All around revolver

[Titan 7]

My wife and I put ourselves on a budget and I thought I would down size a bit. I am selling my .45 lever 92, 7 1/2" .45 Vaquero, and the Sig 220. My idea is to get a revolver that could handle anything these guns could do. Biggest thing I hunt is deer in Illinois. So the .357 will handle the game but I also wanted a drawer gun that the wife and daughter could easy handle. The Sig has the +p+ spring so it's difficult for them to pull the slide. A scoped 8 inch barrel would be nice and reach out like the .45 long gun.( I don't use that to hunt deer in ILL) My top consideration is the Dan Wesson with interchangable barrels. Put a 2" on there for the drawer. I had a 686 smith and it was a great gun. So please tell me what you think.

 

[461]

Dan Wesson would be a good choice for the dual roles you're looking at. I haven't seen any around here I could afford though. With what you're selling you could easily buy two handguns so when you go hunting your family is still protected. I'd personally go with a GP-100 for the home defense and a Blackhawk for the hunting duty. Probably could be bought for what you'd spend on a Dan Wesson Pistol Pac around here and you could have any caliber Blackhawk you wanted for a little more power for the deer.

 

[Black Knight]

I used to work with a guy that did similar back in the late 70's to early 80's. We worked for the same security company. When on duty he put on a 6 inch barrel, when he got home after shift he put on a 2 1/2 inch barrel. Eventually it got to the point where no barrel would fit right. He had personal problems and commited suicide on a train track. His wife sold the Dan Wesson to the security company. The company took the gun to a gunsmith who fitted and welded a 4 inch barrel to it. I realize that you may not go to the extremes he did, but there is something about switching barrels as you like gives me the willies. Don't get me wrong, I had a new barrel put on my Python after I damaged it but that has been the only time. If you stick with the Dan Wesson be careful those threads do wear out after a while. If it were me I would chose a 4 or 6 inch S&W 586 or 686.

 

[Jim K]

I would vote for the 686 or 686 Plus with a 4" barrel. The .357 has often been called the best all-around revolver cartridge, and I see no reason to dispute that. For practice, you can also use cheaper, and low recoil, .38 Special wadcutters. Less budget busting would be the Taurus 608, eight shot, also in .357.

I have no problem with the Dan Wessons, but I have found out over the years that the interchangeable barrel business is pretty useless, not because it won't work or is a bad idea, but because once the novelty wears off, people install the length barrel they like and leave it there. So they pay extra for barrels they never use.

Jim

 

[Matt King]

Smith and Wesson 586/686 With a six inch barrel.

 

[floridaboy]

+1 for the 686 with a 6" barrel. I LOVE mine! And if I can't hit it with the 686, I have no business shooting at it hit a handgun.

 

[10-Ring]

For your applications, 357 magnum would work & your wife & daughter can shoot 38 special from the same piece...maybe a S&W mod 19/66 or a Colt Python would fill the bill.

 

[Husker1911]

I owned a DW revolver years ago, and did precisely what you're suggesting. I owned a 2.5" barrel and a 6" barrel. I don't wish to disparage the DW revolver line, but they're long out of business, and I simply don't believe they were of a sufficient quality to make your ONE revolver. I, too, would suggest a S&W 686, your choice of 4" or 6". I'd lean to the 4", personally. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Titan 7]

Thanks for the suggestions. You've talked me out of the DW. Will the 686 handle the heavy corbon loads of 180 or 200 grains?

 

[Husker1911]

Thanks for the suggestions. You've talked me out of the DW. Will the 686 handle the heavy corbon loads of 180 or 200 grains?

Admirably. Of course, the 6" model will be the more pleasant shooting version. Still, whatever barrel length you choose will perform above your expectations.

BTW, can you tell I'm a fan of S&W revolvers?

 

[cbsbyte]

I don't wish to disparage the DW revolver line, but they're long out of business,

Nope Dan Wesson is still in business. CZ bough the company a few years ago and is expanding their product line.

My ideal all around revolver would be a 4" Ruger GP-100. It will handle stout hunting loads better than most other revolvers. Plus it built like a tank. Thought I have to admit the 686 is a very sexy gun.

 

[KINGMAX]

All around

How about a SMITH & WESSON 686 w/ a four in barrel.

 

[Titan 7]

All around

Nobody said anything about the hunting loads yet.

 

[dbarale]

OK, here's my vote. A 6" Ruger GP100.
It's not too big to pull house duty and can take ANY hunting load you'll feed it.
You can scope it for the hunt and use iron sights around the house.
A 686 would perform as well but will cost a bit more and I'm not sure it can take as many hot loads...

 

[TOADMAN]

Three inch S&W Model 10...

 

[Husker1911]

Nope Dan Wesson is still in business. CZ bough the company a few years ago and is expanding their product line.

Let me rephrase my comment. The original poster was inquiring about interchangeable barrel DW revolvers. That product line is long out of production. OK, DW is still producing handguns, but certainly not the revolvers the original posting mentioned.

 

[KONY]

Ummm ... +1 on the 686 with a 4" tube.

 

[KHawk]

Titan 7

I don't know where you live in Ill. but I found this locally:"S&W M-19-4 W/BUSHNELL HOLO SIGHT; 357 Mag; excellent bore, excellent grips, 4'' barrel, nickel finish, Pachmier grips, like new, $550.00."

I think he could be talked down to $500.

 

[kmrcstintn]

husker did answer about the hunting loads...first word in his posting...as he put it 'admirably'

Smith & Wesson made the 'L' frame (586-out of production, 686, 686 +, 520-out of production, 619-not sure if it is still built, 620) to handle greater amounts of magnum loads than the 'K' frame; the K frame magnums are good, but they were a downsized compromise for duty use by LEO's that practiced with more specials and qualified and carried magnums; you will have to retighten the sideplate screws and the mainspring tension screw from time to time and it'll keep on tickin'

I prefer Rugers for my magnum usage; I have a 1996 vintage stainless Ruger GP100 w/ 6" barrel and a 2006 vintage stainless Ruger SP101 w/ 3" barrel;

the combat handgun purists will tell you that a 6" barrel is a bit long for home defense/close quarter battle usage...I reserve my opinion; a magnum revolver with a 4" barrel is a good 'compromise' for home defense and short distance hunting (@ 25 yards)

whatever you get...good luck...practice alot...clean your chambers well after firing .38 spl (.38 spl casings are shorter and powder/lead residues deposit more in the longer magnum chambers)

 

[Sundles]

Screw the budget!

Buy more guns that are specialized for your needs. Nothing like the right tool for the job. Whats your life, your wifes life and your childrens lives worth?

 

[Bellevance]

Another vote for the 686 6-inch. The extra weight makes it little more comfortable for shooting heavy loads, and the longer site radius is an advantage. Not bad at all for woods and field carry with a good holster. Maybe a little unwieldy for HD, but, once you get used to handling it, maybe not.

 

[Frank4711]

S&W 686 2 1/2 or 4 inch are great.

 

[Blue .45]

For hunting loads, I would opt for the 6" GP100. The factory grips absorb recoil very well and the gun is brute strong. In addition, the interchangeable front sights might offer more versatility. If this gun is to used by the woman in your family, maybe a good Idea to let them handle a few different models to see which one they are more comfortable with.

 

[lawboy]

dan wesson,now a subsidiary of CZ is producing revolvers and selling parts and barrels and shrouds. If you want one you can have one. If you have used one that needs parts you can get them. Regards.

 

[rolltide]

Dan Wesson has changed hands 3 times since the original owners died. About the same number of times Smith & Wesson has changed hands. The intechangeable barrel system has been in continuous production since Dan Wesson started the company in the early 1970's, except for short periods in between owners. It is still in production today. Smith and Wesson consulted the owners of Dan Wesson while designing their X frames, and incorporated the same type of barrel and shroud system on their new guns, except they don't market the gun as an interchangeable system or sell extra barrels.

The Dan Wesson system is great and I have been using it myself for over twenty years. I have 2 357's, 1 44, and 2 445supermag with many extra barrels for each.. Primarily because of the barrel system, Dan Wessons always have been and still are one of the most accurate, if not the most accurate production revolvers in existence. They are rugged, reliable, and fit and finish on a good one will rival the best of Smith, Ruger, or Colt. While the worst units from Dan Wesson would also be comparable with the worst units of the other 3 makers.

You could do a lot worse than buying a Dan Wesson 357 and a couple of barrels, and you could not touch a gp100 AND a blackhawk for the same money as a 357 and an extra barrel or 2, all due respect to previous posters.

Roll Tide