First Revolver Purchase Help

[Jah_Shwalker]

I think it was already mentioned, but for a first revolver purchase, the Ruger GP100 is a good choice. I bought mine more than 10 years ago and I still have it and it still shoots great. Plus if you ever run out of ammo, you can also hit someone with it and cause just as much damage cause it weighs more than any 4" S&W I have ever had.

[Shabazz]

Ruger, Colt or Smith.

One of our local gunstores will not carry Taurus any more due to too many defective guns.

[Noodles]

I had the need for the exact same setup, hiking, camping, kit gun. Landed on the new SP-101 4" for a couple reasons.

- It's light, at 30oz vs 40oz for the GP-100
- 5 shot, but for what I need it for that's alright
- fiber optic front sight stock, adjustable rear
- 4" handles 357 normal and bear loads just fine

I installed a 10# main spring and a traush grips. I HIGHLY recommend both. With the Traush grip, the SP-101 has a full-size grip which I like a lot better than the stock size, I'm not trying to conceal though.

I didn't go with the GP100 because of the extra size and weight, but it's a fine gun with much more support for accessories and whatnot. Plenty happy with the SP-101, but someday I might get a GP100 depending on options they may offer.

As for S&W and Colt go, I think they have smoother actions once worn in, but the price put me off a bit for both, and I just couldn't find all the features I wanted.

[airman]

You dont say if you prefer a single or double action but I prefer single actions for a woods gun. imo the perfect packing revolver for outdoors is the lipseys special run of the flat top 45 colt/45 acp convertible in 4 5/8 inch barrel. It has both cylinders and adjustable sights and is light and very easy to carry.I have several ruger blackhawks and they are all reliable and accurate. They can be found for around 550 bucks and that will be the next woods gun I will be purchasing. I would already have one but just purchased an xds for ccw and need to save up for this one. Good luck on your pursuit to find the perfect packing pistol.

[Scotter260]

For basic, reliable, and durable I'd suggest going to budsgunshop.com and looking at their used 4" S&W Model 10 HBs at $269 shipped. They have both square and round-butt. Not likely adequate for bear but with heavier more potent solids it might still work.

I realize it's not the exact caliber you want but for a first and since the price is decent I thought maybe you could forgive the caliber. You indicate shooting mostly .38s anyway.

Link to the square-butts: http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...sp+Square+Butt

[Sotex]

Also from budsgunshop:

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...urity+Six+.357

A used stainless 2 3/4" Ruger Security-Six for $479. This is comparable to the K frame Smith's and was more durable with a steady diet of magnums. Wish I still had some of the 4 inchers I'd owned over the years.

[mkmckinley]

4" hands down, especially if you're even considering .357 magnum. Forget the taurus, look for a used Smith or Ruger. I like the Smiths better personally but it's hard to beat the strength of Rugers. I find Smiths to be a lot smoother and the engineering nerd in me likes the forged Smith frame better than the cast Ruger. In actual use it probably doesn't matter.

I think the best suggestion however has been to just get a Glock 20. After years of trying to get comfortable carrying my .357 and .44 revolvers the lightbulb went off and I got a G20.

[SteveS]

I would get a Ruger or Smith 357 revolver of all the choices on the market today . The 4 inch is all around the best, the 2 or 3 inch is great for CCW type work. And the 6 in for target or ultimate hunting use.

[SteveS]

4" hands down, especially if you're even considering .357 magnum. Forget the taurus, look for a used Smith or Ruger. I like the Smiths better personally but it's hard to beat the strength of Rugers. I find Smiths to be a lot smoother and the engineering nerd in me likes the forged Smith frame better than the cast Ruger. In actual use it probably doesn't matter.

I think the best suggestion however has been to just get a Glock 20. After years of trying to get comfortable carrying my .357 and .44 revolvers the lightbulb went off and I got a G20.

From my experience the Ruger will take a licking and keep on ticking better than an equal Smith though the Smith is a bit more refined. I own both and have since 1970.

[halo2304]

Check out the Ruger GP100 Talo edition. It's quite nice.