This is what I am looking for in a Revolver

Your wish has all the earmarks of a S&W model 19 with a 4" barrel and the target trigger and target hammer. The Ruger security would be a close second.

I just bought a security six with a 4" barrel and first year production. I liked it so much I bought a second one made in 1986. Darn good guns. The Smith has a better trigger but when it cools down a little and I can work in my garage without having a heat stroke the triggers on the rugers will be better than they are now. I did the trigger on my GP 100 and its very close to a S&W trigger. Good enough anyway.

The true "one revolver for all purposes" is the Dan Wesson 15-2/715
1) Just about the strongest DA .357 you will find
2) Pick your barrel length 2"'4"/6"/8", etc. Change barrel length in about 1 minute
3) Smooth trigger, different from S&W, but still nice
4) Target hammer & trigger-it's pretty good
5) Wide variety of grips, including custom ones and a rough inletted block to carve your own (yes, they are still available)
6) Many 30+ year old 15-2 DW's still carry a mirror like polished blue
7) Very simple internals that easily lend themselves to cleaning and tuning

I have to second what Steve said with all your criteria Dan Wesson is what came to mind. I also recently came to the conclution that I will be purchasing a model 19 sometime in the near future. Either way you have made a good choice.

It depends on what you mean by "all purposes."

CCW? Hunting? Competition?

A 4" is the best "all around," doing most things pretty well, but none extremely well.

Don't forget the Dan Wesson may require you to sight in the barrel each time you put it on.

What is my best option?

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Troll the pawn shops for a used S&W, and I agree with the 3 or 4"bbl idea. I used to be stuck on blue and wood too. Like me, you might get over it when you become afraid to wear any more bluing off by holstering the kind of wonderful example of a 90s S&W that you can still buy reasonably priced by doing your research and legwork. The Stainless finish and many iterations of the S&W rubber grip (or aftermarket Pachmayrs) can really grow on you after a while.

I'd say check out the S&W 627. Eight shots of 357, a four inch barrel, and you get the larger N frame grips.

Other than the removable trigger group, it sounds like you are looking for a S&W 586.

What is my best option?

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Get a Speed Six with 2 3/4" barrel and put on Pachmayrs and have an action job done on it. That sounds like your best bet to me.

jad0110 said:

Other than the removable trigger group, it sounds like you are looking for a S&W 586.

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you don't mention sights, but the 581 also comes to mind

Sounds like a 4" King Cobra fits most of your list....

I'll agree with those that say that the S&W Model 19 fits the bill. I recently bought a S&W Model 686 SSR, a fairly high dollar (for me) gun. It's a nice gun, but I'll take my Model 19-3 with 4" barrel any day. The old Smith has the best trigger of any revolver I've ever owned.

586Lcomp 7 shot

First thing that came to mind is a Dan Wesson 15-2. Steve gave an accurate response. Also Dan Wessons are more than likely the most accurate production double action revolvers ever made.

Too me its this one I own.
Model 19 4 inch

Followed by this one
Ruger Police Service Six

Regards,
Howard

That one is easy, nothing was said about cost so a Smith 27-2 with the 3 1/2" barrel.

Sounds like a 4" King Cobra fits most of your list....

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+1 here....but i like Smith's too..

I'll second the vote for the S&W Model 19 or its stainless steel version, the Model 66.

Round butt 586/686 or a Ruger security Six/Service Six.




A .44 Bulldog is not a bad choice but they are a PITA to work on.


here's a J frame S&W, Ruger Security Six and a DW 15-2.

That one is easy, nothing was said about cost so a Smith 27-2 with the 3 1/2" barrel.

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Yep... 357 mag of course.

If gaining access to the trigger group is a criteria, then the Ruger is the hands down easiest to access. And the trigger can be worked to be as good as a good Smith trigger.

I've been thinking of buying "one revolver for all purposes" myself. My criteria are different from yours, but two guns you might consider are the 3" GP100 or the Bulldog. (Charter will be doing a new run of their classic 3" blued model, and it will be interesting to see if their quality compares to the originals.)

For a wider trigger face, an easy fix is to install a trigger shoe. T-grips used to make them, but I don't know if they're still in business.