What revolvers are good?

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bigalexe

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Ok this might sound like a dumb question but who still makes a good revolver? Alternately what types/models are still in wide circulation for a decent price.

The only current revolver manufacturer I can name offhand is Taurus.

I have a few threads bouncing around I created today regarding my dream list and on that list is a defensive center-fire pistol. Now I like semi-autos and can handle them decently but sometimes if I'm having a bad day I can't rack the slide on some of them. Even my .22lr semi-auto gives me a little trouble at the end of a long day. Someone saw me having difficulty with a brand new 9mm and they recommended I maybe look into a DA revolver instead of a semi-auto.
 
The only current revolver manufacturer I can name offhand is Taurus.

Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Charter Arms and some others.

You really must be an auto guy. Over 800 posts on this forum and you don't know that S&W and Ruger make revolvers.
 
You'll probably slap yourself for forgetting the biggest current revolver manufacturer -- S&W. They still make a LOT of fine revolvers, from J-frame pocket snubbies up to the huge .500 Magnum X-Frame.

Like most other consumer items, there are folks who feel that they ain't as good as they once were. Various manufacturing process changes (MIM parts) and legal concessions (internal locks) make some folks' skin crawl. Others report that manufactuing tolarances are tighter than at some eras before and your chances of getting a great gun are very good these days.

Ruger still makes the SP101, the GP100, the Redhawk and SuperRedhawk, and the cool "Alaskan" big-bore snubby, as well as the new LCR polymer-framed snubby. Rugers are different, but almost everyone agrees they make a heck of a solid gun that is accurate and will still be working perfectly when your great great grandkids are shooting them.

They also make their Blackhawk, Super-Blackhawk, Vaquero, Single-Six, and Bearcat lines of single-actions.

Colt does actually still make a few revolvers, though all versions of the old Single Action Army.

Taurus, Charter, and Rossi are still around making more budget-minded guns.

Uberti, Pietta, and Beretta import single-action replica guns, mostly for the Cowboy Action market.

And there are a few of the "ring of fire" gun manufacturers from the Phillipines and such who, IIRC, are making some very value-priced models you might see from time to time.
 
Dig a little deeper in your wallet and shop for a Colt King Cobra. Sure, it will cost a few bucks more upfront, but your money is safer in a Colt revolver than the stock market....The good part is the KC has been said to be the strongest mid-framed revolver made.....or do what at least 50% of the responders to this thread will likely say..."Get a Ruger GP100".:D
 
If you want a fantastic gun that is available in the market now for a screaming good price, consider a S&W Model 64.

Right now security-company trade-in guns are coming up for sale every month or two at the big whole-salers like J&G and CDNN. Usually these are right at $250-$300, for a gun that was carried a lot but shot very little.

(Here are some: http://www.jgsales.com/index.php/smith-wesson/revolver/cPath/16_211_431)

The 64 is the stainless version of the old reliable Model 10 (or the original M&P if you want to go back a ways) and they are a heck of a gun. Fixed sights, .38 Special, 4" barrel, and available as either square-butt or round-butt guns -- sometimes even converted to DAO, which can be a plus.

Really, excellent gun for the money.
 
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but who still makes a good revolver

Smith and Taurus are a mixed bag. A total crap shoot.

Add an idiotic lock design on the Smith and Taurus is a better buy. Both are sketchy.

Folks love their Rugers. Cast, not forged. I am not a fan but they have a huge fan base. They do have their attributes, strength being the biggest if you like shooting ultra hot rounds.

A newbie needs to be very careful in the used market, where the great guns are. I would read the sticky at the top of the revolver section on how to check out a revolver. Even if you buy new, check it out. QC and pride in workmanship is not what it used to be. In fact, looking at the double action revolver market, I would say it is gone.

Shoot before you buy.
 
Charter Arms makes different calibers also Armscor makes some really nice 38specials. Yes we all know and love the S&W,s & Colts. But it all depends on application of the "use". Home, range, target ? If it is hard for one to " rack the slide" I would get a revolver with a hammer. You can fire it in single -or-double action. A 357 will shoot 357,s and 38 specials. ( please remember you can not shoot a 357 in a 38 caliber it will not work ). But it all depends on what that person likes and feels good with. I would go to and check out different shops and feel whats,s out there to get an idea .
 
If you want a fantastic gun that is available in the market now for a screaming good price, consider a S&W Model 64.
(snip)
Really, excellent gun for the money.

+1000 to what he said. My 64 is probably the best $239 I ever spent.
 
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My "dream list" revolver is a Smith & Wesson model 627 or 327, which might be worth looking at. They hold 8 rounds of .357 magnum, which is about as much firepower as you can pack into a defensive revolver. They make it with 5" and snub barrels, and also with steel or lightweight scandium frames. The heavier steel ones are all from their custom shop, so quality isn't a question. As far as I know, all of these guns are very expensive.

Personally, I think Ruger is the best buy right now. I have a Ruger SP101, and its fit and finish are better than my Smith model 642. Smiths used to be better than Rugers, but my impression is that they're overpriced without a real increase in quality. The best defensive Ruger revolver I can think of is their 4" GP100.

Charter Arms still makes their Bulldog, which is worth considering if you like little guns in a big caliber. Their Police Undercover models are also interesting, being that they hold 6 rounds of .38+p, which is one more than most other revolvers of similar size.

The only Taurus revolver I'd consider buying is their .44 magnum steel Tracker model with 4" barrel. It's the perfect packing gun for places like Alaska - heavy enough to shoot but not too heavy to carry.

The order I'd consider buying new is Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Charter Arms, then Taurus. Learn how to do a revolver checkout before you buy: http://thefiringline.com/Misc/library/Revolver-check.html

In my experience, Smiths usually have a smooth trigger out of the box, Rugers smooth out after a thousand rounds or so, and Charters or Taurus's could benefit from a visit to a gunsmith.
 
Ruger or S&W would be my only 2 choices in a DA revolver in current production. Some good used Colts out there.
 
The Chiappa Rhino is a bit weird looking but I handled one recently and it felt real nice in the hand and I like the concept of the low bore and squared off cylinders....
rhino_ergonomics_2.jpg

DSC02597.jpg
 
Ruger still makes the SP101, the GP100, the Redhawk and SuperRedhawk, and the cool "Alaskan" big-bore snubby, as well as the new LCR polymer-framed snubby. Rugers are different, but almost everyone agrees they make a heck of a solid gun that is accurate and will still be working perfectly when your great great grandkids are shooting them.

They also make their Blackhawk, Super-Blackhawk, Vaquero, Single-Six, and Bearcat lines of single-actions.

AND...they make the Blackhawk in 41 Magnum with two barrel lengths!!
 
Ruger quality seems to be improving, at least with the Blackhawks. Very impressed with my new Bisley .44 spl after being disappointed with two others in the past ten years or so.
 
I LOVE shooting my Taurus 608 large frame .357 mags. But also love to shoot my Smiths, Dan Wessons and Colts. Every shooter should own one or two of each I think.
 
Sounds like everyone pretty much covered almost all of the available makers. If you're looking for a carry piece, there is one more, and that's the budget-priced newer entry into the market from Cobra, called the Shadow. I've handled a couple of them, and they seemed a far cry from the cheap autoloaders the company was originally built on. I think they are really hoping the Shadow becomes the "not-Cobra Cobra" in that respect.
 
I would rate S&W and Ruger as the top makers of double-action revolvers. Both manage to turn out a few lemons, but both have excellent reputations for customer service.

People whose opinions I respect, say that Taurus can be a bit a bit hit-or-miss, usually good, but with enough problematic examples to be of concern. Taurus does not seem to have such a good reputation for handling its lemons so swiftly.

On the single-action side, Freedom Arms and USFA are superb. From what I hear, Colt has its act back together, though the SAA was quite bad for quite a while, which I had the misfortune of experiencing first-hand.
 
Smith and Taurus are a mixed bag. A total crap shoot.

Add an idiotic lock design on the Smith and Taurus is a better buy. Both are sketchy.


Where do you get this? I have read this same thing from you a few times. I don't like the locks either, but even with S&W's occasional issues, it is still far fewer than Taurus. I have had a couple good Taurus revolvers, but they are not as nice as any of my 6 S&W. Got any proof to back that statement up? FWIW I do respect almost everything else you post, so no hostility intended.
 
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Your choice of handguns should also involve quality, customer service and aftermarket accessories, and that would leave you with Ruger and S&W.;)

LD45
 
posts #4 and #6 said it best, if you add in Rexster post #19

Used guns, do what everybody looking for quality does, look for old model S&Ws, Colts, Rugers and Dan Wessons; you will find a lot more S&Ws available than the others because they made so very many.

Korth, if you have to ask price, you cannot afford one, but they probably look good riding with you in car if you own a Ferarri

New Dan Wesson by CZ, nothing but promises so far; let somebody else fork up a grand to be the 1st kid on their block to see if they make 'em like they used to or not.
 
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