What new revolver?

A GP 100 or Model 10 is hard to beat. I've got both. You also mentioned something about CCW. Have you looked at the LCRx 3" version? Hickok45 on youtube has a great video of a review.
 
If it's a new gun a S&W 686. If you'd consider a used gun then there are several to choose from, 19, 15, 586, even an older gun like a Colt Trooper or Officer's model. The older guns are a bit nicer than the new ones. The Rugers are also nice guns but if you shoot D/A the S&W is better. S&W S/A is alo usually better than than Ruger.
 
I hear lots of positive reviews about the Ruger LCR 9mm. 9mm is relatively inexpensive to shoot and its a bonus if your larger EDC or Home Defense guns use 9mm ammo. It might not be a lot of fun at the range (depending on the grip you have installed on it) but it will cover your CCW needs.
 
10-96 said:
Just out of curiosity- why a current production revolver? S&W model 14's, 15's, and 10's of the older generation styles are still quite available, cheap to feed, generally astonishingly accurate, and tons of fun.
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I appreciate everybody's responses. I don't have much firearm expertise, so I am a little reluctant to go the used route. If I knew the person I was buying a handgun from and also had someone who knew what problem areas to look at when buying, then I wouldn't have a problem with buying a used handgun in good condition. As far as price range goes, I'd say top end, around 800 dollars or so.
 
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For your wants and needs at that price range a ruger gp100 or sp100 is a perfect fit plus u will have about 80-90 bucks left over for a holster and or ammo. Good luck n let us know what u come out with!
 
If you're willing to consider used, the S&W k-frames are outstanding.

38spl in Models 10, 64, 15
357 in Models 13 or 65
 
I'd vote for the 686. I have the 4" 686 plus and just picked up a 4" 586 yesterday. I love blued guns...the 686/586 is probably just the best all around revolver on the market...it's perfect for home defense and range...but carry is another issue; I don't carry mine. A s&W 64 or 3" 60 might be something worth looking into...as well as the GP or SP101 3".

Laura
 
In my opinion a good range and home defense revolver is not suitable for CCW and vice-versa.

For HD and range revolvers, you cannot beat the S&W 686 or the Ruger GP100. Both are so good that it is basically pointless to argue which is better. The new GP100s are beautifully made. The 686 is beautifully made. Both will do the job.

For CCW most .357s are too big and heavy. The ones that are not are too light to be good shooters. This is my opinion with which others may reasonably differ.
 
If you want new and could go a little higher, I'd look at a S&W 686 5".
If you want to stay under $800, you could look at a S&W 586 in 4" or 6".
Moving down the price scale slightly, you can find a Ruger GP100 Match Champion.
Below that are other GP100s, again I would look for a 5" barrel.
 
What gun

I agonized over the same question
As you. Didn't want used because
I'm a novice. I am highly opinioned
About the Ruger. None of these
People on this Forum will steer
You wrong. Go to your range & try
Out a few , then but the Ruger!
Doc
 
The problem with the 686 is that I have yet to even see a 3" or 4" in person. It might just be my local market (Illinois), but around here the demand apparently outstrips the supply by a large margin, and I have yet to even hold on to one. The 6" I saw was very nice, but I'm just not in the market for a 6" revolver. Not yet, anyway.

I've got a 3" GP-100 Wiley Clapp, which I'm very happy with. The DA is a bit heavy, but I'm going to buff the action a bit to see if I can lighten it, and I've heard good things about Wolff gunsprings.

The LCR is outstanding, but have only gotten a chance to shoot the .38 version. I loved it, but I'd like to find out if I can handle the .357 before buying it. I might just get the .357 anyway and see if I can work my way up training with it.
 
357s too big and heavy? Nonsense. It all depends on the person and the clothes they wear. Right now in my part of Virginia the weather is cool to cold one day and reasonably warm the next. I am 5'8" and 165 lbs. and have been carrying for nearly three decades. With a light weight winter coat I am easily able to conceal a 6" Colt Python without a shoulder holster. I also carry from time to time (concealed and open) 2 1/2" S&W model 66, 3" S&W model 65, 4" S&W model 686, 4" S&W model 28 (big N frame), and a 4" Colt Python. Too big, not for me. Too heavy, not for me either. Truth be told I prefer the weight of these "heavy" guns. It helps with the recoil of the ammo I use. I also use these as range guns and home defense. The 2 1/2" S&W 66 is now my wife's gun and it isn't too heavy or big for her. The 357 is a fine CCW, range or home defense gun when in the right configuration and the right clothing are considered.
 
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The LCR is outstanding, but have only gotten a chance to shoot the .38 version. I loved it, but I'd like to find out if I can handle the .357 before buying it. I might just get the .357 anyway and see if I can work my way up training with it.
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Get the LCR357 and shoot 38+P with it. It'll get the job done. I "worked up" to 38+P and that's plenty for me. No desire to go "up" to .357 and "up" is questionable anyway from a sub-two-inch barrel.
 
Wife wanted to upgrade from a 38 special to a 357 magnum a few years ago, so I bought her a 686 Plus- that's the 7-round version of the L frame .357 magnum in stainless steel. Most accurate L frame I have ever fired. If you don't like the relative brutality of magnum rounds, you can shoot 38 specials all day long. The only question is, how big are your hands? I have huge meathooks, so N frames are more for me. But if you have average or smaller sized hands, I don't think you could do any better in a current production revolver. Bonus: S&W revolvers just ooze with charisma...
 
For what you are describing my choices would be a Ruger GP100 or S&W 686.
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These are both excellent choices for the OP's stated purpose. I think the 686 is a little prettier but the purportedly indestructible GP100 is hard to beat. Of course, each of these is a fairly big and heavy gun if you ever want to carry it concealed.

Another one to consider is the Ruger SP-101, 4" in 327 magnum. You can shoot 32 S&W shorts, longs, 32 H&R mag, and 327 mag. That gives you soft shooting, accurate 32 wad-cutters up to 327 magnums that can deliver well over 500 ft/lbs of energy even with cheap Federal factory ammo. Adjustable sights are standard and because of the smaller diameter of the round, you get 6 rounds instead of 5 in the compact cylinder.
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This is actually a great gun. It shares the 4" barrel and the balancing weight of steel construction but does so with less weight on a more slender frame. That can make a huge difference if you ever plan to carry it concealed. It stays a six-shooter due to caliber and .327 is no slouch in terms of power. Sure, it's loud but so is .357 magnum.

The LCR is outstanding, but have only gotten a chance to shoot the .38 version. I loved it, but I'd like to find out if I can handle the .357 before buying it. I might just get the .357 anyway and see if I can work my way up training with it.
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The LCR in .38 is a great little gun. It is easy to conceal and has a surprisingly good trigger. Still, it's a very light, 5-shot, snub-nosed revolver and subject to everything that comes with that. It would definitely not be my first choice for home defense and I don't find it particularly fun at the range. That said, I find .357 magnum unpleasant and inefficient in this type of gun, even with the slightly larger frame of the .357 version. If you go this route, I recommend the slightly smaller, more concealable, and far more pleasant .38 special version.
 
Forget Taurus or Charter Arms...great price but spotty quality control and customer service. S&W or Ruger is the route to go. Both build a "K" or "L" frame gun that you and probably your wife can find comfortable.

A range try out is the route to go. Get one in a .357 caliber and use it for practice in .38 special, saving the high velocity .357s for home, ccw or trail defense purposes.

ADJUSTABLE SIGHTS...a requisite in my opinion. As a new revolver shooter, you'll find your grip and therefore your point of impact shifting as you gain experience. With a fixed sight gun, you'll be frustrated by inability to keep your groups centered. Adj. sights are worth the money...don't be tempted to get the fixed sight models. I've shot revolvers for well over 50 years now and have never had a fixed sight gun shoot to the sights...never.

Size.... get one in what S&W calls it's "K" or "L" frame...Ruger has an equivalent model. Unless you have gargantuan sized hands, that size frame will suit you and your wife.

Barrel length...4" or there abouts. Longer (6" usually) and you'll never carry it concealed, and probably not on the trail hiking either. Shorter (less than 3") and it's shorter sight radius leads to inaccuracy in most hands. Too, it's difficult to get an adj. sighted short barrel gun.

For 3" models, S&W makes a truly classic carry, range, and defense gun in its 3" barreled Model 60...comes with adj. sights, and is small enough to fit both you any your wife. It's a J frame, but the supplied grips make it fit a bigger hand. For your stated purposes, it's my recommendation...S&W M60 with a 3" adjustable sighted barrel.

Caliber....357...you can use light recoiling .38 special wadcutters for target and familiarization, or load up with +P .38's or full house .357's for serious defensive purposes. Too, you can find ammunition anywhere in the US.

HTH's Rod
 
Every review I have seen on the raging bull has been pretty damn good. Taurus revolvers seem to be much better at quality control than the semi division .
 
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