MP-Pistol Forum banner

What is your ideal wheelgun?

27K views 91 replies 85 participants last post by  aimtrue 
#1 ·
I've never been a big revolver guy. I've owned exactly ONE revolver (an Airweight Bodyguard). It was my grandfather's. Unfortunately it was stolen a few years ago.




I think if I was to design my ideal revolver, it would follow this outline:



S&W K or L frame

.40 S&W (yes, you read that right)

Carbon Steel

6 round cylinder

Fixed McGivern style sights (gold bead with U-notch rear)

Round Butt

3 or 4 inch barrel. No underlug

No key lock



So what is your ideal revolver?



Jason
 
See less See more
1
#2 ·
My absolute favorite is the S&W Model 66.



I own a 66-1 4" and a 66-1 2.5" both are used a lot. 38/357MAG 6 shot stainless both with night sights.



Next comes the 625. I have one in 5" for USPSA revolver division and a 4" for IDPA ESR division. 45ACP full moon clip guns. Fiber optic front sights on the 5" with LPA rear sights. 4" has a choice of night sights made for me by Trijicon front and rear or LPA rear with Fiber optic front.



For steel and ICORE, I use a Performance Center 627 8 shot that is fantastic to shoot.



As you can see, I do not think there is an "Ideal" revolver. There are different revolvers for different purposes. I like the added ease of maintenance of the stainless guns having carried blued guns for a lot of years. For the area I live (salt air) stainless works better. I also like the new designs even though my 66s are old school. I can get a better action with the new designs and the lock is a non issue for me.











Regards,
 
#3 ·
Although I have to resupply my gun fund before I can get one, my ideal revolver would be a Smith and Wesson Model 686P with a 4" barrel, .357 magnum with 7 round capacity. I'd add on night sights and crimson trace laser grips.



I've only shot one of these once, but I thought it was a really well balanced gun. The .357 caliber was just right as far as kick and will cause very significant damage. Everyone I know that has this model really likes it and I often hear that if they could only have one gun (thankfully that's not the case) that the 686P w/ 4" barrel would be the one.
 
#4 ·
for shooting or totin'?

For shooting-4 inch 686 with the best DA money can buy, fancy wooden Hogue (unlimited funds would mean Fishpaw grips) grips, front night sight. Some breed from the Performance Center might work. NO LOCK! Put my name or badge on the side plate and fill the engraving.

For carrying-I didn't even know they MADE 3 inch 66's until recently. I saw some pics on the Smith and Wesson Forum. Again, action job, bob the hammer, get rid of the DA notch, nice wood Hogue or some of the old Rogers/Safariland grips . Make it shiny...If there was a full lug under the barrel, that would be as good as it gets. NO LOCK.

I could dream about a really slick M25 or M58 too, but really, K-frames are tough to beat. I'm out of the loop on revo mods lately, there may be something else out there. I used to fantasize about a 4 inch nickel Python, until I shot one, then it became a 4 inch nickel Python...with a Smith's action.
 
#5 ·
I will be the odd one here but I am a hunter and just bought my first semi. I love my model 29 s&w .44 mag with the 8 3/8 barrel!! I would rather shoot it then my new M&P because it is deadly accurate with just the iron sights. I have killed a over a dozen deer with shots of 100 yards on a few. I pretty much hunt with it exclusively since I live and hunt in a shot gun or hand gun area. My friends and family call it the deer slayer.
 
#7 ·
This is a hard decision between my 629-3 4" Mountain Gun and my very smooth 686-4 4". :?

I am a big fan of the 629's, I have four of them and as I think about it, I am going to have to go with the 629 Mountain gun.



It is just about an even split which one I carry when I am out jeeping or hunting. The 686 being a bit more comfortable to carry because of the smaller cylinder. But if I am going to be where there may be bears, no question which one I will be carring. It will be the Mountain Gun loaded with 280 grain Beartooth hard lead bullets over a good charge of H110. :wink:
 
#9 ·
Toss Up

I have been an owner of wheelguns for more than 20 years now. All have been S&W's. My first was a 686 6" that I fell in love with. At that point it was the most accurate handgun I had fired. I then added a polished, laser engraved 627 5" that impressed me even more, but personal situation forced the selling of the 627. I replaced the 686 6" with a 4", and then eventually with a 686P 4". As comfortable and accurate as it was I was still sorry I let the 627 go and the price got higher than I wanted to spend for a handgun to be honest with you. Well, in the beginning of Febuary I was at a gunshow with a friend and found one brand new for the lowest price I seen in years and traded the 686P and cash for it. VERY PLEASED, don't get me wrong, the 686 was a fine firearm that I would have trusted my life on, but, this and my last 627 are the finest firearms I have held or shot, and being a .357 I know that should the need ever arise it will take care of business.
 
#12 ·
the new black 8 shot .357 S&W with the tac rail is just too sweet. however, i really wanted a 686 revolver. after going to the shop, i left with a ruger gp-100. the $200 difference in price was a huge factor. that gun is a tank.
 
#13 ·
How 'bout this one?

I don't own a wheelgun, but after watching the demo for this on Self Defense TV, I've got to say that I'm looking very positively at the Taurus 4410 "The Judge".



I'd sure like to get some opinions on this, so here's the video segment from SDTV:



http://www.taurususa.com/video/taurus-theJudge-video.cfm



I'm not sure about the 45 long colt ammo, but the 410 shotshells sure look like they do the trick!




Please let me know what you think!
 
#14 ·
i got an issue of rifleman, they had an article of the judge. on the first page they had a closeup of the gun looking into the cylinder. the star on the backside of the cylinder looked like someone chewed it up. i havent ever seen something like that.
 
#15 ·
Taurus 4410 "The Judge".



I'd sure like to get some opinions on this, so here's the video segment from SDTV:



http://www.taurususa.com/video/taurus-theJudge-video.cfm



I'm not sure about the 45 long colt ammo, but the 410 shotshells sure look like they do the trick!



Please let me know what you think!


First time I saw this gun was at a RMEF banquet and I fell in love with it. I like the idea of a .45 or .410. Perfect back-country backpack gun. A neat Idea. I tried like hell to win it in the raffle but no go.
 
#21 ·
S&W 686 6 in. all the way
 
#22 ·
I agree with some of the posts that there really isn't an ideal, because there are so many variables. Its sort of one of those "What would you have if you could have just one gun?" kind of questions. To me thats a world different than my favorite or what I would like to see.

Of what currently exists on the market if I could only have one it would probably be a 4" 629. I have three 629s, a four inch standard, Mountain Gun and a 5" Classic with the full lug barrel. To me the standard barrel is the best of them. The .44 Mag has unmatched versatility for the way I use revolvers.

My favorite revolvers though, are the K frame models, being particularly partial to the Model 19, K-38 and K-22 series. Double action revolvers mind you, don't get me started on Colt Single Action Armys.

I've often thought if you could build one from scratch it would be nice to incorporate the Smith and Wesson action smoothness with some of the ruggedness and grip frame of the Ruger (having such wide latitude in grips sizes is a great feature).
 
#24 ·
S&W 66

I've had a couple of S&W revolvers, but I lucked into a model 66 a few years ago. Was working at an indoor gun range/gun shop when a guy came in wanting to sell a few guns. The owner bought his autos, but was overstocked on used revolvers at that time so didn't offer him anything for a pair of Rossis, a Taurus, or his S&W model 66. I picked it up, checked that it was clear, closed the cylinder, dry-fired it TWICE and offered him a ridiculously low price that he took. Having competed in IPSC, GSSF, and IPDA with 1911s and a G19, I wanted to try wheelgunning for competition. This 66 and I were made for each other. It is so easy to use; as it has been stated here before, "The Original Point and Click Interface."

Anyway, used the 66 as my only IDPA gun for monthly matches from last October up to the state championship in August and my baby never let me down, and I was always sad when I didn't live up to its expectations. Fun times.



2007 Washington State IDPA Stock Service Revolver champion (marksman class)



Switched for today's competition to my M&P 45, but felt slightly adulterous. I'll get over it.
 
#26 ·
Yea, my next wheelgun purchase is going to be a 500... no doubt.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top