Recommendation? Revolvers

[BuckShack]

These are all great choices. My quick opinion is S&W probably has a better trigger and thus accuracy. I don't own one. Ruger for rugged durability. GP100 in all lengths are fantastic to shoot. They also have great trigger geometry. What I recommend for your situation is the slightly less expensive and lighter to carry Ruger SP101. A 4.20" barrel model has great sights and will get great single action accuracy with little effort. 5 rounds in 357 or if you need 6 rounds, 327 Fed Mag. You have the option to step it down to 38 Special in a 357 pistol. And 32 H&R, 32 S&W and the 32 S&W Long cartridge in the 327 pistol. I like choices.

 

[BP_]

I appreciate the input all the way around. I’m not much of a gun guy so I like to learn what people use, and what just works reliably every time. There are some good choices, I’m headed to the gun store after work to handle a few. We’ll see what they have. Maybe I can get a Christmas deal.

 

[22-rimfire]

I appreciate the input all the way around. I’m not much of a gun guy so I like to learn what people use, and what just works reliably every time. There are some good choices, I’m headed to the gun store after work to handle a few. We’ll see what they have. Maybe I can get a Christmas deal.

Good luck in your quest. Revolvers are just fun!

 

[Horsewright]

When carrying a revolver on the ranch its generally my old Smith Mod 36 in .38, first round is snake shot. In fact around here, in cowboy vernacular, a snubby, of any make is just called a snake gun.

My buddy carries one of those new Kimber .357 snake guns. We were just talking about it the other day and he feels this small revolver is his favorite ranch gun of all time.

They are lightweight, comfortable to carry for long periods, shrug off dust and dirt pretty well, are compact and out of the way when busy, whether horseback, or on foot:

I've carried different revolvers and still do depending on where on the ranch I'm going and what I'm gonna be doing. Here its the Ruger Vaquero in .45 Colt.

Or the big Smith 610 in 10mm:

These are often carried when we go to the backside of the ranch to ride fence or whatever. Lots of lions tigers and bears back there oh my!

I usually only carry a revolver in the summertime though when the snakes are out. Revolvers just handle snake shot loads better than a semi auto does. Other times of the year I'll carry other pistols and am fond of my little Glock 43 for many of the same reasons except the snake shot.

The wife though, she's just pretty hard core semi auto girl and in the summertime just deals with the first round being snakeshot. It just simply won't reliably cycle the gun:

Me I go with the little snake gun. July 4th went out to feed some heifers we had in the pens that we were weaning. This guy was in the squeeze chute all coiled up, I literally stepped just a foot or two away. We opened the chute and he started coming out.

One round of snake shot did the deal:

Ya always hang em over the fence to keep other snakes away. Thats the old wives tale, anyhoo, but ya always hang em over a fence:

Snake time, first round is always snake shot, in my snake gun.

If I were going out to buy a ranch gun revolver, I would look very HARD at the Smith Mod 60 with a 3" barrel and adjustable sights. Stainless for the bad weather, another inch of barrel for those long shots on a coyote and adjustable sights for the same. Might be the perfect all round ranch revolver.

 

[BP_]

When carrying a revolver on the ranch its generally my old Smith Mod 36 in .38, first round is snake shot. In fact around here, in cowboy vernacular, a snubby, of any make is just called a snake gun.

My buddy carries one of those new Kimber .357 snake guns. We were just talking about it the other day and he feels this small revolver is his favorite ranch gun of all time.

They are lightweight, comfortable to carry for long periods, shrug off dust and dirt pretty well, are compact and out of the way when busy, whether horseback, or on foot:

I've carried different revolvers and still do depending on where on the ranch I'm going and what I'm gonna be doing. Here its the Ruger Vaquero in .45 Colt.

Or the big Smith 610 in 10mm:

These are often carried when we go to the backside of the ranch to ride fence or whatever. Lots of lions tigers and bears back there oh my!

I usually only carry a revolver in the summertime though when the snakes are out. Revolvers just handle snake shot loads better than a semi auto does. Other times of the year I'll carry other pistols and am fond of my little Glock 43 for many of the same reasons except the snake shot.

The wife though, she's just pretty hard core semi auto girl and in the summertime just deals with the first round being snakeshot. It just simply won't reliably cycle the gun:

Me I go with the little snake gun. July 4th went out to feed some heifers we had in the pens that we were weaning. This guy was in the squeeze chute all coiled up, I literally stepped just a foot or two away. We opened the chute and he started coming out.

One round of snake shot did the deal:

Ya always hang em over the fence to keep other snakes away. Thats the old wives tale, anyhoo, but ya always hang em over a fence:

Snake time, first round is always snake shot, in my snake gun.

If I were going out to buy a ranch gun revolver, I would look very HARD at the Smith Mod 60 with a 3" barrel and adjustable sights. Stainless for the bad weather, another inch of barrel for those long shots on a coyote and adjustable sights for the same. Might be the perfect all round ranch revolver.

I appreciate the write up, and the pictures. What I wouldn’t give for that to be daily life again instead of evening and weekend life these days.
I had not even looked at the Mod 60, but I was eyeing the airweight models. Any major differences or reasons to stay away from the airweights? Those seem more of a pistol to carry in town or around people. But I have never shot one. I like that Mod 60 though, along with the 686. I still have an eye for the Blackhawk as well. Not dead set on anything until I feel it in hand.

 

[Horsewright]

The Airweights are for carrying not for shooting, particularly in .357 mag. I actually know a guy that shot two rounds with one and sold the gun. He was an officer as well as a gun guy and used to shooting a lot. Anyhoo, the steel framed J frames like the Mod 60 or my 36 just carry really well and shoot really well. Kinda of a learning curve to shoot a small revolver well, but worth it for the carrying aspects. I have no personal experience with a 686 but they are not particularly popular in our world. I've made hundreds and hundreds of holsters for ranchers/working cowboys (all the leatherwork in the above shots except boots and saddles we did, including all other tack) and I've only ever made one for a 686. As an L frame its just bigger and heavier. Same with the Blackhawk. My friend Tyler above with the Kimber revolver progressed from a Blackhawk in.357, to a Kimber 3" 1911, to the Kimber revolver. If a guy was leaving the pistol in the truck a lot more than he was carrying it by all means these larger guns are great but if ya are carrying more than leaving it in the truck I'd go with that Mod 60. In fact ya got me thinking about my next purchase. I've always really wanted one of those 3" Mod 60s with adjustable sights. I was gonna be looking at a 1911 in 10mm but....hmm....?

 

[JJ_Colt45]

here are a few of my favorite double action revolvers ... a S&W 627 Pro ...

and a couple of the Ruger GP100 Match Champions ...

 

[heresthedeal]

686

 

[22-rimfire]

Nobody mentioned it, but I would avoid Taurus stuff. They are less expensive. If you should choose one, look it over really carefully. Warranty trips are common.

The M60 is about as small as I would consider. Barely tolerable in 357. That said, I love my two M63's..... 22's.

Barrel length depends on your shooting ability and application.

 

[BP_]

I went and looked at a few, not going to buy from that place (price) but it was nice to see the selection. I really like the Mod 60 and the SP101 the best so far. The 686 is a nice one as well.
Those Blackhawk pistols are beautiful, but I agree about the practicality. I don’t see SA as an “issue,” but if I can get a DA that packs that same punch in a smaller but sturdy frame my eyebrows raise up. Plus, this one will be carried often. I take all advice given and apply it to my situation. I’m very grateful for everyone that has chimed in.
Had not heard about Taurus, but I was wondering why their price point was so much lower. I’m a “you get what you pay for” person though. So I understand. Thank you for the heads up.

 

[heresthedeal]

Early 90s late 80s Taurus revolvers aren't that bad.
Better than charters, but not smiths.

 

[22-rimfire]

Early 90s late 80s Taurus revolvers aren't that bad.
Better than charters, but not smiths.

or Rugers. Many find the recoil intolerable on the M60 with 357's. But I agree it is a nice little J frame revolver. So, they shoot 38spl's in it..... It is a bit heavy for concealed carry in my opinion. I feel the same way about the SP-101 but some carry them concealed.

 

[Mitchell Knives]

I'd get a Ruger GP-100 or SP-101.

No silly locks like the S&W.

 

[heresthedeal]

Most smiths don't have them anymore, and the older smiths are the way to go anyway.

 

[315]

I went and looked at a few, not going to buy from that place (price) but it was nice to see the selection. I really like the Mod 60 and the SP101 the best so far. The 686 is a nice one as well.
Those Blackhawk pistols are beautiful, but I agree about the practicality. I don’t see SA as an “issue,” but if I can get a DA that packs that same punch in a smaller but sturdy frame my eyebrows raise up. Plus, this one will be carried often. I take all advice given and apply it to my situation. I’m very grateful for everyone that has chimed in.
Had not heard about Taurus, but I was wondering why their price point was so much lower. I’m a “you get what you pay for” person though. So I understand. Thank you for the heads up.

I have a model 60 in .357 and carry it regularly, and have for 20 years. While I have shot full house .357’s in it I carry Speer 135 grain Gold Dots .38+P in it. Speer makes .357 135Gold Dot ammo that is designed for the shorter barrel guns. It’s not as brutal as the full house stuff. I have some of the Remington Golden Sabre that was more of a mid-velocity .357 load. It was just barely more noticeable than the .38+P loads. My buddy has an SP101 in .357. The extra weight helps out with recoil when shooting .357 loads. Either choice would be good if you’re going the snobby route. If you are thinking smaller but want some punch, check out the Ruger SP101 with the 3 inch barrel. That extra 3/4ths of an inch of barrel will add a little heft, some velocity but not really be any harder to conceal. That may just be the perfect setup.

 

[BP_]

I think I’ve narrowed it down to these three. There’s still that small part of me that can never discount the traditional practicality (and non aggressive look) of the SA Ruger. So I included it in the finalists. I found a model in stock in my price range for each one. Thoughts/comments welcome.


I just realized three of the four are Ruger. I don’t favor one brand over another, it just ended up that way from input from you guys and my own personal preference on style.

 

[315]

Some solid choices there!

 

[bdmicarta]

The GP100 and Blackhawk will be the largest and heaviest, and easiest to shoot. The SP101 is smaller but still relatively heavy for its size. This reduces recoil but the grip is small and the sights are small, it will be a little hard to shoot. The S&W M60 is probably the lightest and maybe smallest but its grip is probably a bit better than the SP101 and its sights will be easier to see. There is a lot of variation in the size and feel of each of these so it would be best to spend some time comparing them in your own hands. If I had to make a recommendation without you being able to handle them, I would suggest the GP100 if you don't mind the size and weight, the S&W if you do want smaller and lighter. But as said before there is nothing wrong with any of them, they are just slightly different.

 

[The Zieg]

I think I’ve narrowed it down to these three. There’s still that small part of me that can never discount the traditional practicality (and non aggressive look) of the SA Ruger. So I included it in the finalists. I found a model in stock in my price range for each one. Thoughts/comments welcome.
View attachment 1254347 View attachment 1254348 View attachment 1254349 View attachment 1254350

I just realized three of the four are Ruger. I don’t favor one brand over another, it just ended up that way from input from you guys and my own personal preference on style.

My own choice was and remains the SP101. Mine is the 3" barrel (the 4" wasn't around in 1999 when I bought it) in .357 Mag. I installed a Hogue grip and a lanyard loop pommel screw and carry it in one of Dave's ( Horsewright ) flap holsters for security in the saddle. I prefer 158gr soft nose rounds but have shot as much as 180gr not uncomfortably.

Something to consider, too, is quick reloads. HKS speedloaders are a tight fit for the SP101, so I had mine machined for full moon clips by Clark Customs. It was a good decision for me to the extent that any revolver I get from here out will use moon clips. This year I bought a 1937 S&W Brazilian contract M1917, which shoots .45 ACP from clips. I have my eye on two other Rugers that shoot from moon clips straight from the factory (Redhawks, one holding eight .357 Mag rounds and the other holding six .45 ACP or .45 Colt). Clips make reloading fast and policing brass at the range easy.

Zieg

 

[Velitrius]

Smith & Wesson on this one.

I found my sweet spot with an old model 13, so I'm partial to the K frame stuff. If I get another, I'll likely get a 67.

The Performance Center Pro Series model 60 can be had right at 7 bills over at Midway USA. J Frame goodness.

The 686 is sweet. L frame is a bit big for me these days, but you may like it. Lotsa folks do.

I found the airweight to be miserable to shoot, and impossible to shoot accurately. A dream to carry though.