Revolver for trail gun

I heard the trigger on the LCR .22 was terrible. I guess I need to check it out for myself. The LCR .38 has an awesome trigger.
 
Are you hiking public trails with other people around? Conceal something on the small side. Out in the boonies something a little bigger is fine. Caliber? Crap shoot. I'm just fine with a .22 and in many ways I prefer it. In other ways I prefer a .32H&R and in other ways still I'd prefer a .357. Many others have merit too.

I too like the 4" SP101 (and the similar Charter Arms) and would choose them ten fold over a full sized 4" revolver like my Security Six or a S&W for a lot of carry with very little shooting. That's regardless of what cartridge you choose (both are available in .22lr, .32/.327 and .38/357).
 
Last edited:
Or maybe my 1969 Colt Detective Special.

attachment.php


Deaf
 

Attachments

  • DS01.jpg
    DS01.jpg
    51 KB · Views: 1,693
I've heard plenty of "well seasoned" outdoorsmen say that a .22 Magnum is underestimated and 22 practice ammo is cheap.
Click to expand...

This is one "well seasoned" outdoorsman who will tell you the .22M is OVERESTIMATED. A .22lr rifle is a squirrel and bunny gun, a .22m handgun is about equal to that. So using simple deduction a .22M is a squirrel and bunny gun. Now that's not all bad, I like squirrel and bunny guns. But if I'm gonna shoot a squirrel and bunny gun it's gonna be a cheaper, less noisy .22lr handgun. If ya need something bigger, you need something bigger, not something equal to a .22 rifle.

BTW, if an SP was outta my price range (and for the most part it is) I'd look very very hard at the Charter Arms lineup.
 
Cost has been raised a few times by the OP. I'd suggest the likes of Bud's or J&G for a LEO turn-in .357 or .38 - 4" (3" better yet for carry if you can find one but they are scarce-ish). In snake country, load the first few with CCI shotshell followed by warm .38/+P or .357 in whatever load is suggested by the next most-likely trail threat (jhp if 2 legged varmints, 158 hard cast/jsp for bigger toothed critters. Etc), Voila.
Edit. AzMark I see you hail from Arizona too. Though you are closer to Tucson and likely could find something there (if not at a Sierra Vista LGS), failing those take a road trip up to Prescott for J&G.
 
Last edited:
Since the OP did suggest a .38 as a trail gun.
I'd consider one of the .38 police trade-ins offered by Bud's as something to consider. If I was lucky enough to get a really nice one, I wouldn't mind having one myself. Trouble is, I already have a couple nice revolvers so a police trade-in from Bud's just doesn't seem to be important. But to a guy looking for a trail gun, and doesn't mind a bit of honest wear, at a good price, Bud's police trade-ins are worth a look.
 
Old model 10

Howdy,

I'd opt for an old model 10. It's light, comfortable and would be comforting on my hip in the presence of 4 and 2 legged predators.
 
Taurus Tracker 357 with a titanium frame. Fits nicely attached forward on my saddle as a horse pistol, or in the back woods if your hiking on long treks. To quote Schwarzenegger in the movie "The Villain"....It's a 7 shot 6-shooter!!
 
I carried a Single Six for years in snake and cougar country, never felt under gunned. Stupid accurate, which was much more important to me than power. It was southern colorado scrubland and I knew that my most likely target would be snakes. Most rattlers in that part of the country were pretty close to invisible. The ones that rattled I just walked away from, no big deal. A couple of them I wasn't paying enough attention, and got into a situation where I couldn't walk away. At that point I wanted ACCURACY and absolutely nothing else. I can't imagine trying to make those shots with fixed sights and a 2" barrel. .38 ammo is cheap, .22 ammo is much cheaper, and a .22mag is surprisingly effective, especially with a longer barrel. The small frame Single Six means that even with a longer barrel it doesn't weigh that much.
 
Quote: azmark; August 11, 2012,
What kind of revolver would be a convenient and not pricey trail gun for hiking? I'm thinking of maybe a .22 or a .38.


When I was young, I carried a .22, but that was 40 years ago. Then I went carrying a .38 Spl loaded with shoot shells and 140 gr LSWCHPs. Now I carry a .357 Mag loaded with shoot shells and 158 gr LSWCHPs.
 
Update from OP

I went and got a semi auto for the trail. Sig P250 subcompact in 9 mm. I chose it because it is light, reliable, great grip feel. Snake shot rounds cycle the action every time. It was a great price at my local PX. Here's the downside... It's not a revolver. I got the fever and snatched it up because it cost less than the revolvers I wanted. I had it so bad I SOLD MY 1911 to get the money:( I should have just gotten a shoulder holster for the GP 100 or the 1911. I miss the .45. I claim temporary insanity.

BTW, 9 mm shotshells work fine on rattlers. Recently I had one on the back porch and shot it with the 12 ga., but he wouldn't stop trying to strike even with his guts blown out so I grabbed the Sig and finished him off. I could have just waited, but the dogs were going crazy. Besides, I hate rattlers anyway.
 
And, another one bit the dust..................:p

Day is done,
Gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky;
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

Fading light,
Dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.
From afar, drawing nigh, falls the night.

Thanks and praise,
For our days,
'Neath the sun, 'neath the stars, 'neath the sky;
As we go, this we know, God is nigh.


.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top