revolvers

[robbor]

Hey yall! Im in the market for a revolver and looking for someone alot more experienced than i.
Id really like a 327 fed revolver but i want a hunting outdoor gun and i dont think i want a single load like the single seven.
Because i can never find what i want, lol. Im thinking of a S&W 686 in 357. I only buy SS guns. Im kicking around the 6" and 6" competitor. Anyone have experience with both. Im wondering if the barrel on the competitor would be any more accurate and the normal barrel? Im weary of the added 10oz weight of the competitor. Does anyone know if the competitor weight is with or without the weights installed? Any input is appreciated. What id really like is a 327 mag with a 6in bbl by smith or on the ruger 101 in a little bit lighter gun.
Any any one recomend any really good revolver smiths? thanks again all, happy shootin

 

[ShootDots]

Hey yall! Im in the market for a revolver and looking for someone alot more experienced than i.
Id really like a 327 fed revolver but i want a hunting outdoor gun and i dont think i want a single load like the single seven.
Because i can never find what i want, lol. Im thinking of a S&W 686 in 357. I only buy SS guns. Im kicking around the 6" and 6" competitor. Anyone have experience with both. Im wondering if the barrel on the competitor would be any more accurate and the normal barrel? Im weary of the added 10oz weight of the competitor. Does anyone know if the competitor weight is with or without the weights installed? Any input is appreciated. What id really like is a 327 mag with a 6in bbl by smith or on the ruger 101 in a little bit lighter gun.
Any any one recomend any really good revolver smiths? thanks again all, happy shootin

When I first got into the Houston, Texas P.D. in 1983, we HAD NO CHOICE but to use a S&W 686 in .357. Once we got off probation, you could buy and use what you wanted. I had no idea of the TRUE accuracy of that revolver til I saw one in action by one of the instructors. His name was Bill Bryson. He has since retired and passed away a few years ago. I saw him shoot (with a 2 hand hold) 5 shots, in about 4 seconds at 25 yards. You could cover up the ENTIRE 5 shot group with a quarter! Then he took his time>>maybe 10 seconds and there was NO PAPER between the bullet holes in the target. AND the target was a "man sized" Police Qualification target>>>not some small "bullseye" target! I was, and still am, amazed at that level of double action shooting with a wheelgun! I forget to mention, that was with a "stock" unaltered "fresh out of the box" pistol!

 

[Lapua40X]

If you're trying to compare the S&W 686 with its 686 cousin the "competitor" you're chasing rainbows. They are based on the same frame but from that point on there is really no comparison. If the specs. aren't enough to convince the shopper of that fact the price difference should do the trick.
I carried a revolver for over twenty five years, favoring the Smith. But selecting the handgun that works best for you isn't something anyone else can do. The first thing I do is decide on a caliber, then a weight range, then a barrel length, and then the style of grip. If it doesn't fit you're hand you won't like it. Then I consider the loading/reloading sequence, quality of the action, etc. Some of my shooting companions like the "hog leg" western style grip. I find them to be fashionable and fun to shoot but impractical for recovering sight alignment after firing a round.

 

[Sniper338]

For hunting, Id go 357 or 44 mag. Smith and wessons and rugers are top notch in the revolver world... Smith and wesson has performace center models that are tricked out a little more and are SUPER SWEET! Longer the barrel you can handle the better all the way around...

 

[FN in MT]

#1 what do you want to DO with it? and where?

A general field gun in non dangerous territory and a .22 kit Gun could work.

A field gun in parts of the West where one can encounter bears or cats....a different story. Same with hunting; small whitetails at bow distances or big muleys at 50 yds? Does your state have a minimum cartridge for big game? You may not be able to hunt deer with a .357 mag.


Weight can be an issue even when carried in a field type, shoulder rig from Diamond D or in a traditional hip holster.

Do you reload? If so you open a myriad of options. I can load a .41/.44 mag UP or down as required and it's a good field and hunting revolver. If I was relegated to factory ammo that versatility is now gone.

No matter what if your not a "pistol guy" I'd suggest you go out and shoot a few different guns to simply get a feel for how a 4" medium frame or a heavy frame Ruger or Smith feel to you.

I've collected and carried Smith revolvers for years, so I do have some experience with the different models.

FN in MT

 

[Changeling]

You should be very specific about what you want to do with a handgun before you even think about "which one"! With out having a goal for the revolver you could make some mistakes in your needs.

Having said that, for the average/expert guy that likes to shoot targets and hunt with their weapon I would suggest an older Ruger 44 Mag single action, 7.5 inch barrel (or longer) and without the stupid "Lock".

It's capable of awesome accuracy and can be loaded for targets/ small game/deer/elk/bears, etc,. Whoops, forgot, even birds and snakes with shot shell loads.

Realistic bullet weights available run from 200 to 350 gr.

 

[madderg]

Ths best you could find, if they were still out the is a Ruger Red hawk 5 inch barrel 41 mag....perfection.

 

[K22]

The 686 is a high quality, durable, and very accurate revolver. I've had mine (6") since the 80's and have fired thousands of rounds through it and it still shoots very well. It was designed to take the pounding of the magnum loads.

Although I killed a small buck with a 357 magnum, I wouldn't recommend it. If you're going to hunt deer with a pistol you would be better served with a 44 magnum.

The 686 is heavy to carry in a hip holster, a shoulder holster works much better. The plus side to the heavy weight is it's easier to control the recoil with magnum loads.

I use to stalk hunt ground hogs in western PA with a revolver when I lived there. The hilly terrain where I hunted allowed me to stalk within 40 yards or so and I took quite a few with a the 586 (the blue brother of the 686). It's a lot fun, great exercise and a challenge.

A really great bullet for the 357 is the 140 Hornady XTP. Very accurate with excellent down range performance. 2400 Powder is a good choice for magnum loads.

 

[Dans40X]

Drop the 327 Fed chambering unless you have components & reloading equipment to reload.

For the ultimate in single action revolvers look no further than a-
Freedom Arms 97(small frame) or 83(large frame).
You'll have a multitude of chamberings & switch cylinder options available for the same frame.

For traditional single/double action revolvers the Smith & Wesson line will serve you well.
The S&W Performance Center hand guns shoot well also.

There is a reason that I did not mention Uger's,Colts,Taurus'.

A .22LR revolver would be inexpensive practice being in the communist state of CA dealing with the hassles of semi/magazine fed hand guns.

 

[Damon555]

An S&W 686 or Ruger GP100 in 357 mag is exactly what you need in my opinion. Either one of these in factory trim will be as accurate as any average shooter will need. No need to spend the extra money on a fancy model.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I collect modern s&w revolvers and have a ton including all the PC models. A 686 is cool but if youre going with a 357 ( like has been said drop the 327) try one of the larger capacity pc models not the 6 shooter. If youre on a budget try out a ruger gp100. I bought a match champion a few weeks ago just to try out and i was very impressed. Thats saying alot coming from a big revolver fan and collector/shooter

 

[matthias]

Have you thought about the smith 367? 8 shots of 357 in an aluminum frame? Light and higher capacity . For me and hunting guns I would go ruger if most of my shooting is single action . And smith if I plan to shoot double action mostly. Although Rutgers can be cleaned up nicely as well.


One of my all time favorite guns is my 627 pro series smith with a 4" barrel 8 shots moonclips .

 

[Outrider27]

And if you are not on a budget, try a Colt Python in .357 Mag or, if you can find one, a Python in .44 Mag, and don't look back.

Grip fit/comfort in your hand is of utmost importance, as has been mentioned above; Herrett Stocks is your friend. My 4" .44 Mag Smith became a pussycat with the switch from the factory "target" grips to a set of Herrett Jordan Trooper grips.

 

[bheadboy]

I have shot bulls eye, action pistol, handgun sil small bore and big bore,

I have owned and fired Colt, Ruger, Freedom Arms and S& W in everything from 22lr to 45lc including 44m/spcl, 357mag etc.

you comment of wanting a handgun for field/huntin as well as "shooting, caused me to reflect and settle on these suggestion

S&W 628 357m S&w 6 " minimum and 629 44m, 6 " minimum
the main reasons are the following, either can be loaded down, 38 spcl loads in mag cases and 44 spcl loads in mag cases,

for 100-150ld deer and pigs etc the 357 is fine as there are lots of good bullets
for anything heavier the 44m would be my choice -again lots of bullet choices

the Smith is the most accurate of all except the Freedom Arms single action however you need lots of $$$ for them

the Shoulder holster is preferred while hunting as the draw is easier and weight off the hip


while the Ruger and colts offer an alternative they just don't equal the quality and accuracy of the smith, also the Smith holds its value above the others.

Bob