROA with a conversion cylinder in .45 Colt sounds about right also. Hard to choose, but thinking what would be most versatile I'd take the ROA. Nothing against the Blackhawk, but I do love black powder guns.
 
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A Ruger Super Blackhawk 5.5" in .44Mag. I would also have a Ruger SP101 3" in .357 Mag. Both are rugged pistols in decent calibers for hunting and self defense. No one has just one revolver. I'm partial to SAA in .45Colt and .22LR/.22WMR. One has to have a second series Colt Detective Special and a S&W Airweight in .38 spcl.
 
Personally, I have a Taurus 608 SS6. 6.5" barrel since I use it for deer here in Ohio.

It's been a fantastic revolver and has never let me down. Ported and fun to shoot watching the flaming horns when firing .357 mag. Very accurate. I've taken deer at 60yds. open sights.

I'll admit that a carry gun it is not. But it is a fun range gun and .38 is cheap for range time. Accuracy out of the box is excellent and the trigger is really very nice for a "factory stock" gun. Less time spent reloading with the 8 shot cylinder.

I will say though, when shooting .357mag...DEFINITELY have hearing protection indoors as it feels like someone stabbing you in your ear with an ice pick for each shot taken without it. Such is the way for a round going supersonic in a closed area.

Outdoors, in open field, much better.

Mine is a very early model so, doesn't have the annoying lock in it. But that may be of little matter to you.

In the end, shoot what is comfortable for you. "Try on" different revolvers to see what fits you. I always tell people who ask me "what gun should I get?" that buying a gun is similar to buying shoes. What fits one person will not fit another. To be accurate, you must be comfortable with the gun.

I always hear how GREAT Glocks are and so I thought I should at least shoot one to see if it would be right for me. But I did not like it at all when shopping for a .45. I could not get comfortable with it and I was all over the target. Then I grabbed a 1911 and for me, that was a huge difference. Very comfortable and was on target consistently. So, 1911 it was.

Someone also mentioned the barrel length. Yep, longer barrel will have less felt recoil, be more accurate....and heavier, but it's always a compromise, isn't it? If you're prone to a flinch, get a longer barrel. Of course, a flinch can be overcome with concentration and practice.

Not sure if this helps or if I said anything that anyone else hasn't already said, but there's my 2 cents anyway.

Happy shooting!
 
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