What should be my first revolver?

[SmitVerga]

22lr!

The best "addition" to a good collection is a 22lr revolver.

It's cheap, fun, easy for kids, woman and grandparents to shoot and goes BANG every time!

You can get from a single shot "key chain" to a full sizes 10 shot S&W 617 and everything in between.

For "FUN" shooting, 22lr is the bet round out there.

Matt

Interesting take but my latest gun is the ruger mark 4

Got it for showin' my lil sister how to shoot. I want my revolver to have some oomph to it haha

 

[22plinker]

Interesting take but my latest gun is the ruger mark 4

Got it for showin' my lil sister how to shoot. I want my revolver to have some oomph to it haha

I hear ya

I don't think you can go wrong with a 357 then.

Have fun!

Matt

 

[Deadcoyote]

357 magnum, 3-4” barrel, steel frame seems like the sweet spot for a generalist revolver. That’s my plan.

SW 686 + in either 3 or 4” flavors is a great revolver.

I don’t even have one but the revolvers made by Kimber really intrigue me.

 

[dvoncock]

In terms of a generally, all around good revolver for the range and nostalgia, I agree that a 586 or 686 with a 4” barrel is a good choice. But the Model 19 should not be overlooked either. A lot of people (including me) prefer the balance of the 19’s smaller K-frame to the 586/686’s larger L-frame. Going with 357 over 38 is a good suggestion because then you can shoot either one.

 

[M_N04H]

Smith 686 or TRR8

 

[Deadcoyote]

In terms of a generally, all around good revolver for the range and nostalgia, I agree that a 586 or 686 with a 4” barrel is a good choice. But the Model 19 should not be overlooked either. A lot of people (including me) prefer the balance of the 19’s smaller K-frame to the 586/686’s larger L-frame. Going with 357 over 38 is a good suggestion because then you can shoot either one.

So I kind of spaced the model 19/66 (same gun 19=blued 66=stainless). They used to have a fairly undeserved reputation for cracking the forcing cone. (It could happen but there was a lot of variables it’s a lot to get in to). Regardless, smith and Wesson sells redesigned K frame 19’s and 66’s and they no longer have any issues and are really nice to carry, lighter weight 6 shooters.

My first duty weapon was a 66 I carried for 4 hours then I carried a model 19 for a couple years after thatz
.

 

[gunsgunsguns]

"don't count" them's fighting words MR.

I have to rationalize these purchases somehow

 

[sugarfoot57]

I have a mid 1960's model 31 Smith in 32 S&W long. It's just a collectable that gets taken out once in a great while. Kinda neat because it's a J frame revolver with six shot capability. Very negligible recoil. Makes it fun to shoot. I have dies, bullets, and brass so reloading is practical and inexpensive.

 

[aardvark9]

I'm a Fudd when it comes to wheel guns, but if it's purely for recreation, I'd recommend a .357 (which as others have said will shoot .38 special) and a 4-6" barrel. The longer barrel is really pleasant. The 4 isn't bad but unless you need to carry it, the 6 is really nice shooting. Unless you've already got a .357, skip the .44. It's a beast (.44 special in the same gun is quite a bit softer). I'd personally like to round things out with a 10-shot .22lr next but I wouldn't make that my first revolver. The 9mm is a cool idea with regard to cost of ammo and one less cartridge to inventory, but moon clips can be a hassle. My experience is mostly S&W and the post-2020 Colts. The newer Colts are brilliantly engineered and the older S&Ws are super smooth too. You'll be hard-pressed to find a better single-action trigger.

 

[Deadcoyote]

Also last random thing I promise. Multiple other folks recommended 38 special in a 357 to be more pleasant. Generically speaking with all magnum revolver cartridges: cowboy action ammo is loaded super soft. I used to buy 44 magnum ammo loaded with 200 grain lead round nose at 750 fps and my kids would shuck those things out of a Rossi model 92 clone all day long. Not only is the recoils super soft but the volume of the report is super reduced.

 

[dvoncock]

So I kind of spaced the model 19/66 (same gun 19=blued 66=stainless). They used to have a fairly undeserved reputation for cracking the forcing cone. (It could happen but there was a lot of variables it’s a lot to get in to). Regardless, smith and Wesson sells redesigned K frame 19’s and 66’s and they no longer have any issues and are really nice to carry, lighter weight 6 shooters.

My first duty weapon was a 66 I carried for 4 hours then I carried a model 19 for a couple years after thatz
.

I’ve read Model 19s sometimes had that issue back in the day, especially when they reached a high round count. But, from what I understand, 357 was also a lot spicier back in the day too.

I’ve been eying the reissue Model 19 “Classic” for over a year … one of these days I’m going to pull the trigger, so to speak.

 

[markwise]

Buy once cry once, TR8 vote!

GP100 is beautiful classic, but plain
Same is the 686 and I have a 686 Pro love it

TR8 if you want modern style revolver tank

 

[irongunner]

You wouldn't go 44 Magnum?

I'd vote 686 and maybe Ruger's if I had experience with it. As other have stated, stick with .357 it is a fantastic round. +Flexibility with 38 spcl. Also, there is something special with S&W revolver triggers once broken in.

I happily picked up the Colt Kodiak 4" and shot some pretty hot 44 mag rounds. I was very happy to step down to .44 special after a cylinder of spicy mag rounds. I really enjoy the aesthetics and mechanisms of the Kodiak but the hot 44 mags quickly evaporate the sentiment of "shooting is fun and painless" for that moment.

 

[Ryan Gosling]

Ruger GP100 .357 Magnum. It is a tank and you can shoot full power .357 through it all day long.

Ive shot quite a few revolvers, some competitively. 4 inch full lugs, or longer half lugs balance the best. 6 inch full lugs get front heavy.

• 586/686 is the generalist king and excellent combo of durability, fantastic trigger, great variety of barrel lengths and models, and even has some neat history with navy seal use wayyyy back in the day.
• GP100 is king of durability like Obsidian says, until you get to the mr73s. The following quote describes it well "3 million years from now, an intelligent upright descendant of the modern cockroach will be able to dig up a stainless GP100, put new springs in it, roll up some ammo and blow away another intelligent upright cockroach that "did him wrong".
• TRR8 if you want to be tacticool or plan on doing competitions, 7 shot revolvers leave you in a weird spot when it comes to reloads. minor power factor maxes at 8 rounds, and major you are required (iirc) to reload after 6 shots anyway. You will pay double for one compared to the other two choices

 

[SmitVerga]

I'd vote 686 and maybe Ruger's if I had experience with it. As other have stated, stick with .357 it is a fantastic round. +Flexibility with 38 spcl. Also, there is something special with S&W revolver triggers once broken in.

I happily picked up the Colt Kodiak 4" and shot some pretty hot 44 mag rounds. I was very happy to step down to .44 special after a cylinder of spicy mag rounds. I really enjoy the aesthetics and mechanisms of the Kodiak but the hot 44 mags quickly evaporate the sentiment of "shooting is fun and painless" for that moment.

Not familiar with Kodiak but I shall definitely look into it

Thank you for your feedback

 

[SmitVerga]

Ive shot quite a few revolvers, some competitively. 4 inch full lugs, or longer half lugs balance the best. 6 inch full lugs get front heavy.

• 586/686 is the generalist king and excellent combo of durability, fantastic trigger, great variety of barrel lengths and models, and even has some neat history with navy seal use wayyyy back in the day.
• GP100 is king of durability like Obsidian says, until you get to the mr73s. The following quote describes it well "3 million years from now, an intelligent upright descendant of the modern cockroach will be able to dig up a stainless GP100, put new springs in it, roll up some ammo and blow away another intelligent upright cockroach that "did him wrong".
• TRR8 if you want to be tacticool or plan on doing competitions, 7 shot revolvers leave you in a weird spot when it comes to reloads. minor power factor maxes at 8 rounds, and major you are required (iirc) to reload after 6 shots anyway. You will pay double for one compared to the other two choices

Would you say TRR8 has the similar durability as GP100?

 

[compshell]

I’m biased towards the 547 for practical reasons and the 500 for all out fun.

 

[Shellbackitup]

Would you say TRR8 has the similar durability as GP100?

No, the Ruger is definitely more durable. Nothing against S&W, I've shot many and own/owned 357 S&W's.
But my GP100 is my most durable gun, they are tanks. That thing will outlive the heat death of the universe and still go 'bang'

 

[ButteFlyFisher]

How do the new Colt Pythons compare to the old stuff? Vs a 586?

 

[DrewN]

.22s, black powder and air guns definitely don't count when your wife asks how many guns you have now. It's ALWAYS, "Well honey, about X many, and a few .22s, black powder guns and pellet guns", even when some of those .22s and pellet guns are $3K+.