The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > Hogan's Alley > Handguns: The Revolver Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old January 26, 2013, 10:43 PM   #1
Viper99
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 19, 2010
Location: CT
Posts: 846
If only one revolver, which one?

I own about 10 pistols of different calibers but not one revolver. I want to fix that. Now if I wanted a must have in your collection for a revolver which one should it be? Ruger GP100?

Use? range and to enjoy looking at. Either .38 or .45 stainless. Barrel length? not that important as is staying home or going out for range only.

Oh yeah, not crazy expensive, could be used. Figure about 500/600 tops.

Regards.
Viper99 is offline  
Old January 26, 2013, 11:03 PM   #2
Deaf Smith
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 31, 2000
Location: Texican!
Posts: 4,453
Stainless Speed Six 2 3/4 inch .357 with Secret Service stocks and an action job.

Yea that is what I'd get.

Oh, and that is what I have.

Deaf
__________________
“To you who call yourselves ‘men of peace,’ I say, you are not safe without men of action by your side” Thucydides
Deaf Smith is offline  
Old January 26, 2013, 11:11 PM   #3
stephen426
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 11, 2005
Posts: 3,840
I only have one revolver out of my collection. Mine is a 6" Stainless Steel Ruger GP 100 which is in .357 Mag. I originally bought it as a hunting backup but mostly use it as a range toy. The 6 inch barrel adds some extra weight which may or may not be a good thing depending on how you look at it. If you are going to lugging it around, it is heavier and you need a larger holster to carry it. If you intend on carrying it, I suggest you go with the 4 inch model. The extra barrel length and weight does help to tame recoil some. The extra sight radius also helps improve aim if you wanted to use it as a hunting gun. I would go with stainless if you are going to carry it since it will hold up much better to sweat and humidity.

The S&W 686 is also a very popular choice, but I like the beefiness of the GP 100.



This is the stock photo from Ruger's website. My grips have the wood insert in them and I like that look a lot better.
__________________
The ATF should be a convenience store instead of a government agency!
stephen426 is offline  
Old January 26, 2013, 11:23 PM   #4
Viper99
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 19, 2010
Location: CT
Posts: 846
That looks good. I catch myself smiling whenever I think of how many Rugers I own already. They seem to have a favorite in every caliber for me.
Viper99 is offline  
Old January 26, 2013, 11:42 PM   #5
L_Killkenny
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 2, 2007
Location: Iowa
Posts: 2,676
Ruger or S&W 4" .357
L_Killkenny is offline  
Old January 26, 2013, 11:44 PM   #6
redrick
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 5, 2007
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,041
Used 686 plus or new Ruger GP100 or a Ruger New Vaquero or a Taylors Smokewagon DE. I should receive my Smokewagon early next week. I already have a 6" 686, it was my first handgun and the last one that I would sell. I also just bought a 4" 686 plus from a friend needing money. I don't know yet if it shoots as good as my 6", but it sure looks nice and I like that it holds 7 rounds and doesn't look any bigger than my six shot 686. I got the Smokewagon in .45 with a 5 1/2" barrel. I will post pictures when I get it.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg S&W 686 plus 001.JPG (176.4 KB, 84 views)
redrick is offline  
Old January 26, 2013, 11:49 PM   #7
Hammerhead
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 31, 2004
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 2,432
4" GP100 with adjustable sights.
Love mine.
Hammerhead is offline  
Old January 27, 2013, 12:00 AM   #8
rclark
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 12, 2009
Location: Butte, MT
Posts: 2,614
No contest... .45 Colt BH 5 1/2" barrel. Your choice of stainless (the unfinished look) or nicely blued ... better yet in case coloring (custom) .
__________________
A clinger and deplorable, MAGA, and life NRA member. When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. Single Action .45 Colt (Sometimes colloquially referred to by its alias as the .45 'Long' Colt or .45LC). Don't leave home without it. That said, the .44Spec is right up their too... but the .45 Colt is still the king.
rclark is offline  
Old January 27, 2013, 12:03 AM   #9
skidder
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 17, 2008
Location: Montana
Posts: 640
Out of all my DA revolvers these two would be the last to go. And if I had to make a choice between the two? I think I would keep the 4" Security Six (top).




__________________
Gun permit?? A bread crumb tossed to a sleeping society awoken by the sound of complacency. "They are for your own good", and "you will understand when you see all the lives they save". Yes master, what else will you toss me from your bag of infringements?? Do you want me to roll over and play dead? I do that very well. --skidder
skidder is offline  
Old January 27, 2013, 12:11 AM   #10
Beagle333
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 7, 2012
Location: Auburn, AL.
Posts: 2,332
Quote:
Mine is a 6" Stainless Steel Ruger GP 100 which is in .357 Mag.
Yep... same here. But a half-lug. I'd keep it over any of my other guns.... short or long.
__________________
.
.
.
Have a Colt and a smile.
Beagle333 is offline  
Old January 27, 2013, 12:23 AM   #11
Wheel-Gunner
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 24, 2006
Posts: 277
If I were buying brand new, it'd easily be a GP100. If I were going the used route, a pre-lock 686 would be in the running along with the GP100.
__________________
"History does not entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid. We must acquire proficiency in defense and display stamina in purpose." Dwight Eisenhower
Wheel-Gunner is offline  
Old January 27, 2013, 12:31 AM   #12
Sheriff Gotcha
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 19, 2012
Location: The Keystone State
Posts: 236
4" S&W 686 (+ or not either way) is what I'd get and what I will be looking to get come income tax time.

Just an all around good looking firearm.
Sheriff Gotcha is offline  
Old January 27, 2013, 12:33 AM   #13
shootniron
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 16, 2011
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,599
It would be something in 44spec...either SA or DA.
shootniron is offline  
Old January 27, 2013, 12:58 AM   #14
stephen426
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 11, 2005
Posts: 3,840
Don't forget cost of ammo. .44 Special is more expensive than .357 mag and even more so than .38 special. .44 Mag is even more expensive. As scarce as ammo is getting, I have always been able to find .38 special or .357 mag. I saw some guys looking for .44 special and Bass Pro today and they didn't have any. There was .44 mag though.
__________________
The ATF should be a convenience store instead of a government agency!
stephen426 is offline  
Old January 27, 2013, 01:01 AM   #15
shootniron
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 16, 2011
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,599
Quote:
Don't forget cost of ammo. .44 Special is more expensive than .357 mag and even more so than .38 special. .44 Mag is even more expensive. As scarce as ammo is getting, I have always been able to find .38 special or .357 mag. I saw some guys looking for .44 special and Bass Pro today and they didn't have any. There was .44 mag though.
That is the reason that I cast and reload...makes 'em all cost about the same...CHEAP
shootniron is offline  
Old January 27, 2013, 01:04 AM   #16
Crankgrinder
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 24, 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 917
if only one revo i keep my 6" gp100 same as pictured above.
Crankgrinder is offline  
Old January 27, 2013, 01:53 AM   #17
weblance
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 3, 2012
Posts: 1,229
Its a toss up between my 4" GP100 or my 3" SP101 .357
weblance is offline  
Old January 27, 2013, 01:55 AM   #18
anzafrank
Member
 
Join Date: November 29, 2008
Location: So. Ca.
Posts: 69
80's DW 357, and like it better than my 80's SW 586.
anzafrank is offline  
Old January 27, 2013, 02:41 AM   #19
rep1954
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 5, 2009
Location: Mid Western Michigan
Posts: 1,187
Ruger 357 Mag. 50th Anniversary Blackhawk. My next choice would be a Ruger Single Six 6 1/2" barrel.
rep1954 is offline  
Old January 27, 2013, 03:00 AM   #20
Rainbow Demon
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 27, 2012
Posts: 397
I'd look for a good used S&W Model 19.
.357 is the best all around chambering for revolvers.
Easy to handload and you can use .38 Special if need be.
Rainbow Demon is offline  
Old January 27, 2013, 04:39 AM   #21
youngunz4life
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 15, 2010
Location: United States of America
Posts: 1,877
I'm choosing a ruger super redhawk alaskan 44 stainless. if I can only have one revolver I have to upgrade from my usual 357


I might also upgrade from a snubby to a 6" stainless model 629 44 magnum which would mean I would upgrade(or change) the way I CCW
__________________
"Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" -Admiral Farragut @ Battle of Mobile Bay 05AUG1864
youngunz4life is offline  
Old January 27, 2013, 06:43 AM   #22
wap41
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 3, 2009
Posts: 99
s&w k 38 6"
wap41 is offline  
Old January 27, 2013, 09:02 AM   #23
J A
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 1, 2009
Location: The Hawkeye State
Posts: 191
686

Available, reliable and comes in many different configurations. S&W customer service is top notch also. Accessories like speed loaders and holsters are easy to find. Hard combination to beat.
J A is offline  
Old January 27, 2013, 09:18 AM   #24
Billy Shears
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 17, 2011
Posts: 606
Another vote for Ruger's GP-100, in whatever barrel length you prefer.

They are accurate, rugged, simple and fairly affordable.

There are very few things they can't do and they seem to last forever.

Had mine since 1988 through who knows how many thousands of rounds. It's the one revolver in my home that I will not consider parting with.
Billy Shears is offline  
Old January 27, 2013, 09:26 AM   #25
oplofilo
Member
 
Join Date: March 17, 2011
Location: Roma, ITALIA
Posts: 54
"If only one" I'd say an eclectic one... 3 inches and capable of firing different cartridges (since "Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." ) :
http://www.weapon.ge/index.php?sel=1...un=3&cat=&l=en
ASTRA Police
FN Browning Barracuda



__________________
Repente dives factus est nemo bonus.

Nullius boni sine socio iucunda possessio est.
oplofilo is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:35 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.11008 seconds with 11 queries