Been wanting a nice revolver for a long time. Been saving up, and it's time to decide what caliber. .357, .44mag? I want a good overall caliber, powerful but nothing crazy like say a .45-70govt or .500mag, 454 cas act. Then again I kind of want a cartoonish length revolver with a long ass barrel. But I guess I really want one of each, one pretty, excellent trigger and decent power. And a silly one in maybe .44mag. Suggestions?

If you could only have one caliber in a revolver get either a .357 mag or .44 mag.
A double action revolver in .357 with a 4" or 6" barrel has been the standard for a long time.
A .44 mag with a 6" or 7.5" barrel like my Ruger SBH is the other standard.
I like single action revolvers but there are many very very good double action wheelguns available. Get what you like.

44mag, carry 44spc if you want less recoil

all things considered - .357..

6" GP100 is what you seek

.41 magnum

A Ruger GP100 or any S&W in .44mag, so you can shoot softer .38spl or .44spl.

If you want just 1 gun then a 357 mag made by Ruger, Smith or Colt (pricey)

Unless you are looking for a cartridge that will fit in a pocket gun, the .44 Magnum/Special is the most versatile.

+1.  Get a Model 29 Smith and Wesson with the 10 3/8" barrel.  Adjustable front and rear sights.

This here, because you can also shoot 38 specials from it also.
Smith and Wesson makes a 8 shot .357 mag (R 8) which I have one and love it.

correct, and the ammo is still very affordable. You get in 44 mag you are looking at near $30 per box of 50 and 44 special is about the same.

As for the first part, here ya go, both cartoony and xtra-long:




Either caliber is good, really depends on location and end use. Learning to reload straight walled pistols is very easy and you can build to whatever your needs/desires are. For manufacturers, I'm partial to S&W for DA/SA revolvers and Ruger, specifically Vaqueros, for single. You may be different so go handle some to see exactly which one(s) you like.

Here's a few of mine (I need images of the others, this ones getting old) I like matching up to .22's for warm up/practice. If you're thinking two, you may want to go that route.



Seems overkill but I have some decent representations of most of my firearms in airguns also for the basement/yard. Some are pricey though.

Center one is an airgun:



For the smiths:

Single Action i like .45c, because it feels right.





Modern Swing outs - 38/357







Though i do have a 29-2 6.5in nickle S&W in 44 on its way so its all relative.


Revolvers are a drug..

Yup

S&W, for me, would be the optimal choice out of the revolvers out there today. S&W 686 with a 4" or 6" barrel. It needs minimal upkeep and is a proven shooter.  You have more manufacturers offering more options for S&W than any other gun maker-sights, cylinder releases, grips, etc.. Colts are way too expensive to be a shooter and with their financial state now, I think they will be more of a collector piece. Rugers don't have the same kind of sexiness a S&W does and the triggers are not as smooth. S&W also makes longer barrels if that floats your boat. My first gun ever was a 8 3/8" 629. It was very accurate, had the smoothest trigger but packed a lot of recoil with hot loads and was heavy. Ammo is expensive unless you reload but that is also getting more expensive. A .357 has more options than  other calibers,( frame designs, 6,7 or 8 round cylinder) and ammo. is cheaper and more readily available where I am at. You can also shoot .38's in it for practice or even carry. S&W has excellent customer service if you ever need it.

For a first revolver the 357Mag is usually the best choice because it is so flexible . 38 target loads are cheap and real pussycats to shoot and you can step it up to mid range then to full house 357 loads that have pretty considerable power .


If this first revolver was earmarked primarily for hunting then the more powerful 44mag would be a natural choice.



To me as a hardcore revolver fan one very important feature is a excellent trigger. What this means is unless someone has some very special tasks the first several revolvers anyone buys should be S&W.
One exception might be a heavy caliber for hunting on a budget and then a single action Ruger might be considered.

To summarise , First gun should be a S&W 357 so you can do lots of different kinds of shooting. then down the line as time and budget allows consider other calibers and sizes of guns

I didn't think to mention that I already reload .45ACP and .223Rem. BTW is the .41Mag in the middle far as a power comparison on the .357mag and .44mag? How about recoil as well?

I do like S&W triggers, and they tend to look better. But the Ruger revolvers seem to be built like tanks. I was considering a Red Hawk.

Ruger appears to be built like tanks because they have to.. they are investment casted vs S&W forged frames.



Don't get me wrong.. i like Ruger.. but its hard to beat a quality smith. You can find ballistic info vs .357 / .44 on wiki.. but a hot load of .44 mag will rock you a bit more than a .357.

I had .357, .41 and .44 magnums.

The .357 is the one I still own.
.38 through it (S&W Nickel 686, 6 inch)  is cheap and fun.

agreed.. 500 rds of .38 from lax ammo for $138 fun fun fun.

.45 Colt for me. Or if you want to be exotic, .460 looks to be very versatile.

INvestment casting isn't a weakness. Look into what a Ruger Only Load is.

I'd go .357, unless you plan on shooting something bigger than deer.

Not really, maybe I will go .357 and later on get something more silly just for the hell of it. Price will be a factor as well, so unless I can locate say a S&W that's barely been shot and at a price I'd be crazy not to buy I may end up stuck with the Ruger, but I guess I could work on the trigger and other than looks have a heavier, stronger pistol at a lower price?

I personally own a shit ton of revolvers in many different caliber, .38special, .357 magnum, .41 magnum, .44 special, .44 magnum, .44-40 .45 LC, and a few others. You get the idea, I love wheel guns. My favorite caliber is probably .41 magnum but if I had to suggest a best overall revolver caliber then it would have to be .357 magnum. They are very civilized to shoot, ammo is relatively cheap and readily available and is a proven self defense round. I would find a nice older S&W, pick your frame size and barrel length, and nickel plated or Stainless, the old blue ones are pretty and I have several but I believe that nickel or stainless is better to carry, less holster wear. You might look at one of the N-frame 8 shot revolvers. I have a TRR8 and there is just something really nice about 8 shots of .357 goodness, but a nice older K frame is just a great all around revolver. Just Sayin'...

S&W 686 with a 6" barrel Kicks Butt! Strong & Accurate! I am currently carrying a Ruger SP101 .357
in the small of my back and it is PERFECT!

5 Best Concealed Carry Revolvers

Smith & Wessson 686 in the barrel length you want is nice and fun.  I love my 4" barrel version.

whats your budget OP?

.357 Magnum double action with a 5" barrel would be my opinion. For really heavy use I would say Ruger, for regular shooting and looks then a nice S&W.

 

I would like to stay around the $850 mark but if I wait until tax season I could up it to 1000 dollars IF it is a hell of a pistol. I do know of an old Python at a near by pawn shop, but I think it's SERIOUSLY over priced. Best I recall they wanted $1800 for it, and I refuse to pay that kind of money for any hand gun.

If you are looking for one to actually take out and shoot then I would stay away from the Python. Pythons are priced more for collectors then shooters. Colt made a damn fine revolver, but your money would be better spent on a Ruger or S&W. IMHO



 

Well,ya, the 41 is in the middle of 44 &357, kinda hard to find on the road though. It's a beautiful round but it's timing sucked to make it main stream. Too bad to because I think it would have eclipsed the other two. As you reload already, the costs will be negligible between your choices. I don't bother with 38's in my 357's. Why bother? I just load cream-puff 357's for practice or to train new shooters with. I use titegroup for general range rounds. Slow burners for heavies.

As far as Ruger DA/SA's go, I don't care for them. Let's call it personal preference. If they float your boat and meet a price point then great, a double win for you. I don't even care for the Blackhawk in single, just not right.

Best of luck with your decision, write back as to your final pick.

T.

$138 for 500 rounds.  That's not too bad.  I'm having a hard time finding it under $15/50.

I love any good 6" 357, I mostly shoot 38 out of them

Since you already reload 45 ACP, buy the new Ruger Redhawk in 45LC that also come cut for 45ACP moon clips. You can load that revolver as light or as hot as you want and you don't have to start buying bullets in a different caliber. It's probably the best fit for what you're looking for.

http://ruger.com/products/redhawk/specSheets/5032_order.html

The new Ruger Redhawk 45ACP/45Colt would be just about the best all around revolver.  

If you handload you can shoot it pretty cheap using 45 Colt while surpassing the 44 mag in power or you can buy already loaded "RUGER ONLY" level loads from several ammo suppliers.

.45 Colt/45ACP ammo is available in most sporting goods stores.

The 45 ACP will allow you to shoot a bunch for practice without breaking the bank and without a bunch of recoil to worry about.

The .45 vs .357 size holes in the targets make it much easier to see your results from the firing line and the larger bullets will pack a lot more punch when hunting.

It seems I have always had less barrel leading from the bigger calibers vs .357 when shooting cast bullets.

I still have my .357's but I always seem to reach for a .44 or .45 when I go shooting.

Get a Ruger match champion in 357.  
Or any Smith.  in 357.  
If you want silly yet still practical,  Smith 460V.  5" barrel 460 power, 45colt, 454 casul.  

If you reload 44mag is by far the most versatile caliber, super light plinking loads all the way up to full house loads

if you don't reload just get a .357

I haven't kept up on the newer revolvers, but any revolver, especially a SRH, in 45ACP/45Colt is intriguing at the least.

I have a old model SBH in .44mag with a 7.5" barrel and love it, but that revolver is going on my get list.

41 mag is you reload

44 mag if you don't

After watching a youtube video of a gentlemen firing 45LC out of a 9.5" Ruger 454, and and the recoil looking like a real pussy cat, but with hand loads being able to take that caliber to it's maximum or just gallery loads and everything between. OR going nuts with the .454 if I want to go shoot a bear with a hand gun. I'm quite interested in it now. Seems much more flexible than any .357. Now I just have to start my search for one, as I want to hold one before I drop the money. Now will I go for a 9.5", I don't know, it would make it silly out side of range/hunting but very practical at the same time?

should rename this thread to best overall caliber - for me and my situation.

Not everyone hand loads; the average joe its .357.. followed by 44mag/45c

Cheers.

On the barrel length choice, I wouldn't list a 9.5" as anywhere near "practical". My SRH .454 was originally 7.5" and even that was very cumbersome when trying to actually carry it all day. Had it shortened to 5", and it has become far & away my favorite (and most-used) revolver.


This, as long as you reload. For someone who has to buy factory loads, then I'd say .357 as many above have. But if you load your own, the .45LC/.454 is a hard combo to beat. The .45Colt 'cowboy' loads are ludicrously soft-shooting, and full-bore .454 loads can reach nearly 'ridiculous' in their power (240 grains at over 1900fps) even in my gun's shortened barrel. Basically, you can pick & choose any power level you want from 200 to 2,000 ft/lbs just by deciding what to chuck in the cylinder that day. No adapters, converters, whatever. You also aren't lugging around all the extra weight & bulk of the long-cylinder guns like the .460, the .500 and similar behemoths. Also, being that the .454 SRH will take speedloaders unlike most of the uber-powerful handguns to be had, means it's as fast to reload as any revolver.

One of my favorite things about it is that for my purposes, it's basically way overbuilt. I sometimes enjoy what my sons call "the ridiculous load" - a 240-grain XTP-Mag over 37.8 grains of 296 - but usually I download so it's only in .44 magnum territory power-wise; which means it's running at 50-60% of max pressure that the gun was built for, and barring some fluke incident should really extend the gun's life expectancy for a long time.

{edit to add one of my favorite subjects - once you come to the .454 dark side, getting your hands on a carbine in the caliber opens up a whole new world of versatility. Light .45LC loads work for small game, pot animals and nuisance animals, and top-end loads will (believe it or not) exceed a typical .30-06 load power-wise; pushing out more than 3,100ft/lbs of energy. There's not an animal on the continent that that carbine can't take with power to spare. In the more sedate loadings, even a factory .45LC barnes Vor-TX runs more than 750 ft/lbs from the carbine, and it's not even a +P loading.}

I would not hesitate to shoot a black bear with a .357.

Were it not for the pesky other bears around here, I would definitely carry a 6"  L or N frame .357.

As you are learning to shoot a revolver, you might be better served by the .357 in terms of ammo prices.
It is cheaper to shoot high volume if you reload, or if you don't reload.  

Shoot a few full house .357 and see what you think.  Shoot a few cylinders of
full house .454 or heavy .45 Colt +p and see what you think.

If you want that versatility, check out the S&W 460. It'll fire the 460, 454 cas. and 45 lc (ya, I know, just colt) and I think the Schofield also, can't remember off hand. It may be a bit higher on the food chain by way of cost but not by more then a few hundred over your 850. On any of the above calibers you'll probably want to reload for them. I've only 5 more on my own bucket list then I'm done. Of the 5, 3 are pistols. The 460 is one of them. Two I have to wait to get out of this state. Nothing much, just a couple derringers, can't get them here. 1 rifle, 1 shotgun. Then I'm done.

Ya, the thread morphed from best over all, to most flexible and best for myself. Sorry, I have always been a semi auto guy, but i'm wanting for what they cant really give me.

Look up a Ruger Toklat.